Provincial Convention 2010: Organization Oral Report

Submitted by: Nancy Simms

Good morning everyone!  I would like to share some good news with you. Last year our province increased its membership by 113 members! We were one in only four provinces in the country to have a membership increase, and that’s something to be proud of!

Although, having said that, our membership total at the end of 2009 was 9,549 members and my goal for 2010 has been to increase our provincial membership to 10,000, so this year we all must work together as women of peace and hope to increase our membership by 451 members. It can be done! Between our 131 parish councils, each council only needs to invite 3 new members and we will have reached the 10,000 membership goal. As an incentive national has introduced a competition for this year, called The 2010 Membership Incentive Program. The per capita fees for 2011 will be waived for all members in two councils – first: the one with the highest absolute increase in members and second: the one with the highest percentage increase in members from the 2010 membership drive. So, who have you asked to join the League lately?

Now I have another question for you. What does it take to be the organization standing committee chairperson? Does it take incredible organizational skills? I hope not completely, because if it did I have a feeling my husband might say I need another two years at this job to try and get it right! Being organized definitely helps, but it is not the sole criteria. So, is the duty of the organization chairperson to recruit and gather memberships? Well, yes it is, but if that was all the position entailed I, on the provincial level would have a wonderfully easy job, since membership is taken at the parish level and our provincial numbers are sent with the per capita from national to our provincial treasurer and she informs me of our membership stats.

So, what else is involved in the organization standing committee? Well, there’s leadership development. This means the chairperson should promote and encourage attendance at League functions, development days, workshops, training days and conventions. She should also promote long range planning for all standing committees. To do all this she needs to understand the League and its immense potential to be Gods hands of love in society and to have enthusiasm for all that the League is and does.

Organization chairs should also be aware of life members in their council and make use of their knowledge and wisdom of the League to help her in developing leadership skills in all members. To encourage growth in the League we need to promote leadership and true leadership comes through service and love.

The organization chairperson is responsible for ensuring her council has copies and promotes the use of all League publications and resource materials. And for annually reviewing and updating the council’s policy and procedure manual.

Lastly, she is responsible for circulating and ensuring the completion of annual reports. I know many of us look at annual reports as a pain in the side, waste of time, paperwork, but if you understand how each council’s annual reports complete a section of a beautiful tapestry that exhibits the wonderful works of the League as a whole and how without those reports the tapestry is incomplete and loses some of it’s beauty, then annual reports become a joy to complete! And we can go with confidence to government knowing that they have a clear vision of the works the League does throughout the world.

So, what does it take to be the organization standing committee chairperson? It takes enthusiasm, a willingness to serve and love lots of love. Can any member hold this position? Yes! All it takes is saying yes to God and He will give back riches to your life a 100 fold. He has in my life. Thank you to each of you as you have journeyed with me this past two years. I love you all.