WILPF Springing Anew with a Virtual WILPF Congress this Year

by Darien De Lu
President
April Knutson
Member of the Congress Program Committee

March 2024

I’ll acknowledge, as President of WILPF US, in the last year of my second term, I was really looking forward to an in-person WILPF Congress, originally planned to take place in St. Paul, Minnesota. I had given a lot of thought to how I’d protect myself from COVID, both there and while traveling across the country, from California to Minnesota, by train. I was also eager to take some time to visit the Twin Cities, which I had heard are known nationally for their theaters and museums. But now – for multiple compelling reasons – our National Congress Committee and the Board have decided that our 2024 Congress will be entirely virtual – and that’s OK!

Having a virtual Congress addresses a serious problem that the Congress Committee members have been grappling with for months: affordability. The various costs tied to attending the Congress – travel, accommodations, and food – all add up quickly and dramatically.  

This year, more than I’ve been aware of with prior Congresses, we’ve been looking for ways that the Congress could roll out a welcome mat to our members of all income levels. Now, with the new plan for an all-virtual Congress, we’ve found that! With a modest registration charge (to be determined) and no other financial costs, all income levels should be able to attend. With evening and weekend sessions and zero COVID risk, active participation will be available to all those interested, as much as their free time and energy levels allow!

Also, this year, I’ll be working in collaboration with the Congress Program Committee to find ways to involve multiple members from each and all of our branches, as well as the Jane Addams Branch members/at-large WILPF members.  

As I said, I was looking forward to an in-person WILPF Congress and to the chance to reconnect with WILPF members from across the country. But what I’ve realized is that by being virtual and easier for more members to attend, this year’s Congress holds the opportunity to meet with members from the many brand new branches we now have, compared to 3 years ago! I anticipate that some of the young women from the new Miami Mujeres Branch will join us at the Congress. Also, members from the several other southern branches, formed over the last few years, will be able to attend, as well as branches that are in the process of forming – such as the re-initiated Chicago Branch, which, on February 24, just held its second event. 

In this 2024 Congress, we’ve benefitted from the experience gained, by us and others, in 4 years of virtual events. So – in contrast with the virtual Congress in 2021 – we’ll likely offer various kinds of Congress “breakout” spaces. I’m looking forward to meeting and talking with a wide array of folks in informal socializing breakout rooms. In addition to the main sessions of presentations (resembling webinars) and breakout rooms for socializing, I hope for spaces for sharing poetry and song. Some of these may be taking place simultaneously. 

We’ll scale back the Congress duration from the remarkable 13 days of our 2021 Congress – yet, in the last few days of May and start of June, we’ll fit in workshops and presentations from branches, issue committees, and even individual board and general members.  

But these descriptions are still fairly speculative! Will we have concurrent sessions? Just how much will the registration cost be? What form will various traditional Congress events take?  We’re continuing to re-assemble the pieces now that we’ve realized – in this extremely busy and critical year of nationwide elections and worldwide wars and crises – that a virtual Congress will better serve WILPF’s members. 

All along, the Congress Program Committee has been compiling and pursuing program ideas. Despite the change in format (from in-person to virtual), we’re pursuing our theme of Water on the Frontlines for Peace, and we’ve lined up some exciting featured speakers. Also, as part of the Congress, we hope to hear from indigenous groups. 

In preparing for the in-person Congress in Minnesota, we reached out to the local Native Americans, mostly Dakota and Ojibwe, who actively protect the rivers, lakes and groundwater of the state. In Minnesota, as in the rest of the country, we found that local Native Americans are forming alliances with peace groups and environmental groups. What can we learn from each other in our united quest to save the planet and work for peace?

Many months ago, at the start of the Congress planning process, we were very encouraged by the offer of the InterContinental Hotel in St. Paul: an excellent room rate ($119/night for two queen beds!) and the use of meeting rooms without additional charges. Also, our negotiations with the local and helpful AV For You company– for the technical equipment for a “hybrid” event –  were moving forward. Yet, we hadn’t reckoned with the extent of the technology we’d need, plus other new and higher expenses. It’s been a bit of a rocky road!

Yet if there’s anything WILPF’s long history has taught us, it’s the importance of flexibility and resilience. We’ll hope to work with the InterContinental and AV For You on some other event.  We’re revising our scheduling and plans – and we’ll have a great Congress! Watch for an eAlert with more details later this month.