The Association

Purpose

The Winchester Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA) is an unincorporated private association established to enable well-informed debate and decisions during Winchester town meetings through —

• Supporting communication among town meeting members about town issues and town meeting articles; 

• Facilitating the timely distribution of information about town issues and town meeting articles to town meeting members and the public; and

• Broadening public awareness of the Winchester Town Meeting and its role in town governance.  

Membership

All duly elected or appointed and currently serving Winchester Town Meeting members in good standing, as certified by the Winchester town clerk, are members of the TMMA.  

Governance

The TMMA is an independent and impartial association organized to facilitate communications and the dissemination of information relevant to its members.  The TMMA is —

• Not an arm of the Town of Winchester or the Winchester Town Meeting;

• Not a registered lobbying or advocacy organization; and 

• Not affiliated with or supported by any political parties, corporations or interest groups.

The TMMA is governed by an executive board of nine officers elected annually from among TMMA members.  

The activities of the TMMA are supported by dues payable by voluntary contribution of the members.  

Activities

The TMMA:

• • Maintains a membership directory of current TMMA members;

  • Maintains membership and precinct email lists to facilitate communication among members;

  • Maintains a discussion board, which serves to, among other functions, provide a forum for posting of questions, information, statements and notice of relevant meetings of interest to TMMA members, and facilitate discussion among the TMMA members, all in compliance with the TMMA social media policy;

  • Provides previews of key articles coming before town meeting;

  • Hosts site tours to help familiarize members with the location and scope of capital projects, development opportunities, zoning proposals, etc., that are subject to town meeting action;

  • Hosts orientation and training sessions for new TMMA members; and

  • Hosts social gatherings to facilitate communication among TMMA members.

Meetings

The TMMA holds its annual meeting in the Fall, before the opening session of the Fall town meeting.  The annual meeting agenda includes:

• Annual report on the prior-year TMMA activities; 

• Proposed programs and activities for the coming year;

• Financial report; 

• Election of officers; and 

• Open discussion with board about priorities for the coming year.   

The TMMA may hold general meetings during the town meeting year at the initiative of the executive board or by request of TMMA members.