| Asked to support and assist these legislators, Rick | | | | Pendery. |
| Pendery brings his 30 years of expertise to the | | | | NFWL is based on the concept that the greatest |
| group, aiding with programs and activities that make | | | | rising force in American politics is not a political party, |
| a difference in legislation. | | | | a lobbying community or an ethnic group. They feel it |
| As a leader and executive in the field of substance | | | | is women. Thirty years ago, women held a mere four |
| abuse for over three decades, Rick Pendery was | | | | percent of all state legislative seats in the country: |
| asked by the National Foundation of Women | | | | Today they hold twenty-two percent-1652 seats! |
| Legislators (NFWL) to co-chair the NFWL's Crime, | | | | They also hold three Governorships, 19 Lt. |
| Justice, Terrorism, & Substance Abuse Policy | | | | Governorships and 65 seats in the US Congress, |
| Committee. This faction of the group assists with | | | | including nine Senators and 56 Representatives. |
| that specific part of the NFWL's undertaking, which is | | | | Women chair numerous committees, influence policy, |
| to provide strategic resources to women leaders for | | | | pass legislation and determine the outcome of |
| leadership development and effective governance | | | | elections. |
| through conferences, effective seminars, issue | | | | The Foundation intellectually equips sitting women |
| education materials, professional and personal | | | | legislators to mold public opinion and for the legislative |
| relationships, and networking at both the state and | | | | debates in their respective state houses, senates and |
| federal levels. | | | | assemblies. As a non-profit 501c3, the National |
| The National Foundation of Women Legislators | | | | Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) does not |
| (originally called National Order of Women Legislators) | | | | take ideological positions on any current issue, but |
| was founded in 1938 and is a non-partisan | | | | rather exists to assist women leaders in the process |
| organization whose membership is made up of | | | | of legislative debate, networking, re-elections, public |
| women serving as current state legislators and | | | | opinion molding and leadership. |
| former state legislators. Today, there are over 1600 | | | | NFWL's Crime, Justice, Terrorism, & Substance |
| women state legislators nationwide. | | | | Abuse Policy Committee has recently partnered with |
| Needing assistance from professionals outside the | | | | the U.S. Department of Justice on the Project Safe |
| political world, Pendery has been a co-chair of one of | | | | Childhood initiative where NFWL's Shoulder to |
| the most vital committees in the foundation since | | | | Shoulder Team Leaders will work with the U.S. |
| 2001. The Policy Committee on Crime, Justice, | | | | Attorneys in every state to create and implement |
| Terrorism, and Substance Abuse has been looking at | | | | plans to apprehend predators who target children. |
| a variety of substance abuse issues, including youth | | | | This Committee will also spend the year building on |
| demand reduction programs, prison rehabilitation | | | | NFWL's Call to ACTION (Assign, Communicate, Train, |
| programs and medical treatments for abusers. The | | | | Initiate, Oversee, Network) which was introduced last |
| committee also works on human trafficking, child | | | | March and addresses the homeland security concerns |
| abuse, homeland security and other pressing issues. | | | | facing the United States, including raising awareness |
| The Legislative Chair, Representative Phyllis | | | | about the importance of establishing a "culture of |
| Katsakiores of New Hampshire works closely with | | | | preparedness. |