How to Form a War Resisters League Local
If you live in an area where there is no peace and justice group, or where you see the real need and potential for a WRL-identified group, we encourage you to form a WRL local. Locals may be small discussion groups or large community organizations; what brings the members together is their interest in WRL's philosophy and program of nonviolent resistance to war and injustice. If you would like to form a WRL local, and you don’t already have a group of people who’d like to be a part of it, you can send a letter to people in your area inviting them to come to a meeting or to contact you if they are interested in being part of a group. Give the WRL National Office a copy of the letter and the ZIP code range for the areas the group would cover. The National Office will work with you to mail the letter to the WRL members in your area, inviting them to be part of a local group.
Once a group is formed and wants to become recognized as a WRL local, it must submit a letter of application to WRL signed by at least five WRL members. If interested people are not already members they can join WRL by signing the WRL Declaration. The letter should include information about the group’s special interests and organizing plans and the name you are thinking of using.
If you are involved in an existing group that is thinking of becoming a local of, or affiliating with, another national network, please consider applying to WRL as well--local groups can belong to more than one national organization.
For existing groups who may or may not have WRL members but who work in coalition with WRL activities and are committed to using nonviolence as a tactic or strategy, consider becoming a WRL Affiliate. Affiliates are part of the WRL Organizing Network and choose one representative to the WRL National Committee. Send a letter applying for Affiliate status to WRL explaining your interest in becoming an Affiliate. The National Office can put you in touch with someone in the WRL Organizing Network who can help you with this process of becoming a local or Affiliate.
Benefits and Resources
Be part of the WRL Organizing Network Established for the purpose of empowering and strengthening grassroots activism, the WRL Organizing Network is made up of WRL Locals, Affiliates, Regional Offices, Contacts and Task Force members. The Organizing Network will meet annually to network, share ideas and skills, create strategies, and help develop WRL programs and campaigns. The Organizing Network chooses 6 representatives to the National Committee – 5 from Locals and 1 from an Affiliate. The Organizing Network also has an email list and shares information and planning throughout the year.
Free Resources
All new Locals are entitled to $50 worth of WRL publications and organizing materials. After WRL has accepted your group as a local, you will be sent a welcoming letter and a literature list from which to place your order.
Financial Support
WRL locals are autonomous, and each group is responsible for finances and fundraising for its own needs. There are some grants given by the national office for local training programs and other programs. Fundraising ideas are shared through the Organizing Network.
Event Planning and Campaign Organizing
If you are looking for a speaker or a nonviolence trainer, get in touch with the National Office. The program staff of the National Office and the Organizing Network support locals in their campaigns and projects with advice in planning, outreach, networking and media.
WIN Magazine Bulk Subscriptions
WIN magazine, the magazine of the War Resisters League, includes articles on issues and actions of interest to organizers. A regular section about WRL's work can include reports from WRL local groups, Affiliates and Contacts; your input will be solicited. Local groups receive bulk quantities of the magazine at no charge to give out at events or place in a local peace center.
Website and Listserv
WRL maintains a website and a listserv for online activists. You can check our current programs on the website and join the listserv by calling us at 212.228.0450 or e-mailing us at wrl-at-warresisters.org.
For more information, download Organizing with the War Resisters League.
