What a convention! Thank you Leaguers! 

Together, we stepped up, raised our hands, opened our calendars and did the work at our first virtual convention. As our bylaws mandate, every two years we execute the business of the League so that we are prepared for the next two years of advancing our mission. 

Our Convention committee, chaired by Cheryl Budzinski, set a high bar this year, with a number of "firsts":
  • More delegates than ever before attended Convention; there were 159 registered delegates from 34 local Leagues.
  • Materials were available to all members on the LWVIL website convention page one month before convention,rather than at the delegate check-in table on opening day. 
  • Delegates' personal information was protected; names and emails remained private.
  • A delegate Google group provided an opportunity to connect with a wide group of new friends, rather than rely on a chance meeting in a hotel ballroom. More than 60 delegates chose to join this group.
  • Zoom polling meant voting was truly anonymous and accurate - and results were displayed immediately

Convention gives us a time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and choose our path forward.

This year the board of directors delivered a stronger organization than it began with in 2019 - the list of accomplishments is staggering. The board recommendations for the coming biennium are the result of thousands of volunteer hours, facilitated by new technology and driven by a single purpose - to grow and advance the mission.

As our new executive director, Azisti Dembowski, said when she opened Convention:
“As the blight of pandemic subsides, we are filled with drive and ambition, and we are ready to make an impact...we are strong, progressive, and adaptable as needed.”

We are on solid ground and very ready to move ahead together. Let’s take a look at the decisions made at Convention and how they propel us forward.
Each topic is linked directly to the LWVIL website - click on any underlined topic or find them all on the LWVIL website Convention page.
Background: As is the norm, the nominating committee interviewed and recommended a fully vetted slate of both returning and new officers and directors. However, this year delegates voted for the office of president separately, after a nomination from the floor challenged the slated candidate for president.

The vote: The nominating committee's entire recommended slate was elected.

What it means: LWVIL's new board began their term at the close of Convention.

President: Allyson Haut, LWV Wilmette
Treasurer: Jenny Grochowski, LWV Chicago
Secretary: Cate Williams, LWV McHenry,
Vice President, Voter Service: Kathy Kenny, LWV Naperville
Vice President, Issues & Advocacy: Rosemary Heilemann, LWV Deerfield/Lincolnshire
Vice President, Governance: Laurie Rose, LWV Lake Forest/Lake Bluff
Director, Voter Service: Melissa Lieb , LWV LaGrange Area
Director, Issues & Advocacy: Jean Pierce, LWV Central Kane County
Director, Communications: Sara Kurensky, LWV Wilmette
Director, Communications: Roberta Borrino , LWV Roselle-Bloomingdale 
Nominating Committee Chair: Jan Dorner
Nominating Committee: Rianne Hawkins, Holly Wilper
Background: The Issues and Advocacy committee presented a Program composed of three pillars or groups of foci. This is a shift from the approach of past years, when any number of individual foci were proposed. In addition, after four years of study and consensus from local Leagues, the Criminal Justice Position committee presented an update to LWVIL’s position

The vote: The Program and addition of the criminal justice position update to Where We Stand were approved as proposed. 

What it means: These three pillars establish a wide variety of items that Issues and Advocacy will monitor for necessary action:
  • Voting Rights and Election Processes
  • Address the Climate Change Crisis
  • Equitably Meeting Basic Human Needs
Background: The board began the biennium with a significant budget deficit. A highly successful benefit and two end of year fundraising campaigns, along with timely bequests and a PPP loan, helped stabilize the LWVIL financial position. However, the Budget committee recognized the need for a more sustainable budget and delivered a 2021-2023 biennium budget that reduces staff costs without requiring an increase in per member payments (PMP).

The vote: The budget was adopted as proposed.

What it means:
  • PMP remains at $32 for the next two years.
  • LWVIL is now positioned to focus more effectively on expanding voter service and advocacy efforts.
  • The approved budget continues to include a deficit, although lower than previous years.
  • The board continues to seek additional revenue sources for a balanced, sustainable budget.
The LWVIL board was charged at the 2019 convention with continuing the transition of LWVIL, a 501(c)(4) organization, and LWVILEF, a 501(c)(3), to a single 501(c)(3) organization.

In order to continue with the transition, the IRS requires specific language in an organization's bylaws. This language was included in bylaw amendment #2. The transition was presented and debated during Convention.

Background: The 501(c)(3) Transition committee put in thousands of hours to discern the best path forward.

