The League of Women Voters is such an interesting organization because there are established processes in place to move ideas to action at all League levels: local, state and national. Program is hugely important in the League. Visit LWVUS, 2024-2026 Program Planning Instructions to learn more about what's going on.

There is often overlap and intersection among Leagues as we engage in this Program Planning. Concurrence is a good example. Different Leagues take advantage of the hard work other Leagues have done to adopt new positions for use in their community.  

I am pleased to report to you that LWVWA is now engaged in taking our Local News positions to the LWVUS Convention where we will ask Leagues across the country to concur with our position. The LWVWA Board of Directors approved this effort at our October board meeting.

How did we get here?

Last year, LWV of Washington adopted two sets of positions and added them to our already existing positions: Local News and Shorelines. First came Program Planning, where members submitted ideas for consideration to their local Leagues; they forwarded them to the LWVWA Board to be evaluated before sending on to convention. At LWVWA Convention, delegates adopted these ideas in the form of scope and focus. Committees delved into the topics and produced studies. After much hard work, the study committees presented their work to the membership for discussion and consensus. Finally, the LWVWA Board of Directors adopted positions. These positions are now available for use by state and local Leagues in the public arena—in Washington state, that is. How about the rest of the country?  

Our Local News study found that there are stresses in local news across the country. Should all 50 states do a study on this topic so they can use our excellent positions in their communities? Not necessary. There is more efficient way to go: concurrence.

Program Chair Shelley Kneip is shepherding the work of bringing these positions to the June 2024 LWVUS Convention for concurrence, with the able assistance of the Local News Committee and its chair, Dee Anne Finken.  

There is much to learn about this process. For example, state Leagues can hold program planning meetings just as local Leagues do. Our state League hasn't done this in recent memory; what would it look like? We are delving into this and other questions about the process as we move toward the goal of Local News positions being adopted at the national level. If successful, LWVUS will be able to lobby at the congressional level, and all Leagues will be able to lobby for needed change at their state and local League levels. This is a powerful opening for change that empowers voters and defends democracy.  

This intriguing process is just one of the many ways to engage in the work carried out by the League of Women Voters. If you are looking for a way to take a more active role in League, please let me know and I will help you find your way.  

Mary Coltrane, LWVWA President
mary.coltrane@lwvwa.org