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LWV - Sonoma County
555 Fifth St. Suite 300O
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 
Phone #: 707-546-5943
Copyright © 2020 • All Rights Reserved • Terms of Use Privacy Policy • Powered by ClubExpress
Date: 7/16/2024
Subject: Summer 2024 Voter
From: League of Women Voters of Sonoma County



Empowering Voters.  Defending Democracy.
 
Your Vote is Your Voice

The Voter
Summer 2024
 
The official Newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County.
 
Volume  29, Issue 6

In this Issue:
Grand Jury Luncheon 

 
Candidate Forum Workers Training
 
August 1, Multiple Sessions
On Zoom
 

Election Forum Workers Needed!

There are two major activities that the League of Women Voters do during elections to educate voters. They are candidate forums and Pro & Con information about ballot measures. If you have ever thought about lending hand this would be the time. 

For this election there are several city council races.  Each candidate forum requires a team of six people (organizer, host, co-host, moderator, timekeeper & question sorter). We plan to put on as many forums as we can between September 2nd through October 7th. We will do a training for all these roles on August 1st. If you are interested contact   elections@lwvsonoma.org . We will send you more detailed information about these roles. 

 

Help us do what we do best, help educate voters!


 
Pros & Cons 2024 Kick-Off
Thursday, July 25th at 6pm
On Zoom 
 
 

Save The Date! Mark Your Calendar! Plan to join the Pros & Cons 2024 Kick-Off on Thursday, July 25th at 6pm on zoom!

 

It’s been decided – the November 5th General Election will have:

  • Ten state ballot propositions
  • One regional measure and
  • Two Sonoma County-wide measures

This year we will again be partnering with the Marin League and, as always, we will be taking a non-partisan and unbiased look at each proposition and measure.  The public relies on us and we won’t let them down!

In the July 25th Kick-Off Meeting (at 6pm on zoom) we will outline the Pros & Cons process, detail how we will handle the presentations this year and assign teams to work on each proposition.   If you are crazy about research but don’t want to present, that’s fine.  If you love to present but aren’t interested in research, that’s fine, too.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  But everyone should attend this meeting (on July 25th at 6pm on zoom).
If you are looking for a short-term time commitment that will make a big difference – Pros & Cons is for you!!  You will become well informed on the ballot propositions and measures; you’ll make new friends and have a lot of FUN!!  

Be a part of this important work!!  Contact Lynn Dooley prosandcons@lwvsonoma.org

 

 


Vote Forward

Vote Forward is an organization that promotes GOTV letter writing campaign to reluctant voters. During the last general election League members wrote literally hundreds of letters. We organized several group letter writing sessions.  This is one election activity one can do at home in your own time, and it’s a way to influence voter turnout in other states. 

This election season, our League doesn’t have the resources to organize group sessions. So, we are encouraging members to take the reins and work on your own or form your own letter writing party among your friends and neighbors. It’s easy, just go to our webpage at   https://lwvsonoma.org . Scroll down to the Vote Forward button. Click on the button. Here you can log in if you have created an account previously or create an account. Vote Forward has all the information you need to get started. If you have questions, contact voteforward@lwvsonoma.org


Luncheon with Grand Jury
 
August 19th at 11:30 am
Iron and Vine
Bennett Valley Golf  Course
 

Grand Jury Luncheon

We will be honoring the outgoing Grand Jury with a luncheon that will take place on Monday, August 19th at 11:30 AM. We will meet at the Iron & Vine restaurant, Bennett Valley Golf Course.  The fee for members and their guests is $35 each. Registration is required. Just go to our website https://lwvsonoma.org. Don’t forget you need to log in. Then go to our calendar for details and registration. 

The reports from the Grand Jury are rolling out as we speak. You might have heard about the Election Integrity report, which was very reassuring. Also, our League submitted a request for investigation on fire safe roads. 

