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Friday, Nov. 18
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LWVMA Board Meeting, Acton Memorial Library, 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
| Monday, Jan. 9
| Next Daniel Scharfman Grant Application Deadline
| Now - Sunday, Jan. 15
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LWVMA Phonathon
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Tuesday, Jan. 31
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Deadline to update your League Roster in LWVUS database
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Wednesday, Feb. 1
| LWVMA Charter School Study Consensus Reports Due
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Wednesday, Feb. 1
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2017 Student Video Contest Kick off
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Friday, April 28 - Saturday, April 29
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LWVMA Convention, Shearton Hotel, Framingham
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Interest in the League is Up After the Election
In the week since the election, the LWVMA office has received numerous inquiries about joining the League, and our Facebook page has received a record number of "likes." Many people here in Massachusetts and, indeed, around the country, appear interested in finding ways to engage with their communities and are turning to the League. As the office receives inquiries, Meryl and Brynne will connect people to local Leagues in their area, if applicable. This is also a great opportunity for local Leagues to do outreach in their communities, as people seem especially open to our message of non-partisan civic engagement. Later this week, the LWVMA Board will meet and discuss the implications of this very divisive election for the League and our work.
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Save April 28-29 for LWVMA's Convention
Put it on your calendar now! You won't want to miss LWVMA Convention 2017 at the Framingham Sheraton on April 28 and 29, 2017. It's when local League delegates gather to hear distinguished speakers, approve program for the next biennium, elect a new board of directors, approve the budget, and network with leaders from across the state.
Watch for more details as we firm up featured speakers and opportunities for local Leagues to participate. For now, mark off April 28 and 29 on your calendar for LWVMA Convention 2017!
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State Program Planning Time
The program planning process to develop the recommended program for LWVMA's 2017-2019 biennium is getting underway. Program planning materials will be sent to all local Leagues in early December, so please schedule a program planning meeting for your League before the deadline in early February to submit recommendations.
During the program planning process, Leagues can suggest action priorities, the focus of the state League's work for the next two years; action items, specific projects to tackle; and proposed studies, restudies or concurrences.
The state board will use the results of local League program planning reports to develop a recommended program for 2017-2019, to be voted on at the spring Convention.
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Our Work Depends on Your Donations
Many thanks to the donors to our Fall Appeal for your generous support! Our annual Phonathon fundraiser is now in full swing, and several local Leagues have already volunteered to make calls--will yours? This is a win-win opportunity: your League will earn 10% of the contributions solicited by your team. If your League would like to participate, please contact Brynne Gorman.
And thank you in advance for saying "Yes!" when you receive a call. Our success depends on you!
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Lights! Camera! Take Action!
The fourth annual LWVMA high school video contest kicks off in February. The theme of this year's contest is "Making Democracy Work in My Community." We will invite students to make 2-minute videos showing how they or others in their community are advancing the democratic process. Contest details will be available on our website next month, and we will outline ways you and your League can get involved.
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Congratulations to October Scharfman Winners
Four Leagues received Daniel Scharfman Civic Education grants in October.
Grants were awarded to LWV Concord-Carlisle for information on the special election for funding Minuteman Regional High School; to both LWV Greater Haverhill and LWV Worcester Area for naturalization ceremony supplies; and to LWV Northampton Area for its Newspapers in Education "Vote" poster contest.
The next deadline for application grants is Jan. 9, 2017. Information and the application are available here.
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Thank you to each of you who contributed in so many different ways to a very vibrant election season for Massachusetts voters. Each of you has helped forward our mission to encourage informed and active participation in government. Whether you registered voters, talked with your local election officials about Early Voting, helped spread the word about Early Voting opportunities in your community, held candidate or ballot question forums, shared our student videos and other materials through your own and your League's social media channels, encouraged candidates to participate in our VOTE411.org Voters Guide, or participated in our election protection efforts, you helped foster civic engagement in our state. Through your efforts, we were able to engage voters not only in cities and towns where we have an active local League, but also in areas where we do not.
Watch for next month's League Leader Update where we'll share information about how many voters throughout the state used VOTE411.org. If you have other metrics or success stories from your many voter service activities, please share with Mary Ann Ashton so we can collect these and share with all members.
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How to Submit Charter Study Consensus
When your League completes its consensus meeting for the state charter school study and your board has approved the result, please fill out the response form, available here. You can email the form to consensus@lwvma.org, or print it out and mail it to Consensus, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, 133 Portland St., Boston, MA 02114.
You should receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your consensus report within two or three days. If you do not, please email consensus@lwvma.org to confirm that the report was received.
Remember, the deadline for consensus reports to be filed is Feb. 1, 2017, so that a position can be developed from the results for a vote at the spring Convention.
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LWVUS Post-Election Survey
LWVUS asks all Leagues to complete its post-election survey. This survey, our best source of data and critical information about the election-related activities of state and local Leagues, is used to develop helpful resources for Leagues, identify areas of needed training and support, and measure the full impact of our organization's work to protect, register, and engage voters in 2016. Please have someone from your League take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Where you do not have exact numbers available, estimates are fine.
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Time to Update Your Roster
You can update your roster in the LWVUS membership database regularly from now until Jan. 31, 2017, to ensure correct per-member-payment billing for FY2017-18. Always include membership expiration dates. Have questions or need help? A user manual can be accessed here or contact bgorman@lwvma.org or rostersupport@lwv.org.
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The League Leader Update is distributed to local League board members and LWVMA leaders. Anyone can request the Update by clicking here. Please review this Update for articles of interest to your League and include them in your local Bulletin.
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