 STATE VOTER
The League of Women Voters of New York State
November 2010 |
 Betsey's Briefs - Betsey Swan, President | |
Dear League friends,
I had a conversation recently with a League member who cares passionately about the environment and the need to ensure we protect it in a way that will enable it to sustain future generations of human life. She told me that she was uninterested in advocacy because she did not envision herself lobbying elected officials. Yet she described a set of goals that clearly assumed furthering LWVNYS positions. After she had outlined her goals, I commented that she may not want to speak with elected officials but what she planned sounded a lot like advocacy.
Which brings me to my point. In the League, advocacy occurs at all levels, and we must all contribute to achieve our goals. Advocacy begins with education. In these days of increasingly polarized media, in which people of different political persuasions no longer receive the same information, it is more important than ever that sources of unbiased information remain. The League has a reputation for exploring all sides of issues. Consequently, it is more important than ever that we continue doing studies at the local and state levels. Public education also involves maintaining information on issues of importance to us on our website and producing educational materials on the issues we follow. Where we go with this information and how we use it all involves different types of advocacy work. We are expanding our advocacy efforts in a couple of new areas - join a new Lobby Committee, become an Issue Specialist or join our new Lobby Corps. We are looking for people in many areas, with different expertise and a variety of tasks - from home or in Albany. Read below for more information on how to become more involved. |
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| Lobby Committees | |
In a new effort for advocacy, the LWVNYS is experimenting with lobby committees in some specific advocacy areas, with a chair acting as coordinator. Each committee would spread the work performed by Issue Specialists (formerly Off-board specialists) in an area among a number of different individuals with interest in a particular issue area. We have formed issue committees for hydraulic fracturing, marriage equality and GENDA, and National Popular Vote. Given that we do not currently have a health care Issues specialist and that New York State must make a number of crucial decisions to implement the Affordable Care Act, we welcome volunteers to serve on a health care committee. We seek people who will be able to work at home on their computers developing position statements and supportive materials for our advocacy efforts as well as materials for the website. Working through Laura, Sally and Barbara, the committee will also coordinate action at the local league level.
If you have members who are interested in a particular issue on which we have a position, please forward their names and contact info to Sally Robinson and we can connect them with others with similar interest around the state to activate advocacy on that issue. We are always looking for more advocates, especially in our core good government issues, to make our voice heard. |
| Call for Nominations to State Board | |
Every two years, the members of the League of Women Voters of New York State elect their Leaders for the next board term. The nominating committee invites, welcomes, and depends on nominations by League members and local League boards. Without your input, we can't fill the slate with those leaders who will best lead the League through the next biennium.
The deadline for recommendations has been extended. Send your recommendations by December 15 to Janalyn Travis-Messer, Chair, Nominating Committee, PO Box 919, Shelter Island, NY 11964. |
| Our Newest LWV in Warren County | |
Congratulations to our newest League in New York State! LWV of Warren County was officially recognized as a full-fledged League by the LWVUS. Let's keep growing! |
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| Lobby Corps | |
The League of Women Voters of NYS is developing a Lobby Corps, similar to that of LWVUS. The purpose is to train a group of volunteers who will then communicate the League's position on proposed legislation in person directly to the members of the state Senate and Assembly. The volunteer lobbyists will receive background information, talking points and individual assignments of legislators. A meeting will be held prior to the start of the legislative session in Albany to train and brief the Corps.
These volunteers are not to replace the Issue Specialists on whom the League currently depends for specific information, testimony and memos on particular issues as they are considered by the legislature. Instead, the Lobby Corps will be generalists who will provide the direct contact with the legislators on the key talking points. The Corps will also attend legislative committee meetings to report to the state League on important discussions and votes. It would be expected that the Lobby Corps volunteers would agree to lobby on a regular basis as assigned in Albany, for example, at least 2 days a month.
The Corps will work very closely with the state League's Vice President for Issues and Advocacy, Sally Robinson, and our Legislative Director, Barbara Bartoletti. The volunteers will "shadow" Barbara to meet the legislators, become familiar with the capitol and the legislative procedures, and learn the aspects of good lobbying techniques, especially during the volunteers' first year.
