October 3rd, 2025

This publication contains time-sensitive information directed to Club Executives

and members and pertains to CFUW activities and events.

Please send relevant pieces to ALL Club members.
 

In this Edition:

  • Updates from the CFUW National Office
  • President's Message
  • 2025 CFUW Fall Advocacy Package
  • CFUW Charitable Trust AGM
  • 2025 Triennial of the Graduate Women International (GWI)
  • 2025-2027 International Service Project Webinar Recording
  • 2026 CFUW AGM & Conference
  • 2026 Policy Session Resolution Intents
  • Pathway to Economic Security Through Financial Education and Empowerment Webinar
  • Upcoming 2025-26 CFUW Grants
  • CFUW Archivist Workshop
  • Advocacy Toolbox Webinar
  • Monday Membership Moments
  • CFUW Member Drive + Database Drop-Ins
  • Canva 102 Webinar
  • VistaPrint 101 Webinar
  • Important Links for CFUW Members
  • Sharing Corner
    • SEE CFUW CLUB EVENTS HERE
    • Health and Climate Change: Solutions to Meet New Risks in Canada
    • Mental Health Day Webinar - Oct 10
  • IAW Updates
  • GWI Updates
  • Club Newsletters
 

Please note that Jaime Beagan will be out of office Wednesday, October 8th to Tuesday, October 14th, returning to the office Wednesday, October 15th. 

 

Please direct all inquires to Elizabeth Malcolm (memberservices@cfuw-fcfdu.ca). 
 

Welcome to the month of October and welcome to all of our new and returning members and to everyone who has taken on new, or old, positions of leadership in their local clubs. The CFUW GWI delegation has returned from Zambia (some of us took a bit longer to get back to Canada) and I wanted to thank everyone who was part of the delegation for how well they represented Canada at the Triennial and for everyone who has taken on Leadership Roles at GWI, despite some challenges (health and roads) along the way. The warmth of the country and its people will stay with me forever. And the importance of mentorship for women of all ages, including myself. As CFUW women we understand the importance of education and we know that we continue to learn from each other everyday.


A CFUW delegation of 5 women took advantage of our being in Zambia to visit the International Service Project with the Stephen Lewis Foundation - Young Healthy Happy Safe. Here, we learned how important our involvement is - money yes is important and we will be raising money, but also acknowledgement - knowing that people care about their well-being and that someone is supporting their efforts to learn and to live a healthy, safe life. The students, parents, teachers and administrators touched our lives and we hope that we can make a small step in supporting their current and future projects. We look forward to sharing photos and reports of both trips with all of you. 

 

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Bienvenue au mois d'octobre et bienvenue à tous nos nouveaux membres et à ceux qui reviennent, ainsi qu'à tous ceux qui ont pris de nouvelles fonctions de direction, ou repris d'anciennes fonctions, dans leurs clubs locaux. La délégation de la FCFDU GWI est de retour de Zambie (certaines d'entre nous ont mis un peu plus de temps à rentrer au Canada) et je tiens à remercier toutes les personnes qui ont fait partie de la délégation pour avoir si bien représenté le Canada lors de la réunion triennale, ainsi que toutes celles qui ont assumé des rôles de direction au sein de la GWI, malgré certaines difficultés (santé et routes) rencontrées en cours de route. La chaleur du pays et de ses habitants restera à jamais gravée dans ma mémoire. Tout comme l'importance du mentorat pour les femmes de tous âges, y compris moi-même. En tant que femmes de la FCFDU, nous comprenons l'importance de l'éducation et nous savons que nous continuons à apprendre les unes des autres chaque jour.


Une délégation de cinq femmes de la FCFDU a profité de notre séjour en Zambie pour visiter le projet de service international de la Fondation Stephen Lewis - Young Healthy Happy Safe. Nous y avons appris à quel point notre implication est importante - l'argent est certes important et nous allons collecter des fonds, mais la reconnaissance l'est tout autant - savoir que les gens se soucient de leur bien-être et que quelqu'un soutient leurs efforts pour apprendre et mener une vie saine et sûre. Les élèves, les parents, les enseignants et les administrateurs nous ont touchées et nous espérons pouvoir apporter une petite contribution à leurs projets actuels et futurs. Nous sommes impatientes de partager avec vous les photos et les comptes rendus de ces deux voyages. 

 

Linda Sestock 
National President, CFUW 
Présidente nationale, FCFDU 
 

The 2025 Fall Advocacy Package is here!
 
