The 2013 LWVMA Convention “The Future of Our Democracy: What’s Next?” will be held May 17-18 at the Boston Peabody Marriott in Peabody, MA.
Register for Convention by May 6
Click here to register for Convention 2013, and for pre-convention materials.
Convention Rules and Procedures
Click here for the Rules of Convention, Procedures, and other information.
Reserve a Room at the Marriott
Rooms are available at the Boston Marriott Peabody for $124/night (plus tax). Click here to reserve a room at this special LWVMA rate. You must reserve your room by May 1 to get the special rate.
Schedule of Events (subject to change)
Friday, May 17
- 11 am to 7 pm Registration
- 12 pm Opening Lunch
- 2 pm Workshops
- 3:30 pm Convention Protocol
- 4:00 pm First Plenary
- 6 pm Reception/Meet the Candidates
- 7 pm Banquet and Keynote Speaker Meira Levinson
- 8:45 pm Evening activities (budget Q+A, convention Q+A, caucuses, action meetings)
Saturday, May 18
- 8 am to 10 am Registration
- 7:30 to 8:30 am Breakfast
- 8:30 am Celebrating Our Leagues
- 9:20 am to 11:55 Workshops
- 12 pm Lunch and Keynote Speaker Margery Eagan
- 1:45 pm Second Plenary
- 4 pm Adjourn
What will we do at Convention 2013?
- Have fun!
- Plan the Program for 2013-2015
- Approve the Budget for 2013-2015
- Elect Officers and Directors to the LWVMA board
- Provide an opportunity for members to give direction to the newly-elected LWVMA board
- Participate in Workshops and Training
- Meet League Members from across the state
- Find out what Leagues in Massachusetts are doing
Registration Options (click here to register)
| Full Package | $180 | Registration, 2 lunches, continental breakfast, banquet |
| Friday-Saturday; no banquet | $130 | Registration, 2 lunches, continental breakfast |
| Friday only; with banquet | $130 | Registration, 1 lunch, banquet |
| Friday only; no banquet | $80 | Registration, 1 lunch |
| Saturday only | $100 | Registration, continental breakfast, 1 lunch |
| Banquet only | $55 | Friday Banquet |
Speakers
Friday Banquet: Meira Levinson
Dr. Meira Levinson writes about civic education, multiculturalism, and youth empowerment. Her latest book, No Citizen Left Behind, argues that the United States suffers from a civic empowerment gap that is as shameful and anti-democratic as the academic achievement gap targeted by No Child Left Behind.
Saturday Lunch: Margery Eagan.
Margery Eagan is a longtime columnist with the Boston Herald, a talk radio host, and a frequent guest on CNN, ABC, Fox News, and WGBH’s Friday “Beat the Press” program on Greater Boston. Her radio show, which she co-hosts with Jim Braude, recently moved to WGBH Radio.
Workshops
| Workshop Session 1 (Friday) 2-3:15 pm (1 hr 15 min) | Workshop Session 2 (Sat) 9:20-10:35 (1 hr 15 mins) | Workshop Session 3 (Sat) 10:40-11:55 (1 hr 15 mins) |
| Growing and retaining members: It’s all about visibility | Create and Maintain a League Facebook Page 9:20-11:55 2 hrs 35 mins | |
| Advocating for environmental issues | League Moderator Training 9:20-11:55 2 hrs 35 mins | |
| We have to fix that! Updating the way we run elections | Making an Impact in Your Town or City | Effective lobbying from our LWVMA positions |
| Events that engage young people: Civics Bee, Yellow Rose Events | Think beyond Candidates’ Night | |
| Money in Politics: Last year’s issue or still a problem? | ||
Workshop Descriptions
FRIDAY 2:00-3:15 pm
Growing and Retaining Members: It’s All about Visibility
Dee Ortner (LWV Concord-Carlisle) and Karen Price (LWV Needham)
This workshop will focus on ideas for attracting and retaining members through event calendar planning and special membership programs. Topics and materials will include membership strategies, calendar planning, event preparation, event advertising, and event funding.
Advocating for Environmental Issues
Launa Zimmaro (LWV Concord-Carlisle) and Lynn Wolbarst (LWV Sharon-Stoughton)
LWVMA Program and Action Specialists
This workshop will focus on legislation, enforcement, funding, and other areas that League members can have an impact on environmental issues locally and statewide.
We have to fix that! Updating the way we run elections
Cheryl Crawford, director of MassVote, and Nancy Brumback (LWV Sudbury) will discuss pending election reform legislation, why we need it, and how we can improve voting in Massachusetts.
