"So How does your Council...?" Monthly Zoom Meetings

One of the initiatives that the Lord has put on my heart is to host a monthly Zoom meeting called “So How Does Your Council….?” And each month will be a different topic. Over the years I’ve attended many regional meetings and my absolute favorite part is the council reports. When I was parish council president, I stole (sorry, borrowed!!) so many great ideas from other councils. And it was an opportunity to ask those other presidents for advice. But there was never enough time. I’m hoping that the Zoom meetings will bridge some of those gaps.

I will need your help. I need any CWL member who has interest in the topic to participate. I need two kinds of people:

those who look at the topic and think, “my council has great ideas in that area and I’d love to share them”
and people who look at the topic and think, “gosh, our council struggles in the area and we could use some help”.

Ideas generated from So How Does Your Council Engage and Involve New Members? Sept 2024

Ideas generated from So How Does Your Council Engage and Involve New Members? Sept 2024

Thank you to everyone who joined our first meeting on September 30 for So How Does Your Council Engage and Involve New Members? We had 21 CWL members join, both Executive and non-Executive alike. Feedback was very positive; especially the opportunity to move into breakout rooms to discuss ideas & share learnings in a small group setting. Here is a summary of the conversations:

Meeting Format:

Have it be less meeting-ish and more of a gathering
Do the Socializing first and business afterward
Keep business to a minimum; reports can be emailed and most business can be done at Exec.
- Shorten the business. Presidents should look at their agenda before they send it out to the members and if there are 5 business items see if you can reduce it.
- Presidents should allocate time on the agenda for introductions of new members and guests, have it on the agenda so it is not forgotten, it makes welcoming a priority.
Have everyone wear nametags (those dollar store sticky ones if people forget or don’t have a CWL nametag). Every meeting
Lean into Faith and Social; that is why most women join
Invite your Spiritual Advisor; give him a duty/task to make him feel included and have a purpose
Consider having meetings during the day or on Zoom during the winter months so that people don’t have to drive / be out in poor and dark weather
- Virtual meetings enable members in other towns (hard to drive in winter) or senior homes (shut-ins) to join
Consider having a meeting in person and virtual at the same time
Have the agenda, minutes, any spiritual programs handouts and sign-up sheets in one place for the ladies to pick up when they arrive

Ideas:

Have a buddy system; someone “assigned” to sit with a new person, get her number, text her about upcoming meetings/events, look for her at the next gathering
Someone outside of Exec who “meets and greets” women as they arrive and anyone new, bring over to some established ladies to sit with
Introduce and welcome new members or anyone who hasn’t been around for a while
It may take sacrifice to remove yourself from your group of friends to sit with someone new. Without meaning to, we can be cliquey and we need to make a conscious effort to not be; offer to be a mentor
The meeting before, advertise a “bring a friend” event. That way, they’re not by themselves
Learn about the new members’ skills and interests. Make an intentional effort to match those to skills and interests to upcoming events.
At membership drives use forms to indicate “What do you want to sign up for?”
From those answers, create spreadsheet and then personally phone and invite to meet outside the church, i.e. for coffee
Meet with younger groups in the parish to tell them about the League, why they may join, find out what they like to do. Sometimes younger groups would like CWL to babysit, this may or may not be feasible
Create and provide new members with an orientation booklet or package, letters from the Spiritual Advisor, President, calendar of events, etc.
Use games or ice breakers to meet other members
Prayer Partners – monthly draw a member to pray for (see below), or have a secret prayer partner all year and “reveal” the partners at Christmas social

Monthly Prayer for All CWL Members
Dear Lord God,
I thank You for all Gifts & Blessings You have given to me.
I especially thank you for the love & support of other Catholic Women through the Catholic Women’s League! I ask You to Bless all CWL members. Especially Bless________________________________.
Grant her and each member Your Grace & Wisdom, Peace & Joy!
May all members always keep You, Lord God, at the centre of their lives.
We ask this in Jesus Holy Name. Amen

Ideas generated from So How Does Your Council Invite and Recruit New Members to Executive? October 2024

