 |
|
Wednesday, June 21
|
"Making Democracy Work in My Community" Student Video Contest Award Ceremony, House of Representatives Members' Lounge, State House, 11 a.m. until 12 p.m.
| |
Monday, June 26
|
LWVMA/LESF Board Retreat, North Hill, Needham
| |
Friday, June 30
|
Deadline to donate to LWVMA with a matching gift
|
|
|
Check Out the Video Contest Winners
Take a look here at the winning entries in our annual student video contest, "Making Democracy Work in My Community."
The first place winning video was from Quincy High School; second place from Newton South High School; and third place from Millis High School. The honorable mention winners were from Wellesley High School and Marblehead High School.
Thank you to the League members who helped publicize and judge this year's contest, and to the Salem Five Charitable Foundation for its support.
|
|
Donate to LWVMA by June 30 and Double Your Gift
Thanks to a generous $10,000 matching gift, we can double down on our critical work preserving and expanding hard-won gains here in Massachusetts. We are only $4,600 away from our June 30 goal--more than halfway there!
Please donate today. As an added incentive, when you donate $25 or more we will send you a League of Women Voters decal.
With your support, LWVMA will fight to improve elections and educate voters, protect the environment, reform the criminal justice system, and block efforts to weaken our state health insurance system. And your support will help us empower citizen activists throughout Massachusetts with the resources, tools, and information they need. Thank you!
|
Join the New Ballot Question Study Committee!
At our 2017 Convention, our membership approved a new state study of the ballot question process in Massachusetts, which will be conducted over the next two years. We are currently putting together a new study committee to develop study materials and questions. Local League consensus meetings will likely be in the fall of 2018 through early 2019, leading to a position presented to Convention in 2019. More information about the study can be found here.
|
Convention Focus Group Responses Available
At April's Convention, attendees gathered for 90 minutes of discussion about questions that are important to the League's future. We have compiled the responses from more than 100 participants, and tried to summarize the themes which seemed most prevalent. You can read a summary of the focus group responses here and the full compilation of comments here.
|
Save the Date for Day on the Hill
Day on the Hill, the League's annual lobby day at the State House, is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 24. Please let your members know and add it to your calendar.
|
Put Fall Climate and Energy Forums on Your Calendar
The LWVMA Steering Committee for Environmental Action and Advocacy, in partnership with local Leagues, is presenting a series of regional forums in 2017. The first forum of the LWVMA Climate and Energy Solutions Series, "On the Path to 100% Renewable Energy," was held in Worcester May 2, co-sponsored by the Worcester Area LWV. Four forums are planned for the fall in Boston, Winchester, Lexington and Falmouth.
We will kick off the series in the fall with a forum at the New England Aquarium's Omni Theater Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. This event is part of the Aquarium's Lecture Series, and is co-sponsored by LWVMA, the Aquarium, and the UMass Boston School for the Environment. The speaker, Dr. Ellen Douglas, will address extreme events and climate change. She will discuss observations of our changing climate, what changes may be in the future for Boston and beyond, and plans for adapting to these changes.
The remaining forums are planned for Winchester Oct. 4 (7 p.m., refreshments at 6:30 p.m.), with a presentation on the Health Benefits of Carbon Pricing; Lexington Oct. 19 (7 p.m.), with a discussion of greening the grid; and Falmouth (date and time TBD).
Details will be coming as plans are finalized, but please consider these dates as you plan your League's fall events.
|
We've Started a New Action Newsletter
The Action Newsletter will appear the first of every month, with a list of things League members can do that month in areas they are interested in to reinforce our efforts with the legislature and to take non-legislative action as well.
The legislature is exceptionally busy right now, with several hearings scheduled most days as the legislators seek public input on the bills that they are considering. LWVMA will have members testifying at most of the hearings covering the bills we are following. It's always good to have people attending those hearings to show public support. Emails and calls to your legislators about the bills are also valuable. And participation in lobby days can make a big difference. If you have any questions on the bills, or on what you can do, please email Nancy Brumback, Legislative Action Committee chair.
|
LWVUS Immigration Discussion Group Forming
As immigration reform becomes a priority issue in the League and in our nation, a new LWV online discussion group has been formed to discuss immigration issues. Join to learn what's happening on immigration issues all across our nation. To receive an invitation to join the group, please contact Linda Wassenich or Meredith Machen.
|
Use VOTE411 for Fall Municipal Elections
For local Leagues in our Massachusetts cities, it's time to start thinking about your Voter Service plans for the fall. LWVMA is pleased to offer our VOTE411.org platform to any local Leagues who would like to use the platform to prepare Voter's Guides for municipal elections this fall. Each local League using the platform would be asked to share the costs 50-50 with the state League, so the cost for a local League would be between $100 and $200 depending on the size of your League. Additionally, we are seeking grant support to offer Voter's Guides to several of our largest cities where we do not have a League presence, so that we can continue to engage voters in those communities through their fall elections. In 2016, nearly 40,000 voters in 330 of the Commonwealth's 351 municipalities used the information in VOTE411.org to educate themselves about candidates and ballot questions.
Local Leagues may request a Daniel Scharfman Citizen Education fund grant to assist with their portion of the costs. If your League is interested in using VOTE411 for your municipal election, please contact Mary Ann Ashton, Voter Service chair, by July 15 to indicate your interest and learn more about the cost.
|
You Can Participate in National Voter Registration Day
National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, Sept. 26.
If your League would like to participate this year, perhaps registering voters at a nearby college or in cooperation with a community group, you can learn more about the day's activities, the support and materials available, and how to register here.
The League of Women Voters is a major partner nationally in National Voter Registration Day and Leagues around the country have played a significant role in registering new voters on this day.
|
Send LWVMA and LWVUS Your New Board Information
As your local League elects new Board leadership for 2017-18, please share the names, positions, and contact information of your Board members with the LWVMA office so that your local League leaders receive League management information, reminders, and have access to leader tools. Please have one person from your local League complete this form and return it before June 30 to Brynne.
Additionally, one member of your League should enter leadership information on the LWVUS roster. (See instructions for using the LWVUS database here.)
|
Share This Information With Your Board
Summer is a time of transition for the League as new leaders step up to assume responsibilities on local League Boards. To make sure your new Board members have the relevant information they need to be successful, please share these important LWVMA publications with them: Local League Basics, Treasurer's Handbook, and New Member: Welcoming, Engagement and Retention. We recommend that returning Board members review these documents as well!
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
