Convention Report
Your two designated representatives attended the biennial national League
convention in Minneapolis June 10-13. What a sight to see more than 800 dedicated
and politically savvy women and men gather to deliberate the direction of the
League for the next two years. Not surprisingly, California has by far the
most League members in attendance, though virtually all states have experienced
a steady decrease in membership over the past several years. This was an issue
that permeated much of the discussion at the convention.
We attended caucuses, workshops, and networking sessions. These were pulled
together at the plenary sessions where the motions, resolutions, and directions
were presented, and actions on each were taken.
National President Kay Maxwell, culminating her four years at the helm of this
dynamic organization, ran the convention with an even hand, insisting that
all segments of the convention conform to the agreed-upon processes.
In response to the direction given us at our annual meeting in May, your delegates
attended sessions on the death penalty, health care, voting systems reform,
and the use of technology. The proposed program for the next two years of the
national League included just one major study, immigration, which would take
three years to complete. Resolutions were proposed on non-recommended studies,
and a loud cheer went out among the crowd when a 2/3 majority passed a resolution
stating, “The LWVUS supports the abolition of the death penalty.” Other
successful resolutions included adoption of a position on voter-verifiable
paper records in all voting systems, restoration of our system of checks and
balances by adding it to our democracy agenda, and support of the concept of
internet neutrality. Unsuccessful additions to the national program included
a prioritization of its action agenda of health care reform, energy/climate
change, and cable TV reform.
We were treated to a special presentation at the closing evening’s banquet.
Partially in gratitude for a prize of $15 awarded to him as a high school student
by the Minneapolis LWV, Garrison Keillor gave us a humorous, extemporaneous
monologue on the differences of today’s generation from his (and the
vast majority of the audience).
On the final day of the convention, attendees elected the proposed slate of
officers and directors and adopted the budget, including a phased-in increase
of national PMP to $26.80 by 2007-08, which will cover just 28% of the costs
of running the national offices. For more details on the activities of the
convention, see the national League’s web site, www.lwvus.com.
It was our honor and privilege to represent you at the convention.
Convention Delegates