For two years they worked with the constant guidance of an expert legal team and LWVUS tax consultant with extensive experience with nonprofit organizations and deeply familiar with specific LWVIL needs. The committee’s recommendations for the transition are based on thousands of hours of analysis of the LWVIL finances, LWVIL staff hours, and mission activities. The fact-based rationale for the transition was shared extensively with League leaders and members, beginning last March and continuing through Convention. 
 
Immediately prior to convention, incorrect information was sent to delegates by other delegates, Issue Specialists, and League members. The misinformation created confusion and challenged the integrity of LWVIL's recommendations.

The vote: A majority of delegates voted in favor, however bylaw amendment #2 failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to pass. Without the IRS required bylaw language, the 501(c)(3) transition cannot proceed.

 What it means: 
  • LWVIL continues to function as two entities - LWVIL, the 501(c)(4) and LWVILEF, the 501(c)(3). 
  • LWVIL/LWVILEF continues to incur expenses of more than $8000/year for duplicate operations. 
  • Money spent on redundant audits and staff time is not available for mission work. 
  • Volunteer board time allocated to managing a second entity is not available for mission work.  
  • The board will continue to explore the most fiscally responsible ways for LWVIL to maximize the money and time available for mission work and will educate members about its findings. 
  • LWVIL will continue to advise and guide local Leagues that are making the transition to 501(c(3) entities.
Every biennium the bylaws are reviewed and revised as necessary. This biennium the bylaws committee proposed changes that were grouped into ten amendments. Eight were adopted. Two were the focus of debate and were not adopted. One of those involved the transition of LWVIL/LWVILEF to a single 501(c)(3) organization.

The following amendments were adopted in the form recommended by the bylaws committee.

AMENDMENT #1: 
Language changes for consistency and clarity throughout the bylaws. Key clarity changes include: 
  • ILOs are referenced and defined as either interstate (representing the interests of a group of multiple state Leagues) or intrastate (representing the interests of a group of Illinois local Leagues)
  • MAL, (Member at large) which means “bad” in Spanish, was changed to MAS (Member around the state) , which means “more.” LWVIL is at the forefront of other organizations making similar sensitive changes. 

AMENDMENT #3:
Changes to Article V - Officers: Defines Secretary and Treasurer jobs; eliminates possibility for combining the two positions.

AMENDMENT #4
Changes to Article VI - Board of Directors
Changes made to define the qualifications, powers and behavior of the LWVIL Board.

AMENDMENT #6
Change to Article XI Program - 
Provides a better definition of changes in the proposed Program

AMENDMENT #7
Changes to Article XII - Financial Administration
Removed the Pilot Membership program as it has not been used in the past two years and would be difficult to administer. Section 5 on dissolution of funds had been recommended as part of Amendment #2, but when that didn’t pass, all related information reverted to its original form.  

AMENDMENT #8
Requires board members to sign a conflict of interest proposal; best practice per advice of counsel.

AMENDMENT #9
Change in Indemnification and Liability insurance to comply with best practice per advice of counsel. 

AMENDMENT #10
Adds Article XVII, wording taken directly from Illinois law, in the interest of transparency, protects a member’s right to inspect books and records. Best practice per advice of counsel. .

The following amendments were not adopted in the form recommended by the bylaws committee.

AMENDMENT #2
Added language required by IRS for 501(c)(3) transition.

AMENDMENT #5
Background: The word “intrastate” was added to this section in order to correct a situation where out of state interests send delegates to LWVIL convention. The situation is similar to LWVUS claiming a vote at the conventions of its members. A delegate from the Lake Michigan Region ILO (LMR, interstate) presented a last minute amendment to amendment #5, removing the specification that only intrastate ILOs can send voting delegates to Convention.

The vote: The amendment to amend the amendment was carried by a simple majority of delegates, and Amendment #5 was then passed as amended.
What it means: 
  • All references limiting convention delegates to intrastate ILOs are removed from the bylaws.  
  • ILOs with multiple out of state interests may continue to send voting delegates to Convention. 
  • LWVIL remains the only state in the 7-state region serving the Upper Mississippi River Region and Lake Michigan Region ILOs whose bylaws allow interstate ILO delegates to vote at their convention.   
The foundation and the future.
This report summarizes the work of the LWVIL board committees - the goals set in 2019, the challenges, and the accomplishments. It also features each committee's "next steps" - their charge and inspiration for the coming biennium. Read about the foundation and the future.

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