Pag

e1

VOTER

The League of Women Voters of New Castle County, Delaware

June 2018 Annual Meeting Voter www.lwvdelaware-newcastlecounty.org Vol. 22, No.10 The Mission of the League of Women Voters is to empower voters and defend democracy.

LWVNCC invites you to the

ANNUAL MEETING Monday, June 11, 2018 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Michael’s Restaurant, 1000 Churchman's Rd., Newark, DE 19713

Short business meeting includes voting on proposed slate of officers and

directors, treasurer's report, and time for attendees to make suggestions

and recommendations about where the new board's focus should be, and

what activities/programs to plan for the next year (July - June).

The agenda is listed on page 2 and the slate of nominees with their

biographies and pictures are on pages 2-5

ALL WELCOME!

MICHAEL’S RESTAURANT, 1000 Churchman's Rd, Newark, DE 19713, Buffet lunch is $15.00 and paid at time of the buffet luncheon. Please pay in cash if at all possible. RSVP at lwvde@comcast.net or 302-571-8948 by Saturday, June 9, so we can let the restaurant know how many to expect. If you need a ride, leave a message on the League Office phone 302-571-8948 or e-mail lwvncc@comcast.net when you RSVP. If you have not made a reservation please come anyway. Directions: http://michaelsde.com/contact-us Pictures of the Carrie Chapman Catt Awards Ceremony and other recent events are available on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwvnccde/albums. You can also view the photo albums from our website at www.lwvdelaware-newcastlecounty.org by navigating to the “What’s New?” page, “Photos” section.

Pag

e2

LWV of New Castle County ANNUAL MEETING, Monday, June 11, 2018

Michael’s Restaurant, 1000 Churchman's Rd, Newark, DE 19713

AGENDA 11:30 am LUNCH BUFFET/SOCIAL 12:00 pm CALL TO ORDER (Marjorie Johnson, President presiding)

Acceptance of the Minutes of 2017 Annual Meeting (a copy available) Appointment of Parliamentarian (Carole Walsh) Appointment of two people to approve the 2018 minutes.[the 2018 what?] Year-end Treasurer’s Report (copies available) (Katharine Olinchak, Treasurer) President's Report - Marj Johnson Slate of proposed Nominees, Nominating Committee Chair: (Cami Seward) Nominations from the Floor Election of Officers and Directors 2018-2019 ● Recognition of Board ● Directions to the New Board ● Announcements

1:00 pm Adjourn Annual Meeting business Desserts available also after the meeting - stay for social time and get to know each other or catch up with plans for the summer.

LWV OF NEW CASTLE COUNTY PROPOSED NOMINATIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pages 2-5

First Vice President - Catriona Binder-Macleod Term 2018-2019 Catriona Binder-Macleod is a native of Newark who returned to Newark with her husband and family after a 10-year hiatus. She worked for 37 years as a pediatric occupational therapist in: Atlanta, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; and Wilmington, DE. Catriona has always been active in the community and held office as secretary, treasurer and president of various Christina School District school PTAs that her children attended and was one of the founders of the Newark Charter School. She was a long-time board

member of the Newark Free Library fulfilling roles as vice president, media chair, and newsletter editor. Catriona is currently on the Advisory Board for the Master Player’s Concert Series at the University of Delaware. She retired three years ago and has been active on the League of Women Voters Advocacy Council, in advocating for safe communities through Network DE, in the Newark Indivisible Group Women Working for Change, and as a mentor for a student in the TeenSHARP program, a college access program for minority youth. She looks forward to continuing advocacy work as a board member of the New Castle County League of Women Voters.

Second Vice President - Patti Christopher Term 2018-2020 Patti and her husband Bill have been married for 47 years. They have two children and three grandsons. She retired from Christiana Care after 40 years in the Cardiac arena. For the past three years Patti has worked part time as a recovery room nurse in the Endoscopy Center. Being involved in the community is imperative to Patti. She has been a member of the League of Women Voters for over 15 years. Her major focus has been on Voter Registration, working at times with the New Citizen Ceremony and serving on the Board at various times. Besides her involvement with the League, Patti is on the Board for Mom's House, a Daycare, and cook for outreach programs such as Sojourners and Ministry of Caring. Downtime, she loves working in her herb garden, canning, cooking and travel.

