Planning a Successful State LEADS Prgram A Suggested Timeline fr State Federatins Spring State Cnventins Annunce the current year s LEADS candidate at the state Cnventin. Use the pprtunity t build enthusiasm fr the prgram as an investment in yur state s future leadership. Use yur state LEADS graduates in this presentatin; this is ne f their respnsibilities. Review and discuss details f the LEADS prgram in yur state and hw it might be imprved: Ideas fr establishing state mnetary cmmitment fr LEADS; fr example: Cnduct a 50/50 raffle fr LEADS at state meetings. Put a specific line item in the state budget fr supprting a LEADS candidate. Expectatins fr LEADS attendee upn her return frm the seminar; e.g., writing an article fr the state newsletter r speaking at a district meeting r state cnventin. See Sample Newsletter Text and Sample Press Release belw. Refining yur State Federatin s selectin prcess. See recmmendatins in separate guide, LEADS Infrmatin fr GFWC State Federatins. Decide if yur state will use the applicatin r nminatin prcess. Determine the cmpsitin f the selectin cmmittee. It shuld include Junir representatin, if applicable in yur state, and LEAD graduates. Set deadlines fr receipt f applicatins and cmpletin f selectin prcess. Set criteria fr state candidates, if different frm GFWC. Keep the intent f the prgram t supprt grassrts leadership in mind. Encurage, and prvide pprtunities fr, all f yur state s LEADS graduates t participate in LEADS prmtins and ther state leadership training prgrams. Assist yur LEADS candidate with preparatins fr the GFWC Annual Cnventin. (SEE April t June references belw.) Fall State Federatin Newsletter Prvide a brief descriptin f the prgram and its purpse. Include a shrt article written by a LEADS graduate. Graduates are prvided a template fr such an article in their handut packet at the LEADS prgram. 2012 General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs. GFWC and the GFWC Emblem are registered trademarks f the General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs. All rights reserved. Permissin granted t GFWC members t reprduce in whle r in part (indicate if excerpted) fr GFWC member r persnal use nly using this credit line: 2012 General Federatin f Wmen's Clubs 202-347-3168 www.gfwc.rg. Used with permissin. May nt be reprduced fr sale r prfit.
List criteria and explain the applicatin and selectin prcess. Include infrmatin n GFWC and state mnetary cmmitment. Describe the time and financial cmmitment f the LEADS participant, including respnsibilities t the State Federatin after she has attended the LEADS prgram. Emphasize the fun aspects f attending a GFWC Annual Cnventin and meeting a wide variety f GFWC members bth at LEADS and Cnventin activities and wrkshps. Fall Meetings and Cnferences Assist with leadership training and LEADS prmtin at the GFWC Regin Cnferences. Include prmtin f LEADS in state fficers presentatins at state meetings. The state leadership chairman shuld meet with district fficers t explain the purpse and prcess f LEADS and its imprtance t future district and state leadership. Invite ne r mre f yur state s LEADS graduates t share their experiences and ways the LEADS prgram can be prmted in lcal clubs. Encurage applicatins frm r nminatins f grassrts club members with leadership ptential. Have LEADS applicatins, r infrmatin abut the nminatin prcess, readily available. Emphasize the state deadline fr applicatins r nminatins, and the deadline f March 1 fr receipt f the state candidate s prfile by GFWC Headquarters. Winter Newsletter and Selectin Prcess If there is time, reiterate the imprtance f LEADS t the state s future leadership and emphasize the state deadline fr submitting applicatins r nminatins. Cnduct the selectin prcess in time t submit the candidate s prfile and ther dcumentatin t GFWC Headquarters by March 1. Cnvene the selectin cmmittee, r distribute applicatin r nminatin frms by mail r email, alng with the judging criteria, t members f the selectin cmmittee. Be sure that persnal infrmatin has been redacted prir t sending t cmmittee. Establish an abslute deadline fr submitting judging decisins. Either in meeting r thrugh a cnference call r email, review judging ntatins and select the state s candidate and alternate. Infrm participant f selectin, reiterating bligatins invlved, including attendance at the GFWC Annual Cnventin. Nte: Even if the State Federatin maintains the identity f the candidate cnfidential until the spring state cnventin, it is recmmended that she be infrmed as sn as pssible Planning a Successful LEADS Prgram March 2012 Page 2 f 4 www.gfwc.rg
