A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
TO HOST
THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES VI
IN 2011
Purpose and History
The World Congress of Families (WCF) is an international network of
organizations, scholars, and leaders that seek to affirm and restore the
natural family[1]
as the fundamental social unit (see
www.worldcongress.org for list of WCF sponsors and
partners) . The WCF holds periodic international congresses to celebrate the
natural family.
The WCF defines the natural family as the union of a man and a woman
through marriage for the purposes of sharing love and joy, propagating children,
providing for their moral education, building a vital home economy, offering
security in times of trouble, and binding the generations. The WCF views the
natural family as part of the created order, imprinted on human nature, the
source of bountiful joy, the fountain of new life, and the bulwark of ordered
liberty.
The WCF worldview is ably expressed in these documents:
• The Geneva Declaration of 1999;
• The Mexico City Declaration of
2004;
• The Warsaw Declaration of
2007;
• The
Amsterdam Declaration of 2009; and
• “The Natural Family: A Manifesto,”
co-authored by Allan C. Carlson and Paul T. Mero and published in 2005
(copies
of all five documents are available online at
www.worldcongress.org).
The WCF I convened in Prague, The Czech Republic,
in March 1997, with 700 delegates present. WCF II gathered in Geneva,
Switzerland in November 1999. Over 1600 delegates from 65 nations attended.
WCF III occurred in Mexico City in March 2004, with 3,300 registered
participants from 75 countries. WCF IV convened in Warsaw, Poland, in May 2007,
with 3,900 participants. WCF V convened in Amsterdam, the Netherlands with 63
countries, 800 delegates and more than 3,000 additional participants via the
internet.
It is a great honor and responsibility to host a
World Congress of Families biennial event. Hosting the World Congress of
Families VI celebration will bring international recognition, media
coverage, and visitors to the host city and nation. The host country can
expect pro-family leaders and visitors from the United States and more than 70
countries. The World Congress of Families has become the Olympics of the
international pro-family movement.
An Invitation
It is my pleasure now to invite interested organizations, coalitions,
and nations around the globe to submit bids to host the World Congress of
Families VI. The Congress could be held in 2011 or during the first half
of 2012. All non-winning bids for 2011/2012 will be automatically considered for
2013. Candidate groups should be non-profit or
non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), coalitions of such organizations, or
NGO-governmental partnerships (provided that leadership of the partnership
resides with the NGO’s). Candidate groups should be non-profit or
non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), coalitions of such organizations, or
NGO-governmental partnerships (provided that leadership of the partnership
resides with the NGO’s). A letter with the intent to apply with a proposed local
organizing committee should be received by October 15, 2009. The full
application must be received at the WCF office by December 1, 2009. The
application should be in the English language and may be submitted either
electronically or by regular mail.
Electronic:
acarlson@profam.org
Mail: Dr. Allan Carlson
International Secretary
World Congress of Families
934 N. Main Street
Rockford, IL 61103
What Should the Proposal
Include?
Proposals for the
World Congress of Families VI should offer a coherent plan that would include:
(1) Proposed dates for the Congress
(2) Site location (both city and meeting facility)
(3) Theme or themes of the Congress
(4) Languages to be used and translation resources available
(5) Designation and description of the legally and financially
responsible
organization and person(s) for planning and execution
(6) A list and description of other local and regional organizations to be involved (the local organizing committee)
(7) A list of proposed local and regional speakers and topics (normally,
no more than one-third of Congress speakers would be in this
category)
(8) A preliminary plan for media coverage, advertising, and
publicity
(9) A plan for the recruitment, training, and use of volunteers
(10) A business plan, including:
(a)
organization/accountability chart
(b)
management roles
(c)
deadlines and key measures for progress
(d)
plan for progress reports and communications with WCF International
Committee
(e)
a proposed budget
(f)
banking arrangements
(g)
transportation arrangements
(h)
security arrangements
(11)
A fund raising plan, indicating where funding (local, national, regional, or international) will be obtained, and specifying what
extra subsidy (if any) the WCF would need to provide
(12)
Forms of governmental and university involvement
(13)
An explanation of why this location is best suited to host the
WCF VI in 2011
(14)
A planning timeline and calendar with key deadlines
Preference Will Be Given
to Proposals:
(1)
That adopt themes that are the most relevant to current and near-future
family debates.
(2)
That consciously reflect and implement a pro-natural family worldview.
(3)
That would employ a professional conference organizing firm (or its
equivalent).
(4)
That are fully funded by local, national, and regional sources.
Normally, a minimum of $800,000 (USD) would need to be raised, with at least
half banked six months before the event. A plan to manage the risk in exchange
rate fluctuations should be included.
The Judging Process
• A special International Selection
Committee (approximately 15 members) will review all proposals. The Committee
may ask for additional information or clarification. It may also invite
representatives of the applicant to meet with the Committee.
• The International Selection
Committee will recommend one Proposal for adoption to the WCF Management
Committee. If the latter concurs, leaders of the winning organization or
committee will be promptly informed.
• Up to six representatives of the
local organizing committee then join the Selection Committee to become The
International Planning Committee. It will work with the local organizing
committee to develop the program, including the list of speakers [i].
For More Information….
Contact Mr. Lawrence Jacobs at 815-964-5819 or at
larry@profam.org
-- Allan
Carlson, Ph.D.
International Secretary
World
Congress of Families
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