October 1998 Home   Newsletters

November-December 1998

January-February 1999

Annual General Membership Program Planning Meeting
President's Message (Grace Furukawa)
Revision of Land Use Ordinance Proposed (Astrid Monson)
Con Con / POC (Jean Aoki)
LWVUS Response to 60 Minutes (Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins)
HECO: 138-kv Project (Ruth Brantley)
Violence Prevention Committee Report (Suzanne Meisenzahl)
Education Committee (Mary Anne Raywid)
Hawaii Clean Elections (Grace Furukawa)
Program Planning Sets the Course
Special Thanks to League Volunteers
Membership

Program Planning Sets the Course

(Borrowwed liberally from the Washington State Voter, Fall 1998)

The League of Women Voters believes that informed active citizens, joining together to explore common problems and identify shared goals, can resolve the tough issues that confront our communities, our nations and the world.

We work to build informed citizenry through League program. We study and educate our members and our communities about public policy concerns, we encourage public discussion of these problems and citizen participation in solving them, and we take action to achieve solutions that contribute to the benefit of all.

Our program - our education and advocacy work - focuses on public policy issues. The League's work on public policy issues is directed toward government action. That action could include passage of laws, promulgation of regulations and policies, provision of adequate budgets and staffing, enforcement of laws and regulations, planning and citizen involvement opportunities.

THE LEAGUE MUST HAVE A POSITION BEFORE IT TAKES ACTION.

Advocacy, or action, begins when Leagues select an issue for concerted study, followed by member agreement through consensus or concurrence. Local

League program focuses on issues that can be addressed by local government.

PROGRAM PLANNING: THE WAY THE LEAGUE CHOOSES ITS ISSUES.

League members choose issues for work, and consider what role the local League should play in an issue, during the local program planning process. They also decide which items to recommend as state and national program priorities. The process culminates when the program is adopted at the local annual meeting. Honolulu's annual meeting will be held in April.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER IN SELECTING AN ISSUE:

  • Which issues are of vital concern to our members and significant portions of our community that demand attention now?

  • Which issues will benefit from the League's special expertise or perspective?

  • Is there a real possibility that working on this issue can bring about positive change?

  • Will League work on this issue have a measurable impact on our community? How will results be evaluated?

  • Will working on this issue give League opportunities to collaborate with other groups and individuals?

Sometimes Leaguers get in the habit of thinking only of new studies when they think of adopting program. But League program is much broader. Once members have decided that an issue of public concern requires League attention, we must determine what role the League should play in addressing that issue, including:

  1. STUDY: TO REACH MEMBER AGREEMENT ON AN ISSUE SO THAT THE LEAGUE CAN TAKE ACTION.

    QUESTIONS TO ASK:

      Does the League already have a position?

    • Is there a government solution to the problem?

    • Is there enough time to do a study and then act to influence the resolution of the problem?

    • Is there enough interest among the members to find a Chair and committee members?

    • Are there reliable studies already available addressing the problem?

    • If necessary, where can we get funding to complete a study?

  2. ACTION: ALWAYS THE GOAL OF LEAGUE'S STUDY PROCESS.

    • Are the timing and the political realities right for success?

    • Does the community expect or need the League to be a player on this issue?

    • Will League action on this issue make a significant difference?

    • Could a focused, targeted action campaign enhance League's visibility and stature? Do our members understand our position and our action goals?

  3. CITIZEN EDUCATION: TO HELP CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF AN ISSUE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN REACHING A SOLUTION: CAN ALSO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY LATER ON.

    QUESTIONS TO ASK:

    • Does our community need help in understanding this issue and its possible solutions?

    • Is there enough time to develop and implement our project before citizens must make a decision?

    • Is there enough time to develop and implement our project before citizens must make a decision?

    • Is it more important to help citizens understand this issue than to advocate our League position at this time?

October 1998 Home   Newsletters January-February 1999