LWVNM Board Handbook

League of Women Voters of New Mexico (LWVNM)

Handbook for Board of Directors

Approved by the LWVNM Board, 2022; Revised, September 2025

About the League

Mission: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

Vision: We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate.

Value: We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy.

Principles: We believe in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States. We believe that all powers of the U.S. government should be exercised within the constitutional framework of a balance among the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. We believe that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation in government and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible.

We believe every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and no person or group should suffer legal, economic, or administrative discrimination.

We believe efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.

We believe responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy, and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems.

We believe cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems and that development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.

(Source: Impact on Issues 2020-2022, p. 9)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement: LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.

(Source: lwv.org, February 21, 2022)

Diversity: LWVNM tools for maintaining diversity include the diversity fund and the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee.

Nonpartisanship: The League does not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. However, the League can and does take positions on issues, and can advocate on legislation based on the state positions, which can be found on the website at https://lwvnm.org/positions.php

Speaking with one voice: Members may act in the name of the League only as authorized by the appropriate League board.

Grassroots Structure: Local League members are members of their state and national Leagues. The League builds its positions through involvement of members at the local, state, and national levels. Positions reflect study and consensus on the part of members or concurrence with another League’s position

LWVUS Resources

League brand standards

Federal Action Request form: All action at the federal level must be authorized by LWVUS

League Basics: Essential policy and organizational information for state and local Leagues.

National Positions: Impact on Issues, including background on the application of positions.

What LWVNM Provides

Legislative Advocacy: Trains volunteers on how to advocate at the Legislature, organizes the corps of volunteer advocates on a variety of issues, provides handouts for legislators. See lwvnm/Action.

Legislative Tracking: Maintains a list of important bills on subjects where the League has a position, with their current status.

Website: https://lwvnm.org/

State Positions: https://lwvnm.org/positions.php

State Studies: https://lwvnm.org/programs.php

Making Democracy Work Recognition

Pays for Vote411 license for a state-wide Voter Guide, plus Native American Voter Guides.

Pays for Constant Contact for all New Mexico Leagues.

Applies for Grants and distributes funds.

Provides a liaison for LWVUS.

LWVNM Board Administration

https://www.lwvnm.org/BDocs/LWVNM_Bylaws.pdf

State board structure: The officers of LWVNM are

President

First Vice-President/President-Elect

Second Vice President

Action Chair

Past President

Secretary

Treasurer

The board includes the officers and not more than eight elected directors together with the presidents of the local Leagues. The officers and directors elected at the Convention take office immediately after the Convention. The board may appoint six additional directors to serve as the need arises in relationship to projects adopted by the state board.

Board Portfolios (Job Descriptions), including descriptions for committee chairs, webmaster, voter guide editor, appear on the web page https://www.lwvnm.org/documents.php

Basic Board Responsibilities:

Mission: Take actions in support of the mission of LWV.

Operations: Establish goals and priorities; engage in membership development, fund raising, and public relations; approve membership in coalitions.

Financial: Execute any financial policies deemed to be in the best interest of the organization; ensure compliance with the adopted financial policies and procedures; ensure that all financial reports are fair and complete; arrange for annual review of the organization’s financial records; approve changes to the budget in excess of $250.

Convention: Appoint members of the Nominating Committee and the Budget Committee as specified in the bylaws in advance of the biennial convention.

Legal Responsibilities of the Board: Operate within the parameters of the organization’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, and federal, state, and local laws.

Responsibilities of Individual Board Members

Absences from Board meetings: Two consecutive absences from a board meeting without notification to the president or secretary and without a valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.

Executive Committee: Consisting of the president and four other board members elected by the board following the convention, the executive committee acts for the board between regular meetings, provided that any action taken shall be reported to the board at its next meeting.  Three members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum to transact business.

Conflict of Interest: Each director, officer, and member of a committee with board-delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms the member has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy; has read and understands the policy; has agreed to comply with the policy; and understands that LWVNM is a charitable organization and, in order to maintain its federal tax exemption, must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes. https://www.lwvnm.org/BDocs/Policy/ConflictOfInterest.php

Office Space: The conference room is at 6739 Academy Road, Suite 126, Albuquerque, NM.

Archives: The archives are located at UNM.

Strategic Planning Process (in development)

Board Meetings: Four meetings are required annually. Current practice includes board meetings in January, March, April, July, September, and November. Meetings may be held in person or online or in a hybrid format. Board reports are due before the meeting so that a packet of materials can be provided in advance. The bylaws also provide for the conduct of business by email and electronic polling.

First Steps for a New Board Member

Preparing for Board Meetings

During the Board Meeting

Electronic Voting: Votes on urgent matters can be taken between board meetings by email, if necessary.

Communications

Board, internal: Official board communications are generally sent by email.

With membership: La Palabra, the state newsletter, is published four times per year. (https://lwvnm.org/newsletters.php)

Constant Contact is used to send messages to members throughout the state.

Point of contact for messages: Hannah Burling, Judy Williams, Kathy Brook.

With local Leagues: Local League representatives on the state board.

With members and the public: LWVNM website. Point of contact: webmaster@lwvnm.org

State League Program and Positions

The program of LWVNM consists of those governmental issues chosen by the Convention for concerted study and advocacy on issues for which the League has positions. The program is adopted by majority vote at state convention. LWVNM Council is authorized to change program only in an emergency.

