President's Message

Preparing for 2025

We are days away from entering a new year when a blank calendar and empty forms for resolutions and goals are waiting to be filled. As you can see from the articles in this newsletter, the League is well into planning an active, impactful year of activities. 2025 is not an election year, but that doesn't mean our work stops in our efforts to empower voters and defend democracy. Signing up for one or more volunteer opportunities will give you a positive boost towards developing an optimistic attitude about what the year may hold.

Introducing ChapterSpot

LWVUS is debuting a new nation-wide membership system in January and February designed to streamline administrative work for all Leagues. In the current membership procedure, you join a local League and pay a membership fee that also includes membership in LWVUS and LWV of California. The local League keeps a percentage of the fee and sends the remainder of the fee to the other two organizations.

Starting in 2025, everyone will join or renew membership through a national online portal. This will require each member to set up your personal member file in the national database. Membership fees will go to LWVUS which will send the appropriate portion to our local League and to LWV of California.

Complete details of how the new system, ChapterSpot, will work will be sent via email in January and we will also have more specific information in the January VOTER newsletter and timely e-blasts. There is nothing for you to do now but to be aware change is coming.

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we wish you and your family a healthy and happy holiday season filled with hope and joy.

Diane

Diane McNutt, President

League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara

Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org

Mix & Mingle, Vino & Jingle

It's the Annual League Holiday Party!

Monday, December 9, 2024

4:30-7:30 p.m.

San Jose Clubhouse, 15480 Union Ave., San Jose

Heavy hors d'oeuvres from Chef Mel of Mel's Grub Hub

Wine from the private collections of League members

Brief program at 6 p.m.

Toast to new members at 6:30 p.m.



Dress merrily!

Click HERE to register now at $35 per person

Space is limited. Deadline for tickets is Wed., Dec. 4.

Year-end and monthly donations

support our local League

In preparing our local residents to be informed voters in the recent election, the League of Women Voters San Jose/Santa Clara was an inspiration – offering easy access to voter registration, unbiased pros/cons about state measures, the Vote411.org educational website, and encouragement to vote. This should be a source of pride for all of us!

Think of the issues that are most important to you – positive immigration reform, individual human rights, women’s reproductive health, climate change, healthcare equity, affordable housing, a free press, America’s leadership in the world -- these are issues the League studies, takes educated positions on, and encourages as topics of public engagement whether or not it is an election year.

If you are looking for something positive you can do to continue our local League’s important work in 2025, please consider making a year-end financial gift. Or start off the new year by setting up an automatic monthly donation to the League of Women Voters San Jose/Santa Clara, above and beyond your membership dues. Remember, your dues are split among our local League, state and national so we retain only a small percentage. Donations are vital for our financial health.

Let’s keep the important work of democracy going strong! Your gift, in any amount, will support the efforts of so many women and men who care enough to devote their time and energy to making our local community a better place to live. You can go to lwvsjsc.org/donate to make your tax-deductible donation online, or send a check to League of Women Voters San Jose/Santa Clara, P.O. Box 5373, San Jose, CA 95150. Thank you!                         

Sign up for 2025

Legislative interviews

Participate in one of our annual interviews with local state legislators. These occur during the months of January and February and offer a quick, one-time, volunteer opportunity.

You and a small group of fellow League members will meet directly with your State Senator or Assembly Member, either in-person or via Zoom. The meetings will pose prepared questions on issues that are of the most interest to our local League. We will also ask our legislators their personal priorities and about major issues the legislature will be dealing with in 2025. 

We have new, and newly-reelected representatives so it’s a good time to get to know what they are thinking, the headwinds they may be facing, and to let them know what is important to us. It’s also critical to let elected representatives at every level of government know that our League, and Leagues throughout the state, are paying attention.

Our interviews will be coordinated by members Kathleen Muller and Kathy Sutherland. If you are interesting in participating in our 2025 Legislative interviews, please email Kathleen.Muller@lwvsjsc.org.

Certificate of Appreciation to Vicki Alexander

Vicki Alexander, center, who recently left her role as chair of our League's Action/Advocacy Committee, was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation at an informal reception sponsored by the Climate Change Committee, chaired by Judy Chamberlin, left, and Virginia Holtz, right. The Certificate recognizes Vicki's contributions as a member of the Board of Directors and chair of the Action/Advocacy Committee for several years. We thank her for the hundreds of hours of time and talent she has devoted to the League.

