National Board News: Board Invites Nominations for Peace Seekers and the Virtual Retreat Experiment

by Darien De Lu
WILPF US President

July/August 2024

The Board is undertaking changes and improvements in WILPF functioning with a new procedure for resolving member complaints and disputes and a 3-day retreat to focus on fundamental topics of programs and organizational relationships. For the new Peace Seekers group, we want your thoughtful nominations of WILPF members skilled in sorting out conflicts.  

Peace Seekers

WILPF US has not had a well-developed process for responding to disputes between members. A number of qualifications for the five members of the Peace Seekers group will contribute to their success:

• Awareness/knowledge of WILPF and WILPF principles
• Membership in WILPF for over two years and currently active at the national WILPF and/or branch level 
• Level-headedness, perspective, wisdom and judiciousness
• Awareness of topics of current concern in WILPF
• Some study of or experience with ways of nonviolently addressing conflicts 

Watch for an upcoming eAlert, which will provide further details and a link to the nomination form for the Peace Seekers.

Virtual Board Retreat

One way a board retreat differs from a board meeting is that a retreat allows time, so taking 60-90 minutes for a more personal exchange is doable. Also, the retreat will have time for challenging topics, like the work-life and the economic factors that affect our WILPF involvement and activism, or how we can work successfully in the face of a possible rightward shift in national politics.

Two new members have been appointed at the last two board meetings: in March, Ellen Schwartz, as Nominating Committee Chair and, in May, Eileen Kurkoski, as Membership Development Committee Chair. Now, with 12 members, the Board is missing only one of its positions – one of the two Program Chairs. So it’s a good time for the Friday-through-Sunday retreat to establish connections among the members, and after the success of the WILP US Congress and the coming 2025 WILPF International Congress, it’s an important time to reflect. 

The late July retreat was the first retreat in 2 years. The previous retreat was partially in-person and partially virtual. A major factor in the success of a virtual gathering is having most participants present for the entire retreat, as they would likely be at an in-person event. This board experiment is a new approach in these times of increasing cost of travel and awareness of the carbon footprint of flights.

Current plans call for hiring additional national WILPF staff, through the generous funding of the Lloyd Family Legacy. In what ways and in what direction will WILPF evolve? 

In order to help the Board develop a vision for WILPF, the retreat planners are looking at different technologies to move toward a shared vision. The tool of a ‘Jamboard’ offers ways to collaborate. (A demonstration is presented in this video). Another approach uses breakout rooms to shift the participants around into different small groups. With a virtual retreat, we can discuss in dyads if we wish, without running out of space!

The Board will also discuss items that branches might want to explore, such as: What are the characteristics of a ‘welcoming branch or group’? What techniques help strong-willed WILPF members to collaborate usefully?  

Along with you, our members, the Board is looking for ways to increase WILPF's visibility and membership. What are ways to work together better and enhance the sisterhood of our national WILPF culture? 

Since the topic of regional meetings and gatherings was raised at our May-June Congress, more and more people have expressed interest. Possibly some national committee will grow out of the retreat discussions. If you’re interested in being involved with that committee or finding out more about national WILPF volunteer opportunities, please contact me: President@wilpfus.org.