GETTING STARTED

8 TIPS FOR NEW PRESIDENTS

Start a master calendar.  This can be a pocket calendar, notebook page, or wall calendar – whatever works for you.  Include at least your League’s major events to start, and fill in other items as needed (for examples, see p. 1 of “You and Your League”).

Set up a notebook and/or filing system for League materials, or learn the one given to you.  The notebook should contain at least the following:

Delegate!  Do not fall into the trap of doing work for which someone else is responsible.

Use your Board: do not make decisions alone.

When you get mail or e-mail from LWVUS or LWVCT, read it, then throw it out, file it, or pass it on.  Most LWVUS and some LWVCT requests will be sent to you, the President, even when both organizations have the names of your treasurer, membership director, etc.  Develop an efficient method for forwarding the various items to the person in your League who handles each.

When in doubt, call: your State Board and State office are here to help you.

Learn your League’s nonpartisan policy.

Keep copies of important letters.  You may want to start a correspondence file.

9 REFERENCES YOU’LL WANT AT HAND

WHEN QUESTIONS COME UP

A copy of your League’s bylaws.  Familiarize yourself with the deadlines in your bylaws for nominating, program, budget and bylaw changes.

Copies of the various pamphlets in the LWVCT Local League Reference Series.

In League (LWVUS #275).  In League, a 139-page “booklet” sometimes called the League Bible, is not currently in print but is available on CD and as a PDF file available on-line via the LWVUS website, www.lwv.org.  The LWVCT office has three printed copies left, any  of which we can deliver, at cost (shipping and handling), to League presidents who cannot download the web or CD versions.  LWVUS is planning to prepare a shortened version this year.

The LWVCT “cheat sheet” Parliamentary Procedure at a Glance (a copy is included in You and Your League and in every LWVCT Convention and Council workbook).

Simplified Parliamentary Procedures, (LWVUS #138, now out of print but available at the Hamden office at 50¢ per copy).  Of course, if you’d prefer to go straight to Robert’s Rules  of  Order, that works too.

LWVCT’s Connecticut Impact on Issues: Impact (pdf) contains all of the state League’s policy positions, organized by subject (government, natural resources, social policy, etc.)  The short form of Impact is the LWVCT’s tri-fold flyer “Positions in Brief.”  Your League can not take a policy position at odds with any of the positions adopted by the LWVUS and LWVCT.

LWVCT’s Connecticut League Directory.  The Directory contains the names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of the LWVCT Board and off-Board specialists, the LWVCT “Public Issues” team, the Symposium on International Relations committee members, staff at the League office and at Capitol Information and Tours, and all local League officers and board members.

LWVUS’s President’s Packet, 2006-2008 Edition.  The President’s Packet contains contact information, LWVUS standards for local Leagues, a list of LWVUS resources, and best practices for nonpartisanship, membership growth, diversity, financial development, etc.

LWVUS’s Impact on Issues 2006-08.   LWVUS Impact  contains all of the national League’s policy positions, organized by subject.  It is not currently in print but is available on-line via the LWVUS website, www.lwv.org

WHAT THE LEAGUE CAN DO FOR YOU:

LWVCT

Free Publicity: You can publicize any local League activity that would be of interest to others around the state by sending your flier/write-up to the LWVCT office.  It can be e-mailed to every local League Board member in the State Board Report (deadline is the second Tuesday of each month except July and August) or in separate e-mail notices, or mailed in the LWVCT VOTER (three times per year).  All submissions are subject to editing, and the LWVCT president has final approval of all printed materials and communications.

Revenue Sharing: Local Leagues will receive 15% of any unrestricted corporate contribution to the LWVCT Education Fund from a corporation whose headquarters is located in that local League's community.  This 15% will be held in a reserved fund for the use of the local League. Those local Leagues having their own Education Funds will be sent their 15% share.

Study/Concurrence Assistance: The LWVCT keeps a list of volunteers who can help your League get speakers and materials for any study, concurrence, or consensus that the LWVCT or LWVUS is asking you to participate in; and if your League is planning on a local study the LWVCT can direct you to members of the PI Team or to other Leagues for guidance if you would like.

