Program Planning 2020

Forty-eight League members attended the 2020 Program Planning Party on January 11, 2020.

: Table discussion of civic involvement & neighborhood associations

: Table discussion of health care for women & girls

Read the results of their discussions here.

What is “program Planning”?

Every January, League members do “program planning” for the following year. “Program” is the League term for issues that members have chosen for study and action, as well as for education events. Program planning involves reviewing the League’s advocacy positions to consider:

- - whether they need to be restudied or updated,
  - how we could use them to influence public policies on current issues and
  - whether we should examine the issues with an interest group or with a public panel discussion.

The Planning Process

In 2020, Portland League members reviewed the advocacy positions of the LWVUS and LWVPDX. We began with a membership “party” on January 11. Grouped at tables, members discussed some positions in depth. The chosen positions apply to current issues in the news.

There were six tables. Click on the links below to read the positions that apply to each table’s topic.

- Public Involvement in Government Decisions: LWVUS “Citizen’s Right to Know /Public Participation” Position and LWVPDX “Planning” and “Neighborhood Associations” positions
- International Trade and Our Economy: LWVUS “Trade” position and LWVPDX “Economic Development” and “Port of Portland” positions
- Climate Change and Protecting Our Environment: LWVUS “Climate Change” and “Energy” positions and LWVPDX “Metropolitan Transportation” and “Solid Waste” positions
- Equity in Education, Affordable Housing and Combatting Homelessness: LWVUS “Equality of Opportunity” and “Meeting Basic Human Needs” positions and LWVPDX positions on “Education” and “Housing”
- Immigrant Rights and Justice: LWVUS Immigration position and LWVPDX positions on Portland Police Bureau and Juvenile Justice
- Rights and Protection for Girls: LWVUS positions on “Reproductive Choice,” “Health Care” and “Human Trafficking” and LWVPDX “Teenage Girls at Risk” position

In addition to considering position updates and advocacy, members proposed educational events and interest groups that might be organized on each topic. Click here to read their proposals.

next steps

After the Program Planning Party, our member “Discussion Unit” groups discussed all the tables’ proposals. The Units reviewed and commented on all the LWVUS and LWVPDX positions. The results then were forwarded to the LWVUS and the LWV of Portland Boards. The recommendations for the Portland League were summarized and sent to all members in April. Here are the Program recommendations sent to LWVPDX members.

At the Annual Membership Meeting conducted online via Zoom on May 12, 2020, the members voted to retain all the current LWVPDX advocacy positions. They also voted to change the scope of the proposed study of Police Accountability. Then they adopted the revised plan for the study. You can read the adopted plan for Police Accountability study here. Work on the study began immediately with the goal of having a study report to send members in the winter 0f 2021.

Read the positions here or click on the links below.

Summary of the LWVUS positions from Impact on Issues

LWVPDX positions (including the new City Government position approved by the Board on January 6, 2020.)