AWC Going Dutch Sept 2020

FAWCO Corner
by Jenni Franklin
Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas, a United Nations NGO with
consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council
www.fawco.org.
This September, we commemorate
five years of working toward the UN
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
alongside our FAWCO partners as well as thousands
of other organizations around the world.
These ambitious goals were adopted in 2015
as “the blueprint to achieve a better and more
sustainable future for all” and have since been
integrated into the agendas of national governments,
school curriculums, and the community
and service work of non-governmental organizations
in 162 countries and territories. It is
ambitious, indeed, that as a global community
we hope to achieve these goals by 2030.
FAWCO’s Global Issue Team (and the projects
we support through fundraising at the
AWC) focuses on four issues: Education,
Environment, Health and Human Rights.
These issues connect specifically to the SDG
4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate
Action), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-
Being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Take a closer look at all 17 of the goals in
the graphic and you’ll quickly realize that
because the goals are interconnected, there’s
not a single goal that our service-focused
work through FAWCO doesn’t address. For
example, our Target Project, S.A.F.E. (Safe
Alternatives for Female Genital Mutilation)
is connected to SDG 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 16.
With organizations this big focused on goals
this lofty, sometimes I get a little lost and
24 GOING DUTCH
think, “but what can I really do?” Thankfully,
the UN has given us a plethora of resources
easily accessible on their website that show
us exactly how we can get involved. Here are
three of my favorite ideas:
1) Find one goal you’re passionate about
and take steps in your daily life to address
that goal. My family has chosen Goal 2: Zero
Hunger. We are being intentional about purchasing
from local farmers, buying only the
amount of food we will eat, and using all the
parts of what we buy (we’ve made lots of
broths and smoothies!). We also financially
support a food bank in our hometown.
2) Instead of diving deep into one
goal, pick two or three that are easy and
quick changes. You’ll find a graphic at
www.UN.org/sustainabledevelopment with
each of the goals and one single step you
can take toward that goal. For example, Goal
6: Clean Water and Sanitation says, “Avoid
Wasting Water,” which you can do by simply
setting a timer and taking shorter showers.
Do you use a bike as your primary means of
transportation? You’ve already checked off
Goal 11!
3) Perhaps you want to learn more about
the goals and use them as an education project
in your family or your business? Check
out “Goal of the Month” under “News and
Media” on the website. Each month you’ll
find a basic overview of the month’s goal,
printable infographics, recent news articles
and ways to help as a business or individual.
As we mark five years of working toward realizing
these goals, I hope you’ll join me in
learning more and taking steps to address the
global challenges we face. The world will be
a better place because of it!
Your Vote is Your Voice
Overseas Americans are un-appointed ambassadors!
If you haven’t registered and requested an absentee ballot, do it today!
Go to Federal Voting Assistance Program at www.FVAP.gov to download the
Federal Postcard (FPCA) to:
1) Register to vote
2) Request an absentee ballot
Due to problems with the US Postal Service, email the FPCA, if your state permits,
and request your ballot both by mail and email. Use the ballot that arrives first.
When possible, return the ballot by email. Do not rely on the fact that in the past,
you may have received a ballot without submitting an FPCA. Overseas citizens are
advised to submit an FPCA each year.
As an overseas American, you are eligible to vote even if:
1) You do not have a residence in the US
2) You do not intend to return
3) You have lived abroad a long time
Your voting residence is the place where you last resided.
As an overseas American, you are eligible to vote in all but 11 states even if
you were born abroad and have never lived in the US. Your voting residence is
the place where your citizen parent(s) or legal guardian last resided.
If you completed and mailed or emailed a signed FPCA and do not receive
your absentee ballot 30 days before the election, immediately download:
Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) from www.FVAP.gov. Fill it out, sign
and mail or email it (if your state accepts emailed ballots). If you later receive
a ballot in the mail, fill it in and return it. Only one ballot will be counted. Use
Dutch postage! Postage paid is valid only within the US.
If you need assistance, go to www.FVAP.gov and click on your voting state. For
toll-free assistance, call the FVAP toll-free numbers: 0800.022.8213 Overseas
citizens can also contact: votinginfo@state.gov or the Voting Action Officer Kim
Richter at the Department of State at 1.202.485.6067.
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