after her selectin, s that she can receive infrmatin frm GFWC Headquarters and make her travel and ldging arrangements. She will be reimbursed AFTER the GFWC Annual Cnventin. March Send Participant Prfile frm, alng with a cpy f the participant s applicatin frm r State Federatin nminatin frm, ther supprting dcuments, and a high reslutin phtgraph t GFWC Headquarters, either by email, Fax, r pstal mail by March 1 (pstmark date fr mailed submissins). State Federatin must cnfirm n the Participant Prfile sheet the date by which GFWC Headquarters staff may send LEADS infrmatin t the LEADS candidate withut jepardizing the State Federatin s cnfidentiality f the candidate s identity. The earlier a candidate receives infrmatin abut LEADS, the easier it will be fr her t register fr the GFWC Annual Cnventin and bk ldging and travel. LEADS candidates must register fr the GFWC Annual Cnventin in rder t attend any Cnventin wrkshps, meal prgrams, and ther events. The submissin f a candidate s Participant Prfile by the State Federatin autmatically enrlls her in the LEADS prgram and places her n a mailing list t receive LEADS infrmatin frm GFWC Headquarters. Include an annuncement f yur LEADS candidate in the Spring issue f yur state newsletter, if it has nt been annunced previusly. April All LEADS candidates will receive intrductry LEADS infrmatin, including instructins fr registering fr the GFWC Annual Cnventin, and a reminder t bk travel and ldging. Candidates shuld register fr the GFWC Annual Cnventin and bk travel and ldging. GFWC will help accmmdate rmmate requests, if that has nt been dne thrugh the State Federatin. Candidates are encuraged t register fr the LEADS Graduates breakfast, held the mrning after the LEADS prgram at the GFWC Annual Cnventin venue. This is a ticketed event, but is nly pen t LEADS graduates. GFWC Headquarters staff are available t answer questins prvide assistance t participants and State Federatins. May LEADS candidates will receive an electrnic cpy f their LEADS class directry, which will include phtgraphs and cntact infrmatin fr all state representatives. Planning a Successful LEADS Prgram March 2012 Page 3 f 4 www.gfwc.rg
Candidates will receive a preliminary agenda fr the LEADS prgram at the GFWC Annual Cnventin. State Federatin leaders can help their LEADS candidate cme up with an inexpensive gift fr each member f her LEADS class that represents the state, such as a bkmark, pin, lcal recipe, etc. Candidates shuld have finalized all travel plans and cmpleted GFWC Annual Cnventin registratin. June The year s LEADS prgram takes place during the full-day f the GFWC Annual Cnventin prir t the pening f the Business Sessin. Graduate certificates are awarded at the end f the day. State Presidents, Directrs f Junir Clubs, club members, and ther well-wishers are invited t extend their cngratulatins and participate in the pht sessin after the award f certificates. The LEADS Graduates Breakfast, a ticketed meal prgram, is held the mrning after the fullday LEADS training. Pst-LEADS Stay in cntact with yur Leads graduates. Encurage them t: Write an article fr the state newsletter abut their experience. Write a press release fr their lcal paper abut their experience. Give a presentatin t a district, state, r reginal meeting abut LEADS. LEADS graduates shuld be included n the selectin cmmittee fr subsequent LEADS candidates. Request the input f LEADS graduates in preparing leadership training pprtunities at any level f yur State Federatin. The State Federatin shuld strngly cnsider LEADS graduates fr appinted psitins at the state level. The State Federatin shuld institute a methd f tracking the prgress and participatin f LEADS graduates t evaluate the applicatin r nminatin and selectin prcesses. GFWC Headquarters maintains a list f LEADS graduates wh remain active GFWC members, as resurces fr future LEADS training sessins. Prvide feedback t GFWC Headquarters abut the prgram, which will be used t design future annual seminars. Planning a Successful LEADS Prgram March 2012 Page 4 f 4 www.gfwc.rg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cntact: [Club President r Leadership Chairman] P: [Cntact Phne Number] E: [Cntact Email Address] LOCAL WOMAN ATTENDS LEADERSHIP SEMINAR Annual Cnventin f the General Federatin f Wmen s Club Mnth, Day, Year (City, State) [Participant s Name], f the [Club Name, beginning with GFWC ], participated in the Leadership Educatin and Develpment Seminar (LEADS) ffered by the General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs at its Annual Cnventin in [Cnventin City, State] n [Seminar mnth, day, and year]. The LEADS prgram identifies ptential leaders at the grassrts level and prvides them with training, supprt, and encuragement