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League 101

League 101. Everything you wanted to know about the League … but were afraid to ask. About the League. History Mission Principles Structure Voter service activities Program development and League positions Action/Advocacy Financing. Our History. Carrie Chapman Catt.

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League 101

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  1. League 101 Everything you wanted to know about the League… but were afraid to ask

  2. About the League • History • Mission • Principles • Structure • Voter service activities • Program development and League positions • Action/Advocacy • Financing

  3. Our History Carrie Chapman Catt

  4. A rich history of volunteerism • LWVUS - founded in 1920 • LWVOR -founded in 1924 • Over 700 local and state Leagues in all 50 states and the District of Columbia • 1200 members statewide. • 12 local Leagues and 3 Member at Large (MAL) Units

  5. Our Mission

  6. Our Mission defines what we are about The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisanpolitical organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy

  7. Our nonpartisan policy • Neither supports nor opposes candidates for office • However • Members are encouraged to participate in the party of their choice (as long as they don’t claim to represent the League) • LWVORBoard member political activity is more limited

  8. LWV is also political LWVOR takes positions and lobbies on selected governmental issues after members have studied the issues and reached consensus.

  9. Our Principles

  10. League principles – based onfundamental beliefs about government • The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States.

  11. Fundamentalbeliefs • The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon: • informed and active participation of its citizens, and • protection of the citizens’ right to know.

  12. Fundamental beliefs • The League of Women Voters believes that: • every citizen’s right to vote should be protected • every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and • no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination.

  13. Fundamental beliefs • The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires: • competent personnel, • clear assignment of responsibility, • adequate financing and • coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.

  14. Fundamental beliefs • The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people and should: • maintain an equitable, flexible, tax system, • promote conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, • share in solving economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, • promote a sound economy, and • adopt domestic policies that facilitate solutions of international problems.

  15. Fundamental beliefs • The League of Women Voters believes that • cooperation with other nations is essential to solving world problems, and • support for the United Nations and international laware imperative in the promotion of world peace.

  16. Structure

  17. LWV National LWV – State Leagues LWV – Local Leagues The League is a grassroots organization Members are welcome at Board meetings and conventions At each level, elected Boards manage activities

  18. LWV National LWV – State Leagues LWV – Local Leagues Local League interactions President’s Mailings Websites List serves Consultants Email Telephone calls

  19. Current League Presidents Chris Carson LWV-US Norman Turrill LWVOR

  20. Board Officers President -- 1st Vice President -- Secretary -- Treasurer -- Directors In _______ Local League, we have a strong Board and a growing League Membership as of 00/00/10 = ____

  21. The League is committed to diversity LWV diversity policy allows no barriers to participation on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin or disability

  22. Membership is open to all • Voting membership is open to any citizenat least 16 years old living in the U.S. • Anyone joining League automatically becomes a member of the local, state & national organizations

  23. Men have been welcome since 1973!

  24. There are many types of League meetings

  25. League meeting business • Annual Meeting • Visits by League officials • League studies • Consensus sessions • Guest speakers

  26. General meetings • open to the public • a topic of interest to the broader community • encourage informed and active participation in government through education LWVOR Office in Salem

  27. Events and Programs • Open to the public • Free of charge

  28. Committee meetings • Committee programs seek balance between education and action/advocacy • Educational activities are ideally linked to advocacy/ action efforts

  29. Hot topic meetings Can include: • State League Legislative Priorities • Current studies Upcoming: • Primary and Fall Elections • Ballot measures Recent publications are available at www.lwvor.org

  30. State Level Meetings • Legislative Workshop • Fall Workshop • Convention (odd years) • Council (even years) Oregon State Capitol Salem

  31. National Meetings • Convention (even years) • Council (odd years) Oregon Delegation Portland - 2008

  32. All meetings are publicized • On www.lwvor.org and ________ (local League) • In state and local LWV newsletters: The Voter • In local newspapers

  33. OurVoter Service Activities

  34. Voter service (EDUCATION) activities • build awareness of public issues and help voters make independent decisions, based on facts • are distinct and separate from the League’s action agenda, • do not take sides on issues. • can be funded by tax-deductible contributions.

  35. Voter service activities • Voters’ Guide • Voter Registration • Candidate forums • Ballot measure forums presenting pros and cons • Information available on our website (lwvor.org, vote411.org)

  36. How We Decide on Our Programand League Positions

  37. League Program =Action Agenda based on League Positions • Program is the bridge from education to advocacy Program Education Advocacy

  38. Studies come first Members may take action only on issues that have been studied through fact-gathering and on which the members are in general agreement

  39. League position development • Issues are studied • Based on study, League members reach “consensus” on issue questions • Board reviews and ratifies the process • “Position” is written based on consensus • “Position” becomes the basis for League action • The general membership approves or opposes the position as written at the League’s next annual meeting

  40. There are two other bases on which League may act: • Through concurrence with the recommendations of a task force or other League organization, • By reference to League principles – beliefs about government that are deemed basic and incontrovertible

  41. League positions are published and updated periodically • National positions are found in Impact on Issues • Oregon’s positions are found in Issues for Action • _____’s positions are reported in _________ Impact on Issues is available at www.lwv.org Issues for Action is available at www.lwvor.org

  42. Local Leagues meet for Program Planning each year • Review all previous positions –local positions, state and national • Consider doing • first-time study of an issue, • update of a previous study, • restudying an issue • action on an existing position • dropping a position • Submit program recommendations to Board

  43. Program recommendations are filtered through the Board’s debate • Will the issue inspire sufficient member interest and commitment? • Can we be effective on the issue? • Is governmental action necessary to solve the problem? • Would we be duplicating another public-interest group’s study? • Is it an idea whose time has come politically? • Do we have sufficient resources?

  44. The Board makes a program recommendation to the membership Members vote on the Board’s recommended program at the local League’s Annual Meeting or State/National Convention

  45. How the League Takes Action

  46. Action is taken based on League Positions • Issue identified • League position reviewed • Board approves taking action • Action is taken: • Testimony on issue • Written material on issue • Public meetings on issue • Encourage citizen action on issue

  47. How League’s Activities are Financed

  48. The League is primarily financed by dues • _______ membership dues are $_____ • Local Leagues pay assessments totaling$____ to support LWVUS and LWVOR (“per member payments,” or PMPs) • Member contributions and fund raising provide additional financial support

  49. In review – What you should know about the League: • Our history • Our mission • Our principles • How we operate • Our voter service activities • Program development and League positions • Action • How League’s activities are financed

  50. As a knowledgeable League member,you can make a difference! Do As Much Or As Little As You Want, But Remember … Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport!

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