October 2017 Volume 49 Issue 5 - League Of Womens Voters · October 2017 Volume 49 Issue 5 See...
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1 October 2017 Volume 49 Issue 5 See final page for Table of Contents Message from the President Dear Members, The Program Fiesta was a grand event with 28 attending. The Creole Dixie Land Jazz Band played for us and they were so good that they even inspired a few of us to dance! Following dinner, the leaders from the various committees gave us an overview of what they have been doing: Sue Schmugge reported on the Observer Corp, Erika Graf- Webster on the Youth Engagement Committee, Vicki Simons on Voter Services, Christina Little on Affordable Housing, and Marjorie Burr on the 50 th Anniversary Committee. Elisa and Cliff pictured VICKI SIMONS – Health Security for New Mexicans OCTOBER 9, Good Sam’s The doors will open at 5:00 pm. Social time will be from 5:00 - 5:20 pm, and dinner will be served at 5:20 pm. LWVGLC member Vicki Simons will preside over a discussion of healthcare for New Mexicans following a short film on the topic. The emphasis will be on current status and direction of efforts in New Mexico. Vicki retired in 1992 as Laboratory Director at Memorial Medical Center. Subsequently she received a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston and has been active in border health issues. Vicki founded the Border Environmental Health Coalition. She has been involved as volunteer for Health Security for New Mexicans since 2003 and is currently serving as Treasurer of the organization. Vicki is also active in the League of Women Voters GLC.
Transcript of October 2017 Volume 49 Issue 5 - League Of Womens Voters · October 2017 Volume 49 Issue 5 See...
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October2017 Volume49 Issue5 SeefinalpageforTableofContents
MessagefromthePresidentDearMembers,TheProgramFiestawasagrandeventwith28attending.TheCreoleDixieLandJazzBandplayedforusandtheyweresogoodthattheyeveninspiredafewofustodance!Followingdinner,theleadersfromthevariouscommitteesgaveusanoverviewofwhattheyhavebeendoing:SueSchmuggereportedontheObserverCorp,ErikaGraf-WebsterontheYouthEngagementCommittee,VickiSimonsonVoterServices,ChristinaLittleonAffordableHousing,andMarjorieBurronthe50thAnniversaryCommittee. ElisaandCliffpictured
VICKISIMONS–HealthSecurityforNewMexicansOCTOBER9,GoodSam’s Thedoorswillopenat5:00pm.Socialtimewillbefrom5:00-5:20pm,anddinnerwillbeservedat5:20pm.LWVGLCmemberVickiSimonswillpresideoveradiscussionofhealthcareforNewMexicansfollowingashortfilmonthetopic.TheemphasiswillbeoncurrentstatusanddirectionofeffortsinNewMexico.Vickiretiredin1992asLaboratoryDirectoratMemorialMedicalCenter.SubsequentlyshereceivedaMasterofPublicHealthfromtheUniversityofTexasSchoolofPublicHealthinHoustonandhasbeenactiveinborderhealthissues.VickifoundedtheBorderEnvironmentalHealthCoalition.ShehasbeeninvolvedasvolunteerforHealthSecurityforNewMexicanssince2003andiscurrentlyservingasTreasureroftheorganization.VickiisalsoactiveintheLeagueofWomenVotersGLC.
