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 The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
League Leaders Update
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| LWVMA Calendar | | |
September 26 - LWVMA Board Meeting - Noon-2pm
133 Portland Street, Boston
October 24 - LWVMA Board Meeting - Noon-2pm
133 Portland Street, Boston |
| We're Moving! | | |
The League is moving on Friday August 26th! We are moving to the office next door. The space is half the size of our present office and will allow us to use our resources more effectively, while at the same time retaining the same address. So our address remains the same, our phones remain the same, we are on the same floor and both our e-mail and website remains the same - everything is the same except that our offices will be next door. |
| Membership and Leadership Development Program | | |
LWVUS held the program last weekend in Marlborough and it was a great success. Local League representatives from Concord-Carlisle, Needham, Newton, Sudbury, Williamstown and the Worcester Area attended the event that focused on membership recruitment and leadership development.
While at the event, Leagues worked with their State Coaches to create action plans for future local events and went over membership/leadership best practices. The LWVMA State Coaches included Anne Borg, Betsy Bray, Cynthia Brubaker and Pam Holland with Eileen Olmsted as our National Coach. And the LWVUS Support Team was Kelly M. Stratman and Carol Reimers. The State Coaches will continue to advise their local Leagues all year. The plan is for all Massachusetts local Leagues to eventually participate in this proven program.
The LWVMA thanks all local Leagues that participated, our State Coaches and LWVUS for their support. |
| Legislation | | |
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts supports a pending Senate bill to tighten state regulations on the purchase of guns and to curb access to illegal guns.
The League backs SB1195, the Prevention of Illegal Trafficking and Gun Violence, sponsored by Senators Sonia Chang-Diaz and Sal DiDomenico. Chief sponsors of the legislation in the House are Representatives Linda Forry, Cory Atkins, Russell Holmes, Ruth Balsar, Denise Provost and Benjamin Swan.
Major features of the proposed law are a limit on the number of guns a buyer can purchase in a year to prohibit the bulk purchase of guns; a state database to track the secondary gun market; and a prohibition on convicted felons working in gun shops. The bill would also close loopholes in the existing gun laws by requiring lost or stolen weapons be reported to police within 24 hours and requiring guns received as gifts or bequests to be licensed within 180 days.
Contact your representatives about this important legislation! |
| LWVUS Guidelines for Major In-State Initiatives | | |
The LWVUS board has approved the following policy in response to comments received from Massachusetts League members and resolutions from Massachusetts and other state Leagues submitted at June's U.S. Council meeting concerning the procedures used in implementing the spring Clean Air ads targeting Sens. Scott Brown and Claire McCaskill.
Guidelines for Major LWVUS/EF In-State Initiatives
From time to time, the LWVUS/EF may undertake major advocacy, educational, visibility or membership campaigns or initiatives in one or more states. Major initiatives may enhance the League's effectiveness in achieving its educational, advocacy and organizational goals or further a current program or organizational priority. All aspects of major initiatives must be consistent with LWVUS/EF bylaws, policies, and positions.
Consultation with State and Local Leagues
In advance of the launching of a major initiative, the LWVUS/EF Board and staff shall do the necessary consultation and appropriate pre-planning with the state Leagues directly involved in the initiative.
The LWVUS/EF will brief state League presidents on the rationale and scope of the initiative. The consultation may include communicating, coordinating and reinforcing the League's activities and/or message, and ensuring that the League speaks with one voice.
Information will be shared with state League(s) first, and unless otherwise directed by the state League leadership, the LWVUS/EF will work to ensure that appropriate supporting materials are prepared and distributed in a timely manner to state and local League leaders. Materials will be designed to help League leaders understand and assist in the initiative at the state and local level as appropriate. Examples of materials include information and response templates, additional factsheets, press releases, model letters to the editor and other substantive documents prepared in support of the initiative.
The LWVUS/EF will work to help ensure that appropriate spokespersons are identified and briefed on the initiative.
The LWVUS/EF will inform the LWVUS Lobby Corps members and the Ruth M. Shur Fellows of any major in-state initiatives in a timely manner.
Monitoring and Results
The LWVUS/EF will monitor the progress of major initiatives, including implementation challenges and successes, internal feedback and external response, and level of impact at the national, state and local levels. As initiatives progress, the information obtained may lead to adjustments.
Approved by LWVUS Board 7/28/2011 |
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