Leadership and Volunteering in WILPF

By Darien De Lu
President

May 2022

In WILPF, we ask a lot of our volunteers, especially our volunteer leaders. Through the work WILPF volunteers do, they gain experience in activism and in WILPF, and the projects of our organization go forward. On the branch and national levels, WILPF members willing to take on tasks and responsibilities do so by making the choice to volunteer – and having that choice available to them. They are often de facto leaders.

All WILPF members support WILPF’s principles and goals, so I hope all of us appreciate those who volunteer to support WILPF work and those who model good leadership. While some volunteers are happy to pursue support positions, other members ask how they can become part of WILPF leadership. This article briefly presents the volunteering route to leadership in WILPF.

I recognize that the inequalities of U.S. society limit how and how much a given member can volunteer... I see that those WILPF members with WILPF and activist experience, who can volunteer, are most often the ones who become leaders. Many members might also be well qualified to lead, yet they are less able to offer their time to WILPF. In other words, the volunteer-based structure of WILPF – and especially the amount of volunteer time asked of leaders – limits who is able to be a leader in WILPF.

WILPF seeks to address various social and economic injustices, and this limitation – on our choices of how we use our time – is as an aspect of such injustices. The paradox is that, for WILPF to take action against injustice, we WILPFers must volunteer our time and/or donate our money (which is frequently a sort of “extract” of time). Nearly every person can choose to volunteer for at least a few minutes a month to do some kind of WILPF work. Our movement depends on that commitment – the often difficult choices – to make time and take action to do something. As President, I’m very thankful to all of you and your decisions to support WILPF. Yet this article is particularly for those of you who aspire to leadership and are able to offer more of your time.

If you can do that, WILPF has opportunities for you to take action in support of your principles. As a WILPF member participating in an issue committee, an hoc committee, or a project you take a key step to leadership. Additionally, the interactions that committee work usually requires are important to build relationships of understanding and trust.

Consequently, informing yourself about committee and project options is a step toward leadership. You can find the list of issue committees on the WILPF website; get in contact with them through their web pages. To connect with the ad hoc committees and related projects, watch for relevant Alerts and eNews articles (including in this month’s issue). Or you can contact a Board member who works in your area of interest (see the Board information  here). Your initiative to reach out is a step toward your leadership development.

This is a route you needn’t travel alone! WILPF enjoys an abundance of experienced activists and leaders. You’re likely to meet some in your committee work, and many are honored to be asked to offer encouragement and suggestions to you. WILPF leaders and long-time members understand that WILPF depends on new leadership to survive! You have the special chance to develop an in-person relationship with a more experienced member if you’re in a branch. (If you’re not near a branch, take advantage of our virtual Jane Addams Branch to enjoy many of the benefits of a branch. Inquire via info@wilpfus.org.)

When you join WILPF and commit your time to act in support of your principles; when you make the choice to work in a committee or on a project; when you weave a connection with other WILPFers, developing the skills to interact well; when you gain practice and experience; when you develop an overview of an issue or of certain WILPF work –  then you are proceeding along the route to WILPF leadership.