CWI is not a traditional membership organization.
CWI was created more than 30 years ago by people who believed that there was a need for unbiased research and expert, collaborative strategic counsel that could positively and productively inform public and private sector decision making in Wisconsin. Their vision was of an organization dedicated to Wisconsin’s needs rather than to the needs of its individual members. In their model — the members provided wise counsel, strategic guidance, and reasonable financial support, while the organization had a responsibility to work with the members to deliver research, public outreach and policy advocacy that met the group’s high standards for excellence and led to positive innovations and enhancements in policy and behavior.
CWI has remained true to that vision. Our Board’s engagement and support makes the journey possible, enjoyable and productive. Their vision has allowed us to transform and electrify the original operating model with the addition of the BE BOLD initiative.
In early 2012, the Executive Committee and the Board decided the time had come to expand the membership from its traditional base of approximately 20 business, academic and labor leaders to achieve more geographically diversified representation and to respond to the increased interest in CWI’s mission resulting from the BE BOLD 1 effort.
Between June and September of 2012, CWI welcomed 22 new members, nearly doubling membership and generating a 40-percent increase in membership support.
As we approach the 2013-14 membership campaign, we will be proposing that the Executive Committee and the Board consider a similar expansion of the membership from 45 members to 60 members.
We are also pursuing plans to build an advisory BE BOLD Council that would enhance business and nonprofit engagement with the BE BOLD initiatives.
