 STATE VOTER
The League of Women Voters of New York State
September 2011 |
 Betsey's Briefs - Betsey Swan, President |
 Welcome Back If your life is like mine, the summer has disappeared, and you are unaware of where it has gone. Before being swept away by the hurly burly of League work, it is important to reflect on the vision that motivates us and how that vision can be implemented most effectively in the early 21st century. We come to the League for different reasons. Some are attracted by the nonpartisanship and impartiality of our voter service operations. Some are attracted by the ability to study top issues of the day. Some are attracted by our cutting-edge advocacy work. Regardless of what brings us together, we are all united by the fervent belief in our democratic institutions and the need to make them available, accessible, and responsive to all. Reflection on our singular and collective visions can take many different forms: 1) it can be as simple as making an outline of personal goals for the coming year; 2) it can occur at an organizational level with a League retreat or planning meeting; 3) it can take the form of an existential exploration of the League's continued relevance and whether/how to make it more relevant. I would suggest that all three avenues deserve our attention. As I begin my second and final term as League President, I have developed a number of personal goals. Read about the goals here. |
| Wine Tasting Fundraiser |
 Wine Tasting Fundraiser To Benefit the LWV of New York State Saturday, October 15, 5:00-7:00 pm Sample fine wines and enjoy light fare Spend an enjoyable evening with League friends Support the efforts of the LWV New York State Home of LWV Rye, Rye Brook, Port Chester President Deborah Reisner 21 Norman Drive, Rye, New York (Transportation, hotel and dining options available upon request from state League office) $75 per person or $250 Sponsorship (2 people and recognition) Call the state office at 518-465-4162 to make a reservation. |
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| First Vote in Spanish | | First Vote, a guide to voting for new voters in NYS, has been updated, translated into Spanish and reprinted. The Spanish version is available from the state office for $.10 each ($10 per 100). It's a great document for high school seniors and naturalized citizens - and now for those whose first language may be Spanish. Click here to see the booklet. Copies in English are also still available. |
Hydrofracking Events - Beth Radow, Chair, LWVNYS Hydrofracking Committee
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Now that the DEC has produced its complete revision of the SGEIS (Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement) on gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing, the public has until Monday, December 12th to comment. In accordance with LWV positions on air and water quality, protection of watersheds, etc., it is critical that we identify areas that are weak or omitted and suggest appropriate revisions. Since the document is 1500 pages long, however, few will read it. Therefore our local leagues have a great opportunity to help.
There are experts available to speak on this topic, free of charge. By tentatively reserving a facility like your local library for two different dates in October or November and asking them to hold both dates for 48 hours, you can find out what speakers are available and get two committed. Then publicize your League-sponsored public program the way you would any other.
Click here to see some speakers that local Leagues are having or have had this fall. Or call the state office for more names of speakers.
See Letter to the Editor in the New York Times from LWVNYS President Betsey Swan here.
Gas drilling affects all New Yorkers for the long-term. Here's hoping many local leagues across the state will organize events. It will be of significant service to your community and our state. People listen to the League because we take the time to get the facts. Thanks for all of your help on this. If I can be of assistance, please let me know; contact me at ERadow@CUDDYFEDER.COM.
Hydrofracking Committee at State Convention, May 2011 |
Vote 411 - Electronic Voter Guide
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There are 15 local Leagues participating in the development of electronic voter guides, called Vote 411, this fall. Thanks to Christine Alexander of LWV Saratoga who has provided great assistance to the many Leagues developing this program. There have been a number of problems to tackle, but there is now a base for expanding next year, with leagues able to see the possibilities and more league members trained in the Vote 411 software. Some websites are already live; some will be live in the very near future. You can look for candidates listed in your area by clicking on the link .
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| How Green is Your Community? | |
LWVUS is partnering with www.GreenTowns.com, a sustainability-focused platform of www.AmericanTowns.com designed to promote green efforts in communities across the country. If your local League has been engaged in green activities, promote your League's good work on www.GreenTowns.com today to better help the fight for a greener America and involve your community. To participate, please contact Sarah Peterson at speterson@lwv.org.
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| Gifts to the League | Did you know that you can make a gift to the League, obtain a current tax advantage, and receive income for life? We offer a vehicle with which to do this through the League's pooled income fund. Within certain parameters, you can choose which level of the League to benefit. For more information, contact Betsey@lwvny.org.
