[doug from upland]

THE LOVELY MS. BURK

[Oldeconomybuyer]

MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS

NCWO, composed of more than one hundred women's organizations representing more than 6 million members, is open to the head of an organization that fits the following criteria:

• a freestanding women's organization with its own board of directors and leaders representing a national constituency and perspective;
  
• the organization's membership is composed predominantly of women and its broad purpose includes promoting public policy and legislative strategies affecting women;
  
• the organization is not one whose primary purpose is to elect candidates from a single party;
  
• the organization is not a "for profit" organization.

DECISION-MAKING

Decisions in NCWO are made by simple majority vote by the Council at its regular bi-monthly meetings, where each dues-paying organization has one vote. When the Council is not in session, the Chair is authorized to speak for the Council if the policy issue is clear. If it is not, she confers with the Steering Committee, an 8-member body that, while not creating policy, acts on and carries out issues previously decided by the Council. The Steering Committee publicizes and implements Council decisions or actions.ANNUAL DUES

Dues are decided by the Council at a meeting, and must be paid as a condition of maintaining membership in good standing.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

NCWO member organizations are enriched by the continuing opportunity to interact and network with leaders of more than 100 women's organizations. As NCWO has grown, the value of this interaction, resulting in policies, positions and actions that have helped women nationwide, has become increasingly important. The voice of each organization is heard, and each organization can benefit from the support of many other organizations.Other direct benefits include:

• listing in the Council's NCWO Leadership Handbook, which is widely distributed to the media, Congress, federal agencies and more;
  
• listing on the NCWO website, www.womensorganizations.org;
  
• the opportunity to serve on interest task forces;
  
• use of the NCWO Blastfax capability (for a small fee) to send information to all NCWO member organizations;
  
• participation in many NCWO special events and projects.

Organizations that apply to join NCWO must:

• support the NCWO Policy Agenda
  
• submit a membership application
  
• agree to pay annual dues
  
• have their application approved by the NCWO Steering Committee

The membership process, from application to completion, usually takes no more than two months, allowing for time for the NCWO Steering Committee to meet and discuss the application. Applicants will be notified as to the outcome of the membership application review.