Report from the Committee on Expanding Membership
The National Council of the League of Women Voters of the United States passed the following motion last May:
"… that each State Board provide for an off-board ad hoc committee to consult with state and local Leagues in developing more minority leadership, to train program people to develop ways in which their program areas
will be more responsive to minority interests,
to establish communications with black and/or minority organizations, to make use of Voters Service and public education projects to reach persons not usually involved in League program efforts, to develop publications and other printed material which can aid both member and leader understanding of the special contribution the League can make in the areas of community cooperation, and to examine League structures and procedures which make it difficult for the non-white, non-middle class member to participate...that these committees send reports of their progress via annual reports to the National Organization Committee."
Hawaii's committee charged with the above is labeled the Ad hoc Committee for Expanding membership." A few members of the committee were able to meet once. The others submitted their ideas by mail. !le totally agree on two things: The League of Women Voters of Hawaii does indeed need to expand its membership; and we need to use creative, less structured, approaches to do so. Our report follows.
A. USE VOTERS SERVICE AND ACTION CAMPAIGNS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH GROUPS THAT NEED AND WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BE POLITICALLY EFFECTIVE.
Conduct workshops and seminars; we provide the organization; find outside experts who will help us.
Stimulate people to expect to be responsible governed; help them over the attitude that "you can't do anything anyway" (N.B. This is an old and basic Voters Service aim).
Deal with specific tactics. that are used by administrators and politicians on citizens. For example,' how can citizens withstand the tactic of Divide and Conquer?
Start early - how about high school League clubs?
Give leadership training in the outlying areas.
Help groups to do their own Voters Service projects; sometimes just by publicizing what can be done; e.g. send a sheet to organizations with qualifications and training session times for voter registrars.
Much of the above activity will not result in new members for the League, but the League's impact would be expanded, and our existing womanpower could be turned elsewhere as other groups take on the job of being informed and active citizens.
B. MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC
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Sell publication service to the general public; to libraries,
Sponsor open meetings for the public; use a public meeting place; Idea; have sack lunch discussions in a park or the Palace grounds.
Have better publicity for what we're already doing; e.g. wear League pins when doing League work; have committee members write knowledgeable articles on her subject; what about an advertising campaign?
Keep abreast of community events. (Some organizations have Public Affairs chairman to maintain contact with the rest of the community.)
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All League meetings should include registration (as a source for potential members), information about the League, League publications.
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Participate in local issues at the neighborhood level - attend community associations and public meetings held in neighborhoods. If, for example, the windward Leaguers did a windward study, there would be more in-depth penetration, more contact with other groups and individuals who might choose to work with us.
Cooperate with other organizations: a. swap shops - we have a lot to learn too - Listen to what the Texas League was told; does it sound familiar? "The League when confronted with a pollution problem concerning the drinking water in San Antonio would go to the city council and make a nice little League statement, A Mexican American woman came before
the council with a jug of green water, poured each councilman a glass and said, 'Here you drink this, this is what we have to drink." b. work together; co-sponsor events; support their positions; sign their letters; form coalitions; announce their events; trade publications; co-present information aimed at all hinds of voters (Is it written
in Leaguese?)
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Apr 1972
June 1972
