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The Alaska Women’s Network Mission
The purpose of the Alaska Women's Network is to empower Alaskan women through the sharing of information, education and support, and through encouraging the development of skills which will enable women to assume leadership roles in building a better world.
The History of the Alaska Women’s Network
The Alaska Women's Network was founded in Juneau, Alaska, during the Alaska Women's Conference held in March 1996. Over the three-day gathering, women sought each other out to talk about a lasting legacy of the conference. As the tables and chairs were being put away at the end of the last day, a group of 25 to 30 women from different Alaskan communities gathered together to talk about some kind of organization that would serve as a statewide clearinghouse for information of interest to the women of the state.
A major catalyst for action was the 1995 United Nations Conference on Women held in Beijing, China. Many of the women who had traveled to China for this historic event were at the Alaska Women's Conference. They wanted to continue the momentum and fervor they had experienced in China. Their passion and excitement was contagious. Many of the women also wanted some kind of replacement for the Alaska Women's Commission, which had been phased out by state government.
After a few hours of spirited discussion, it was agreed that there would be an organization based on a website. The Internet seemed like the logical answer to how information could be shared on a shoestring budget in a state the size of Alaska. The Alaska Women's Network was born. (Many of the founding mothers are still board members.) Working through e-mail and by telephone, a Board of Directors was selected. The Alaska Women's Network website was up and running by August 1996. Within a few years, AWN became a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and the idea of a "cyberspace organization" with no regular meetings, chapters, or dues was no longer strange.
AWN now has almost 200 members in 27 communities throughout Alaska, as well as women who have left Alaska and stay in touch through AWN.
How AWN Works
There is a board of traditional officers with the exception of a Web Goddess position. Since AWN is the website, the Web Goddess is critically important. An Executive Committee handles business between board meetings and makes recommendations to the full board. All communication is done electronically with the exception of quarterly teleconferences and an annual face-to-face meeting.
The primary functions of the board are to ensure that the website reflects the mission, to approve the budget, to contribute ideas for projects and additions to the website content, and to recruit members.
A major cornerstone of AWN is the Platform for Action from the 1995 UN Conference on Women in Beijing. Board members also look for opportunities to act on the Platform recommendations in Alaska. Funding for teleconferences and special events comes from grants, donations and voluntary contributions by the board members. Board members are recruited through AWN's list serve and every effort is made to have representation from different regions of the state.
All Information Taken From AWN About Us
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