Guidelines For LWVUS State And Local League Liaisons

PURPOSE (Why?):

Transparency and trust are paramount to the success of a federated organization. In their absence, it is difficult to promote alignment, share strategic focus and leverage opportunities for maximum impact. In short, we cannot have a healthy network without strong relationships with our state leaders. Board liaisons have a critical role in building these relationships.

OUTCOMES (What?):

The goal of the liaison’s work is to build trust, create and maintain a positive relationship and establish active lines of communication between LWVUS and the state Leagues. The liaison fosters relationships and meaningful engages with state League leaders in the states to which they have been assigned. Liaisons share information on issues of importance with state Leagues and get feedback from those leaders. They also collect information about the work of the state Leagues, including but not limited to successes, challenges and innovations. They create a sense of common community and purpose (i.e., create a sense of “we the League,” instead of “us vs. them”).

PROCESS (How?):

Liaisons build the relationship with each state League by:

• At a minimum, conduct quarterly calls with each state
• Share the talking points provided at each board meeting
• Ask questions about what they are doing
• Answer questions (or share with staff for follow up)
• Mentor/Support as appropriate (utilize mentoring best practices such as actively listening, challenging your own assumptions, and embracing curiosity)
• Participate in state-sponsored calls/activities and/or LWVUS-sponsored calls/activities that pertain to the liaison state

Updated: 7/16/2019