Ideas generated from So How Does Your Council Invite and Recruit New Members to Executive? October 2024

What Leadership Traits Are Successful for CWL:

Organized
Formula: 33% Faith, 33% Social, 33% Business
Focuses on having Fun!!!; Could be a speaker or activity
Is welcoming and extends personal invitations to join both the general membership and the Executive
Recognizes the gifts of others and asks them to share those specific gifts in their specific role on Executive and then acts as a mentor
Conducts an effective and timely meeting
Not all presidents are good recruiters but they find a member(s) who is
Enthusiastic
Relationship focused
Ensures all members are engaged and have an opportunity to speak – ie) at the start of the meeting say one think about yourself or one good thing that happened this week
Brings a different style of leadership to the council

What Leadership Traits are Challenging for CWL

Too caught up in the details
Poor at communication
Not able to read their audience

Why women do not let their name stand for leadership

Think it is too much of a commitment
- Be honest in that it does take some time and energy. However, be clear that Executive is not the “doer” of all the events. In fact, they shouldn’t be as the entire Council should feel invested in the various activities
- Share the blessings and benefits of being on the Executive
Health and health of their spouse (Where are they in their life journey?)
- Hold space for them in their time of challenge
- Perhaps when they are in a different stage of life, they will be more able to be more active in Leadership. Let them know the invitation stands
Expectations of prior president and council if they do not do the same things
- Be clear that just because past President / Executive did it that way doesn’t mean current must
“I won’t be as good as the past Executive.”
- Let them know that everyone has different gifts and charisms that the League needs
- Different doesn’t mean not as good
- Ask prior Executive to be a mentor and encourage those past Executive to let new ideas be tried. It’s hard but sometimes we need to consciously watch something be done differently and not be threatened by that
Not feeling confident in their abilities
- Be specific in the gifts and skills you can recognize and point them out
- It could be that you need to ask them a few times before they believe you

Small Changes that Can Be Implemented / Tried to Fill Current Vacancies or For Upcoming Elections:

Reduce or simplify the number of activities a Council does (do not have to do everything the prior Executives did)
Ask some past Presidents and/or some members who know the membership well to be in charge of recruiting (not necessarily the current President)
It will take time to convince some people of their skill and ability; start the process months before elections
Offer to have prospective new Executive come to current Executive meetings to get a feel for what is required. That way they will feel more confident knowing what is expected
Make connections – invite new members from other cultures to participate. Be open to new ideas that may be different from previous Executives
Provide information about the expectations/duties in an honest manner including the time commitment and skills needed. But also share the benefits and blessings.
- Share your testimony about what good has come about as a result of taking on Leadership

The Final Straw:

It is perfectly ok to say “This is my last meeting.” If you have been trying to find a replacement and no one is stepping up, this is actually the healthier option. Not only for you but for your council. It will stop you from getting resentful and burned out but will also “force” the council to fill the role. And by bringing new perspectives and fresh ideas, the council will be rejuvenated

Prayer from Myrna C of Holy Name Parish

O Holy Spirit, please help me discern the Eternal Father's will for the Executive of our CWL Council. May I glorify Him in whatever work I do to serve in the CWL. If this office is not for me Lord, please help us find Your chosen daughter to fill this position. Amen.

Pray this prayer and encourage your entire membership to do so as well. Thank you, Myrna, for sharing; it’s perfect for this topic.

You are invited to join the next session, So How Does Your Council Run Your Membership Drives? It will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024 at 7pm on Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86223470188?pwd=JNyb9CMg5NjvTCeTs1OrixI5aaroGG.1

Meeting ID: 862 2347 0188 Passcode: 840877

Future dates will be the 4th Monday of the month from 7-8pm (Jan 27, Feb 24, Mar 24, Apr 28 and May 26). Topics to be determined based on interest.

Does this sound like something you would be interested in participating in? If so, what topics would you like to cover? I honestly want to hear your feedback so please let me know what you think. Please contact me at 403-816-9776 (phone or text) or

For Him through her,
Theresa Duncan, Diocesan Vice President