SATURDAY (DOUBLE SESSION) 9:20-11:55 am
Create and Maintain a League Facebook Page
Elizabeth Handler (LWV Needham) and Natalie Kassabian (LWVMA staff)
This double-session workshop is for local Leagues that want to start a Facebook page but don’t know where to begin, or for Leagues with a Facebook page that is created but not being used. Registered participants must bring a laptop computer with wireless capability, 1-10 digital photographs of League events, League calendar (if available). You will each set up a Facebook page and learn the different capabilities and strategies for updating, friending, sharing, etc. This workshop is limited to a maximum of 18 people and pre-registration is required.
League Moderator Training
Jo-Ann Berry (LWV Acton Area) and Stefani Traina (LWV Andover-North Andover)
This double-session workshop is for members who want to become an official “League-trained moderator.” The session covers how to prepare for a candidate or issue forum, moderating with confidence, tips and pointers, with plenty of opportunity to practice (with a friendly audience!). A minimum of 8 must register in order to hold this workshop and a maximum of 15 people will be accepted.
SATURDAY 9:20-10:35 am
Making an Impact in Your Town or City
Carin Kale (LWV Hamilton-Wenham) and members of Lexington LWV
This workshop will focus on ways that Leagues can have an impact in their cities or towns beyond Voter Service events. The session will include presentations on successful League sponsored local initiatives and will provide pointers on who to work with and how to make things happen locally. Come learn about Lexington’s annual “Community Conversation” that is co-sponsored with other community groups and has drawn over 160 participants. And come hear about how the Hamilton-Wenham League works directly with town officials from both communities to influence change.
Events That Engage Young People: Civics Bee and Yellow Rose Events
Bonnie Glass (LWV Sudbury) and Cindy Nock (LWV Concord-Carlisle)
This workshop will focus on two types of events that will include engaging youth and promoting visibility.
The Civics Bee has had many benefits: kids who excel in civics get recognition, civics learning is reinforced, the audience learns, and the local leagues gain visibility with an age group of women (moms of middle and high schoolers) that we would like to attract as members. Learn how the Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston Leagues developed this annual contest between intergenerational teams from the 3 towns.
Yellow Rose Events raise our historical consciousness by highlighting the history of influential women in US History. Learn how to use the Yellow Rose Event Kit to hold an Event which might be a book club, movie night, panel discussion, brainstorming forum, or celebration. Learn how to engage High School and College students and even women in their twenties through nineties by using the tools and resources in the Yellow Rose Event kit. The League of Women Voters was founded on the premise that once women got the vote they needed to be educated voters. Part of that education needs to be learning about how women have and will influence the direction of our country.
Money in Politics: Last Year’s Issue or Still a Problem?
Rebecca Shannon and Jackie Wolf (LWV Amherst)
This workshop will provide members and Leagues with materials they can use to bring this issue to local Leagues. The issue will be presented and tools will be discussed and distributed.
SATURDAY 10:40-11:55
Effective Lobbying from Our LWVMA Positions
Carole Pelchat (LWV Greater Haverhill) and Carolyn Lee (LWV Sudbury)
This session will have two themes: 1) being an effective lobbyist using LWV positions to strengthen arguments, and 2) having productive, convincing conversations with your local officials, representatives and senators. As a well-respected non-partisan organization, we are listened to by our elected officials. The positions we take matter, but we still need to make our cases strongly while listening to and addressing concerns voiced about those positions. You can effect more change by being prepared and presenting LWV positions. Expanding upon the materials and presentation from the 2013 Day on the Hill, this workshop will help you make your case, while clarifying when we can lobby as the LWV and when we must carefully present ourselves as individuals.
Think Beyond Candidates’ Night
Nancy Brumback (LWV Sudbury) and Kelly Cox (LWV Worcester)
Candidates’ Nights are important, but there can be more to voter service. We’ll give you ideas in such areas as cable television programs, public service announcements, holding run-for-office workshops, voter registration drives and more.
Convention Planning Committee
- Karen Price, Co-Chair Membership and Local League Services Committee, LWVMA VP, Needham LWV
- Marilyn Peterson, Co-Chair Membership and Local League Services Committee, LWVMA DIrector, Acton Area LWV
- Lora Goldenberg, Bedford LWV
- Carin Kale, Hamilton-Wenham LWV
- Cindy Nock, Concord-Carlisle LWV
- Natalie Kassabian, LWVMA staff
If you would like to join the planning committee or make suggestions for Convention 2013, contact Karen Price.