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WehaveoverahundrednamesontheMembershipInvolvementSheet.ThesearememberswhoarecurrentlyinvolvedorhaveexpressedinterestinbeinginvolvedinspecificLWVGLCactivities.TheActivitySheetisincludedinthismonth’sVoter.Ifyouhaven’thadachancetoaddyourname,pleaseemailmetheactivitiesyouwouldliketoparticipatein.TheElectionAdvisoryCouncil(EAC)sponsoredaneventSeptember16thcalledACommunityConversation:DemocracyinDonaAnaCounty.GwenHanson,ErikaGraf-WebsterandIwerevolunteers.GilSorg,ChristinaLittle,andJohnnieAldrichparticipatedaswell.Thepurposeoftheeventwastohaveaconversationwithvoters,especiallythosewhovoteonlyinthegeneralelections,aboutwhytheydon’tvoteinlocalelections.Withanaverageofjust9percentvoterturnoutinlocalelections,clearlytheLeagueandtheEACneedtofigureoutwhatwecandodifferentlytocreateavotingculture.VoterServicesdoesawonderfuljobinprovidingvoterregistrationopportunitiesandinformationaboutcandidatesthroughthewebsite,thevoterguide,andthecandidateforums.Wejustneedtofigureouthowtoreachabroaderaudiencewiththatinformation.Wewillbeworkingonthisinthemonthstocome.IhavehighhopesthatbetweencollaboratingwithEAC,ourincreasedeffortsinVoterServicesandtheYEC’swork
withgettingmorecivicseducationintheschoolswewillseeanincreaseinvoterturnoutby2018.I’mhopingthatallthememberscangetbehindthiseffort.IwanttogiveahugewelcometoChristineSorgasournewVicePresident.I’msoexcitedshewillbejoiningtheboard.CongratulationstoYvonneFloreswhohasbeenacceptedtotheLWVUSDelegationtotheUnitedNationsConferenceon
ClimateChange(UNCCC)beingheldinBonnNov6-17,2017.AllMyBest,KimSorensen,PresidentAFiesta-CelebratingLeagueMemberInvolvementFollowingisacompilationofhowourmembersareactivelysupportingLeagueactivities.SendaddeditemstoKimSorensontocompleteherlist.Thismakesaterrificreference,sokeepitwhereyoucanfindit!!VoterServicesCommittee:KimSorensen,JohnnieAldrich,GwenHanson,DaleYeo,Vicki
SimonsVoterRegistration:JohnnieAldrich,MickeyCurtis,MaryEllenKebbel,NancyPhillips,Ruth
Wiser,MildredEvaskovich,JaneAsche,VickiSimons,KimSorensen,LizzTaylor,MaryEllenKnapp
VoterEducation(K-12):TerryandMaryEllenKebbel,MaryEllenKnappCandidateForums:DaleYeo,VickiSimonsVoterGuide:DaleYeo,VickiSimons,MaryEllenKnappLeagueNewsLetter:BonnieVotaw,MarjorieBurr
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Membership:SueLashleyFinance:SteveLitts,MaryEllenKnapp(financedrive)ObserverCorp:SueSchmugge,VickiSimons,JohnnyAldrich,SueLashley,KimSorensen,Dale
YeoPublicRelationsCommittee:MarjorieBurr50thAnniversaryCommittee:MarjorieBurr,MickeyCurtis,JohnnieAldrich,GwenHanson,
DaleYeo,CathyMathews,AlexBurr,ElizabethTaylor,KathyBrook,BarbaraGoedecke,WinJacobs,ChristinaLittle
AffordableHousingCommittee:ChristinaLittle,JaneCarter,VickiSimons,BethBardwell,ChristineSorg
YouthEngagementCommittee:ErikaGraf-Webster,TerryKebbel,SueCain,DaleYeo,JaneAsche,OlgaPedroza,ScottKrahling,GillSorg,YvonneFlores,FredMartino,LizzTaylor,WendiMiller- Tomlinson,MichaelMilam,CindyMurrell,MarthaDuran
DiscussionGroups:GwenHanson,ErikaGrafWebster,MickeyCurtis,JohnnieAldrich,SueCain,YvonneFlores,DaleYeo,VickiSimons,MarjorieBurr,LizzTaylor,MaryLitts,BethBardwell,LizzMiller, ChristinaLittle
HealthCareStudy(state):MickeyCurtisTransferofPublicLandsStudy(state):KurtAnderson,LizzTaylorNuclearWasteStudy(state):MarjorieBurr,AlexBurr,BonnieVotawJudicialReform(state):JoyGoldbaumReproductiveRights(state):MaryEllenKebbelLWVGLCBoardofDirectors:KimSorensen-President,ConnieLee-Secretary,VickiSimons-Voter
Services,DaleYeo-VoterServices,GwenHanson-MemberatLarge,SueLashley-MembershipServices,SteveLitts-Treasurer
NominatingCommittee:JaneAscheSpecialSkillContributions
• Computer(wordprocessing)DaleYeo• SocialMedia(facebook/twitter)WendiMiller-Tomlinson• PublicSpeakingJohnnieAldrich,MickeyCurtis,ErikaGraf-Webster• Writingarticles(opeds,letterstotheeditoretc.)MarjorieBurr,JohnnieAldrich,Dale
Yeo,ErikaGraf-WebsterDevelopment(learnhowtousesocialmedia):JosieDominguezOutreachtominoritycommunityleaders:JosieDominguez
