ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - WBFN

Finally, WBFN is aware of a serious need to coordinate the look and feel of all publicationsand communications—the website, @-a-glance, Mosaic, posters, etc.—so as to create an easilyidentifiable image for the organization. Work has already begun on developing a WBFNbranding strategy and this will continue in FY13 thanks to WBFN members with marketingbackgrounds: Florinda D’Eugenio, Cecilia Neher, Olga Nazarko-Jesus and Pedro Saa.WBFN has been extremely lucky this past year to be able to rely on very talented new volunteers,writers, web designers, programmers, marketers… and as always the invaluable criticaland knowledgeable input of Louise Shimizu. Furthermore, no regular updating could beachieved without the work of our office staff.40th Anniversary PublicationThe year 2012 marked the 40th anniversary of WBFN. By summer 2011, the process ofplanning a celebratory anniversary publication highlighting some of the organization’smajor achievements over the past four decades was underway.In September 2011 a carefully structured plan of action was developed and some 16 volunteerseagerly stepped forward to conduct research about WBFN, to write and edit chapters, toidentify photographs for inclusion, and to create a suitable and innovative graphical design.The team has tried to identify major themes and impacts of WBFN and to present these in away that would be appealing to newly arrived members.Although there was no lack of enthusiasm and energy amongst the team, several issuesemerged that slowed down and, ultimately, forced a re-think of the publication’s design andstructure. Volunteers’ personal and professional obligations made it difficult to ensure continuityin the workflow. Facts and details related to the organization’s history and achievementswere at times difficult to discern from the available written documentation, and relying onpersonal recollections became difficult. These challenges forced the team to move away fromattempting to produce a full history of WBFN and focus on creating a shorter, booklet stylepublication.June 2012 saw a changeover in the team heading this project as well as in the WBFN leadership.It is hoped that the publication will be available to the membership in FY13.40 41