THE VOTER
 LWV San Jose/Santa Clara Newsletter
Making Democracy Work
September 2017-Volume 70, Issue No.1

In This Issue
Quick Links

League of Women Voters

San Jose / Santa Clara

P. O. Box 5374
San Jose, California 95150 

President's Message
Mary Collins
 Mary Collins  President,  LWV SJSC

Since August many of our new committees have begun to plan this year's activities. This includes our Coyote Valley update study committee (article in this issue), the major donor committee initiated by  Karen Nelson , the Lunch With League committee, and the committee exploring meetings in late afternoon/evenings. If you would like to join any of these efforts contact me at Mary Collins.
     
Our Voter Service Committee is preparing for National Voter Registration Day, September 26th. They will be registering at San Jose City and Evergreen Community Colleges and several local high schools. Contact Suzanne Sikora, if you would like to join them. A training session for registering votes is scheduled on September 18th at 11:00am at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, Guadalupe Room, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, SJ 95131. Contact Cheryl Fuelleman if you plan to attend.

The League of Women Voters US asks us to engage with the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, having had its second meeting September 12th, and to oppose the Commission's plan to purge voter rolls. Instead, the Commission on Election Integrity should encourage the pursuit of processes that encourage voter registration and engagement and foster confidence in the election system. Comments can be emailed ElectionIntegrityStaff@ovp.eop.gov

In the final days of California's legislative session, LWVC asks us to contact our legislators to support a 'Yes' vote on the California Disclose Act, AB 249. This will require all political advertisements to clearly list the top three donors and to eliminate misleading committee names. The bill must go to the Assembly for its final vote by Friday! AB 249 needs a 2/3 majority to pass -  Email your representative HERE

Locally, The Santa Clara Water District has planned three meetings on the WaterFix proposal for the tunnels under the delta. The dates are September 12, October 3 and October 10. They are tentatively planning on voting on the program October 10. All meetings will be held at 1:00pm at Water District headquarters, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose 95118. The LWVC opposes the Waterfix program and had an article in The Mercury News, September 8th.

On a final note Senator Bob Wieckowski has invited our League to his State of the District Award Ceremony September 28th. He is awarding the Community Partner of the Year award to the League of Women Voters.  Our leadership and all members are invited to attend.

2017 State of the District Awards
Thursday, September 28th 
5:30-8pm (program begins at 6pm) 
UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus

Thank you for your participation and support of our League.


 

MEMBERSHIP
Thank you to the following members 
for contributions for our League:

Mary Collins and Paula Radzinski

Lunch with League - September 21st, 11am-1pm
Speaker: Diana Miller, Seniors' Agenda Project Director, Dept. Aging/Adult Services
Please join us for the 2017-18 first Lunch with League, featuring Diana Miller, Seniors' Agenda Project Director with the Department of Aging and Adult Services for Santa Clara County. Diana will address Housing, Homelessness and the older adult in Santa Clara County. 

Ms. Miller  oversees the County's initiative for becoming the first county with all 15 cities getting the World Health Organization's Age-friendly designation. Previously, she was the Community Outreach Director for a San Jose City Councilmember. Her nonprofit experience includes serving as Executive Director of two nonprofits: People Acting in Community Together, (PACT) and the Tenderloin Senior Organizing Project in San Francisco. Her experience working with older adults has been in a wide variety of settings including an inpatient geriatric psychiatric unit of a hospital, skilled nursing home and low income senior housing. She has also served as a consultant, trainer and facilitator to grassroots organizations. Diane holds an M.A. from Wheaton College and a B.A. from the University of Kansas.

Diana Miller
Project Director with Santa Clara County
Department of Aging and Adult Services

Thursday, September 21, 11am to 1pm

PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE:  We'll meet/greet at 11:00, eat at 11:30, our speaker will present at 12 noon for 15-20 minutes with Q/A to follow. We'll be finished by 1:00pm so that people can return to work, etc. 

