Results of LWVNCA Virtual Annual Convention, May 1, 2021

Results of LWVNCA Virtual Annual Convention, May 1, 2021

LWV of National Capital Area Logo-red,blue

Location

Zoom Virtual Meeting
US
Saturday, May 1, 2021 - 10:00am

LWVNCA Annual Convention was Saturday, May 1, 2021

It was a virtual Zoom meeting starting at 10:00 AM ~ Read what happened below

Event is free, Register to receive the Zoom link  

PDF icon View Convention Flyer here

Panel discussion on Redistricting Plans in Maryland and
Virginia and an Update on the Status of Statehood for D.C.
Moderated by LWVNCA Co-President Joyce Starks
Panelists:  
Chris DeRosa, Arlington County LWV & Co-Coordinator, LWV-VA Redistricting Issues Committee;
 For more info:  www.lwv-va.org 
 
Beth Hufnagel, Howard County LWV & LWV of Maryland Redistricting Team Leader
For more info:  www.lwvmd.org 
Anne Anderson, LWV of the District Of Columbia, Chair, Committee on Full Rights for DC Citizens
Contact: statehood [at] lwvdc.org 
See the "#Picture51 video" live on the LWVDC Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkxdosR0DRw
Map of proposed state boundaries for DC, published by Mayor's office: PDF icon 51_state_enclave_map.pdf
 
 
Business meeting included-  All adopted and approved as presented, see notes on each item
  • Adopting annual budget for FY2021-22
  • Adopting a two-year Program for 2021-2023
  • Consider & Adopt LWVNCA Bylaws Amendments
  • Electing New Officers & Directors for 2021-2023*  Carol Bursik, LWVFA, was elected Director to replace Andrea Gruhl

 

Documents for Convention Business Meeting ~  Proposed Agenda | Proposed Rules | Proposed Budget for FY2021-22 | Proposed Bylaws Amendments | Proposed Program 2021-2023 | Slate of Nominees | Resources

PDF icon LWVNCA 2021 CONVENTION WORKBOOK - corrected 5-3-2021 

 

Proposed Order of Business

May 1, 2021

 Adopted as presented

10:00 AM Welcome                                                        Softli / Starks Co-Presidents
Introduction to Zoom Etiquette     (Reminder meeting is being recorded)
Keynote Address:  Panel Discussion on Redistricting and Update on DC Statehood (see above for panelists & moderator)

Business Meeting Begins

Roll Call of Member Leagues and Credentials                   Nancy Soreng, Secretary
Adoption of Order of Business                                           Joyce Starks, Co-President
Adoption of Convention Rules                                            Parliamentarian
Minutes of 2020 Convention                                               Linda Softi, Co-President
      Previously approved by the LWVNCA Board In workbook for information only
Appointment of a Reading Committee for the                     Linda Softli
     2021 Convention Minutes
Treasurer’s Report                                                              Bill Thomas, Treasurer
Presentation, Discussion & Approval of                              Kathy Matusiak, Budget Chair 
     Proposed FY 2021-2022 LWVNCA Budget
Proposed Amendments to LWVNCA By-laws                     Sherry Zachry, Bylaws Committee Chair 
     Presentation, Discussion & Approval       
Proposed LWVNCA Program for 2021-2023                      Sarah Mathews, Program Chair
    Presentation of Proposed Program; Consideration, Discussion
    and Adoption of Recommended and Not-Recommended Items 
    Adoption of LWVNCA Program for 2021-2023
Nominating Committee Report & Election of                     Elaine Apter, Chair 
        Officersand Directors for 2021-2023 &
       Nominating Committee for 2021-2022
Co-Presidents' Report                                                         Joyce Starks and Linda Softli
New Business
Announcements                                                                   Joyce Starks
Direction to the Board                                                          Linda Softi
Adjournment
 

Back to Top

************************************************************************************************************************************* 

