Frequently Asked Questions

The mission of the Women's Legislative Network of NCSL is to promote the participation, empowerment and leadership of women legislators.

The Women's Legislative Network is the only legislative women's organization affiliated with a national organization for state legislators - the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). It is also the only national non-dues paying organization for women legislators.

Frequently asked questions:

Who Governs the Women's Legislative Network?
What is the Women's Network Alliance?
What Does the Women's Legislative Network Do?
When Does the Women's Legislative Network Meet?
Does the Women's Legislative Network Get Involved in Policy Issues?
How Does the Women's Legislative Network Help Women Legislators?
What is WINGS?
How Can I Get Involved in the Women's Legislative Network?
Tell me about the Women's Legislative Network activities and programs.

Who Governs the Women's Legislative Network?

Officers and Board of Directors: A thirteen member, bipartisan board of directors elected on a regional basis governs the organization. A member of NOBEL (National Organization of Black Elected Women Legislators) and the Chair of the Network Alliance are included on the board as ex-officio members. Two legislators from each state comprise a 100-member state advisory board.

What is the Women's Network Alliance?

The Women's Legislative Network Alliance is a special committee of the Women's Legislative Network. The committee is comprised of corporation, foundation, and association individuals who help the Women's Legislative Network by providing consultation and financial support for their activities. The Chair of the Women's Legislative Network Alliance is an ex-officio member of the board.

What Does the Women's Legislative Network Do?

The Women's Legislative Network sponsors forums and workshops on topics important to women legislators; hosts events for women legislators at NCSL meetings; provides networking opportunities through legislative receptions; and works with other organizations to ensure that the best resources and services are available to women lawmakers.

When Does the Women's Legislative Network Meet?

The Board meets at least twice a year, at the NCSL Legislative Summit and the NCSL Fall Forum. The Women's Legislative Network sponsors programs and/or events at the Legislative Summit, and at the Spring and Fall Forum meetings.

Does the Women's Legislative Network Get Involved in Policy Issues?

The Women's Legislative Network does not establish its own public policies or adopt positions on issues. It does, however, encourage women legislators to get involved in NCSL committees and in leadership within NCSL and their own states. Recommendations on appointments of women legislators to the NCSL Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, and NCSL Standing Committees, are made to NCSL leadership by the Women's Legislative Network.

How Does the Women's Legislative Network Help Women Legislators?

Among other things, the Women's Legislative Network provides numerous opportunities for programs, networking events, and leadership development seminars. The Women's Legislative Network, through the Advisory Committee members and the executive board, works with individual states to strengthen their legislative women's organizations, whether a council, caucus, or informal gatherings. The Women's Legislative Network also serves as a bridge to other organizations through a national networking organization called WINGS.

What is WINGS?

WINGS (Women in Informal Networking GroupS) is an interactive network of national organizations whose purpose is to link individual and organizational resources, share information systems and work together on leadership, education, training and development to empower legislative women throughout the nation. Collaboration and cooperation among organizations is key to bringing diverse women together to network and discuss diverse issues.

How Can I Get Involved in the Women's Legislative Network?

The Women's Legislative Network welcomes active participation by its members, and there are numerous opportunities to become involved. Women legislators are needed as board and advisory board members, as well as speakers and panelists at events. Only the time, interest and imagination of the members limit participation in the Women's Legislative Network.

Events/Activities	Description
Annual Conference:	The Women's Legislative Network holds its annual board and membership meeting at NCSL's Legislative Summit. The Women's Legislative Network also sponsors opportunities for its executive board and advisory board members, as well as Network Alliance members, to get together with the membership. Programs, panels, forums and events are also sponsored or cosponsored with NCSL and WINGS members.
Council/Caucuses:	The Women's Legislative Network assists women state legislators with organizing and/or strengthening women's councils/caucuses, and increasing minority participation within them, NCSL and the Women's Legislative Network. The Women's Legislative Network has the capacity to coordinate this endeavor with advisory board, executive board and Alliance members.
Network News:	Network News is mailed to all women legislators, Alliance members and other supporters of the Women's Legislative Network. The purpose of the publication is to keep its members informed of activities, highlight events and individuals, and provide information about the Women's Legislative Network and other organizations.
On-Site Visits:	The Women's Legislative Network provides assistance to women legislators who are interested in bringing women legislators together on a bipartisan basis. The Women's Legislative Network works in states to help build relationships within the legislature, as well as encourage the formation of a state networking structure.
Projects, Programs and Public Policy:	The Women's Legislative Network sponsors or co-sponsors many programs throughout the year, often working with NCSL or other organizations.

The opportunity to work and network with other state legislators, national and international organizations, as well as corporations, associations and foundations, broadens the horizons of women legislators outside the boundaries of their own states. The activities and events, including the leadership development forums, are open to all women legislators. In these changing times, particularly with term limits, women legislators need to set goals and objectives and fine-tune their leadership skills. The Women's Legislative Network is dedicated to helping all women legislators fulfill their potential!

The Women's Legislative Network provides excellent opportunities for women legislators to come together to share information, legislation, ideas and stories of concerns as well as successes. Women legislators are also provided a forum to expand their leadership skills and knowledge base, within their own states, within the Network and NCSL.

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