2014 is rapidly drawing to a close as we both reflect back on the year soon to pass and look forward to the new one.  This has been a very good year for the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica, a very productive year.  We had our best ever Women who Shape Santa Monica event during Women's History Month and plan another at the same venue on March 26, 2015.  We participated in the LWVUS study of Agricultural Policy and are now preparing for the LWVC study of the Public Higher Educational Policies in California.  If you would like to be an active part of this very interesting study, just let us know.  During the summer we had the first-in-a-long-time new member orientation that was also useful to some longer term members who had not been recently active.  We plan another in late winter or spring.  Then the fall was a a very active election season when both sides of the local League were very active with a very intense Voter Service program including extensive CityTV programming and an active campaign supporting and opposing elective measures at the state, county and local levels, winding up with a post election celebration for all involved.  An intense few weeks, with planning that started in the summer.

This level of activity doesn't happen without funding.  We are frugal, probably to a fault, but there is still a demand for printed material, which we respect. Each piece has a cost, and the League does not solicit campaign donations.  There is still a cost, albeit a lesser one,  for electronic communications such as this and the election information you have received.  This is the one time a year we reach out to all of you, both members and readers, for your tax deductible contribution.  Tomorrow is the last day to make that count for this year's tax return.  Make your donation the the LWVSM Education Fund now while you are thinking about it.  Either hit the donate button to your left for a Paypal donation or send a check to the address at the bottom of the page. Please note that your contribution, to be tax deductible, is to the LWVSM Education Fund. It is donations, like yours, that makes our work possible.  Every contribution  helps and is appreciated. 

Another year has nearly passed us by, and the League of Women

Voters has stayed busy! We could not have had as far-reaching an impact without our incredible supporters, like you, who assist in Making Democracy Work®.

In 2014, Leagues across the country helped protect our democracy by thwarting widespread voter suppression efforts and educating and empowering voters. With your help, we were vital in the fight to protect our climate, repair and modernize the Voting Rights Act and so much more. Check out our year-in-review video and the incredible work done by our supporters across the country and here in Washington.   

At the California and LWVC level, we are very fortunate to not have the attacks on voter's rights that some state have to fight.  That does not mean we were not active.  We were part of a successful campaign to make sure all agencies enrolling people in the new health insurance opportunities also offered those individuals the opportunity to register to vote at the same time.  We are currently joining the effort to make sure all DMV offices offer this opportunity as they are required to do.  We are also supporting states which have more difficult battles, such as Arizona.  We must stand together.  We continue our campaign for reform of Campaign Finance laws, with successes, and continued efforts.    Watch for an opportunity next month to sign up for action alerts as the new legislative session goes active.

If you are a member of the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica and have not renewed your membership, please do so now.  Just click on the "join" link to your left and renew right now using Paypal.  If you are reading this and not a member, consider yourself invited to join. If you have not renewed, you will be removed from our active membership list in January. Our members are our strength.  Make your voice count.