The plan is to hold Convention in-person with a hybrid option available on Saturday, June 10. Stay tuned as we iron out the details (and technology!) over the next several weeks.
Now is the time for local Leagues, Units, and Members-at-Large to participate in planning what LWVMA will focus on in 2023-2025.
Every other year, the LWVMA Board, with the help of the Legislative Action Committee, proposes 4 or 5 main areas of action and advocacy. Local Leagues are asked both to approve or suggest changes to the proposed action priorities and goals. All members should have received a list of the proposed priorities and goals this month; the full Guide to Program Planning was sent to League and Unit leaders and Members-at-Large (MALs). All materials are now available on the LWVMA Program Planning page here.
Studies of possible new positions, reviews and updates of current positions, and concurrences with the positions of other states can be proposed during Program Planning. Local League leaders will schedule program planning activities for your League with responses due to LWVMA by Friday, March 10.
For those new to Program Planning or wanting a refresher, a town hall was held on Jan. 11. Please email the LWVMA office, lwvma@lwvma.org, to view the town hall recording and presentation slides. Check out the LWVMA Program Planning page here.
Questions? Contact the Program Planning co-chairs, Marie Gauthier and Courtney Henderson, at program@lwvma.org.
Please join our next quarterly meeting on Wednesday, March 15, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Newcomers are always welcome! Register HERE.
Jeffrey Gold and Devorah Jacobson of the Tikkun Olam/Social Justice Committee of the Jewish Community of Amherst will make a presentation about a course on Reparations, the Stolen Beam series, which they have developed. (Jeffrey is a member of the Amherst League and its Racial Justice Committee.) Please come with your questions, comments, and/or reflections.
It is important to note that the League has not taken a position on reparations, either at the state or national level. We are at the stage of educating ourselves and the public on the pros and cons.
Nancy Brumback, LWVMA Elections specialist, has put together a primer on how vote by mail, early voting and other aspects of the recently enacted VOTES Act impacts town elections. Click HERE for Nancy’s excellent memo.
If you would like to share a bite-sized version of the longer article with your members, click HERE for LWVMA’s short video suitable for sharing on social media.
Many local Leagues as well as LWVMA have benefitted from the AmazonSmile program over the years. Amazon has announced that they will be winding down AmazonSmile by February 20. Read more HERE.