Texas Women's Alliance

Formed in 1984, the Texas Women's Alliance (TWA) researches issues and works to influence government, with a focus on Texas affairs. Emerging in reaction to liberal women's groups, they give voice to conservative and business-oriented women, and recruit women who are professional, business and civic leaders. The TWA has studied and recommended policy on the state budget, economic growth, international trade, U.S.-Mexico relations, tax reform, judicial selection (merit election of judges), public school reform, higher education funding, and comparable worth (pay equity). With its overseas trade missions, the TWA aimed to find new markets for Texas businesses.

The Texas Women's Alliance (TWA) is a women's organization that researches issues, makes policy recommendations, and works to influence government, with a focus on Texas affairs. Formed in 1984, the founders of the TWA believed there was a need for an organization to represent conservative and business-oriented women. The organization is non-partisan, welcoming conservatives regardless of party affiliation. It became a non-profit corporation in 1985.

The TWA attempts to recruit women who are professional, business and civic leaders; its activities include conducting seminars and conferences on issues, publishing position papers, and testifying before Texas Senate and House committees. They study and recommend policy on the state budget, economic growth, international trade, U.S.–Mexico relations, tax reform, judicial selection, public schools and higher education. The organization has endorsed merit election of judges and opposed the policy of comparable worth (pay equity).

Between 1987 and 1994, members of the Texas Women's Alliance traveled overseas on trade and fact-finding missions, aiming to find new markets for Texas businesses and to promote economic expansion for Texas.

The first meeting of the organization was held in Dallas on December 9, 1984, at the home of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. According to TWA member Billie Pickard, the group's founders were motivated by the experience of going through a presidential election where numerous liberal and single interest groups had purported to speak for women... The group was launched publicly in October 1985 by its chairwoman, Anne L. Armstrong, a former U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, and by former San Antonio Mayor Lila Cockrell.

In 1985, a main office was set up in Austin, and local groups were created in cities across the state. Funding for the organization and its events has come from membership fees and from personal and corporate contributions. Cohesion is maintained in the organization by a networking system that includes retreats, encampments, a newsletter and a directory of members.

Sources: Pickard, Billie., How, Why, When & Where: History of TWA, Part 1. Texas Women's Alliance Newsletter . Austin, Texas: January 1991. Folder 6:3, Texas Women's Alliance Records, 1984-1995, MS 11, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections