January Program Planning Meeting Covers Lots of Ground!
“Program” is the League's reason for being. It’s the basis for our advocacy and education efforts. Essentially, “program” is simply the list of governmental issues that members of a League choose to focus their work on for a period of time, where “the list” takes the form of selected LWV “positions” that guide education and advocacy on various aspects of the prioritized issues. Annually, our League's Program is developed in January, formally proposed for a vote at the Annual Meeting in May, and goes into effect on July 1.
The Program proposed by Issues Teams at our January 12 meeting (see attached PowerPoint presentation) was supported by 97% of the meeting participants (remaining 3% were not opposed, but unsure). The Board of Directors will draft a summary of what the teams proposed so that the Program can be brought to a vote at the Annual Meeting in May. Key outcomes of the Program Planning meeting included:
1. Members of a position review committee gave a status report on work toward updating two local positions, one concerning the League’s support for increasing the number of Larimer County commissioners, and the other concerning League ideals for local planning. This work was initiated in response to a recommendation from the membership at last year’s Program Planning meeting. With the research completed and, in one case, some updated wording already proposed, additional volunteers are needed to wrap things up and draft specific updated wording that can be voted on in May.
2. LWVLC President Pat Burger gave an overview of our local League’s current Strategic Plan that will conclude in June 2026 and outlined some proposed updates for carrying things forward into the 2026-2027 League Year. She mentioned that volunteers were needed to help flesh out strategies for tackling some of the goals. A poll of participants showed many (41%) were interested in participating in a brainstorming session on one or more strategic plan goals.
3. The Board reported that our local Civil Liberties and Rights, Education, and Legislative Action teams had been deactivated for lack of volunteers willing to lead them. Members interested in leading or co-leading these teams should make themselves known to a Board member.
4. Heather Sulgrove informed members about a new Ad Hoc Committee on AI policy. Heather is leading this group to determine how the League might use AI tools in ways that align with our mission, values, and public trust. The first meeting is on January 21. All members are welcome to participate. Register on the LWVLC Calendar.
5. Members heard about two positions from LWV New York and LWV Washington that could be brought to a vote on adoption at the national level at the LWV National Convention in June. One concerns an update to the LWV privatization position that would oppose further privatization of our healthcare system, and the other provides guidance on additional aspects of the immigration issue. About 80% of meeting participants wanted to learn more about these proposals and, perhaps, attend a special meeting to discuss them.
6. Finally, members were polled on whether they agree with the proposed 2026-2028 LWVUS National Program, which would encourage state and local Leagues nationwide to engage in education and advocacy promoting the ideals expressed in League positions on six main themes: Voting Rights, Election Protection, Redistricting, Individual Rights, Immigration, and The Presidency. Most meeting participants (93%) supported the proposed LWVUS program, 5% were unsure, and 2% disagreed with the plan.
Information collected in the meeting polls will help the Board of Directors answer survey questions that feed into the national program planning process and plan activities to finalize our own local program plan to be voted on in May.
Calls for volunteers for the various Program Planning after-actions will soon go out via email and newsletters and follow-up meetings will be scheduled. Please keep an eye out for calls and scheduling announcements of the activities that interest you. You can find the first survey here. Join a focus group to provide input into the League's next strategic plan! Response to the survey is due by January 31. Focus group sessions will be scheduled for February. |