LWVUS Convention

Report from the LWVUS Convention, Portland, OR, June 13-17, 2008

by the LWVCT delegation

Ten Connecticut delegates represented the state at this convention: Jara Burnett (Greenwich), Cheryl Dunson (Greenwich) and Carole Young-Kleinfeld (Wilton) represented the LWVCT; local league delegates were:  Nancy Bassett (East Shore), Helen Pearl (New Britain) , Elisa McCarthy (Greater Hartford) and Liz-Ann Koos, Jane Eyes and Alison Rivard (Westport).

The LWVCT delegation presented four administrative proposals:

• an amendment to proposed convention Rule 10.1; we objected to the restricted member input into the resolutions process;

• a bylaws revision to enable state leagues to lobby their own delegations without prior LWVUS approval, providing the advocacy is firmly within the established position;

• two resolutions: the first one proposed a more deliberate approach to the rules for the 2010 Convention by discussing a possible resolution rule at Council 2009; the second was to increase member input into the advocacy priority-setting process at Convention..

As always, our delegates were informed but not required to support these initiatives; all materials were sent out to Connecticut delegates via email prior to the Convention. 

The LWVCT planned and conducted two caucuses to present our bylaws amendment and the resolutions to the delegates.

The debate over Rule 10.1 was particularly fierce.  Our delegation consulted a non-league parliamentarian to guide us, as the league parliamentarian interpreted Robert’s Rules of Order in a very narrow way.  We were prepared, organized, experienced and relentless.  We were always ready to be first at the microphones, had talking points written out, sought and organized allies and attempted to persuade opponents.  In the end, we prevailed in defeating Rule 10.1 as proposed and passed the resolution for Council to prepare the way for Convention 2010 by debating rules in 2009.  Our bylaws amendment and second resolution did not pass.  However, the convention listened to us  and many delegates expressed interest in moving these ideas forward.  We intend to keep pressing these issues.

Delegates approved the following:

Bylaws:

• 4 LWVUS-recommended bylaws amendments of administrative nature (allowing for electronic board meetings, allowing an extra delegate for each 100 MAL members, reducing the Nominating Committee to five members and allowing for concurrence approval on the floor of Convention);

Program—Retained all current LWVUS positions;

• Amended the Principles to add the following clause: The LWVUS believes that all powers of the US government should be exercised within the constitutional framework of a balance among the three branches of the government: legislative, executive and judicial;

• Adopted a Health Care program to educate members and communities to be better prepared to do health care advocacy as needed;

• A global climate change education and advocacy campaign passed

• A study on the National Popular Vote Compact passed

The LWVUS recommended a PMP of $28.00 for the next year and $29.20 for FY 2009-2010.  The budget passed with minimal discussion, although many delegates expressed unhappiness with the PMP in personal conversations.

Delegates voted in the nominated slate of officers and offered many items of “Guidance to the Board”. The Connecticut delegation urged the LWVUS to take action to support Net Neutrality and urged the LWVUS Board to develop pros and cons of adding “protecting freedom of the press” to our Principles.  Others requested speedier board/staff responses on requests for information, making the LWVUS website more user-friendly, clarification of the LWVUS procedures for lobbying Members of Congress, allowing grassroots more freedom to interact with Members of Congress, and the establishment of a task force to address the long-term financial stability of the LWVUS.

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©2008 The League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.