LWVWoodland - The Voter

THE VOTER

August 2019

President's Message

July 4, 2019

It seems an auspicious day to write this first message to Woodland League members and to wish the USA a Happy Birthday! I am delighted to be an active member of our League again and looking forward to a busy and exciting 2019-2020. After these last few years of feeling like an "orthopedic pincushion" with so much restricted movement and activity, it's great to be participating in the League. I am honored to serve as your President and you have a fantastic, committed Board for our 2019-2020 Centennial Year. What better than to have the League of Women Voter's 100th birthday to celebrate and to honor the adoption of our country's 19th amendment, the Woman's Right to Vote!!

Our first Board Meeting on Tuesday, August 6th will focus on planning for the remainder of the year although some exciting events are already in the works. Dates to mark on your calendars are:

* Board Meetings, second Tuesday each month, 1:30 - 3:30pm

* September Membership Mixer, 9/25/19 at Urbano's, 5:30pm

* "Democracy Works" Event, October date & location TBD

* Holiday Celebration, 12/5/19 at Butler's, time TBD

* LWV CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 2/14/2020, Hotel Woodland

* Annual Meeting, 6/9/2020, 6pm, location TBD

All League members are welcome and encouraged to attend Board meetings. Your ideas, experience and participation are key to guaranteeing a great year. Continuing activities include our Observer Project, LWV Housing Study, the High School Voter Registration & Education Program and, of course, we'll be looking at a very active election year! With all this going on there is "the perfect volunteer position" for each and every member. The League's VOTER will be published quarterly, the website updated and expect "Blasts" to keep everyone current with our events and activities.

So, let's see all of you at Urbano's on Wednesday, September 25th, for the League's Kick-Off event, our Membership Mixer, and be sure to bring a friend.

Enjoy the rest of your sunny, warm summer.

-- Pat Butler

Membership Mixer

The Membership Mixer will take place on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, 5:30 p.m. at Karen and Ramon Urbano's home, 37370 County Road 24. It is a potluck - appe4zers and desserts are requested. Be sure to bring a friend! Registration forms will be available at the Mixer.

Membership!

A Letter from the Membership Chair

August 2019

Dear Woodland League of Women Voters Member,

It is time to renew your membership in the Woodland League of Women Voters. This has been another very busy and challenging year for all of us and it is more important now than ever that you continue to be a part of our Democracy in Action by your support and we hope, your involvement.

Here are just a few of the highlights of the 2018-2019 Woodland LWV year:

* We hosted our 25th annual State of the Community Luncheon with a presentation about The Yolo County Grand Jury by the Hon. Dan Maguire, Yolo County Judge.
* We registered over 300 new voters at high schools in Woodland and Esparto.
* We facilitated candidate forums for the offices of Woodland School Board and Woodland City Council.
* LWV members served as observers at the Board of Supervisors, Woodland City Council and WJUSD board meetings.
* Our annual Democracy Works dinner honored the youth who worked with ACE Jesse Salinas on the Youth Empowerment Summit.
* Our annual meeting in June featured Woodland Mayor Xochtil Rodriguez.

We invite you to join and participate in one of the most dynamic citizen organizations in the country. There is a place for YOU to get involved. Next year is an important election year, so look for candidate forums coming up early next year. A membership form is included in this email.

Make a difference. Today. Join the League of Women Voters.

Sincerely,

Karen Urbano
WLWV Membership Chair
[email protected]

P.S. Please feel free to spread the word. Copy and share the Join the League form with your friends.

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Have you received your Woodland League of Women Voter renewal letter? Did you misplace it? Here is your chance to fill out a membership application and send it with your check right away using the Membership Form

Climate Change Forum

Member Dr. Christine Shewmaker reports that the State League is holding a forum on Climate Change in Sacramento, Sept 14th. More information can be found at this tweet and this website.

Voter Services

Gil Walker will connect with city and county offices to determine filing dates for candidates for city, county and school board positions. The final filing date is 12/06/2019. He will firm up other deadlines and districts by the September board meeting. Plans for high school registration are also in progress.

To be on Gil's team, call [email protected].

We Need a Webmaster!

If you are interested and have the skills to update the LWVW website twice a year, contact President Pat Butler ([email protected]) or Laura Caruso-Kofoid (530-668-0345).

Your PDF Library...

(click following links to read...)

* LWV City & County Positions

* June 5, 2019 Annual Meeting Minutes

From the National LWV

Money in Politics

Elections should be about the voters not big money interests. It's time to limit SuperPACs and secret donors to protect representative democracy.

Expanding Voter Access

We fight to increase voters' access to the polls, including expanding early voting, automatic and online voter registration.

Redistricting

Congressional districts and government legislative bodies should be apportioned substantially on population. We oppose partisan and racial gerrymandering that strips rights away from voters.

Mark Your Calendar...

August 6 2019

Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30 pm, Butler's,

5 Hermosa Place (off Cleveland Ave. between Maedell Way & Hayes St)

September 10 2019

Board Meeting, 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Location TBD

September 25 2019

Kick-Off Membership Mixer , 5:30 pm

Urbano's, 37370 County Road 24

October 8 2019

Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30 pm

Location TBD

October 24 2019

Democracy Works Dinner

American Legion, 523 Bush St. Woodland

Time TBD

November 12 2019

Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30 pm

Location TBD

December 5 2019

WLWV Potluck Holiday Party, 5:30 pm, Butler's

5 Hermosa Place

December 10 2019

Board Meeting, 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Location TBD

February 14 2020

Centennial Celebration, Hotel Woodland

Time TBD

Calendar will be updated in Winter Voter. For times and locations of board meetings, to which all members are welcome, call Laura at 530-668-0345.

Where do My Dues Go?

You may not be aware that a significant portion of our dues go to the National ( $1408) and California ( $1232 ) Leagues. Check these websites to learn about the work of the national, state and local leagues and to follow their advocacy and studies.

WE NEED OBSERVERS!

OBSERVER MEETING DAYS AND TIME

Board of Supervisors 2nd & 4th Tuesday (9:00 AM)

Woodland City Council (covered) 1st & 3rd Tuesday (6:00 PM)

WJUSD Board Meetings 2nd & 4th Thursday (6:30 PM)

Transparency is important and must be documented.

If you can attend school board meetings, or other local government meetings, contact President Pat Butler ([email protected]) to receive an observer badge and template for taking notes.

Visit the City of Woodland website for meeting times, and agendas and think about your interest and strengths. Meetings are cordial, informative, about Woodland, and often feature special presentations. Public commentary is typically welcomed.

A primary function of observers is to determine how League policies are affected by Council votes. See the PDF Library for a link to our positions.
For additional information, contact Gil Walker, 530-661-6449

STUDIES

If you want to review our positions, help to update them, or participate in our next study, contact Janet Ruggiero ([email protected]) or, even better, attend the board meeting which takes place at 2:00 pm on the first Wednesday of the month. All members are welcome.

Housing Study

Janet Ruggiero reports that six meetings are planned over the fiscal year, with the first one in October (date and place to be determined). They will be advertised in the Daily Democrat, the League's Facebook page and our listserve. SACOG's Senior Planner Greg Chew has been invited to speak.

Call Laura at 530-668-0345 to confirm the location.