Not surprisingly, we have new officers! Here they are:
Look forward to a lot of awesome projects and possibilities next year! Thanks for all the help from everyone who has been involved with Fire this year.
Love and Solidarity,
Madeline Wetta
Clicking on the title of this post will take you to our ballot!
Here is information on all of our candidates for 2011-2012:
Name: Kelsey Longpine
Position(s) Running for: Facilitator
Major: Women’s Studies and Political Science; minor in Philosophy
Academic Standing: senior
Experience: I am currently the Women’s Studies Ambassador Vice President and am running for President in the coming year, I think this is helpful because it will allow me to work between the two groups in spreading the word about events and helping to co-sponsor events! I am member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Triota (National Women’s Studies Honors Society), Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honors Society), Phi Eta Sigma (Collegiate Honors Society).
Interest in feminism and/or this position: I have been a Feminist nearly all my life, but have become much more involved in feminist Activism since my latter years of High School. I have worked on campaigns focusing on feminist issues, as well as attended workshops and lectures of such spoke on feminist issues. As a WS and PoliSci major many of the classes I have taken/taking many classes that focus specifically on feminist issues.
Name: Amelia Engel
Email: ACEngel@ksu.edu
Position(s) Running for: Event Coordinator
Major: Women’s Studies and Leadership minor
Academic Standing: Senior
Experience: 2 years as secretary treasurer for SAAD in high school; 1 year as secretary of FIRE; I have also organized many events throughout my life at school, church, and with organizations my parents belong to. I am most proud of my work on an initiative to fund Topeka’s Let’s Help lunch kitchen during weekends with my father’s Rotary Group. With FIRE specifically, I did some organizing for Maria Lugones. I also assisted Madeline with some of the planning for our trip to Oklahoma by sending out emails, etc. Most recently, I chaired the committee for Take Back the Night 2011.
Interest in feminism: I hear people say, “I’m a feminist because the world didn’t give me any other chance” a lot. I think that’s true for me, too. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to make the world different. As I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize that the change I want to see is simple and small and it can start with just me. Through my feminist identification, politics, and actions, I intend to send a message to the world. This is our today, but it doesn’t have to be our tomorrow. Stand with me in solidarity and we’ll change the world.
Interest in this position: I feel that Fire is a great avenue to affect these changes because of t he nature of our organization: we are community based, small (read: Grassroots), and passionate. The Fire mission statement asserts that Fire’s goal is to inspire our communities to shift towards progressive social change while ensuring space and voice for those marginalized by the broader community. To accomplish this goal, I would like to see Fire host a number of events throughout the year, some small and others on the scale we are used to with TBTN. (Fundraising, recruitment, discussions, “just fun,” speakers, Be Bold Be Red, Take Back the Night, International Women’s Day, fundraising for Global South/disaster, participation in similar local events like Manhattan Pride, etc.) I have LOTS of ideas and I would love the opportunity to work with you all to pull off a really great, super fun and exciting school year of FIRE activism on campus. My goal a Event Coordinator would be to ensure that by the end of this upcoming school year, NO ONE will ask, “Fire? What’s that?!”
With the right leadership, we have a powerful vehicle to spread the word about contemporary feminist concerns. I feel that my experience during the 2010-11 year combined with my passion, drive and determination and creative problem-solving make me the best person for the job. Please consider me for Event Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year.
Name: Joshua Klaarman
Position: Fundraising Coordinator
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education
Academic Standing: Sophomore (as of next year)
Experience: I helped fund-raise for the Rotoract group here at KSU and have been a part of many fundraisers in the past.
Interest in this position and/or feminist issues of interest: I’m interested in this position because I know that Fire needs more funds, and I feel strongly about the issues we address in our organization. I want us to be able to become more well known around campus and to get more funds so that we can keep on doing new and important things.
Name: Rachel Toll
Email: rachel.toll.12@gmail.com
Position: Treasurer
Major: Anthropology and Sociology (minors in Women Studies and French)
Academic Standing: Senior
Experience: I once volunteered for this kids program (awanas) at my parents’ church. I worked as a secretary, organizing everything was my primary goal since it was in such disorder. So I think the skills I learned while doing that will aid in maintaining organization. I’ve also handled money in almost all of my jobs. AND I’m good at math:).
Interest in this position and/or feminist issues of interest:I identify as a mulitcultural feminist. I think the way that I have acted in activism in the past has been simply being vocal with what I believe feminism to be with those who may not believe or understand it. However, I would love to become more active. My dream goal later on would be to work with NGOs that specifically deal with women’s issues.
Name: Laura Thacker
Email: lthacker@ksu.edu
Position(s) Running for: Secretary
Major: English Literature, Women’s Studies
Academic Standing: Senior
Experience: As the 2010-2011 school year’s vice president of Fire, I have gained a lot of experience in activism, including the planning of events such as Take Back the Night and Be Bold, Be Red, as well as experience in being on an executive board. I have also had experience in feminist activism as a member of K-State’s Women’s Studies Ambassadors.
Interest in this position and/or feminist issues of interest:
Name: Madeline Wetta
Email: madlin@ksu.edu
Position(s) Running for: Media Coordinator
Major: English Literature, Women’s Studies
Academic Standing: Senior
Experience: I have experience with many different programs that can be used to design different types of media, and experience in building and maintaining websites. I have used these skills during my time with Fire, and also in multiple positions I’ve held on campus.
