League of Women Voters^®
of Indiana

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Common Cause, our major partner in redistricting reform, has produced this video on the issue. It's a great tool for you to use in your efforts. It's filled with talking points and organizational initiatives that you can begin using immediately. Many thanks to past LWVIN co-presidents Erin Kelley and Lisa Plencner, the leadership of former LWVIN 1st V.P Debbie Asberry, and all the Leaguers of Indiana for helping make this happen.

A Transformational Journey. See for yourself how the League is addressing change in these challenging times.

Keep an eye out for a more complete report later. In the meantime, here's some information that might be useful immediately. We passed a budget for 2017-18, elected new board officers & directors, amended the bylaws, and, perhaps most significantly, voted to convert the LWVIN into a 501(c)(3) organization. Read more about this process here and why this move will NOT impact our advocacy work here, here and here.

2016 LWVUS Convention Summary

Delegate list: Nancy Clement (Greater Lafayette), Nichole Etcheson (Muncie-Delaware Co.), Alice Phillips, Christina Sharp, Gail Pebworth (Montgomery Co.), Erin Kelley, Rhea Cain, Sarah Halter (Indianapolis), Oscar Anderson (Montgomery Co.), Barb Reed (Cass Co.), Judith Kratzner (Knox Co.), and Lisa Plencner (South Bend).

High Impact Visibility Award: The LWV of Montgomery County won!

LWVUS Bylaw Changes:

Article III, Section 2, Types of Membership has been amended to now read (changes in bold):

"A. Voting Members. Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of local Leagues, state Leagues, and of the LWVUS; (1) THOSE who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League; (2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be state members-at-large; (3) those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be life members excused from the payment of dues."

Since all state and local LWVs must share the first three articles in common with the LWVUS, state and local LWVs do not need to vote on these changes. Rather, as an administrative matter, they need to update their bylaws immediately.

LWVUS Concurrences:

Position on Redistricting

The LWVUS has adopted a redistricting position that state Leagues can use to enhance their own redistricting positions. The newly adopted position "does not supersede any existing state League redistricting position" and will greatly help the 10 state LWVs currently lacking a redistricting position. (See page 32 of the convention workbook.)

Behavioral Health

The LWVUS Health Care position has been amended to include the following as the second sentence under Basic Level of Quality Care:

"Every U.S. resident should have access to affordable, quality in- and out- patient behavioral health care, including needed medications and supportive services that is integrated with, and achieves parity with, physical health care."

LWVUS Speaker Highlights YouTube videos of all the major speakers at Convention can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/user/LeagueofWomenVoters

Speakers included the following and several more: Chris Carson + newly elected LWVUS president Wylecia Wiggs Harris + new LWVUS CEO Celinda Lake + "Messaging for Impact: What Resonates with Voters in 2016" Ari Berman + Keynote address on the history of the Voting Rights Act Jennifer Lawless + "Engaging Millennials in our Elections" Keisha Gaskins + "Understanding and Telling the Story of Impact for Democracy with Data"

Another special highlight is the video submitted by the LWVIN for the Convention's "Roll Call of States." This video highlights the important work our members are doing on redistricting reform. You can view it at our brand new YouTube page!

Address: 1500 N. Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: 317-241-VOTE (8683)