State Program Portfolio
"Program" includes LWVMD positions, development of new LWVMD positions through consensus or concurrence, and action (advocacy) based on those positions.
The LWVMD Program Chair, usually a Vice-President, is responsible for coordinating the program development process and consensus or concurrence process, and revision of Study and Action: A Leader's Guide to State Program.
Program Development
The Program Chair requests, four months before State Convention, that LLs and MAL Units review existing state positions, propose changes, and submit proposals for topics they believe require new or extensively updated LWVMD positions. The LLs and MAL Units also propose a new study either with consensus or concurrence as the appropriate method of developing new state positions.
The Board reviews the LL proposals and presents its recommendations to the LLs and MAL at least two months before Convention.
Convention delegates consider the Board's recommendations and may adopt them by a majority vote. Delegates may also, by a majority vote, grant consideration to proposals that the Board did not recommend; they may adopt such proposals by a two-thirds vote.
Existing positions, ratified by the Convention, become the basis for Action (see pages 2-4); the consensus or concurrence process begins for topics adopted by the Convention which require new state positions.
Consensus and Concurrence
"Consensus" is agreement statewide among a substantial number of members, based upon the sense of meeting discussions, or other venues for expressing opinions. Consensus is not necessarily unanimous, nor is it a simple majority. Consensus is not achieved through a vote!"Concurrence" is agreement statewide among a substantial number of members with an existing position of a LL or leagues. It may also mean agreement with positions developed by a resource committee appointed by the Board, or with positions of Leagues outside of Maryland. LLs may either accept or reject in total the positions proposed for concurrence: the wording cannot be changed.
Consensus and concurrence are valid only when two-thirds of the LLs take part in the process.
The Consensus and Concurrence Process
The Board appoints a committee chair who conducts the study or concurrence process, in coordination with the LWVMD Program Chair. The committee chair assembles a committee whose members are representatives of LLs, and sets time frames for the committee's work, including deadlines for LLs to submit Consensus or Concurrence Reports to the state Program Chair.
The Board gives notice to LLs six months before the consensus or concurrence deadline so they may include them in LL calendars.
The committee researches the topic, generates objective Fact Sheets and background data, develops Consensus Questions or Concurrence Statements which link back to the Fact Sheets, and a Reporting Form. These materials are sent to LLs who make the Fact Sheets available to their members, generally through LL newsletters. LL members may then meet to discuss the Consensus Questions or Concurrence Statements, or other means may be used (e.g., mail, email, telephone polling) with approval of the Board. LLs complete the Reporting form (one consolidated form for LLs which have more than one meeting group) and forward it to the LWVMD Program Chair by the deadline stated.
The LWVMD Program Chair convenes a committee to determine consensus and concurrence results. The committee includes the Program Chair, one additional Board member, the study committee chair (on or off-Board) and three members representing LLs of various sizes and geographic locations: they will analyze the Report Forms from each LL, report the results to the Board, and propose for the Board's approval the positions on which consensus was achieved. (Positions for concurrence were approved at the time materials were released to the LLs).
After LWVMD Board approval, the positions are released to members and the general public (where appropriate), and Action may be taken based on them. The new positions are ratified at the next LWVMD Convention, or occasionally at State Council. (in an emergency situation)
Revisions to Study and Action
The LWVMD Program and Action Chairs collaborate after the biennial state Convention to update Study and Action. The revision should, whenever possible, be completed by early fall of the Convention year.