Per the LWVUS Bylaws, the LWVUS Board must approve the formation, merging, and disbandment of League entities, as well as all League name changes and boundary changes. The LWVUS Board votes on organizational changes several times throughout the year. State and local Leagues should send any requests for merging Leagues to the LWVUS Board via this online form. (Links to this and other forms for organizational changes are located in the Guide to LWVUS Services for Leagues.) All requests for mergers from local Leagues must be approved by the state League before they can be approved by the LWVUS Board.
Procedure When Two or More Leagues Become One
When two or more Leagues combine into one, the intent is that full League activity continues in the combined geographic area of the existing Leagues. If a struggling League disbands because of diminishing membership and deteriorating interest in League activities, its members may, of course, join a nearby League as individuals but all local program is lost in the area of the disbanded League. If, however, one or more Leagues are dissolved with the intent that their members as a group merge with established adjoining League, here is the procedure to follow:
- Consulting with the state League from the beginning, the local League boards discuss the proposed change separately and collectively, and decide on a recommendation.
- Members of affected Leagues are given the opportunity to discuss and approve or disapprove as outlined here: This recommendation is presented to the membership at unit or general meetings, with advance information given in the local League newsletter. This information should include any budget adjustment needed if the change will create expanded administrative, program or voters service responsibilities. Membership understanding and agreement are essential to successful change. This agreement may be obtained by the discussion/consensus process or by a formal vote at a meeting called for this purpose.
- Formal application, using the form below. Upon notification of approval by the LWVUS Board, a steering committee composed of leaders from each of the local Leagues is formed to undertake these tasks:
- Draft new or revised bylaws (see bylaws template here); Make recommendations for local program; Draw up a proposed budget (based on the total PMP applicable to all Leagues involved, as of the most recent January membership count); Prepare a slate of officer and director nominees. The resulting information is sent to members in each local League.
- Members in each local League vote to combine (one or more having agreed to dissolve), and then meet together. (Management of this process is accomplished most readily by holding all meetings under one roof on the same day.) Members proceed with regular business of an annual meeting, including adoption of program and budget and election of officers and directors.
The timing of approval for a merger request depends on when the request is submitted and how close it is to a Board meeting. Organizational change requests are presented to the Board in a report before each meeting and voted on at the meeting. There are LWVUS Board meetings in January, March, June, and September. Once the vote is approved, the changes are then processed (roster portal, logo, etc.) and the state League and any contacts listed on the request form are notified.
For further questions, contact governance@lwv.org. If you have questions about the process for state League approval, contact your state League.