Making A Difference

The League encourages its members to take action:

The office of the Secretary of State for Massachusetts, www.sec.state.ma.us, as well as the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, www.lwvma.org, and the website www.VOTE411.org, are good sources of voter information.

You may contact your Senator or Representative in the House by email, www.senate.gov, www.house.gov, or by regular mail:

Your Representative
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515

Your Senator
US Senate
Washington, DC  20510

The League encourages its members to observe at meetings of elected officials. Attending meetings is educational for the individual, helps the League anticipate areas of potential study or action, and indicates citizen interest to our elected officials.

The Open Meeting Law mandates that all meetings are posted at least 48 hours in advance on the public bulletin board in City Hall, main corridor.

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of the month in the City Council Chamber at City Hall at 7:45 p.m., except in July, August and September, when meetings are held the third Monday only.  The Protection and License, Health, Education and Welfare, and Public Works subcommittees meet on the Thursday following the Full Board Meeting.  The Subcommittees for Public Service, Finance and Legal and Legislative meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

Other Boards of interest are Board of Appeals; Assessors; Health; Personnel; Planning and Community Development Council; Conservation Commission; Housing Authority; Library Trustees; Park Commission; Vocational School Committee; and the Election Commission.

Full School Committee meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at City Hall at 7:00 p.m.  Subcommittee meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month: Educational Programs and Personnel; Policy and Planning; Finance and Facilities.

Finances

Dues of $60.00 per person, $90.00 per family of two, and $45.00 senior/student per year cover subscriptions to National, State and Local Bulletins.  This includes our per member assessments paid to the LWV of Massachusetts and to the LWVUS.

League Lingo

ACTION — is the implementation of League positions and principles.  Action can be writing letters, lobbying, monitoring, litigating, educating citizens and other forms of member involvement.

ANNUAL MEETING – Local League meets to:
1.  adopt the program for the coming year.
2.  elect members of the Steering Committee.
3.  adopt a budget and set dues.
4.  transact other business.

CONCURRENCE – The act of agreeing with another group’s position.  Members can be asked if they concur with the recommendations of a resource committee, a task force, or with positions of other Leagues.

CONSENSUS – Agreement among a substantial number of members on broad objectives.  It is reached after sustained study and full discussion of an item.  Consensus is not a simple majority nor necessarily unanimity.  When required, consensus is determined at Unit Meetings.

CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITIES – Positions reached by consensus or concurrence on which action may be taken when necessary.

ITEM – Each issue or area of study.

NATIONAL CONVENTION – Held in even-numbered years, it includes one or more delegates from each Local League, State Board and Board of the LWVUS.  It is the convention that the national program for the upcoming two-year period is determined and budgets and by-laws are approved.

NATIONAL COUNCIL – Held in odd-numbered years, it includes the president and delegates from each local League and the State Boards.  Smaller than conventions, it can vote a change in program or any area where there is considered to be a need that cannot wait for convention.

OBSERVER CORPS – Made up of members who attend and report on meetings of public bodies and our elected officials.

PMP – Per Member Payment – the amount assessed and paid by the local League to LWVUS and LWV of Massachusetts for each member.

POSITION – The League’s point of view on a governmental issue previously studied by the members.  A position is determined through consensus, concurrence, or some other decision-making process.

PROGRAM PLANNING – (1) discussion and recommendations by the members are written and communicated to the members; (2) consideration of the proposed areas of study by the members at a Unit Meeting with a vote of preference taken.  The final adoption of program is made by the members at the Annual Meeting or by their representatives at State and National Conventions.

RESOURCE COMMITTEE – Made up of members who gather and coordinate information on issues being studied by the League and who design ways to present the pros and cons to members and the public.

STATE CONVENTION – Held in odd-numbered years; State programs are adopted at convention.

STATE COUNCIL – Held in even-numbered years.

TIME FOR ACTION – (Call to Action) – When legislative action is needed, a call to action is initiated.

UNIT – Monthly meetings for general membership when programs are presented on study items and other League business.

VOTERS SERVICE – A year-round activity to promote voting, provide factual, non-partisan information on candidates and issues, and encourage active participation of citizens in government.

WORKSHOP – Meeting of a resource committee.