EXPLORING NUTS AND BOLTS OF LEAGUE IN THE 21 ST CENTURY A League Primer

THE BASICS –WHAT WE DO  Voter Services, including voter registration, candidate forums, candidate guides, and forums on how to run for office in New York State;  Citizen Education, including presentation of forums for students and members of the community on topics of local, state, and national interest and internal study and consensus for the purpose of developing League positions;  Action, on positions at the local, state, and national levels of government.

WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT – BUILDING A LEAGUE › The League has a long and respected history › Voter service, candidate forums, voters guides, information about timely topics, government transparency, local government topics › In building your League, take the time to prove that you fall into that mold

RUNNING A LEAGUE – BASIC RESOURCES In League Voter Service - Road to the Voting Booth – Three Parts Study: monitoring local government, study a local issue Action – League Positions at national, state, and local levels, arrived at after study and consensus. Action based on positions Membership – To attract working and non-working members

STREAMLINING THE LEAGUE Role of bylaws and board Reduce size of board Reduce number of meetings Conduct business by alternative methods: , conference call, breakfast meetings, committee meetings Plan for essentials in light of what it is possible to achieve Design tasks that can be done at home on a personalized schedule

BOARD PROTOCOL Written agenda circulated in advance. Keep it as short as possible Written board reports circulated in advance and read in advance Board time is used to answer questions and for discussion. It is not used to repeat material in reports No side conversations Differentiate between personalities and issues. One can disagree about issues but it is not appropriate to attack personalities

NONPARTISAN – BUT NOT WITHOUT OPINION Respectful resolution of disparate ideas League as an educator League as a problem solver League as lobbyist Local League have the opportunity to determine their program within the bounds of existing local, state, and national positions. Therefore there is much latitude to determine what a local League does and what it looks like.

PROGRAM PLANNING Do your homework Essential Early Realistic Don’t try to do it all – do what time and member interests permit

NOT BY DUES ALONE – FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT Dues may not cover state and national PMP Have to find other ways to raise money Ask at public events Ask people to join As for donation at time of renewal Fund drive Grants Fund raising events

TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTRONIC VOTERS GUIDE Website – League Easy Web Electronic Voters Guide Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Blogs