Convention 2006: Meeting in the Middle.The 2006 LWVUS LWVUS League of Women Voters of the United States Convention had one of its biggest turnouts in years. More than 1,000 League members, including nearly 800 voting delegates from 49 states and the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). , met in the middle! From daybreak to long past sunset on June 9-13, the corridors of the Minneapolis Hilton buzzed with activity. At all hours, you could find League members networking with one another, learning about new issues, discussing important topics, deciding the League's course and, as always, having fun! Convention attendees had a variety of workshops, caucuses, forums, networking sessions and social activities on their schedules, making for a busy five days. Delegates who arrived in Minneapolis a day early got a treat: a fantastic workshop, "Meeting in the Middle: Cross Cultural Conversations and Community Transformation," led by renowned trainer Vivian Jenkins Vivian Gordon James Jenkins (2 November 1911 – 5 January 2004) was a Welsh rugby union player who went on to have a successful career as a sports journalist. He won 14 caps for Wales and 1 cap for the British and Irish Lions.[2] References 1. Nelson. To top it off, League members were guests of Marshall Fields and Clinique (complete with Clinique makeovers!) at a reception in the beautiful Marshall Fields Sky Room. DAY ONE The opening plenary came to order early Saturday morning when attendees were engaged and entertained by Dr. Thomas Mann's lively presentation on "American Democracy in a Partisan Era." The League was lucky to have Dr. Mann, W. Averell Harriman Chair and senior fellow at The Brookings Institution Brookings Institution, at Washington, D.C.; chartered 1927 as a consolidation of the Institute for Government Research (est. 1916), the Institute of Economics (est. 1922), and the Robert S. Brookings Graduate School of Economics and Government (est. 1924). , who missed part of his own family reunion Often an annual event, a family reunion takes place on a specified day each year for the purpose of keeping an extended family closer together. Some reunions may be held less often. just to attend Convention. LWVUS Convention Planning Chair Marlys Robertson extended her greetings, and LWV LWV abbr. League of Women Voters of Minnesota President Helen Palmer
Helen Palmer (born September 19 1974) is an athlete from Great Britain. She competes in archery. Palmer represented Great Britain at the 2004 Summer Olympics. welcomed everyone to Minneapolis. The delegates set to work immediately, adopting the amended rules and order of business. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Outgoing LWVUS President Kay J. Maxwell addressed the Convention, sharing reflections on her tenure and the League's strengths and its challenges. After LWVUS Nominating Committee A nominating committee is a group formed usually from inside the membership of an organization for the purpose of nominating candidates for office within the organization. It works similarly to an electoral college, the main difference being that the available candidates, either Chair Trudy Jarratt presented the Nominated Slate, there were two nominations from the floor for the LWVUS Board of Directors. LWVUS Program Planning Chair Carolie Mullan presented the proposed 2006-2008 Program. On this first day of the three-day program adoption process, delegates gave notice of their intention to move not-recommended items to the floor for consideration on the second day. Notices included: an update of the apportionment The process by which legislative seats are distributed among units entitled to representation; determination of the number of representatives that a state, county, or other subdivision may send to a legislative body. The U.S. position, as well as resolutions on health care reform, electronic voting Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is a term encompassing several different types of voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic means of counting votes. systems, separation of powers separation of powers: see Constitution of the United States. separation of powers Division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government among separate and independent bodies. , internet neutrality, energy and climate change, and more. After energetic discussion and lively debate over the next two days, the amended 2006-2008 Program was adopted with the following Program additions: 1. Adoption by concurrence CONCURRENCE, French law. The equality of rights, or privilege which several persons-have over the same thing; as, for example, the right which two judgment creditors, Whose judgments were rendered at the same time, have to be paid out of the proceeds of real estate bound by them. Dict. de Jur. h.t. of the position "The LWVUS supports the abolition of the death penalty." 2. Adoption of a three-year study of immigration policies. 3. A resolution to elevate the System of Checks and Balances, and the Separation of Powers, to a top priority. 