Catholic Women’s League of Canada | BC and Yukon Council

Submitted by: Sandra Stajduhar

Dear League Sisters and Father Tien,

Welcome back to another CWL year – hopefully full of enthusiasm and good ideas to share with members.  As Women of Peace and Hope, we can show leadership in developing and promoting resolutions that offer hope and encouragement to those in need as we work to make the world a better place.

2009 Resolutions

Although the resolutions are on the website (http://www.cwl.ca/resolutions/year.htm), and will appear in the Fall magazine, I have enclosed the resolutions and issue summaries for your use.  The explanation of the resolutions process details the fate of all the proposed resolutions.  I was both proud and humbled to find that the three resolutions presented at the national convention originated in B.C.  It was an awesome responsibility to defend these resolutions and follow their journey to completion.

To comment on the review process:  Do we recognize the resolution after it has been “reviewed”?  Having now been on both sides of this question – both reviewing and being reviewed – I can appreciate all of the hard work and genuine caring for the fate of the resolutions from committee members.  And I think we have a good system – ‘new’ eyes see the resolution at each level, and everyone brings their knowledge and background to the table – to make it as ‘perfect’ as possible.  I do want to add a word of caution though:  In our zeal to have a ‘professional’ product, worthy of being presented to our country’s leaders, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is just as important that the resolution be easily understood by our members across Canada.

To comment on the resolutions dialogue and debate on the resolution – I loved it!  My prayers before and during the convention kept me focused and able to accept all the comments, criticisms and amendments as sincere concern to make the resolutions the best they could be – truly a “national” effort for “national” resolutions.

As resolutions chairpersons, what is our job now concerning the 2009 resolutions?  Personally, we can follow the action plans.  As chairpersons, we can make sure that the information reaches all councils and that we ourselves understand the resolution, and we can work with the chairperson’s involved to promote action.

To recap the 2009 resolutions:

2009.01 EXIT STRATEGIES FOR PROSTITUTED PERSONS (Community Life)

(http://www.cwl.ca/resolutions/2009/2009-01.html)

2009.02 PROTECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FOREIGN VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING (Legislation) (http://www.cwl.ca/resolutions/year.htm)

2009.03 HATE MESSAGES (Legislation) (http://www.cwl.ca/resolutions/2009/2009-03.html)

BC 2009.01 REGULATING THE USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES ON SCHOOL PREMISES (Health and Education) (http://www.cwl.bc.ca/archives/480#comments)

2010 RESOLUTIONS

While we continue to work on the resolutions just passed, and previous resolutions still not resolved, it is time to look forward – to encourage members to identify needs and, if warranted, propose a resolution.

The resolutions workshop presented at diocesan conventions was well received – I hope it will bear fruit.  Continue to educate our members (and ourselves!).  The workshop has been sent to national and is on the website – perhaps sections can be reviewed in parish councils.  National chairperson, Barb Dowding, is interested in compiling a list of available workshops.  Do you have a resolutions workshop in your files to share?

Please read the National Oral Report enclosed, and as Mary did, “let us recognize the needs of others and place those needs before the Lord”.  As I am writing this communiqué, I am listening to a CD that I brought home from St. John’s – and share the thoughts that we are “One big family together that is powered from above” and that we can “be daring and trusting and reachin’, believin’ and climbing and lifting and soaring above…where even seagulls dream”.  As women of peace and hope, we can soar – and extend that peace and hope to others.