(Continued on page 3 Nominations)

Pag

e3

(Continued from page 2 Nominations)

Treasurer - Katharine Olinchak Term 2018-2020 Katharine Olinchak has been the LWVDE treasurer for the last two years. She was born in Philadelphia PA and raised in New Jersey. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA. She spent 37 years in various positions in computer science and project management for electric utilities. After retiring, she went back to school and earned a Master of Education from Wilmington University, then taught math at Delaware Community Technical College. Katharine likes getting to know others within the League of Women Voters and serving as the treasurer of the state board. She enjoys encouraging young women to reach for educational opportunities, especially in the sciences. She also spends time involved with church activities, genealogy, and gardening.

DIRECTORS Jill Itzkowitz Term 2018-2020 Jill was born a red diaper baby in Brooklyn, New York in 1955. Her family was very active in the labor and civil rights movements. Family outings included going to marches in Washington, canvassing, and discussing politics. Jill attended the University of Delaware where she received a master’s degree in Political Science. She then worked for 30 years at JPMorgan as a Vice President managing technology projects. She was based in Delaware, but frequently traveled to New York, London, and Asia. The best part

of her job was working with people from different countries and cultures. After retiring from JPMorgan, Jill began to pursue interests important to her. Jill volunteered for Faithful Friends, mentored teens with Teensharp, Urban Promise, and the Red Clay school district, and worked on special events for the Hagley Museum. She continues to be active in most of these organizations. She is also a member of an indivisible group, where she focuses on protecting voter rights and civil liberties. She is an avid tennis player and enjoys needlework and knitting. She is also a serious bridge player, and frequently travels to regional and national tournaments. Jill currently resides in Pike Creek with three cats and spends most of her time with her longtime partner George.

Richard Johnson Term 2018-2020 Richard Johnson brings 45 years of management, marketing and sales experience in various industries including Medical Products, Associations, IT, commercial furniture and automotive. Since 2001, he has worked with the CEO of AutoPort, Inc., New Castle, to diversify the business by developing and implementing a sale and marketing approach that is the main revenue contributor for the company. Richard is part of the senior management team and serves on the AutoPort Board of Directors. From 1996 to 2000, he was one of the founders of Cytometrics, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, a medical device company where he was part of a three-

man team that raised $55 million of private equity to fund the company. Mr. Johnson has held senior management roles with Nemschoff Chairs, Sheboygan, WI and the American Hospital Association, Chicago, IL. For 15 years, he was employed by the E. I. DuPont de Nemours, Co. moving up the ranks from sale representative to Regional Manager Corporate Healthcare. He is the proud father of two children and two grandchildren. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Monmouth College, Monmouth, and he is a Vietnam veteran.

Susan Veitch Mitchell Term 2018-2020 Susan hails from the Cleveland, Ohio area, moving to Newark DE in 1991. Susan began her teaching career in 1973 but left the Berea City Schools after developing a gifted/talented program for the districts three middle schools and heading to Washington D.C. While in Ohio she chaired the Educational Issues committee of the Ohio Federation of Teachers and served as president of the Berea local. In 1981, Susan was invited by AFT to co-develop an NIE-funded project linking teachers with educational research. That project eventually won an American Educational Research Assn. award. Marriage took her to the Netherlands for almost eight years, returning stateside with a 6-year-old daughter. Ever a strong proponent of public education, Susan won a seat

on the Christina School Board in 1993, but in 1994 returned to the classroom. She was Gauger Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 1998 and took a position at Newark High in 2000. She is active in the NAACP Newark Branch and serves on its political action committee. (Continued on page 4 Nominations)

Pag

e4

(Continued from page 3 Nominations)

Cami Seward Term 2018-2019 Cami Seward relocated to Delaware, after living in Juneau, Alaska for 23 years, to be near her parents and her husband’s parents. Having lived in multiple states, the Washington, D.C. area had always remained her home base. Cami earned a degree in Social Work, raised her two sons and, except for several years in real estate, spent most of her career in the field of juvenile justice. Moving to Delaware in 2009, she served as the Parish Administrator at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church in Newark which allowed time to attend to the needs of her family and to get to know the First State. She is now fully retired, active with several faith communities and

social justice organizations, enjoys time with her family and friends, and gardening with a focus on native plants. She most recently served the League of Women Voters NCC as Nominating Committee Chair.

Kim Wells Term 2018-2020 Kim Wells is a recently retired computer analyst. Originally from the Golden State of California, she and her three young daughters traipsed through several other U.S. states in the wake of her nuclear engineer husband, Jack, before planting roots in Delaware some 20 years ago. Her year-old grandson, Orion, lights up her life! Kim has a background in web programming and database administration, which helps in her role as LWVNCC Webmaster. Kim has only recently become politically active, joining the League in mid-2017. She has served on the board since August 2017 as an appointee to fill a vacancy. Kim initiated the LWVNCC TED Talk Discussion program and is currently serving as the state-wide 2018 Delaware VOTE411 Coordinator.

