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TO: YWCA Local Association Leaders

FROM: Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., CEO

DATE: September 21, 2015

SUBJECT: Important Conference News

Dear YWCA Leaders,

As per my note to you on September 3, 2015, the YWCA USA National Team is focusing our FY’16 efforts in three key areas:

Mission Impact, Metrics and Measurement
Brand Awareness and Marketing
Fundraising and Development

During our budget planning process, we took a comprehensive look at our overall operational plan and made decisions that will enable us to continue achieving maximal impact and optimally position our team for success during the next phase of our important work together.

Change in YWCA USA “Annual" Conference Scheduling –Next “Annual” Conference to be held in 2017

Each of our key efforts listed above will require a tremendous amount of human and financial resources at the national level. As such and with the approval of our National Board of Directors, we have made a decision to change YWCA USA conference scheduling. This schedule change will allow us to leverage our resources more effectively while at the same time elevate and revitalize our organization and continue to offer significant value to our local associations.

To that end, I am writing to inform you that the YWCA USA “Annual" conference will not be held in calendar year 2016.The next YWCA USA “Annual" conference will be held in calendar year 2017 and every other year following 2017. While this was a difficult decision for us to make, we are confident that it is the right decision for our organization at this point in our evolution.

It is important to note that although we will not host an Annual conference in 2016, as per our bylaws, we will continue to host the “Annual Business Meeting” of the local associations to discuss and transact required organizational business that must come before the membership, such as the election of directors.

As always, the Annual Business Meeting will be open to anyone who wishes to attend. However, local association leadership will not need to be physically present at the 2016 Annual Business meeting in order to transact organizational business.

More details will follow regarding the logistics of the Annual Business Meeting that will be held in 2016.

Leadership and Capacity Building Institute (LCBI) - February 3-5, 2016

I am pleased to announce that the Leadership and Capacity Building Institute (LCBI) will be held at the Palm Springs Renaissance Hotel located in Palm Springs, CA from February 3 to February 5, 2016 so please save the dates. A pre-institute may be held on February 2, 2016 so you are encouraged to hold that date on your calendar as well.

We fully recognize the importance of convening to share new ideas and network. As such and in response to recommendations received from local association leadership as part of the 2015 Local Association Satisfaction Survey, we are excited to add a new component to LCBI that will enable local association leadership to gather and explore strategic opportunities for collaboration with geographic network peers.

We look forward to seeing many of you at this conference so we have already opened registration! Please register early, mark your calendars, and plan now to join your colleagues in Palm Springs, CA for another great opportunity to enhance knowledge, build organizational capacity, network and have fun!

NOTE: We will continue to provide a “stipend” to eligible local associations to help defray the costs of attending the YWCA USA Leadership and Capacity Building Institute. Given the changes in our conference scheduling and anticipated expenses for local associations, the FY’16 stipend will be $750 per local association and it will be paid to local associations in compliance with organizational requirements no later than November 1, 2015.

Thanks again to each of you for all that you do. Stay tuned for more information and register today for the upcoming YWCA USA Leadership and Capacity Building Institute from February 2 – 5, 2016. I can assure you that it will be time well spent!

Sincerely,

Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D.
YWCA USA CEO