Communique #4 — Organization
National President-Elect and Chairperson of Organization Shari Guinta, April 25, 2022.
“Coming together is a beginning;
keeping together is progress;
working together is success.”
(Henry Ford)
Convention time is upon us! How exciting! After more than two years of not meeting in person, it is with a feeling of enthusiasm that members can get together for information and renewal with like-minded Catholic women. It is a time for prayer, information and teaching. Therefore, I encourage you to offer speakers and League development at conventions and special days of workshops and ask that you do the same with your diocesan counterparts.
If you have not already done so, I hope you will ask your diocesan counterparts to encourage parish councils to use the many resources designed under the strategic planning umbrella. Has your council offered the Welcome Program or the Executive Orientation?
- Welcome Program (#621): An essential tool for membership drives and invitations (see 600 Series: Manuals).
- Executive Orientation (#828): Offers a complete overview of executive positions (see 800 Series: Workshops).
Every parish council should offer at least these two programs, and many more are available on the national website (cwl.ca).
Also important is the Telling the REAL Story: Eliminating Misconceptions About the League workshop (#830), designed to include priests, parishioners, members and non-members. Encourage your diocesan counterparts to suggest parish councils plan it as a council or regional activity and invite women to come and learn, discuss and eliminate misconceptions about the League.
Annual reports have been submitted, and it is amazing to see the work done by members, even though there were struggles and restrictions due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. I applaud you.
It was encouraging to see that parish councils continued to hold membership drives in various ways. Membership is important. Numbers are important when promoting the League, and it is crucial to be able to declare that it represents thousands of Catholic women across Canada when meeting government. Please support and ask your diocesan counterparts to encourage parish councils to promote membership all year. Ask women to join and they will!
Visit the national website often for updates and new resources from the implementation committee’s various working groups. The resources are there—please use them.
Shari Guinta
National President-Elect and Chairperson of Organization