Nominating Committee Members 2018-2019

Linda Barnett Nominating Committee Chair 2018-2019 Linda joined the LWVNCC in the summer of 2015. She has become an active member of the Advocacy Corps, focusing primarily on legislative proposals dealing with education and social policy. Linda is also active in the American Association of University Women and currently serves as President of the AAUW Wilmington Branch. Linda has lived in Delaware since 1978, working for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services as a planner for over 35 years. She and her husband made a variety of locales home prior to settling in Delaware – including Gainesville, Florida; Los Angeles; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Omaha, Nebraska (moves

prompted by her husband’s career as a Sociologist and then Professor of Law).

Sharon Gaudino Term 2018-2019 Sharon is the Director of Learning Services for Computer Aid, Inc. (CAI) in Newark, Delaware. Throughout her career as a corporate trainer and training consultant, she has worked for several Delaware companies including CAI, MBNA America, WSFS Bank, and Wesley College. As a Delaware native, she completed her schooling in Delaware’s public schools and continued to the University of Delaware where she completed an undergraduate degree in psychology. Years later, she returned to UD to complete her MBA. She is an active community member and has served many local organizations including the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and she currently sits on the Board of Directors for Opera Delaware. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and staying

active. She and her husband, Steve, reside in Pike Creek.

Moonyeen Klopfenstein MS, RN Term 2018-2019 “Kloppy,” as most people know her, is highly respected in her field. She has been a LWVNCC director 2016-2018, 2nd Vice-President 2014-2015 and has co-chaired membership, leadership, and development committees plus the LWVNCC Hot Lunch Educational program. She recently again started assisting with voter registration. She started assisting with voter registration when she was in college in Connecticut. Kloppy has been the recipient of numerous awards: Carrie Chapman Catt award given by LWVNCC; member of the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women; Top Nurse of DE Today Magazine, 2013-15; Past President of DE Nurses’

Association, as (Continued on page 5 Nominations)

Pag

e5

(Continued from page 4 Nominations) well as Organizations of Nurse Executives and DE End-of-Life Coalition; founder of the “Loving Arms support group” (for parents grieving the loss of a child); Vice-Chair for DE Stroke Initiative. She has been a registered nurse at Christiana Care Health System since 1966 and childbirth educator for over 40 years, teaching parents, nurses and doctors; Director of Maternal Child Patient Care Services; Psychiatric Care and Infectious Diseases from 1985-1995. She has recently joined the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Two additional Nominating Committee members will be appointed from the board.

CONTINUING IN OFFICE President - Marjorie (Marj) Johnson Term 2017-2019 Marj grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, went to Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa and graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. She worked for 42 years in pediatric physical therapy and truly loved her job. Marj retired in 2006 and has been busy ever since! She is a long-time member of Concord Presbyterian Church, currently on Session and teaching adult education. She volunteers with Literacy Delaware teaching English as

a second language, currently with a woman from Mexico. Marj attends classes at Osher Academy of Lifelong Learning and plays in the band and flute choir there. Currently she serves on the Board of the New Castle County League of Women Voters and is active in DelPHR (Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights). Marj loves music, travelling and working in the garden. She is blessed that her daughter and her family live close by and enjoys seeing her grandsons often—one 17 and in 11th grade and one 10 in 4rd grade.

Secretary – Carmela Longobardi Term 2017-2019 Carmela Longobardi is a native Delawarean. She is devoted to her family, community and her profession. She graduated from St. Mark’s High School, later attended Brandywine College where she studied accounting. Always believing she was a social worker at heart, she later obtained a Bachelor of Science in Behavior Science from Wilmington University and a Master of Social Work from Widener University. She has worked for Christiana Care for 37 years where she is currently a senior social worker at the Christiana Hospital and St. Patrick’s Center in Wilmington, DE. In the community she is currently Chair of the Delaware

Grief Awareness Consortium and is the Executive Director of the Greenhill Pharmacy Foundation.

Lorraine Botticelli Term 2017-2019 Lorraine graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Anna Marie College in Worcester, MA where she began a ten-year career as a registered Medical Technologist in Connecticut and Massachusetts hospital laboratories. She was recruited by DuPont Medical Products where she spent 33 years in the industry through two acquisitions where she completed her career as Director of Global Product Support. Her key accomplishments include being awarded the Leadership in Customer Excellence Award. Lorraine was the founding chair for an employee resource group entitled Women’s Information Network. During her tenure, she developed their focus on mentoring/coaching and concentrating on community support activities. After

retirement from Siemens Healthcare, Glasgow, DE. in 2012, she is now serving as a quality and regulatory consultant. As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society for 20 years, she was awarded the Dr. Stephen Edell Award and the Pacesetter Fundraiser Award. Recently she was named a member of the American Cancer Society Leadership Council. Lorraine also volunteers her time with Planned Parenthood of Delaware. She joined the LWV in December 2016 and is currently the co-chair of the New Citizen Welcoming committee. Lorraine has a daughter who lives in Miami, Florida. She is an avid reader, enjoys gardening, spending time with her two rescued cats, Bella and Stella and summers at her Jersey Shore home.

