by Nancy Halvorson—LWVWA Board Member, MELD Portfolio.
Hello! I've recently been appointed to the LWVWA Board and taken over the vacated MELD portfolio. So, what is MELD and does this all mean for League membership? Keep reading to find out!
Each month, local Leagues send a representative to our Membership, Engagement, Leadership, and Development—or MELD—meetings (pods). At these MELD pods, we share our successes and challenges, learn what other local Leagues and the state League are doing, and receive training on an extensive number of topics. MELD members then take what they learn back to their own local League.
MELD is a great avenue for information sharing between the state and local Leagues, and—most importantly—it enables lateral information sharing among the local Leagues in Washington State. The ideas and suggestions that emerge from the MELD pods are a valuable resource center for other Leagues. This information sharing between the Leagues at all levels strengthens us as an organization, and that is MELD's goal.
Current MELD work focuses on:
- Understanding the League's mission—i.e., what do you respond when someone asks you "what does the League do?"
- Nonpartisanship—is this talked about in your local League meetings? Is there a clear understanding of best nonpartisan practices? Does your community understand and believe the League is nonpartisan? Are Leagues being responsive to our communities.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)—Is DEI at the top of our minds when organizing an event or meeting? Is it an integral part of our outreach efforts? What are best practices to insure equity?
Moving forward, MELD will also be focusing on growing and retaining membership, and as we grow, some things will need to be done differently. We'll will work to make sure that local Leagues fully understand the LWVUS Transformation Process and the dues changes that are coming in the months ahead. MELD will also fully engage with membership leads in order to retain members—what are creatives ways to do this? How can we show appreciation for our members, because remember the League is a grassroots, volunteer-based organization!
MELD will also be exploring how we can foster leadership development. What kind of training is currently available? What resources do local Leagues need from the state League in this area?
Also, don't forget that 2024 is a critical election year. Here in Washington, there is very strong outreach done to register eligible voters; however, actually getting those voters to return ballots often lags behind registrations. At MELD pods this year, members will be sharing their strategies and tips for successful GOTV outreach, election forums, and how League's publicize these efforts. Each League has something valuable to offer, and it is our job to honor those contributions!
Do you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions? What ideas do you have about what would constitute value to your local League in the MELD pod setting? Please feel free to contact me, I welcome your comments and ideas. As the saying goes—there is no "i" in "team," this is a group effort!
You have questions, concerns, suggestions? What would constitute value to your local League in the MELD pod setting? Please feel free to contact me as I welcome your comments. As the saying goes—there is no “i” in Teams, this is a group effort!
Warmly,
Nancy Halvorson, nhalvorson@lwvwa.org