With the approval of seven resolutions at the CFUW Policy Session this past summer, the resolved clauses, background information and ways to take action have been combined for Clubs to look through.
 
This document also has tips and tricks, links to important advocacy documents and a template letter for each resolution for your Club to use when advocating on the issues. 
 
Please note that the full French version of this document will be available in next week's newsletter, but the template letters can be found in both French and English in this attached document. 
 
We would also like to clarify some information around resolutions after hearing from Clubs. 
 
A note on resolutions:
 
CFUW members are encouraged to act on resolutions according to the desire and capabilities of their Clubs. There is no expectation or requirement of a CFUW Club to act on any, or all, of the resolutions listed in this Fall Advocacy Package. Each Club can focus on the activities or causes that speak to them and that are relevant to their communities. If one of the resolutions that have passed fits with the Club’s current focus, CFUW National has resources available in all of our Fall Advocacy Packages and in the Member’s Drive to assist.
 

Support Graduate Study – Register to Attend the CFUW Charitable Trust AGM, Saturday October 4 @ 1 p.m.

 

Speaker—Lauren Stoyles, recipient of the 2025 Linda Souter Humanities Award; Topic: Curating in Community (Women’s Labour in Museums)

 

Register HERE

 

CFUW has supported graduate study, literacy and creative arts through awards and fellowships since its founding in 1919. In 1921 the 12 clubs of the federation awarded the first CFUW Travelling Fellowship of $1000. In 1967 the CFUW Charitable Trust was established as a separate entity to receive donations and manage the resulting funds to provide for: CFUW Fellowships and Awards, a biannual CFUW Creative Arts Award, a biannual CFUW Library Award. Today the Trust administers an account of over $2m that is used to fund awards for incredibly talented women who are pursuing graduate studies.

 

The Trust thanks the Clubs and individuals who support the work of the Trust through their donations. We would also like to encourage CFUW members to spread the word about the Trust and encourage young women in their circles to apply for an award.

 

Find out how you can make a difference through a donation to the CFUW Charitable Trust.

 

Donating to the Trust is as easy as clicking HERE
 

2025 Triennial of the Graduate Women International (GWI)

The delegation of 12 CFUW members to the 2025 Triennial of the Graduate Women International (GWI) are returning from Lusaka, Zambia following active participation in the General Assembly and conference sessions and exciting adventures during the pre and post-conference tours. 

 

5 CFUW delegates (Grace, Linda, Beryl, Lynne and Gail) went to Chipata along with Shannon Flemming from the Stephen Lewis Foundation (we travelled together from Lusaka to Mfuwe. They travelled to two Stephen Lewis Foundation schools to visit and experience the living and working conditions in those schools where CFUW’s International Service Project will be focused during 2025-2027.

 

Watch for the full report on the Triennial being compiled by delegates.

 

All CFUW nominees for positions on the GWI Board and Committees were successful and will serve during the 2026-28 Triennial. 

 

Congratulations to:

Pat Patton, President GWI

Lynne Kent, VP Fundraising

Joy Hurst, VP Legal and Governance

Gail Neff, Member Education Committee

Pat Reavy, Member Membership Committee

Beryl Matthewson, Convenor Resolutions Committee

Brenda Robertson, Member Hegg Hoffet Committee

 

A full listing for the GWI Board and Committees was received from GWI today and can be found HERE.
 

View the webinar recording HERE

The CFUW 2025-2027 International Service Project Young, Happy, Healthy  & Safe - Zambia with our partner the Stephen Lewis Foundation has officially launched! Over the upcoming year, our goal is to raise $15,000 from CFUW Clubs and members to support girls learning about sexual and reproductive health in rural Eastern Zambia.  Education for girls on health and rights information can help protect them from early marriage and pregnancy, gender-based violence, HIV infection, caregiving responsibilities and other determinants that directly impact their quality of life. 

More information about the project and links to a donation webpage are now available on our website.  Be sure to include your Club name with your donation.
 

Draft Schedule for the 2026 Montreal AGM and Conference.

Please note: this is a draft schedule and is subject to change, although arrival and departure dates will remain the same.

 

Monday, July 20th, 2026: Arrivals, Registration, First Timers Meet and Greet (PM).

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026: Arrivals, Registration, Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) Tours/Excursions around Montreal (TBD). Full day trip and half day excursions will be available. Opening ceremonies dinner. 

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026: Regional Meetings, AGM Session, Member Led Sessions.