Joann Hasse, Term 2017-2019 Joann Hasse joined the League in West Virginia in 1961 and, in addition to her four times as a member in DE, has been a member and board member of Leagues in Texas (twice), MD and MA. Joann is the current president of LWVDE. She served as LWVDE action chair ’82-’86 and as state president 5/86-1/87 and ‘88-’93. Joann, a long retired registered nurse, has served as LWVDE chair for health care policy since 1993. She served on the LWVDE board from ’93-‘13 and is one of the League’s volunteer lobbyists. She was a member of the LWVUS nominating

committee from ‘90-’92and has been on the LWVNCC Board since ’13, serving as secretary for the past two years. She represents the LWVDE on the Patient and Consumer Advisory Committee of the newly created Delaware Center for Health Innovation and has served on several other State healthcare related committees over the years.

Pag

e6

VOTE411 What is VOTE411? www.VOTE411.org is an online voters’ guide created by the U.S. League of Women Voters. It is a “one-stop-shop” website where Delawareans can learn about voting, register to vote, view a sample ballot for their location, and compare candidates’ positions on the issues side-by-side in their own words. LWVDE State League sponsored the participation fee this year for all three county Leagues to participate in VOTE411 for the 2018 elections. I’m excited by VOTE411 project because it goes to the next level… not just registering voters, not just getting them to the polls, but helping them to become informed about the candidates before they vote. The state-wide VOTE411 team has been working since February, getting organized, planning and researching, and creating questions for the candidates to answer. But the two most challenging aspects are still coming up… convincing candidates to participate and getting the word out to the voting public through a promotional campaign. We can always use new volunteers for our VOTE411 committee. It’s the happening place to be! We meet by web conference on the weekend or evening so working folks can participate. Everyone is welcome to drop by one of our VOTE411 picnic and work sessions at Lums Pond State Park on Saturdays in June; see the calendar section for details. Whether or not you join the committee, we’d like to ask *all* League members to help in a couple of ways. First, see if your outside organizations are open to mentioning VOTE411 in their church bulletin, group newsletter, website or Facebook page this summer and fall. Second, for businesses where you are a “regular” or know the owner, ask them if they’d be willing to place a poster in their window or flyers on their counter. For me, that’s my corner grocery store and drug store. And I’ll try to convince my husband to approach the liquor store owner; they know him by name there! Our launch date is July 16, and we want everyone in Delaware to see the VOTE411 logo everywhere between then and the November 6 General Election. Any way you can help us get the word out will be much appreciated. Please contact Kim Wells with questions or ideas, or if you’d like to join in on the VOTE411 committee meetings. --Kim Wells, 2018 Delaware VOTE411 Coordinator kimwells19702@gmail.com 302-836-4751 (h) 302-650-6897 (c)

T-Shirt Sale! Sussex League has revived this custom Ink order for Ask me about Voting t-shirts with the VOTE411 logo. If interested, you can go to the following link to order and pay for your shirt: www.customink.com/g/jns0-00be-5tnj. If we don’t sell 20 shirts by June 15, the order will be cancelled.

Pag

e7

NEW FORMAT USED FOR NEWARK CANDIDATE FORUMS

The LWVNCC sponsored candidate nights for Newark council candidates. Judy Taggart, Carole Walsh and Sophia Sottileo from AAUW Newark, coordinated the evening.

Due to the candidates' schedules, the event was split into two nights. The forums used a much different format than in years past, when all the candidates sat on the stage and answered questions from the moderator, Carole Walsh. Instead, the attendees sat at tables and candidates rotated among the tables, spending 10 minutes answering questions at each table. Facilitators from the League asked the first question and then residents asked questions. Candidates also gave opening and closing statements which were heard by all attendees. A meet and greet with refreshments was held after the forums.

Thank you to facilitators Cami Seward, Sophia Sotilleo, President AAUW Newark, Kim Wells, Judy David and Catriona Binder-Macleod. Approximately 40 citizens attended each evening.

