Action Groups
Take Action!
The League is always working on issues vital to our Southwest Missouri communities. Most members find joining an Action Group is a rewarding way to make a difference.
Action Groups
Membership
Since 1920, the League of Women Voters has been an activist, grassroots organization that believes voters should play a critical role in democracy. Membership advocates welcome new members, provide mentorships as needed, conduct new member orientations and collect dues.
Annual Membership Drive:
By encouraging growth through membership recruitment, this action group is responsible for annual membership drives, including campaigns to recruit new members and encourage current members to renew membership.
New Member Orientation:
This group plans orientation sessions to engage and educate new members about our local League, share the rich history of the LWV, and offer ways members may participate. New members may order name badges and League T-shirts.
Portal Management:
This group is responsible for managing our online membership portal and helping new members access state and national League resources, including signing up for state and national listservs.
Dues Collection:
The dues collection group reports to national and state Leagues. Our membership year coincides with those of LWVMO and LWVUS (Feb. 1 – Jan. 31).
Recruitment:
National LWV guidelines stress the importance of asking others to join the League. Recruitment and retention go hand in hand.
PR & COMMUNICATIONS
Because an informed citizenry is important to democracy, the League utilizes several methods to promote citizen education and participation.
Member Newsletter: League information is disseminated to members via a monthly emailed newsletter produced by this group. Content includes League events, legislative updates, and other news. This is one of the main forms of communication to members.
Social Media: Important information about League programs and events is posted on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LWVSWMO/ and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwvswmo/.
‘Making Democracy Work’: This weekly KSMU/NPR Radio program features interviews with government and community leaders conducted by League members. Our program has aired on KSMU Radio for more than 40 years.
Speakers Bureau: To provide community organizations with nonpartisan information on topical issues, elections, and voting information, this action group is a board-authorized team that can speak on a broad range of League positions.
BOARD-APPROVED GROUPS
Nominating Committee: Outlined by Article VIII of our bylaws, this committee of three is elected during the Annual Meeting and presents a slate of officers and board members for member vote at the next Annual Meeting.
Bylaws Committee: According to Article XII of our bylaws, the bylaws committee reviews and recommends any changes or updates for member vote at the Annual Meeting.
Missouri LWV Board Liaisons: These local board members serve as liaisons between the local Board and the LWV of Missouri Board. These board members bring back critical information from the State League and inform the State Board of critical information from our League.
Hospitality: This group provides coffee and refreshments at general meetings and assists with arrangements for the Annual Meeting, holiday social, and other events.
Statewide Education Committee: This committee is composed of members who are former educators and those passionate about statewide education issues. Representatives from each League across Missouri focus on issues related to education funding, censorship in schools, and other educational equity concerns.
Legislative Trackers: These members target one or more specific bills before the Missouri General Assembly. Their reports make up LWVMO’s weekly Legislative Bulletin during legislative sessions. Updates on local, state, and national bills are provided to members along with information on how to weigh in on pending legislation.
FINANCE
The finance committee directs matters related to League income and expenditures. The treasurer, an elected board position, collects and receives all monies for the organization, makes authorized dispersions, and presents regular statements to the board as well as an annual report each May.
Budget Committee (Revenue & Expenses): Balancing income and expenses, this group assists the treasurer in keeping the budget updated. Bylaws state, “A Budget Committee shall be approved by the Board of Directors. . .” and “the proposed budget shall be approved by the Board of Directors and sent to all members for consideration one month prior to the Annual Meeting. The treasurer shall serve as chair of the Budget Committee.”
Financial Reporting: This group provides monthly financial reports to the LWV of Southwest Missouri Board and annual reports to the membership at the Annual Meeting. Headed by the treasurer, this group provides financial transparency to the membership.
Fundraising: This group focuses on core fundraising efforts for the LWV of SWMO. This includes yearly fundraising efforts, auctions, and donations. This group works in partnership with the treasurer to increase core income.
Internal Financial Review: Bylaws state, “A financial audit shall be conducted as directed by the Board, no less than every three years.”
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC NEEDS
The League of Women Voters encourages informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Several League positions relate to social and economic issues, many of which impact those who are underrepresented in democracy.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): This group works with community leaders and organizations to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organization and to increase DEI in the communities we serve. DEI awareness is increased through the shared experience of book studies or attendance at cultural offerings. The League is an advocate for at-risk populations (homeless, minority, LGBTQ+) and tracks legislation affecting these groups.
Environment and Sustainability: Because the League recognizes the interconnectedness of environment and social-economic issues, this action group advocates on legislation affecting climate change and the environment and informs League members on sustainable living initiatives. Members also participate in quarterly adopt-a-street clean-ups in Springfield.
Education Committee: As one of the main priorities of the League is education, this committee works to address local issues related to education. This includes funding, book banning, curriculum, and more. Board-approved members of this local committee serve on the State LWV Education Committee, along with members from Leagues across the state.
VOTER & ELECTION SERVICES
The League works to protect voting rights and challenges efforts to restrict access to the ballot box. We register voters, including our country’s newest citizens at naturalization ceremonies. Because having engaged, informed, and active citizen voters is the backbone of democracy, the League provides unbiased, nonpartisan information about the voting process, issues, and candidates. We engage citizens in promoting positive solutions to public policy issues through education and advocacy. We are proudly nonpartisan, never supporting or opposing candidates or political parties.
Voter Registration: Members receive deputy registrar training through county clerk offices and are then eligible to register voters at a variety of scheduled events, including farmer’s markets, public festivals, and high school visitations.
Voter Education & Outreach: We equip voters with essential information about the election process, including polling place hours and locations, ballot issues, absentee voting rules, voter registration deadlines, ID requirements, and more. Get Out the Vote (GOTV) events are an important part of the League’s community outreach and goal of building citizen participation in the democratic process.
Voter’s Guides & VOTE411: LWV Voter’s Guides provide straightforward nonpartisan information about candidates and ballot issues. Information from candidates is printed exactly as submitted. The guide is available in both print and digital formats. Members assist with advertising sales, marketing, production, and distribution. VOTE411.org is a digital tool that ensures voters have the information they need to participate in every election, including polling locations, ballot content, registration status, and more.
Informed Voter Coalition (Candidate Interviews): The Informed Voter Coalition was launched in 2019 with the shared goal of educating voters and engaging candidates with citizens in a nonpartisan way. In partnership with several other local organizations, radio and video interviews of candidates are recorded and made available to the public.
Meet the Electeds: During non-election cycles, this program allows dialogue between public officials and members of the League and partner organizations (in person or via Zoom).
Campus Initiative Paws to the Polls: This initiative partners with the League and the American Democracy Project to increase civic engagement by focusing on voter literacy and voter participation for Missouri State University students.
OBSERVER CORPS
In keeping with the LWV mission to encourage informed and active participation in government and to increase public understanding of major public policy issues, Observer Corps participants attend local governmental meetings and report to the League as needed for action. The LWV provides guidelines for observer corps members in the publication Observing Your Government in Action: Protecting Your Right to Know. This guide explains the purpose of sunshine laws, how to recruit and train observers, and methods of sharing observed actions. The appendix provides tips for working with the media. Observer Corps members are encouraged to attend school board and city council meetings as well as county commission and library board meetings.