July 8th 2008.

Day two of the conference.

This morning we first dealt with constitutional matters. One of the purposes of the World Conference is for the Member Organizations to have the opportunity to vote and either approve or reject various motions put forth to the World Board. Some are recurrent and need to be approved every three years while others can be specific to a certain year.

This year the motions discussed included: giving the World Board the power to select their own auditors without the approval of the MOs at the World Conference (as is done currently); removing the obligation of the MOs to submit annual reports to WAGGGS; giving regional committees the power to co-opt members should there be a vacancy; giving the World Board the power to remove one of its members under serious circumstances; approving the cancellation of membership for Samoa and Vanuatu (who have been under suspension and have proven despite several measures of help to meet WAGGGS criteria for membership); letting federations (SAGNOs) have the opportunity to send observers from each of their associations to the World Conference (currently the number of observers allowed to participate depends on the membership size of an organization and in a federation each association is allowed to send at least one observer); changing the voting strength of an abstained vote from counting as a “no” to not being considered in the evaluation of a vote; and last, the change the age limits for the World Board to 40% aged 20-35, 40% aged 36-40 and 20% aged over 51.

The discussions that occurred after each of these motions was presented were very interesting. I was intrigued by the many concerns that various MOs presented and often, when I had considered I was completely sold on a motion, the discussion would sway my confidence in my views.

The votes for these motions only happens on Friday, so until then further discussion can take place and any amendments needed to the motions can be submitted. It’ll be interested to see the outcomes.

We then had a series of presentations. The first talked about the WAGGGS and WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement) relationship. Then the WAGGGS treasurer, Della, presented the WAGGGS Strategy for 2009-2011. I thought this was extremely well done and the direction that WAGGGS would like to go should it have adequate funding in the coming years, would be really great. However certain countries are worried about the increased quota payments due to inflation they will have to make to stay members and consequently may not approve the financial increase that is a necessity for WAGGGS to provide the support they think is necessary for all the MOs.

Next we learnt about the practical application of the WAGGGS working theme for 2009-2011 – Global Action. I have already shared that the tagline for the theme is:

girls worldwide say “together we can change our world”

I have also shared that the purpose of this theme is to address the UN Millenium Development Goals.

The implementation of this process will be through Thinking Day, the MOs, a Global Action Badge and an Advocacy Toolkit.

Being the area international adviser, it is really nice to learn that WAGGGS has already decided on the themes for the next three Thinking Days. They are:

2009 – we can stop the spread of AIDS, malaria and other diseases
2010 – together we can end extreme poverty and hunger
2011 – we can save our planet

The subsequent presentation was about the WAGGGS/UPS partnership. UPS has been working with WAGGGS for several years now because the two share a vision to strengthen communities and build women leaders to partake in the global economy. It was shared that women were a good investment because they are at once the fastest to be abused and the most vulnerable, but also the fastest growing number of entrepreneurs.

The Global Signature Program that WAGGGS and UPS have collaborated on was first introduced in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Mexico and has now spread to other countries as well.

Next, WAGGGS unveiled the WAGGGS Leadership Development Programme (WLDP). This program is focused on young people and for elements namely (1) non-formal education, (2) inter-cultural work, (3) intergeneration work and (4) values based action.

Then in the evening after we attended an event hosted by South Africa, we (Canada) hosted a reception for New Zealand, the UK, Australia, and the USA.