March League Leader Update
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| LWVMA Calendar |
April 11: Lotte E. Scharfman Trustee Meeting, 12pm-2pm, 133 Portland Street
April 14: League Leaders Lunch, 11am-3pm, Amherst, event flier
April 23: LWVMA Board Meeting, 11:30am-2:30pm, 133 Portland Street
April 25: LWVMA Day on the Hill, 10am-Noon, State House
April 30 - May 5: LWVMA High School Voter Registration Week
May 5: LWVMA Council
May 17: Public forum on money in politics, 7:30pm - 9:30pm at the Concord-Carlisle High School, 500 Walden St., Concord, event flier
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Make a Day of Day on the Hill-April 25
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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!
"Democracy in Danger: Money, Media and Manipulation" is the theme of this year's Day on the Hill. Scheduled speakers are Pam Wilmot, Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts; Jay Kaufman, MA State Representative; and Robert Kuttner, author and Boston Globe columnist. The program will also include presentations from the state League's legislative specialists on key pending legislation.
Registration starts at 9:30 am in the Gardner Auditorium of the State House. Click here for an event flier.
After our program, plan to meet with your Senators and Representatives. We will distribute details on the bills and specific talking points on our website and through email to all LWVMA members soon.
Lobbying the state legislature is one of the defining 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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League Leaders' Lunch
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Saturday, April 14, 2012; 11 am-3 pm
Unitarian Universalist Meeting House
121 North Pleasant St (downtown), Amherst, MA
All local League Presidents and board members are welcome to attend the League Leaders' Lunch. The cost is $15 per person, payable at the door, to cover lunch and materials. Please RSVP to Natalie by April 8.
Topics include: the state of the state League, local Leagues-how are we alike (and different)?, spreading the word effectively, fundraising roundtable, voter service and forums, membership roundtable, advocacy policy and effective lobbying, and more! Lunch will be provided by the Black Sheep Deli in Amherst.
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LWVMA Council
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The Call to Council has gone out to all members. Please encourage your members to join us for Council 2012. Our guest speaker will be Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman.
Saturday, May 5, 2012; 10:00 am-3:30 pm
Winslow Academic Center, Lasell College
1844 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA
The cost per person is $45 (pay in advance)
For local League leaders and Field Service Reps, a pre-Council meeting will begin at 10 am with early registration at 9:30.
Click here for Call to Council.
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| Local League Gifts at Council | | |
Traditionally local Leagues make donations to the LWVMA at Council. At your April board meetings, please consider making a donation in honor of someone who has made a special contribution to your local League.
Click here for the local League donation form.
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| LWVMA Proposed Advocacy Policy | |
At last May's convention, this resolution was passed: Be it resolved that before June 30, 2012, the LWVMA board will draft a written policy with regard to its own advocacy to be presented to local Leagues for their input and approval.
An ad hoc committee has drafted such a policy, and it has been reviewed by the Governance Committee. You can read that proposed policy here. The ad hoc committee would like for local Leagues to take a look and let us know by April 30 if you have any comments and if you approve this policy, which commits the state board to communicate with local Leagues, seek their feedback and provide the necessary information and materials before any major new advocacy action apart from the routine advocacy and lobbying functions of the League, is undertaken (item 6 under Advocacy in this policy).
Please send your comments and approval to advocacypolicy@lwvma.org by the end of April.
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Public Forum: Pushing Back on Money Politics, 2012
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Save the Date, May 17
Concerned about the big spending in the 2012 political campaigns? Is money putting our democracy at risk?
Hear a panel of experts on this issue: Lawrence Lessig, Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership, Harvard Law School, and Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University; Jeff Clements, attorney and author of Corporations Are Not People; and Mimi Marziani, Counsel for the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, New York University School of Law.
They will be speaking at a public forum, Pushing Back on Money Politics, 2012 on Thursday, May 17, 7:30-9:30 p.m., at the Concord-Carlisle High School, 500 Walden Street, Concord.
Moderating the conversation will be Tom Ashbrook, host of On Point, a production of 90.9 WBUR, Boston's NPR news station. The forum is free and open to the public, with doors opening at 7:00 p.m. No reserved seating.
Questions from the audience will be taken after the panel discussion.
Pushing Back on Money Politics, 2012 is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle (LWVCC), the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, and 90.9 WBUR. It is part of a LWVCC project, Democracy in the Balance: Money, Speech & Power. For more information about the May 17 public forum, contact PushingBack@lwvcc.org or 978-254-1598.
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Explore What LWVMA has to Offer
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Spring is here, and now is the time to think about stretching your wings and trying something new. Fortunately, League members seeking a fresh challenge don't have to look far. The Massachusetts League has many fun and rewarding roles that could be perfect for you. This year, the LWVMA Nominating Committee is helping League members from around the state learn how they can make a difference on a whole new level...the state level!
Many current volunteer positions with LWVMA are listed below, and members with legal, accounting, finance, investment, management, and development backgrounds are always needed to help our organization thrive.
