MASS LEAGUE ACTION
September 2024
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Legislative Victories
Despite a slow and painstaking 2023-24 legislative session, LWVMA scored major wins: An Act Modernizing Firearms, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, and An Act relative to the reduction of certain toxic chemicals in firefighter personal protective equipment will save lives–protecting residents from ghost guns, firefighters from cancer-causing chemicals, and ensuring access to midwives. In addition, the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act will reduce the gender wage gap.
Eight appeared to be the magic number this session. Massachusetts became the eighth state to include coercive control in the definition of domestic violence–a feat given this was the first session the bill was filed–and the eighth state to offer universal school meals to all students. The Commonwealth also added eight family court judges to relieve the heavy caseload burden in probate and family court. As the affordable housing crisis continues, LWVMA priorities of eviction sealing and an access to counsel pilot program were enacted.
Review a complete list of our wins HERE. Questions about specific bills? Email specialists@lwvma.org.
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Upcoming Events
September 10: LWVMA Town Hall - Membership Structure Change
September 17: National Voter Registration Day
October 26: League Leader lunch
November 5: General Election
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LAC Recruiting Specialists
Interested in advocacy at the state level? The Legislative Action Committee (LAC) is recruiting new specialists for natural resources, health care, and meeting basic human needs. Read the volunteer job description here. Contact specialists@lwvma.org for more information.
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Congratulations to our Falmouth Road Race Runners!
Falmouth Road Race co-captains Misty Niemeyer and Chinna Mapp of LWV Falmouth and Susan d. Garvey of LWVMA are pleased to announce that our running team raised funds and trained for the hills of Falmouth to finish the 7-mile race in style on August 18th.
Festivities began on Saturday afternoon at Misty’s. She hosted the pre-event welcome party at her home for our runners and their families and friends. It was a wonderful way for our runners to bond prior to the race. LWVMA Executive Director Pattye Comfort presented each runner with a thank-you poster and the official Falmouth 2024 Road Race pin as a keepsake. READ MORE
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Our runners, bottom right photo, from L-R: Tanya (LWV Wellesley), Meghan (LWV Falmouth), Anne (LWV Boston), Mae, Brian, and mascot Benny! | |
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Ballot Questions for November Election
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts is “taking no position” on Ballot Questions 1-5 for the November 5, 2024 election. This means that League members may participate in Yes or No campaigns for Ballot Questions 1-5 as individuals but should not do anything to make the public think that LWVMA or a Local League has endorsed a Yes or No campaign. Local Leagues may hold informational forums on these ballot questions and LWVMA is happy to partner on these as we did in 2022. READ MORE
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Is Your League Hosting a Candidate Forum? Please Let Us Know!
The LWVMA Voter Engagement Committee is interested in compiling all of the local League-sponsored candidate forums happening this fall. If your local League is hosting/co-sponsoring a candidate forum in your area for the 2024 election, please submit the details HERE. By gathering this data, we hope to make forum dates/information available to the public via the LWVMA website calendar and on the VOTE411 voter guide. We will continue sending out reminders to fill out this form throughout the fall. Thanks for all that you do!
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Help Make November 5 a Secure Election
In this crucial election year, our democracy needs us more than ever, and you can help the November 5 election run safely, smoothly, and securely. Between now and Election Day, we are doubling down on our work to ensure that all eligible Massachusetts voters have access to the ballot. One way we are doing this is by building a team of volunteers to monitor polling places. With our partners in the Election Protection Coalition, we are recruiting and training non-partisan poll monitors who will be sent out to high-priority polling locations across Massachusetts on Tuesday, November 5. We want to recruit at least 50 League volunteers (including spouses and friends). READ MORE
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National Voter Registration Day - September 17
National Voter Registration Day will take place this year on September 17! Check out NVRD's website for ideas on how to get involved and host a voter registration drive in your community.
High School Voter Registration Week is also coming up (September 23-27) at the end of this month. Visit The Civics Center's website to learn how to encourage high schoolers in your community to host voter drives at their schools.
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League Leader Lunch - Saturday, October 26 - Save the Date
The annual League Leader Lunch will take place on Saturday, October 26 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Harvard, MA from 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m. YW Boston facilitators will lead small group workshops on “building the leadership pipeline” and we will also get an update from the Reparations Study Committee. More info coming soon, but please plan to join us for an enriching and inspiring day!
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Reparations Study Committee Sponsors Group Discussions
The Reparations Study Committee is offering a series of group discussions on Zoom throughout the fall of 2024, facilitated by Debra Dagwan and Jeffrey Gold, centered on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ foundational essay, “The Case for Reparations.” The group discussions offer the opportunity for League members to better familiarize themselves with the concept of reparations as a path to restorative justice, and explore an American history not typically addressed in public forums. Participation involves registration, as each group discussion will be limited to 15 participants. Because space is limited, it would be ideal if each League would designate one or two of its members to participate. Every group discussion is a “one and done” experience, meant to engage the participant in respectful and reflective listening. Discussions on September 23, October 17, November 21, and December 12. Register through LWVMA's calendar of events.
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Friendly Reminder - Please Tag LWVMA on Your Social Media Posts
Please remember to tag LWVMA on Facebook (@lwvmass); Instagram (@lwvma), X (@lwvma), and YouTube (@lwvma) so we can like, share, and interact with your posts!
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From time to time, the DEI Corner will summarize a selection from the rich collection of webinars that LWVUS has created for personal and collective education about DEI. These resources support LWVMA’s commitment to provide training and tools for its members with the goal of becoming a more inclusive, welcoming, and diverse organization.Our introductory image this month is from the first of a 5-part series of modules, “The Whys and What of DEI.” The purpose of this 17-minute module is to offer a deeper look at what is meant by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and how these concepts connect to the work of the League. READ MORE. | | |
The Mass Action Newsletter is distributed to all LWVMA members. Anyone can request the Action Newsletter by clicking here. Please review this Newsletter for articles of interest to your League and include them in your local Bulletin. | | | | |
