CALENDAR
Thursday, October 17 Day on the Hill, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Massachusetts State House
Friday, October 25 LWVMA/LESF Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m., Haverhill Public Library
Saturday, October 26 League Leader Lunch, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church, Worcester
HAPPENING NOW
Register Now for League Leader Lunch
 
Kick off the new League year at the League Leader Lunch Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (9:30 a.m. coffee) at the First Baptist Church of Worcester, 111 Park Avenue, Worcester.  Please RSVP   by Monday, Oct. 21.
 
The League Leader Lunch is the traditional start of League activities for the year. League leaders come together to learn about upcoming activities, to share ideas and challenges, and to make important connections with other Leagues.
 
Some of the topics that we'll be covering:
  • Panel on local League action groups: mobilizing your communities
  • Civic engagement opportunities panel
  • DEI policy, unconscious bias and the power of cultural change discussion
  • 100 Anniversary Toolkit
  • Vote 411, redistricting and LWVUS Council update
Hosted by the LWVMA Board of Directors and LWV Worcester, the event is our way of saying "thank you" for the important work you do. There is no charge for this event. There is a three person limit to the number of attendees per League. If more than three people from one League would like to attend, please  email us . 
LWVMA Needs Your Support for Fall Appeal
 
The next calendar year, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment and the founding of the League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters has long been the trusted voice to engage and inform our communities, and we are eager to continue and build on that role into the next century. We are working to expand our work and to grow a membership that is representative and inclusive of every community in our Commonwealth.
 
Now we need your help.  By supporting our Fall Appeal, you will sustain the essential work of LWVMA and also earn money for your own League.  If we receive your donation of $100 or more by Oct. 31, your local League will receive 15% of your donation; for donations of less than $100 received by Oct. 31, your local League will receive 10%. And if you donate now, you won't be called during our Phonathon later this year.

To donate online, please  click here.  To donate by mail, please print and enclose this  form  with your check.
Local League 100th Anniversary Fall Events
 
Local Leagues are using the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, LWV, and LWVMA to recognize the achievements of women, share the accomplishments of the League, reflect on the past as a springboard to current issues, and explore the fascinating history of the women's suffrage movement and birth of the League. Local League events and exhibits are presented in our   100th Anniversary Calendar.

Coming up at local Leagues this fall:
Details about each event are available in the 100th Anniversary Calendar.

Oct. 16 Brookline Tina Cassidy, author of "Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait?" and History of LWV Brookline 
Oct. 17 Hingham
Barbara Berenson, author of "Massachusetts in the Woman Suffrage Movement"
Oct. 20 Haverhill
Suffrage March, Susan B. Anthony Reenactment (registration required), Suffrage Exhibit
Oct. 20 Harvard Tina Cassidy with Charlie Senott (ticketed event) 
Oct. 22 Marblehead
Meet Lucy Stone: An Evening with Storyteller Judith Black
Oct. 30 Newton After Suffrage: A 20/20 Perspective on Women's Rights 1920-2020
Nov. 3 Needham "We Did It For You! Women's Journey Through History" (ticketed event) 

To view the full calendar, local League Toolkit, and 100 Reasons videos, go to the  100th Anniversary web page . To add your League's event or exhibit to the calendar; email 100thanniversary@lwvma.org .

ADVOCACY
Last Call for Day on the Hill

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 17, to make the League's voice heard on Beacon Hill. It's our League lobby day, Day on the Hill, "Time to Act." We will meet in Room 428 at the State House. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the program runs from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by visits to your own legislators. Even if you didn't register in advance, we'd love to see you!
 
Senator Karen Spilka, the president of the Senate, is our keynote speaker. You'll also hear from legislative specialists on our legislative priorities-Election Day registration, climate crisis, education funding and reproductive rights.
LWVUS Offers Guidance on 2020 Census Work

A complete and accurate count in the 2020 U.S. Census is critically important to the integrity of our democracy. LWVUS is providing Leagues with the tools and resources to ensure people in their communities are counted. For a one-page guide on how to think through getting out the count, check out this new resource: Get Out the Count: Mapping Out a Plan.
ELECTIONS & VOTING
LWVUS Has Election-Related Information

Social Media Materials: Get out the vote on social media this election season! Visit the League Management Site for sample posts and graphics to use .
Instagram: LWVUS haslaunched VOTE411's Instagram account-and would love for you to follow us! Check out the account at @VOTE411 .
Flickr: LWVUS has updated its Flickr site with new photos from voter registration events . Leagues are welcome to use any of the photos to promote your work.
THE TO-DO LIST
Scharfman Grant Deadlines for the Year

The next deadline to apply for a Lotte E. Scharfman Citizens Education Grant is January 14.  Details and an application are available  here .
LWVUS PMPs Due

LWVUS per-member-payment invoices will be mailed Oct. 16. Please be aware that any payments received after Oct. 3 will not appear on these invoices. Please reach out to membership@lwv.org with any questions or concerns.
LWVUS Offering Information Tools

Fundraising: It's time to start crafting and coordinating end-of-the-year annual appeals to members, donors, and supporters. Make sure you communicate with your donors about the issues that are happening in your state and how the League is best positioned to be the go-to election protection and information organization. If you need some help crafting an annual appeal, check out Fundraising Training Modules #1 and #3 where you'll learn how to write the League's story, and you'll find a sample appeal that you can adapt. Need more fundraising support? Email fundraisingtraining@lwv.org .

Nonpartisan Policy: Join the LWVUS Governance Committee for a session on how to create a nonpartisan policy. Nonpartisanship is a hallmark of our organization, and it is critical that all boards have a current policy in place, especially as we head into a very busy election year. Registration is open for the session , which will be held Nov. 12 at 5 p.m.

Building a Strong Board: The LWVUS Governance and Nominating Committees conducted a webinar on recruiting and building strong boards that looked at the why, what and how of creating powerful boards. This interactive session also examined how to apply a DEI lens to this process. A recording is available on the League Management Site.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: LWVUS is hosting a series of webinars on DEI in 2019.  We encourage Leagues to watch together and make time for discussion afterward.  Upcoming Webinars: Oct. 30 ; Nov. 21 ; Dec. 19 . Recordings and resources from previous webinars are on the League Management Site .
National Board Nominations Deadline

The LWVUS Nominating Committee is looking for applicants for the 2020-2022 national board and nominating committee. Applications are due by Oct. 28. If you know a League member who is: passionate about our mission, eager to help advance our goals and impact, ready to leverage their skills and experience, and able to envision the League's future power-please consider recommending them. If this sounds like you, please apply today . More information about the role and application process is available here .
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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