Please choose from the following:
Caesar salad w/Bay Shrimp
Liteaters skewer w/ Fresh Rockfish (choice of 2 sides: au gratin potatoes, fingerling potatoes, french fries, coleslaw, oven roasted veggies, basil tomatoes)
Market Burger (ground beef, bacon,Tillamook cheddar cheese, with your choice of fruit, cucumber salad, or fries)   
Tuna Melt (albacore tuna, Tillamook cheddar cheese, french fries)   
Teriyaki slider (Mahi Mahi, with your choice of fruit, cucumber salad, or fries)

Cost for Lunch is $21 which includes an entree and beverage.
Check-in is 11am. Please come prepared to pay cash.
 
Please reserve your seat and meal choice by emailing LwL@lwvsjsc.org by Tuesday, Sept. 19.
(No shows may be charged for their lunch.)

LEAGUE MEETINGS AND OUTREACH

VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING, Monday, September 18th, 11am
Maryann Haggerty, VP, LWV SJSC is Leading Training

Our league is providing a Voter Registration Training to be held on

Monday, September 18th, 11am-1pm
Santa Clara County Office of Education
 The Reception desk will direct you to Guadalupe Meeting Room.
 
Our very own Maryann Haggerty will be doing the training. We strongly encourage those who will be volunteering for registration, now or in the future, to have this or some other training beforehand.  

 
Please RSVP to  Cheryl Fuelleman.
 
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - National Voter Registration Event 
Tuesday, September 26th
National Voter Registration Day Volunteer, Tues, September 26th
On September 26, 2017, The League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara will be participating in The National Voter Registration Event. We will be focusing on registering students from local high schools and community colleges. 

The exact times for the event are to be determined, as we work with each school to tailor our event to meeting the individual schools class schedules. We will require two to three volunteers for each location. Please let me know if you would be available during the day on September 26, 2017 to assist with our voter outreach events.  
 
Schools:
Lincoln High School   I    Notre Dame High School    I    Yerba Buena High School
  San Jose City College   I    Evergreen College


What It Will Accomplish

 

Every year millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don't update their registration, or aren't sure how to register. National Voter Registration Day wants to make sure everyone has the opportunity to vote.

On Tuesday, September 26, 2017,  volunteers and organizations from all over the country will "hit the streets" in a single day of coordinated field, technology and media efforts. National Voter Registration Day seeks to create broad awareness of voter registration opportunities to reach tens of thousands of voters who may not register otherwise.

Contact Suzanne Sikora to join the activities.

How Can You & All Members Keep Up with What Our League is Doing
By Patricia Reardon, Director, LWV SJSC Communications
How can you and all members keep up with what our League is doing?
Between our informative monthly Voter newsletters, League members can keep in touch with current information and activities in several different ways. Each is a unique communication opportunity that will help you keep current on what the League is doing.
 
The League Elist
The League elist is an opt-in email list that we use for timely newsworthy topics that might be of interest to all members. These emails are only used for league business and will keep you informed of late breaking news or reminders of upcoming League activities. Any member of the elist group can send an email to leagueofwomenvoterssanjosesantaclara@yahoogroups.com and your email will be reviewed for content and sent directly to the members. The League elist database is private and confidential and will never be used to spam members.
 
If you are not a member of the Elist and would like to join, please send a request to: leagueofwomenvoterssanjosesantaclara-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or Patricia Reardon and we will send you an invitation to join the group.
 
Keep informed! Join and use the Elist!
 
The San Jose/Santa Clara League Facebook site
The League has a public Facebook site that posts San Jose/Santa Clara League events, activities and general news for all of our followers. This is a great one-stop site to keep current with our public activities as well as State and National news and updates.

LWVSJSC Facebook
LWVSJSC Facebook




Please go to https://www.facebook.com/lwvsjsc/ and like our page. You and the over 260 other League lovers will be updated regularly with all the latest National, State and Local league information.
 