Come make a difference - and try something new in the League! Submit your name and contact information to Stephanie at the state League office and we'll send you more information and an application. |
| Students Inside Albany - April 10-13 | | All local Leagues should already be in contact with their school district(s) and starting the process to select a student to attend Students Inside Albany Conference from April 10-13, 2010. This three day conference teaches high school students how they can participate in the NYS public policy making with speakers and the opportunity to shadow their state Senator and Assemblymember. Click here for the 2011 brochure. |
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| Elections Specialist - Aimee Allaud | |
"It's Not Over Until It's Over!"
As I write this report, three New York State Senate races are still undecided and may take many more weeks for the final canvass to determine the composition of the New York State Legislature. Nevertheless, after this first year of using the paper ballot optical scan voting system statewide (both Primary and General Election), results of both the canvass and the mandatory 3% audit of the machines at the local boards of elections are reinforcing the League's position to support a voting system based on paper ballots which can be hand counted if necessary. These processes are time consuming but will reinforce faith in the election system if they are given time to occur within the context of the requirements of the NYS Election Law. Click on the editorial from the Syracuse Post-Standard, "The Paper Trail, Optical Scan Voting System Was the Right Choice," which lauds the League and NYVV for endorsing the op scan voting system.
The post-election analysis of the elections of 2010 will continue for some time and will have to be separated into types of issues which are process related (polling place experience, inspectors, privacy)as well as voter education, ballot design. LWVNYS conducted a Polling Place Survey again this year with an incredible participation rate of League members and friends. Some 1,000 responses have been received and are being analyzed to prepare a report for the Legislature and election administrators. Look for that report by December 1.
The League's 2010 Elections Agenda will include many of the issues which have emerged during this year and will provide the basis for action on legislation. Here's a preview of that statement: Improve election processes to extend, encourage and protect voting, including Election Day registration, better ballot design, improved polling place management/ poll worker training, and measures to ensure the integrity of all ballots.
In New York City, the City Council conducted an online Election Day Survey with the cooperation of 100 volunteers from the City Council and good government organizations, including the LWVNYC. About 1,200 voters were informally surveyed on their voting experience as they exited their poll sites. Volunteers then entered results into an online survey tool. Results were announced at a joint press conference on November 9. For more details of the results go to www.council.nyc.gov and find the press release.
Another survey of interest to election mavens and Voters Service directors is the Citizens Union survey of Sample Ballot Practices of New York State's local Boards of Elections. Go to www.citizensunion.org to read the results of this survey. Is your county among those which provide this much needed voter service?
Election Legislation 2010 Redux: LWVNYS Successes
The following 2009-2010 bills which the League advocated for were passed and signed into law, effective for 2010.
S/1836A Klein permits half-day shifts for inspectors (s/3/16/10)
A/5276 Galef revises the absentee ballot application form by eliminating unnecessary, intrusive
information (s/4/30/10)
A/4015 Kavanagh permits the affidavit ballot envelope at the polling place to be used as a voter reg. and enrollment
form (s/4/30/10)
A/3910 Gabryszak permits special ballots for domestic violence victims which protect their identify (s/4/15/10)
A/9368 Gabryszak authorizes registration records of domestic violence victims to be kept confidential (s/5/6/10)
A/4467 Brodsky authorizing persons seventeen years of age to serve as election inspectors and poll clerks
(s/5/12/10)
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Voter Services - Maggie Moehringer
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Voters Service Survey
We are eagerly awaiting League response to the Voter Service Survey to gauge the continued usefulness of our paper Voters Guides and to find out about all the great things you did this election season. As you know, SmartVoter was used more extensively by LWVNYS this year, and we are convinced that electronic guides are the future. We think we licked the timing problem as successfully as we are able until the primary date becomes earlier in the election cycle (which will happen). Part I came out in July and Part II early in October.
Candidate Debates
LWVNYS partnered with APBS this year, and we had a very cordial working relationship with them. They agreed to provide a statewide broadcast for governor and senate races, and the possibility of other coverage. We aggressively pursued those three major races; most of the affiliated PBS stations were not interested in carrying other races, although some of them did some other debates (AG). APBS was not inclined to aggressively pursue candidates, and felt they could not encourage their news directors to make hay over whether the candidates were agreeing to this statewide broadcast; understandably, they were concerned about these candidates affecting their funding. Laura developed very good relationships with the campaigns and used them very effectively to try to get them to agree. Basically incumbents were not interested; hence we had the Hofstra debate, and nothing else for governor, and some local senatorial debates. LWVNY City, however, was very effective at convening debates broadcast locally through the ABC affiliate.