Positions are adopted or revised either by a study and consensus, or by concurrence with another League’s position.

In Consensus, a group of members studies an issue in depth, typically for one or two years, reading articles and books and speaking to experts in the field. After conducting an investigation, the study committee prepares a set of Consensus Questions which are approved by the LWVNM Board and then presented to all the local Leagues in Consensus Meetings, at which each question is discussed and one person at the meeting records the group’s answers to the question. Consensus is the process whereby members, through discussion, decide the "sense of the group." After all the consensus meetings, the study group drafts a new position, or amends an existing one; this is presented to the Board for approval and then must be confirmed by a vote at the next state Convention.

Concurrence is the act of agreeing with a position reached by another League.

Positions: LWVNM can advocate based on either state or national positions. State positions can be found on the website at https://lwvnm.org/positions.php

National positions can be found at LWVUS Impact on Issues

Recent studies and programs and program history are on the website under https://lwvnm.org/programs.php

LWVNM Committees

All committees except the Budget, Nominating, and Executive Committees, as defined in the bylaws (https://www.lwvnm.org/BDocs/LWVNM_Bylaws.pdf) are open to all members. Descriptions of the Budget and Nominating Committees appear in the Convention section while the Executive Committee is listed with the Board Structure.

To join any committee, use the link to contact the chair(s) and they will get back to you.

Action Committee: Vice-chairs: Dick Mason, Akkana Peck, and Hannah Burling. The Action Committee consists of members of the League who are interested in learning about the legislative process, following the actions of the legislature, doing research on issues and bills, and advocating with the legislature on behalf of the League. The committee works year-round on the organization’s priority issues and meets weekly during the legislative session to track and respond to developments. All members are welcome. Go to the action tab on www.lwvnm.org to add yourself to the LWVNM action list. Co-chairs of the committee set the agenda.

Action Subcommittees track developments in legislation and advocate based on the relevant League position(s).

Education Committee: Co-chairs: Meredith Machen and Eileen VanWie https://www.lwvnm.org/programs.php#education

Health Care Committee: Co-chairs: Judy Williams, Dick Mason, and Akkana Peck

Immigration Committee: Chair: Meredith Machen

Environment Committee: Co-chairs: Barbara Calef and Judy Williams

Nuclear Power Issues: Chair: Karen Douglas

Fair Districts for New Mexico

JEDI: JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION: Dedicated to ensuring that LWVNM is welcoming and actively supports full participation from all parts of NM society, especially those not traditionally affiliated with LWVNM. The committee fosters activist membership that opens doors to dynamic, nonpartisan participation in civic life. (Chair: currently vacant)

Women’s Issues: Chair: Meredith Machen

Communications Committee: Shapes and delivers the League’s message to the public, stakeholders, and the media. It manages external communications such as press releases, newsletters, opinion pieces, social media and website content to ensure clear, consistent, and strategic messaging to raise awareness, mobilize support, and amplify the organization’s advocacy goals. (Chair: Janet Blair)

Voter Services Committee: Comprised of local League Voter Services chairs or representatives and the LWVNM Voter Services Chair.  The committee shares VOTE411 system information, discusses issues and coordinates activities to publish the online VOTE411 Voter Guides prior to elections.  The Voter Guides provide information about the elections as well as responses directly from the candidates, allowing voters to compare candidates side by side before making their selections. (Acting Chair: Edwina Jaramillo)

Convention

LWVNM Convention is held biennially. The Convention is responsible for electing officers and directors, approving a balanced biennial budget, approving changes in positions, adopting state program, and conducting other business as needed. The first call to Convention is issued at least four months in advance. Convention is currently held the last weekend in April. The location rotates among the four local Leagues, or it can be held online.

Budget Committee: The state board shall appoint a budget committee at least four months in advance of Convention. The treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of the committee but shall not serve as chair. The committee shall prepare a balanced budget for the next two fiscal years and present it to the state board for approval during the state board meeting preceding the convention.

State Program: A recommended program is developed by the state board with input from individual members and Local Leagues.

Bylaws Committee: The Bylaws Committee drafts changes to the bylaws as necessary and presents them to the state board for approval. To be adopted, each amendment must receive a two-thirds vote from the delegates at Convention.

Nominating Committee: Includes five members. The chair and two members are elected at Convention and the remaining two are appointed by the board.

LWVNM Council is held in the interim year between conventions and provides guidance to the board on program and methods of work. It may confirm or modify the budget for the coming year and transact other business presented by the board. The location rotates among the four local Leagues, or it can be held online.

LWVNM Education Fund The Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization that can accept tax deductible contributions to be used for educational purposes.

The governing board includes the LWVNM President.

Resources

Bylaws: https://www.lwvnm.org/BDocs/LWVNM_Bylaws.pdf

Policies and Procedures: Under: https://lwvnm.org/documents.php

Positions: https://lwvnm.org/positions.php

League History: materials from the 2020 Women’s Vote Centennial. See also About the League of Women Voters.

State League Calendar: https://www.lwvnm.org/calendar.php

What LWVUS Provides

Guide to LWVUS Services for Leagues | League of Women Voters

Advocacy

Litigation

Vote411

DEI

Membership and Organizational Management

Brand and Image Assets

Digital Communications

Press

Organizing

Grants

Financing and Fundraising

Information Exchange

National Meetings: Share ideas and strategies with people from other Leagues, and vote on future LWV policies and directions.