Develop as we lead

Woman of Substance

Woman of substance is on 18 August 2011 at convention centre starting at 19h00 and we recommend that all members come and support the organisation. This will be the seventh year in which the woman of substance award will be held. AWCA has been sponsoring 23 students as at 2011, from proceeds of woman of substance. This year we have three Platinum sponsors being Transnet, Rand Merchant Bank and ACSA. We thank them for having commitment and buying into vision of AWCA.

There is the “president Ambassador program” to be launched on the day of Woman of Substance with members who are committed and dedicate more of their time in subcommittees and recruiting more members will be awarded prizes, including spa vouchers.  We encourage more members to enrol onto the ambassadors program.

Go to www.awca.co.za for more information to book your seat.

Nungu resolution Vision 2015

The members and friends of AWCA probably have been wondering what we meant about “nungu” resolutions when we were presenting at recent functions.

In February 2011, AWCA board and some advisory council members went on an undisturbed two day retreat, where we could regenerate our souls and tune into the sounds of nature, and inspire us in creative thinking. With the courtesy of nungu lodge, we went to Limpopo, with primary purpose that it will offer educational experience to board in the hope that knowledge will enrich our understanding of the importance of living in harmony with mother nature.

We were challenged in thinking how relevant the organisation is to the members? Whether the vision and mission of the organisation is serving the interest of the members? In that environment, whereby there was no pressure of time and environment and board members having taken their valuable time from their families, we had to think outside the box. We conducted  a strategy session outside because it was hot inside and the facility provided and when we saw the Rhino approaching our table, there was chaos! We had to go inside to avoid trouble.

In that chaos, we realised that 5 themes of Vision 2015, had been conceptualised, just by having the Rhino being present. Thank you to the power of living in harmony with nature which makes one thinks outside of the box.
If an analogy of the jungle and animals is used to describe our industry and ourselves, the five themes are likened to the analogy of an animal as follows:-

1) Vision 1 – To reach 100,000 learners

a. Theme 1  Identify talent  - is likened to an Impala
a. Very fast, runs 70 to 80 km/h, adaptable to seasons

2) Vision 2  - To contribute 10% of JSE listed Companies with non-executive directors and executive committee with members

a. Theme 2 -Developing talent and build pipeline– is likened to Buffalo
a. Very protective, of its calves, successful grazers, capable of defending themselves, sought after trophy to hunt

3) Vision 3  - To contribute 25% of SOE with non-executive and executive committee members with members and non-members of AWCA

Theme 3  - Developing leaders – is likened to elephant
Largest land mammals, wisdom, longest memory, intelligent, tough and thick skinned but very sensitive it needs nurturing, they live in social structures with females live in herds and families, very protective of babies.

4) Vision 4  - To participate in leadership and committees on policy contributions and formulations
Theme 3  - Same as above (developing leaders)

5) Vision 5  - To have permanent seats in all SAICA committees

Theme 4  - Getting involved in the profession - likened to the lion –

Protects its territory, social, families, group of females lions hunt together in coordinated group for successful hunting, share the kill with young cubs and other lion

The above four themes of impala, buffalo, elephant and lion are aligned to our Vision 2015 that the board with the assistance of the advisory council approved at strategy meeting in February.
We will need the assistance and commitment of the members to make sure that we implement and execute and achieve the vision 2015. We will need member to participate in subcommittees of the board. Members must contact leratophelane at talent@awca.co.za to register their interest.

Board members

Welcome new board members being PitsiRammutla and Catherine Thinavaphi. Pitsi used to be a board member before and resigned due to relocation to Limpopo but we welcome her back. Catherine is experienced in law and corporate governance and will assist and increase the skill of the board in the legal environment. I hope they will enjoy themselves.
Unfortunately, Portia Mahange resigned from the board during the course of 2011. We wish Portia all the best with her future and thank her for all the valuable contribution to the board.
We are looking for two additional board members, with one vacancy in Cape Town and one in Johannesburg. The CV could send to talent@awca.co.za.

Nominations to Board of directors
AWCA has been inundated with requests to nominate its members to the board of directors of JSE listed companies and State owned entities. But since we do not know the interests of the members it has been difficult to nominate the members that have not yet voiced their interest to be nominated into the boards of companies as nominations are done by way of references.

AWCA has been writing reference letters and so far some members have been successful, especially when it goes directly to the board and letter signed by President. The board has taken decision to have nominations committee, and the members are recommended to make use of the process to register their interest so that they can be contacted should such requests come. There will be confidentiality between organisation and the member.

In addition to the board nomination process, various senior positions including CFO positions have been sent to AWCA by the companies directly other than the agencies themselves. This also show that AWCA is becoming the organisation of reference when it comes to sourcing talent. Members are also requested to use this channel to register their interest.
In order to protect confidentiality, members are requested to register their request or interest with the president, at president@awca.co.za, as most request go there and in order to make the positions exclusive we do not want to advertise them on website. We have decided not to deal with agencies as we believe we do not get compensated as an organisation and with companies we get sponsorship in lieu of providing talent and leads.

Membership Fees

We would like to remind members that membership fees are R500 per year and it only takes an individual to invest in themselves for another person to believe in them. Please pay your membership fees, it cost R41.67 per month and R1.39 per day!

Student Chapter

Last year we launched the Rhodes student chapter and this year we rolled it over to kwazulu natal, Durban Campus and rolling it again to Pietermaritzburg campus towards end of the year. The Rhodes campus has 85 members and Durban campus has 27 members. We are looking forward to launch in university of Johannesburg and Wits University next year. Wits university, the SRC has indicated they have put registration for organisations on hold for 2011, but our students who are keen to run with it are ready and receiving all the necessary support.
Programs

We have been continuing with our programs of school visits under the leadership of ZimkhithaZathu, who chairs the professional development subcommittee. This year we visited more than 6 provinces from Limpopo to Free State. Lesegosennelo, with Power tea is also making good progress and we have been getting good sponsorships.

The Leadership development subcommittee under leadership of ZukieSiyoutula is also progressing well, with celebrating success happening almost every month given the success of black leaders being promoted into leadership position and also having successful roundtable discussions.

The round table discussions DVD are available on sale from AWCA. The fundraising subcommittee under the leadership of Melanie Elephant is also progressing well, ensuring that we get all necessary funding to execute our programs. Without funding we will not be able to execute our programs.
We urge all the members to please register their names to be on subcommittees to support the board members in executing the VISION 2015 – NUNGU resolutions!

Contributions to newsletter

Any comments or contributions to newsletter should be send to talent@awca.co.za

The newsletter will be send to members every two months.