We issued four press releases:
- announcing the partnership;
- announcing the invitations to Lazio and Paladino for the primary;
- announcing the invitations to the candidates for the general election;
- announcing who and who had not accepted the invitations.
The campaigns seemed to respond to the press releases. We sometimes proposed stronger wording than PBS was comfortable with and sometimes issued the press releases without their logo.
Absentee Ballot Application: "Reasons"
While the Absentee Ballot Application has changed and the process streamlined a bit, we are disappointed that the voter still has to supply a reason. Some of you expressed the view that we now had a "no reason necessary" process, and that's not the case. Unfortunately that would require a constitutional amendment, not just a change to the election law. |
| Smart Voter - Bo Lipari | |
 This year, the League of Women Voters of New York State (LWV-NY) used an Online Candidate Information System (OCIS) called Smart Voter. An OCIS allows viewing of information about races and candidates appearing on the ballot. This year, the system used was Smart Voter, one of several pre-built OCIS systems currently available. For the 2010 elections, our license allowed us to provide election information for "state-wide" races only. These were Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General, both US Senate seats, all US Congressional seats, all State Senate and Assembly seats, and 7 New York Supreme Court Justice seats.
In terms of our initial goals, our rollout of an OCIS was successful. Despite some difficulties getting full ballot information for the Primary election, we were able to post complete lists of candidates for the General Election in November, totaling 254 races and 576 candidates around the state. For the first time, the LWV-NY provided a real-time service allowing voters to view a list of races and candidates specific to their address.
Another success was the coordination between the production of the printed Voter Guide and the online system. Our OCIS contained candidate responses to questions posed by the LWV-NY, matching the printed Voter Guides answers for Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General, and US Senate races.In addition, we learned valuable lessons about coordination and different needs of two very different ways to provide information to voters.
For more details and analysis on the usage of Smart Voter, click here. |
| State Convention - May 20-22, 2011- Albany, NY | |
The Convention will be held at the Desmond Inn in Albany from May 20-22. We will again host a series of pre convention workshops on Friday, May 20. Although we hope all participants will stay for the convention, if you cannot, feel free to come for the workshops. Please mark your calendars for both the Convention and Friday workshops and plan to be part of this most exciting, informative, and enjoyable event.
We ask local Leagues and members to start thinking about our Silent Auction again. Items were displayed on our website and bids for items were accepted online so anyone, not just Convention attendees, could participate and win. This fundraiser was a huge success and we hope to generate even more interest and funds this year. Each League will be asked to create a basket of goodies worth at least $50; it is suggested that the items represent or highlight your particular area of New York State. We also are asking for donations from members, especially bigger ticket items, such as an overnight at a summer or ski home or other travel incentives; the success in 2009 was in large part because of the larger items/services that were donated. So, be creative for your League's basket and possibly something you can donate as well. A letter to solicit donations is available here, as well as a form to submit for the Auction; be sure to send a photo and description to showcase your donation.
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| Issues and Advocacy - Sally Robinson |
 2011 Legislative Agenda
Last year, the Issues specialists and the state Board felt that the 2010 Legislative Agenda brochure that local leagues take with them on their lobby visits should be focused on core good government issues. This followed the difficult summer of 2009 in the state legislature and many years of failing to achieve any of our core good government reforms, although there has been some progress in the Elections area.
This September we asked for local league feedback on that process and suggestions for the 2011 Legislative Agenda. Many of the leagues that responded wanted the opportunity to continue making suggestions for state league priorities as had been done in previous years. There has been some confusion over the interchangeable use of the term "legislative priorities" and "legislative agenda" over the last few years. We moved to using the term Legislative Agenda, not Legislative Priorities, because some leagues were concerned that an issue not being listed as a priority on the brochure meant that we would not act on it. While not every potential issue can be listed on the Legislative Agenda, we can act on all viable state issues on which we have a position. Since we don't have the budget to hire research and lobbying staff, the key constraint on our action is committed and knowledgeable League members to work on specific issues. In addition to the local league lobby visits described below, we act throughout the legislative session in person, by written memos, and electronically.
