REMEMBER TO VOTE!
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3!
Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Voters who prefer not to vote in person may drop off completed absentee ballots into secure drop boxes or bags stationed at their November 3rd Election Day polling locations. Voters do not need to wait in line to drop off absentee ballots.
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Message from the President |
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The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) is moving forward with strong momentum through the fall months. As a nonpartisan political organization, it is our charge to promote informed political engagement and civic responsibility -- we strongly encourage all registered voters to VOTE! As you know, voting is currently underway for the General Election. The Early Voting period ends today, November 1 -- polls close at 5 p.m.
Voters still have two ways to vote: by absentee ballot and in person on Election Day.
All voters have the option to apply for an absentee ballot by selecting “temporary illness” for fear of contracting COVID-19. You may apply in person at the Westchester Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, until November 2. Once you have a completed ballot, you may submit your ballot by mail (include first class postage), hand deliver your ballot to the Board of Elections, or return your ballot via a contactless drop box/bag at your Election Day poll location.
Those who plan to vote in person on November 3, Election Day, please note that you must vote at your assigned poll location. Some Election Day poll locations have changed since last year, so it is very important to look up your current poll location before voting. For your reference, here is a full list of Scarsdale’s Election Day poll locations. If you do not have a plan to vote, please make a plan now!
LWVS Youth Engagement, run by Elissa Ruback, has been working collaboratively with the Scarsdale Middle School on a Mock Election and on Civics Jeopardy. In addition, we are planning a very special Food for Thought speaker panel event for Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature several panelists who work on civics engagement in schools -- please join us for this special event!
I welcome everyone in the Scarsdale community to join the LWVS and support our work during this pivotal historical moment in our country.
I encourage all League members to stand up, speak up, stay informed and VOTE! At this historical moment, more than ever, the League of Women Voters is a vital organization to our country’s citizens. Thank you for your continued support of the LWVS!
Upcoming Events:
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General Election, Early Voting from October 24 - November 1; Election Day, November 3. See the Voter Service update in this bulletin for current voting information. Our Voter Information page contains subpages with detailed voting information.
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Food for Thought via Zoom, Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. DeNora Getachew (former Executive Director of Generation Citizen), Martin Mintz (Project Manager at Generation Citizen), and other panelists involved in civics engagement in schools.
All the best,
Leah Dembitzer
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November
- 11/3, Tuesday:
- Election Day
- 11/10, Tuesday:
- Citizens' Nominating Committee Election. Mail-in ballots only; no in-person voting
- 11/12, Thursday:
- 7:30 p.m. via Zoom: LWVS Food for Thought, with DeNora Getachew and Martin Mintz
- 11/19, Thursday:
- 10:00 a.m. via Zoom: LWVW County Budget Consensus Meeting
- 11/23, Monday:
- 9:00 a.m. Board Meeting
December
- 12/4, Friday:
- Time TBA, via Zoom: LWVW Annual Holiday Meeting
- 12/7, Monday:
- 9:00 a.m. Board Meeting
- 10:00 a.m. General Membership and Consensus Meeting (Village Election)
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Civics Education at SMS
Even though back to school looks different this year for families, the League is still promoting civics education at SMS!
While we won’t be holding a large in-person election in the Great Hall this year (another disappointing loss due to Covid-19), we are supporting a Mock Election. Just like those of us age 18 or older who will be voting either absentee, early, or on November 3rd in person, all SMS students will be casting their ballots this fall. We’re informing these young “voters” via League-created voter information sheets so they can compare the candidates for every office on the ballot. They will then vote, either in class on their own device, or remotely from home. Maybe one day we’ll all vote this way? Can’t wait to see who wins! (At SMS and IRL!)
We’re also bringing Civics Trivia back to SMS! We’ve reworked the format and updated the questions. Students will play the game during an upcoming Social Studies class - in person or via Zoom. Flexibility is key here in this “new normal”.
We’re excited to be able to share some (hopefully) engaging tools with the SMS Social Studies department to make civics engagement fun!
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Citizens' Nominating Committee Election
Ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Please note: Election Is Mail-In Ballot Only (no in-person voting)
The CNC is the body of 30 residents serving staggered 3-year terms that vets applicants and nominates the proposed non-partisan slate for the Village Board of Trustees, including Mayor. Each year, voters elect new representatives from their neighborhood to fill spots vacated by those who have completed their CNC service.
The deadline for Procedure Committee receipt of mail-in ballots at P.O. Box 284 in the Chase Road Post Office is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Please visit the Procedure Committee website to download and print the mail-in ballots and for the instructions on how to complete them.
As a voter service reminder, please remember that each ballot must be sealed within its own unmarked privacy envelope. The unmarked envelope must be placed inside an outer mailing envelope that identifies your name, full return address, and elementary school district. The voter must sign the outer mailing envelope across the seal. Multiple ballots within a single envelope will render all such ballots invalid.