Proposed Rules of 2021 Convention

 Final In Convention Workbook - Adopted as presented

A. The following rules are prescribed by the LWVNCA bylaws:

  1. Proceedings will be guided by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, unless the LWVNCA bylaws prescribe otherwise. (Article X)
  2. Voting privileges are limited to delegates from member Leagues (local and state) in good standing and LWVNCA Board members. (Article VII, Section 2)
  3. Nominations for elected positions may be made from the floor, provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained. (Article VIII, Section 3)
  4. Program adoption:  Article VII,Convention, Section 6. Powers.The Convention shall: C. In odd-numbered years consider and adopt a two-year Program; and Article IX. Program, Section 3.Convention Action. The Convention shall adopt a two-year Program using the following procedures:
    a.  In odd-numbered years, Member League Boards may make recommendations for Program to the LWVNCA Board by February 15.
    b. The Board shall consider the recommendations and shall formulate a Proposed Program, which shall be submitted to the member Leagues by March 15, together with a list of all non-recommended items suggested by the member Leagues.
   c.  A majority vote shall be required for the adoption of the Program proposed by the Board.
   d.  Any recommendation for the Program submitted to the Board by February 15, but not proposed by the Board, may be adopted at the Convention provided consideration is ordered by a majority vote and the proposal receives a two-thirds vote for adoption.

 

B. The following proposed rules are subject to approval by a majority vote of the Convention. Delegates may elect to amend these proposals or introduce others.

1.  Floor privileges
a. All League members shall have the right to speak.
b. A member wishing to address the Convention shall stand (as they are able). When recognized by the chair, a member shall state her/his name and member-League affiliation. Zoom meetings: Members will use the Zoom “raise hand feature “to request recognition. The chair will do her best recognize people in order.
c. Debate will be limited to two minutes per speaker unless otherwise specified.
 

2. Motions. Only delegates and LWVNCA Board members can make motions. All motions of substance shall be entered in the Chat Box. Motion forms are available at the registration table.

3. When you are not speaking or casting a voice vote, please mute your phone or computer.

4. Minutes. The Secretary will draft the Convention minutes, clear them with a reading committee appointed at the convention and submit the resulting version to the LWVNCA Board for approval. 

5. Directions to the Board. Directions should be sent to the co-presidents in advance of the meeting. At the meeting, they can be submitted by writing them in the Chat Box.

 

 

      ***************************************************************************************************************************************

                               Proposed LWVNCA Budget for FY2021-22 and

Statement from the Budget Committee

Proposed Budget Approved as presented

 

BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT FOR PROPOSED LWVNCA FY2021-2022 BUDGET 

The LWVNCA FY2021-2022 Proposed Budget shows total expected funding and expenditures of $9,650 as compared to $3.550 in FY2020-2021. The LWVNCA will hold per-member-payment (PMP) steady at $1.10 per primary member and $0.55 for additional household members. The Budget Committee projects $1,788 in PMP income. This is an increase of $307 from this year’s PMP, reflecting significant growth in membership from February 2020 to February 2021, which is notable in a pandemic year.
In planning for FY2021-22, the Budget Committee assumed that we would be able to resume live events by this Fall. Therefore, we have included funds to support the Presidents’ Luncheon in the Fall, the LWVUS Board Reception in the Winter, and the Annual Convention in May 2022. All those events require a registration fee or other payment, and total event revenue of $4,280 is included in income. Total expenses for the three events are estimated at $5,800, so we will be drawing on our reserves for approximately $1500. We also assumed that the LWVUS would hold an in-person Convention in June of 2022 and included $1,200 to send a representative (typically the President or Co-Presidents) to that meeting.
In 2019, LWVNCA decided to eliminate workshop fees so we could use the free version of Eventbrite for registration. Workshop expenses are paid by the LWVNCA from general revenues. We suggest that donations be collected at the workshops to defray costs.
It should be noted that the Proposed Budget also reflects some carryover income and expenses from FY2020-2021. For instance, we still have a credit with the Beacon Hotel for $775 as a deposit toward the 2020 Annual Convention, which was made virtual. We also will carry over $400 from this year’s budget for the Madeleine Naumann Award, which will now be presented in 2022. We draw some $3,372 from reserves to balance revenues and expenditures, approximately the amount we saved this year by cancelling some events and making others virtual.
The LWVNCA Board expresses its thanks to the FY2021-2022 Budget Committee: Kathy Matusiak, chair, and members Sherry Zachry and Kathy Chiron. William Thomas, Treasurer, was the Ex Officio member.  

