Every two years state and local Leagues and ILO’s participate in the LWVUS Program Planning process by making recommendations concerning program issues – this is how we remain a grassroots organization.
The Program Planning process is an important League tool for identifying issues for study. It gives members and Leagues the opportunity to balance the pros and cons, assess possible support, and consider the viability of issues. During the process, members have the opportunity - especially with email and discussion lists - to organize support based on factual materials before the Program Planning deadline, March 1, 2012.
Waiting to gather support for issues at Convention often results in limited discussion and incomplete information. Furthermore, raising issues at Convention instead of through the Program Planning process dilutes the voices of Leagues that do participate in the process.
This year, we are also asking Leagues to let us know what LWVUS positions, if any, your local or state League or ILO has used in your work in the community. The response form will include a section where you can provide that information.
Access the Program Planning Response Form
Selecting an issue for study
Program, a three-part process that is a core component of the League’s mission, is composed of program planning, study and consensus, and advocacy. While it is important for every League to hold a Program Planning meeting to discuss possible issues for study at the national level, it is not essential for every League to select an issue. The response form includes a line to indicate that issues were discussed, but no change is recommended. This important option gives the LWVUS a more realistic picture of the participation and opinions of all Leagues, so it is important for all Leagues to complete and submit a response form whether they recommend a program item or not.
The deadline for submitting response forms electronically is March 1, 2012. No response forms will be accepted by other means.
Each League will need to sign into the form using its League ID. You can find your League's ID using the "Find a Local League" box on the right of most pages. If you make a mistake, or have questions about the form or program planning process, then send email to progplan@lwv.org.
Program Planning Meeting
- Set a date and invite members to participate in a Program Planning meeting, in person or online, or set a deadline for members to submit input by mail or email. We recommend that meetings be held in January or February 2012. Remind your members to prepare for participation in Program Planning by looking at Impact on Issues, 2010-2012, which is available online or as a downloadable PDF.
- Use Voter newsletters and email to publicize LWVUS Program Planning so that members begin thinking about possible issues not covered by current positions well before the scheduled Program Planning meeting.
- Recommend that members with issue interests join the LWVUS Convention Preparation discussion list, where members will be discussing and/or promoting issues and the Program Planning process.
- Encourage members to evaluate possible issues by asking, for example:
- Is there widespread member interest?
- Is this a timely issue?
- Is government action the most effective way to address the problem?
New Study, Review and Update, or Concurrence
Local and state Leagues and ILO’s have the option to propose one new study, or one review and update, or one concurrence or to make no recommendation. Leagues are no longer being asked to adopt existing program, although convention delegates will continue to do so.
Resources and Volunteer Time
Before recommending a study, review and update or concurrence, Leagues need to consider the resource commitment required for their own League as well as for the national League. A recommendation of a new study, review or concurrence is a request to give the recommendation a high priority for the biennium at both the local and national League levels. If a recommendation is adopted, local Leagues and LWVUS, with limited resources – money, but even more importantly volunteer time – may find it necessary to drop other activities in order to participate. Although technology has made it possible to reduce expenses, an increase in PMP may be required to help fund the work at the national level.
New Study/Program Item
To propose a new study, you need to fill out that section on the response form by including a brief statement (300 words or less), stating the scope of the study. List this statement under the appropriate position heading – Representative Government, International Relations, Natural Resources, or Social Policy (see Impact on Issues for detailed descriptions of these headings –a summary of these positions is included). A statement of scope lists the areas to be explored, the emphasis on a particular aspect of the issue, and the parameters of the study. It is helpful to the staff and Program Planning Committee, if several Leagues are proposing or supporting the same study, that they use the same position heading and consistent wording in the brief summary of scope. Before proposing a study on a new topic, Leagues are encouraged to use the Leaders List to inquire if any state or local League has a position on the proposed topic. If so, you might consider proposing a concurrence rather than a new study.
Review and Update
Likewise, Leagues may recommend one LWVUS position for review during each biennium. Again, it is helpful to the staff and Program Planning Committee, if several Leagues are proposing or supporting the same review, that they use the same position heading and consistent wording in the brief summary of scope.
Concurrence
The response form includes the option of recommending a program item for concurrence. If the proposed concurrence is based on a previous state or local League position, then you should provide the title and scope of the position your League proposes for concurrence, the name of the League that did the original study and the location (usually a URL) of the position/study.
Local and State League Action
The response form includes a section where your League can list any legislative or educational activities in your community that you have undertaken in the last two years based on LWVUS positions. The response form includes a section where you can share this information up to 300 words.
Timeline
November 2011 – LWVUS Program Planning Leader’s Guide is sent out and posted on the website, and response form and discussion list are available online.
January -- February 2012 – Leagues provide opportunities for members to participate in LWVUS Program Planning.
March 1, 2012 – Deadline for receipt of online response forms
March 2012 -- LWVUS Board Meeting – LWVUS Program Planning Committee analyzes response form responses and drafts proposal for LWVUS board review
March 2012 – LWVUS board considers draft and approves a Proposed Program for 2012-2014
April-May 2012 – Proposed program will be posted on the website
June 2012 – Convention delegates adopt 2012-2014 LWVUS program after debate and discussion, as well as any not-recommended items granted consideration by convention.
July 2012-June 2014 – LWVUS board implements adopted program