FCEM in 2009 - what do we want from it?

Heidi
(9 posts)

Written April 20 2009

Dagmar you bring up a great point. There needs to be ways to attract more and younger members to FCEM. I have been to two congresses, one in Cairo and one in Brussels. Both were great experiences because of the rich participation of individuals who were there. But, as Mary mentioned, it is a challenge for individuals to come up with the resources for participating in global congresses. Those members need to experience the beauty of being part of FCEM on a global scale. I have two suggestions:

More workshops at FCEM that work on skill building and knowledge sharing for entrepreneurs at the events. As a professional development investment as well as networking, there is more to be gained from participation. hese can be provided by and spotlight some of the FCEM members who are doing work helping entrepreneurs build their businesses.

For those that cannot physically attend, harnessing technology to make the congress more accessible would be a worthwhile investment. Using podcasts, video clips, even live online conferencing, the remote members and the younger generation can engage and participate in events. These tools are also great for PR to build awareness of FCEM.

Rúna
(225 posts)

Written April 20 2009

Heidi - very good points!

I totally agree, FCEM could attract so many younger women by stepping more into the 21st century with the tools already available, podcast, webinar, virtual conference etc.

More interactive workshops would also give a great value for the congress, and again these could be live event for women who can't for some reason attend the event themselves.

<b>What do you think about if each continent would have separate conference f. example prior to the World Congress?</b>
That could give more women the opportunity to meet within the continent, and inspire more to attend the World Congress it's self. Just thinking about the Congress 2009 in Cameroon, might be very difficult for many women in Europe to travel to Cameroon, but they might find it more easy to meet the FCEM women in Europe in a meeting in central Europe.

Interested to hear your opinion about that idea.

Britta
(102 posts)

Written April 20 2009

Dear women,
I just thought if I would go to a "precontinental" meeting before going to Cameroon. Well, I think, many of us would stick in their continents, but If we could go as a european women to an asia "contental" Meeting that would be of interest.

I would not want not miss the internationl flair I felt in Brussels last year, but I do understand as I love to Skype and have web conferences, videos is also such a fun and powerful thing. Adn I got Dagmard point to hace the big ladies (ups, meaning the powerful women) in congresses. It would work out liuke Julie said in the beginning: <b>Let's get involved<b>

I love the idea as long as we get together as women entrepeneur. We all have our opinions and cultures, but I think only as a powerful group of women showing the world what we push (meeting, communication) we can bring more peace to the world.
SO lets get closer and stay open minded for all thats up including new technologies.
I personally would love to get more information from other contintents at a meeting, and learn how different the situation is in different countries. SOmething we usually do not get via press/print and nespapers.

yours Britta

Lisa
(10 posts)

Written April 20 2009

I am very excited to see this dynamic interchange about FCEM. Thank you, Britta, for starting the conversation and thanks to each of you who are so thoughtfully contributing. I, too, am very supportive of the idea behind FCEM and its very remarkable founding history. Yet, we DO need to help this organization be relevant and, more importantly, sustainable. I have been reading a lot of material on FCEM and cannot find any statement of purpose or vision for the organization. However, here are the Mission and Aims:
FCEM is a non-profit, non-governmental, non-political and non-sectarian organization whose activities at the national and international level are aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurial initiative and reinforcing national associations of women business owners through:
• Creating awareness and reinforcing the visibility of women business owners
• Lobbying and advocacy before public and private institutions, policymakers and governments on issues that impede women’s entrepreneurial potential
• Promoting solidarity, friendship, cultural understanding and the exchange of experiences and ideas
• Facilitating the development of business, partnership, and trade
• Fostering professional growth and business skills perfection and encouraging women to create enterprise

So, as you think about these things, what do YOU think the 21st century vision of the organization should be? And the purpose?

Delia Raquel
(14 posts)

Written April 26 2009

My dear business women,

Wow!!!! Welcome to the 21st Century!!

Friends: you are incredibles!!

Lets to do history.....My first World Congress was in Glasgow, there I met Dagmar -among others beautiful women from different places.

For me was great to participate in my first FCEM Congress: I loved that!!! And from that moment i started to work in oame (Argentina) with commitment and passion.-


I agree with Mary, with Lisa...
I think, for example, that we can think about new VISION and MISSION, for FCEM as a World Orgatization of the 21st Century.-
It means to be a dynamic and modern Organization.

This Organization, for example, could to use new informatic tools, to conquer and retain young blood, to review statutes....also in the national organizations of FCEM : are all in accordance with the FCEM??

Britta, we can use the skype, yes. ....My english is noy very good, but I try....

We keep in contact, warm hugs


Delia, from Buenos Aires (in autum)

Britta
(102 posts)

Written April 30 2009

Dear fantastic Women,

for me FCEM means like Delia says: Passion and Visions where we want go lead our world to in these times.

What I do not know if there is a estatuto/Satzung/ Written Rules what FCEM is about. There fore I totally agree with Lisa and her VISIONS - MISSIONS-AIMS of FCEM as she wrote.

Maybe one of you could answer, how the presidential time is formed? THere are votes/ellections going on. I'm curious to know as the german anual meeting is in Berlin in June and I would love to participate in forming the future for my kids world --> Peace and UNderstanding fo our different cultures, supporting each other and making up a working netwwork in here.

Britta - from a sunny Hamburg (thanks god)

Lisa
(10 posts)

Written April 30 2009

There are statutes for FCEM and presidents are elected for a two-year mandate by the presidents of the member-countries in a World Committee meeting. The mandate may be renewed twice by the vote of these presidents. Our current president, Mme Foning, has just received a renewal of her mandate and will begin her third term in October 2009. Her term will end in October 2011 and is not renewable according to the current bylaws.

Britta
(102 posts)

Written May 04 2009

Dear LIsa,

what I do not understand, aren't the next elecctions not in Cameroon? Well, I will read the statutes of the FCEM first, as I'm very new in this organisation and might get confused with the english terms.

Here they are for other interested women:
http://www.fcem.org/www/en/doc.asp?mcat=3&mrub=13


Well, It is good to have experienced women to explain all this.

Thanks Britta

Delia Raquel
(14 posts)

Written May 09 2009

Dear Friends,

I wonder if the statutments of FCEM are contemplating mandate deadlines for the presidents of National Associations.

Particularly in Argentina, our organization, "oame" allows unlimited re-elections. For nearly 20 years we have the same National President. I'm not sure if this is healthy for an organization.

I love this organization, I am eager to work and bring new ideas, modernizing it ... But I have a wall! Sometimes I like to lower the arms ...

Hugs,

Delia

Julie
(13 posts)

Written May 09 2009

I agree with Delia - change is a good thing for any organization, as is being open, transparent and communicative. Luckily, I think, technology has made it much easier to communicate globally - and forums such as Connected-Women are great for these sorts of conversations.

I learned a new word the other say - in Anishinaabemowin (the language of the Ojibwe tribe that is native to my area of Michigan in the US) - which is: Soowanikwe. It means "the power of women"! It is similar to a word I learned a few years ago in South Africa - Malibongwe - which means the same thing. So, here's to the power of women banding together for the good of humankind!