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Fall Food for Thought
Action Civics:
Empowering Students to be Engaged in our Democracy
Thursday, November 12, 2020
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. via Zoom
Featuring DeNora Getachew, Martin Mintz of Generation Citizen; John Harrison (SHS Social Studies Department Chair); Steven Goodman (SMS Social Studies Teacher) & Students from Scarsdale High School
In this moment, when it is essential that citizens and voters are involved participants in our democracy, how can we best equip our youth to carry that awareness through their lives? Come learn how experiential civics education can enable and prepare our students with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions for lifelong civic participation in our 21st century democracy.
Educating and empowering youth about how democracy works is vital to maintaining a strong, inclusive democracy, and the League of Women Voters supports programs that provide students with the information, motivation, and skills to become informed voters and engaged citizens.
Joining us for this meaningful conversation on civics education is DeNora Getachew, the former New York Executive Director of Generation Citizen, a national nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to transforming how civics education is taught in secondary schools in order to educate and empower youth to be civically engaged.
The LWVS also welcomes Generation Citizen’s Program Manager, Martin Mintz; Scarsdale High School Social Studies Department Chair, John Harrison; Scarsdale Middle School Social Studies teacher, Steven Goodman, as well as two students from SHS. All panelists will discuss the current state of civics education in schools as well as how to create avenues for this type of engagement and awareness going forward.
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LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting on the Village Election System
Monday, December 7, 2020
10:00 a.m. via Zoom
Please join the LWVS on Monday, December 7, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. for a general membership information session with members of the Procedure Committee regarding this year's Citizens' Nominating Committee (CNC) election. All members of the public are welcome to attend the information session.
The Procedure Committee is the body that solicits candidates for CNC, proposes amendments to the Resolution, and runs the CNC election and referendum on the amendments, if any. The CNC is the body that vets applicants and nominates the proposed slate for the Village Board of Trustees, including Mayor. The Non-Partisan Resolution is the document that governs the Village's non-partisan election system.
A consensus discussion will immediately follow the information session for purposes of making recommendations to the Procedure Committee. Only League members may be present for the consensus discussion.
For more information, please contact Diane Baylor, LWVS Village Election System Chair, at [email protected].
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Prepare to Vote 2020: Three Ways to Vote
On the evening of Thursday, October 15, LWVS President Leah Dembitzer, in collaboration with Scarsdale Public Library, facilitated a presentation on the three ways to vote in the General Election. The presentation was part of a larger effort by the League of Women Voters of Westchester - via libraries across the county - to inform voters and answer voting-related questions about the upcoming election.
Leah presented slides about the history of the League of Women Voters and its mission to support and promote civic engagement and participation, and communicated detailed information on the three ways to vote: 1) absentee ballot; 2) in-person early voting; and 3) in-person voting on Election Day. Following the presentation, she answered questions from community members. The LWVS thanks Claudette Gassler from Scarsdale Public Library, for her work helping to organize the event.
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Membership Renewal Reminder
2020 is an extraordinary year for our nation. In an unprecedented voting year, your involvement is especially important. The League thrives with your support -- join the League today!
We appreciate the support of all of our members! All who joined at Friend or Suffragist levels have received VOTE masks.
If you have any questions, please contact Heedan Chung, LWVS Membership Chair, at [email protected].
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LWVS Nominating Committee 2020-21
The LWVS Nominating Committee 2020-21 is calling for nominations to fill League Board Officer and Director positions for the 2021-22 year. The LWVS Nominating Committee will also fill off-board member positions on the Nominating Committee 2021-22.
If you would like to nominate yourself or a friend to be considered for the League Board or the LWVS Nominating Committee 2021-2022, kindly contact Nominating Committee Chair Deb Morel at [email protected].
*If you are nominating someone to be considered by the Nominating Committee, please make sure you have their permission in advance.
Here is a list of our 2020-21 Nominating Committee members, all of whom are able to receive nominations for discussion and consideration:
Deb Morel* (Chair)
Jingqing Chai*
Dalya Khan*
Suzie Hahn
Debbie Miller
*Off-Board members were approved at our annual meeting in May, 2020.
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Upcoming Meeting
The LWVW annual review and consensus meeting of the Proposed 2021 Westchester County Budget will be held on Thursday, November 19, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
The County Executive is responsible for issuing both operating and capital budgets that determine our county tax obligation. The public is given an opportunity to respond to the proposals at public hearings prior to its adoption. The Board of Legislators has the responsibility to accept and/or make adjustments before enacting final approval by the end of the calendar year 2020. Westchester County budget director Larry Soule will present an overview of the proposal and respond to LWVW and participant questions. Join with other Westchester Leaguers to determine the LWVW response to the proposals.
