LWVMP President's Message: "Old Tools, New Tools"
We are fortunate to have Bob Evans as our webmaster. He not only keeps our website up-to-date with meeting dates, League action statements, and other news, he has recently added videos of League luncheon presentations.
If you have not been able to attend all of our general meetings this year, go to the website - www.lwvmp.org - and see what you have missed. The videos are under "Calendar" at the top of the home page and at the bottom of the "Lunch and Learn with the League" page.
In thinking about the splendid job Bob Evans does, I was reminded of how it used to be. When I first joined the League in the 1960s, there were no copiers, fax machines, cell or push button phones, answering machines, computers, e-mail, printers, and scanners. As secretary, I typed minutes on mimeograph paper where mistakes required applying correction fluid and allowing time for it to dry.
Copies were made using a mimeograph machine, which required cranking out copies similar to wringing cloths through a wringer washing machine. The machine - larger than a breadbox and smaller than a file cabinet - had to be filled with ink - a messy job, particularly when the ink overflowed. Sending information to our members required time for reproducing material, hand folding and mailing.
Taking timely action on issues frequently required a lot of phoning or driving around from board member to board member to get approval of a proposed statement. We thought efficiency had been optimized with the introduction of the Selectric typewriter, which was faster than a manual typewriter and quicker at corrections. Little did we know what was to come.
Current technology makes it easier to run organizations such as the League. Agendas are sent electronically avoiding the costs of postage and allowing quick turn-around times. Action on issues can occur quickly, a particular advantage when working on statements with the Salinas Valley League. Writing and editing require less labor. E-mail facilitates communication - too much communication sometimes!
With all of this, the personal, non-electronic touch is still needed - phone reminders of our general meetings, interviews of new League members, hand-written thank you notes and cards, and yes, even an occasional letter typed on a real typewriter.
Technology helps the League be a more effective organization by allowing us to communicate quickly and effectively with our members and government leaders. But, at the end of the day, our effectiveness is measured by how well we work together and our commitment to the goals and principles of the League of Women Voters.
Janet Brennan