League attends dedication

of Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda

Several long-time League members attended the recent dedication of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda at San Jose City Hall to honor the memory of the first female mayor of a major American city. A plaque outlines the many significant accomplishments of Mayor Hayes and the impact she had on government in San Jose. Janet was also a past president of our League and one of the first presidents of LWV Bay Area. We are so proud of her.

Standing with an illuminated photo of Mayor Hayes at the event are (left to right) Martha Beattie, Virginiz Holtz, Megan Hayes, youngest daughter of Janet Gray Hayes, Rosaleen Zisch and Gloria Chun Hoo.

Photo credit: Sal Pizarro, Bay Area News Group

Behind-the-scenes heroes in our League

Here are two of the many volunteers who contribute their time and talents to our League -- without fanfare but with great appreciation.

Randall Studstill

By day, Randall is a general librarian at the West Valley Branch library of San Jose Public Library. In his off hours, he serves as the League’s Dues Secretary with responsibility for maintaining our member database and reminding members when it’s time to renew.

Feeling isolated during the pandemic, Randall joined the League in 2020 to stay connected to the community. He immediately joined the Local Governance Study Committee which conducted an intensive look at the League’s position on how government in the City of San Jose should be structured and operate. He researched published academic papers that provided helpful background from jurisdictions throughout the U.S.

“I’ve always admired the League and I think that now, more than ever, its mission is very important,” he said. “I’m glad I can make a contribution to its work.”

Susan Skorey

Susan is celebrating her 20^th anniversary as a member of our League this year, but her affinity to the League is built into her DNA. Her mother was an active member of an Illinois League and Susan remembers as a child listening to her discuss elections and League activities and thinking that she knew everything that was going on in their community. She joined the League herself and served as president for her League in Illinois before moving to the Bay Area.

Susan is an enrolled agent income tax professional, licensed by the IRS to prepare tax returns for individuals, companies and nonprofit organizations, including our local League. She also chairs the Budget Committee and in past years has served on the Board and as treasurer. 

“I love the League and will always keep my membership,” she said. 

The Civil Grand Jury Explained:

The Purpose, Power and Selection

of the Civil Grand Jury in Santa Clara County

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7-8 p.m. on Zoom

This special educational program will present an overview of the vital role of the Civil Grand Jury as a watchdog for county and city agencies, special districts and school districts. Britney Huelbig, Deputy Manager for the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, will discuss what the Civil Grand Jury does and describe the Court's role in selecting and supporting the 19 citizen volunteers who serve as the Civil Grand Jury. Lauren Diamond and Tracey Edwards, members of the Civil Grand Jury, will share their firsthand experiences in serving in this broad oversight role. The webinar is presented by the five Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County. Register by clicking HERE.

LWV Call to Action:

Urge President Biden

to direct certification of the Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which will update the U.S. Constitution to protect the equality of rights under the law regardless of sex, can be added to the Constitution with one action. The League of Women Voters is urging President Biden to act to ensure that the ERA is published before he leaves office. The Amendment has been fully ratified since 2020 and meets all requirements for ratification. Certification of the 28th Amendment by the U.S. Archivist is the final step. 

The League urges members to ask President Biden to take action immediately. Contact can be made one of three ways:

• Call the White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111
• Send an email to the President
• Sign the LWVUS letter

Sample email/letter

Dear President Biden:

I urge you to direct the U.S. Archivist to certify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), adding sex and gender equality to the Constitution once and for all. Final publication of the ERA is within your power, and it is time to secure your legacy.

I appreciate your years of commitment to the fight for gender equality, including your legacy of authoring the Violence Against Women Act, as well as your Administration’s work to address gender-based violence and defend and expand reproductive rights and health care access. In recent years, we have seen how quickly our rights can be stripped away and our nation’s progress overturned. We cannot take a single liberty for granted, and we cannot wait to take this vital step

Your White House has repeatedly spoken about enshrining the principle of gender equality in our Constitution. Mr. President, you have that power.

In your remaining time in office, I implore you to instruct the Archivist to certify the Equal Rights Amendment and with that, unequivocally define your legacy as a lifelong champion for equal rights.