2011-12 Membership Report Information
• Zone President Cover Letter from Vice President Lois
• Society President Cover Letter from Zone President
• Individual Member Cover Letter from Zone President
• Society Membership Report (Due Nov. 5, 2011)
• Individual Membership Report (Due Nov. 5, 2011)
• Zone Membership Report (Due Nov. 15, 2011)

Note that the above forms are PDF and may be filled out on the computer, saved and printed off or attached to another email to send to the appropriate person. Forms that require handwritten signatures must be signed and mailed, following instructions on the cover letters. We hope you will take advantage of being able to easily and neatly fill out the forms on the computer.

Download Society Membership Information Sheet
• Procedure for Membership as a Society

Download 2012 Nominating Forms and Guidelines
• 2012 Nominations to submit to the nominating committee; Guidelines and job descriptions from the bylaws

Fanning the Flame for Leadership
When asked to serve in a leadership role, what is your first reaction? The usual response isn’t one of confidence and acceptance. Just like Moses, we usually have all kinds of excuses for why we can’t serve in a leadership capacity. Many of these excuses center around our perceived lack of abilities in that area.

What we seem to forget is that God has gifted everyone with gifts to use in service to Him (1 Corinthians 12). One of the greatest gifts He has given us is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was given to us in baptism. That is our foundation.

To build a bonfire, you have to lay a foundation of fine tinder. You light this tinder and fan the small flame to help it take hold. The fire grows as you add more and larger pieces of kindling until you have a good blaze. The Holy Spirit ignites the flame in our hearts and lives. But we have to fan it into flame with the resources God gives us.

In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul encouraged Timothy to use his God-given gift. For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. Once we have been called by God to use the gifts He has given us, He expects us to use those gifts and not be timid. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (2 Timothy 1:7). God provides us with resources to keep us from being fearful or timid in our leadership capacity. He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5).

In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul says that God has given us a spirit of power. When we have the power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). We can witness what God has done in our lives and then be witnesses of His love in serving Him through our involvement in ministry.

Paul goes on to say that we also receive a spirit of love. True Christian love is ignited by the Holy Spirit. The flame is fanned or strengthened through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit of love enables us to show our love as we display the qualities of a good leader — Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Sure sounds like qualities of a good leader to me!

When our motivation is waning like a dying ember and our enthusiasm lacking, God is faithful! He’s not going to snuff us out or break us (Isaiah 42:3a). He empowers and strengthens us daily through the means of grace. Only then can we keep the flame of service in leadership burning brightly.

As leaders, we have a responsibility to … warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14). As leaders in the LWML, we need to carry that responsibility out with the women in our societies and zones with whom we come in contact.

There is a warning to us, however — do not neglect your gift (1 Timothy 4:14a). We have all been gifted by God for service. We, as women in the LWML need to look at leadership as one of God’s gifts. We have a responsibility to use that gift — fan it into flame — for service in the LWML.

Cheri Fish, Vice President, Organizational Resources, Michigan District LWML
Taken from The TEAM Leader, a publication of the LWML Leader Development Committee, August 2007

The Leader Development Committee primarily:
1) equips and encourages women by creating, developing, and providing ideas, techniques and resources which will enrich and stimulate individuals to serve in leadership positions where God has placed them;

2) with the assistance of the zone presidents, encourages women in established congregations, mission congregations, resident homes, on college campuses or other settings to form and/or affiliate with the LWML;

3) offers assistance to zones by:
     a) providing encouragement, ideas and materials for effective programming;
     b) providing assistance for division of, formation of, or affiliation with zones upon request, using guidelines approved by the Executive Committee, synodical circuit lines preferred

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