Planning for the Future
Submitted by
Sue Webster, National President
It is hard to
believe that the holiday season is already upon us and we are
moving quickly toward a brand new year full of hope and
promise. This holiday season, I plan to take time to consider
and give thanks for the many blessings that have been given to
my family and me. I encourage you to do the same.
In recent issues
of News & Views, I shared that during the next couple of years,
we will be renewing efforts in the area of strategic planning to
focus on the future of FEW. We will work to make Federally
Employed Women (FEW) the organization of choice for leadership,
equity and the advancement of women. We will work to do this
through specific initiatives including partnerships, leadership
development, fiscal security and membership. We will continue
our emphasis on our focus areas of Compliance, Diversity,
Legislation and Training. In the October issue, I discussed with
you the Partnership area and shared my goals with you related to
that aspect of strategic planning. As I promised, I resume in
this issue of News & Views with a look at the area of Fiscal
Security.
My goals for FEW
include managing resources effectively and ensuring ample
resources. We must ensure that FEW’s current revenues are
stable and work to foster sources of revenue that are
sustainable for the long-term. We have to find some means other
than just the National Training Program (NTP) to serve as our
primary means of income. We need to find a way to ensure that
if an NTP fails for some reason, we are able to survive
financially in the meantime. We must look at best practices of
other organizations to find examples of how they are financially
sound.
Within this issue,
you will find information about a Strategic Planning initiative
that was kicked off in October 2008. Also included is
information on a Think Tank effort, which allows you to have
input into a very successful future for FEW.
A team has been
chartered to look at the four strategic areas (partnerships,
leadership development, fiscal security and membership) and we
can all look forward to a roll out of our final Strategic Plan
during the Chapter Presidents’ Leadership Forum to be held in
Orlando on July 19, 2009.
I cannot over
emphasize that your ideas are welcomed and your help is
essential in keeping FEW successful, as nothing can be
accomplished by working alone.
As the new year
begins, I encourage each of you to resolve to become involved as
a member, grow, and learn in FEW. Remember to practice our
principle of Each One, Teach One. Plan now to attend the FEW
National Training Program, “Keys to Success,” to be held in
Orlando, Florida July 20-24, 2009. In addition, continue to
participate in your Chapter and Regional Training Programs.
What a great way to start a brand new year—working on improving
yourself and helping others. You will be paid back in ways you
cannot begin to imagine!
I would be remiss
if I did not discuss the recent election and the history that we
all had the opportunity to participate in as American citizens.
Now the election results are in and history has been made as a
result. Regardless of which party you supported, we should all
be thankful to have had the opportunity to vote and let our
voices be heard as our votes truly counted in this historic
election. For the first time, we had a female Republican
candidate for Vice President (there have been many females that
ran for President or Vice President, but of the major two
parties, Democrate Geraldine Farraro was the first, she ran as
Walter Mondale’s running mate) AND an African-American candidate
for President. While we all now know the results, we can also
take great pride in witnessing the progress that the U.S. has
made in getting to this election. I am very thankful to live in
a country where I have the right to walk into a polling place
and select the individuals I want to select to serve in
leadership positions at all levels of government.
Let us not forget
this holiday season (or at any time for that matter) our men and
women who are serving in the armed forces to continue to provide
us freedom of choice. President-Elect Barack Obama stated in
his election night remarks, “Even as we stand here tonight, we
know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq
and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
Let us all remember them and their families in our thoughts and
prayers.”
I wish for you and
yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy this
time with your families and friends. Take time for yourself and
remember to BREATHE during the times that may seem stressful.
In the new year, we will harness the power of our organization
and work together to make FEW the organization of choice for
leadership, equity and advancement for women.
In closing, I
leave you with the thought that was written in Mandela’s
congratulatory note to President-Elect Obama. Nelson Mandela,
South Africa’s first black President, said, “Your victory has
demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not
dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better
place.”
I challenge each of you to dream big!
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