As we approach the new year, it's a good time to take stock of where we've been.  

A United Kingdom firm, Camelot Group, is offering $1 billion to privately run part of the California lottery - its sales and marketing. Camelot Group operates the U.K.'s national lottery and consults for the state agency that runs the California lottery, so they have highly relevant experience. The firm expects that it could produce much higher profits for the state, so have offered as much as $1 billion upfront, and then would share the increased profits with the state.

A more profitable lottery would give more cash to schools - surely needed in this economy. While profits have grown about 4% in the latest fiscal year, many have said the program is capable of earning a great deal more.  

What should the state consider before deciding to privatize the lottery's sales and marketing, and if they decide to privatize, how should it be done? These are the questions with which our League study on Privatization is grappling.

• Would the public good be served?
• What impact would this have on the lottery's current employees? (Camelot Group promises that no union jobs would be eliminated. How would this promise be ensured?)
• Should this be "pure" privatization (transfer of assets) or instead a well-written contract for services?
• How would the state ensure that the procedures followed are not only transparent but subject to regulation and oversight and accountability?
• Would it have the authority to make decisions binding on the state, for example raising the cost of lottery tickets?
• What would happen if it failed to comply with state terms or failed to produce as promised?
• What needs to be included in the all-important privatization agreement or contract?
• How would the public be involved in the privatization transactions?
• Should Camelot be the only firm considered if sales and marketing is to be privatized?

Come join our lively study group - Martha Beattie, Chair; Marie Arnold, Doug Beattie, Mary Collins, Dick Cress, Gloria Chun Hoo, Sara Malaun, Eve Orton, Sandy Remmers, Cecilie Schulze, and Brenna Silbory were at our last meeting. Or, do some reading about the study and come informed to our consensus meetings which will be held in early April.  You can find complete information at the LWVUS Privatization website.   

• Candidates Forums.  This requires a 2-3 hour commitment and specific tasks include moderating, sorting questions, and time-keeping (you get to use a stop watch!).   
• Speakers Bureau.  Do you find initiatives and referendums confusing?  If so, you're not alone.  When church groups, neighborhood groups, senior centers, and more, want an objective, non-partisan description of initiatives, they call upon our Speakers Bureau.  Members attend functions, usually in teams of two, and explain the pros and cons of the initiatives.  Training and information is provided before each election.
• Smart Voter.  Each candidate in every local, county and state race is provided a web page that can be used to describe their background and goals.  The Smart Voter committee contacts local candidates with information on the page set-up, answers questions, reviews the pages before posting (no mud slinging allowed) and follows up to make sure the information is posted daily.  It's important to know how to use a computer, but this is work that can be done in the comfort of your own home.
• Voter Registration.  We usually have calls for assistance with voter registration before each election.  Teams of 2-4 attend events to register voters. 

• Ensure all eligible voters are registered to vote and can exercise their right to vote without having to overcome unnecessary and restrictive hurdles.
• Educate the electorate on the candidates and issues on their ballots and help them find their polling place.
• Encourage informative and productive debates between candidates so voters can learn about their elected representatives through more than just sound bites.
• Fight to make sure election outcomes are decided by voters, not by special interest money.
• Promise clean air for children and their families, and change the discussion to the important issues facing Americans in 2012. 

Information on all of these events is available in this newsletter.                

• Jan. 12                Reviving California Community Conversation 
• Jan. 18                One Bay Area Workshop
• Jan. 19                Lunch with League - Carole Leigh Hutton 
• Jan. 25                Silicon Valley Reads 2012 Kickoff 
• Jan. 27                Plight of the Middle Class  (Los Altos/Mt. View LWV) 
• Jan. 28                Program Planning / Meet and Greet   
• Feb. 4                 Bay Area League Day  
• Feb. 7                 Board Meeting - Contact Cecilie Schulze for more info
• Feb. 16               Lunch with League     
• Feb. 25               Regional Workshop  
• Mar. 6                 Board Meeting
• Mar. 15               Lunch with League   
• Apr. 3                  Paranoid Politics Forum (part of Silicon Valley Reads)