Remember, LWVMA needs you! Check out these opportunities and then email or call the listed contacts, the Nominating Committee, or a LWVMA Board member. We also hope to meet you and talk at the Leaders Lunch (Amherst, April 14) and Council (Newton, May 5). We know you will find a great way to serve the community and the League and gain valuable experience, lifelong friends and a deep sense of accomplishment in return.
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.
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.
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. We are seeking one or two new Field Service Representatives or Co-Representatives to help support 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.
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Legislative Update
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The following bills supported by LWVMA have received positive votes from the initial Joint Committee and have been referred to House Ways & Means for financial review:
HB 1858 - An Act to promote Financial Stability and Asset Development, which establishes certain financial benefits to individuals and families receiving state assistance.
HB 84/SB 34 - An Act to bring Child Support Home, which makes technical changes to regulations regarding child support payments.
The following bills supported by LWVMA have received positive votes from the initial Joint Committee and have been referred to Senate Ways & Means for financial review:
SB 2173 - An Act Preventing Students from Dropping out of School, which raises the dropout age to 18 (prior SB 185).
SB 2079 - An Act for a Competitive Economy through Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals (prior HB 1136/SB 397)
SB 2078 - An Act to Require Producer Responsibility for Collection and Recycling of Discarded Electronic Products (prior SB 166)
The following bills supported by LWVMA have received positive votes from the initial Joint Committee and have been referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing for further review:
HB 2368/SB 1133 - An Act Relative to Certified Professional Midwives
HB 1469 - An Act Relative to Patient Safety, which promotes nursing education and staffing levels.
The following bills supported by LWVMA have received positive votes from the initial Joint Committee and will proceed to the appropriate chamber for a vote.
HB196 - An Act to Ensure Secure Voting Equipment, which mandates all electronic voting systems use a paper ballot and have manual audit capabilities.
SB 313 - An Act to Establish Risk-based Audits of Election Results.
The following bills supported by LWVMA have an order to extend review by the initial Joint Committee.
HB 860/SB 1650 - An Act Updating the Bottle Bill was inaccurately reported as sent for study. The League environmental specialists have continued to vigorously work with a broad coalition to have this legislation passed. As the date for action on all bills approaches (March 21), the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy has an order to extend review until 6/15/12 to decide on further action by the legislature during this session.
SB 304 - An Act Relative to Disclosure of Political Spending has an order to extend review until 6/13.
HB1173/SB413 - An Act Providing for Equitable Coverage in Disability Policies has an order to extend review until 6/21.
As of March 27, the following bills supported by LWVMA have been submitted for study (again, generally meaning there will be no further progress on this legislation during the current session):
SB 1195 - An Act Regarding the Prevention of Illegal Trafficking and gun violence among Youth in the Commonwealth, which establishes stricter gun control laws.
HB 1063/SB 190 - An Act Relative to Healthy Youth, which would require age-specific health education in public schools
HB 1172/SB 414 - An Act Prohibiting Discrimination in Insurance Policies, which required gender equity in disability and life insurance policies.
SB 305 - An Act Relative to Accountability for Corporate Political Spending, which establishes guidelines for political spending by corporations.
HB 1106 - An Act to Establish Election Day Registration.
SB 1577 - An Act Restoring Public Confidence in Government by Eliminating "Pay to Play" Opportunities, which regulates legislators', state agencies', contractors' and potential contractors' activities and contributions to campaigns for state office.
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LWV Lexington Forum - Getting Around Town: Do you really need to drive?
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April 13, 2012 - 9:30 am - LWV First Friday Forum - Cary Memorial Library Contact: Pat Costello, League of Women Voters of Lexington (781)862-6435
A variety of perspectives about transportation issues and opportunities in and around Lexington will be presented at the League of Women Voters monthly forum which has been moved to the second Friday, April 13.
What can be done about the increasing traffic congestion on our streets? What are the differing transportation needs of students, their parents, seniors, commuters, and businesses? How will the proposed MBTA cuts affect bus service in Lexington and LexPress? How will the increasing price of gas affect transportation choices in the future?
Panelists will include Rick Abrams, ACROSS Lexington; Lexington Transportation Services Coordinator Jeanette Rebecchi; Monica Tibbits, Executive Director, 128 Business Council; and liaisons to the ad hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee: Selectman Deb Mauger and School Committee member Jessie Steigerwald. Michelle Ciccolo of the Planning Board will act as moderator.
This is the seventh in a series of 2011-2012 First Friday Forums hosted by the League of Women Voters of Lexington to promote awareness and understanding of public policy issues. Coffee will be available at 9:15 a.m. and presentations will begin at 9:30 in the
Community Meeting Room on the lower level of Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue. The library is easily accessible by Lexpress and from the Minuteman Bikeway.
For more information or to carpool, contact the League at 781-862-6435. All League forums are open to the public at no charge.
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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 LWVMA correspondence you would like to get and forward along the link to your League members.
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