GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs

 

PUBLIC POLICY/RESOLUTIONS

 

 

Chairman:        Pat Freeland

Member:          Marilyn Pahl

Member:          Sue Ellen Kohler

 

CORD Chair:

Susan Abdella

EORD Chair:

Eileen Krupinsk

LED Chair:

Joyce Kubik

NED Chair:

 

NWD Chair:

Mary Ann Book

WCD Chair:

Lanette Briley

WORD Chair:

Patricia Booze

 

 

 

 

Public Policy

 

Engaging, Educating, Mobilizing

 

Public Policy News

 

 

The purpose of the GFWC/OFWC Public Policy and Advocacy programs is to engage, educate, and mobilize Clubwomen as advocates for the federation’s public policy priorities.  Clubwomen are challenged to facilitate GFWC/OFWC’s impact on public policy at the local, state and national levels by becoming better informed advocates willing and able to make a difference.

 

GFWC/OFWC clubs and members have the opportunity to impact public policy by informing and encouraging members to participate in civic presentations.

 

 

GOALS

1.      Legislation day meetings are to be legislative/educational issues, by having speakers, panels or other media presentations on legislative issues pertaining to the district, state, and nation.

 

2.      Sponsor candidate’s night prior to an election in order to inform the members and public of pertinent issues of the candidates running for public offices.

 

3.      Write or call local, district, state, and national government representatives with your questions, thoughts, both pro and con, on the issues and take action to make your voice heard.

 

4.      Become familiar with GFWC/OFWC resolutions and send letters to the appropriate organizations, companies, representatives and lawmakers, brining their attention to the fact that your organization endorses the resolution.

 

 

IDEAS FOR PROGRAMS

Consider having programs on one or more of the following:

  • Women’s health issues, Social Security, long term care, safety issues, identity theft, elder abuse, child abuse, education system and funding, internet predators, immigration laws, truth in lending acts, the lists of today’s concerns are endless.
  • Have local, county, state, and national legislators inform you of impending legislation, budgets, and revision to laws.
  • Review the GFWC/OFWC resolutions and inform your district, state chairman of changes, deletions or additions that you feel need to be addressed.

 

 

Resolutions

 

GOALS

1.      To raise awareness of the rationale for an impact of resolutions

2.      To facilitate the writing of resolutions

3.      To increase the number of resolutions submitted to the state and to the GFWC.

 

Whereas, The GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs encourages active participation in public affairs; and

 

Whereas, Legislative positions taken by the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs must be based on a consensus of the members; therefore

 

Resolved, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs actively encourage its member clubs to submit relevant resolutions for consideration by the membership.

 

A resolution is a tool by which members can voice their opinions in an effort to influence or develop the policies of the organization.  It must be germane to the work or interests of the Federation members.  Resolutions reflect the shared beliefs of the membership and provide the framework for all public policy initiatives.  Resolutions determine the form of all legislative action taken by the Federation.

 

In Ohio, resolutions may be proposed by per capita clubs, department chairmen, the Resolutions Committee or the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs Executive Committee.

 

Resolutions and supporting materials must be sent to the Resolutions chairman by November 15, 2006 and November 15, 2007.  Only emergency resolutions (which pertain to immediate situations) may be accepted after November 15, 2006/2007.

 

Resolutions must be typed

 

Supporting materials must be submitted with the proposed resolution

 

Resolutions must be submitted in the following format:

  • Title – provides the subject
  • Whereas – statement of facts
  • Resolved – states position and suggested action

 

 

JUDGING CRITERIA

  • 25 Points for Topic
  • 25 Points for How Well the Resolution is written
  • 25 Points for Following Format
  • 25 Points if club submitted more than one Resolution

 

Quoting from Sarah Albert, then GFWC Public Policy Director, in the April/May 2001 GFWC Clubwoman:  “Resolutions are the backbone of all GFWC public policy initiatives.  They determine and form the basis for all legislative action.  The policy positions reflect the organization’s consensus on issues of national and international importance.  “…Only with a resolution ‘on the books’ can GFWC advocate for or against an issue.”  In the same way, clubs and the Ohio Federation rely on resolutions to describe the consensus of the members on various issues.  Clubs cannot take an “official” position unless their members have reached such a consensus.

 

 

Answers to frequently asked questions about resolutions

 

1. When should we submit a written resolution?

When a club studies an issue that appears to have an impact on the community, state, or nation, reaches a consensus, and decides to submit a resolution, the club must gather supporting materials.