Editor’sNote:Pleasesendcorrections.I’mespeciallyhopingtogetnamescorrect.BonnieUPCOMINGEVENTS-checkyourcalendarbylookingatLWVGLCwebpage“events”http://lwvglc.org/October3,2p.m.ETLWVUSFallLeadersforDemocracyWebinar*October5,10-12a.m.,LWVGLCBoardMeeting,BraniganLibrary Remember,everyoneisinvitedtotheBoardmeetings!Pleasecome.October9,5:15–7:00p.m.,DinnerwithaLeader:VickiSimons,“HealthSecurityforNew
Mexicans”
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October10,7:30–8p.m.,District3CityCouncilCandidateForum,KRWG,NMSUCampusOctober17,7:30–8p.m.,District5CityCouncilCandidateForum,KRWG,NMSUCampusOctober24,7:30–8p.m.,District6CityCouncilCandidateForum,KRWG,NMSUCampusOctober24,8:00–8:30p.m.,MunicipalJudge,DistrictIICandidateForum,KRWGOctober28,10:30–12:00a.m.,NewMemberOrientation,1219DryCreekPlaceJanuary8,2018–Lunchmeetingpresentation,KarenDouglas,LWVNMNuclearWasteStorage
Committee,firstreport*LWVUSWebinarTheLeagueofWomenVotersisleadingthewayforindependentredistrictingacrossthecountryandweinviteyoutojoinustolearnmoreduringourFallLeadersforDemocracyWebinaronOctober3rdat2pmET.Representativedemocracydependsonvotersfreelychoosingtheirelectedofficials,notelectedofficialschoosingthem.TheLeagueworkstopromotetransparentandaccountableredistrictingprocessesandtoendhyper-partisanpracticesthatdon'tbenefitconstituents.
LWVleaderswillreportontheirworkonthisissueincluding:ChrisCarson,President;WyleciaWiggsHarris,CEO;CarrieL.Davis,ExecutiveDirector,LWVofOhio;LloydLeonard,StrategicAdvisortotheCEO.
FallLeadersforDemocracyWebinarOctober3,at2pmETPleaseregisterbeforethewebinarHERE.
Can’tmakeitonthe3rd?Noworries,pleaseregisterandyouwillreceivearecordingofthewebinartowatchonyourowntime.
50YearsAgoRememberingtheBeginningofLWVGLCByMarjorieBurrJoBrenchley,thepresidentoftheprovisionalLeagueofLasCrucesin1968,wasperhapsthemostsignificantpresidenttheLeagueofWomenVotersofGreaterLasCruceshashad.ItwasunderherleadershipthatthegroupofwomengotthemselvesorganizedandsettoworktoestablishalocalLeagueinLasCruces.ThelocalLeaguewasstartedattheinstigationoftheLeagueofWomenVotersofNewMexico.SandyCohnofthestateboardofferedguidance,hands-onandface-to-face.ThegrouptookonthechallengeswithenthusiasmandenergythelikesIhavenotseeninthe50yearssince.Idon’trecallanydirectactionsbyJo,butitwasunderherleadershipthatobstacleswereturnedintoopportunities.Ibelievesheharnessedanddirectedthewomen’sworktofulfilltherequirementsforlocalLeaguestatus,andithappenedwithinoneyear.
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ThefollowingdataweregleanedfromtheearlyissuesoftheBulletin,amimeographednewslettermailedtomembers.InJanuarymembershipwasreportedat57,“44[ofwhom]attendedmeetingsinJanuary.”Bythenextmonthmembershipwasupto72.AMeettheCandidatesforumforCityCommissioncandidateswasheldinFebruary1968.VoterregistrationinvolvedtablessetupinpublicplaceonSaturdaysstaffedbyLeaguemembers.Numbersreported:byJuly1968,320votershadbeenregistered;theSeptemberBulletinreported230votersregisteredinthreeSaturdays.InalltheOctober1968editionoftheBulletinreported816newvotersregisteredinf13Saturdays.Idon’tthinkthisnumberhasbeenmatchedsincethen.TheprovisionalLeaguealsoparticipatedinthestateLeaguestudy/actiontocallforaConstitutionalConventiontodraftanewconstitutionforNewMexico.TheLeague’sactiononthisraisedtheconsciousnessofthecityandlateritsfavorablevoteontheproposeddocument(althoughitloststatewide).ArequirementforlocalLeaguestatuswastoholdafinancedrive,askinglocalbusinessestoshowtheirsupportfortheorganizationthroughfinancialcontributions.Theonlycommentsurvivingonthiswasthatitwas“satisfactory.”Probablythemainactivityoftheyearwasaknow-your-townstudytofindouthowgovernmentworkedinLasCruces.I’llhavemoreonthisinalaterarticle.JoBrenchleyledtheLeaguethroughacelebrationcoffeeheldinFebruary1969,tomarkouracceptanceasaLocalLeagueintheLWVorganization.Thenanew“first”presidentwaselected.JohadbeenactiveinLasCrucescityrecreationactivities,especiallyintheRedCross.AsavolunteersheworkedwithSamGraft,CityRecreationDirector.Whenhewasofferedapositioninstategovernment,JoalsomovedtoSantaFetocontinueherwork.Ivisitedherafewyearsafterthemove,butthenIlosttrackofher.
