LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TENNESSEE

Forty-fourth State Convention

April 25 & 26, 2009

Scarritt-Bennett Center, Nashville, TN

Acting President, Judy Poulson, called the meeting to order on Saturday, April 25th. The credentials report showed that there was a quorum of Leagues represented. The convention rules and the agenda were adopted. Claudia Lever, Laurel Karp, and Shelley Ames agreed to review the minutes of the convention. Poulson presented the treasurer's report as distributed in each delegate's packet. There was no further discussion of the report.

Nominating Committee: Janis Williams presented the slate of Co-Presidents Nancy Stewart and Margie Parsley; Vice President, Kathy Edwards; Secretary, Laurel Karp; Treasurer, Judy Poulson; Directors Alan Karp, Lucy Gibson, Faith Tapp, Barbara Devaney, and Katrina Gay. The Nominating Committee for 2009-2011 will be Claudia Lever, Chair, Sharon Fidler, and Jo Singer. Appointees will be made to the nominating committee as designated in the bylaws.

Budget: Margie Parsley presented the proposed budget as distributed in the delegate's packet. The major differences from last year's budget include an increase of MAL dues from $35.00 to $40.00 and an increase of the state PMP from $17.00 to $18.00. Parsley then moved we adopt the budget. The motion was seconded.

Proposed Program: Claudia Lever moved the adoption of the proposed program as found in the delegates’ packet. The items include Education, Electoral Process, Financing State and Local Government, Health Care, Judicial Organization, and Juvenile Services. The delegates discussed the phrase "Modified Missouri Plan" and Stewart moved we change "the" to "a" in the same phrase. The motion was seconded. In the Health Care position, in the section labeled "Primary and Acute Health Care" in the first sentence, Stewart moved that the phrase "the most" cost effective be eliminated. The motion was seconded. Under Electoral Process, the concept of open or closed primaries was discussed at length. Nancy Corley, Hendersonville League, moved we restudy the issue of open or closed primaries. The motion was seconded.

The delegates then heard a presentation, from Chuck Head with TDEC, outlining the monitoring and regulating of coal ash ponds at the TVA Kingston plant. Elisabeth McNamara, 1^st VP from the national league then conducted an exercise in encouraging membership and in leadership strategies. Sunday morning's presentation was from Stuart Clifton who reviewed the bills under consideration by the current legislature. He noted the increased presence and influence of the state league on the hill.

Sunday morning's business meeting began at 10:15. The budget was adopted without further discussion. No further nominations for officers or directors were presented and the slate was adopted as presented. The board will nominate three more people to the nominating committee. The election of the Ed Fund Trustees passed without comment. With regards to program, the Education, Financing State and Local Government, Juvenile Services, and Juvenile Justice positions were re-adopted without change. The Electoral Process position was re-adopted as amended to include the study of closed vs. open primaries. Under the Health Care position, the delegates voted to adopt the previously proposed change excluding "the most". Alan Karp then moved that we amend the last phrase of the position's introduction to change the "and" to "as well as" between federal governments/medical insurance carriers. The motion was seconded and passed. Under Judicial Organization, Stewart moved that the position be amended to say "The League supports a merit based selection and retention plan for selection of judges at the appellate level". This would be at the end of the first paragraph of the position as well as at the beginning of the third bullet. The motion was seconded and passed as amended.

Elisabeth McNamara then thanked Judy Poulson for her work as acting president of the state League and presented her with a certificate from the national board. Nancy Stewart addressed the convention delegates. She indicated trying new approaches, including moving the meeting areas around the state, developing a uniform poll observation procedure, getting more action chairs at each league, and following up with field service to MALs.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:15.

Janis Williams, Secretary