Episode 7: League Lingo Explained

08.23.2017 - By Melissa Currence and Amy Hjerstedt Play

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In episode 7, we smash through the League of Women Voters terms so you are in the know and fully participate in League activities and leadership! We also share an activist alert.

DEEDS NOT WORDS SEGMENT - LWV LINGO EXPLAINED

What is Program Planning? Program Planning usually happens in the first of the year. Be sure to check out episode 3: value of nonpartisanship and episode 1: advocacy versus lobbying. Program planning is the first in the process to create an action agenda. For example, Campaign to Make Democracy Work For All from 2016 National Convention. Short summary of the League’s Public Policy Positions and LWV's Impact on Issues 2016-2018.

What is the difference between "Program" (positions, action, advocacy) versus hosting programs like events or forums?

What is Voter Service? Activities that include educational tools and events that help grow the electorate and help voters make informed decisions at the polls. It is the most sacred nonpartisan work we do. It can include creating voter guides for elections, voter registration, Vote411.org, hosting candidate and issue forums.

What is Calendaring? Creating a plan for the year. Calendaring resources from LWV: 360 Degree Look at Calendaring for 365 Days and Calendaring Part 2 (PDF)

What is Leaders Update? The LWVUS Leaders' Updates are sent out weekly to state and local presidents. These updates keep state and local Leagues informed about LWVUS actions, upcoming events, and opportunities. Visit lwv.org for more information, including how to sign up. Another tip: the state league will often also have a newsletter you can be added to.

What is MAL? MAL stands for Members-at-Large and can be pronounced as an acronym or phonetically as "mal." It refers to League members may not belong to a local league chapter or the local league chapter is new and hasn't yet received its official status. Many leagues are now using the term "State Unit" or "Geographical Unit" in its place. Find out more in this PDF, Starting Strong for State Leagues: Building a League Presence and Local Leagues at the Community Level.

What is a PMP? It stands for Per Member Payment and refers to the dues paid to state and national league from the local leagues. It is similar to a franchise fee. Find out more at LWV.org.

What is forum.lwv.org? It is a member-focused section on the League of Women Voters of the United States' website. It is also called the League Management Site.

Pro tip: Search for ideas on other local League websites using your favorite search engine like Google.

What is the Clearinghouse? The Clearinghouse is a location for all Leagues to share their positions. You can do a concurrence of these positions, if you want to adopt them at your local league.

What is an ILO? An ILO is a Inter-League Organization. Find out more at the Upper Mississippi River Region ILO.

What is the difference between a debate and a forum? The Federal Election Commission (FEC) defines a debate as an event that (1) includes at least two candidates; (2) is staged in a way that does not promote or advance one candidate over another; and (3) allows the candidates to appear concurrently, in face-to-face confrontations, with opportunities to respond to each other. Non-Debate Candidate Appearances (also known as Candidate Forums or Speeches) are other formats outside those described above are considered “Non-debate Candidate Appearances” – defined as a place, meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue are exchanged. Find out more at LWV.org.

Why doesn't the League of Women Voters sponsor the Presidential Debates anymore? Find out more about the League and its history with the presidential debates and check out this LWV press release from 1988.

ACTIVIST ALERT - STOP VOTER SUPPRESSION!

Peeing in their boots! Stop Voter Suppression. Now more than ever! Election Integrity Commission, voter rolls, scare tactics. What is flippin' going on?? We are fighting back! Sign the petition and be counted! Alice Paul wouldn’t take this and neither will we! Call your U.S. Rep and your U.S. Senators to tell them the Election Integrity Commission is a sham and was only developed to create more suppressive election policies and to deny voters their right to vote.