Southwest Unitarian Universalist Women (SWUUW), begun in the late 1940s, has undergone significant changes in recent years. In 2002, we were approved as a nonprofit organization. In 2004, we applied for and received approval as an independent affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). In 2006 we will sponsor our 20^th annual conference using new procedures which allow for local initiative and yet provide organizational control and assurances.

Our current membership is approximately 250 women drawn primarily from the Southwest District of the UUA. Recently we learned that SWUUW is a singular organization. Rebecca Scott of the Financial Development Office of the UUA attended our 2004 conference in Oklahoma City. She was impressed by the large number of attendees and when she returned to Boston, she polled the UUA’s 20 districts and learned that no others outside the Southwest District had district-wide women’s organizations, nor held annual conferences of similar size or for such long duration.

More information about SWUUW is available on our website (http://www.swuuw.com).

II. SWUUW Mission and Vision

SWUUW had completed a great deal of work prior to submitting its application to become a nonprofit. The bylaws were rewritten, and the board engaged in several planning and visioning exercises through which we redeveloped the mission and vision of the organization as follows:

Southwest Unitarian Universalist Women is a member organization that exists to serve the following purposes:

To deepen the religious life of the women of the Southwest District;

To bring the women of the District into closer acquaintance, cooperation, and fellowship;

To promote the formation of new women's groups in churches and fellowships;

To develop women leaders to be a strong and effective voice;

To sponsor an annual Women's Conference;

To educate our members and the wider community on the status of women; and

To work across the globe to promote greater social justice through long term, systemic change at the local, national and international levels.

III. Recent Accomplishments, Changes and Trends

Many of the changes in SWUUW’s organizational structure were part of an overall effort to provide greater direction and focus to the organization. For the past 20 years, our primary activity has been an annual conference, typically held in February. Responsibility for conference planning has alternated between various women’s groups throughout the district. While this has given our conferences lots of creative energy, it may have contributed to an overall lack of organizational strength and centrality. Many of the changes undertaken in SWUUW’s structure over the past several years were done with the express intent of addressing these two issues. We strive to give the board more control over the organization and input into our primary program, the conference.

As examples of this change in direction, in 2003, SWUUW became involved in microcredit lending by opening a village bank in Haiti through FINCA, the Foundation for International Community Assistance. In that same year we also donated to the Heifer Foundation. Every year SWUUW raises money for its social justice work through its lunch time program at SWUUSI, the Southwest UU Summer Institute, held in Lake Texoma, OK.

IV. 2005-2010 Planning Process

Because SWUUW has been successful in achieving many of the milestones it set for itself over the past several years, the board felt it was time to produce a strategic plan. On April 8, 2005, the board met with a consultant, Liza Ely, and spent a day with her reviewing our mission and purposes. We covenanted as a board and developed ideas for moving forward.

V. SWOT: Internal Strengths and Weaknesses, External Opportunities and Threats

An important part of strategic planning is a SWOT analysis which identifies strengths and weaknesses internal to the organization, and also examines the larger environment in terms of the threats and opportunities presented.

A. Strengths

1. SWUUW membership: size and longevity.

2. The SWUUW Conference, which will celebrate its 20^th anniversary next year.

3. Membership commitment and loyalty to the organization:

Members come year after year to the annual conference. We also have leadership that has been steadfast and dedicated over the years.

4. Non-profit status:

This allows us to do tax deductible fundraising and bulk mailing.

5. Women’s groups across the district and their leaders:

This is the organizational base of SWUUW, as yet un-calibrated and un-marshaled.

6. Status as a UUA independent affiliate:

This allows us to present two workshops at future General Assemblies and thus showcase our member’s talents and skills to a wider national audience of UU women.

B. Weaknesses

1. Leadership and involvement of membership:

Many of the 250 members only attend the conference and otherwise have no involvement in the organization.

2. Financial resources:

We have no reserves and do not yet have clearly defined areas where we can grow financially.

3. Lack of diversity in membership:

We do not have many members of color or younger members.

4. Need for a network of support for women leaders in congregations throughout the district.

5. Better understanding of the needs and skills of our own members.

C. Threats

1. Marginal Status of Women

An important backdrop for SWUUW is the status of women both in the United Stated and internationally. Only a cursory examination reveals that women continue to be underpaid and overworked. They are disproportionately represented among victims of violent crimes, particularly within their own families. Despite these facts, they continue to shoulder primary responsibility for raising and providing for their children, often without assistance from the fathers of those children.

2. Low Priority for Women’s Right

The largest age cohort of women in America today came out of a time in our history unparalleled in achievement for women’s rights. These rights, hard fought and won, have been taken for granted and sidelined, while this generation of women has been busy ever since raising children and pursuing careers.

3. Women Little Time Left for Activism Even on Their Own Behalf

Women are over-worked and therefore have little time to support organizations, even those such as SWUUW that support their rights and freedoms.

D. Opportunities

1. Growing Awareness of Women’s Low Status Around the Globe

There seems to be a growing awareness of the plight of women around the globe. The U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women is one indication of this. Across the political spectrum there is a movement to advance the political rights of women.

2. Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation, UUWF, leadership and support.

3. UUA organizational support.

4. Sponsoring and supporting women’s groups outside the UUA who are interested in pursuing spiritual paths similar to our own.

5. SWUUW Status as Independent Affiliate of the UUA

As a UUA Independent Affiliate we have an opportunity to present our cause to the larger venue of UU women nationally.

6. SWUUW Non-Profit Status allows fundraising

Following is an outline of the plan. Part I concerns the five basic components of SWUUW’s mission and vision, which are described below in terms of their strategic importance to SWUUW. Part II is a list of specific program goals and objectives for the coming five years.

VI. Mission and Vision of SWUUW

A. Community

The SWUUW community is an important source of support and networking. We recognize that it is through cooperation and solidarity that we can be most effective agents for change. Small groups have played an important role in raising women’s consciousness, and have helped us to fight for women’s rights and equality under the law.