National Foundation for Women Legislators Hones Leadership, Governing Skills

National Foundation for Women Legislators Honescoalitions, are problem solvers, and are not afraid to
Leadership, Governing Skillscompromise, they have the informed, goal-oriented
30th May 2006leadership skills that are essential in times of crisis. For
Author: Kris Nickersonthis reason, the NFWL recently partnered with the
"The greatest rising force in American politics is notNational Association of Counties in the Call to
the influence of lobbyists or a single political party. ItACTION (Assign, Communicate, Train, Initiate,
is women," says Robin Read, President and CEO ofOversee, Network), which encourages elected
the National Foundation for Women Legislators (officials at all levels of government to take
"Women hold 1,686 seats in state legislatures, eightpre-emptive action and communicate before a crisis
governorships, 15 lieutenant governorships, and 81occurs.
congressional seats."This pre-emptive action involves assigning an official in
These powerful women also comprise theeach state and municipality to work with local
membership base of the NFWL, which may be theorganizations and corporations to coordinate
most powerful organization you've never heard of.donations, thereby creating an environment that
The NFWL is a non-partisan non-profit organizationfosters corporate responsibility; setting up an
that provides sitting women legislators with strategicexchange of cell phone numbers among business
resources to hone their leadership and governing skills.leaders, agency officials, and elected leaders that will
"We present local, state, and federal policymakers -only be used during a crisis; training government staff
who happen to be women - with information theyand volunteers to assist emergency personnel;
can use to introduce legislation about topics ofinitiating the creation of an Emergency Task Force
concern to all Americans," says Read.for crisis coordination; overseeing resources for
For example, NFWL legislators were invited to takeemergency management and preparedness; and
part in the 2004 National Training Conference onregularly networking with officials to ensure that
Human Trafficking. Key team leaders from the NFWLemergency preparedness plans are up-to-date.
Crime, Justice, Terrorism & Substance AbuseThanks to the NFWL, legislators are taking the
Committee attended the conference and discussedinitiative to pursue legislation on a wide range of
the issue with President George W. Bush, the U.S.issues ( A delegation of NFWL legislators visited
Attorney General, and Florida Governor Jeb Bush.Taiwanese elected officials and business leaders in
These legislators have since been instrumental inDecember 2005, leading to the introduction of several
introducing legislation against human trafficking instate resolutions calling for opening a dialogue
Florida, Texas, Missouri, Washington, South Carolina,between the U.S. Trade Representative and
and Kansas, among others.Taiwanese officials who are interested in pursuing a
Read cites the threat of terrorist attacks and naturalFree Trade Agreement with the U.S. After Mary
disasters like Hurricane Katrina as two instancesWilson, formerly of "The Supremes," spoke at the
where women policymakers are uniquely positioned2005 NFWL annual conference about the negative
to foster communication and forge coalitions. "Studiesimpact of imposter entertainers posing as legitimate
conducted by the Center on American Women inmusic groups, Representative Karen Yarbrough of
Politics at Rutgers show that women elected officialsIllinois introduced the Truth in Music bill this spring, and
are more connected to their communities than theirmany other states are following suit.
male counterparts," says Read. Likewise, studiesThe NFWL plays a crucial role in informing women
show that their constituents perceive womenpolicymakers, in providing them with a forum in which
legislators as being more trustworthy and credibleto network, and in nurturing future leaders through
than men. "Communicating up-to-the-minutetheir scholarship program. While it may not be a
information and reassuring the public are importanthousehold name, elected women in local, state, and
roles of women legislators, as they are the perfectnational offices are using the NFWL to inform and
conduit for information and reassurance."reaffirm the increasingly influential role of women in
Because women leaders think strategically, forgegovernance.