Annual Meeting
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
5:30-8:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84951875310?pwd=Vy9pS2Rud3BHKy9CQ2ZXWWozaU1uUT09
Meeting ID: 849 5187 5310
Password: 963037
5:30pm Conversation
6:00pm Speaker: Ellen Moorhouse.
As Deputy Communications Director at RepresentUs, Ellen works collaboratively across departments to design and execute strategic communications for selected state and national campaigns. She manages internal staff communications as well as external PR outreach efforts, and collaborates with digital and organizing teams on multi-channel communications strategies for traditional and social media. Before joining RepresentUs, Ellen directed the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), a women’s leadership course designed to encourage women to run for office. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BA in Political Science, a Five College Honors International Relations Certificate, and just received her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in May of 2020. Born and raised in Springfield, MA, she’s thrilled to support the nation’s largest right-left anti-corruption organization leading the charge to bring power back to the people.
6:45pm
Call to order
Program reports 2019-2020
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- Voter Services
- Community Outreach
- Membership
- Fundraising
Treasurer’s Report and 2020-2021 Budget
CLICK HERE for proposed 2020-2021 budget
Bylaws Update
Proposed Local Program
Directions to the Board
Announcements
Officers, 2019-2021:
President, Marie Gauthier
Vice President, Nicole Moore
Treasurer, Marge Michalski
Secretary, Laura Luker
Directors:
Jean Cherdack
Christine Turner
Joannah Whitney
Proposed Bylaw Update
We move to remove “MAL Unit” language from our League’s bylaws; the League has been recognized as an official local League since the bylaws were passed. These changes would be to the bylaws title and Article 1 of the bylaws:
BYLAWS
League of Women Voters of Franklin County – MAL Unit
Accepted February 4, 2017
DRAFT REVISION
ARTICLE I
Name
Sec. 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Franklin County -MAL Unit (hereinafter “LWVFC”). This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (hereinafter “LWVMA”) and of the League of Women Voters of the United States (hereinafter “LWVUS”). (Collectively, the LWVFC, the LWVMA and the LWVUS are referred to herein as the “League of Women Voters” or the “League.”)
Proposed Local Program
Voter Services: We will continue to prioritize youth voter registration, continuing our work in the high schools and GCC. We will continue our voter education efforts, coordinating or partnering in candidate forums, and exploring virtual or other creative options in line with current safety protocols.
Legislation: We’ll continue to hold Legislative Coffees with our state lawmakers, exploring safe measures to do so, whether in person or virtually.
We will advocate for election protection legislation and expanding access to mail-in ballots.
Pending National League approval, we’ll advocate for the ASSET Act at the federal level, which, among other things, raises the resource limit for SSI. Currently, individual recipients of SSI (who are disabled, blind, or over 65) are not allowed to have more than $2,000 in their bank account on the day their monthly SSI check is deposited, including the amount of the check. Having just a dollar over $2,000 makes a SSI recipient lose a whole month’s benefit. This penalizes people for saving their own money to pay for expenses such as the cost of moving, adding accessibility features to their home or apartment, or other expenses for which people typically save ahead. The $2,000 resource limit has not been increased for 30 years.
S.3276: ASSET Act Senate bill
H.R.5848: ASSET Act House of Representatives bill
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We’ll explore how to integrate and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all we do.
Community Outreach: We’ll continue to seek out new opportunities to offer service to and engage with our communities through hands-on volunteer days and other outreach efforts, exploring different forms of service in light of social distancing needs.
Membership: We will continue developing New Member Welcome Packets as an official Local League. We’ll continue to coordinate and encourage member social meet-ups, and work to engage younger members.
Fundraising: In the aftermath of the pandemic, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to hold an in-person Civics Trivia Night this year. We’ll explore alternatives that can achieve both our fundraising and civic engagement objectives.
lwvma-franklincounty.org 