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Make Your Voice Heard at Day on the Hill
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Day on the Hill - the Massachusetts League's annual lobbying day on Beacon Hill - offers all local League members the chance to make their opinions known to their state Senators and Representatives.
We are working on this year's date, likely to be in April, depending on the legislative calendar. When we have a date pinned down, we'll let you know, and you can also check the state League website. Your state League urges all members to attend Day on the Hill; the more people who come, the more impact we have.
If you've never been, here's what happens. In the morning, well-known speakers from inside and outside the state government will address this year's theme of money in politics.
Then the state League's legislative specialists will outline the major bills they are following and that they would like you to discuss with your legislators. You'll get a description of the legislation, complete with talking points, in advance of Day on the Hill so you will be prepared.
The presentations end around noon, and then you are encouraged to stop by the offices of your Senator and Representative and ask them to support League-backed legislation.
It's helpful to contact your legislators in advance and make an appointment to see them that day, after about 12:30.
You can make a day of Day on the Hill with a late lunch at one of the many restaurants in the State House area.
Lobbying the state legislature is one of the key activities of the League of Women Voters and everyone who shows up in person makes an enormous difference in the success of our legislative efforts. Get together with friends in your League and plan to participate in this year's Day on the Hill.
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LWVMA Council Meeting is May 5
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The theme of the state League Council meeting, held every other year, will be "Challenges to Democracy: Protecting Voter Rights and the Influence of Money," certainly a timely topic this election year.
Council will be held Saturday, May 5. The likely venue will be Lasell College in Newton; look for more details on location and specific times as we get closer to May 5. Council will feature morning workshops, lunch and a keynote speaker and an afternoon plenary session.
This year's theme was chosen by a survey in November's League Leader Update, and survey respondents also indicated their preferences for workshop topics. The most popular workshop choices were "Multi-League Candidate Nights (Congressional Races)," "How to work with your legislator and LWVMA's current issues," and "Share the success--membership and leadership." The Council planning committee will do its best to develop workshops on these topics.
Please plan with your local League to send delegates to this year's Council. |
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Local Leagues Meet Fundraising Challenge
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LWVMA gives a big thank you to the Leagues that helped raise funds this fiscal year (July 2011-June 2012) and the over 500 individual donors. Members of participating Leagues telephoned over 2,000 fellow League members and prior donors, resulting in $33,000 in donations to date, 10% of which will be returned to the participating local Leagues.
Thank you for responding to the Phonathon with a donation. If you did not get a call or pledged but have not yet donated to LWVMA, visit our website for on-line or mail-in forms, or you can simply send in a check to LWVMA, 133 Portland St, Boston MA, 02114. The Newton League is continuing to make calls to several local Leagues, so if you are called consider a contribution to LWVMA.
The following local Leagues participated in the Phonathon, thanks for pitching in!
Concord-Carlisle, Needham, Newton, Hamilton-Wenham, Lexington, Falmouth, Wellesley, Cape Cod Area, Marblehead, Sudbury and Wayland.
Local Leagues have also generously donated $6,500 to LWVMA this fiscal year. Donations ranged from $100 to $2,000. Donations from local Leagues are always welcome, and LWVMA will be collecting local League donations as usual at Council on May 5.
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A Raincheck on the Environmental Forums
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LWVMA had planned to sponsor three forums on environmental issues this spring, but with election year interest high in such topics as campaign finance reform, candidates' nights and the possibility of a voter ID referendum on the November ballot, we decided to postpone that project until Spring 2013. If you are interested in working on that effort, please contact Muriel Zaginailoff.
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You Can Tailor Your Emails from LWVMA
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We are tailoring the way you get emails from us so you only receive notices and topics that interest you. Please click here to sign up for the types of League correspondence you would like to get, such as legislative Action Alerts or the monthly League Leader Update, as well as this quarterly Mass. League Voter.
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League in Action on Beacon Hill
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Our legislative specialists have been keeping tabs on a number of bills during the current session of the state legislature. Here are a few of them, and you can see others and get updates on our website:
SB 772 - A Resolution Restoring Free Speech: The LWVMA Board voted unanimously Dec. 12 to support this Resolution that calls upon the United States Congress to pass and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to restore First Amendment rights, which were designed to protect the free speech of people - not corporations - in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, which overturned longstanding precedent prohibiting corporations from spending their general treasury funds on elections. This Resolution is currently in the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
A press conference on this resolution is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m., in Room 437 at the State House. LWVMA President Eva Valentine will be one of the speakers in support of the resolution. It would be great to have League members attend this event!
HB 338 - An Act to Provide Improved Medicare for All and SB 501 - An Act Establishing Medicare for all in Massachusetts. Testimony in support of these bills was provided to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Dec. 15 by Judy Deutsch, health care specialist.