The League Public Website
Our League has a public website that helps us to keep the public informed on League policies, positions and activities. This site has our public calendar and gives us an opportunity to tell the world about our mission. It also is the main site for letting the public know how they can contact us.

LWVSJSC Website
LWVSJSC Website


Visit the page at http://sjsc.ca.lwvnet.org/ and see our League's face to the world.
 
 
Keep in touch -- Keep informed.
Use our League communication tools regularly!

Major Donor Fundraising Committee Begins Efforts
By Karen Nelson, Committee Chair
We're excited to announce the formation of a new committee that will help our local League respond more flexibly to the many important issues that our League addresses, allow us to increase our visibility in the community and accelerate the growth of our membership.
 
The Major Donor Fundraising committee held its first meeting on August 26th with six members coming together to shape the committee's procedures and goals. The purpose of the committee is to request major donations from individuals, business, foundations, government grants and other organizations who support the league's objectives.
Major Donor Fundraising
Major Donor Fundraising
 
A comprehensive effort to raise major donations will have many positive outcomes including:
  • Increasing our local league's exposure to the community to strengthen our mission and influence.
  • Creating sustained funding levels to pursue increased spending on programs and heightened outreach to the community.
  • Greater awareness by our League members and the larger community about the importance of endowments to build a sustainable local league.
  • Strengthening our ability to recruit, retain and engage a diverse and thriving membership.
  • Creating new collaborations with organizations whose mission/goals/values closely align with our local League.
This is an opportunity to support our League in a high impact way, to see the benefits of helping to build a stronger and more resilient future and to experience personal growth in the process. Your committee participation to any degree, small to large, will be valuable beyond measure. Contact Karen Nelson by email or phone:  Karen Nelson or 408-930-9005 to learn more and to join our committee. 
 
Attend our next meeting on September 21st, at 1 PM, immediately following "Lunch with League" at same location (Fish Market restaurant 1007 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, CA 95123). 
 
LOCAL CITY/COUNTY ISSUES

Tour Coyote Valley with Update Study Committee, Saturday, Oct 21st
By Trixie Johnson
Coyote Valley
Coyote Valley
As part of our study, the update committee has arranged with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to lead a tour of the valley on October 21st from 9 a.m. to noon. We are calling it the Water, Wildlife and Working Lands Tour, and it is your opportunity to discover the hidden valley - the wildlife corridor, Laguna Seca (which provides water retention during stormy weather), the potential for agricultural preservation, Coyote Ridge, and more.

All league members are welcome to join us, but we need to hear from you by the end of September (the 30th) so we know what size van or bus to hire. You can expect there will be a small charge, to be determined once we have your RSVP and hire our transport.

Chances like this don't come often! Email Virginia Holtz before October 1st to reserve your space, and please complete this survey in your email to Virginia.
1)  Please reserve a seat for me                                                                                  yes/no 
2)  I would pay up to $25 for van or bus rental??                                                      yes/no
3)  I would be interested in eating lunch at nearby restaurant after tour                yes/no 
4)  I would take light rail to Santa Teresa station if League provided personal
     shuttle to OSA office. (less than five minutes)                                                     yes/ no

 
For a recent overview of the Open Space Authority, listen to the Insights and Perspectives Interview with Matt Freeman, OSA on CreaTV:  VIDEO


Based on our positions, League of Women Voters California (LWVC) periodically reviews bills before the California State Legislature and makes recommendations.
  
2017-2018
  • Bill Status Report for 2017: Bills on which the LWVC has taken a position and recommends action.
  • Bills of Interest:This report includes bills being "followed" by the League, on which no formal position of support or opposition has been taken, as well as bills on which the LWVC has taken a position and recommends action.  
Need help with legislative terms? Try this useful glossary .