t assume greater respnsibilities at the club, district, state, and natinal levels f the Federatin. During the full-day seminar, delegates frm [number f State Federatins represented] states and the District f Clumbia received in-depth training and infrmatin n a wide variety f tpics, including rganizatinal gvernance, cnflict reslutin, public speaking, time management, effective planning, delegating respnsibility, and parliamentary prcedure. The prgram featured natinal GFWC leaders and graduates f the prgram wh had advanced t district and state leadership psitins. Ample pprtunity was prvided fr netwrking and sharing persnal and prfessinal leadership tips. [Add a paragraph that is specific t yur club and its special prjects. Be sure t include a website r email address, if pssible.] Fr membership r ther infrmatin abut [Club Name, beginning with GFWC ], please cntact Club Membership Chairman [Chairman s name, telephne number, and email address]. ### Abut the General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs The General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs is a unifying frce, bringing tgether lcal wmen s clubs, with members dedicated t strengthening their cmmunities and enhancing the lives f thers thrugh vlunteer service. With nearly 100,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and a dzen cuntries, GFWC members are cmmunity leaders wh wrk lcally t create glbal change by supprting the arts, preserving natural resurces, advancing educatin, prmting healthy lifestyles, encuraging civic invlvement, and wrking tward wrld peace and understanding. General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs 1734 N Street NW Washingtn, DC 20036-2990 www.gfwc.rg Phne: 202-347-3168 Tll Free: 800-443-GFWC (4392) F: 202-835-0246 2012 General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs. GFWC and the GFWC Emblem are registered trademarks f the General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs. All rights reserved. Permissin granted t GFWC members t reprduce in whle r in part (indicate if excerpted) fr GFWC member r persnal use nly using this credit line: 2012 General Federatin f Wmen's Clubs 202-347-3168 www.gfwc.rg. Used with permissin. May nt be reprduced fr sale r prfit.
SAMPLE LEADS NEWSLETTER TEXT Fr Graduates t Prvide t Club, District, r State Publicatins The GFWC Leadership Educatin and Develpment Seminar (LEADS) is a great example f GFWC membership dues at wrk t train new leaders and ensure GFWC s future. LEADS is an imprtant initiative that will psitively impact the future f the Federatin. Apprved by GFWC s Bard f Directrs in 2001 as a full-day prgram held immediately prir t the pening f the GFWC Annual Cnventin, LEADS identifies and encurages ptential leaders at the grassrts level f Federatin. The prgram prvides participants with training, supprt, and encuragement t assume greater respnsibilities at the club, district, state, and natinal levels f the Federatin. [Participant s name], a member f the [Club name, including GFWC ] attended the annual LEADS sessin in cnjunctin with the GFWC Annual Cnventin in [Cnventin city, State] n n [Mnth, Day, and Year f LEADS sessin]. Representatives frm [number f State Federatins represented] states and the District f Clumbia received in-depth training and infrmatin n a wide variety f tpics, including rganizatinal gvernance, cnflict reslutin, public speaking, time management, effective planning, delegating respnsibility, and parliamentary prcedure. The prgram featured natinal GFWC leaders and graduates f the prgram wh had advanced t district and state leadership psitins. Ample pprtunity was prvided fr netwrking and sharing persnal and prfessinal leadership tips. [Insert yur wn cmments abut yur experience and what yu fund mst useful r meaningful.] LEADS graduates cntinue t netwrk and supprt ne anther thrugh a variety f GFWC cmmunicatin channels. [Participant s name] will be happy t share her experience with yu upn request. Feel free t cntact her at [phne/email]. [Yu may als want t list here any speaking dates yu have set up.] Cntact [apprpriate state fficer] fr further infrmatin regarding the applicatin prcess fr the [upcming GFWC Cnventin date] GFWC LEADS seminar in [Cnventin lcatin]. 2012 General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs. GFWC and the GFWC Emblem are registered trademarks f the General Federatin f Wmen s Clubs. All rights reserved. Permissin granted t GFWC members t reprduce in whle r in part (indicate if excerpted) fr GFWC member r persnal use nly using this credit line: 2012 General Federatin f Wmen's Clubs 202-347-3168 www.gfwc.rg. Used with permissin. May nt be reprduced fr sale r prfit.