Since I've had the privilege of serving as the LWVSM's president, I've often had occasion to ask myself "What does the League mean to me? Why do I care so much about it?"   And the answer usually is, I get to be a part of one of the oldest, perhaps the oldest feminist organization in America, born of the struggle of the suffragists who gave women the right to vote.

So last Thursday night's Women Who Shape Santa Monica event was a real high point for me and for our League.

We got to hold up four outstanding women - Rochelle Fanali, Julia Miele, Julie Rusk and Sandy Jacobson - who've shown us all what talented, hard-working women are capable of, and in the process, we held up all the women in our community who make Santa Monica the special place it is.

Of course, like all accomplishments, this was a group effort. I'd like to thank Executive Director Ed Silva and Director of Sales and Marketing Kortney Hannan and all the staff of Ocean House for their hospitality. The penthouse view was not only lovely, but added symbolic value to the proceedings as we overlooked our city.

Special thanks to Melissa Sweeney who designed our publicity material with her eye to elegant design, and thanks to our sommeliers Greg Leavitt and Heather Syms who added their touch of class to the event.

Thanks to our boardmembers who worked so hard to make this such a special occasion - Joanne Leavitt, Barbara Inatsugu, Frank Gruber, Natalya Zernitskaya, Karen Carrey, Sharon Hart, Thea Brodkin and Judy Abdo.

And of course, thanks to our guests - women and men who shape Santa Monica with their hard work and dedication to the common good. And to the youngsters who will become the next generation to shape Santa Monica.

Ann Williams

President 

STRUCTURES OF DEMOCRACY

The Money in Politics Forum is now active for League members who are interested in discussing the Money in Politics review and update. Barbara Zia, MIP Committee Chair will moderate the forum. To sign up, go to the Member Resources Site (forum.lwv.org), sign in and join the Money in Politics Forum (listed under Forums in the black navigation bar). If you have already signed up for the Money in Elections Forum, that has now been combined with Money in Politics, so there is no need to register.

Santa Monica Public Library is envisioning the future of the organization through the process of strategic planning.  A major focus of this effort is to solicit input and engage a wide range of stakeholders within the Santa Monica community in order to ensure that the Library's newly formed plan will meet the needs of the community it serves.  Click here for times and locations.