And, don't forget about joining 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.
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ReShapeNY Coalition on Redistricting - S. Robinson, LWVNYS VP Issues & Advocacy
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ReShapeNY has continued to keep pressure on the state to enact redistricting reform in a fall special session through both testimony and through the media. Governor Cuomo reiterated his pledge to veto district lines drawn by LATFOR, the current commission, on August 4, the day the LATFOR held its public hearing in Albany. In addition to the League, Citizens Union, NYPIRG, Campaign for a Better New York, Common Cause, ACT NOW, Citizen Action, and the Korean American Voters' Council (KAVC) all have testified that legislators should honor their commitments made during campaign season to end gerrymandering and put the redistricting pen in the hands of an independent commission drawing fair district boundaries according to defined and objective criteria. Redistricting reform would have to be accomplished in a fall special session for a new independent commission to take over from LATFOR in time to draw the lines for the 2012 primaries.
Thanks to our local Leagues in Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Westchester and NYC for presenting testimony at each of the LATFOR hearings. In some cities, press conferences were also organized and attended by local members. Thanks to all who helped make the League visible and active on this issue.
We have had numerous articles and letters to the editor in media across the state, thanks to the help of our local Leagues. Check out links to all the articles and letters on our website.
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| LWVUS Launches Clean Air Promise | |
This summer, the League launched a national campaign, calling on citizens and elected officials to sign a Clean Air Promise, a commitment to support air quality policies that protect the air from toxic pollutants. Members of Congress have been asked to sign the promise, and leagues are launching campaigns to spread the campaign at a state and national level. Information about the campaign may be viewed here. Read More. (link to attachment 3)
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| Social Media Group | |
Do you manage social media for your League or want to learn more about using Social Media sites? Do you want to learn about how social media can help your League? Great! Join the LWVUS on Facebook, where it has created the League of Women Voters New Media Group to help you and your League become more social savvy. You will need to click on the "ask to join the group" button on the right hand side at the top of the page. Once you do this, the button will indicate that your request was sent. This Group will provide links to articles, trainings and other useful resources to help you become more active on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. You will also be able to share your experiences and learn what has worked for other Leagues.
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| 2012 Students Inside Albany Conference |  The Students Inside Albany Conference has been set for March 25-28, 2012. It is a bit earlier this year and we're hoping that will encourage even more participation (farther from AP exams). On the state League website under Youth Programs are sample brochures, flyers, recruitment ideas, etc to try and make it even easier for local Leagues to find a student.
 Remember that the Conference is free for the student and the local League; the only cost to the local League is to arrange for the student to get to Albany and back home (either by train, bus, parent car or League member car). |
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LWVNYS Treasurer - Ellen DeGregorio | |
As State League Treasurer and a CPA for over 24 years, I wanted to let each of the local leagues know that I am available for any questions you might have of a financial nature. While there are documents on-line which provide guidance to local treasurers (please see In League on the Local League Resources page of the state website), they don't cover every situation and sometimes a discussion is just what you need. I am available via email at etdegregorio@hotmail.com or you can call the state office at 518-465-4162 and leave a message and I will get back to you. I am looking forward to working with all of you.
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| Voter Services - Susan Multer |  All local Leagues are busy registering voters and organizing candidate forums. Members should offer assistance to their League to ensure successful events. Information on how to moderate or organize candidate forums is available on the League's website in the Road to the Voting Booth, part 2 - or email me with questions. Guidelines and instructions on how to use the new voting machines can be viewed on the State Board of Election site - spread the word to help people use these new machines.
The 2011 Voters Guide, Part I, has also been distributed to local Leagues who ordered copies. This brochure includes information on how to register to vote, how to obtain an absentee ballot, info on the new voting machines and more. There will not be a Part II this fall as there are no statewide races and no statewide ballot proposals. |
| Issues and Advocacy - Sally Robinson | |
Voter Participation Project
The League has recently received a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation to organize a comprehensive educational project examining different means of increasing the rate of voter participation in New York, including expanding opportunities for voter registration, early in-person and absentee voting and vote by mail, and better voter education and ballot design. In this project, we are researching the effect on voter turnout of different innovations in voter registration modernization and early voting, and associated administrative issues for election officials and security concerns.
