League Lingo

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KANSAS LEAGUE LINGO Welcome to the league of Women Voters world of special language! Sometimes new (and not so new) members are confused by the abbreviations and terminology used by the League. The following list of definitions is designed to put you “in the know” and at ease with League terms.
ACTION	Expression of League positions to government officials, the media and the public by authorized League leaders and members.
ACTION ALERT	Request from state or national League to take action based on a League position.
ADVOCACY	Lobbying, litigation, monitoring, public education, media campaigns and other techniques used to achieve change.
ADVOCACY AGENDA	Priorities for action on issues to be targeted during a specific time frame.
ANNUAL MEETING	Local year end business meeting to elect officers, adopt a budget, and vote on by-laws changes and program.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER	Non-voting member such as a U.S. citizen under 18 years of age or a non-citizen.
CONCURRENCE	Agreement by League members with program positions reached by another League or agreement with a position statement developed by a committee following study and discussion of a particular subject.
CONSENSUS	Collective opinion of a substantial number of League members after study and discussion of a particular subject.
CONVENTION	State and national League meetings held biennially to elect officers for the biennium, adopt program, make by-laws changes, and adopt a one-year budget.
COUNCIL	State and national League meetings held in the years between convention to adopt a budget, and do other business as necessary. Local Leagues send delegates to state council, state Leagues to national council.
DPM	Acronym for Duplicate President’s Mailing, a subscription that brings to any member the same material in the regular national mailings to Local League presidents.
EDUCATION FUND	The tax-deductible arm of national, state and large local Leagues, handling funds to be used for educational purposes, not for action on issues.
F & I	Acronym for Facts and Issues, which are publications with information on program studies.
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS	Refers to households with two or more members. PMP for each member beyond one is assessed at one-half rate for state and national levels. Local dues may vary.
IMPACT ON ISSUES	The national League program guide with statements of position, their history and use.
IN LEAGUE	An in-depth handbook for League leaders, published by LWVUS.
ILO	Acronym for Inter-League Organization, formed by Leagues within a county, metropolitan area or region to act on issues which are beyond the local League area in scope.
LEADERS’ UPDATE	Publication received by all national, state and local League board members from LWVUS and received by request to other League members.
LIFE MEMBER	Two categories: those who have paid a fee for life membership; or honorary life members who have been in League for 50 years or more and are excused from dues payment.
LOCAL LEAGUE	An autonomous organization of League members affiliated with the state and national Leagues. Members belong to all three levels.
LOCAL LEAGUE LIAISON	State board member assigned to receive and read local League minutes and Voters. Primary contact for local League presidents with the state board.
MAL	Acronym for member-at-large. A MAL belongs to LWVUS and LWVK, but resides outside the area of and is not enrolled in a local League.
STATE MAL UNIT	Eight or more MALs organized into a group when there are not yet enough members in an area to sustain a local League.
“NATIONAL MEMBER”	Popular but incorrect terminology. There are no “national only” members, but those who first join LWVUS are referred to appropriate state League, and by them to a local League, if any; otherwise they become MALs.
NONPARTISANSHIP	League policy of never supporting or opposing any candidate or political party.
ORIENTATION	Basic background material provided in writing; or at meetings tohelp members understand League purposes, policies, and procedures.
PMP	Acronym for per member payment, the amount of money paid to state and national Leagues on behalf of each member.
PORTFOLIO	The particular job assigned to a board member or off-board chair, e.g. membership, finance, Voter editor, natural resources. Many Leagues now use a committee system.
POSITION	League’s point of view, arrived at through member study and consensus or concurrence, and used as a basis for League action.
POST-BOARD MAILING	Reports of regular state and national board meetings including: action taken, updated information on current programs issues, board activities, legislative report, announcements.
PRESIDENT’S PACKET	Yearly supplements to In League, includes updated information and leadership aids.
PRINCIPLES	Governmental standards and policies supported by the League by which all proposed or adopted local, state and national issues are measured.
PROGRAM	Plan for speakers, discussions, or other activities for League meetings.
PROGRAMS	Selected issues chosen by local, state and national membership for study and action.
RECOGNITION REQUIREMENTS	Standards and activities which must be fulfilled for local Leagues to earn and maintain recognition; adopted by National Convention ‘86’, supplemented by state Leagues.
RESOURCE MATERIALS	Program information and publications gathered and/or prepared by League committees as background for discussion.
STUDY AND ACTION	LWVK publication containing all current positions and background information.
UNIT	Division of the membership into groups of a size that will provide maximum participation by members in discussion of League program and activities. Units can be time-oriented (day, lunch hour, or evening) or geographically located, or both.
VOTER	Newsletter for members and subscribers, published by local, state and national Leagues.
VOTERS GUIDE	Nonpartisan publication giving candidates’ qualifications and positions on selected issues.
VOTERS SERVICE	Year round activity to help citizens be politically effective and to encourage their participation in the political process. Registering voters and presenting election Voters Guides are the two most basic voters service activities.
VOTING MEMBERS	All League members who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old.
[Adapted from information provided by LWVUS and LWV of Ohio 1995 and later.]