Action News! 
February 3, 2016
Table of Contents


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Help "Organize, Educate and Agitate" Today! 
From The President  
 
   Last month approximately 5 million women and men around the world gathered in over 900 cities to join together in solidarity on women's rights, voting rights, and all human rights for us and our children and grandchildren. We are proud to have been a part of the Women's Marches around the state.  

What an exciting time for the League of Women Voters!
Last week was the LWV-Texas Lobby Days, and j ust before the Lobby Days presentations, LWV-Texas held a Statewide Conference and approved the updated position on redistricting (see below).

Let's keep the momentum going!
 
Elaine Wiant   

Advocacy Report 
Grace Chimene, Vice President
Austin Rep. Donna Howard welcomes the capacity crowd at the Capitol. 
Watch your inbox for "CAPITOL ACTION", the League's updates from the Texas Capitol.  

Lobby Days Recap
League members from all over Texas gathered in the Texas Capitol for LWV-TX Lobby Days on Jan. 30 and 31st. 

For the speakers on Monday, our conference room was filled to capacity!   On Tuesday, those in Austin visited their reprsentatives and senators from our districts and discussed Priority Issues.  We know many of you joined us by making your calls from home.


If you attended Lobby Days please  provide feedback here , so that we may improve next time.
 
You can watch Lobby Days speakers presentations from Jan 30th and the League's participation in the Women's March on Texas on the League's Facebook page. 

Taking ACTION on SB 4 the Sanctuary City Bill
Testimonies by both Gloria Suarez Sasser, Immigration Issue Chair, and Dixie Davis, LWV-AA Capitol Corps member, were provided against SB 4, the sanctuary city bill.  Read the complete testimony here.
 
Update on Redistricting
Nancy Parra, Vice President
State Conference Delegates vote yes on redistricting position update!
A Statewide Conference was held on Monday, January 30, during the LWV-TX Lobby Days, to vote on the proposed update on Redistricting. The Program Review Committee discussed the updated position. The Committee consists of Frances McIntyre,Chair, and Carol Olewin, Lea Masiello, and Debbi Voss. The revised position was voted on by the delegates and passed by a two-thirds majority of those present. Fifteen Leagues sent delegates to the Statewide Conference. At their quarterly meeting, the LWV-TX Board approved Frances McIntyre as Issue Chair for Redistricting.

The new, updated position in brief:
- Support for an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission as the preferred redistricting body.
- Support for a state redistricting process and standards that promote fair and effective representation with maximum opportunity for public scrutiny.

The redistricting process must include:

- Specific time lines for the steps leading to adoption of the redistricting plan

- Public hearings on the plan proposed for adoption.

 

Click here to see the proposed and accepted revisions. 
Grants Available: 2017 New Citizens Voter Registration
LWV-Houston registers new citizens.
The League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) is pleased to announce a 2017 New Citizens Voter Registration Project. As part of this project, LWVEF will award pass-through grants to state and local Leagues to undertake voter registration activities at naturalization ceremonies for new citizens. Applications are due February 17, 2017.  To apply, please see the  application guidelines here.

SAVE THE DATES 
Leadership and Membership Development Regional Training  will be held on:
June 10th in Lubbock,
July 8th in the Fort Worth area, and
July 15th at the Canyon Lake Library in Comal County 

Meetings will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in each location.  
All League members are welcome! New officers and directors encouraged to attend.