PRESIDENT'S LETTER
The holiday season is always busy, but I hope you will take time to reflect on what the League has meant to you in the past year. We've done our best to keep you informed on pertinent issues, registered new voters, published comprehensive voters guides, and even entertained you at an ice cream social and a holiday party.
Of course, there's more to come. January will be busy with our program planning meeting on Jan. 9, a presentation on the LWVUS study on Money in Politics on Jan. 24th, and a consensus meeting on Jan. 31. Make plans to be present at all three events. Thanks to Program co-chairs Bob Crowe and Renee Andrews for coordinating these events.
Local Affairs Chair Wendy Frieman has engaged a committee of volunteers to look at revenue sources for the city and they will be producing an information paper in February in conjunction with a forum February 21 on the process of development in Falls Church.
If you would like to review our League's local positions, they can be found on our website
here.
Communications Chair Mona Johnston will be sending out a postcard reminder of upcoming events after the first of the year. Most are planned far in advance, but we'll keep you posted if something comes up. Be sure to open all LWV Falls Church communications.
Welcome to our newest members, Marty Maher, Tom Gittins, Erin Gill, Kathleen Thompson, and Bob Young. We're delighted to have them join us.
Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy new year,
Ellen
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HOLIDAY PARTY
The holiday party was a warm and festive affair, with over 65 attendees. As always, the joint efforts of many league members made it happen. There are a multitude of jobs that have to be done and each one of them contributes to the success of the event. Every single board member plus other league members were part of the "party team." We even had a non-league member help us put together the raffle baskets.
So, to the balloon squad, the bartenders, the set-up and clean-up crew, the greens gatherer, the tablecloth sleuth and logistics person, the food ladies and the paper goods deliverer, the folks at the registration and check out tables, the graphics maker for the auction items, the poinsettia pick up person, the invitation mailers, the donations coordinator, the gift certificate coordinator, and everyone who bought raffle tickets and bid on auction items, a very big THANK YOU!
Also, a special thank you to the board members who donated delicious appetizers and sweets; to Tom Clinton for his generous donation of the bar, to Linda Garvelink who turned over her basement to us for prep work on the auction and raffle items, and to Marty Behr who personally contacted ten merchants for holiday donations.
As you visit our donor businesses in the future,
please thank them for being supporters of the league.
Anthony's Restaurant
Argia's Restaurant
Art & Frame of Falls Church
Bedazzled
Bikenetic
Blue Nectar Yoga
Body Dnyamics
Brits on Broad
Brown's Hardware
Clare & Don's Beach Shack
Tom Clinton
Creative Cauldron
Dogwood Tavern
Dominion Jewelers
Doodlehopper for Kids
ECA Nails
Foxes Music
Gold's Gym
Ireland's Four Provinces
La Cote D'Or
Lil City Creamery
Moby Dick House of Kabob
One More Page Books
Perfect Endings
Plaka Grill
Point of View Eyewear
Sfizi Café
Spectrum Cleaners
Stylish Patina
Yayla Bistro
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PROGRAM PLANNING MEETING
JANUARY 9TH
The Broadway Club Room, 502 W. Broad St.
9:15 AM
It's the most important general meeting of the year, so mark your calendar and plan to join us as we discuss what the focus will be on the issues that confront the league at local, state, and national levels.
Local positions can be found on our website
here
.
It's a good idea to reacquaint yourself with our positions. Links to LWVVA and LWVUS positions are also on our website.
Think about issues that are timely, have widespread interest, and would be suitable topics for further investigation by our league. If we decide to do a study, it must be approved by the membership at the annual meeting, to be held on May 21.
We'll have coffee and snacks available at 9:15 AM and hope to start promptly at 9:30AM. Parking is available on Lee Street , Park Avenue, and in the parking lot on the back side of the building. You'll need to enter through the front entrance, which is opposite the construction site on Lee Street.
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MONEY IN POLITICS REVIEW AND CONSENSUS STUDY
As adopted by delegates to the 2014 LWVUS Convention, Leagues from across the nation are engaging in a review and update of the national LWV position on campaign finance to consider free speech issues under the First Amendment.
The LWV of Falls Church is taking part in this national League study to assess the relationship between Campaign Finance Reform and Free Speech under the First Amendment.
Our participation in this study and in arriving at a consensus is our opportunity to impact the resulting national League's position, and indeed shape the national conversation on this question vital to our democracy.
Dates to Remember:
Sunday, January 24
LWVFC Informational meeting on Money in Politics Review
-- Keynote speaker: Tara Malloy, Deputy Executive Director, The Campaign Legal Center
Falls Church Community Center - 3 p.m.
Sunday, January 3
LWVFC Consensus meeting on Money in Politics Review
Falls Church Community Center - 3 p.m.
The purpose is to address the lack of member understanding and agreement as to whether financing a political campaign is protected speech under the First Amendment. The campaign finance position will be updated through a study and consensus process to consider: (1) the rights of individuals and organizations, under the First Amendment, to express their political views through independent expenditures and the finance of election campaign activities; and (2) how those rights, if any, should be protected and reconciled with the interests set out in the current position.
Consensus reports (electronic) from Leagues are due to LWVUS on February 1, 2016.
LWVUS background materials can be found
here.
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2015-2016 LWVFC Board and Off-Board Members President Ellen Salsbury Vice President Linda Garvelink Programs Co-Chairs Robert Crowe Renee Andrews Local Affairs Chair Wendy Frieman Secretary Martha Cooper Treasurer Ruth Rodgers Voter Service Co-Chairs
Liaison to NCA Ellen Gross Administrative Team Madalyn Cafruny Genie Flahie Edith Snyder Special Projects Cindy Donaldson Bunny Jarrett Marty Meserve Jane Scully
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Program Planning Meeting
Saturday January 9 - 9:15 a.m.
The Broadway Club Room
502 W. Broad Street
The LWV of the Fairfax Area General Meeting
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Clyde's of Tysons Corner (New Location)
8332 Leesburg Pike Vienna, Virginia
9:30 a.m.
Registration & Coffee
Noon- Luncheon
Speaker: Dr. Wylecia Wiggs Harris, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of U.S.
Reservations are
required for the luncheon only; the program is free.
Luncheon Cost: $36
Deadline for Registration is Jan. 13
LWVUS Study on Money in Politics
Sunday, January 24
Falls Church Community Center
3 p.m.
Consensus Meeting on Money in Politics
Sunday, January 31
Falls Church Community Center
3 p.m.
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A great way to stay current on issues of interest to the League is to follow the
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