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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
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STATEMENT OF POLICIES
BOARD OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MANSFIELD
Non-Partisanship Policy
The Bylaws of the LWV state that the League "shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate". This non-partisan policy is essential to the League’s strength and effectiveness. The LWV of Mansfield expects its Board members to adhere to the following guidelines.
1. The President and Voter Service Director are the most sensitive Board positions; and, therefore, these individuals should not take part in any partisan political activity.
2. Other positions on the Board may be filled by persons who are members of a party’s town committee or who hold appointed or elected positions (provided they are not running for office at the time they serve on the Board).
3. A Board member who becomes a candidate for elected public office must take a leave of absence, until the first day after the election. Registrars of Voters, constables, and justices of the peace are not "candidates" in the same sense as other candidates. They may, therefore, serve as Board members (except President and Voter Service Director), even when their names appear on the ballot.
4. A Board member in one subject area may not testify for another organization in that subject area without clearly identifying the organization he or she represents.
5. Board members are asked to consult with the Board when considering acceptance of a partisan position, which may conflict with the policies outlined above.
(approved and amended 8/22/94)
Other Policies
1. All announcements at membership meetings should be cleared through the person in charge of the meeting.
2. Board members speaking for the League shall clear public statements with the President prior to making them.
3. It is recommended that two members attend official League interviews.
4. Any correspondence from a League committee regarding policy statements must be signed by a League member and be approved by the President.
5. Materials in the files and portfolios no longer current (generally older than two years) shall be discarded or, if they are of historical interest, placed in the permanent file. Discarding of financial records shall be at the discretion of the treasurer based on time limits set by the IRS and the state and national Leagues. (voted 8/26/86)
6. Members of study committees must be members of the LWV. (voted 8/26/86, actually a confirmation of state and national policy)
7. Surrogate speakers or the reading of statements by absent candidates is not permitted at Candidates’ Night. (voted 12/1/88)
Memorial Contributions Policy
Memorial contributions will be considered a third type of contribution along with member and non-member contributions. No amount of income will be projected in the proposed budget, but any memorial donations received will be included in the total income from contributions and, like them, will be expended in meeting our budgetary needs, i.e., in carrying out the purposes of the League. Use of memorial contributions in this way is appropriate, since by membership in the LWV the deceased member obviously supported its objectives. The family of the deceased will be informed of the names of the donors and the use of the donations to promote the goals of the LWV. A suitable announcement about making contributions to honor the deceased will appear in the Newsletter.
(approved by Board and published in 3/94 Newsletter)
Policy for Non-Budgeted Expenditure
The Board may vote to expend money for program-related donations and purchases or in expression of appreciation for services to the League. A proposal for such an expenditure may not be voted upon until the following Board meeting to allow time for careful consideration of its merit and of its impact on the budget.
(voted 3/24/97)
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Page last updated: 12/13/2004.
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