League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
VOTER
April 2014

March 11, 2014

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Join the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica

Our Mission
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Diversity Policy
The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica in both its values and practices, affirms its belief and commitment to diversity and pluralism, which means there shall be no barriers to participation in any activity of the LWV on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.

Election time is coming soon...

While we have no local elections this June, now less than two months away, there are many that affect us locally' At the national level, for the first time in many, many years, there is no incumbent for the congressional seat. Remember this is now a "top two" election and the two receiving the most votes will be on the November ballot.

At the state level we have both Assembly and Senate races as well as the state wide races from Governor down. All of these are top two elections.

At the county level, due to term limits, we have no incumbent for the Third District Board of Supervisors seat, as well as many county wide offices such as Sheriff and Assessor. These are NOT top two elections and if any candidate receives a majority of the votes they are elected.

Many of us don't understand just how influential the Board of Supervisors are over many areas of our daily lives. Because of this, LWVSM, cohosting with Los Angeles Universal Preschool, will be hosting a Candidate Forum on May 3, 10:00a.m. at the Edye Second Stage at the Broad Theater, 11th and Santa Monica. More details here.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

An 80^thBirthday to Remember

What a great team we are!

Women Who Shape Santa Monica, our annual event at which we honor the outstanding women of our city, (and this year our 80^thbirthday), was a smashing success.

Thanks to everyone who made it happen, from our boardmembers, who worked their tushies off to provide food, logistics, entertainment and elbow grease, to all our non-League helpers.

I would like to personally thank Joanne Leavitt whose experience and help really made this event shine. Also, thanks to our young members Madeleine Moore, Natalya Zernitskaya and Greg Leavitt who kept the food and drink flowing. And thanks to Judy Hopkins and Frank Gruber for handling the door - our success on that front was a little overwhelming, and they handled it with panache.

Our SAMOHI League members Anita Kemp and Rosa Serratore did a wonderful job bringing in student honorees - a new feature of Women Who Shape that promises to become a most popular addition to our annual festivities. And who can forget Barbara

Inatsugu's touching chat with Rose Kaufman's picturet?

Karen Carrey's donation of wine was spot on as were Thea Brodkin's yummy sandwiches! And thanks to Karen's husband, a fellow League member, Neil Carrey for his charming remarks.

It was a special treat to have the state League's Membership Director Beth Pitton-August on hand to introduce our student honorees - she drove in from Santa Barbara especially for the event, and we are grateful.

The City of Santa Monica honored our League with a certificate of recognition for our 80^thanniversary and certificates for all our honorees presented by Sandra Santiago, Office Manager for the City Manager's Office.

Special thanks go to Executive Director Ed Silva and Director of Sales and Marketing Kortney Hannan of Ocean House. They bent over backward to give us everything we needed, and the view from the Penthouse was spectacular.

Thanks to Melissa Sweeney who donated her expertise and design skills and, on top of that, a birthday cake! Thanks also to Bob's Market for a $100 donation for food and drink.

Finally, we are very grateful for a gift of $500 for our Education Fund given in honor of Police Activities League Director Eula Fritz by Katie McGrath and the J.J. Abrams (yes, that J. J. Abrams) Family Foundation.

So many people coming together to make such a memorable evening. Let's do it again!

April Cocktail Social

Whew! Between Women Who Shape Santa Monica and a very successful Agricultural Policy Update consensus meeting - (thank you Madeleine Moore, Natalya Zernitskaya, Laura Avery, Patti Leach, Sharon Hart and Karen Carrey - you worked hard and did a great job) - I'd say it's time for a drink!

So join us, members and friends, for a glass of wine and an hour or so of non-partisan political chit-chat at

Bodega Wine Bar, 814 Broadway, at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 15. It should be a lot of fun.

LWVUS NEWS
Our national president responded to the recent McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision of the Supreme Court with this message.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Grand Opening for the new Pico Branch Library in Virginia Avenue Park is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 starting at 11:00a.m. Watch for more exciting news to come.

League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
P. O. Box 1265
Santa Monica, CA 90406
Phone: 310-692-1494
www.lwvsantamonica.org