WZ AGM 2020: The Minutes, in words and pictures

The WOMAN ZONE January Summit and AGM 2020. January 18 2020

​Present: Nancy Richards, Daphne Cooper, Theresa Smith, Nomfundo Macuphe, Beryl Eichenberger, Nina Geraghty, Gogo Gala, Avis Fisher, Shuli Heller,  Celeste Matthews-Wanneburgh,  Pam Evans, Christine Weir, Margi Biggs, Joanne Friedlander, Ruth Friedman, Nozuko, Xola, Alutha Taho, Simone Heradien (Artscape), Kubeshni Govender, Roxy Levy, Marva Basson-Dhilwayo, Catherine Burnet
WELCOME Nancy welcomed us all.
We introduced ourselves with much interest and humour.

Gogo opened with a song and a prayer.

WHO WE ARE  
Nancy explained our mission and vision. This is our 8th year and repeated that we are here to “bring together all women from the Mother City’s cultural kaleidoscope”.  She went through the four pillars of Woman Zone.
The importance of telling and sharing our stories was emphasized.
List supplied of volunteer members. Pleased to announce Celeste Matthews-Wannenburgh has agreed to take on the role of WZ Board Chair.
WIRE WOMAN is due to change outfit. Eco-warrior woman and ‘they’ as in gender fluidity has been mooted. Other suggestions, as well as help to dress her, are welcome.

Introducing ourselves and sharing thoughts.

WHAT WE DID IN 2019 Story Cafes
Beryl reported on Story Cafe which encompasses talks, panel discussions, launches, workshops. Every month something has happened and there has been much of interest from food, to finance to book launches. A data base of about a thousand is informed of these events. Through Artscape we reach 40 thousand.

Beryl on the Story Cafes.

Women’s Walks
Theresa reported on the Walks. Our Women Humanity Walk has happened for the last six years, is joined by many NGOs and is part of Artscape’s annual Women’s Humanity Arts Festival.
 We offer three existing curated women’s walks:
 Being a woman in Cape Town .  Circle in the City .  Female Fragments
 Female Fragments was started last year – starting at the Castle.
We are keen to create more women’s walk n talks in other communities beyond the CBD. Noted that Ruth is a registered tour guide.
 Library and Book Club
 Avis reported on the Women’s Library which contains 864 non-fiction books for, about and by women. The fiction section has 564 books. Books are mostly donated and there is a section for sale. Library is open on Thursday (Nancy & Avis) and Fridays (Beryl and Nadiema) between 12 and 2 as well as during Story Cafes (usually Saturday afternoons or mornings).
The Woman Zone Book Club happens every second Saturday of the month, always with a guest author who talk about their books. We review books and post them on our website.

Theresa on Walks, Avis on Library and Book Club

Sistering
 Nancy spoke about the concept of sistering (sharing/partnering) in other communities, expressing that we are keen to do more, as well as partnering with other like-minded organisations and individuals. Beryl spoke of how the library is available for anyone to use. Nomfundo founder of Blissful Wellness uses the library space for training in the beauty business, health and wellness massages. She told us of her journey to qualify and establish herself in this previously “white” industry. She now focuses on massages, having offered her services to parliament and other workplaces. After 15 years she now has around 30 companies on her books and employs around 30 women. She also trains others and has now trained 90 young women. Nomfundo is at Woman Zone twice, sometimes 3 times a week. On 22 February she will be sharing her story as a way of motivating and giving hope to others. We agreed that Nomfundo needs to write her story.
 
Nina spoke about Life Righting Collective with the main target of writing memoir. The sharing of stories is so important. They are an NPO, keen to raise funds to reach out to a wider audience. Once you have done the course you become a member and become involved in follow-up groups. They have regular meetings and workshops for the creative ongoing process of sharing stories and use the WZ Library once a month. They also offer a publishing platform – online and in anthology and have published a book.
 
Celeste serves on the National Arts Council, does youth development, works for the Princess Project, helps and inspires others in various communities. She spoke about her own amazing journey out of poverty from humble beginnings in Steenberg to studying and eventually a career in acting. Hers is another story that needs to be written.
 
Alutha Taho reported on The Mama Project creating projects that bring women together to tell stories, produce art and work together. She told how being part of the project helped to lift her depression. Through the project she was sent to Berkley College in the US for a 5 week course. They are based in Malmesbury, Khakelitsha, Strand and come together for a few days once a year. In addition they have events to connect others. There are 46 members. We need to see how we connect more with them. Website: www.themamaproject.co.za

From left: Nomfundo, Celeste and Nina share respectively.

FINANCIALS Daphne presented the financial statements as prepared by Yolisa. They were approved. 

A well earned tea break!

WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2020  
We broke into 4 small groups, Walks, Story Cafes, Sistering and Library, for discussion and ideas for going forward this year.

The feedback session was fruitful, with Kubeshni taking notes.
​Story Café Ruth suggested voice memos – mother/daughter stories
Simone suggested productions/events. One event could come from Margi’s involvement with women wine-makers. Listen to their stories and taste wine as a possible fund-raiser.  
Somehow getting men involved possibly with a Story Café in conjunction with, among others, Life Righting Collective.
Story Café on sexism and ageism and other isms.
Theresa suggested a workshop on how to do a Vox Pop? And how could we get an idea of what it is like to be a woman in CT
 5.2 Books and Library
 Library must be open at stipulated times, and consider extending times. Are the current times the best times? Marva proposed opening also on Saturdays.
She also suggested the WZ Book Club get extended in terms of diversity – more working-class people to be heard. Proposed Rehana Rousseau as a guest author – amongst others. Some men could also be included, like Athol Williams (poet and founder of the Cape Flats Book Fest to which WZ has been invited this year), with certain sensitivities being respected.
She asked do we still want to use the old, male-founded  Dewey system? How do we de- and re-classify? We also need to be mindful of the tools that we give to people. The library has already developed a more progressive system.
 5.3 Walks
 Walks planned
15 Feb – Walk and storysharing in Langa – TBC with Gogo. Asanda to be invited to contribute, with interest in this area.
7 March – Circle in the City
6 June – Female Fragments
9 August – Women’s Humanity Walk – proposed starting from Tutu Museum (formerly granary and women’s house of correction)
October – Walk Malmesbury with The Mama Project
Other walks in the making: To the Wash houses, Women in ‘Paradise’, Newlands
 5.4 Sistering
 Who should we focus on – start small with what we have.  Celeste suggested groups of ten to start with. Mothers and grandmothers – honouring previous generations and understanding. Single mothers could be helped if we provide child-care. How do we spread the news? Not everyone on social media but word of mouth powerful. Linking by bringing people to us and going out to others. Join with links that we already have like The Mama Project. Access money from NAC for transport. Would need to source “specialists” for special focus groups and to run pilot projects. Margi suggested connecting with Women for Africa.
Suggestion that we have ‘branches’ elsewhere, most pressing in the rural areas. We have a template for women wanting to start a WZ branch. Pilot project possibly in Malmesbury.

Alutha closes the session with a song.

Nancy summarised that this had been a meeting rich in ideas, and reminded us that implementation is what counts. To get involved in whatever way, contact: [email protected], check our wwebsite: www.womanzonect.com or facebook Woman Zone CT, Instagram: @womanzonect or @wzbookclub 083 431 9986 / 082  490 6652

Although many had left by the time we took this pic, we would just like to thank everyone who came and shared their time, energy, thoughts and ideas. Look forward to making it all happen. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY MORE INFO, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH [email protected]