Question for Fundraising Committee: I am wondering about how the Budget Committee determined that it was realistic to expect $22,500 from two brand new member appeals, a “Member Targeted Appeal” and an “End of Year Appeal”?
Answer from Fundraising Committee Chair, Christine Clements:
1. Last year, we brought in in-excess of $20,000 in targeted fundraising. We have done fairly well with the Candidates’ Answers Donor Request in past years.
2. No targeted end-of-year appeal was run last year, but we still brought in a substantial amount of money - perhaps tied, in part, to an article in the Bulletin. While tax laws have changed, many are used to giving at this time of year. It is hoped that a formal appeal will increase our ability to raise funds.
Overall, we don’t know what the toll of the Covid19 is going to be on fund development. The budget was done before knowledge of the pandemic was known. We know the market has been dramatically impacted. However, we have a larger, more experienced and skilled committee undertaking formal fund development. We also have a huge growth in membership. We have good reason to believe we will be able to increase funds and will be working assiduously to expand the donor base.
Question for Budget Committee:
The $197,454 final distribution from the Ogg Fund this year means that in future years we will not be receiving the annual distributions we used to get (recently $4,000 or more). How has the Board decided to utilize this money to contribute to our long-term financial stability?
Answer from Budget Committee members, Treasurer Helen Horn and Jean Jacobson:
The entire Ogg distribution will be invested with our other funds and the income from it will be available to be used to sustain ongoing and future initiatives of the LWVDC. Income from the additional funds should reliably replace the annual distribution previously available from the Ogg estate. [Frederic A. Ogg (1878-1951) was a distinguished political science professor at UW and his wife, Emma Perry Ogg (1878-1937) was president of the local league from 1927-1931 and active in the state League.]
Question for Program Committee:
While climate change is important, there are many other topics that are as important that we have not been discussing. For example, Dane County has one of the worst achievement and income gaps in the country, including serious gaps in healthcare and infant mortality. Perhaps it would be a good time, facing a depression, to look at our healthcare systems, the need for affordable housing, job training, our city and county governments.
Answer from Program Committee Chair, Mary Anglim (Proposed Program Focus Areas: Making Democracy Work and Climate Crisis)
So much has shifted in the past month in our awareness of what the future holds that it might be worth reviewing our recommendations, and that is certainly possible. One reason to continue the Climate Crisis theme is that while many citizens have been distracted by COVID-19, climate change is still an imminent threat.
Both the Climate Crisis and Making Democracy are current Program Areas the LWV US is asking us to address. The Program Committee did reach out to members with an emailed survey about the recommendations of the Program Committee and an open-ended response for other topics. The strong majority recommended continuing with the two area of focus, with some responses of other potential topics, but no topic with more than 2 responses.
Making Democracy Work is the primary campaign identified by LWVUS. At the local level it can and should address one or more of the other subjects you mentioned. I’m happy with the work with the Making Democracy Work sub-committee, which did this year address concerns across different economic groups from the Complete Census to Unlocking the Vote and the Native American Vote. I could see the LWVDC spending a whole year on the achievement gaps, but it would take a group of people committed to Making Democracy work and understanding and attacking the obstacles in that context. I encourage members who want to zero in on this or some other local issue to get involved in the work of the Program Committee and keep having this discussion.
Other comments received with ballots:
General:
"Thanks. Great report and meeting material. Impressive!"
"Wow" An excellent year end report. The candidates for Board positions are very impressive. Look forward to the year ahead."
"Go League!"
"Excellent job on making options and information clear."
"I read all the material cover to cover and am totally impressed! I am no longer able to do a lot of volunteering so am enclosing a check to help out."
Program-related:
"Needs a greater DEI lens" (Reference to Climate Crisis)
"Vague"
"I think we need to pass on climate change this year. We have other pressing issues. If you ask other members, I think they will say "Climate change is important but so are other issues." We need to address: 1. Our achievement gap/our economic gaps/our health deficiencies in our low income areas. 2. After the (current administration) has decimated many federal government departments, we need to help rebuild nationally and locally."
Budget-related:
"Assuming the Corona virus will affect this."
"Maybe optimistic given Covid-19"