For the 2011 Legislative Agenda the Issues specialists and the state Board felt that we should stick with the 2010 core good government items, update the Election section, but make it clearer that we can take action on all other issues on which we have positions as they arise. No need to be specifically listed on the Legislative Agenda. The Board also realizes that there isvalue in asking local leagues for their suggestions of legislative priorities as a barometer of member interest. Therefore, we will ask for local league input on legislative priorities next fall.
So after that too-long explanation, here is the 2011 Legislative Agenda:
FIX ALBANY NOW! 22011010 Legislative Agenda
Steps To a New and Better State Government
- Redistricting Create an independent redistricting commission to draft the New York State legislative and Congressional political boundaries for the 2012 elections.
- Campaign Finance Reform Support lower contribution limits and increased disclosure. In particular, support stronger and effective campaign finance enforcement with increased civil and criminal penalties for violations.
- Ethics Reform Put in place a new independent ethics over- sight agency and tougher enforcement. Make the legislature more open and accountable through continued rules reform.
- Election Reform Improve election processes to extend, encourage and protect voting, including Election Day registration, better ballot design, improved polling place management/ poll worker training, and measures to ensure the integrity of all ballots.
Other League Positions
The League also has positions on Health Care, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, State Finances, and Social Policy including Women's Issues under which we can and do take action
The 2011 Legislative Agenda brochure will be available for distribution to local Leagues in January. It also contains links to key government transparency websites and contact information for key NYS government officials and can be left behind for your legislator after your lobby visit. If you have any questions about League positions you should contact me or the Issues Specialist in the particular issue area. Attached you will find the most recent LWVNYS Board List. |
Transportation Issues - Gladys Gifford | |
Transportation Policy Applied in Recent NYS Legislation
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(First, a personal apology: I have been totally absent from my LWVNYS desk this past year, due to many distractions in family life and focus on my double knee surgery and recovery. But recovery is good, and my energy is back--so let's get back to work on transportation issues!) One major piece of legislation signed into law by Governor Paterson is the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act. This Act establishes Smart Growth criteria in State law and requires every State agencys that deals with infrastructure to create Smart Growth Advisory Committees that would evaluate public infrastructure investments based on Smart Growth criteria. The Act requires such infrastructure investments, to the extent practicable, to meet the criteria. The Act lists Smart Growth criteria, at length.
The legislation has long been championed by NYS Assemblyman Sam Hoyt (Buffalo) and was co-sponsored by NYS Assembly Transportation chairman Gantt. Passage was a major goal of Empire State Future and its Executive Director Peter Fleischer. The impact of this Act will depend on how the bill is implemented by state agencies. Will each agency or authority act quickly to set up its Smart Growth Advisory Committee? Will the NYSDOT accept and implement the advice of such a committee?
One of the Smart Growth criteria is: "TO PROVIDE MOBILITY THROUGH TRANSPORTATION CHOICES INCLUDING IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND REDUCED AUTOMOBILE DEPENDENCY." This criterion alone is sufficient for LWVNY to swing into action!
Development projects abound across NYS, and this Act requires that such projects abide by the criteria of smart growth. Leaguers should watch-dog all such projects, and insist that they observe the law, whether or not a Smart Growth Advisory Committee has been established. A key component of any large development project is the provision for transportation access. Ask any developer: how will employees or customers reach this project? could this project be located in an existing area already served by infrastructure?
Leaguers, please be ready to urge governor-elect Cuomo and agency heads to be enthusiastic implementers of the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Act.
High(er) Speed Rail is Coming
Legislators across the state are fully supportive of the various applications by NYS for Federal funding that will bring improved Amtrak service from NYC to Albany to Buffalo to Niagara Falls. For current schedule of hearings and process, see: www.nysdot.gov/empire-corridor/Schedule
Currently, improvements to Amtrak involve: upgrading the Rochester and Buffalo-Depew stations and improving track to allow higher speeds. Potential future improvements include more frequent service and construction of track dedicated to passenger rail. High speed rail in the Empire corridor is currently in the "scoping" phase: to seek comments from agencies and the public about the various details that need to be included in the work process.
