FEW, an organization that binds active, busy women<\/p>\n
By Izabel Deuff<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A few smartly dressed white women laughed and
\nchatted in English in the Batur Room in the Mercantile Club on
\nthe 18th floor of the World Trade Center in Central Jakarta.
\nTheir classic cut suits were fitting attire for the suite, which
\nhas a strict dress code, and the crisp white shirts of the
\nwaiters who stood at intervals around the carpeted room only
\nserved to emphasize the exclusive nature of this meeting.<\/p>\n
That was on Thursday, June 28, at 6:30 p.m. Welcome to the
\nmonthly meeting of the Forum for Executive Women (FEW).<\/p>\n
Two new members were informally introduced and were cordially
\ninvited to taste the tuna and the beef toasts. The bar was open,
\nbut was avoided by the members, who preferred to have tea.<\/p>\n
An hour later, led by FEW chairwoman Ann Walsh, the assembled
\ngroup moved toward chairs ranged in the middle of the room. Ann
\nbegan to speak. She welcomed the newcomers in a plain and easy
\nway -- just as a chief executive would do so. That night, 21
\npeople turned up to watch a slide show presented by Carl-bernd
\nKaehling, the special guest that evening, on one of his trips
\nthrough Maluku.<\/p>\n
The beautiful white sands and clear seas met with universal
\napproval and generated several envious exclamations from the
\naudience.<\/p>\n
Do these full-time and ever-air-conditioning-living ladies
\nwork so that they too can treat themselves to such holidays? Had
\nthey gathered to lay plans for just such a trip?<\/p>\n
Not at all. This event was one of many, ranging from
\nentertainment to business activities, which are organized by FEW,
\na non-profit organization with exclusively female members.
\nHowever, despite its membership rules, the main objective of the
\ngroup is not to defend women's rights or to empower women.<\/p>\n
This non-feminist forum aims to link together working women
\nand involve them in a network. It gives them the opportunity to
\nmeet people from a similar background and to exchange information
\nand socialize.<\/p>\n
\"FEW is different because we meet in the evening whereas other
\nwomen's associations usually organize activities in the afternoon
\nand target non-working women in particular,\" said Judith S.
\nMacCornick, a member and chief consultant at Persona.<\/p>\n
FEW was born two years ago. Claire Kosh, one of the eight
\nfounders, explained how the association came into existence: \"We
\nwere a bunch of friends, all working women. Unlike men who had
\ntheir business or their golf events, we didn't get the
\nopportunity to meet very often. We were flabbergasted that we
\nappealed to so many people the first time we held a meeting.\"<\/p>\n
The first meeting was held on May 1, 1996, and was attended by
\naround 80 women. At first only foreign women came, then FEW
\nbecame more serious, set up a formal structure and became more
\ncosmopolitan. It has now welcomed women from as far afield as
\nWestern Europe, North America, India, Singapore, Australia and
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
On the last Thursday of each month, between 20 and 100 members
\nattend a regular group meeting. The size of the audience depends
\non the subject for discussion. They have in the past organized a
\njewelry event, a panel discussion of bankers, and in the future
\nmight hold a wine tasting session.<\/p>\n
According to Jenny Mann, an Indonesian member, most of the
\nlocal members are looking for opportunities to network with and
\ngain knowledge from foreign professionals.<\/p>\n
Property consultant Alison Cooke has been a member of the
\ngroup for two years. \"I wouldn't need to join such an
\norganization if I were in London or Paris because a business
\nnetwork already exists. Here it's just opening up. It is a good
\nway to meet well-known and prominent people with whom it would
\notherwise be difficult to get an appointment to meet.\"<\/p>\n
FEW has already hosted Barbara Harvey, deputy ambassador at
\nthe American Embassy, Nenny Soemawinta of ANteve and Tini Hadad,
\nchairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers Association. Other
\nprominent people who have spoken at the groups meetings are Mari
\nPangetsu from the Center for Strategic and International Studies,
\nJim Castle of the Castle Group and John MacBeth, the Jakarta
\nBureau Chief for the Far Eastern Economic Review. The have spoken
\non issues ranging from deregulation, growth opportunities and
\nIndonesia's economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Non-members can attend the meetings but they have to pay an
\nentrance fee which ranges from Rp 30,000 to Rp 50,000, depending
\non the venue and the food and beverage served.<\/p>\n
To join the group you have to pay a registration fee of Rp
\n30,000 which covers the cost of maintaining the FEW directory and
\nprinting a regular newsletter.<\/p>\n
The organization currently has 220 members who are between 21
\nand 65 years old. The average age in the group is 30.<\/p>\n
The members work for governments and local and international
\nprivate companies. They have good jobs -- they are divisional
\nheads, managers, professors, directors, vice presidents,
\npresidents and executive directors -- and transgress many sectors
\nof the economy.<\/p>\n
Their successful careers make them much more self-confident
\nthan other women. As Jenny said, \"these women are very smart and
\nwell educated. When they have a career they know exactly what
\nthey want.\"<\/p>\n
She compared them with Indonesian women, whom she said were
\ntoo shy, lacked enough aggression and were too willing to
\ncompromise, adding that the group would like to have more
\nIndonesian members.<\/p>\n
\"We would like to have more Indonesian members,\" said Alison.<\/p>\n
She told The Jakarta Post that one French woman was
\ndisappointed at not having met any Indonesian people at one of
\nthe FEW meetings. It should be an exchange where foreign people
\ncan discover Indonesia and the local members can promote their
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Alison expressed a desire for FEW to become more active in
\nwomen's issues, especially in the aftermath of the widespread
\nviolence that was directed toward women during the May riots. She
\nalso said she would like the members to be more active in
\nproposing ideas for future meetings, but was still satisfied with
\nthe forum because it was professionally managed. That was a point
\nevery member seemed to appreciate, besides the efforts made to
\ngive all the members a friendly welcome and to listen to what
\nthey had to say.<\/p>\n
You would be surprised how much you could learn from Goenawan
\nMohamad, a famous Indonesian intellectual who is scheduled to
\naddress FEW's next meeting on July 30.<\/p>\n
Anyone who is interested in joining FEW should contact Aparna
\nVidyanath on 530-7892 or 530-0088.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/few-an-organization-that-binds-active-busy-women-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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