Check the Online Calendar for the latest schedule

 and for location or links to virtual meetings.

Link to Calendar

•  United Nations Day Celebration, October 24, 2021, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
•  Observer Corps I, Monday, October 11, 2021, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
•  Observer Corps Intermediate, Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
•  Observer Corps Advanced, Friday, October 29, 2021, 10:00 AM yo 11:00 AM

Standing Meetings

• Board Meeting-1^st Saturday of the month, 10:30 AM to Noon
• Advocacy Committee- 1stTuesday of the month from 10:30 AM to Noon
• Community Outreach Committee- 1^nd Monday of the month at Noon to 2:00 PM.
• Voter Service Committee- 4^th Thursday of the month from 10:30 to Noon
• Book Group: 3^rd Thursday of the month from 10:30 AM to Noon.

We sometimes get complacent about democracy living in California and especially, Sonoma County. Our rights are rarely threatened, and our state tends to do what’s right on issues that we care about BUT that can change in an instant which we saw during the recall election – both state -wide and locally. Money in politics has become insidious, redistricting can alter a community, and fake news limits the “truth” of what we read and hear.

Elections should be about the voters not big money interests. Redistricting, or community districting, is the process of creating representational district maps for states and local communities. It impacts how our communities are represented and how resources are distributed. Mis- and dis-information are two of the most dangerous tools used to undermine our democracy and the value of every person’s voice.

That’s why the League of Women Voters is so important to support. We emphasize non- partisanship; we provide pros and cons on most issues; and we believe that voters should play a critical role in democracy.

One of our tools is Voter’s Edge which provides both general and state-specific nonpartisan resources to the voting public, including a polling place locator, a ballot look-up tool, candidate positions on issues, and more.

Our other “tool” is you- the voter, the volunteer, the interested person. We need you to show up, stand up and speak up for democracy in Sonoma County. On our website, (lwvsonoma.org) you will see opportunities both large and small for volunteering. Please join us!

At their October 2^nd Board meeting Gayle Mc Kinney-Peterson was appointed the new Program Committee Chair.  Gayle will be working with other league members to plan our Fall Kickoff Meeting – Save the Date -- Nov 13^th 10 am.  If you would like to help with this event, send an email to program@lwvsonoma.org.

Linda Rosen, VP of Administration, and league member Lee Lipinski are reviewing and organizing our League’s historical records and photos. Linda will make a progress report at the next Board meeting.

A generous donation of pictures and framed artwork from the Suffragist Exhibit at the Petaluma Museum and Library was donated to the League, and the board is discussing the best ways to share these items with our members and the public.

Position descriptions for Board positions and off-board positions are being updated and approved by the Board to reflect the current duties more accurately.  We need a volunteer to fill an off-board position to coordinated having our booth at community events to do voter registration and education.  If you are interested, or want more information, please send an email to tabling@lwvsonoma.org.

We joined with the Humboldt and Mendocino County Leagues to pass a joint letter and resolution opposing the request of NCRC, LLC to restart freight trains running through our counties to transport coal shipments to Humboldt Bay.  The letter and resolution were sent to the Surface Transportation Board, to our elected representatives Jared Huffman and Mike McGuire, as well as the Secretary of Transportation.

There are three ground water basins in Sonoma County that are of moderate concern: Sonoma, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa.  The reports on the sustainability plans for these three basins were released the first week of October with a deadline of October 31st for public comments.  Because these are complex and lengthy documents, the League Board felt a longer time period for public comment should be allowed.  Therefore, the Board approved that a letter be sent to the appropriate bodies to request that public comment be allowed through November 30^th.

Sue Jackson has stepped down as chair of the Community Outreach Committee and there is not yet a replacement, so the Board is suspending meetings of the Committee until a new chair is selected.  If you are interested in chairing or co-chairing the Community Outreach Committee, please send and email to president@lwvsonoma.org. 

The next Board meeting will be held via Zoom on Nov 6^th at 10:30 am.

Observer Corp-

There are many ways to strengthen our democracy. Getting out the vote is critical. But there is another way too, and that is to simply to observe your government in action. Observing board and council meetings improves transparency as well as educating and informing the public. Our league is joining others across the country in developing something known as “observer corp”. This is a process to learn the best practices of observing government meetings while remaining non-partisan. Most government meetings are still being held virtually, making it easy. Our membership chair, Judie Coleman, has put together a three-part training. These will be held regularly. All you have to do is go to our website. The sessions are listed on the calendar. Just click on the one you want and register.

Water-

We have all become acutely aware that the continued historic drought has placed a heavy strain on our rivers, creeks and groundwater. The advocacy committee has taken this to heart by becoming involved in the agricultural cannabis issue. At stake is the agricultural departments’ use of issuing permits using the ministerial procedure. This allows permits to be issued without the required environmental CEQA process or notification. Further, these permits are being issued to mult-tenant farmers. The board of supervisors placed a 45-day hold on these permits. But this will expire soon. Our league wrote a letter to the BOS and related agencies asking for a moratorium on all new and renewing permits for multi-tenant farmers until a full EIR can be conducted. The intense water requirements that cannabis needs puts further strain on our groundwater and rivers. The BOS meeting on October 26^th will bring an update on what the Sonoma County Cannabis Program will recommend.

United Nations Day-

The United Nations will be celebrating its 76^th anniversary here in Sonoma County on Sunday October 24^th from 2 PM to 3:30 PM. It is a free online event with an impressive panel that includes local activists and elected local representatives. The panelists will highlight the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is one you do not want to miss. Register today and find out more about the panelists and our local UN chapter go to:  https://una-sonoma.org/blueprint-for-a-better-future/ 

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is just around the corner!  The Voter Service Committee is beginning to plan for early 2022 forums for special elections and primary elections.  We will continue virtual forums – the viewing numbers for the 2020 forums have been tremendous.  If you are interested in helping out with these forums, please contact me.  We can pair you up with someone who has participated before.  Roles include timekeeper, moderator, question sorter, and others. 

Here We Come!
LWV Observer Corps

Bring a Friend!

Register here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83074833934

Have you attended a government meeting recently? As the LWV-US puts it: “Protecting our right to know is integral to the health of our democracy.”

LWV-Sonoma has an active Observer Corps. Come watch the wheels of government with the League. We do it together, so it’s fun. We explain the background of what is being discussed, so you’ll understand. While there is danger of COVID, we do it on Zoom, so you don’t have to drive. We make it easy. Whether you have never been to a government meeting, or have attended many in the past, we invite you to join us. Stop taking your democracy for granted! Register Now! Bring a Friend!

No obligation or long term commitment required. The next orientation is on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 2 pm on Zoom. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83074833934 For more information, email: observer@lwvsonoma.org.

October 21--Moderated by Joyce MacLaury

Imperfect Union by Steve Inskeep, 353 pages, 2020. 

How Jessie and John Fremont mapped the west, invented celebratory and helped cause the civil war.  This book is a masterfully dual biography of how the Fremonts won the American  West.  Action packed stories about the Mexican War, the Oregon Trail, the California wilderness and the Civil War are bountiful.  And the political intrigue surrounding the birth of the Republican Party offered is marvelous

November 18—Choose books for the coming year.  A time to bring in your list and talk about a lot of great books.

 Book List 2021

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