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026: Policy Session, Member Led Sessions. Hosted Dinner with LAC. 

Friday, July 24th, 2026: Conference Keynotes & Speakers and Sessions. Check-Out and Departure (PM). 

 

Please note: CFUW Sherbrooke will be planning post-AGM and Conference activities/events in the Eastern Townships region, South East of Montreal for all day Saturday, July 25th and returning delegates to the airport by 3 pm Sunday, July 26th - in time for late afternoon flights.

 

More information to follow as the 2026 CFUW AGM & Conference schedule is confirmed. 
 

2026 CFUW Policy Session Resolution Intents

This notice is to advise Clubs, Councils and Committees that the due date for Intents to write a resolution for the 2026 Policy Session will be October 23, 2025.  The Intent submission includes a proposed title/topic and a short paragraph explaining what the resolution is about.

 

English Form: https://forms.gle/1GVauLF8E7KGGfH27

 

French Form: https://forms.gle/9uj78xv8Zauw8J539

 

An updated Resolutions Information and Guidelines 2025-2026 was approved at the September 4th, 2025 Board meeting. It includes the full schedule for resolutions.
 

Register HERE
 

Register HERE

 

At the National Office, we have received several inquiries from CFUW Clubs regarding the archiving of Club materials, ranging from specific question regarding the classification of different archival materials, to wondering where to begin.

 

The CFUW Communication Committee has scheduled an Archivist Workshop for Monday November 3, 2025 at 2pm ET, where an archival expert will speak to the different questions Clubs have regarding the archiving of materials. We are hoping this workshop will be a jumping off point for Clubs to better understand archiving and the archiving process. 

 

The Communications Committee is interested to know what specific questions your Club has around archiving. This will help us tailor the webinar and topics to hopefully be more specific in assisting Clubs in their archiving projects. 
 
Please fill out this attached FORM HERE, to help us better cater the webinar more to Clubs needs.

 

Register HERE
 

REGISTER HERE

 

✓    Find out what’s in this year’s Advocacy Tool Box. 
✓    Explore the relevant Member’s Drive Materials 
✓    Check out the new 2025 Adopted Resolutions Manual and Advocacy Action Document.   
✓    Share what your Local Advocacy Interest Group is doing
✓    Find out about the Advocacy Grant being offered 
✓    Explore how to implement a resolution - Taking Action to make a difference  

 

IF YOU’RE NEW to your local Advocacy Group come and meet the rest of the local teams to learn more. IF YOU ARE A VETERAN IN ADVOCACY, come and add your voice to the growing interest in Advocacy. Let’s talk about your ideas for the upcoming Advocacy year in CFUW.  
What do YOU need to succeed? 
How can we work together better? 

 

We especially invite all the Regional Directors, Club Presidents, Club Liaison Officers, and Regional Vice Presidents to this event along with all Advocacy Committee members in all Clubs and Councils.


Plus Any and All CFUW members are welcome.  
 

MMM Members Drive Link
September 29th Recruitment—notes found in the Members Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GDnDz76ixR0O_uSSGrE1aYvpo36XDbJq

 

Upcoming:
Monday October 27th  4-5:30 pm ET CFUW Awards and Projects- what works, how to plan
Building on ideas from the Membership Award winning projects recently

 

Monday November 24th 4-5:30 pm ET Alternative Leadership Models
Highlighting CFUW club ideas and other volunteer groups—what are the ingredients for success?

 

Membership Grants for Promotional materials, new projects, and recurring projects—check out the special Grants Club Action Newsletter each Tuesday in October-November. Deadline for our grants is Wednesday, November 19th 
 

Elizabeth Malcolm will be hosting biweekly (every two weeks) drop-in sessions for the CFUW Members Drive and CFUW Members Database. We cover topics such as: how to update Club Executive information, event calendar submissions, resources available in the Members Drive and so much more! 

 

Register HERE

 

A recording of a previous Drop-In is available HERE
 

Register HERE
 

Register HERE
 
 

Have you checked out the new CFUW Event Calendar? It’s jam packed with CFUW Committee meetings, Club Events, and important dates from the National Office!

 

Clubs are encouraged to submit their events to the CFUW National Event Calendar through the CFUW Member Database.
 

Tickets can be purchased HERE
 

Register HERE
 
 
 

Do you want your Club’s newsletter shared in the CFUW Club Action newsletter? Send your newsletter to Elizabeth Malcolm at memberservices@cfuw-fcfdu.ca
 
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