PDF icon View document here

************************************************************************************************************************************************** 

Back to top

Proposed Amendments to LWVNCA  Bylaws

2021 Proposed Changes to LWVNCA Bylaws, Last Amended May 5, 2018

Adopted with slight editorial changes.   READ NEWLY AMENDED BYLAWS HERE

The 2021 Bylaws Committee proposes the following changes to the LWVNCA Bylaws to accommodate elected Co-Presidents instead of one president; to allow all meetings to be conducted “electronically” and/or “virtually”; to rephrase Article IX. Program to add clarity; and to reduce deadlines—expressed in days—for items due before convention.  We did not change the number for quorum at convention.  Following is a truncated version of the affected text. PDF FILE OF LONGER VERSION OF TEXT: PDF icon VIEW HERE
 
Respectfully submitted, 2021 Bylaws Committee:
Carole Conors, Joan Siegel, Linda Softli, & Sherry Zachry [chair]
 

KEY: CAPITAL LETTERS = proposed changes; [strikethrough] = Deletions

Underlines and bolding are specific to the format.

 

Article IV, Officers
Section 1. Enumeration and Election of Officers. The officers of LWVNCA shall be a President, OR CO-PRESIDENTS, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. . .
Section 2. The President OR CO-PRESIDENTS. The President OR CO-PRESIDENTS shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors (hereinafter, the Board) unless the President (OR CO-PRESIDENT) designates someone else to preside. . . Add “CO-PRESIDENTS” throughout section.
Section 3. The Vice President. The Vice President shall, in the event of the absence of the President, OR BOTH CO-PRESIDENTS. . . shall perform such other duties as the President OR CO-PRESIDENTS, and THAT THE Board may designate.
Section 4. The Secretary. . . .The Secretary shall provide the President OR CO-PRESIDENTS. . . The Secretary shall sign, with the President OR CO-PRESIDENTS. . .
Section 5. The Treasurer. . .   custodian of these moneys AND shall deposit them. . . . [and] ALSO THE TREASURER shall disburse THE FUNDS [them] in line with the budget adopted by the delegates. . . property shall be signed BY THE TREASURER AND ONE of the following officers: President, CO-PRESIDENT, OR Vice President [and Treasurer] 

 

Article V, Board of Directors
Section 1. Number, Manner of Selection, and Term of Office. The Board shall consist of the ELECTED officers of the [League] LWVNCA  . . . Two directors [OF THE FOUR DIRECTORS] shall be elected at each annual Convention for a two-year term. . . The board shall appoint such additional directors, not exceeding four . . . The terms of office of the appointed directors shall expire at the conclusion of the next fiscal year, I.E. ONE YEAR TERMS FOR APPOINTED DIRECTORS.
Section 3. Vacancies.
   A. In the event of resignation, disability, or death of the President, OR ONE OF THE CO-PRESIDENTS, THE REMAINING CO-PRESIDENT SHALL BE NAMED “PRESIDENT” AUTOMATICALLY UNTIL THE NEXT CONVENTION.  IN THE EVENT OF THE RESIGNATION, DISABILITY OR DEATH OF THE REMAINING CO-PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN ELEVATED TO PRESIDENT, the Vice President shall become President. . .
Section 4. Powers and Duties. The Board shall:
   A. Have full charge. . . subject to the instructions of the Convention AND THESE BYLAWS;
Section 5. Regular Meetings.
. . . The president AND VICE PRESIDENT, OR CO-PRESIDENTS, shall determine if a board meeting needs to SHALL be conducted by electronic means, I.E. NOT PHYSICALLY IN PERSON, such as telephone conference call, video conferencing or email. [due to unusual circumstances such as inclement weather conditions or the need for a meeting]  Minutes of ALL IN-PERSON AND ELECTRONIC MEETINGS shall be recorded by the secretary or a designee.
Section 6. Special BOARD Meetings. The President OR CO-PRESIDENTS may call special OR EMERGENCY meetings of the Board. . . may be conducted by electronic means. [such as telephone conference call, video conferencing or e-mail. The use of electronic meetings shall be reserved for those issues needing a decision before an in-person meeting is scheduled]. MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETINGS SHALL BE RECORDED.
 
Article VI, Financial Administration
Section 2. Budget. The Board shall submit to the Convention for adoption a budget. . . A copy of the proposed budget shall be sent to each member-League President at least THIRTY (30) DAYS two months before Convention. . . . shall contribute to LWVNCA each year A PER MEMBER PAYMENT (PMP) IN AN AMOUNT determined by each convention.

