League Terms

LWV ABBREVIATIONS

LWV–The initials, of course, stand for League of Women Voters.

When we join the League, we become members of the national, state, and local Leagues.

LWVUS – is the League of Women Voters of the U.S. (national level)

LWVOR – is the League of Women Voters of Oregon (state LWV)

LWVMPC – is the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties

ALL-MEMBER MEETINGS AND INTEREST GROUPS

 LWVMPC hosts monthly All-member meetings and Interest Groups

All-member meetings: All League meetings are open to the public. All-member meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month, at 7pm, via Zoom and all members are encouraged to attend and invite others to join. Members of the public are welcome.  Topics may cover current events or local, state or national issues. There is usually an invited speaker or a panel. Meetings are one hour.  The Zoom link is listed in the Focus newsletter and in the events calendar. 

Interest Groups:  Interest Groups are a fun way to get acquainted with a small group of Leaguers. Book Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 1:30.  The group meets in a member’s home so, at this time, the group is limited to 12 members.  Meeting times and book titles are listed in the events calendar. If there is member interest, another book group can be formed.  Tea & Talk meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10am.  This is an informal gathering held at a local coffee shop.  Check the events calendar or Focus newsletter each month for location.  All members, as well as anyone interested in LWV, are invited to attend. Great Decisions discussion group meets monthly on the 3rd Saturday, usually in person at the Salem Library. Meetings are based on the annual briefing book from the Foreign Policy Association, a non-profit organization designed to inform citizens about the complexities of current foreign policy issues.

Observer Corps

Observers are individuals who attend local government meetings, take notes, and report back to the League and the community. League members who participate in Observer Corps learn how government works and about issues that are or may become items for local study and action. Consistent League presence at local government meetings also adds to the League’s visibility and credibility. Observer’s reports are published monthly in the Focus. If you are interested in joining the Observer Corps, please send us an email: lwvmpc@gmail.com

We encourage you to attend an All-Member meeting or visit an Interest Group. As OPB says:  Learning is entertainment. And sharing ideas in discussion is fun!

Planning Meeting

Each January LWVMPC members join together to discuss and give input on the program for the coming year. All members are encouraged to attend and help shape our yearly goals. These meetings are held in person at a local venue, usually on a Saturday. Light refreshments are provided. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with other members and support the work of our League.

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting is held in May or June. This is a time for all members to come together to celebrate our yearly achievements, elect new officers, vote on any By-Law changes, set annual dues amount and approve program topics for the coming year. We meet in person, at a local venue and usually share a potluck brunch/lunch.

CONSENSUS

Consensus is member agreement–strong member agreement, not just a bare majority–reached at the end of a League study. This is how the process works.

Consensus questions are prepared by the League research committee. For example, Water Resources in Oregon was a state League study, so the research committee members came from Leagues in various parts of Oregon. After researching the topic, writing the report, and having the report reviewed by various people who are knowledgeable about water issues in the state, the final report was approved by the state League board before being printed and sent to all League members and posted on the LWVOR website at https://www.lwvor.org/studies. The research committee also wrote the discussion and consensus questions, which were also approved by the state League board. (A local League study would be conducted the same way with approval of the report and consensus questions coming from the local League board.)

Since Water Resources in Oregon was a statewide study, the consensus from each of our two local League Units were combined and sent to LWVOR. Each local League in Oregon did the same. Then the LWVOR Water Resources Committee put all that information together to formulate a statement of position. The statement of position was composed of general principles that will remain applicable over many years.

After the LWVOR Board approved the position, all the state’s local Leagues could use that new position to take action. The League can take action only after study and consensus by members and only on the principles included in that position.

PROGRAM

What is Program?

League’s program is the list of that year’s studies and updates (local, state, national) chosen by League members. At the local level members choose the next year’s program at Annual Meeting in May. Delegates at state and national conventions, which are held in alternate years, choose state and national program for the next biennium.

Program Planning–Although our local League’s program is chosen by the members at our all-member Annual Meeting, the process begins in January with an all-member Program Planning meeting. Attendees at that meeting bring their suggestions for

A New Study–This can be
● An issue on which we have no pertinent position so cannot take action.
● An issue on which we have a position but which is out of date or incomplete due to changes in the law, technology, etc.

A study is done by a local League committee to produce information for local League members to use to arrive at a consensus position.   (The League has information available on how to do a study.)

An Update–This can be on an issue on which we have a position that appears to still be useful, but it’s been so long since the position was adopted that League members need a refresher on the information and possibly a look at whether the position is still adequate.

An update requires a small committee to gather the new information or to find an outside expert willing to speak at a League Unit or other meeting.

Positions: Synopses of current local, state, and national positions are on the website of each level of the League.  

When suggesting a new study or update, a person should include

● The title (topic) of the proposed study

● The scope of the proposed study: Which aspects of the topic do you want to study?

● The focus of the study (if possible): How do you see the study unfolding, including the length of the study (one or two years)?

For an example of title, scope, and focus see the LWVUS Update on the Education Study at the end of this article.

Recommended Program–Based on the amount of interest shown for each topic at the Program Planning meeting, the local Program Co-VPs will suggest a Recommended Program for the LWVMPC Board to consider and approve. The Recommended Program will be listed in the Annual Meeting Workbook. Non-recommended Topics will also be listed in the workbook. The workbook will be sent to local League members two weeks before Annual Meeting.

At Annual Meeting the Recommended Program topics will be discussed and voted on. Non-recommended topics may be brought up for consideration, too. However, only topics suggested at Program Planning (listed in the Annual Meeting Workbook) may be considered at Annual Meeting.

So it’s important that all League members who care what the next year’s local program will be plan to attend the Program Planning meeting in January. Even if you don’t have a suggestion for a study or update, your input regarding the topics other members suggest is important.

What makes a good local study or update?

Studies and updates should have broad interest. The members who suggest and support each study or update should volunteer to work on it. During the year make an effort to notice issues on which you would like the League to advocate in Marion and Polk Counties

Check your membership directory to see if there is a pertinent position at one of the three levels of the League. (We can use state and national positions at the local level.) If it appears that we don’t already have a pertinent position, check the full statement of position on the appropriate LWV website to be sure.

If a study or update is needed, write a title, scope, and (if possible) focus of the study and bring your proposal to Program Planning ready to advocate for it at that meeting. Interest groups are especially encouraged to suggest topics for study or update

The following is a national League study and an example of Title, Scope and Focus:

LWVUS Update on the Education Study: The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education

Scope of the study: The study on the federal role in pre-K through grade 12 public education is to be limited to issues of equity, funding and standards/assessment.

Focus of the study: The national study committee will begin with an overview of the history of the federal role and where it is today. They will then focus on the components of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which speak to the equity issues. Finally, the committee will address the Common Core Standards and the subsequent assessment issues.