LWVNMStudy–NuclearWasteDisposalByBonnieVotawBecauseNewMexicoisthesiteofaproposedinterim(160years)repositoryofspentfuelnuclearwaste,LWVNMapprovedastudyandformedastatewidecommitteetoreviseandupdateLWVNM’swork,TheNuclearWastePrimer,AHandbookforCitizens,1993revision.MarjorieBurr,AlexBurrandBonnieVotawarerepresentingLWVGLConthecommittee.Thecommittee’sworkwillincluderegulararticlesinLaPalabraandpresentationstolocalgroups.AnintroductorysessioninLasCrucesisplannedfortheJanuary8,2018lunchmeeting.KarenDouglas,whoischairingthecommittee,willbethefeaturedpresenter.ConsensusquestionshavebeenproposedandwillbethesubjectofongoingarticlesineachissueofLaPalabra.ThefirsttwoarticlesappearedinSummer2017andFall2017editionsofLaPalabra.Thesummerarticle,writtenbyKarenDouglas,is“NuclearWasteStorageinUS–Whereweareandwhere
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wemaybegoing.”LauraAtkinswrotethefallarticle,“DoestheLeaguesupportthedevelopmentofconsolidatedinterimstoragesites(CISF)forspentnuclearfuel?”UpcomingissuesofLaPalabrawillcontinuethestrandofinformationandkeepyouinformedofdevelopmentsinthestudyastheyoccur.Wehopepreviewingtheinformationwillkeepmembersawareandpreparingforconsensusactivitieswhentheyoccurin2018.AnewversionofthePrimerisbeingcommissionedwithatechnicallyqualifiedteamfromLongenecker&Associates.ThecommitteeisseekingfundingforthetechnicalresearchandwritingfromtheDepartmentofEnergy.PleasesavethedateJanuary8,2018tofurtheryourlearningaboutthisimportanttopic.Treasurer’s Talk BySteveLittsCongratulationstothe75individualswhohavetakenthesteptobecomeapartofthesolution.Toeducateregisteredvoterssotheycanmakeinformeddecisionsattheballotbox;whohavecommittedthemselvestoregisteringmoreeligiblevoters;whowillseizetheinitiativeratherthanmerelywaitandhopeforanelectionoutcomethatreflectsthevaluesandvisionvitaltoourcommunity,stateandnation.
BUT,it’sNOTTOOLATE.Yes,YOUcanbecomeamemberofLWVGLC–NOW.Justsendyourcheck-$60individualor$90fortwomemberslivingatthesameaddress.TheLeague’saddressisLWVGLC,POBox8322,LasCruces,NM88006.I’llthankyouinadvance.
TREASURER’SCHALLENGE:
Iften(10)morepeoplerenewtheirmembershiporjoinforthefirsttimebytheendofOctober,I’llpersonallybakeandservemyspecialrecipecookiesattheNovembermeeting.(OurkidsandgrandkidsgivethemFIVESTARS….)
