INDEX

Jessie Tehranchi, LWV member and tireless activist for universal healthcare and public transportation, died January 8.  Jessie asked that this message be passed along to her friends.

We will miss our “wheelchaired warrior.” [Read Tributes to Jessie.]

Legislative Study Consensus Begins Jan 26th

The first part of the LWVAL Legislative Study will be discussed and consensus reached (or not) in our monthly member meeting at the Homewood Library on Thursday, January 26 at 6:00 pm.

In preparation for this meeting, please read the following material at www.lwval.org/legstudy/members/  

• Instructions for Members
• Members’ Consensus Questions worksheet 
• the briefing papers on 
• Legislative Basics 
• The Committee System and 
• Legislative Support 

(If you need login assistance to access the material, contact Jean Johnson at jjohnson@brooknet.com or 870-3063.)  Members who receive a paper Voter received this information in a special mailing ahead of this newsletter.

Included in this material is the list of consensus questions and instructions.  The state League allows members to read and answer the questions without attending the discussion meetings; however, we strongly urge everyone who can attend to do so.  The discussion and debate aspects of consensus-taking is much more enriching and leads to a better result for the whole League.

Mary Lynn Bates and Sarah McDonald will lead the discussion.  Elsewhere in this issue are a few “teaser” questions to get you going.  The member(s) with the most correct answers will receive a WONDERFUL prize.

Let’s have a good representation of the Birmingham League at this meeting!

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LWVUS Program Planning

In preparation for Convention 2006, Leagues are encouraged to participate in Program Planning*. According to the LWVUS publication, In League, “Program is the League’s ‘reason for being,’ the basis of both education and action efforts.”   Program - governmental issues chosen for study and action - is an essential element of League and, because it is so important, has traditionally originated with the membership through the program planning process.

It is important for Leagues to participate in this process.  Unfortunately, grassroots participation in this process has steadily declined over time. As a result, we are seeing program planning at the state and local level increasingly being replaced by program planning on the convention floor, which traditionally accounts for only 1.3 percent of the membership. In 2004, only 29 percent of local and state Leagues participated in LWVUS program planning, making it difficult for the LWVUS Board to determine the extent of interest on specific issues for study and action.

In order to open up the process, a LWVUS Program Planning discussion list is being made available for the first time to engage members in conversation about issues of national interest. To subscribe:

• end e-mail to subscribe-lwv-programplanning@lists.lwv.org and
  
• reply to the confirmation e-mail that will be sent within several minutes
  

Members are also encouraged to review Impact on Issues, which includes information about existing League positions.

Suggestions for new program items may be submitted to LWVGB by e-mail at admin-lwvgb@lwval.org or in writing to LWVGB, 3451 Cliff Road South, 35205. Input must be received by Tuesday, January 31st.

[* LWVUS Program Planning information is available to LWV members and requires login. If you are a League member and need login assistance, contact Jean Johnson at jjohnson@brooknet.com or 870-3063.]