Monthly discussion groups are a key element in the League’s process of studying issues, reaching consensus and guiding the board in its work toward developing positions. We currently have 17 active units around the Greater Seattle area, including the eastside.
The different discussion groups, also known as “units”, are generally comprised of League members living or working in a specified neighborhood in the Greater Seattle area. The groups meet once a month, usually within 10 days of the monthly public forum, to discuss the study topic provided in that month’s Seattle Voter (our newsletter) and embellished upon at the forum. It is not necessary to live in West Seattle in order to participate in the West Seattle units, or work in Ballard in order to join a Ballard unit. League members are free to join any discussion group they like. Meetings take place during daytime and evening hours.
Each group is headed by a “unit leader” whose job it is to relay information from the League board to its group members and make sure that each month’s meeting has a discussion leader and recorder. The unit leader also communicates with the unit coordinator regarding the date, time and location of each upcoming meeting. The discussion leader guides the group through the study’s consensus questions and the recorder transcribes the main points of consensus, which will then be delivered to the board. At that point, the board goes through the consensus from units and formulates the League’s new positions on issues.
Discussion is not formal and does not employ parliamentary procedure. Instead, it is an open forum among the group’s members, exploring all avenues of each question. Discussion is non-judgmental and on-topic.