League Program

Our meetings are held once a year. The details of the process can be found in the section below.
To prepare for these meetings, members can review the following positions:

LWVUS Positions In Brief
LWVUS Positions in Full (Note: This is an 81-page document and may take some time to download)
LWV Loudoun County Positions
Possible Issues for a New LWVUS Study - This document details how a new study is selected and some issues that are being proposed throughout the country by other Leagues.

The League Program Process

It is so important for YOU to participate!
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.
The process from discussion to the development of a League position is a long and well-defined one. Here are the basic steps:

At a Program Planning meeting members decide to retain, update, or delete all current positions and add any new items to study.
The Board then approves Proposed Program based on member input from the Program Planning meeting.
Members vote on the Proposed Program at the Annual Meeting or Convention.
If a new study is approved, a committee is established and a two-year study begins to research the issue and educate members.
Once the study is complete, members discuss the issue at Unit Meetings and come to consensus about the issue.
A position is written reflecting the views of the membership. The position is then approved by the Board and then voted on by members at the Annual Meeting or Convention.
Once the position is approved, the League can then advocate based on this new position.

This lengthy process of researching and studying issues before reaching a consensus on national, state or local issues is well known and respected. This thorough way of forging positions has made the League a credible and unique force. Our advocacy is based on sound, informed decision making at the grassroots level. People trust the League because they know that we study issues carefully before taking action.
KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROCESS is participation by ALL MEMBERS. YOUR input is essential. Don't let a few members make these critical League decisions. Attend the Program Planning meeting on Thursday, January 12th, 7:00pm - 9:00pm or if you cannot attend, please send in your opinions by going to our website at: http://www.loudoun.va.lwvnet.org/program.html

Other Resources

For more information about League Program, visit the LWVUS Members Only section of the website. You will need an ID and password to access this information.
To read the current information about Program Planning in 2006:

Go to the LWVUS Website

- Hold your cursor over "For Members" and scroll down and click on "Convention".

- Click on "please login". You will then need to log on with your email address and password.
(NOTE: If you have not yet established a password, follow the directions for members logging in for the first time)

- Click on "Click here to continue".

- Click on "Program Planning" on the left of your screen under Convention.
To better familairize yourself with League Program, read the publication In League (NOTE: This is a lengthy document and may take some time to download)

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: June 21, 2008 19:57 PDT.