One of our goals for this Chapter Leader newsletter is to create a forum for chapter leaders to learn from each other and about each other. We’re calling this feature “A Rising Tide” because when one of our chapters succeeds, we all succeed – and we should share those strategies and successes with each other to lift all our boats, metaphorically speaking.

This month, we’re featuring Mary Lukach, who joined Together Women Rise in 2018 as a member of the IL, Western Springs-1 chapter. Over the years, Mary has served in multiple volunteer roles with Rise and currently serves as a Chapter Support Liaison supporting 10 Rise chapters in her region. Mary grew up in Washington, DC and is a retired elementary school teacher. She currently lives in Chicago but has been summering at the Delaware beaches for over 60 years. Her passions include family, water coloring, “peloton-ing” and traveling!

Kia: Mary, you currently serve as a Chapter Support Liaison, mentoring Rise chapter leaders. Yet you have never been a chapter leader yourself. Some may assume that it is necessary to be a chapter leader first before serving in this support role. Can you tell us more about your journey?

Mary: Well, I first learned of Together Women Rise, then Dining for Women, in 2018. It was actually Nicholas Kristof who first led me to the organization. He had recently featured Rise, so there were a few new members of the Western Springs chapter who had also found out that way. There were about 40 members in that chapter at the time, and it was really strong. Our chapter leader was always great and encouraged us to get more involved. Around COVID, I decided to volunteer as a Mentor, and I worked really closely with Vicky Bush-Joseph, who was the Regional Leader for our area and also happened to be in my chapter. So, we were both in the same chapter and took on these leadership roles around the same time. I really liked taking on the Mentor role because it made me dig deeper into what a chapter leader does. I really appreciate the fact that they do need a sustainable plan to keep the chapter going. For example, if everything falls on one chapter leader, the responsibility rests on them. Our chapter leader once told us she wanted to step down, and we really didn’t want her to. She was great, so we all stepped up and took on more responsibility organizing a venue, presenting, etc.

Kia: How would you describe the Chapter Support Liaison role?

Mary: We are there to support the chapters in any way they feel they need support. I’ve learned that we are also a link between the home office and the local chapters. The chapter leaders come to us directly, and if we can’t provide the answer or support they need, we know who to go to get those answers quickly. Our key responsibility is to help the chapters run smoothly. We also help former chapters relaunch and help new chapters get started. I feel like the chapter leaders that are plugging along successfully, I’m not that hands on. I don’t hear from them often, but I still make myself available. I like to meet my chapters where they are…I am here if they need me.

I always look at our newsletter, The Dish, and put the highlights from that newsletter in my communications with the chapter leaders. I’ll announce that it’s International Day of the Girl, announce the webinars, or right now I am encouraging everyone to get involved with the annual appeal. I was able to get Rise’s Development Director to come to my Zoom meeting to speak with our chapter leaders. She’ll be able to answer their questions and talk more about our special fundraising needs for this year.

Kia: How many chapters do you support and how do you keep track of them? Do you feel they are similar or all different?

Mary: I have 10 chapters. I communicate with all of them via email and some via a telephone call. Laura Warton, that’s a successful story. One of the chapter leaders in her chapter was ready to retire. It was a very long-term chapter, but the chapter leader felt it was time for her to step down and potentially close the chapter entirely. I went to one of their meetings, well a couple meetings, and the number of members were dwindling. Laura Warton stepped up, relaunched their meetings, and there were nine people at the most recent chapter meeting. It was great that she was able to revitalize that group. It is important to give the chapter leaders the confidence to run the meetings the way that works best for them. You don’t need to have a potluck, or host meetings in the evenings.

All the chapters are very different. And they ebb and flow. I used to hear from certain chapter leaders, and then less so recently. I think through my lived experience as to how I meet their needs. I try to be as helpful as possible. They don’t ask me a lot, but it’s good to keep those channels of communication open. Some of them need me to be a little cheerleader, and I love serving that role for them.

Chapter Support Liaisons really do want to have a relationship with our chapter leaders. If anything, we would love to be in contact even more than we already are. It is also great when we can get a group of chapter leaders all together. I believe we can learn a lot from each other.

Kia: What have been some of your challenges as a Chapter Support Liaison?

Mary: I recognize that we do have a lot of communication from Together Women Rise. Although I want to have more relationships with some chapter leaders that I don’t hear from, I understand that people are busy and sometimes don’t feel the need to connect. I don’t have any new chapter leaders right now, but I try to encourage people to share information about Rise with their networks so we can continue to grow. I’ve identified some chapter leaders who have good advice to share, and I try to get them together. The first time I went on a trip with Rise, to Bhutan, I felt like I was part of such a bigger group, a bigger organization. We all talk the same talk. It was so important to have that same connection and realize it wasn’t just my chapter. I wish I could get more of my chapter leaders together to share that same feeling.

Kia: What do you wish chapter leaders knew about the role and how it can help them?

Mary: Something I wish people knew more about was the other opportunities Rise offers, like the trips. It has also been fun to learn how other chapters run their meetings. A lot of people feel stretched, burned out, or bored with the status quo. But when you hear of other ideas, it really helps revitalize. You don’t want to drive at night? Meet for coffee on the weekends! Find a new venue, like using your local library as a place to meet. I’m always bragging about my chapter leaders, so when the Chapter Support Liaisons get together, I like to share stories about my chapter leaders who are doing well. Chapter leaders make such an impression on their chapters, so it can be big shoes to fill.

Kia: What makes a good Chapter Support Liaison?

Mary: You have to believe in the work Together Women Rise does. That’s the most important thing. I am passionate about the mission. You also need to have some qualities to deal with different personalities, people management. Present enthusiasm, be willing to support others, willing to give the time to do this. Rise is one of my primary philanthropies, so I spend a lot of time with my chapter, with other members, and then also with my duties as a volunteer. I maybe dedicate about 10 hours a month to the role.

If you are interested in being featured on “A Rising Tide,” want to learn more about becoming a Chapter Support Liaison (CSL), or are not sure who your assigned CSL is, please email kia@togetherwomenrise.org.