Mission and By-Laws - League of Women Voters Larimer County

HomeMission, By-Laws and Goals

Mission Statement
Contact: info@lwv-larimercounty.org

The League of Women Voters (LWV), a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Membership: Any person who is age 16 or older may become a member with full voting rights in the League.

Core Values

We are a nonpartisan political membership organization that never endorses, supports or opposes any political candidate or political party.

We believe grassroots initiatives and consensus building are the strengths of our organization.
We believe that our organization models the principles of good governance.
We consider well before taking action and prepare well before beginning to act.
We believe that citizenship requires knowledge, as well as the ability and will to act.
We believe that the responsibility of good government rests on the shoulders of its citizens.
We believe that the rights of citizens at home and abroad are interdependent.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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.

Political … but Non-Partisan

Since its founding, the League of Women Voters committed to neither support or oppose any political party or candidate for public office. This tradition continues today to ensure that the League’s voice is heard above the tumult of party politics. The nonpartisan policy has added strength to the League’s position on issues. It has made possible wide acceptance of League voter service and other educational activities.

Nonpartisan means that the League never supports or opposes political parties or candidates or appointees. All League members need to remember that the League’s reputation for fairness is long-standing and hard-won and needs to be guarded. We invite you to read more about our NonPartisan Policy

Although we DO NOT support candidates, we do research, recommend, and support ballot issues that are supported by League positions.

The League is a political organization and encourages members to participate fully in the party of their choice. It is an advantage to the League to have politically active members, and equally important, it can be a personally satisfying experience.

“In the League of Women Voters we have an anomaly; we are going to be a semi-political body. We want political things; we want legislation; we’re going to educate for citizenship. In that body we have got to be non-partisan and all-partisan. Democrats from Alabama and Republicans from New Hampshire must work for the same things.”

Carrie Chapman Catt at the League’s founding in Chicago, 1920

What does this mean for Members?

Individual League members are encouraged to be politically active. However, when they participate in partisan activities, they may not identify themselves as League members.

A League will be a strong and effective political force to the degree that it can deal with and accept controversy and live with uncertainty.

Keep in mind that conflict of interest may arise between a “board” member’s paid employment and her or his role in the League. Visit with a member of the Administrative Team with any concerns or questions you may have.

League Statements

No member (including officers) may speak for the League unless they have first obtained review and approval by a majority of Administrative Team of the proposed statement.

Key Member Restrictions

Certain individuals who have high public visibility as officers or leaders of the League (Key Members) are restricted from partisan activity. Members can review the details in the Member handbook.

Goals for 2019-2021, adjusted for D.E.I.

The League of Women Voters of Larimer County will:

1. Pursue all forms of Diversity and assure Equity and Inclusion in our membership, our activities, collaboration, and community interactions, in ways that represent the diversity of our Larimer County community;

2. Expand and deepen personal and organizational communications, both internally and externally. Foster and engage in meaningful connections, conversations, and activities within our membership and in partnership with other community groups that reflect the diversity of Larimer County;

3. Increase our capacity through use of appropriate technology, increased diversity in membership and leadership, and creating sustainable funding for mission impact work;

4. Work inclusively with diverse groups of common purpose to foster effective advocacy while adhering to our nonpartisan standards, as well as respecting individual and cultural differences;

5. Increase civic education and participation of diverse populations of Larimer County.

League Resource Documents

LWVLC By-Laws
By-Laws 2020-2021

LWV Programs and Issues
The League - national, state and local - takes action on public policy issues, supporting or opposing issues. Action may include workshops for members, lobbying government officials, petition drives, publishing information for the general public and the news media, and holding public forums. The League of Women Voters takes action only after members have studied an issue and agreed on a position.

The current Impact on Issues reflects the 2016-2018 program adopted by the 2016 convention of the LWVUS; the “positions in brief” listed there summarize the official statements of positions included in this guide. This document is updated following each biennial convention.

LWV National Positions

LWVColorado Positions
The LWVCO Program for Study and Action 2018 is a summary of the positions that Colorado League Members has adopted and the advocacy work based on them. The League of Women Voters takes action only after members have studied an issue and agreed on a position.
Download the Free PDF

LWV Larimer County Positions

Local Planning

Support for maintaining and strengthening a sense of place and community identity in Larimer County communities by encouraging the use of downtown areas as the primary cultural and governmental centers and by using a variety of measures to insure the economic vitality of downtown areas. Encourage the inclusion of a mix of goods and services and of housing types to attract a diverse group of people, including families.

Support of adequate funding for comprehensive planning and its implementation, including periodic review and monitoring, by Larimer County and its cities and towns. This should include intergovernmental and regional planning.

Support for the principle that the costs of capital improvements resulting from growth should be borne by those who benefit from them but that special allowances should be made for affordable housing and for natural areas.

Continued support for acquisition of open space.

Number of Larimer County Commissioners

Supports increasing the number of Larimer County Commissioners from three to five and exclusively supports the following two election options for the ballot:

Five commissioners, each elected by voters in their representative districts.

Three commissioners elected by voters in their representative districts and two countywide commissioners elected at-large.

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)

The League of Women Voters of Larimer County supports an alternative to plurality voting that would accomplish the following objectives:

Every person’s vote should count.

A winner should have majority support.

Furthermore, we also support alternatives that can be expected to:

maximize voter participation;

be open to a variety of candidates and ideas;

encourage positive, issue-based campaigning.

We believe that in single-seat elections, IRV (Instant Runoff voting) has the best chance of meeting these objectives.

Library Funding

The LWV-LC supports funding of public libraries in Larimer County either through voter-approved property tax or a combination of dedicated property tax and public general fund revenue. Dedicated property tax provides a more stable and predictable source of funding for public libraries than one that depends solely on general fund revenues.