January League Leader Update
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| LWVMA Calendar | |
February 15: Last day to register to vote and change party enrollment for Presidential
Primaries
February 27: LWVMA Board Meeting, Noon-2pm, 133 Portland Street
March 6: Presidential Primary Election
March 19: LWVMA Board Meeting, Noon-2pm, 133 Portland Street
April 14: League Leaders Lunch, 11am-3pm, Amherst
April 25: LWVMA Day on the Hill, 10am-Noon, State House
May 5: LWVMA Council
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| Come to Day on the Hill April 25 | |
The League's annual lobbying day at the State House is set for Wednesday April 25, from 10 am to noon. Please encourage as many of your members to participate as possible. There's power in numbers!
This year's theme is "Democracy for Sale?" and we will announce the speakers on that timely topic closer to April 25. The program will also include presentations from the state League's legislative specialists on key pending legislation.
Local Leagues are encouraged to contact their state Senators and Representatives to set up a meeting to discuss League-supported legislation after the morning's program. Details on the bills, including specific talking points, will be distributed to local Leagues before Day on the Hill, so you will have the information you need to make the case with your legislators.
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| LWVMA Council 2012 | | |
Plans are underway for Council 2012, May 5 in Newton. The preliminary agenda is below. We welcome your comments on the agenda, email Karen Price. Registration, documents, etc. will be available at a later date.
Challenges to Democracy: Protecting Voter Rights and the Influence of Money
Saturday, May 5, 2012; 10:00 am-3:30 pm
Winslow Academic Center, Lasell College
1844 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM--OPEN FOR MEMBER COMMENT
Registration (10:00)
1. Welcome and introductions (10:30-10:45)
2. Workshops Session 1 (10:45-11:30)
A. How to communicate League priorities with your legislators
B. Roundtable discussion: Membership and leadership ideas that worked
3. Workshop Session 2 (11:45-12:30)
A. Multi-League candidate forums
B. League best practices
4. Lunch and keynote speaker (12:45-2:00)
5. Plenary (2:00-3:30)
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| Get Involved and Make a Difference Today! | | |
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts has many ways for you to share your talents and ideas, learn new skills, meet great people, and further our work at the state level. If you have a little time, or a lot, please help out. LWVMA needs you! Check out these opportunities.
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. We also welcome volunteers who may not want to commit to being a committee member to help on a time-limited basis with one-time events or programs. Development background not required. Contact Anne Borg
Legislative Director. Promote LWVMA's program through advocacy. Serve on the Program and Action Committee. Support the Program Specialists in recommending legislation to support or oppose, attend legislative hearings and sometimes testify, provide updates on the status of bills, plan lobbying activities, involve local League members in advocacy efforts, and organize Day on the Hill. Contact Carole Pelchat
Program Specialists
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 2-year legislative process and number of bills being followed. Contact Carole Pelchat
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
Membership and Local League Services. Work with local Leagues on programs that support and increase communication among local Leagues, including the Field Service program, Leaders events and training, and membership events such as Council and Convention. 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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| LWVMA Field Service--Support for Local Leagues | |
What is the LWVMA Field Service Program?
The Field Service program provides local Leagues with support and training on a regional level. The program is part of the Membership and Local League Services (MLLS) Committee. The purpose of the field service program is to foster the exchange of ideas and communications among the Leagues in the region and to serve as a conduit of communication between the local and state Leagues.
How does Field Service Work?
The Leagues in the state are divided into regions. Each region has one or more Field Service Representatives. The representative communicates with the local League leaders, holds regional meetings 2-3 times per year, and reports to LWVMA.
Do we need Field Service?
Based on results of a recent League leaders' survey and discussions at the October Presidents' Breakfast there was general agreement that the Field Service model is a good one but needs adjustments to be effective. The program is currently under review. Current and potential Field Service representatives will gather at a brunch on February 25 in Acton. The agenda includes a discussion of ideas for revitalized program, plans to redraw the regions and regions will be governed, and a roundtable of best practices.
Interested?