Sign up for Action Alerts - League of Women Voters California 
League of Women Voters California (LWVC) grassroots action network
Join the League of Women Voters California (LWVC) grassroots action network to advocate on the issues you care about in your community. Action Alerts provide up-to-date information on bills and legislation: Voting Rights and Elections, Money in Politics, Immigration, Education, Housing, Transportation, Climate Change, Health and more...

SIGN UP HERE  to receive LWVC Action Alerts and be notified when your voice is needed.

Read More
League and Community Activities

By LWV of Southwest Santa Clara Valley
Please join the League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara Valley for an informative program on, "Keeping Abreast of Federal Legislation and Understanding How You Can Impact It."
Featured speakers are Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, United States House Representative for the 19th District of California and Jennifer Waggoner, former president of the League of Women Voters of California.

- Find out how to locate new bills being proposed and tracking their status over time
- Understand the process of how a bill gets written and gains support
- Learn the most effective way to change or abolish a bill or current legislation

Saturday, September 23, 2017
3:00 - 4:30 PM 

This event is co-sponsored by the Saratoga Public Library and the Leagues of Women Voters of Palo Alto, San Jose/Santa Clara, Los Altos/Mountain View, and Sunnyvale/Cupertino.

LWV Presents: Insights and Perspectives
Comcast Channel 30, Mon, 7:30pm and Sun, 4:30pm; Ch 27, Wed, 5:30pm
The best way to describe Channel 30 and Bay Voice Channel 27 is TV "by the community for the community." Channels 30 and 27 air non-commercial, member-produced videos that educate, express views, and expose talents to the San Jose community and beyond.  

Connect to our League Web Site for current and archived Insights and Perspectives broadcasts:   Insights and Perspectives recorded broadcasts

Schedule of Airings 
Channel 30, Mon, 7:30pm, Sun, 4:30pm
Channel 27, Wed, 5:30pm 

Matt Freeman, OSA
Matt Freeman, Gloria Chun Hoo
September Airings
Gloria Chun Hoo interviews Matt Freeman, Assistant General Manager, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Monday, Sept 18





Showalter Mt View Councilmember
Pat Showalter, Gloria Chun Hoo
Gloria Chun Hoo interviews Pat Showalter, Mountain View City Councilmember
Sept 14 - Sept 25

        

August Recorded Broadcasts:
Rosaleen Zisch interviews Dr. Jon Gundry, Santa Clara County Office of Education.  VIDEO

Rosaleen Zisch interviews Melissa Hippard, Santa Clara County Park s.    VIDEO

CREATV CHANNEL 30 Live Streaming from your computer 
Watch CREATV Channel 30 shows on your computer with an internet connection. 
Calendar
Information on many of these events is available in this newsletter. See our  website calendar  for current listings and more information.  If you'd like more information but don't have web access, contact the League at (408) 271-7163.

Sept 17 LWV SJSC Coyote Valley Study Session
Sept 18 League Voter Registration Training in San Jose
Sept 21 Lunch with League, 11am
Major Donor Fundraising Committee meeting, 1pm
Sept 23 Federal Legislation and Understanding How You Can Impact It
Sept 26 National Voter Education Day: Volunteer with high schools and colleges
Sept 28 Senator Bob Wieckowski State of the District Awards
Oct 7 Board Meeting 
Oct 21 Coyote Valley Tour with OSA 
Nov 4 Board Meeting

Address / Email Change
To keep our records current please send any changes to your address, email address, or phone number, to our Dues Secretary, Sandy Remmers.  The only updates she receives are on the renewal form which is only sent once a year.
 
The Voter
Submissions due the 20th of the month
The LWVSJ/SC Voter is distributed monthly.  Article deadline is the 20th of the month.  If you have questions or comments, contact Liz Bogatin-Starr, the Voter Editor.

Join Our League
           Visit our  website to join and/or donate to our League.
 
 
Like us on Facebook
   
  Democracy is not a spectator sport!  Educate!  Advocate!