Comment deadline by email or postal mail is November 29, 2010. Comments should be sent to: David Chan, HSR Project Manager, NYSDOT, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12232 OR EmpireCorridor@dot.state.ny.us. |
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| Membership News - Georgia DeGregorio |
 Membership Recruitment and Leadership Development Initiative We are excited to announce that New York State has been invited to participate in the LWVUS Membership Recruitment and Leadership Development Initiative (MRI) for 2011. The MRI is an innovative approach to strengthening the League by attracting new members and fostering new leaders. The program focuses on two key elements to achieve successful community outreach and organizational growth: - Offering hands-on, interactive training for local and state League leaders to learn best practices in community outreach and leadership development. The strategy includes messages, activities, and outreach tactics developed to help Leagues succeed in gaining members and developing new leaders. Specifically, it builds outreach activities that resonate with the community around League issues and events. The key to expanding the success of this work is through offering Leagues and new leaders training to help them develop outreach plans and operate within League basic principles.
- Providing a sound structure of support through teams dedicated to the best practices at the local level and caring, trained coaches at the state and national levels.
To participate, LWVNYS needs to identify the following individuals:
1. A statewide coordinator. The coordinator's job will be to attend a training session during the weekend of March 26-28, 2011, to attend a training session for local coaches to be held at a date to be determined (ideally immediately before or after the LWVNYS convention in Albany beginning May 20, 2011), to conduct monthly conference calls with for local coaches, in which the coordinator will brainstorm and facilitate the solving of problems, and to report monthly to the national Shur fellow. If you are interested in this position, contact Betsey Swan at Betsey@lwvny.org or call at 518-426-3711.
2. Up to five coaches. The coach's job will be to attend a training session in Albany held at a date to be determined (ideally immediately before or after the LWVNYS convention beginning May 20, 2011), to participate in monthly telephone calls with the Leagues they are coaching, to participate in a monthly telephone call with the statewide coordinator, and to complete questionnaires developed by the LWVUS. Each coach will work with up to two local Leagues. Coaching two local Leagues and reporting to the statewide coordinator should take a maximum four hours each month. This position provides a wonderful opportunity to become involved in League activities around the state, with limited necessity to travel and with a limited time commitment. If you are interested in this becoming a coach, contact Betsey Swan at Betsey@lwvny.org or call at 518-426-3711.
3. Up to ten participating local Leagues. We seek up to ten local Leagues to participate in the MRI. By agreeing to participate, a local League will become part of a national program that has been demonstrated to grow League membership, leadership, and visibility within the community. If you are chosen to participate, you will receive coaching and access to materials developed by the LWVUS that will assist you in meeting these goals. All local Leagues that wish to apply must complete a written application form. Contact state league office for an application.
In addition the LWVUS is accepting nominations for additional Ruth Shur fellows. See http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=16424 for information and application materials. Completed on-line application forms for Shur fellows must be submitted no later than December 1, 2010. |
| Survey of Local League Youth Programs - J. Gorenstein | |
The Youth Program Committee (Judie Gorenstein, Judi Roth and Lisa Scott) is continuing to receive responses to the statewide survey on local League youth programs. As a reminder, we are trying to determine what is being done across the state and we'd like to hear from you. Do you do Vote 18, Running and Winning, Take A Parent/Child to Vote, Leader Spark, or something else entirely? What type of youth program do you run? If you don't run any, would you like to?
Our aim is to compile information on how local Leagues in NYS "engage with youth".
Information collected will be shared with all participants. The purpose of this effort is to:
- learn what is being done,
- spread information on successful programs across Leagues,
- grow a resource group of League members across the state who "engage with youth,"
- share experiences and expertise of specific programs with other Leagues,
- be a resource to all local Leagues.
Leagues who have responded are: Cortland, Greater Oneida, Hamptons, Huntington, Long Beach, Orange County, Rensselaer, Rochester, Schenectady County, Smithtown, Somers, St. Lawrence, Tompkins, Westchester ILO. Thank you to these Leagues for their comments. Some examples of the great information we are receiving is as follows. Connie Young from LWV of Schenectady County called to describe their Take Me To Vote Program which has been successful and ongoing for the past 8 years. The difference between their program and one organized by LWV of Saratoga is Schenectady league has all K-5 schools in the county are involved. The St Lawrence County MAL that had wanted to have a similar program this November was not able to do it and was given contact information for Connie Young. Sharing of successful programs around the state is an important goal of the survey.
