Area Director - The Sisterhood President’s Therapist

February 10, 2022Robin Krieger, 2021 Fried Women's Conference Co-Chair

“Area Directors are the connection between your sisterhood or women's group and the District and WRJ… and also, your personal WRJ therapist!"

This might sound far-fetched, but that is the role all Area Directors (AD) can have with their sisterhood presidents. Your AD  will cheer you on when you succeed and support you in challenging times. Most Area Directors were once presidents, so take advantage of the experiences, knowledge, and skills. She will listen to your needs and help you find solutions.

What does an Area Director do? The Area Director:

●        Contacts assigned sisterhoods presidents at least four times per year

●       Maintains email communication as much as possible

●       Visits (dependent on COVID-19 restrictions) each group and ensure an area event is within their reach at least once during their three-year term. 

●       Submits summary reports to the District leadership quarterly about the groups they have contacted and visited.

●       Disseminates WRJ news, event information, and other opportunities to their assigned sisterhoods

●       Reports any change in the group's leadership or contact information to the appropriate District Board members and WRJ office. (This form makes it easy to report those changes!). 

●   Facilitate dialogue between local sisterhood/women and WRJ consultants or speakers when needed.

During my first year as a Sisterhood President, I had no idea what or who my Area Director was. We always paid our WRJ and District dues but were not aware of the vast amount of WRJ resources that were at our fingertips.

At the beginning of my second year as President, I received a phone call from my Area Director, Barbara Brown. I was thrilled to speak with anyone who might be interested in learning about my sisterhood and who could offer advice that could enrich our organization. Barbara was a wealth of information and introduced us to the benefits and workings of both our District and WRJ at large. When Barbara asked if she could attend our first fall program, I knew she would be a valuable resource for us. I looked forward to our quarterly calls and felt comfortable contacting her in between with questions or concerns. She promptly returned my calls and emails, and if she didn't know an answer on the spot, she would find out and then quickly get back to me with the information. Barbara encouraged me to attend the Northeast District Convention a few months later, and I couldn't believe what my sisterhood and I had been missing. A whole new world opened up to us. 

Since that first Convention, I have held various positions in the Northeast District and WRJ, ranging from sisterhood president to District VP of Area Management and as a WRJ North American Board member. Aside from being a Sisterhood President, my favorite role in the NE District has been that of Area Director. Currently, I am serving my second term as an AD and understand the especially unique challenges my presidents' have faced over the past two years. Despite the unusual circumstances, I love speaking with my sisterhood presidents and continue to be amazed at their resilience and creativity. Terrific programs are still being planned, and leadership is working hard to keep their groups running and relevant. 

Having a connection with your AD allows you to have someone who understands what you are experiencing. It's such a relief to have a mentor you can kvetch to, cry on their shoulder, and eventually laugh with about the most mundane issues.

Here are a few suggestions for getting to know your AD better.

●       Answer your AD's calls and emails. Add her phone number and email to your contact list on your cell phone.

●       Don't be afraid to ask for help regarding internal issues such as Board challenges, membership, programming, etc. No issue or question is silly or unimportant.

●       Don't hesitate to call or email your AD between your quarterly meetings.

●       Add her to your Board and members' email lists so that she can stay up to date with what is happening in your group.

●       Invite your AD to attend at least one  Zoom Board meeting. Yes, she wants to be there!

●       Invite her to all programs, whether virtual or in-person 

●       Make sure your AD has the most current contact information for your group's leadership team. Inform her of any Board changes.

●       Ask for help with Yammer if you are having difficulty navigating the site. If you are not using Yammer yet, send an email to leadership@wrj.org to access Yammer and request a tutorial.

●       When attending a District or WRJ event, ask to meet with your AD. She might be the only person you know, so take advantage of the connection.

If you have not had contact with the other sisterhood presidents in your AD's portfolio, ask your AD if it might be possible to set up a Zoom meeting with her group. We all complain about having too many Zoom calls, but Zoom has brought the world into our homes during the pandemic. As an AD, I have attended quarterly Zoom calls with my sisterhood presidents, which is rare when someone cannot attend. After going through the latest District and WRJ news, the presidents' take over the call. On these calls, the sisterhood presidents can commiserate over similar challenges, share programming tips, and troubleshoot while forming meaningful friendships. 

No one would ever say a sisterhood president's job is easy, but there are ways to make your term more successful and fulfilling. Counting on your Area Director's expertise will help give you the tools to face challenges that come your way to succeeding in your presidency. After all, isn't that the job of a good therapist?

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