Judy Taggart and Carole Walsh Candidate Forums Co-chairs

New Citizen Naturalization Ceremonies Beginning in March 2018, three Naturalization ceremonies have been held at the US District Court, Wilmington, Delaware. These ceremonies have included the swearing in of 161 new citizens from over 30 countries. It is estimated that over 150 new citizens will be sworn in early June at Clayton Hall, located at the University of Delaware campus. The schedule will continue again in September through the month of December. Thank you to the many volunteers who participated handing out welcome folders to all new citizens. We thank our funder, Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council (DCRAC) and Rashmi Rangan, Executive Director. The funds allow us to continue this important program. 2018 Naturalization Proceedings for the U.S. District Court for the District of

Delaware Ceremonies take place in the Federal Building in Wilmington, unless specified. Yearly calendar: Thursday, March 1, 2018, Thursday, April 5, 2018, Thursday, May 10, 2018, Thursday June 7, 2018 - University of Delaware, Monday, September 17, 2018 (Constitution Day), Thursday, October 4, 2018, Thursday, November 1, 2018, Thursday, December 6, 2018 - University of Delaware Co-chairs: Connie Georgov and Lorraine Botticelli

VOTER SERVICES This year we have registered 436+ voters at conferences and registration drives. Of those, in the last two months a group of enthusiastic volunteers from the LWV of NCC and Indivisible and Beyond groups registered 406 students at public and private high schools: Padua High, James Grove locations, Salesianum, Padua Academy, St. Elizabeth, A. I. Dupont, Dickinson, Newark, Cab Charter, and Tatnall. We are still scheduled to do more schools. Also planned are farmers’ markets and other venues during the summer and fall. Patti Christopher, Voter Registration Coordinator also gave three training sessions about how to fill out the federal registration forms, and remain nonpartisan when conducting these drives. Thank you to all volunteers and especially Patti for her service. Participants were League members: Linda Barnett, Lorraine Botticelli, Tracey Crook, Letty Diswood, Cara Gaudino, Patty Jones Huang, Jill Itzkowitz, Marj Johnson, Sharon Kwiatkowski, Peggy Schultz, Cami Seward, Judy Taggart, Pat Todd, Carole Walsh, and Bea Webb - and some I may have missed. Indivisible and Beyond group: Sally Barclay, Mona Bayard, Sarah Baylin, Nancy Beury, Becky Brill, Don Brill, Susan Chandler, Carol Clapham, Lucy Comstock-Gay, Moira Donoghue, Donna Dossett, Mary Jane Elliott, Alan Evantash, Ellen Gay, Linn Goddess, Sandy Idstein, Gary Johnson, Didi Lovett, Peggy Lubin Evantash, Julia Manning, Ann McKelvie, Kathe Morse, Bob and Melinda Penn, Anne Powell, Jean Raleigh, Cheryl Siskin, Chris Sudell, Lloyd Thayer, Barry Townsend, Sandi Townsend, Dini Silber.

Pag

e8

Website & Social Media In October 2017, new LWVNCC member Cara Gaudino helped us to create our own members only private Facebook group. All New Castle County League members who have Facebook accounts are encouraged to join the LWVNCC Members group. Pull it up on the Facebook search bar or click this link – www.facebook.com/groups/LWVNCC – and then click the Join Group button.

The LWVNCC Members Facebook group is a great place to post questions or share information with your fellow local League members. And also to view or post photos! You can also follow or join the League of Women Voters of Delaware (LWVDE) public Facebook group. This group has a wider following, so it is a more effective place to post general notices that mesh with League principles and be able to reach more people.

Your Webmaster for the past year, Kim Wells, has a request: when at League events, please snap a few photos on your phone, and post them in the Facebook group and/or send them to kimwells19702@gmail.com. The more photos we can include on our website or Facebook group, the more fun it is! Speaking of photos, a huge thank-you to Marianne Roken for putting together a fabulous, very professional video slideshow for our Carrie Chapman Catt awards banquet this year. We’ve already used it at two events -the CCC Awards and the state League Council meeting- and it’s generated a lot of buzz. Great job Marianne!

We also have photo albums of recent events available on Flickr. To reach them, either go to our website at www.lwvdelaware-newcastlecounty.org and navigate to the What’s New? page, Photos section, or go directly to flickr.com/photos/lwvnccde/albums. Finally, here are some Twitter feeds you may want to follow: LWVDelaware (@LWVDE) – state, LWVSCDE (@SussexLWV) – Sussex County, LWVUS (@LWV) – national. You can also subscribe to email action alerts from the national League at LWV.org.

