CALENDAR
Friday, July 26 LWVMA/LESF Board Meeting, 12pm, Concord Library Fowler Branch
Friday, August 23 LWVMA/LESF Board Meeting, 12pm, Westwood Library
Friday, September 20 Global Climate Strike Begins
Tuesday, September 24 National Voter Registration Day
Saturday, October 26 League Leader Lunch, 10am-2pm
HAPPENING NOW
League Leader Lunch--Save the Date!
 
Each fall local League leaders from across the Commonwealth gather to share, learn, network, and plan. Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; more details and location to come. 
Report from LWVUS Council
 
Mary Ann Ashton and Judy Zaunbrecher, LWVMA co-presidents, joined League leaders from 44 states and the District of Columbia at the 2019 LWVUS Council in Leesburg, VA, in June.  Under the theme "The Power of Our Transformation," Council gave League leaders an opportunity to participate in strategic conversations about the future of the LWV.

Presentations, workshops, and discussions were focused on progress made on the transformation journey since the 2018 Convention, including advancing a clear strategic focus, developing a more inclusive culture, building a healthier League network, and increasing capacity at all levels.  Highlights from the 2019 Council highlights are available here and you can view the presentations here . 
Help Find Our New Executive Director
 
We are looking for a dynamic, experienced Executive Director to lead the League of Women Voters of  Massachusetts.  Please spread the word to suitable candidates you may know.

The Executive Director, with the League co-presidents, will be the public face of the League in  Massachusetts and will collaborate with the Board of Directors, statewide committees and local League  organizations. The Executive Director will also be responsible for overseeing operations and finances; fundraising; and managing a small staff. Click here for the job description.  Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to humanresources@lwvma.org . We will start interviewing for this position immediately.
New LWVMA DEI Policy
 
The DEI Committee recommended and the LWVMA Board adopted a new diversity, equity and inclusion policy for LWVMA that is consistent with the LWVUS policy.  The new policy states:

The League of Women Voters is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization's current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.

The DEI Committee continues to listen, learn and collaborate with diverse organizations. Many local Leagues are doing great work, and we would love to hear from your League at kboland@lwvma.org .
ELECTIONS & VOTING
Election-Related Dates for Your Calendar

Looking for the dates for state and national elections, registration deadlines, primaries?  The Secretary of the Commonwealth has a complete calendar through the end of 2020.  Key dates are city elections, Nov. 5, 2019; Presidential primary, March 3, 2020; State primary, Sept. 15, 2020; and State and Presidential election, Nov. 3, 2020.
National Voter Registration Day

National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, Sept. 24.  LWVUS hopes at least 400 local Leagues will participate nationwide and the League will continue to be the single largest on-the-ground partner. Sign up your League and plan to hold a registration event or publicize the importance of registration and voting.
ADVOCACY
Global Climate Strike Sept. 20

At the June LWVMA Convention, League members unanimously supported a Climate Emergency Resolution. Now we need to act on that resolution. Members of the Environmental Action and Advocacy Committee are working on a plan of action, and also coordinating with the lead organizing group, 350.org , for LWVMA participation in the Global Climate Strike Friday, Sept. 20. Stay tuned for updates on our plans and information on what your League can do.  
THE TO-DO LIST
Send LWVMA Your New Board Information

As your local League elects new Board leadership, 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.   
Register for LWVUS Webinars

LWVUS is hosting a policy webinar covering Census 2020 Tuesday, July 30, 3 to 4 p.m. This is a date change. The webinar will cover basic information about the Census, a three-phase campaign for LWV involvement, and an overview of the tools available from LWVUS. Register here .

LWVUS is holding a series of webinars on diversity, equity, and inclusion: July 25,  August 29, and  September 26.   Recordings and resources from the previous webinars are on the League Management Site .
Check Out the Membership Toolkit

LWVMA has developed new membership tools that can be helpful in attracting and retaining members in local Leagues. You can find the membership toolkit on the website under Member Services.

A new Powerpoint and video,  Who is the League of Women Voters?  provides an overview of the three levels of the LWV, our mission, and the work we do. There is a script to accompany the presentation, and local Leagues can insert slides specific to their League's events. 

The toolkit also provides helpful information on:  New Member Welcoming, Engagement and Retention; Member Renewal Guidance; A Sample Membership Renewal Letter; Becoming a More Welcoming League, Being Visible All Year Round  and the  Event Check List  that you can edit.
Photo/Video Release Forms

LWVUS has created waivers and notice templates for Leagues to use when conducting photo and video shoots of your events. It is important to use these forms in order to protect the League's right to photos and videos recorded for internal and promotional use. The templates are also provided as a link under Resources on the Brand Standards page.
LWVUS Seeking Nominations

Information and applications are now available for the 2020-22 LWVUS Board and Nominating Committee. To learn more about these national leadership opportunities, please review the FAQ and job descriptions  or contact the LWVUS Nominating Committee at nominatingcommittee@lwv.org . Consider submitting an application or recommending another leader!
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.
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