 

Article VII, Convention
Section 1. Place, Date, and Call. An LWVNCA convention shall be held annually . . . notified as to the date of the Convention at least three months NINETY (90) DAYS in advance.  A CONVENTION, OR SPECIAL MEETING, MAY BE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY BY ELECTRONIC METHODS.
Section 2. Composition.  . . . consist of LWVNCA board members. . . and Member-at-Large (MAL) Units[ (MAL)] as follows. . .
Section 3. Delegate Qualifications and Voting.  . . . Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted BUT A DELEGATE MAY VOTE VIRTUALLY IF CONVENTION IS HELD ELECTRONICALLY.
Section 4. Representation of Local Member Leagues.  . . . thereafter one additional delegate shall be authorized for each additional 100 voting members as OF THE [determined] CURRENT YEAR [ as of the] reporting date [required ]SET by LWVUS. 
Section 6. Powers. The Convention shall:
   A. Elect officers and directors . . . and a Nominating Committee THAT SHALL SERVE FOR ONE YEAR;
   C. In odd-numbered years consider and adopt a two-year Program, AS OUTLINED IN ARTICLE IX, and in even-numbered years consider Program CHANGES AND development;
Section 7.  Quorum  - no change [Twenty-five (25) members . . .]
 
Article VIII, Nominations and ElectionS
Section 3. Report of the Nominating Committee and Nominations from the Floor.  . . .  shall be sent to member Leagues two months THIRTY (30) DAYS before the date of the Convention.

 

Article IX, Program. [replace current Sections 1 & 2 with following:]
Section 1. Principles. THE LWVUS PRINCIPLES ARE CONCEPTS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED BY THE LEAGUE AND ARE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR ADOPTION OF NATIONAL, REGIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAM.
Section 2. Program. The LWVNCA Program shall consist of
   A.  ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THE PRINCIPLES, AND
   B.  THOSE METROPOLITAN, REGIONAL, AND INTER-JURISDICTIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ISSUES CHOSEN EVERY   
   TWO YEARS BY THE CONVENTION FOR CONCERTED STUDY OR CONCURRENCE AND ACTION AS FOLLOWS:
Section 3. Convention Action PROCEDURE FOR LWVNCA PROGRAM ADOPTION IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS.  The Convention shall CONSIDER and adopt a two-year Program using the following procedures:
   A. In odd-numbered years, Member League Boards may make recommendations to the LWVNCA Board by February 15 AT LEAST SIXTY (60) DAYS BEFORE CONVENTION.
   B. The Board shall . . . formulate a Proposed Program, I.E. RECOMMENDED PROGRAM, which shall be submitted to the member Leagues NO LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS BEFORE CONVENTION by March 15, together with a list of all non NOT-recommended items suggested by the member Leagues.
   C. A majority vote shall be required for the adoption of the TWO-YEAR Program proposed by the Board.
   D. Any recommendation  . . . submitted to the Board AT LEAST SIXTY (60) DAYS BEFORE CONVENTION by February 15, but not proposed by the Board  . . . may be adopted at the Convention provided consideration is ordered by a majority vote and the proposal receives a two-thirds vote for adoption AT CONVENTION.
   E.  ALL LWVNCA POSITIONS SHALL BE READOPTED AS PART OF THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM.
Section 4. Changes in Program IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS.
   A. In the event of altered conditions, changes in THE ADOPTED Program may be made during the Convention that is held in even-numbered years or at special meetings OF THE MEMBERSHIP. Provisions for special meetings shall be in accord with Article VII, [CONVENTION] and notification of any proposed Program changes shall be sent to all member Leagues at least SIXTY(60) THIRTY (30) days prior to the meeting or special meeting.
   B. CONSIDER PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS.
Section 7. LWVNCA Action. Responsibility for Program . . . and action rests with the LWVNCA Board. ANY action . . 

 

Article XI, Amendments
   A. Proposals for change . . . to the LWVNCA BOARD by February 15 AT LEAST SIXTY (60) DAYS BEFORE CONVENTION.
   B. All such proposed amendments together with the recommendations of the LWVNCA Board shall be sent to member-League presidents at least two months THIRTY (30) DAYS before Convention.   . . .
 
