The Rebranding FAWCO Team has submitted a draft proposal to the FAWCO Board, and we hope to present a rebranding design in another 4-6 weeks. We also want to find the language that all of us can use to explain the dynamic global gateway that is FAWCO.
The Team has recommended that the acronym FAWCO be retained and emphasized, as it is recognized in Washington, at the UN and on several global projects. Our American heritage is important and, while making certain FAWCO stays relevant to all women of our membership today as well as other international groups, we feel this one club member captured the feelings of many others when she wrote: “I think retaining the US orientation is important, as US members are the base of the membership. We need to keep up to date information available about US issues. The activities/prog rams of FAWCO are not necessarily only of interest to US citizen members. So, the strengths of the various programs can/should be made better known.”
Throughout our work the team members have kept in mind the importance of maintaining strong member clubs. Our member clubs are the anchor and platform on which FAWCO is built. When we discuss the services that FAWCO offers to our member clubs, we visualize these services and resources as four pillars: Support to Member Clubs, Global Issues, US issues and Philanthropy. Because FAWCO offers so many opportunities, capturing all these elements makes rebranding a little more difficult. The concept of four pillars makes it clearer and we are unique in offering this combination.
FAWCO’s essence is not only defined by what we offer but by what we are committed to and how we approach it. FAWCO values are a testament to this uniqueness: Personal Commitment - we stand personally for what we believe in and care for, have a professional pursuit of goals, and a strong desire to give back; An American Spirit - we are welcoming, have a can-do spirit and drive to make a difference; and A Global View - FAWCO is a community of international women who care for and support communities in all parts of the world, and who share international experiences. By bringing communities together we harness the potential of what we can do as one. A FAWCO Rep sent this message: “I was initially drawn to becoming a FAWCO Rep as I have long had a passion about Human Rights, Women's Rights and Literacy. To discover an organization that addresses all of these topics on an international scale was fantastic... Where I am challenged is FAWCO does so much that it can be overwhelming to try and understand it.... In reading the update, I love the simplicity of the four pillars as organizing principles. It streamlines how to think about FAWCO's efforts and is an easy way to explain the group to someone who is brand new.”
FAWCO is a gateway through which our members move from a local effort to a global voice. We offer a pathway to changing people’s lives, mobilizing the talents and generosity of every club member. Together we find a common voice and CAN make a difference!
Kathleen Simon, Chair
Rebranding FAWCO Team
Angela Anderson, AC of Shanghai
Angelika McLarren, AWC Berlin
Mary Adams, AWC The Hague
Mary Eckert, AWC London
Pam Perraud AAWE Paris
Terri Knudsen, AWC in Denmark
