December, 1981

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February, 1982

Looking Ahead with League President's Message (Barbara Farwell) Vote Counts: Fun Earning Funds How Observant Are You? Teamsters' Election a Winner for LWV! Christmas Luncheon a Success Nuclear Waste Disposal: A Critical Issue (Ardis Shaw) E.R.A. (Ruth J. Hinerfeld) Membership Update Calendar Current Studies / Current Action Programs Honolulu League Program Recommendations for 1982-84 National Program

President's Message In the rush of day-to-day League activity there is rarely time for assessing past work, let alone long-range planning. We go on, month after month, year after year, often wishing we had time to sit down and take stock, yet too pressured to do so. Because of this the Board is planning a retreat in January. We'll have our usual business meeting -- abbreviated -- and then discuss the concerns we have about League. I'd like to share some of these concerns with you, and if you have ideas, please call me. We want to hear from you. League faces the same crunch as other volunteer organizations: fewer people available to do the work. For years the Honolulu League has had a double duty: staffing and running the local League, and staffing most positions on the State Board. The result is a large number of members who have served on Boards and as study chairs who now want to move on to other activities. We are now feeling the long-term effect in a shrinking pool of volunteers. We must find ways to structure our work to accommodate members who are busy with jobs, school, family, and other organizations. Perhaps League itself needs to be restructured. Our meetings are poorly attended. Those who answered our survey last spring indicated a preference for a combination of day and evening meetings, and for units, and yet few come to our day meetings or to units. (An exception was the Christmas luncheon.) Most organizations around town now meet in the evening. Thus, the Board must decide how we can structure our meetings, if there are alternatives to units that would draw in those who enjoy small meetings. And with this we also must evaluate our programs and our committee activity. We must move from our office as the building is coming down. To stay in town means a commitment of perhaps $2000-3000 more per year -- money we must raise somehow. Those of us who must often be at City Hall and the State Legislature prefer the convenience of a downtown office. However, at the present time we do not have anyone working solely on fund raising. Do we want to make a commitment to spend the money necessary to stay in town? How do we balance convenience against cost? No matter where we relocate, keeping an office is an expensive proposition. These are a few League concerns we will be discussing at the January Board retreat. I hope you will make these your concerns, for League is only as strong as its members. Barbara Farwell Because of the importance of program planning, the promised material on initiative, and League City Charter testimony, will be printed in the next Voter instead of this one. We want members to give extra attention to the program planning material; please read this material carefully and decide what League should be studying and acting on. Make your membership count -- send in your program ballot. Now!

December, 1981

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February, 1982