*******************************************************************************************************************************************

Proposed LWVNCA Program for 2021-2023

Adopted as Presented

Member Leagues were solicited both in January and again in February for their opinions on Program planning topics of interest for LWVNCA Program 2021-23. Based on their feedback, the LWVNCA Board of Directors makes the following recommendations for adopted LWVNCA Program 2021-2023.

I. NEW REGIONAL STUDIES:
None

II. RETAIN ALL CURRENT POSITIONS
All current positions are published on LVWNCA website, www.lwvnca.org and were re-adopted in May 2019. The Board recognizes that many are dated. See III.

III. REVIEW / UPDATE LWVNCA POSITIONS:
LWVNCA Board proposes forming a committee that will review all of the positions to see which need to be updated in order to facilitate member League advocacy. They will report their results prior to next year’s [2022] convention. (Note: Editorial wording can be accomplished by the board, but any changes to meaning or content would need to go through the restudy process culminating in consensus or concurrence and board approval as outlined in the bylaws, Article IX Program ).

Notes on positions most often mentioned as needing review:
1. Comprehensive Health Planning- see  below
2. Controlled Substances position should be retained, but not updated because laws on controlled substances have been passed by  DC, MD & VA, and regional policy action is not relevant.
3. Other updates as committee sees fit.

Comprehensive Health Planning
  • Update & include emergency health preparedness, i.e. COVID and sharing of supplies/resources such as a central processing center for the Washington Metropolitan Area to locate a hospital bed for trauma, pandemic, etc.
  • Item 1c should be modified to emphasize health education and information services will be crucial so that minority populations that may be reluctant to accept vaccination due to past medical abuses.
IV. RECOMMENDED FOR CONCERTED LWVNCA ACTION
  • Transportation Continue to promote equal access and full funding for Metro, especially in light of the current budget situation,
  • DC Statehood Continued Support for DC Statehood
V. NOT-RECOMMENDED ITEMS
The following topics were suggested by member Leagues, but are not recommended for regional study, update or action. They could be considered by the LWVNCA board as a Workshop topic, if appropriate for regional education.
 
● Civic Education in High Schools 
● D.C. Financing
● Police coordination across overlapping jurisdictions

● REGIONAL Voting Rights Issues

  

Back to Top

*********************************************************************************************************************

Slate of Nominees for Officers & Directors for 2021-23 and

Nominating Committee for 2021-22

 

LWVNCA Nominating Committee Report for 2021 Convention

The 2021 LWVNCA Nominating Committee submits the following candidates for election at the May 1, 2021 Annual Convention as the LWVNCA Officers & Directors for 2021-23 and as the Nominating Committee for 2021-22.

OFFICERS
Joyce Starks– Co-President – LWV Prince George's County (LWVPGC)
Linda Softli – Co-President – LWV District of Columbia (LWVDC)
Sonia Ballinger – Secretary – LWV Loudoun County (LWVLC)

DIRECTORS  *One Nominee, Andrea Gruhl, has withdrawn and a replacement will be nominated from the floor at Convention
Carole Conors – Director – LWV Howard County (LWVHC)
Andrea Gruhl – Director – LWV Howard County*  Carol Bursik, LWVFA, was elected in her place
Edna Miller – Director – LWV Montgomery County (LWVMC)

NOMINATING COMMITTEE for 2021-22
Kathy McGuire – Chair, LWVMC
Geraldine Whitley- LWVDC
Sherry Zachry – LWV Fairfax Area (LWVFA)

Respectfully submitted,

LWVNCA 2021 Nominating Committee
Elaine Apter, Chair
Members:
Sonia Ballinger
Sarah Matthews
Debora Wake
Geraldine Whitley

 

PDF icon Nominating Committee Report Revised in PDF

PDF icon Carol Bursik's Bio

******************************************************************************************************************************** 

 

 Back to top

 

 RESOURCES

PDF icon 2021 LWVNCA CONVENTION WORKBOOK - corrected 5-3-2021

 

 

Register here to receive the Zoom link -  http://bit.ly/2021NCAConv

Contact Nancy Soreng  

 

Contact Information
Nancy Soreng
nsoreng [at] lwvmd.org