The goal of the project is to develop a synthesis of the research on the variety of voter registration and voting innovations used around the country to provide greater access to voting, with further analysis on the viability and implementation of such methods in New York. A presentation on the issue, with supporting documents, would be created to provide voters, legislators and civic leaders with educational materials on the issue.
We have asked each local League to schedule a date for a community forum on this important topic. We will provide program-ready materials, including a power point and background paper, that the League can used in presenting at the forum. We will have training on the materials this fall for those who are interested. Contact your local League to ensure that they have scheduled a date for this forum!
Health Care Issues
We welcome Sally Dreslin as the League's Health Care Specialist. Sally is a member of the Albany County League and Associate Director of Governmental Affairs for the New York State Nurses Association. Sally's first job as Health Care Specialist was to review A7860/S5425 - Establishing the New York State Health Plan (Gottfried/Duane). As the result of her recommendation, the League will support this single payer bill and include it in our health care advocacy efforts during this next legislative session. Sally would welcome assistance in her endeavors. To volunteer as a member of the Health Care Committee, contact Laura at laura@lwvny.org.
The League also joined the American Cancer Society and other organizations in releasing a report that finds only four cents of every dollar New York raises from tobacco helps smokers quit or keeps kids from smoking (see press release here). Promises from state leaders that monies from New York's lawsuit against tobacco companies and from cigarette taxes would go to help the state's smokers quit and to keep kids from smoking have gone Up in Smoke. The report calls on New York to spend one dime of every dollar of revenue from tobacco on tobacco control.
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| Public Relations - Arlene Hinkemeyer | |
 I am pleased to report that 39 of our 57 Leagues in NYS now have websites. Welcome LWV of Bedford/Lewisboro/North Salem in Westchester County. For the remaining 18 Leagues, go to LWVnet.org if you would like to use the California League's Easy Web system.
The LWVNYS office is trying to compile the name and contact information for the person who is handling the PR/publicity function in each League. Please send this ASAP to the state office (lwvny@lwvny.org) and to me at ahinkemeyer@optonline.net so that I can forward information to you. Also, don't hesitate to contact me with any successes/problems you encounter.
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| Membership News - Georgia DeGregorio |
 Welcome to New MembersHere are some suggestions for a packet you can prepare for your "welcome" to new members. One way to use these documents is to review briefly the brochure "Welcome to the League". You could then go around the room and informally ask each new member if he/she has any questions and tell what his/her expectations are in joining the League. You would be amazed how a conversation will develop about the League with excellent ideas being suggested. You should have at least 2-3 board members present who also can share their story about why they joined the League as well as tell what they are doing now and how the new members could help. a. Welcome to the League b. Your Right to Vote in NYS-- 5 different brochures that focus on specific groups of potentially disenfranchised citizens: disabled, homeless, detained in jail or prison, college students, and with mental health disabilities. c. Voters Guide Part I d. Your membership list with leaders' names and contact information e. Your calendar of events/activities for the year f. Your current Voter or newsletter Contact Katrina McEwan at the Albany office to obtain the first three documents. |
| Youth Programs - Judie Gorenstein |
 The Youth Program webpage on the state League website has been updated to contain the information that was gathered from the questionnaires sent to all the local leagues and MAL Units. We had a 100% response from the leagues. Although it is impossible to estimate the number of youths that are involved through all the local programs, I can report that 39 do have one or more youth programs . Ten leagues that do not have any youth programs have indicated an interest to start one and this webpage can be a starting point for them. See the many programs around the state here. Youth programs are an excellent way to carry out the mission of the league in encouraging citizens to be ac tive and informed participants in government. Youth programs reach our young citizens and if not of voting age yet, our future voters. However, youth programs also are an excellent tool to get some of our older members involved. Working with youth is a stimulating and positive experience and brings enthusiasm and energy to our leagues. Therefore, we hope that this new web page encourages leagues to take a look at the programs other leagues are doing. The descriptions of the programs are given in order to give an idea of what each is. In cases like, "Take Me To Vote", where several leagues have adapted programs to fit their needs and communities, each is described. There are contact names and email addresses in order that those interested can find out more and then either follow or adapt the program. |
| Local League News | |
Just about every local League is busy this fall with voter registration drives and candidate forums. This year most of the elections are local and we applaud the efforts of all the League members in educating the public on these candidates and races. More than 15 of our local Leagues are developing an electronic voter guide through Vote 411 (see article above); many, such as the LWV of Saratoga have already posted candidates' information. Check out the site for your area here.
