Date: 1/28/2022
Subject: Board Briefings: Notes From The January LWVCO Board Meeting
From: Beth Hendrix

January 2022

President's Letter: Creating

A New League Position

From Karen Sheek, LWVCO Board President...

Greetings League Members,

January has been especially busy. After months of preparation, the Election Security Position Committee held a Consensus Meeting on January 22. All Colorado members were invited. Position information was made available on the state website, including 13 questions which were used to poll participants and gather input for the committee to use during the editing process. Over 120 members signed up to attend the meeting. Thank you to those who attended and for the valuable input you provided. Poll results, along with all chat comments, were saved for the committee.

Due to some confusion — we weren’t as clear as needed on the internet ballot return question — the committee drafted a new poll question emailed to members Monday afternoon. Poll results and comments received will be used in editing the initial draft position. We are also hoping to meet with other stakeholders to gather their input.

Next steps? A follow-up special membership meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. to vote on the revised position. All Colorado members are invited; click here to register.

Other Important Updates

Be sure to read the rest of Karen's letter, which contains several items of note:

The LWVCO Board unanimously approved a "Resolution to the League of Women Voters of the United States" requesting guidance from the national organization as we prepare for the November election.
LWVCO also sent letters to the Colorado House and Senate regarding House Resolution 22-1004 and Senate Bill 22-001, both of which address comprehensive voting rights legislation.

News You Can Use

LWVCO Is Hiring!

Are you looking for a meaningful career that supports the vital work of the League through fundraising and donor relations?

Join our team as the part-time Development Manager! Learn more about this exciting opportunity by reading the job description.

Know someone else who might be a good fit? Please encourage them to apply!

Election Security Position Follow-Up Meeting

Please join us for another statewide member meeting on Monday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. to help us reach consensus and vote on the new position!

Election security has always been part of defending democracy, especially after the 2020 election. The League only takes action when we have a position on an issue, and current League positions on election security are inadequate for us to advocate effectively. At the LWVUS Convention in June, we want to present a position for national concurrence that may be used by Leagues everywhere.

Need to review the background material for this issue? Visit our Document Library.

Unpacking The LWV New York Healthcare Concurrence Proposal

Saturday, Feb. 5

10:00 a.m.

Presented by LWV Colorado

LWV New York is inviting Leagues nationwide to join them in urging LWVUS to include this concurrence at the Convention in June, where delegates will have the chance to vote on it.

If adopted, the statements would be added to the LWVUS Healthcare position, strengthening the ability of Leagues to address widening disparities in health care access and in health outcomes among vulnerable populations, separating healthcare from employment and addressing healthcare costs.

Two members of the NYS Healthcare Update Committee will participate in this Zoom meeting. Background materials for reference can be found here as well as in our Document Library.

ClubExpress Data Connector Update

The Data Connector between local Leagues and the national database has been activated. It automatically sends new member, updated member, and lapsed member details to National without needing to manually update this information. If you have not done so already, please follow the steps below to adjust your data sharing settings and allow these changes to be retrieved correctly.

Log in to your ClubExpress site.
Go to Control Panel -- People tab -- Setup section -- Member Types.
For each member type in turn, click Edit and scroll down to the end of the first section.
You will see a field showing "Member Type for Data Sharing."
Ensure that the national member type is correct for your local member type.
Click Save at the bottom of the screen to preserve any changes.

Repeat these steps as needed for each member type. Questions? Contact ClubExpress for technical support.

Join the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 12 p.m. for a free webinar about Demystifying The Insurance Buying Process. Nonprofits have unique concerns when it comes to covering their operations. Grants, venues, and even potential board members may require coverage for your organization to be eligible for programs and events. Two industry leaders will guide this important conversation about roles, options, trends, and next steps. Register today!

Do you have something in mind for your local League that will also help serve our overall program, education and outreach goals? Apply for a Project Grant!

These grants are awarded on a rolling basis with no deadline, but the review and approval process takes up to 45 days. Your application must be approved by your local League's Board before you submit it for state League consideration. Each local League is eligible for a maximum of $500 per fiscal year. Recipients are also required to provide an Outcomes Report within one year of being awarded any grant funds.

Learn more and apply today!