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Friend, 

Our League

League leaders, my first League Update message to you is a difficult one. 

Last week, LWV and the voting rights community honored the life of our 20th president, Dr. Deborah Ann Turner. As LWVUS vice president, I assumed the role of president of LWVUS and chair of LWVEF in accordance with our bylaws.

A devoted advocate for women’s rights and voting rights, Dr. T was one of a kind, working tirelessly to create a more equal and just democracy. I was honored to serve with her in our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. League members can share their tributes, read our favorite quotes from Dr. T, or watch her funeral service on our memorial page.  

Additionally, today marks our beloved CEO, Virginia Kase Solomón’s, last day with LWVUS. Virginia played a critical role in guiding our 103-year-old organization through a period of rapid transformation and growth, and I thank her for her leadership. While the Board performs our search for a new CEO, Alma Couverthie, chief of programs, and Kelly McFarland, chief of staff, have agreed to serve as interim co-CEOs. Read our statement at www.lwv.org. 

We have hired BoardWalk Consulting, a national search firm, as our partner to conduct the LWVUS CEO search. We'd like your input as League members via this short, confidential survey by Monday, February 12. Please share this link with your members over this weekend so they can share their thoughts with us as well. At this time of transition, the LWVUS Board is grateful for the contributions you make to the League’s mission and our democracy. 

As we continue to honor Dr. T’s legacy, we are also preparing to come together both in person and virtually this June for our 2024 National Convention in Washington, DC. Registration for Convention is now open. Members can register here. 

Finally, next Wednesday, Feb. 14, is the League’s birthday! We will commemorate our 104-year legacy by remembering Dr. Turner and honoring the work of Leagues past and present, with a special focus on young voters. Register for the panel here.  

In League,

Sania

See all upcoming events on the League Management Site.

• Where Are Reproductive Rights Post-Dobbs? | Slides

Share your feedback on LWVUS recorded webinars and trainings with our post-event feedback form.

• Action Alert: Tell Congress to Ensure That the ERA is Published

Leagues across the country are encouraged to participate in Program Planning, our grassroots process for choosing the League Program for 2024 – 2026. The Program Planning Survey is now open for local and state Leagues to recommend the programmatic focus for all levels of the League for the upcoming biennium. Find a link to the survey, as well as Program Planning instructions, on the League Management Site. The survey closes on Friday, March 10, 2024. For questions, contact progplan@lwv.org.

• Blog: Inspiration From Late LWV President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner
• Blog: What Is a Presidential Caucus?
• Graphics: LWV’s 104th Birthday Celebration Graphics

Empower voters to make their voting plans with our VOTE411 door hangers! Our brand-compliant VOTE411 door hangers can be used for your League's canvassing work or day of actions. These door hangers are double-sided: one side features information in English and the other side in Spanish. View designs and download on the League Management Site.

Registration is now open for the 2024 National Convention scheduled for June 27 – 30 in Washington, DC, and online. We are also accepting applications for Wares Market Tables and Caucuses and Workshops. 

The groups.io platform for Program Planning is live and available for League members to review all program ideas and proposals for the 2024 National Convention.

One of the many important business items at the National Convention is the review and possible amendment of the LWVUS Bylaws. The process for proposing an amendment (along with specific requirements) is available now. All proposed amendments are reviewed by the Bylaws Committee. They can be reached at bylaws@lwv.org.

The budgeting process is underway or imminent for many Leagues. Guidance for how the transition to the new membership system may impact local and state League budgets is available on the ChapterSpot Resources page under the Tools section.

League leaders can find a series of short videos (and associated resources) about building effective boards on the League Management Site. Establishing community norms, understanding key policies (nonpartisanship and DEI), and applying a DEI lens are key elements to forming a successful team. New leaders can find a list of key League resources here.

• Letter: LWVUS Joins Letter Urging President to Remove Anti-abortion Weldon Amendment from FY25 Budget

• Terese Grant, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Iowa, spoke to Iowa Public Radio about Dr. Turner’s life, legacy, and accomplishments. Click here to listen.
• LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase Solomón talked to The New York Times about voter information on VOTE411 amid primary elections. Read the piece: Voting Is Bewildering This Primary Season. That Worries Experts.
• The League of Women Voters of Orange County, FL, is empowering young voters this election year, hosting “Speakeasies” at local bars and restaurants to encourage young professionals and students to get involved. Learn more: With a busy election year, Central Florida voting groups are reaching out now.

Special Notifications: To help keep members informed, LWVUS sends this bi-weekly, internal email newsletter to state and local League presidents, as well as other highly engaged League members. The League Update includes important announcements about upcoming trainings and webinars, grant opportunities, messaging resources, stories from Leagues nationwide, and surveys to help LWVUS serve Leagues better. This newsletter is curated for League members specifically and is not intended for public consumption or distribution. 

Do you know a League member who wants to receive this email? Members can subscribe to receive the League Update here. Please do not reply to this message. To unsubscribe, please click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of this email.