By Katie Ziegler
We invite you to join the Women’s Legislative Network and celebrate its 30th anniversary at the Legislative Summit in Seattle.
The network will host a number of events throughout the week, including a gala reception, a lunch with a discussion of the changing role of female legislators over the last three decades, a session about female-owned businesses, and a workshop about courageous conversations. Complete information about the network’s schedule is available here.
The Women's Legislative Network of NCSL represents every female state legislator in the nation and territories. The network began when female legislators started gathering informally at NCSL meetings in the late 1970s and officially organized 30 years ago at the 1985 NCSL Annual Meeting in Seattle.
Network members believe that state legislatures and the communities they serve are better because of the leadership, skill and perspective that women provide. The network exists to promote the participation, empowerment and leadership of women legislators.
To mark its 30th year as a leading organization for female legislators, the network is in the final stages of developing a new strategic plan. We remain focused on our mission, but our methods are changing along with the needs of our members, who are making their mark in statehouses across the country and pointing the way toward a new era. Here are our goals. The complete plan will be released following the Legislative Summit.
The network will:
- Become an indispensable organization for female legislators: We will work hard to engage our members personally and aggressively seek financial support. Our goal is to provide exceptional programs and services that meet our members’ needs.
- Prepare women to be more effective legislators: Women in legislatures across the country are policy leaders on a diverse range of issues. We will showcase their expertise as a way to help all our members become more effective legislators on the topics that are important to them and their constituents.
- Increase the number of women in state legislative leadership positions: Female legislative leaders share a common bond and a common experience. We will provide specialized training and learning exchanges for leaders and those who want to join their ranks.
- Celebrate female legislators: Progress depends in part on inspiration. We will highlight female legislators across the country by celebrating their achievements and sharing their stories.
- Provide pathways for more women to serve in state legislatures: The next generation of female legislators needs mentors. We will facilitate opportunities for our members to be an example and provide counsel to women who wish to follow in their footsteps.
Katie Ziegler is the program manager for the Women’s Legislative Network of NCSL.
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