There was a summary of all their reports that was included in the June 30th Sunday paper. The link to all the reports is here: https://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/general-information/grand-jury/grand-jury-reports-responses

The Grand Jury worked hard over the last year. Let’s honor their work and join us on August 19th



Annual Membership Meeting Report

 

  We had a very successful annual meeting on June 24th. It was well attended with lots of delicious food. Our guest speaker, Lisa Carreño, the executive director of United Way of Wine Country, spoke on the importance of volunteerism. This was followed by a presentation from several board members about various volunteer opportunities needed for the November election. The meeting was recorded and now on our YouTube channel. If you missed the meeting it is well worth checking it out. Just go to our webpage, scroll down and click on our YouTube channel. Or click on the link above.


 
Message from Our President
 
Donna Roper

What I like most about the national League of Women Voter’s convention is the workshops provided (info about Boards, DEIB, Youth work, etc.) and conversing with league members from other states. In comparison to many, we have an easier job here in Sonoma County. But the business part of the meeting can also be very interesting – and shows the democratic process at its best. Everyone has a say in the programs, policies and direction that our League will take in the next two years. These long-range goals include eliminating the Electoral College, getting statehood for the District of Columbia, protecting our reproductive rights and passing the ERA. Our new president, Diana Winn and new CEO Celina Stewart sat down together to discuss the tasks ahead of us. Both of these dynamic women will be an asset to the organization.

The national staff is also working on many partnerships to further our work – one with the girl scouts looks to be very exciting as well as companies like Target where we can be in touch with more community members. This is one of the reasons the national office will begin processing all new members. It will be a seamless system if anyone googles “ League of Women Voters” and can easily become a member. You will hear more about this when the system rolls out in January.

Looking forward to working with you this fall  in our myriad of activities as well as meeting you at new orientations, the Grand Jury luncheon and other socials.

Some Additional Reports from the Convention
From Robyn Bramhall

This was my first LWV convention of any kind, and I was honored to represent our chapter in D.C. There were SO many issues covered at Lobby Day, in the breakout sessions, in the plenaries and by the keynote speaker. Whether sitting in a small room for a breakout, or in the huge ballroom (the same one in which the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner is held), I was impressed and moved by the energy and dedication of those who had worked so hard to make this a meaningful and productive convention.

On Lobby Day, June 27, I joined 19 other California delegates in a half-hour conversation with two members of Senator Alex Padilla’s staff. The topic was the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 14 and SR 4). Senator Padilla was a co-sponsor of SR 4, so the focus of the conversation was how we could help get the bill passed. The staffers knew we were at a convention with politically-minded people from around the country, so their request was that we talk to folks from states where their representatives have not yet signed on to the bill and ask them to apply pressure to support it.

That evening, before the Presidential debate (which I watched on a huge screen with hundreds of other delegates in the ballroom), there was a panel discussion on One Person One Vote (OPOV).  I learned about the unfair, racist and outdated history of the Electoral College, and became even more dedicated to OPOV. The two means of getting to OPOV being pursued and supported by LWVUS are 1) National Popular Vote (NPV), requiring 270 Electoral votes (only 61 more are needed) and 2) an amendment to the Constitution that eliminates the Electoral College and establishes and OPOV means of electing the President and Vice President. The debate as to which is the best route is similar to the one faced by women’s suffrage supporters; most folks I talked to support also taking a two-pronged approach to this issue.

I also attended a few sessions on engaging and empowering youth voters. One featured a panel of student LWV members, who agreed that starting as a paid intern was a great intro to LWV, but that food and meaningful projects were nearly as valuable as cash. All sessions emphasized the importance of using clear language (for example, using “issue agnostic” instead of “non-partisan”) and having experiential elements that give youth the actual feel of being either included or excluded as a voter.

I look forward to sharing some of the tools and materials I brought back from the convention. AFTER the November election, that is.

 

Thank you for electing me to the Board and for sending me as your delegate to the LWVUS National Convention!

_________________________
 
From Lynn Dooley
 
 The CREATING A CULTURE OF VOTING ON CAMPUS session featured a program called “Paws to the Polls” on Michigan State University campus.  This peer let program was developed in conjunction with the university’s Humanities Department and public affairs department.   All the components originated with the students.  

