1. The Role of the executive The Catholic Women’s League of Canada
(Excerpts from Leading the League)

2. Executive members are leaders
They have:
Responsibility of overseeing the operation of our organization
Extending an invitation to all Catholic women
Providing education and training to new members
They ensure that:
Every member must be clear in purpose and excited about belonging
Together we can celebrate our achievements for God and Canada

3. Beatitudes of a leader A leader: Knows where she is going
Knows no discouragement
Knows how to lead
Leads for the good of the most concerned
Develops leaders
Considers leadership an opportunity for service

4. Happy Wife/Happy Life
Happy Executive/
Happy CWL Council

5. Qualities of good leaders
Team players
Make a minimum 2 year commitment
Possess a positive attitude to learning more about the League
Know the duties of their position
Flexible and open to new suggestions
Share their vision with members
Encourage participation in decision making
Take pride in what they do and in the members they work with

6. Create a Teamwork culture

7. How to encourage members to step up
Ensure that their roles are defined
Help them understand their talents
Provide training so they understand their roles and responsibilities
Provide positive feedback
Share roles
Make it fun and rewarding to be a part of the team

8. Duties of the executive in preparation for meetings
Attend all meetings - both executive and general
Summarize directives and/or communiques from other levels
Study and research topics for presentation
Determine which aspects of an issue would/should concern the League
Report regularly at general meetings
Assist in the planning of parish council events
Prepare recommendations for the general meetings

9. What happens at general meetings?
Introduce executive members at each meeting
Follow Parliamentary Procedure
Have an agenda prepared with copies for the members
Have seating arranged so that everyone can see and hear
Divide the meeting into spiritual, business and social time
Introduce the idea of mini-workshops which allow members to interact
Invite a guest speaker on a topic of interest to members

10. Extend an invitation Seek and invite new members by:
Personal Invitation
Bulletin Announcements
Bulletin Board Announcements
Pulpit speeches
Being a visible and effective council

11. Provide education and training
Provide or create:
Special orientation for new members – especially executive members
On-going training for all members
A sense of belonging

12. Basic orientation program
League Prayer/League Crest
Mission Statement
Objectives of the League
Constitution & Bylaws, National Manual of Policy and Procedure
Levels of the League
Standing Committees
Expectations for members
Welcome Kit

13. Celebrate our achievements
Through:
Recognition of members
Annual Reports
Attendance at Diocesan and Provincial Conventions

14. Fulfillment – to fully realize the league as gift
Fulfillment is defined in Webster’s dictionary as follows:
To make full
To measure up
To convert into reality
To put into effect
To develop the full potential of
To bring to an end

15. CWL is sisterhood Working together Wide variety of ideas Prayer Love
Business
Knowledge
Work
Fun
Unity

16. What happens at your councils?
Questions for Discussion:
How do you encourage new members?
What education do you provide?
How do you recognize members and their accomplishments?

17. Prayer for leaders
Jesus, you said that anyone who wants to be a leader must learn to be everybody's servant. Teach me why you became everyone’s servant. Teach me why the truly great leaders, Those who accomplished the greatest good, Were women who knew that to lead is to serve. Motivate me to begin leading those I meet daily, and my sisters in the League, by discovering their needs and striving to help them live up to their potential.