MAY HOT TOPIC LUNCH HIGHLIGHTS

The May Hot Topic luncheon gave attendees the opportunity to hear the latest about legislative activity in Dover this session. League members who focus on specific topics gave an update on current bills being debated. Cami Seward ran down bills related to the criminal justice system; Linda Barnett described Education bills under consideration and several in the social policy realm. Letty Diswood spelled out the proposals before the General Assembly that address new voting machines under consideration, as well as bills designed to improve the election process. Joann Hasse’s main focus is health care, and she described several bills on that topic

being considered. Joann also presented the latest set of bills to deal with gun violence. Peggy Schultz offered information about bills that affect land use and also transportation, two concerns that often intersect. Coralie Pryce spoke about environmental issues, and John Flaherty described efforts to improve access to information. He also touched on developing plans to prevent gerrymandering after the next census, and he reminisced a bit about his advocacy work in tandem with League members, reaching back many years, including the time when he shared an office with Letty. Anyone desiring detailed information on any of the topics discussed at the meeting should contact the League member who is specializing in that area.

Linda Barnett, Social Policy (Education)

Pag

e9

TED Discussions From October 2017 to May 2018, LWVNCC started a new evening/weekend educational and social program: our TED Talk Discussions. The format is simple; we watch an inspiring, thought-provoking video from TED.com, and then talk about it afterward. We also have begun advertising the TED Discussions and other League events on Meetup.com - under TED-Talks-and-Other-Community-Events-Sponsored-by-LWVNCC to reach a new audience and make more people aware of the League of Women Voters. Some of our most dedicated TEDsters have attended a few other League events, so it is working!

TED talks featured this past year include the following…

Oct 2017: Bryan Stevenson - We Need to Talk About an Injustice (TED2012)

Oct 2017: Johann Hari - Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong (2015)

Nov 2017: Lawrence Lessig - We the People, and the Republic we must reclaim (2013)

Nov 2017: Noy Thrupkaew - Human Trafficking is all around you. This is how it works (2015)

Dec 2017: Luma Mufleh - Don't feel sorry for refugees - believe in them (TED2017)

Dec 2017: Ashton Applewhite - Let's end ageism (TED2017)

Jan 2018: Dan Gross - Why gun violence can't be our new normal (TED2016)

Feb 2018: Zeynep Tufekci – We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads (TEDGlobal NYC 2017)

Mar 2018: Titley, Pierson and Berry - Three C's short videos: Climate, Children, Compassion

Apr 2018: Naomi Klein – How shocking events can spark positive change (TEDGlobal 2017)

May 2018: Gretchen Carlson –How We Can End Sexual Harassment at Work (TED 2017)

In April 2018 Kay Palmer took over as our new host for the TED Discussions. Kay is terrific at asking probing questions that make us think! We’ll be taking a break from the TED Discussions program for the summer, starting again in September 2018. If you have suggestions for future TED topics, please pass your ideas along to Kay Palmer - kaypalmer@42llc.com - or Kim Wells - kimwells19702@gmail.com.

Congratulations

Carole Walsh and Judy Taggart were recently selected by Mayor Polly Sierer, Newark, to be recipients of one of the City's annual Jefferson Awards recognizing volunteer service. In recognition of the outstanding volunteer service which included LWVNCC service, they were recognized at Newark's Celebration of Service ceremony. They were thanked for their selflessness and dedication and each received a Jefferson Award certificate and pin. Founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard, the Jefferson Awards Foundation identifies and honors local unsung heroes, celebrating their outstanding community service.

Pag

e10

GREAT DECISIONS DISCUSSION GROUP What: Great Decisions: Turkey: Partner in Crisis When: Monday, June 18, 1:30 -3:30 p.m. Where: Newark Free Library What else: Lunch, for those who wish it. When: Before discussion, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Where: At 11:30 at Skipjack Restaurant in the Shops at Louviers on Paper Mill Road. How: Contact Flo Waibel fmwaibel@udel.edu All welcome. Calendar: September 17, U.S. Military; October 15, South Africa's Democracy, November 19, Global Health

Welcome New Members Josephine Copeland, jcopeland302@hotmail.com, 302-325-3288 Janice M. Heinssen, jmheins@verizon.net Barbara L. Shope, blshope@aol.com, 302-509-3914 Home, 607-760-7460 cell Jenn Wells, jenn@jennwellsdesign.com, 302-304-1339