Political Action Assistance: the LWVCT Public Issues Team often has prepared position statements that you can use in preparing testimony before government committees, letters to the editor of your local paper, etc.  These are usually available from the Hamden office or on the LWVCT website.

Liability Insurance: Your League’s liability insurance will be renewed automatically each June (via the Miller Agency).  The cost will be billed with your League’s first PMP payment.

D&O Insurance: Your League has the option of buying Directors’ and Officers’ “Errors and Omissions” insurance from the same agency the LWVCT uses (the Monroe Insurance Agency, broker Peter Lozier), at below-market rates.  The cost, currently $400 per year, is billed directly to your League.

State Board Report:  LWVCT provides an e-mailed State Board Report to all members of all local League Boards approximately three days after each State Board meeting.  If you are not on the internet, the LWVCT will provide one hard copy of the Board Report to you.

Note: If your League is in arrears in its per member payment (PMP) to the LWVCT, the LWVCT office has the authority to deny any request for extra materials from the LWVCT office until the local League account is balanced.

Publications:  You can order anything that you’re missing through the LWVCT office.  You can mail, fax, or e-mail an order (which can be billed to or pre-paid by your treasurer).  Or, if a League member will be in Hamden, call and arrange for pre-packaged pick up.

Other Free State Mailings or E-Mailings: Presidents also receive a President’s Kit, LWVCT League Directory, 1 copy of all study kits (as published), and notification of new sales items and publications from LWVCT.  All League members receive the CT Voter  newsletter.

Website: the LWVCT website, www.lwvct.org, has sections on advocacy/public issues, membership, and a main page for each local League.  It is a source for copies of LWVCT publications and current voter information.

Electronic Voters’ Guides: During election season in even-numbered years, the LWVCT posts candidate information on the LWVCT website.  In odd-numbered years we will help local Leagues publish such guides on their web pages on our site.

Membership Assistance: the LWVCT prints membership envelopes that every League can use, and sells them to local Leagues at cost.  The office staff can furnish you with copies of your membership list by mail or e-mail, and provides telephone and on-line assistance with membership questions and problems.

Tax Status: the LWVCT maintains an IRS “group exemption” that covers all of Connecticut’s local Leagues.  The state office staff updates the list and files the required reports with the IRS every year to maintain your League’s 501(c)(4) status.

LWVUS

Use of the LWVUS Ed Fund: Local Leagues that do not have Education Funds can arrange to have a sub-account set up for their tax-exempt activities by the LWVUS Ed Fund.  If the LWVUS approves your project(s), they will act as a bank for money donated to you: you can draw funds out with a simple voucher request, and your donors will be able to get a tax deduction for their gifts.  (Funds given to a League are not otherwise tax-exempt.)

Publications: there is a fairly complete list of available LWVUS books, magazines, and e-communications in the LWVUS President’s Packet.  LWVUS publications include the National Voter, the Membership Database Instruction Manual, In League, the Membership Brochure, Member News and Views, the Diversity Toolkit, the booklet Creating Communities of Inclusion, Guidelines for Education Funds, and the debate guide Face to Face (currently available on line only).

Web Publications: the LWVUS e-mails the National Board Report and bi-weekly President’s Updates to every local League President.  The LeagueE-Voice e-newsletter is e-mailed to every League member for whom the LWVUS has an e-address.

Lobby Corps: Any League members can sign up for the LWVUS Grassroots Lobby Corps and get e-mailed action alerts as soon as they are created.

Action Alerts: the LWVUS e-mails Action Alerts to all state Leagues and to all members of the Grassroots Lobby Corps.

Website: The LWVUS website is extensive, and the LWVUS provides on-line assistance if you cannot find what you’re looking for on the first pass.

Tax exemption: The LWVUS takes action as necessary to protect all Leagues’ 501(c)(4) status and the various League education funds’ 501(c)(3) status.