Date Change
The LWVW annual December holiday meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, December 3, has been rescheduled to Friday, December 4. Save the date and mark your calendars as there will be a special guest speaker who will address issues on the minds of all Leaguers.
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Thank you
I would like to extend thanks to all whose work and dedication has served to inform and engage our community.
Thank you to Voter Service Chairs, Alissa Baum and Beatrice Sevcik, for all of their work communicating voter information to the community.
Thank you to Elissa Ruback for all of her work on planning youth engagement events such as Civics Jeopardy and the Mock Election at Scarsdale Middle School, and to Alissa Baum, Heedan Chung, Suzie Hahn, Dana Matsushita, and Beatrice Sevcik for facilitating Civics Jeopardy.
Thank you to Anne Lyons for all of her advice and thoughtful Board work. Thank you to Amy Cooper for all of her work on communications. Thank you to Diane Baylor for her work on the website and as Recording Secretary.
Thank you to Erika Rublin for her work as Treasurer. Many thanks to Dana Matsushita for her work on the LWVS bulletin.
Thank you to Joan Bowen for filling our social media feed with important voter and event updates. Thanks as well to Suzie Hahn for her work chairing the School Budget Portfolio. Thank you as well to Diane Gurden for embarking on the Village Budget Portfolio. Thank you to Jyoti Ruta for chairing our SBNC Portfolio.
Thank you to our new Membership Chair, Heedan Chung, and to Claire He, who is taking on the Membership Statistician role. Thank you as well to Jessica Zellner for working on Book Discussion ideas for the League.
Thank you to Kitt Rosenthal, Renée Baylor, Debbie Miller and Karen Brew for being phenomenal Board members and for all of their input throughout the fall.
Thank you to Marci Rothman, Steve Goodman and the Scarsdale Middle School Social Studies’ Department for their collaboration on the LWVS middle school events. Thank you to Claudette Gassler at Scarsdale Public Library for helping to organize Three Ways to Vote via zoom.
Best,
Leah Dembitzer
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Stay Connected!
The LWVS Bulletin is published monthly. To ensure that you receive our news directly, please provide your preferred email and physical mailing address when you renew your membership or join for the first time.
Bulletins will be sent via eblast and posted on our website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed. In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, only the Spring edition will be printed and mailed to members.
Contact us at [email protected] with any questions about your membership status or to change/update your contact information.
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Village of Scarsdale
As of October 31, 2020
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Board of Trustees
Marc Samwick, Mayor
Term ends April 2021
Justin Arest
2nd term ends April 2022
Lena Crandall
2nd term ends April 2022
Jonathan Lewis
1st term ends April 2021
Seth Ross
2nd term ends April 2021
Rochelle Waldman
1st term ends April 2021
Randall Whitestone
1st term ends April 2022
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Board of Education
Pamela Fuehrer, President
2nd term ends June 2021
Alison Tepper Singer, Vice President
1st term ends June 2021
Karen Ceske
1st term ends June 2022
Carl Finger
1st term ends June 2022
Robert Klein
1st term ends June 2023
Ronald Schulhof
1st term ends June 2022
Amber Yusuf
1st term ends June 2023
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League of Women Voters of Scarsdale
2020-21
Officers
President: Leah Dembitzer
First Vice President: Elissa Ruback
Second Vice President: Anne Lyons
Recording Secretary: Diane Baylor
Corresponding Secretary: Amy Cooper
Treasurer: Erika Rublin
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2020-2021 Elected Board Members
Alissa Baum
Joan Bowen
Karen Brew
Suzie Hahn
Claire He
Dana Matsushita
Debbie Miller
Beatrice Sevcik
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Appointed Board Members
Renée Baylor
Heedan Chung
Diane Gurden
Kitt Rosenthal
Jessica Zellner
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Advocacy: Alissa Baum
Audit: TBD
Bulletin Editor: Dana Matsushita
Development/Finance Drive: Anne Lyons
Eblast/Publicity: Amy Cooper
Environment/Sustainability: TBD
Hospitality: Kitt Rosenthal
Luncheons: Anne Lyons
LWVW Liaison: Renée Baylor
Membership: Heedan Chung
Membership Statistician: Claire He
Nominating Chair: Deb Morel
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Program/Education: Leah Dembitzer
School Budget: Suzie Hahn
School Election: Jyoti Ruta
Social Media: Joan Bowen
Voter Service: Alissa Baum and
Beatrice Sevcik
Students Inside Albany: Joan Bowen and Erika Rublin
Village Budget: Diane Gurden
Village Election: Diane Baylor
Website: Diane Baylor
Youth Engagement: Elissa Ruback
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Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport – Get Involved!
The League of Women Voters
Creating A More Perfect Democracy For 100 Years
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The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) is a volunteer nonpartisan political organization which promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League is nonpartisan in that it does not support or oppose any candidate for public office; it is political in that it takes positions on selected governmental issues after serious member study and consensus. |
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