Interest in this position and/or feminist issues of interest: I am interested in promoting events that deal with race and gender, and challenge mainstream conceptions of feminism.
Elections will be held in the next two weeks. To run for office, please email madlin@ksu.edu with the following information: name, email, major, class standing, experience that will aid them in performance of office, and interest in feminism and/or previous experience in feminist activism. Include office position(s) you wish to run for in the title of the email.
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FIRE OFFICE DESCRIPTIONS
Facilitator (“President”)
Duties:
- creating agenda for each meeting at least 48 hrs. in advance
- leading meetings and/or discussions
- check in with officers weekly to ensure that progress is being made
- cohesion: provide a central source of information for officers, members and other groups
Event Coordinator
Duties:
- coordinate with other officers on events, including:
o advertising
o fundraising
o communicating with various departments and organizations
o completing space and equipment reservations
o organizing lodging and travel for speakers/entertainers
Fundraising Coordinator
Duties:
- organize at least one fundraising events each semester to benefit the group or their charitable activities
- assist event coordinator in fundraising specifically for events, including assisting in the completion of SGA budget request
Treasurer
Duties:
- “pass the hat” on the first meeting of every month (in lieu of membership dues, attendees contribute what they can to general group fund)
- deposit funds at bank
- work with event coordinator and fundraising coordinator on dispersal and of funds and payment of bills (i.e. rental of equipment, advertising, lodging)
- maintain foundation account and bank account
- work with SGA accountant
Media Coordinator
Duties:
- maintain website or other online resources for the organization
- design advertisement and promotional materials
- coordinate advertising efforts (i.e., chalking, hang fliers, radio and newspaper)
Secretary
Duties:
- recording and dispersing meeting minutes
- reserve space for meetings
- announce meetings to listserv
- be responsible for maintaining the listserv (adding/removing people, forwarding e-mails, etc.)
This amazing program for young girls in Guatemala needs to raise $1744 more dollars of their $7500 goal — please take the time to donate a few dollars and look into the work they are doing.
About the program:
“Voces de Cambio (Voices of Change) is a program for teenage girls in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, that fosters intellectual and creative growth, self-confidence, and leadership. Through creative expression, principally writing and photography, Voces de Cambio believes that young women can begin to challenge deeply ingrained and destructive social norms that preclude them from contributing to the development of a just and democratic society.
Voces de Cambio was born out of the necessity to provide a safe space for Guatemalan girls to begin to imagine a new role for themselves in their homes, schools, and communities. Using writing and photography, Voces de Cambio encourages girls to construct a new “social narrative”, one in which they occupy an equal and authentic voice. Voces de Cambio is the only all-girls after-school program in Guatemala.” -from their site
Today is the centennial celebration of International Women’s Day today. To read more about what IWD is, take a look at the website for a history.
Here are some links I came across in my RSS feed (from one of my favorite sites, Racialicious):
“Organizing for Liberation: Destruction doesn’t always equal ruin, construction doesn’t always signify healing” by Luam Kidane
“if we are going to attempt the building of a global solidarity movement this does not absolve us from the responsibility of analyzing the power dynamics within solidarity movements themselves and determining their potential effects.”
“Feminism For Real: Deconstructing the Academic Industrial Complex of Feminism” - by Latoya Peterson (incl. excerpts from the collection edited by Jessica Yee from the Native Sexual Health Network.
Hey all,
Spring semester is right around the corner, and we have a lot of exciting events coming up. Here is a preview of what Fire is up to this spring:
Reproductive and Sexual Health Workshop
Members of Fire and the Women’s Studies program will be traveling to Stillwater, OK on Jan. 21 for OSU’s workshop Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Reproductive and Sexual Health.
Weekly discussions
We’ve moved the day and times of our weekly discussions, so that you only have to remember that we meet every Tuesday at 6 pm in Leasure Room 6! We’ll be covering some interesting topics, including female masculinity in the film Venus Boyz; “Bed Intruder”: race, gender and sexual violence in popular culture; and the women with disabilities and sexuality.
We’ll be watching Venus Boyz on Jan. 18 at 6 pm in Leasure 6, so come join us.
International Women’s Day
We’re planning to show Persepolis for International Women’s Day (Mar. 8).
Take Back the Night
Take Back the Night has a long history at K-State, and we’ll be continuing the tradition this year in reclaiming the streets for women.
Looking forward
We’ll also be brainstorming events for Fall 2011 and electing officers for the 2011-2012 school year. Come join us during our discussions or meetings, or e-mail president Madeline Wetta for more information about our activities!
During our meeting on Monday, September 13, we came up with the following schedule and topics for discussions (location TBD):
3:00 pm Oct. 2, 2010
What draws us to feminism? What ideas do we have about it, and how do we relate to it on a personal level? What feminist issues do we care about? Where do we see ourselves within (or outside of) a “feminist” movement?
3:00 pm Oct. 23, 2010
What stereotypes or fears might lead people to be resistant to advocating “feminism”? To what extent are these resistances present in us? Where do these fears or stereotypes come from? How might this resistance be productive or destructive? What can we do as advocates for feminism to dismantle these fears or stereotypes (if we should)?
3:00 pm Nov. 13, 2010
We will discuss this short speech by Audre Lorde. If possible, please give it a read before this date so we can have a chance to discuss it in detail, and come with any questions or responses you might want to share.