The program goal was to increase voter participation and offer unbiased resources for students to practice well-informed voting. This grassroots initiative is all about taking action to make a difference - a key to fulfilling Missouri State's public affairs mission.

The program has been very successful.  Learn more at their website: Paws to the Polls

The ENGAGING YOUNG VOTERS session featured 3 programs: 

The Alameda County LWV’s development and execution of their excellent online game: VerifyIt that engages students and adults in civics in a fun way. This game is available to any league to post on their own website.  Check it out here: VerifyIt.

Solano County LWV’s Democracy Matters program that gives youth hands on experience in the governmental process.  They host student Observer Corps, Mock Elections and train them to register voters.  It is a thorough and fun program that has been very successful.  Learn more here: Democracy Matters.

Marin LWV’s Student Elections Ambassador Program recruits students to register their peers to vote in partnership with the Marin Registrar of Voters and the Marin Office of Education.  This program has trained almost 200 Elections Ambassadors since 2018 who have registered thousands of their peers.  Check it out at: Student Elections Ambassador Program.

The RETHINKING YOUR WEBSITE session was hosted by the Greater Pittsburg LWV.  Their team of 10-12 had no previous knowledge of website design, code or content development.  Over time 2 of their members learned how to work with Club Express to develop their inspiring site.  The other members of the website team work on content. 

Their self-trained web masters have successfully gained thousands of views for their materials by maximizing Google Search Engine Optimization (SEO).  The majority of the session was illustrating how that is done.  It was a very informative session!!

The LWV STUDY PROCESS session focused on the Washington DC LWV’s study, “The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy,”.  The team of researchers committed to a two-year review process.  One member worked full time for the full two years to prepare this study for vote.  They used over 500 sources and reviewed over 150 newspapers to gather the information needed for their study to be voted upon and become a position.  Once at that point the study was brought to a vote at the convention.  The study must be approved by a majority of attendees in order to become a position.  Once approved, all LWV members must support the position.  

The path to a position is impressive and should reassure every LWV member that our positions are well researched and support LWV US goals.

 

______________________________
 

From Chris Riezenman

 

I was a virtual observer at the National Convention.  There were many programs of interest. I’ve highlight two here.

 

Effective Storytelling and Relational Organization to Empower Young Voters to Action

This was a dynamic presentation by Nile Bass, a regional organizer for LWVUS.  Nile spoke of the power of storytelling in relation to organizing.  We can motivate others into action through stories, through narratives. Her work deals with the age group between 18 and 29.  She discussed the practice of “Relational Organizing” which “leverages one’s personal network of friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and other acquaintances to develop a shared sense of purpose, values”. As networks of trusted messengers are get smaller and mis/dis/mal information rises, people look to family, friends and local leaders for information.  Working from within those networks has traction. A 2022 ACRI study found that, “specifically on voting rights and democracy, the majority said they actively have sought information, 1 in 3 took action and 1 in 5 changed their stance. “Her presentation focused on the power of personal stories to make connections across race, age, gender and political divides and moves people into action.

 

Stories have to power to:

Foster empathy and connect individuals across diverse backgrounds

Humanize abstract issues, making them relatable and urgent

Galvanize collective action and solidarity

Transform statistics into human experiences

Encourage participation in movements for social justice and equality”

 

She stressed the importance of reaching young people from all walks of life, not just focusing on the college bound. Many young citizens that go straight into the workplace after high school and some who don’t graduate at all, but go straight to work. We need to include them in this conversation. She suggests reaching to community groups, veteran organizations, labor unions as ways to reach this overlooked audience.

She encouraged sharing personal stories that center on human experience. Human experience resonates. Find a shared context or moment that connects you with the individual or group you are interacting with and center your story around that. Everyone can participate in a human conversation. Emphasizes the idea that one must “claim authorship of one’s own story and learn to tell it to others so they can understand the values that move you to act. ”. In this way, you can move others to act as well.