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Marj Johnson This has been a busy spring. Our wonderful Carrie Chapman Catt event was enjoyed by all who attended and it was a great opportunity to see old friends, meet new ones, and celebrate our Lieutenant Governor and Connie Georgov. We made a little over $1,000 on the event. League Day in Dover, moved to May because of weather, was also a wonderful event, with speakers in the morning informing us of the financial issues in Delaware and a crowded Legislative Hall and agenda in the afternoon, including a meeting with Governor Carney. It was my first League Day and it was

interesting to see the wheels of government actually turning! Thanks to all who testified on bills and especially on the Equal Rights Amendment bill. Despite losing the fight on this one, it is not dead, as women over the years have never given up. State Council met in Dover 5/19 and heard the new initiative coming from the national League, and we also voted to merge the state League into the state Ed Fund League, resulting in a new League of Women Voters of Delaware as a totally tax-deductible entity as a 501c3. This will make tax deductible donations as well as bookkeeping much easier. Coming up is our annual meeting June 11 at Michael’s and I hope many of you will attend to get updated on our current status and look forward to the year ahead. The nominating committee has selected another wonderful slate for the board so come and meet them as well. As we head into summer, Joanne Hasse and I will be attending the National Convention in Chicago the end of June and will report back to you on the events there. Then I hope there is a chance to breathe!!!

FROM THE LEAGUE OFFICE

There are a few unsung heroes who have worked behind scenes to make things happen and follow up on the administration of activities to keep the League moving: Lois Myoda, super collator, Bob Hasse collates new citizen folders monthly, Joann Hasse helps Bob with prospective member packets and emails, Bea Webb, office volunteer, Pat Todd, coordinates housing council elections, Patti Christopher, coordinates the voter registration drives, Marj Johnson, our president, runs the board meetings among many of her duties, Carmela Longobardi, our board secretary, a thankless difficult job, Kim Wells who keeps our webpage up-to-date, and also is chair of the Vote411.org online voters guide for the state also organized the Ted Talks - now Kay Palmer has taken over Ted Talks - Moonyeen Klopfenstein, co-membership chair, Lorraine Longobardi and Connie Georgov, co-chairs of the new citizen project, committee chairs Chad Tolman, Peggy Schultz, Coralie Pryde and Fay Whittle, and Katharine Olinchak, treasurer, who keeps the books straight and this is the most thankless job to have, but vital. Thanks go to the Nominating Committee members who had a relaxed and sometimes intense time putting together a strong new board. They met several times in the last three months in the Christiana Cafeteria in the late afternoons. Just look at them happy to have completed their work. Letty Diswood, Office Manager (Pictured L-R Linda Barnett, Kim Wells, Lorraine Botticelli, and Cami Seward.)

Pag

e11

SUMMARY OF HOT TOPICS and OTHER PROGRAMMING Hot topic lunches are usually held at Michael’s Restaurant, 1000 Churchman's Rd, Newark, DE 19713, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. or other locations as indicated. Thank you to all who arranged these events. May 2018 LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP - The League's volunteer lobbyists shared highlights of the 2018 of Delaware legislative session April 2018 American Promise, an umbrella organization trying to coordinate and encourage the many groups working toward a Constitutional Amendment to reduce the influence of money in politics. Speakers were Judy Butler and Sharon Kwiatkowski. April 2018 Women Voters of New Castle County Eleventh Biennial Carrie Chapman Catt Awards Reception honoring

Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and Ms. Connie Georgov - at the Rail. February 2018 Prioritizing Investments in Delaware’s Complete Communities. Our speakers focused on the purpose of the Complete Communities Enterprise District Act, an analysis of how and where it might work to support the development of less car dependent and more bikeable, walkable, and livable, communities across Delaware. Speakers were Troy Mix, a Policy Scientist with the Institute for Public Administration at the University of Delaware and James Wilson, the executive director of Bike Delaware. January 2018 Delaware's Pretrial Detention Population - Its Consequences - Bail Reform Initiatives. Kate Parker West, JD, Local Site Coordinator, SMART Pretrial Demonstration Initiative, Delaware Center for Justice, was our speaker November 2017 Clean Water: Delaware's Clear Choice. On March 4, 2015, Delaware Nature Society, along with its partners, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and Center for the Inland Bays, launched a statewide clean water campaign - the Clean Water: Delaware's Clear Choice campaign. Speakers were Chris Klarich, Campaign Manager, Delaware Nature Society and Laura Miller, Outreach Coordinator, Delaware Nature Society SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017, HUMAN TRAFFICKING (EXPLOITATION) at Price Community Center, 103 Dorman Street • Harrington, DE 19952, Human Trafficking (Exploitation) in Delaware is a very real social justice problem which involves young girls and boys, migrant workers and seasonal international laborers right here in Delaware. Fay Whittle organized this event. October 23, 2017 and HOT TOPIC EVENING Tuesday, at the Greene Turtle in Christiana. What is Social Media, and how should we be using it within the League? Jennifer Wells gave an overview of Social Media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and explained how they are used. " September, 2017 and HOT TOPIC EVENING Tuesday, September 26 Trauma/adverse childhood events and the impact on substance use disorders. Speaker: Michelle Lauer AUGUST 2017 - CLIMATE CHANGE Lunch on AUGUST 28 or Evening on August 29. First - we watched the movie An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017) in area theaters, then went to the HOT TOPIC LUNCH to discuss the topic.