HB 1228 - An Act to Establish a Public Health Insurance Option and SB 500 - An Act Establishing a Public Health Insurance Option. Testimony in support of these bills was provided to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Dec. 15 by Judy Deutsch, health care specialist.
If you would like to be kept up to date on legislation the League is working on, sign up for the Action Alerts LWVMA distributes when votes on these bills are coming up. Click here to join the Action Alert email list.
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Several Local Leagues Developing Campaign Finance Reform Information
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The issue of money in politics is permeating airwaves now that campaign season is in full swing. Interest in this issue is particularly high in light of the January 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v FEC asserting free speech rights of corporations, aka 'corporate personhood'.
The LWV of Concord-Carlisle has been working on this topic for over a year, and the state League board endorsed that effort in December. This past summer, LWVCC established a planning committee including members of other local Leagues, including Amherst and Sudbury, to develop a multi-level campaign involving local, state and national action. If you'd like to learn more about the Follow the $ project or if you'd like to become more involved, contact us directly by sending an email to:ftm@lwvcc.org.
While still a work in progress, some materials are currently available for reference and use by other Leagues. Materials developed to date can be found under the 4th heading (Follow the Money LWVCC) at: https://sites.google.com/site/presidentslwvma/file-cabinet. Materials include:
- Letter to the Editor (time sensitive material)
- Books and online resources related to campaign finance reform
- Questions for Candidate Forums
- FT$ Focus Group Overview
Other material is under development and will be available soon. In the meantime, here are some steps each of us can take to be informed and to keep campaign finance reform a priority in this election season.
- List money in politics as a legislative priority when your League submits legislative priorities to LWVUS, on or before Jan. 15.
- Use the letter to the editor template on the site and submit a letter from your local League to your local paper by Jan. 21 to mark the second year anniversary of the Citizens United decision.
- Use the Questions for Candidates guide when meeting with candidates at all levels.
- Talk to your friends and family about the need for campaign finance reform.
- Question every political advertisement you see or hear. Ask yourself who paid for that ad and why. Does the ad state clearly who paid for it? If the sponsor is a group or organization, can you go to its website and see who is a member and who contributes? If not, ask yourself why not?
Visit http://www.opensecrets.org for reliable information for following the money in races in your district and around the country.
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Your League Needs YOU!
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The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts has many ways for you to share your talents, learn new skills, meet great people, and further our work at the state level. If you have a little time, or a lot, please pitch in on one of the projects or committees listed below. LWVMA needs your input and help. Thank you!
Development Committee and Volunteers. Help with a new LWVMA development plan, including projects for annual giving, major gifts and planned giving. Join the committee, help out with a short-term project, craft effective communications, host an event, or volunteer in other ways. To start, the committee will meet monthly by phone or in person. This committee has a place for League members who can offer input, ideas and suggestions, for members who can research (online and by phone) development practices of other organizations (including LWVs), and for members who can implement segments of the development plan. Development background not required. Many opportunities available. Contact Anne Borg
Finance Committee Members. Review and update LWVMA's financial policies and procedures. Periodically review the financial reports as to the best utilization of investment instruments available to increase earnings, and make recommendations to the Board. Meets quarterly by email or conference call. Looking for someone with a financial background and/or a past/present local League treasurer. Contact Elizabeth Handler
Program and Action Committee
Good Governance Specialist. Follow state legislation on topics such as campaign finance reform and open meeting laws, recommend and initiate LWVMA action.
Child Protection Specialist. Follow state legislation on topics related to children's safety, recommend and initiate LWVMA action.
When possible, attend monthly morning Program and Action Committee meetings held at the League office in Boston. When necessary, respond to requests for action via email. Research pending legislation for LWVMA support or opposition, prepare and present testimony to legislative committees, develop and maintain contacts with organizations and coalitions with similar interests, develop and maintain contact with legislators on Beacon Hill. Time commitment varies with activities during the two-year legislative process and number of bills being followed. Contact Carole Pelchat
Membership and Local League Services. Work with local Leagues on programs that support and increase communication among local Leagues. Contact Karen Price. The Membership and Leadership Development program, which helps local Leagues recruit and engage members and develop leaders through coaching, is seeking members to become state coaches. Contact Pam Holland. Membership and Local League Services have monthly teleconferences, and subcommittees may have teleconferences more frequently. The group plans the Presidents' Breakfasts and will plan the May 2012 LWVMA Council.
Not sure where your interests and skills fit? If you'd like to talk generally about what's happening at LWVMA and your interests, please contact the Nominating Committee or a committee member: Erin Pastuszenski(Concord-Carlisle), Florence Seldin (Cape Cod Area) and Terry Yoffie(Newton).
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