If you are interested in being part of the program, or if you would like to take part in the revitalization efforts, please contact Karen Price. Being a Field Service Representative is a great way to pass on your League experience and knowledge and help keep local Leagues healthy and engaged! Back to top
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| Presidents' Council--Is Your League on Board? | | The Presidents' Council is part of the Membership and Local League Services Committee. Its goal is to encourage sharing among local League leaders, mainly through electronic communication. The program is complementary to Field Service and the Membership and Leadership Development program. At least one leader (president or equivalent) from each League should be getting regular emails from Karen Price with reminders, events, and other topics. If you are not getting emails from her and think you should, please contact Karen Price. The emails are usually short and to the point! Our next event is the League Leaders' Lunch (aka Presidents' Breakfast) in Amherst April 14.
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| LWVMA Legislative Update | | |
 SB 772 - A Resolution Restoring Free Speech: President Valentine spoke in support of this resolution at a press conference at the State House along with House and Senate co-sponsors and members of supporting organization (talking points). She was joined by local League members, as well. Testimony is being developed for a hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on 2/28. Interested members should contact the office if they plan to attend the hearing.
HB 1173/SB 413 - An Act Providing Equitable Coverage in Disability Insurance and HB 1172/SB 414 - An Act Prohibiting Discrimination in Insurance Policies: Testimony (HB 1173/SB 413 and HB 1172/SB 414) was developed and presented to the Judiciary Committee by Carole Pelchat on 1/24.
HB 3815 - An Act Enhancing the Practice of Nurse Midwives received a positive vote in both the House and Senate and as the date of this report has been placed before the Governor for his signature.
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Campaign Finance Panel Discussion
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Thursday, May 17th: SAVE THE DATE - Tom Ashbrook will moderate an evening panel discussion (with audience questions) on campaign finance reform co-sponsored by LWV Concord-Carlisle and LWVMA.
Location: Concord-Carlisle High School Auditorium
Time: TBA (Check www.lwvcc.org, for additional information)
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LWVUS National Database Update Deadline Jan 31 Reminder
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The deadline to update your local League's membership roster on the LWVUS website is Tuesday, January 31, at midnight. After that, your League's roster is "frozen" and can't be updated. LWVUS and LWVMA will calculate your League's PMP assessment based on the number of members on February 1.
If you have questions, or need help with the updating, please contact me; I can answer questions or "walk" you through the process as you do it. (I will be at my computer the evening of January 31; if needed, you can call me up until 11:00pm!)
Anne Borg, LWVMA Vice President
aborg@lwvma.org
(617)523-2999
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| Health Care Forum DVD Available | | | We hosted two forums dealing with women's health issues last March in Framingham and Hadley. The forums, "Women's Health in the 21st Century: What We Need to Know," were free and open to the public.
Judy Norsigian, executive director of Our Bodies Ourselves, was the keynote speaker for the Framingham forum, addressing the impact of media on women's health. Other speakers were Cheryl Hamlin, M.D., on disparities in access and treatment, and Georgia Sassen, PhD, on mental health issues for women. Speakers at the Hadley forum were Katherine Reeves, PhD, on why we should talk about women's health, Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, ScD, on vitamin D and women's health, and Erin Snook, PhD, on the impact of physical activity on women's health.Additional speakers are Arlene Ash, PhD, on comparative effective research, J. Mary Sorrell on the needs and disparities in care in lesbian and transgender health, and Joan Ditzion, MSW, of Our Bodies Ourselves on women growing older.
If your League is interested in DVDs of the events please email Natalie Kassabian.
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| SUMMIT TO UNITE CITIZENS | | 
LWVMA participated in the Summit to Unite Citizens on January 20-21, the anniversary of the Citizens United decision. Occupy Boston along with a number of other organizations rallied for GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. LWVMA registered voters both days at the event and our Program and Action Committee Chair Carole Pelchat led a workshop on legislative strategies on Saturday at Suffolk University. For more information click here and to view photos from the event check out our facebook page.
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Sign Up For LWVMA Emails
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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 and forward along the link to your League members.
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