What Makes WILPF Work? Our Structures and YOU Do!

by Darien De Lu
WILPF US President

July 2023

WILPF has activities, programs, actions, and campaigns – all at the local, national, and international levels. Through our structures at all these levels, we connect and coordinate, support and strategize, plan and produce. And you – WILPF members and activists, participating as you can in the areas you choose – are what makes it all happen!

This article gives you a quick overview of where and how you can link in, identifying your “political home” in WILPF. Of course, not all WILPF members can engage to the same extent, yet through our multi-level connections and structures, each of us can contribute some of the energy and imagination we bring to life. Through a dynamic network, part of a whole. we accomplish more than we could individually.

We all have multiple overlapping and intersecting areas of personal life demanding our attention. Yet, as informed and active people, we see what’s happening in the world. This year, this time, feels critical! With the Dobbs anniversary, the latest Alabama voting rights decision, the nuclear and climate threats, the petro pipelines and loans, the wars and violence…. Maybe you’re ready to take a look around to see how and where you can take organized action?

There’s a place for you in WILPF! Where do you want to be in WILPF’s structure? Each of us can choose: Do you prefer to focus more at the neighborhood and city level? Working in a local branch lets you build relationships with other WILPF members and gives you a place for thoughtful discussion and ongoing activism.

If you’re not near a branch, I encourage you to bring a WILPF perspective – on the interconnections of issues – to your local work. You can also join our virtual branch: the Jane Addams Branch welcomes members from across the country. Enjoy a valuable part of WILPF in the activist ties and interconnections that offers!

Perhaps – in addition to or instead of a local focus – you may want to participate in a national issue committee, where you can see wider perspectives and be part of broad campaigns. Or are you drawn to the nuts and bolts of our organization? Help develop WILPF leaders through the Nominating Committee – or contribute on matters covered in the Personnel Committee or Finance Committee, or in areas of another of WILPF’s national standing committees. See the illustration above of our structures, showing the seven issue committees, many of the popular standing committees, and the national board, plus, of course, the members in branches or at large.

The illustration says nothing of our many ad hoc committees, which come into existence to focus on particular topics or programs. You might enjoy that ad hoc committee combination of national perspective with specificity. In any case, you’re wanted – as a dedicated ad hoc or standing committee member, a participating issue committee member, an attending branch member, and/or a contributing WILPF member!

If you’re involved exclusively at the at-large or branch level, you may wonder what national WILPF has to do with you. Of course, here you are, reading this eNews! So you already know quite a bit about the initiatives of branches and issue committees across the country – and how those actions can inform and inspire you.

While most members don’t participate at all the different levels, you can try out different areas and levels of activism – perhaps to discover something that is unexpectedly gratifying. WILPF US is a member-driven organization; it is dependent on volunteer participation.

Be introduced to WILPF’s structures and leadership by spending just a few hours at the Gathering on Wednesday and Thursday, August 16 and 17. You’ll meet issue committee leaders, staff, and our board. (Also, you’ll have the chance to get to know other WILPF members, by coming early to the main sessions – or lingering afterwards. I’ll be welcoming everyone to dyads and triads in the breakout rooms that we’ll host as part of the Gathering.)

Beyond the eNews and eAlerts, you can find out more by attending a WILPF National Board meeting. Those meetings address a range of WILPF concerns in a virtual format every other month, and they’re open to all WILPF US members. You’re likely to hear reports from standing board committees or about such board committee business; frequently the meetings issue calls for volunteers for ad hoc committees. Besides committee members, WILPF needs National Board members – and when you attend board meetings, you might realize that someone you know – or you – could be a good board member.

You’re invited to our next board meeting, on Saturday, July 22! Or join us in September or November. Find the meeting time and dates, information about the board members, and how to get the meeting attendance link, all on this National Board webpage.

I hope I can welcome you to a board meeting sometime! If you have questions about our WILPF structures – including the Jane Addams Branch, drop me a friendly email: President@wilpfUS.org.