TREASURER’SREPORT–September
BeginningCheckBookBalance $7,334.51
TotalIncome $868.00
Dues–Donations-DinnerCollections TotalExpenses ($300.00)
GoodSamDinners
NetCarryovertoOctober $7,902.51
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ElectionAdvisoryCommittee–LWVGLCROCKS!!TheLeagueofWomenVotersofGreaterLasCruceshasalonghistoryofcollaboratingwiththeDonaAnaCountyClerk'sOfficeinsupportingvoterregistrationdrives,andvotereducation.InmorerecentyearsLeaguemembershaveparticipatedinthenewElectionAdvisoryCommittee,acommunityconsortiumofinterestedresidentsandorganizations,meeting
regularlytosupportcommunityprojectsoftheDonaAnaCountyClerk'sOffice.Photo:MaggieToulouseOliver,NewMexicoSecretaryofState,shownwithLeaguemembersKimSorensen,JohnnieAldrich,andGwenHanson,attending"ACommunityConversation-DemocracyinDonaAna"heldSaturday,September16,2017.GirlScoutsHonorGwenHansonGirlScoutsoftheDesertSouthwestrecognizedGwenHansonattheirWomenofDistinctionluncheononSeptember21attheHotelEncanto.RecognitioncitedGwen’sservicetoLWVGLC,followingyearsofvolunteeringlocallyandnationallywiththeAmericanRedCross,oftentakingassignmentstoareassuchasGroundZeroandKatrina.WhetherlivinginGreely,COandservingasTreasurerofthePhilharmonicGuildorservingasaprevention/interventionspecialistinaHoustonschooldistrict,Hansonappliedhereducationinnursingandsocialwork.Inthepicture,totheleftofGwenisJudithLeibrook,BoardmemberoftheGSDSW.TotherightisDianeFlanagan,CEOoftheGSDSW.
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OBSERVERPOSTSouthCentralsolidWasterAuthoritySusanSchmugge,ObserverRegular&Executivemeeting9/21/175outof8memberspresentALERT:RecyclingchangeswillbecomingtosouthernNewMexicoasaresultofGulfstormsandchangesinChineseregulations.Lookfornewsarticlesinlocalpapersincomingweeks,aswellasatwhatyoucanreuseandrecycleasweapproachthecomingholidays.SUN-NEWSARTICLELINKhttp://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2017/09/23/new-limits-china-may-restrict-local-recycling/696691001/ReportonOpenPrimariesMeeting,October9,2017ErikaGraf-WebsterNewMexicoOpenPrimaries,anonprofitorganizationthatadvocatesfortheadoptionofOpenPrimariesforNewMexico,recentlysponsoredameetingonthetopicofOpenPrimaries.An“OpenPrimary”isdefinedasaprimaryinwhichanyeligibleelectorcanvote,regardlessofhisorherpartyaffiliation.
Theeventwasadvertisedasan“ElectionReformPanelDiscussion”.PanelistswereBobPerls,founderofNMOpenPrimariesandformerstatelegislator;ScottKrahling,DoñaAnaCountyClerk;Dr.ChristaSlaton,ProfessorofGovernment,NMSU;andJeffSteinborn,NMStateSenator.
Aseriesofpredeterminedquestionswereposedtothepanelists,followedbyanopenQ&Asession.Thequestionswereasfollows:
1. Whydoyouthinkit’simportanttohaveadiscussionaboutchangingthewaywedoelections?
2. 40%ofvotersaren’tmembersofapoliticalparty.WhattypeofprimarieswouldbemostfairtoNMvotersandincreasevoterturnout?
3. NMlawsmakeitdifficultforminorpartycandidatestogetontheballot.Shouldthelawsbechangedtoallowthemeasieraccess?
4. NMsuffersfromsomeoftheleastcompetitiveelectionsintheUS.Shouldwemovetoanindependentredistrictingcommission?
5. Whatisthemostimportantelectionreformthatyouwantpeopletoknowabout?
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Therewaswideaudienceparticipationthroughquestionsandcomments.BobPerls,PresidentofNMOpenPrimaries,closedthemeetingbyencouragingalltovisitthewebsitehttp://www.nmopenprimaries.org.NOTE:Erikahasextensivenotesonthedialogueoftheopenprimariessession,bothpanelistsandaudience.Ifyouareinterested,contacther. VOTERTableofContentsPage1DinnerWithaLeader MessagefromthePresidentPage2CelebratingOurInvolvementPage3UpcomingEventsPage450YearsAgoPage5NuclearWasteDisposalPage6Treasurer’sTalkPage7ElectionAdvisoryCommittee HansonHonoredbyGirlScoutsPage8ObserversPost OpenPrimariesMeetingPage9LWVGLCinformation TableofContent
OCTOBER2017VOTERVolume49,Issue5TheLeagueofWomenVotersofGreaterLasCrucesP.O.Box8233LasCruces,NM88006-8322(575)524-VOTE(8683)www.lwvglc.orgPresident–KimSorensonVice-President,Events&Speakers–ChristineSorgSecretary–ConnieLeeTreasurer–SteveLittsVoterServices–VickiSimonsandDaleYeoMembershipDirector–SueLashleyNominatingCommittee–JaneAscheEditor,VOTER–[email protected]
