The Women’s National Book Association at the United Nations

The Women’s National Book Association has been a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) member of the United Nations since 1959. An NGO is defined as “any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group that is organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring citizens’ concerns to governments, monitor policies and encourage political participation at the community level.” As a NGO affiliated with the Department of Public Information (DPI), we must meet the following four criteria in order to remain a member in good standing:

• Share the ideals of the UN Charter.
• Operate solely on a not-for-profit basis.
• Have a demonstrated interest in United Nations issues and proven ability to reach large or specialized audiences, such as educators, media representatives, policy makers and the business community.
• Have the commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes about UN activities by publishing newsletters, bulletins, pamphlets; organizing conferences, seminars and roundtables; and enlisting the cooperation of the media.

In short, it is our responsibility to support the United Nations in its goals and to win support for those goals among the wider community we work with. In effect, WNBA members are to be ambassadors for the U.N. Our organization disseminates information about the U.N. through all the means at our disposal, especially through our national and chapter publications and monthly programs. Furthermore, we agree to participate in activities for NGOs at the U.N. New York City headquarters, including regular briefings, workshops and the annual DPI/NGO conference. WNBA has consistently met these obligations over past years, thus maintaining its status as a “NGO in good standing.” The Association is current and up-to-date with all mandatory paperwork as required by DPI, notably the annual Accreditation Form and Activity Report. The 2010 filing was submitted on January 29, 2010, with designated Areas of Interest: Women.

The Association is also committed to the achievement of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015.

During the past five decades, WNBA has had five NGO representatives: Beatrice James, Helen Wessells Hettinger, Rose Eichelberger, Claire Friedland, and Sally Wecksler. In January 2001, Jill Tardiff (WNBA-NYC chapter) was appointed to the position of chief representative, and is currently serving in that role. In addition, Nancy Stewart (WNBA-Nashville) joined Ms. Tardiff as the Association’s alternate representative that same year, and continues to work with Ms. Tardiff, especially in activities that support WNBA’s informal partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

There is also the WNBA Committee for U.N. Relations that is comprised of members from the Association’s 10 chapters (Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.). Their individual and group role supposedly is to assist primarily with consensus building among chapter members, as well as with the dissemination of information received from the chief and alternate representatives, distribution of materials in support of related national and chapter activities, including fund-raising and partnership-building, and provide an annual accounting of said activities.

The WNBA fosters individual member projects related to the mission of the U.N. and its various initiatives like the MDGs for example “The Dream Project” created by former WNBA-L.A. president Kelly Sullivan Walden. Follow The Dream Project.

The Women’s National Book Association also has a special on-going partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. This partnership was conceived and developed in 2004 under the auspices of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF (NGO Section). The Association role ranges from emergency-relief donations (Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004; Myanmar Cyclone Disaster 2008; Haiti Earthquake 2010) to annual fund-raising (Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF), from UNICEF USA campaign-awareness (The UNICEF Tap Project, Believe in Zero—24,000) to literacy advocacy for women and girls (UNICEF’s Afghanistan Education Alliance).

WNBA/Boston Reaches Out to the Women's Lunch Place

In March 2009, WNBA/Boston contacted the Women’s Lunch Place to start a conversation about how the chapter could help the Boston-based organization by designating it the recipient of the chapter’s literacy outreach efforts. In an e-mail reply Executive Director Sharon Reilly said, "Thank you so much for considering the Women’s Lunch Place for this special opportunity. We are honored that you would consider us and we humbly accept the offer. Books are quite important to our guests and we are always looking for new sources to keep our library stocked."

Beginning with the WNBA annual dinner in June 2009 and other events including the annual Holiday Tea in December, the chapter has gathered donations of new and gently-used books for the women and children who visit The Women’s Lunch Place. For more than 25 years, it has been a daytime community in Boston for poor and homeless women and their children. Open six days a week, year-round, it offers food, friendship, and a spectrum of advocacy and support services.

The Women's Lunch Place is one of the few sites where many of the guests can find comfort and sustenance during the day. Recently, the organization has seen a significant increase in services. It served 200 more breakfasts and 435 more lunches in May of 2008 than in May of 2007.

In the organization’s recent newsletter, Sharon Reilly commented, "We consider ourselves fortunate to work with so many donors, volunteers, and staff who are dedicated to treating women with dignity and respect." WNBA/Boston is delighted to support the Women’s Lunch Place in its mission.

For more, visit the Women’s Lunch Place website.