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Friend, 

This is a busy time for the League, with things moving quickly on the local, state, and national levels. On top of that, presidential primary season is already underway, with Leagues across the country gearing up for elections and caucuses. 

I want to remind you all that LWVUS is here for you. Our national staff has planned a variety of upcoming trainings and workshops for leaders and members to learn more about resources that can enhance your League’s work. Whether it’s our monthly community call or a webinar on voter intimidation, there are opportunities for you to come together with other League members or ask questions to LWVUS staff. You can find the complete list of upcoming events under the webinars section of this newsletter as well as on the League Management Site’s calendar.

As our organization evolves, so should our policies. A lot of research and effort went into drafting our original DEI policy four years ago, and over the past year, the LWVUS Board’s DEI committee reviewed our policy and determined it needed to be updated. In January, the Board voted to update our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy. You can find our updated DEI policy on the League Management Site. Our commitment to DEI is not a destination but a journey, and the LWVUS Board will continue to regularly review and upgrade our policy language. The LWVUS Board DEI committee will host a webinar on March 5 at 4pm ET to share more about the process for updating the policy and provide space to answer questions from members. 

Additionally, I want to thank everyone who completed our survey and provided input in our search for a new LWVUS CEO. The LWVUS Board search committee, formed back in December, has a target to announce the new LWVUS CEO at our National Convention in June. 

Speaking of Convention, registration is officially open! You can learn more and register here. One of the many important business items at the National Convention is the review and possible amendment of our bylaws. The process for proposing an amendment is available, with proposals due by next Monday, Feb. 26. All proposed amendments are reviewed by the Bylaws Committee. They can be reached at bylaws@lwv.org. 

In League,

Sania

See all upcoming events on the League Management Site.

The deadline for local and state Leagues to participate in Program Planning, our grassroots process for choosing the League Program for 2024 – 2026, is fast approaching. Local and state Leagues must submit their recommendations for the programmatic focus for all levels of the League for the upcoming biennium before the survey closes on Friday, March 10. Complete the survey here, and find additional Program Planning materials on the League Management Site. For questions, contact progplan@lwv.org.

Election season has begun, and Leagues across the country are kicking off their GOTV efforts! Join LWVUS and LWVOH for our GOTV friendbanks (reaching out to people you know), empowering friends and family in Ohio to make their voting plans ahead of the March 19 primaries. Make sure to have LWV’s digital organizing platform, League In Action, ready to go! Register for friendbanks below:

• March 8, 4pm ET | Register here
• March 15, 12pm ET | Register here

• Blog: Why We Need Young Voters
• Blog: One Person, One Vote: How Does the Electoral College Work?
• Blog: Moments to Watch in 2024

Ready to get started with LWV’s digital organizing platform, League In Action? Find instructions on how to join, frequently asked questions, and resources on the League Management Site.

Given that some components of the new membership system will conflict with current local and state League bylaws, LWVUS has guidance for amendments to consider to ensure that League bylaws and practices are aligned. This document is available on the ChapterSpot Resources page under the Tools section.

Registration is now open for the 2024 Convention scheduled for June 27 – 30 in Washington, DC, and online. If you are attending in person, discounted hotel rooms and flights are available on the Convention website travel page. 

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.

• Memo: LWVUS Shares Priorities for State of the Union with White House

• To celebrate our 104th birthday, Debra Cronmiller from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin wrote about the League’s work to expand voting rights in state. Read the opinion: 104 years and counting of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, expanding voting rights for all.
• League member and advocate Alex Newell Taylor shares what inspired her to join the League and their work in Maine. Read now: A Woman, A Dad, and A League of Women Voters.
• The League of Women Voters of Collier County, FL, spoke about their commitment to empowering voters, the importance of community partnerships, and VOTE411. Read the profile: Your vote is your voice: The League of Women Voters of Collier County is here to help.

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.