Mission and Function of ODWC
The ODWC is an officially recognized Caucus of the ODP. Its mission is to organize and motivate women to vote for Democratic candidates, to identify and recruit more women to run for political office in Ohio, and to help execute the ODP’s strategic political plan.
The primary function of the Caucus is to promote the development of women’s Democratic organizations in each of Ohio’s 88 counties and to provide a network of communication between the organizations and the ODP. Where such organizations already exist, the ODWC will provide support. Where no Democratic women’s organization exists in a county, the ODWC will help create one by working with active women Democrats in the county. If the active Democratic women in the county do not express an interest in creating a separate women’s organization, the ODWC regional coordinators will work with the individual women in that county. The ODWC will work to create a network of all Democratic women and women’s organizations to better effectuate communication between the ODP and women on the local level.
Structure of the ODWC
The ODWC shall have a Director and a Leadership Council appointed by the Chairman of the ODP. The Director will be a full time employee of the ODP who will be devoted to carrying out the day to day activities in furtherance of the goals of the ODWC. The Leadership Council will meet to shape and approve the general policies and direction of the ODWC. The Council should reflect the diverse nature of Ohio’s politically active Democratic women and therefore, will include elected officials, regional representatives of predominant, politically active Democratic women’s groups, labor leaders, and representatives from other ethnic/minority constituencies.
For efficiency, the ODWC will work in well defined regions drawn to correspond as best as possible with the ODP’s overall state organizing plan. There should be a regional coordinator or co-coordinators of the ODWC in each region who work closely with the Party’s field organizers and the Leadership Council.
Membership
Individual membership in the ODWC can be attained via a local caucus/group or directly with the ODWC if no local caucus/group exists in the interested person’s geographic area. Members of local ODWC affiliated groups will automatically become members of the statewide organization. While it is the intention of the ODWC to develop organizations in counties where none exist, this may not always be feasible. Therefore, individual memberships will exist with the goal of networking and organizing women within the same geographic area into viable, growing, productive caucuses of the ODWC.
The goal is to be as inclusive as possible. The ODWC will not exclude men, and any supportive Democratic man who desires to be a member of the ODWC will be welcome.
Individual women who are not already members of local women’s groups and who wish to become members of the ODWC may fill out membership contact forms and will receive personal contact from ODWC regional coordinators. Moving forward, yearly membership dues will be in the amount of $10 and lifetime membership dues will be in the amount of $100.
Political Endorsements
The ODWC will not endorse candidates in a contested primary at the local, state or national level. Local groups will have the option of endorsing candidates in a contested primary, but communication with the ODWC Director and regional coordinator regarding endorsements is strongly encouraged.
