We’re listening

by Marybeth Gardam, at-large Board member

A branch survey completed during summer and early fall of 2015 identified weaknesses and provided valuable suggestions for practical solutions.  It has been made available widely to participants in the survey, and leadership at various levels of WILPF.   

A First:  The survey was the first time in anyone’s memory that a data "snap shot” was taken and recorded of where branches ARE, in terms of their interests, actions, members, meeting schedules, recruiting efforts, and list maintenance. It also was a platform for branches to be heard in evaluating their relationship with National WILPF, and what they want to see from leadership.  It was always intended that the Survey Report would be shared with participating branches, so that they could learn from one another about shared accomplishments, challenges, best practices and creative ideas for improvements at National.

What have we learned from this exhaustive inquiry? 

• WILPF branches and members are still engaged in our issues, but facing challenges on the ground.
• There are currently 46 branches in WILPF and one WILPF group (fewer than 10 paid members).  Three new branches are being planned, and one new issue committee on Immigration.
• Branches have largely receded from involvement with National WILPF, choosing to work on issues that matter in their community and affect the lives of people locally, rather than to become distracted by interpersonal and leadership squabbles at National.   How to re-engage them is an important question.
• They have serious concerns about communication issues and offered good advice for resolving them.
• While many complain about too much information and email from National, others who do not regularly read email and check the website feel cut off from information.
• They have competency questions about why lists and dues reports are so hard to access and get corrected.
• They have very deep concerns about aging membership and lack of succession planning.
• They are dealing with significant loss brought on by aging and the passing of strong historic leaders.
• They are wanting WILPF to be more visible and respected nationally, because they see newer organizations supplanting WILPF with more action-oriented strategies that engage younger people.
• They miss the consistency and support of program staff with whom they felt they had a relationship and on whom they could depend for resource materials, study guides, fact sheets, and to be clear and quick in explaining WILPF’s position on complex national and international events.
• While the theme of “autonomy” and “being given choices of how to be involved” recurred in the Survey results, even stronger was the desire for Solidarity and being able to show a united face for WILPF.  
• Members still value the sisterhood of a National and International organization, but they wish we were doing a better job of connecting the dots between programs and the daily struggles playing out in their communities.  
• They stated again and again that WILPF represents an entirely different kind of organization, much more grassroots and tangible than the newer social-media driven “virtual” groups.  They point to our consistency and history as a strength.
• They identify WILPF’s multi-issue persona as both a strength and a weakness.
• They are NOT ready to fold up their tents and go home!   They are hoping for stronger, more creative and responsive leadership… and for the most part,
• They mostly believe we have turned a corner at WILPF-US and things are beginning to improve.

The good news is that leadership is listening. 

One goal of the survey was to understand why members are not involved in the regular Issue Committee organizing national conference calls, which are an important way that members help shape program and contribute to decisions about the work WILPF takes on each year.  But lots of other information came up and made branches feel heard.

The results of the Branch Survey formed the foundation for kick-starting the Program Planning Retreat held in October in Des Moines.  National WILPF invested precious and scarce resources in an intensive weekend meeting to consider those member voices and the suggestions and criticisms they offered.  Plans are developing that address many concerns raised by branches. 

Three goals were set at the meeting, including:

1. Strengthening WILPF through improved communication outreach strategy.  This will address membership development including fundraising and strategies to improve communication internally and externally.
2. Actively growing WILPF and more effectively engaging branches and members.  This will address recruitment strategies and how to engage and strengthen membership, as well as internal and external linkages, locally and nationally.
3. Advancing peace, justice and human rights.  This will help connect members and branches to strategies that promote and sustain systemic transformation by working more collaboratively within our organizations and by linking more members at large and branches with Issue Committees, and engaging in actions that would make WILPF more visible.

HOW-WHO-WHEN

Participants of the Program Planning Retreat were tasked with fleshing out the HOW, WHO and WHEN of those goals.  Program Chairs Maureen Eke and Odile Hugonot Haber have been coordinating the planning effort. They collected responses from Retreat Attendees in late December.  Their next task is to translate the action-item suggestions into a proposed plan that lays out suggestions for responding to the concerns of branches.  Retreat participants are indicating which actions require budgetary considerations and are suggesting timelines and responsibilities/accountabilities.  After that there will be a process of prioritization, based on cost and success finding skilled members willing to carry out projects.

Once the draft plan is complete, it will be submitted to the board and presented for member comment. 

“It’s going to take time and budgetary considerations to move some of these goals forward,” our Managing Director Lamia Sadek said.  “I am enthusiastic about responding to strengthen branches with a plan that is based on bottom-up needs and concerns and one that clearly articulates the costs to move forward.”

 “We can’t do everything at once,” notes President Mary Hanson Harrison. “But we recognize that WILPF is only as strong as our branches.  Many of them are accomplishing great things with the help of our minigrant program.  Many are struggling and need extra assistance.  We need to get better at supporting and amplifying their work.  We are committed to responding as effectively as we can, as soon as we can, to make sure members know we are here for them.  No one should feel they are alone out there.”   

Funding the Future

The wish list that comes out of the Branch Survey and the Program Planning Retreat will need to be funded.  That means a development strategy that all members support and in which they participate both as donors themselves and as “connectors” to potential donors in their communities…people who support the causes WILPF supports, even if they’ve never donated to WILPF in the past. 

How Do I Get A Copy Of The Survey Report?

A Summary Report for branches and members is being completed. 

Any current member who wishes a copy of that upcoming report should email mbgardam@gmail.com.   The raw data report is also available to members, but it is over 100 pages long and presents a challenge to digest in that format.