CFUW looks to cyber-possibilities

The Canadian Federation of University Women is a voice on issues which are important to women, but that has not made attracting today's university graduates to the fold easy.

While there are more women graduating from university than ever, it hasn't meant the CFUW has gained massive numbers, at least yet, said Brenda Wallace president of the national organization.

"We're hoping in the future it will (mean more members)," she told Yorkton This Week on a recent visit to the city to meet with members of the local chapter.

Wallace said today women "are very, very busy with family and careers," and that doesn't leave a lot of time for a group like the CFUW, no matter how important their work may be.

It's also a case of times changing, offered Wallace, who hails from Regina, being only the third Saskatchewan woman to ever head the national organization. She explained she joined the federation years ago as a way to meet people, and to network.

"Today there's a totally different style of networking," she offered.

Today when women want to work on an issue, "they go to the Internet," she said.

And that move to the Internet is something Wallace said the CFUW wants to more fully embrace.

"We hope soon to have a virtual club for women to attend," she said, adding it was an idea which began to formulate for her based on a conversation with a Yorkton member. The member related how after a long day at work, and family, it was often a challenge to find the energy to get out to a meeting, but sitting down at her computer was something that would be easier.

A virtual meeting would address the situation, said Wallace.

By turning to the Internet Wallace said she would hope to bring more young women into the federation to continue the organization's work.

In terms of speaking on behalf of women on a range of issues, Wallace said the CFUW remains active with a policy book of nearly 200 pages.

"We have a policy on just about everything relating to women." she said, adding it covers the range from health and child care to workplace fairness.

And the policies evolve and are added to as issues evolve and change, said Wallace, pointing to recent CFUW work on "wind turbines and their effect on the environment."

Wallace said the 9,500-member federation spends a lot of time doing research before adopting policy. Once adopted though they become avid supporters of their position, informing both the public and policy makers on the issues, she said.