Social media platforms are powerful.  More important in rural communities.  Likelihood of voting increases when they can connect both social media and traditional platforms. YouTube, and TikTok are top venues. Highly accessible across economic strata. Don’t be afraid of TikTok – it is engaging a lot of young people in novel and meaningful ways – take time to explore it.

She is very focused on getting young voters to turn out and engage in their communities.

I recommend that anyone interested check out the work she is involved in.  She will also be making her presentation deck available.  Meanwhile, you can learn a bit about her work here:  https://slsvcoalition.org/meet-an-slsv-partner-nile-blass-league-of-women-voters/

 

Supporting Youth Leaders:  A Panel of Youth Members

A great group of 9 panelists representing Youth Councils from local Leagues in AK, ME and OR presented.  Ages were as young as 15 to early 20’s and all were very enthusiastic about their work with the league.  They duly noted the lack of youth presence overall in most league chapters, and recommended paid internships for high school aged students as the most effective way to bring young people in.

Most became involved with their local league because of a paid, high school internships.  Through that exposure and all they learned in their internship work, they each developed an interest in civic engagement that has stayed with them.  Many of them had stayed on with their league for several years after their internship ended.   They stressed the value of inviting younger teens (pre-registrants) to engage with the League even before they can actually vote, by helping with local league activities, attending town halls, writing letters and being involved in local issues. 

 

   LWVSC Calendar 

Check the Online Calendar for the latest schedule and for location or links to virtual meetings.

Link to Calendar



Welcome
New Members 
 

Cynthia Buffa (Healdsburg)

Kelly Clark (Rohnert Park)

Eleanor Gorman (Forestville)

Maria Peralta (Santa Rosa)

Valerie Vroom (Sonoma)


It's great to have you on our team.



 Book Group

 July 18. 2024: Moderated by Gwen Kinney
 

Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided Americaby Steve Inskeep, 351 pages,| Oct 3, 2023

A compelling and nuanced exploration of Abraham Lincoln’s political acumen, illuminating a great politician’s strategy in a country divided—and lessons for our own disorderly present.
In 1855, with the United States at odds over slavery, the lawyer Abraham Lincoln wrote a note to his best friend, the son of a Kentucky slaveowner. Lincoln rebuked his friend for failing to oppose slavery. But he added: “If for this you and I must differ, differ we must,” and said they would be friends forever. Throughout his life and political career, Lincoln often agreed to disagree. Democracy demanded it, since even an adversary had a vote. The man who went on to become America’s sixteenth president has assumed many roles in our historical consciousness, but most notable is that he was, unapologetically, a politician. And as Steve Inskeep argues, it was because he was willing to engage in politics—meeting with critics, sometimes working with them and other times outwitting them—that he was able to lead a social revolution.

 

August  15. 2024: Moderated by Judie Coleman

A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan2023, 404 pp.

This historical thriller tells the riveting story of the Klan's rise to power in the 1920s, not in the old Confederacy, but in the Heartland and the West, including California. The powerful Klan took radical steps to suppress Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants. A cunning con man drove that rise in power, and it took a woman to stop him and bring down the Klan. This book contributes to a greater understanding of our own age.

 

September 19. 2024: Moderated by Marie McKinney

 

The River of Doubt by Candice Millard, 416 pages, 2005.
A Kirkus Review: The 26th U.S. president, failing re-election, at age 55 has an adventure that nearly kills him. Historian Millard records Theodore Roosevelt’s exploration of a hitherto uncharted part of the Amazon. With devoted son Kermit and truly intrepid Brazilian co-commander Cândido Rondon, along with a band of hardy recruits, the party plunged into the fierce, fecund jungle and its unknown dangers. (It’s an exploit that standard TR biographies generally treat lightly, if at all). Millard tells the story wonderfully, marshaling ecology, geography, human and natural history to tell the tale of the jungle primeval, of bravery and privation, determination and murder in the ranks as cowboy Roosevelt survived the Indians of the Amazon.


 
To see the list for the year: 

 

 
Board Briefs
June 2024
Therese Scherrer, Acting Secretary

June 24, 2024, Annual Member Meeting

Credentials A total of 28 members attended the Annual Member Meeting on June 24, 2024, which met League quorum requirements.