NOTICE: The updated LOBBY HANDBOOK for Delaware is available on the lwvdelaware.org page.

Thanks to Joann Hasse and Sandy Spence for their work getting this frustrating project done.

Pag

e12

CALENDAR

Saturday, June 2, 2018 2-5pm

Lums Pond State Park 1042 Howell School Rd Bear, DE 19701

PICNIC & VOTE411 BRAINSTORMING. Pack the family a picnic lunch and join us at Lums Pond in Area 2 by the playground. The park entrance fee is $4 for in-state, $8 for out-of-state license plate... or get a state parks annual pass online for $35. Enjoy a social time while we brainstorm ideas for getting the word out on VOTE411. We've got huge project goals and a tiny budget and we need everyone's ideas on how to get it done! Contact Kim Wells for further info; drop by any time between 2 and 5 pm.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Clayton Hall University of Delaware, Newark, DE

New Citizen Naturalization Ceremony. Naturalization proceedings for the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Contact Lorraine Botticelli if you'd like to help distribute welcome packets at the ceremony.

Saturday, June 9, 2018 2-5pm

Lums Pond State Park 1042 Howell School Rd Bear, DE 19701

PICNIC & VOTE411 P.R. WRITING. Pack the family a picnic lunch and join us at Lums Pond in Area 2 by the playground. The park entrance fee is $4 for in-state, $8 for out-of-state license plate... or get a state parks annual pass online for $35. Enjoy a social time while we line up press release ideas for getting the word out on VOTE411. Ideally we should issue press releases every 2-3 weeks from June thru October; brainstorming is needed. Contact Kim Wells for further info; drop by any time between 2 and 5 pm.

Monday, June 11, 2018 11:30am-1pm

Michaels Restaurant 1000 Churchman's Rd Newark, DE 19713

LWVNCC ANNUAL MEETING. All New Castle County League members are invited to the annual meeting to elect a new slate of board members and learn about League activities for the past and coming year. The annual meeting will take the place of both the usual Hot Topic lunch event in June and the first MondayJune board meeting. $15 buffet lunch; RSVP to the Office Manager.

Monday, June 18, 2018 1:30-3:30pm

Newark Free Library 750 Library Ave. Newark, DE 19711

GREAT DECISIONS. The group will discuss the topic Turkey: a partner in crisis. As usual, many of the group will meet beforehand for lunch at Skipjack, The Shoppes of Louviers, 401 Louviers Dr., Newark, DE 19711. Contact Flo Waibel for information.

Monday, June 18, 2018 6-8:30pm

Immanuel Church, Highlands 2400 W 17th Street Wilmington, DE 19806

LWVNCC BOARD TRAINING. Orientation session for new and existing LWVNCC board members. Community Room of Immanuel Highlands Church. Bring food/snacks and beverages to share.

Saturday, June 30, 2018 2-5pm

Lums Pond State Park 1042 Howell School Rd Bear, DE 19701

PICNIC & VOTE411 EXCITEMENT BUILDING. Pack the family a picnic lunch and join us at Lums Pond in Area 2 by the playground. The park entrance fee is $4 for in-state, $8 for out-of-state license plate... or get a state parks annual pass online for $35. Enjoy a social time while we get excited about the VOTE411 launch in just two more weeks! Contact Kim Wells for further info; drop by any time between 2 and 5 pm

Saturday, July 14, 2018 2-5pm

Lums Pond State Park 1042 Howell School Rd Bear, DE 19701

PICNIC & VOTE411 MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION. Pack the family a picnic lunch and join us at Lums Pond in Area 2 by the playground. The park entrance fee is $4 for in-state, $8 for out-of-state license plate... or get a state parks annual pass online for $35. Enjoy a social time while we pass out posters and flyers to distribute to local businesses. Contact Kim Wells for further info; drop by any time between 2 and 5 pm.

League of Women Voters of New Castle County 2400 W 17th Street, Clash Wing, Room 1, Lower Level Wilmington, DE 19806 lwvncc@comcast.net www.lwvdelaware-newcastlecounty.org