2024 - 2026 Program Planning Instructions

Overview

Leagues all across the country are encouraged to participate in Program Planning, our grassroots process for choosing the League Program for 2024-2026!

LWVUS Program consists of three parts:

1. Action to implement League Principles  
2. Study or concurrence on a governmental issue to develop new positions or to update existing positions 
3. Action on government issues

The program planning process happens in the fall prior to an LWV Convention. League Program is how we support our mission through education and advocacy. All League action, advocacy, and education efforts are based on League positions and League principles. League action in support of League positions may be taken only in those areas where there is member understanding and agreement.

Please note: LWVUS is responsible for determining all advocacy strategies, actions, and messaging at the national level. Resolutions and legislative priorities are not a part of program planning.

Survey

The purpose of the survey is for local and state Leagues to recommend the programmatic focus for all levels of the League for the upcoming biennium. The survey also provides an opportunity for Leagues to identify other program items for the Board of Directors to consider.

IMPORTANT: Each League must fill out the LWVUS Program Survey by March 10, 2024.

To view a PDF version of the LWVUS Program Survey, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

LWVUS PROGRAM PLANNING SURVEY

Three Steps for Program Planning

1. Local and state Leagues and ILOs Boards should:

a. Encourage members to attend a LWVUS webinar on the 2024 Program Planning process. Register here

b. Hold meetings for members and Boards to review current LWVUS principles. (Find in Impact on Issues).

c. Use a copy of the Program Planning Leaders Guide to lead the discussion. Find consensus from members to choose your board's program recommendation.

d. Assign a League representative to fill out the official LWVUS Program Survey with your Board's recommendations. The survey will be open from November 2023 through March 10, 2024. Click the link above to access the survey, and find a PDF to review at the bottom of this page.

(Please note: The LWVUS Program Survey is not for individual members to share their suggestions. Please do not use this form to test the system, instead use the PDF version of the survey to prepare. Each League ID can ONLY be used once and individual surveys will not be considered!)

Tips For Filling Out the LWVUS Program Survey Form

• The League representative must fill out the LWVUS Program Survey by the due date: March 10, 2024. 

• Create a document with your League’s recommendations and use this document to cut and paste onto the survey form when you are ready. This will help avoid the survey timing out as you fill in your content.

• Provide your League's ID number on the form  (a five-digit code consisting of your two-letter state and 3 additional numbers). Find Your League’s ID number at LWV.org on the Find Your League webpage.  

• Provide the name and contact information of the person filling out the form.  

• Provide an email address where a copy of the submitted form should be sent. Share a copy with your board.

• Please note: Each League will be asked whether they want to opt out of receiving information from other Leagues about program proposals. If you want to receive these updates, do not check the box.

2. The LWVUS Program Committee carefully reviews the survey results and makes a report to the LWVUS Board which votes to support a selection of the program recommendations. The LWVUS proposed League program is then posted on lwv.org and shared with members according to the LWVUS bylaws. 

3. League delegates to the LWVUS Convention follow the process set by LWVUS bylaws to debate, consider, and vote to adopt recommended program items and non-recommended items. To learn more on voting and other Convention know-how, be sure to attend the Program Planning webinars or email us at [email protected].

Learn More

Join the LWVUS Program Planning team for our series of webinars! These webinars will guide you through the process from beginning to the 2024 Convention. Click the button below to view sessions and register:

2024-2026 PROGRAM PLANNING WEBINARS