HOW TO REACH THE LWVCT OFFICE

The office is staffed by one employee, Jean Rabinow.  Office Hours are Monday through Friday (Monday-Thursday in July and August), 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Holiday closings are listed in the Calendar that comes in the Board Report each month.

By phone:            203-288-7996

By fax:                   203-288-7998

By mail:                1890 Dixwell Avenue, Suite 113, Hamden, CT 06514-3183

By e-mail:            lwvct@lwvct.org  or league@snet.net

By web site:        www.lwvct.org

By car:                   1890 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT

From Merritt Parkway/Wilbur Cross coming from NY:

Take exit 60.  Turn right onto Dixwell Avenue. *Turn right into drive just past Dunkin’ Donuts. Our office is in the red brick building, corner of Benham Street.  Enter rear of building.  Suite 113 is on the first floor, rear.

From the Wilbur Cross coming from Hartford:

Take Exit 60.  Turn right onto Dixwell Ave.  Follow from * above.

From CT Turnpike, West of Milford:

Take Exit 30, Merritt/Wilbur Cross, follow as above coming from NY.

From 91 coming from Hartford:

Exit 10.  Take first exit from connector.  Left from ramp, left at first light, right at next light.  Travel south on Dixwell Ave. approximately 2.9 miles.  Then continue from * above.

From 91 coming from New Haven:

Take Exit 10 Hamden/Cheshire.  Follow connector.  Take State Street Exit onto Dixwell Avenue south approximately 2.9 miles.  Follow from * above.

HOW TO REACH THE LWVUS OFFICE

By phone:            202-429-1965

By fax:                   202-429-0854

By mail:                1730 M Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036-4508

By e-mail:            lwv@lwv.org

By web site:        www.lwv.org

REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL LEAGUES

There are some things all local Leagues MUST do to maintain their status as a League.  Delegates to the LWVUS Conventions in 1986 and 1994 voted the following measurable and enforceable requirements that Leagues must fulfill in order to receive or maintain recognition:

• The League must have bylaws, the first three articles of which must be consistent with those of the LWVUS.  Remaining articles must provide for democratic procedures.

• The League must establish and maintain a nonpartisan policy.

• The League must hold annual business meetings of the membership.

• The League must hold regular Board meetings.

• The League must contribute to the financial support of the League as a whole.

• The League must have a plan for membership growth and retention that encourages membership as diverse as the community.

• Any advocacy pursued by the League must be consistent with League principles, positions and policies.

To keep on top of these requirements, you should assign or re-confirm these responsibilities as soon as your new Board is in place.

COMMUNICATIONS to LWVCT

MEMBERSHIP

·        Please submit your “New Board” list to the LWVCT office when they’re elected, and in any case not later than July 30^th every year.  Ask your Treasurer or Membership Director to update the Board list on the LWVUS’s on-line database when the new Board is elected.

·        Have your Treasurer or Membership chair insert all membership changes (adds/deletes/address changes) into the LWVUS on-line database as they happen, or at least monthly.  Please do not wait until the end of the membership year.  After you’ve reported membership changes on-line directly to the LWVUS, please make sure your Treasurer or Membership Director updates the LWVCT office by phone or e-mail.

·        In December/January, respond to the LWVCT/LWVUS annual request for membership information (including all changes) by the deadline.  Your PMP depends on it.

BYLAWS

Because your Bylaws must conform to LWVUS and LWVCT requirements, you should send any proposed local bylaws changes to the LWVCT for approval before submitting them to your membership.

FINANCE

·        Keep a record of your League’s income and expenses.

·        Your League may pay PMP (per-member payment) to LWVCT and LWVUS on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis (deadlines are July 1, Oct. 1, Jan. 1, and April 1).  Your treasurer should refer to the bills from LWVCT and LWVUS for proper amounts.

FEES FOR STATE-RUN LEAGUE EVENTS

Fees for State-run League events are not refundable.  (If a minimum of attendees is not met, the meeting could be canceled without notice except to those pre-registered.)

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