Leadership Advancement Plan

Leadership Advancement Plan

Rhoda the Roving Reporter

GFWC Fort Benton Women’s Club (MT) leaders realized that information shared from state meetings would be well received if done in a humorous way. “Rhoda the Roving Reporter” was created by a club member who is a past State President, and she presented a segment at each club meeting. She donned a mortarboard to talk about scholarship programs, GFWC gear to talk about programs, and more.

Micro-Mini LEADS

The GFWC Semper Fidelis Club (ME) filled a last-minute speaker cancelation by quickly preparing a Micro-Mini LEADS program for the club meeting. GFWC LEADS graduates within the club each presented a 10-minute segment, including Intro to LEADS, the Feedback Figure Game, Communications Charades, and Power Posing. GFWC LEADS applications were also distributed. The program was so well received by club members that it will be a yearly planned program in the future!

Statewide Leadership Club

GFWC New Hampshire has founded a statewide Leadership Club comprised of graduates of the GFWC LEADS training. They have gained knowledge of GFWC and leadership at LEADS and now share it with all GFWC New Hampshire members. They organized a state LEADS seminar and visited clubs, where they distributed Robert’s Rules of Order and mentored new leaders. They also promote GFWC LEADS to all clubs and help select the candidate for LEADS each year.

Past Presidents Video Presentation

GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club (MA) interviewed 10 past club presidents to create a video sharing their individual leadership experiences. They showed it at a club meeting, and then posted the video on their club website and public Facebook page. The intent was to share the power of becoming a leader within the club, but it was also a great way to help new and future members understand the value of GFWC membership.

Distinguished Young Women Scholarship

The GFWC Morgan County Woman’s Club (KY) sponsored a Distinguished Young Women Scholarship for local high school juniors and seniors. Participants were evaluated for scholastic achievement, on stage presentation, and interview skills. The winner was appointed the future President of the Juniorettes Club, and then created a Be Your Best Self program to present to upper elementary students. The program allows younger students to be educated while the Juniorettes learn valuable leadership skills.

Leadership Lending Library

The Woman’s Club of Aurora (IL) created a Leadership Lending Library for members to have access to resources. The library includes leadership books, folders of dozens of GFWC leadership tools and tips, the GFWC Leadership Advancement Guide, protocols, policies, and ideas for invocations, inspirations, and ceremonies. They also printed the GFWC Leadership Toolkit topics. Since so many resources are now digital, the library allows members to easily see resources that they can then access themselves online.

Annual Club Planning Meeting

GFWC Tuesday Club of Columbia (MO) hosted a planning meeting and invited all members. A PowerPoint was displayed that explained GFWC, Region, State Federation, and District structure and defined Affiliate Organizations, CSPs, and Advancement Plans. Breakout groups evaluated current club projects and programs and proposed changes for the club to vote on. Members joined committees for the upcoming year and the event ended with social time. Gaining a better understanding of GFWC and club structure, projects, and goals equipped more members to take ownership.

Members Choose Focus Project

The XJWC Club in Cheyenne (WY) realized that members needed to fully participate in choosing the club’s focus project so that there would be less dissension. Members were asked to submit ideas for local causes to support, and then asked to vote for their top three once the list was compiled. Those three projects were presented in more detail to the club, and a private ballot chose the focus project. Standardizing the selection process created better buy-in.

Building Leaders Through Encouragement

The president of GFWC Warren Woman’s Club (AR) led by example by adding encouraging notes or leadership quotes to the monthly meeting agendas so that members were always thinking about leadership and feeling appreciated. The president used the club newsletter to brag about specific members and their leadership potential and skills. She also asked members to fill certain roles rather than just hoping they would volunteer, and they said yes.

Demystifying Board Positions

The Carrizozo Woman’s Club (NM) restructured their board from five to eight positions to better divide the workload and attract new leaders. To explain the new positions and their roles and responsibilities to both new and veteran members, each board member used “three little words” to describe their duties in a creative skit. The board members also designed their own hat to communicate what “hats” they wore while serving on the board.