Budget: Treasurer, Linda Rosen, presented the proposed budget for 2024-25 which was developed by the budget committee and recommended by the League Board.

The proposed budget was approved.

Change in By-Laws: Juanita Roland presented the By-Laws changes regarding control of membership dues now going to the LWVUS and the change to one level of membership. The amended By-Laws were approved.

Nominating Committee Report: The membership approved the following slate of officers and directors presented by the Nominating Committee. Susan Novak, Nominating Committee Chair. There are two vacant positions.

Officers:

President: Donna Roper

VP, Executive: Vacant

VP, Administration: Lee Lipinski

VP, Advocacy: Jim Masters

Secretary: Debbie Mc Kay

Treasurer: Linda Rosen

Board Members:

At Large: Chris Riezenman, Youth, Candidate Forums

At Large: Lynn Dooley, Youth

At Large: Robyn Bramhall, Youth

Communications Chair: Juanita Roland

Membership Team: Linda Rosen (See off-board positions below)

Program Chair: Leona Judson

Voter Service Chair: Vacant (Leona Judson / Chris Riezenman will coordinate Candidate Forums)
Off-Board Positions:

Membership: Iris Levitis, Gayle Peterson

Presentation: Lisa Carreno, President and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country spoke about the important contribution of volunteerism to the success of United Way and the League of Women Voters, citing service as a core value. She noted the book “The Generosity Crisis” which addressed decline in the sense of belonging which is currently affecting involvement in community activities. The author posits that the antidote to this decline is encouraging connection, bringing people together in community to create, learn and grow together.

Raffle: All attendees received raffle tickets which they allocated to the items of their choice. Just before the meeting ended, tickets were drawn, and winners were announced. Prizes included: Framed pictures, best-selling books, VOTE button collection, wine, hand crafted goods, and the grand prize of $100 cash.

Annual Report: The various Committee Chairs provided highlights of their activities this past year. The full Annual Report on these activities is available on the League website under “Member References.”



Connect with the League

We want to hear from you!
LWVSC Board of Directors

Contact Us

Donna Roper, President
Lee Lipinski, VP Administration
Jim Masters, VP Advocacy
Debbie McKay, Secretary
Linda Rosen, Treasurer
Iris Levitis, Gayle Peterson, Membership
Open, Community Outreach
Leona Judson, Voter Service
Leona Judson, Programs
Juanita Roland, Web/Communications
Robyn Bramhall, Member at Large
Lynn Dooley, Member at Large
Chris Reizeman, Member at Large
Linda Robinett, Voter Editor
Some Useful Links
 

  

    lwv.sonoma.org         Vote 411

                  Facebook               You Tube

 

 

LWVSC: www.lwvsonoma.org

LWV of Bay Area: www.lwvbayarea.org
LWV of California: www.ca.lwv.org
LWV of the United States: www.lwv.org   
Here are some links of interest.
Events
LWV Sonoma Web Site


Become a Member

 of the LWV of Sonoma County

Join Us
 
League of Women Voters Sonoma County
555 5th St, Suite 300O
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
 
 
We'd love to have you join us.  The most direct way to join is to go to our web site https://www.lwvsonoma.org and click on the Join Us button to fill in your contact information, preferences, and even pay your dues online, or you can print out your invoice and send it along with your dues to our office. If that does not work for you, you can fill out the information below and send it to us. Judie Coleman, membership@lwvsonoma.org is always available to answer your questions. 
 
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
 
Individual Membership $75
Household Membership $110
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Membership $100
Carrie Chapman Catt Membership $200 or more
 
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Phone:                                           Email:                                                        

Additional Household Member: ____________________________________ 
 
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Please circle any topics you are interested in knowing more about:

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Please return completed form with your check to the above address or join online at www.lwvsonoma.org

We are a 501(c)(3) organization. Membership dues are deductible to the extent allowed by law.



555 Fifth Street, Suite 300-O
Santa Rosa, CA  95401-8301
(707) 545-5943
 
www.lwvsonoma.org