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Our Mission StatementThe League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * League StructureThe League of Women voters has national, state and local organizations. The Appleton League of Women Voters has a volunteer Board of Directors and a guiding set of bylaws. The Board consists of a President, Vice President - Program, Vice President - Action, Secretary, Treasurer, and several Directors who assume various roles as needed. League Bylaws Click here to read the complete LWV-Appleton Bylaws. The bylaws guide how League meetings are conducted and how decisions are made. League Positions League positions are formed through a careful process of study and member agreement. These position statements guide League action on individual bills, proposals, and government activities. Click here to read LWV-Appleton Position Papers adopted at the 2010 Annual Meeting. Program Program is the League's reason for being, the basis for both advocacy and education efforts. In other words, Program is the generic term for everything the League does. As a grassroots organization, we study issues, we form positions based on that study, we take action on our positions, and we educate the public. Studying and coming to agreement ususally take place in 2-year cycles. This is how our postions are formed. We coordinate our efforts with State and National Program. Go to the For Members page to learn more about LWV-Appleton's Program. Lively Issues Lively Issues is an annual League discussion session. It is a wonderful euphemism for looking over our Position Papers and coming to agreement to drop, retain, or update them. The Lively Issues meeting takes place every January to discuss current issues of interest to its members. We identify issues as state, national, or local issues. Our discussion results in a recommendation to both the Wisconsin LWV and to the Appleton LWV for study. This discussion develops the core of our work for the year.
Action We focus on those issues that the League has chosen for concerted study and action at the national, state or local level. Action can consist of a public forum, a debate, or a letter-writing campaign. The process used in formulating positions and in taking action at the grassroots level makes the League unique and sets the League apart from other organizations. The fact that we are members not only of a local League, but of a state League and of the League of Women Voters of the United States as well, makes us a powerful force. Observer Corps Protecting our right to know is integral to the health of our democracy. Decisions that determine how our schools will be run, at what level community safety programs will be funded, and how land in our towns will be used impact our lives and are vital to our well-being. These kinds of decisions need to be made with public input and oversight. One important way to ensure that is to observe government meetings. The Appleton League members focus on the Outagamie County Board meetings, the Appleton Common Council meetings, and the Appleton Area School District meetings. Click here to see "Other Dates to Remember". Voter Services The basic principle of voters service is nonpartisanship--providing unbiased, factual information to help citizens make their own informed decisions on election day. It is always separate from advocacy. The Voter Services chair oversees and coordinates the League's efforts to provide nonpartisan information to voters and to promote citizen participation in elections. League Basics Click here to read the LWVUS document, "League Basics". A great tutorial for new members. Nonpartisan Policy The League of Women Voters of Appleton is nonpartisan. As an organization, it does not support or oppose candidtes for public office but acts only on those isues chosen by the membership for study and action. The League believes that the political parties are essential to the American system of government and that the participation of informed citizens is beneficial to the political parties and to the system. Consequestly, the League encourages its members as individuals to be active in the political parties, in finding and supporting candidates for public office, and in seeking election to public office. Members of the League are not eligible to serve on the Board of Directors while seeking or holding elective public office. There are no other specific restrictions on the political activities of officers and directors, but it is the responsibility of the Boared of directors, individually and collectively, to ensure that the community has no reason to question the nonpartisan positions as an organization. To avoid misunderstanding, if a situation is not clearly defined under this policy, a League member shall seek Board advice. updated November 2009 Convention, Conference, and Workshop Reimbursement Policy The League Of Women Voters of Appleton uses guidelines to reimburse members who attend seminars that strengthen our leadership and represent our interests. Click here to read or print our Reimbursement Policy for Conference attendance. |