The LWV of Huntington President, Judie Gorenstein, rode in a car advising people to remember to vote on Nov 8 during Huntington Awareness Day.
The LWV of Saratoga participated in the third annual Peace Fair on September 25th in Saratoga. The purpose of the fair is to empower attendees to build a more peaceful world, and it showcased the hard work and creative spirit of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting peace and justice in all facets of our lives. The Saratoga LWV has also created a new book club which will read Impact on Issues, the book of advocacy positions for the LWVNYS - what a great way to educate all on our positions.
The LWV of the Hamptons had a forum this summer on affordable housing with participation by town board members, a Deputy Superviser and League housing committee members. And, this month, Tribal leaders from the Shinnecock Nation will speak at a League meeting about the past and future of the Shinnecock Indians.
Water will be the topic of discussion for both September and November in Southwest Nassau; the LWV there is hosting two speakers to talk about their own source of water and also the larger issue of the Long Island aquifers as a whole.
The LWV of Port Washington-Manhasset started the year with a meeting with their NYS Senator and Assemblywoman to find out where they stand on the key issues and what they project will happen in Albany this next legislative session. The LWV of NYC has organized a luncheon with speaker, Errol Louis, host of Inside City Hall NY1, as he offers his perspective and answers your questions about the state of journalism today.
The LWV of Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester is busy on a number of topics. Issue Forums on affordable housing and mandate relief are being planned. The Student Outreach programming once again includes co-sponsoring Tools for Change, an action seminar for students attending Rye Town's three high schools and led by Dr. Bill Tobin of Duke University's Institute for Social Science Research. And, Students Inside Albany Scholarship, Vote 18 classes and student registration are all underway, as well.
The Broome-Tioga LWV is participating in the LWVUS study on the role of the federal government in education. The study group has been busy reading and researching all summer and will present the information at a meeting in late September. The LWV of Tompkins County is also focusing on the national study on education; next week they have a panel of speakers, including school district superintendents, BOCES and special education officials, and a staffer from Congressman Hinchey's office, addressing the issue. THe LWV of Buffalo/Niagara has also organized a study group for the national study on education; this group recommends that, if you can only read one book to prepare for the study, it should be Diane Ravitch's "The Death and Life of the Great American School System". David Little of the NYS School Board Association will be presenting information about the issue at a program sponsored by the LWV of Schenectady.
The LWV of Smithtown has invited the Chief Planner of the Long Island Regional Planning Council to present a summary of the 2010 census data.
Many local Leagues have speakers this fall on the issue of hydrofracking (see article above). The LWV of Utica/Rome had a meeting already this month as well as LWV of Broome-Tioga who had speakers: Louis Allstadt, retired Mobil executive, and Dr. Ronald Bishop, biochemist, SUNY Oneonta, walk the audience through pieces of the New York DEC's Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on hydrofracking. In Steuben County, the LWV had a presentation entitled,
"DEC Drilling Guidelines: How Safe Are They?" with speakers: James "Chip" Northrup, former planning manager at Atlantic Richfield Ron Bishop, Ph.D., biochemist at SUNY Oneonta Rachel Treichler, attorney specializing in water issues. And, the Chair of LWVNYS Hydrofracking Committee, Beth Radow, will present "Aggressive Land Grab for Gas Leases Sets Up Taxpayers For Fracking Fall-Out" and "Why Outcome of DEC Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement affects all New Yorkers: Relevant Issues for Publlic Comment." Watch for speakers on this important issue in your area.
The Syracuse Metro LWV has arranged a trip to Seneca Falls for League members and friends. A visit to the Women's Hall of Fame is scheduled as well as a tour of the Women's Rights National Park including a visit to the Elizabeth Cady Stanton home.
The LWV of Rochester Metro Area is going outside of NYS for a speaker; a luncheon with Wisonsin State Senator,Lena Taylor, presenting is being held. She will be discussing the following issues: Would you like to learn more about the recall vote in Wisconsin? What impact does it have here in New York State? Would you like to learn more about the dismantling of collective bargaining.
Be sure to send the state League office your bulletin/newsletter and any photos - we love to post them on the state website and include them in the 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) |
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