Annual Program Planning

Program Planning is a member-centered multistep process

Members recommend which issues to address, new studies to undertake, and changes to LWVN advocacy positions.

The program planning process begins in April.  Members discuss the important issues that LWVN should focus on in the next fiscal year, which begins in July.  The process ends at the Annual Meeting where members vote on the proposals developed earlier.

Prior to any program planning meeting, LWVN members should review the LWVN Program and Positions adopted at the previous year’s Annual Meeting and think about whether positions and priorities need to be eliminated, new positions and priorities added, or other changes need to be made.  The program that is decided upon will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and then presented to the entire membership at the Annual Meeting for approval.

Any member who introduces a particular proposal contemplating study or action on a community issue should consider the following:

• Does the League have an existing position that supports the proposed action?
• Do members understand and would they agree with the proposed action?
• Is it a priority for LWVN?
• Does LWVN have a unique role to play or would the LWVN’s assets (time and money) be better spent on other activities?
• Does it have some chance of success or make an important statement for the League?
• Are other leagues, organizations, or a coalition already working on the issue?
• What action techniques would be most effective?
• How will the League deal with opposition?
• How can members be involved in the proposed action?
• What kind of community involvement would best support the League’s efforts?

If a suggestion for program falls under an existing position, that suggestion can simply be considered by the board and presented for approval by its members at the annual meeting, and action can be taken as appropriate. However, if the suggestion involves a new issue that does not fit under an existing position, members must first adopt an appropriate position.

The board of directors is responsible for reviewing and discussing program suggestions, formulating them in appropriate language, and recommending all or some of them for adoption according to procedures specified in the bylaws.

From LWVN Bylaws – Article X – Principles and Program

Section 1. Principles.    The principles are concepts of government adopted by the national convention and supported by the League of Women Voters as a whole (hereinafter the “Principles”). They are the authorization for the adoption of national, state, and local programming.

Section 2. Program.    The local program of the LWVN shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those governmental issues chosen for concerted study and action (“Local Program”).

Section 3. Procedure.    The Local Program shall be adopted according to the following procedures:

• the board of directors shall consider recommendations submitted by the voting members and shall formulate a proposed local program;
• the proposed local program shall be sent to all members two weeks before the annual meeting;
• a majority vote of the members attending the annual meeting shall be required for adoption of items in the proposed local program as presented at the annual meeting by the board of directors;
• recommendations for local programming submitted by voting members but not recommended by the board of directors may be considered by the members at the annual meeting, provided that the members at the annual meeting shall order consideration by a majority vote. A two-thirds vote is required for adoption.

Section 4. Program Changes.    Changes in the Local Program in the case of altered conditions may be made provided that: (1) information concerning the proposed changes has been sent to all members at least two weeks prior to a general meeting of the members at which any change is to be discussed; and (2) final action by the membership is taken at a succeeding general meeting of the membership where, in the case of a board-recommended change, a majority vote is obtained, or, in the case of a non-board recommended change, a two-thirds vote is obtained.

Section 5. Member Action.    Members may act in the name of the LWVN only when authorized to do so by the board of directors. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWVN, the LWVMA, and the LWVUS.