4. A resolution supporting voter-verifiable paper ballots and routine audits of election results. 5. A resolution supporting Internet neutrality. DAY TWO On the second day, LWVUS Budget Chair Judy Duffy presented the proposed FY 2006-2007 LWVUS/EF Budgets. In a visual presentation, LWVUS Executive Director Nancy Tate covered the functions of the LWVUS staff and the past year's work. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Delegates had the opportunity to ask budget questions both during plenary and three Q&A sessions scheduled throughout Convention. On the final day of Convention, delegates approved a PMP See point-to-multipoint and portable media player. PMP - Portable Media Player rate of $26.30 for FY 2006-2007 and a PMP rate of $26.80 for FY 2007-2008. They increased NRM NRM Natural Resources Management NRM National Railway Museum (UK) NRM Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge, Massachusetts) NRM National Resistance Movement (Uganda) dues to $55.00 and added a $5 per NRM rebate to state Leagues. Delegates also approved the amended 2006-2007 Budget that included the Membership Recruitment Initiative for the development of messages and techniques to grow the League's membership among recently retired women. DAY THREE Day Three of Convention began with an amazing sight: 27 former national Board members, including 3 former national presidents, together on the stage! Many of these women had gathered for Monday night's posthumous presentation of the LWVUS Distinguished Leader Award to former national Board member Beverly K. McKinnell. In a touching tribute to this amazing woman, President Maxwell presented the award to Robert McKinnell, Beverly's husband. Earlier in the day, delegates were treated to a spirited panel discussion about judicial selection, "Understanding the System to Defend the Courts." Experts from every sector of the judicial selection process were on the panel (see Education Fund section, p. 17). That evening, attendees packed the ballroom to honor McKinnell and hear our special banquet speaker, Garrison Keillor Garrison Keillor (born Gary Edward Keillor on August 7, 1942 in Anoka, Minnesota) is an American author, storyteller, humorist, columnist, musician, satirist, and radio personality. . The renowned radio host, author and comedian entertained everyone with anecdotes of his youth and raising his children. DAY FOUR On the final day of Convention, delegates elected Mary G. Wilson to serve as the League's 17th president. Wilson's inaugural address encouraged Leagues to focus on "The Four M's: Message, Members, Media and Money." Delegates also elected the nominated slate. Outgoing Board members Shirley Eberly, Jan Flapan, Jane Gross, Linda McDaniel and Olivia. Thorne were recognized for their service to the League (and serenaded by their home Leagues). A highlight of each day was the roll call of states, when Leagues got the chance to spotlight their accomplishments. As a final touch, a troupe of parasol-twirlers invited everyone to the 2008 Convention in Portland, Oregon! Note: For complete reports of Convention action please go to the members' section of the Web site. * CONGRATULATIONS The LWVs of Caddo-Bossier, LA; Berrien and Cass Counties, MI; Lee County, FL; Schenectady County, NY; and Westport, CT, were recognized for their membership growth. The LWV of New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , LA, received a special commendation award for its support to the city's citizens during the 2006 mayoral election. * PROGRAM AWARDS Citizen Engagement: LWV of Montgomery County Montgomery County may refer to:
Voter Education: LWVs of Anchorage, AK, and California Reform: LWV of Connecticut Diversity: LWVs of Wichita-Metro, KS, and Charleston, SC RELATED ARTICLE: Young LWV Members Find Their Voice The League's first ever Youth Caucus, sponsored by the LWV of Alachua County/ Gainesville, FL, gave younger League members a chance to enjoy drinks and live music, while sharing their experiences, concerns and ideas about the League. Sponsoring League's President Crystal Goodison and Director Liz Reyes, and LWVUS Director Odetta MacLeish-White led a conversation about what brought them to the League, what keeps them involved, and what challenges being a young member poses. Some 50 delegates shared ideas and stories late into the night. Caucus members will promote a network to support League activities nationwide and provide the LWVUS with ideas and recommendations for recruitment and mentorship. An e-mail list of almost 50 members now exists, and a Web site account on MySpace.com is in development. These communication outlets will allow younger members to stay in touch with one another as they develop their messages and support each other in growing the League. Odetta MacLeish-White, LWVUS Board Pubic pubic /pu·bic/ (pu´bik) pertaining to or situated near the pubes, the pubic bone, or the pubic region. pu·bic adj. 1. Relations chair, omw71@gru.net |
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