To ensure that we hear from all the Leagues, over the next months, Lisa, Judi, and Judie will be calling the different leagues. We will be calling either the Youth Director (if your League has identified someone for this role) or the President to obtain information about any programs you organize. |
| Student's First Experience with Candidate Forum - Peter Scelfo | |
Reflections by Peter Scelfo, High School Student, on Huntington County LWV Candidate Night
"When asked if I was interested in attending the League of Women Voters, "Meet the candidates" event I wasn't sure what to expect. Two questions that popped into my head were, "was this event going to pertain to me," and how would this event benefit me?" As a seventeen year-old, I was not sure, so I decided to go, as I had nothing to lose and the world to gain.
When I first entered I asked the clerk at the library where the event was taking place and she chuckled and looked at me as though I had asked an obscure question, as she did not expect a teenager to attend this program. Upon entering the auditorium, I was among three other teenagers from the Huntington Youth Council, a group of selected students from each high school in the township to represent their respective high school. We were recognized for being the first teenagers to attend the event in several years if ever. Holly Flores the deputy supervisor for the youth council said " all of the candidates truly opened my mind to local politics, and how involvement with a group like the League of Women Voters can really have an influence on legation."
Right from the beginning the candidates recognized the four of us, by relating their answers to the impact their views would make on the youth. This made the four of us feel like celebrities, as their were four of us and approximately one hundred other audience members. From Issues about housing, to schools, to redistricting, they all related the how each issue effected the youth, something that is not taught in school, or that is mentioned on the news. This information is valuable to youth and it should be encouraged that they become involved in events such as this. With new information about projects, problems, and district lines, this night was not only educational but necessary and exciting."
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| United Nations Day - November 9, 2010 | |
Over 50 League members and friends attended the annual United Nations Day on November 9 in New York City. Because the UN building is under renovations, the briefing was held across the street in the Church Center of the UN.
Hanadi Toutonji, Program Manager for the UN Capital Development Fund, and Jennet Kem, Gender Adviser for the UN Development Programme, explained the concept and process of microfinance and detailed many of the benefits for the individuals, as well as the communities. The power point presentations from the speakers are available below and additional information can be found at websites listed below.
"From Microfinance to Inclusive Finance," H. Toutonji, presenter
"Micro-finance and Women's Empowerment in Africa," J. Kem, presenter
Additional information:
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| Local League News | |
All local Leagues were busy this fall with a variety of voter service activities. LWV NYC registered voters through partnerships with corporations, schools and neighborhoods. LWVNYC Vice President Adrienne Kivelson presented important testimony at hearings of the Charter Revision Commission and prepared a statement about the two ballot questions for inclusion in the Voters Guide. They also organized demonstrations of the new voting machines and partnered with media to sponsor candidate forums.
After a busy fall of voter registration drives, candidate forums and registering new citizens at Naturalization Ceremonies, the LWV of Rochester Metro Area held a Post Election party at which Dr. Kent Gardner of the Center for Governmental Research spoke. The Rochester LWV also was busy this fall hosting guests from Tajikistan with the Open World Program and organizing a series of seminars for the guests.
The LWV of Chemung County held a candidate forum for the NYS Assembly race, but also had 14 candidates for the Chemung Legislature present to speak about themselves and answer questions. The LWV of Buffalo-Niagara didn't wait to be asked, but sent letters to 22 nonprofit organizations offering to help with voter registration in their respective organizations; they also offered to organized demonstrations of the new voting machines by the County Board of Elections.
The 5 Leagues in the Capital Region joined together and created an online voters guide using Vote 411; this was a great coordinated effort by the Leagues to provide candidate information electronically to the public. These Leagues also partnered in sponsoring many candidate forums for congressional and state races. The Albany County LWV also hosted Steven Greenberg of the Siena Research Institute to reveal the mysteries of polls and polling results. The Saratoga LWV also organized a forum to discuss the pro's and con's of the proposed new charter for Saratoga Springs.
Here's Voter Services Chair Anne Marshall on the set of East Hampton Town's LTV Studios in Wainscott, making a video explaining the new voting system in New York State. The program featured Anne introducing the Suffolk County Board of Election's video on the three-step voting process (which involves checking in at your election district, marking your paper ballot, and inserting it into the tabulator), then explaining the process in more detail, and in conclusion, describing the new NYS absentee ballot application. The program aired by LTV and also shared with Southampton Town's SEA-TV and possibly other public access channels in eastern Suffolk County. Providing behind-the-scenes production help were Carol Mellor and Arlene Hinkemeyer.
