| Thanks to the National Foundation for Women | | | | are not afraid to compromise, they have the |
| Legislators ( female elected officials are | | | | informed, goal-oriented leadership skills |
| taking the initiative to pursue legislation | | | | that are essential in times of crisis. For |
| on a wide range of issues. "The greatest | | | | this reason, the NFWL recently partnered with |
| rising force in American politics is not the | | | | the National Association of Counties in the |
| influence of lobbyists or a single political | | | | Call to ACTION (Assign, Communicate, Train, |
| party. It is women," says Robin Read, | | | | Initiate, Oversee, Network), which encourages |
| President and CEO of NFWL. "Women hold 1,686 | | | | elected officials at all levels of government |
| seats in state legislatures, eight | | | | to take pre-emptive action and communicate |
| governorships, 15 lieutenant governorships, | | | | before a crisis occurs. |
| and 81 congressional seats." | | | | |
| | | | This pre-emptive action involves assigning an |
| These powerful women also comprise the | | | | official in each state and municipality to |
| membership base of the NFWL, a non-partisan | | | | work with local organizations and |
| non-profit organization that provides sitting | | | | corporations to coordinate donations, thereby |
| women legislators with strategic resources to | | | | creating an environment that fosters |
| hone their leadership and governing skills. | | | | corporate responsibility; setting up an |
| "We present local, state, and federal | | | | exchange of cell phone numbers among business |
| policymakers - who happen to be women - with | | | | leaders, agency officials, and elected |
| information they can use to introduce | | | | leaders that will only be used during a |
| legislation about topics of concern to all | | | | crisis; training government staff and |
| Americans," says Read. | | | | volunteers to assist emergency personnel; |
| | | | initiating the creation of an Emergency Task |
| For example, NFWL legislators were invited to | | | | Force for crisis coordination; overseeing |
| take part in the 2004 National Training | | | | resources for emergency management and |
| Conference on Human Trafficking. Key team | | | | preparedness; and regularly networking with |
| leaders from the NFWL Crime, Justice, | | | | officials to ensure that emergency |
| Terrorism & Substance Abuse Committee | | | | preparedness plans are up-to-date. |
| attended the conference and discussed the | | | | |
| issue with President George W. Bush, the U.S. | | | | Members of the NFWL are also taking global |
| Attorney General, and Florida Governor Jeb | | | | initiatives ( A delegation of NFWL |
| Bush. These legislators have since been | | | | legislators visited Taiwanese elected |
| instrumental in introducing legislation | | | | officials and business leaders in December |
| against human trafficking in Florida, Texas, | | | | 2005, leading to the introduction of several |
| Missouri, Washington, South Carolina, and | | | | state resolutions calling for opening a |
| Kansas, among others. | | | | dialogue between the U.S. Trade |
| | | | Representative and Taiwanese officials who |
| Read cites the threat of terrorist attacks | | | | are interested in pursuing a Free Trade |
| and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina | | | | Agreement with the U.S. After Mary Wilson, |
| as two instances where women policymakers are | | | | formerly of "The Supremes," spoke at the 2005 |
| uniquely positioned to foster communication | | | | NFWL annual conference about the negative |
| and forge coalitions. "Studies conducted by | | | | impact of imposter entertainers posing as |
| the Center on American Women in Politics at | | | | legitimate music groups, Representative Karen |
| Rutgers show that women elected officials are | | | | Yarbrough of Illinois introduced the Truth in |
| more connected to their communities than | | | | Music bill this spring, and many other states |
| their male counterparts," says Read. | | | | are following suit. |
| Likewise, studies show that their | | | | |
| constituents perceive women legislators as | | | | The NFWL plays a crucial role in informing |
| being more trustworthy and credible than men. | | | | women policymakers, in providing them with a |
| "Communicating up-to-the-minute information | | | | forum in which to network, and in nurturing |
| and reassuring the public are important roles | | | | future leaders through their scholarship |
| of women legislators, as they are the perfect | | | | program. While it may not be a household |
| conduit for information and reassurance." | | | | name, elected women in local, state, and |
| | | | national offices are using the NFWL to inform |
| Because women leaders think strategically, | | | | and reaffirm the increasingly influential |
| forge coalitions, are problem solvers, and | | | | role of women in governance. |