Women's National Book Association
at the United Nations

The Women's National Book Association has been a Non-Governmental Organization member of the United Nations since 1959. An NGO is defined as "any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which 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 UN 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 UN. Our organization disseminates information about the United Nations 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 UN New York City headquarters, including regular briefings and the annual DPI/NGO conference.

During the past four decades, we have had five NGO representatives: Beatrice James, Helen Wessells Hettinger, Rose Eichelberger, Claire Friedland and Sally Wecksler. In January 2001, Jill Tardiff was appointed to the position of chief representative, and is currently serving in that role. In addition, a group of dedicated women are working hard to increase our support for the UN. The WNBA Committee for UN Relations is composed of nine members. Three chapter presidents - Laurie Beckelman of Boston, Kathleen Dietz of Nashville and Margaret Flanders of Los Angeles - join our two UN DPI/NGO delegates - Jill Tardiff and Sally Wecksler. Two national past presidents, Nancy Stewart and Diane Ullius join these five on the committee, which is rounded off with two members-at-large, Claire Friedland of New York and L. Peat O'Neil of Washington.

For more information about the United Nations go to:
	United Nations	www.un.org
	United Nations News Service	www.un.org/News
United Nations Department of Public Information/Public Affairs Division
	NGO Section,	www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/index.html
United Nations Department of Public Information/Library and Publications Division
	Dag Hammarskjöld Library,	www.un.org/Depts/dhl
	Publications,	www.un.org/Pubs
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
	(UNESCO)	www.unesco.org
	Departments of the UN Secretariat
	Department of Economic and Social Affairs
	Division for the Advancement of Women,	www.un.org/womenwatch/daw
	Division for Social Policy and Development,	www.un.org/esa/socdev/index.html
	Division for Sustainable Development,	www.un.org/esa/sustdev/dsd.htm
Other Offices and Programmes/UN Departments
	United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
	United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM),	www.unifem.undp.org
	United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),	www.unicef.org

WNBA Responds to Myanmar Cyclone Disaster with Members' Donations to U.S. Fund For UNICEF

5 May 2008

Dear Jill,

Attached is our Press Release just issued on the crisis. According to UNICEF, women and children make up more than half of victims of the devastating cyclone that hit the area. Hundreds of thousands more at risk because of lack of shelter and unsafe drinking water.

The PR is also on our homepage www.unicefusa.org. A online donation form is in place at www.unicefusa.org/myanmar.

UNICEF has been in Myanmar since 1950 so we are well positioned to assist during this emergency situation. UNICEF will be the lead UN agency on water and sanitation, hygiene, child protection, and education.

Thank you, Jill, for your eagerness in distributing this information among the WNBA network and in helping us raise emergency resources to aid those affected by the cyclone.

Warm regards,

Kate

Kate Weber
Director, NGOs
United States Fund for UNICEF
125 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
212 922 2618
www.unicefusa.org

Myanmar Cyclone: Women and Children Make up More than Half of Victims – UNICEF Press Release [PDF]