The LWV of Syracuse, as well as many other Leagues, hosted a showing of the movie, Iron Jawed Angels, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the 19th amendment and the national LWV. Jane Park of the LWV of Broome-Tioga, was recently honored at the Status of Women Council's annual Women of Achievement Dinner - congratulations, Jane!
The Suffolk County held its Annual Post-Election breakfast (see photos of LWV Smithtown attendees at right) to celebrate all the voter service activities that they accomplished this fall. These included voter registration drives, candidate forums, voting machine instructions and demonstrations, and more. Click here (page 1) and (page 2) to see the list of activities!
THe LWV of Tompkins County launched "Take Me Out to Vote" this fall to encourage parents to take their children with them to vote and get the youth interested in the democratic process. This League has also realized the great benefit of the Students Inside Albany Conference and is conducting fundraising with the hope of sending a second student to the conference in the spring. (One student from each local League is free, but the League must pay to send a second or additional student.) The Schenectady LWV, in coordination from other local organizations, held its 2nd annual Girls' Day Out for 150 7th graders; this program teaches the girls about relationships, leadership and education - and then assigns mentors in the schools to help the girls grow and develop to their best potential.
The LWV of Scarsdale sponsored a panel discussion on education foundations; as an outgrowth of the school budget review, the League has collected data and interviewed key stakeholders to understand the role education foundations play in neighboring districts.
The LWV of Chautauqua has partnered with CROP PLUS (Concerned Residents of Portland, NY, and People Like Us), and was awarded a grant from Freshwater Future. The mission of CROP PLUS is to provide community education to protect the water resources of lake Chautauqua, the Great Lakes and NYS; the grant will help accomplish this by seeking an end to the use of coal combustion bottom ash as a traction agent on roads and trails.
At a Fall Fundraiser in Port Washington-Manhasset, Steve Weiner, Senior counsel and retired partner at the firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and presently adjunct professor at Hofstra, Brooklyn and Cardoza Law Schools, spoke about the US Supreme Court and the effect of its newest member. Also, in the middle of this busy election season, the LWVs of East Nassau and Huntington found time to host an educational forum on the new Health Care legislation to help dispel the myths and learn the truths about its impact on services and programs.
The LWV of Cortland launched a new website and blog at www.lwvcc.wordpress.com - be sure to check it out! And be sure to send the state League office at lwvny@lwvny.org your bulletins, photos and announcements to be included in the next State Voter. |
| Susan B. Anthony Musical Tribute | |
"Only the Message Matters"
Music and Lyrics honoring Susan B. Anthony
CDs available with a portion of sales donated to the LWVNYS
The song cycle/narrative, written by Bob Warren, focuses of Susan's early influences, her arrest for voting in the election of 1872 and subsequent trial. Bob Warren delivers a poignant musical exploration into the life and spirit of Susan B. Anthony with "Only the Message Mattered." Mr. Warren takes listeners on a journey that is as significant spiritually as it is socially. With its breathtaking harmonies and hauntingly beautiful melodies, the music is seamlessly interwoven with historical dialogue that leaves audiences of all ages and genders informed and enlightened. ( click here for purchase info) |
| 1919 Society |
We are pleased to announce the first two members of the 1919 Society: Barbara Bartoletti and Elizabeth Hubbard. Thanks so much to Barbara and Libby - your names will be engraved on a plaque in the state League office.
Don't forget to tell the state League office if you have remembered the state League in your will. Join the 1919 Society, by including the LWVNYS in your will. If you already have included the League in your will, just let us know and we'll add you to the members of the Society. We will not ask for either proof of the bequest or its amount - we just want to honor your future support. You have worked so hard for the League for so many years. Why not help to ensure the future of the League by including support for the League in your will? Your donation can specify the Centennial Fund of the Education Foundation, a perpetually endowed fund, the general fund of the Education Foundation or the League. The process is simple, and we can help you with the correct language. Just contact Laura Ladd Bierman, Executive Director, LWVNYS, at Laura@lwvny.org or by phone at 518-465-4162 for more information or to join this new Society. If you believe that a strong League is vital to the health of our democracy, please become a member of the 1919 Society.
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