 

2. What is the format?

Resolutions must be submitted in the following format for State presentation:

Whereas, the GFWC / Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs takes an active interest in matters of public policy; and

Whereas, the GFWC / Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs’ position on issues must be stated clearly in a manner that is accessible to members and nonmembers alike; therefore

Resolved, that the GFWC / Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs shall document its positions on matters of public policy in the form of resolutions which shall be compiled and published in the GFWC / Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs’ annual Directory.

Submitted by,

Member’s name

Club

 

3. After writing up the resolution, what do we do with it?

The resolution is submitted with supporting materials to the state resolution committee that reviews it for relevance, wording, etc.

 

4. What are the deadlines for submission?

The deadline for submission to the State Chairman is no later than November 15, 2006/2007. This means that the mailed resolutions shall be postmarked no later than those dates. Only Emergency Resolutions shall be accepted after November 15, 2006/2007.

 

5. What happens to the resolution after submission and review of the resolution committee?

The resolution committee may then submit the resolution for approval to the Executive Board of the GFWC / Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs. If the Executive Board accepts it, then the resolution is printed in the “Call to Convention” issue of the Buckeye Magazine. Upon receipt of the Call, the members of each club shall review the proposals and share their opinions and information with the delegates who will be attending and voting at the annual GFWC / Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs’ Convention. It will then be read and voted on at the Convention. If the resolution is passed and action is recommended, the GFWC / Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs shall implement that action.

 

6. If the resolution is national/international in scope, what happens?

If the resolution is national/international in scope, it may be submitted to the GFWC Resolution Committee for consideration. If it is accepted there, it may be presented at the International Convention for a vote. If accepted by the membership at the GFWC Convention, the resolution then becomes part of the policy of the GFWC and whatever action has been recommended in the resolution shall be implemented.

 

7. How long are resolutions in effect?

Resolutions remain in effect until their purpose is accomplished or until rescinded by the members. The resolution committee automatically reviews them every four (4) years.

 

 

RESOURCES

·         Review current OFWC Resolutions on this website and in the GFWC/OFWC Directory

·         for list of resources on the federal level.

·         Web site for the state of Ohio – www.state.oh.us/ohio

·         Ohio State Legislative Information – 1-800-282-0253

·         U.S. Capitol Switch Board (1-202-224-3121) – this line connects the caller with the requested Senate or House member's office.

·         GFWC Materials Center and  GFWC CLUB MANUAL – PUBLIC POLICY and ADVOCACY Program, 1734 N Street, NW, Washington, DC  20036-2990 Phone:  202/347-3168 FAX:  202/835-0246 E-mail:  materialscenter@gfwc.org

·         United States Senate
202/224-3121 (Switchboard for general information and operator assistance)
202/225-8541 (Democratic Cloakroom)
202/224-8601 (Republican Cloakroom)
Internet:  www.senate.gov
Call the Cloakroom numbers for recorded message with up-to-the-minute reports of what is happening on the Senate floor.  For member offices, phone number, addresses and Internet information available from individual offices, call the switchboard for operator assistance.

·         United States House of Representatives
202/224-3121 (Switchboard for general information and operator assistance)
202/225-7400 (Democratic Cloakroom)
02/224-7430 (Republican Cloakroom)
Internet:  www.house.gov
Call the Cloakroom numbers for recorded message with up-to-the-minute reports of what is happening on the House floor.  For member offices, phone numbers, addresses and Internet information available from individual offices, call the switchboard for operator assistance.

·         Library of Congress, 10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC  20540  -  202/707-5000 (General Information)
Internet:  www.thomas.loc.gov  “Thomas” is maintained by the Library of Congress and provides information about all pending federal legislation.  This comprehensive site includes bill details, such as title, number, status, description, text and co-sponsors.  The site also includes bills and laws from recent past congressional sessions.

·         General Accounting Office, 441 G Street, NW, Washington, DC  20548  -  202/512-4800 (General Information)
Internet:  www.gao.gov    The General Accounting Office (GAO) is a non-partisan, investigative arm of Congress.  Through reports, congressional testimony and legal findings, the GAO advises Congress and federal agencies about becoming more responsive and efficient.  These reports and findings are available to the public.

·         Government Printing Office North Capital and H Streets, NW, Washington, DC  20401, 202/512-0000 (General Information) 202/512-1800 (Subscription/Publication Information)
Internet:  www.access.gpo.gov The Government Printing Office (GPO) was established by Congress to serve the printing and information needs of Congress and is the focal point for all Federal printing.  GPO offers a growing number of government publications online and operates regional bookstores.  GPO documents are distributed also to approximately 1,400 Federal depository libraries nationwide.

·         C-SPAN, 444 North Capital Street, NW, Suite 412, Washington, DC  20001 - 1-800-523-3174
Internet:  www.c-span.org C-Span provides televised proceedings of Congress and other public policy programming (check local listings for stations).

 

 

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