voter april 2016 lwvjc · april 2016 league of women voters johnson county, iowa inside this issue:...
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Website: lwvjc.org
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FromthePresident
The Voter April 2016
League of Women Voters Johnson County, Iowa
Inside this issue: FromthePresident1
VoterServices 1
Calendar 2
CCCBookGroup 2
LWVIACapitolDay 3
IowaWomen’sArchive 4
LWVIACouncil 4
411Vote.org 5
Fundraising 6
Board of Directors 2015-2016
President–GaylenWobeter,338-5218
VicePresident-NancyLynch,331-6026
Secretary-SyndyConger,358-7019
Treasurer-CarterBell,515371-9646
KatyHansen,466-3119
KathyPenningroth,319621-5998
PatJensen,338-8123
CathyEisenhofer,319389-7492
LindaSchreiber,828-4323
NancyPorter,338-0194
PaulaVaughan,319631-8322
PollyHorton,621-1685
PattyMcCarthy354-4311
NaomiNovick,337-4649
LookingaheadtoourAprilandMayCalendar,ourLeagueofWomenVotersJohnsonCountynon-partisanforumsarefrontandcenter,includingourendofthelegislativesessionforum,andourtwoforumsconcerningcandidatesfortheJune7Primary.WearefortunateinJohnsonCountytohavewellqualifiedcandidatesforCountySupervisorandfortheIowaLegislature.IhopethatmanyofyouwillcometoourApril27thforumfortheSupervisorraceandtotheMay12forumfortheHouseDistrict77candidateracetohearallofthecandidatesexplaintheirprioritiesandpositions.AllforumsarebroadcastonlocalaccessIowaCityChannel4,onCoralvision,andonNorthLibertyTVmultipletimesaftertheactualevent.BeingwellinformedaboutyourvotingoptionsintheJune7primaryforsupervisorsandlegislatorsisveryimportanttohelpourareagoforwardinthefuture. TheLeagueofWomenVotersUSAwillbeholdingournationalconventioninWashingtonD.C.inJune,2016.WeareveryhappytobesendingtwodelegatesfromourlocalLeague–SyndyandJimConger.OneitemofbusinessatthisnationalconventionistoelectleadershipforthenationalLeague.Iowa’sLeagueofWomenVotersco-PresidentDeborahTurnerhasbeennominatedtobeadirectorontheNationalLeagueBoard.WestronglysupportDeb’scandidacyandthinkitwouldbewonderfultohaveanIowarepresentativelikeDebontheNationalBoard.ThathasnothappenedsinceourownPatJensenservedontheNationalBoardfrom1982-1986. WiththeLeague’shelp,pleasestayengagedinthepoliticalprocessandHappySpringeveryone!
VoterServicesMarkyourcalendarfortheseimportantdates.
Wednesday,April27BoardofSupervisorsPrimaryRaceCandidateForumfor3seatsIowaCityCouncilChambers,7-8:30pm. Address:410E.WashingtonStreetThursday,May12StateRepresentativeDistrict77PrimaryRaceCandidateForumCoralvilleCityCouncilChambers,7-8:30pm.Address:15127thSt Thereare2Democratsand2Republicansrunning.Allcandidateshavebeeninvited.
WewillnotholdafourthLegislativeForumthisyear.
Website: lwvjc.org
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Date Time Location ProgramApril16 11:00AM–
2:00PMJ.C.HealthandHumanServicesBuilding,Rm203
JohnsonCountyforAll:HowCanWeMakeJohnsonCountyLivableforAllofItsResidents?
April18 1:30–3:00PM
ICPL,RoomB LWVJCBoardofDirectorsMeeting
April26 9:00AM–5:00PM
DoubletreebyHilton,CedarRapids
IowaWomenLeadChangeConference
April26 7:00PM CoralvillePublicLibrary
CarrieChatmanCattBookGroup
April30 9:30–11:30AM
IowaCityCouncilChambers
EndoftheSessionLegislativeForum
May12 7:00–8:30PM
CoralvilleCityCouncilChambers
CandidatesforHouseDistrict77Forum
May16 1:30–3:00PM
ICPL LWVJCBoardofDirectorsMeeting
May19 Evening TBA AnnualdinnermeetingMay24 7:00PM TBA CCCBookGroup
CalendarofComingEvents
CarrieChapmanCattBookGroup
InRoomBattheCoralvillePublicLibraryonApril26at7PM.MemberswhowouldliketoparticipatecanemailNancyLynchatnancylynch1941@gmail.comtogetonourmailinglist.Manyoftheoriginaltextswearediscussing(thosepastcopyrightprotection)canbedownloadedfreeatthewebsitewww.Gutenberg.org.Forexample,searchfor“FederalistPapers”.Thenyoucanreadthedocumentonthewebsiteordownloaditonyourcomputerorotherdevice,usingyourKindleorOverdriveApptogetdocumentswithimages.
TheCCCBookGroupmetonMarch22foralivelydiscussionof:OfPlymouthPlantation,thefirstchapterinJayParini’s“PromisedLand:ThirteenBooksthatShapedAmerica”.Ournextmeetingwillbe
Website: lwvjc.org
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LWVIACapitolDay
LWVIAheldCapitolDayonMarch10ofthe2016legislativesession.LWVJCPresidentGaylenWobeterandboardmembersPaulVaughnandCathyEisenhofertraveledtoDesMoinesandjoined30statewideLeaguememberstolobbyforour2016priorities:VotingRights,WaterQuality,JusticeReforms,HealthCare/MentalHealth,PreservingourDemocracy,ViolenceAgainstWomen,Education,GunSafetyandEmergencyMedicalServices(EMS).http://www.lwvia.org/#!blank/c1z0s Gov.BranstadandLt.Gov.ReynoldsmetwithLeaguememberstopresentaneconomicstudySAVEfortheFutureProposal,whichiscurrentlymakingitswaythroughthelegislature.TheproposalextendstheSecureandAdvancedVisionforEducation(SAVE)fundfor20years,untiltheyear2049.Extendingthisfundwouldgeneratelong-termfundingforeducationinfrastructureandallocateaportionoffundingforwaterqualityeffortsthroughoutthestate.ItisestimatedthatschoolsinIowawouldreceiveanadditional$20.7billionwhile$4.7billionwouldbededicatedtowaterqualityefforts.ThedownsideofGovernorBranstad'splanisthatIowansvotedtoincreasethelocaloptionsalestaxwithallthemoneygoingtosupporteducation.TherearemanyotheroptionstoimprovewaterqualityinIowa.Theseoptionsarecontingentwiththelegislaturepassingwaterqualitybills,andthegovernorsigningthem. OurthankstoJohnsonCountySenatorsandRepresentativesforfindingtimetomeetwithus;Sens.JoeBolkcomandKevinKinney,andReps.VickiLensingandMaryMascher.VickiandMaryjoinedusforlunchandgaveusatouroftheHouseandSenateChambers.IfyouhavenotvisitedthebeautifulIowaCapitolbuilding,jointheLeaguenextyearforCapitolDay.
LWVJCmembersGaylenWobeter,PaulaVaughn,andCathyEisenhoferwithRepresentativesMaryMascherandVickiLensingonCapitolDay,March10.
Website: lwvjc.org
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Sincetheearly1980stheIowaWomen’sArchiveshasreceivedsevencollectionsofartifactsfromlocalmembersoftheLWV-JCofferinganimpressiverecordofitsmanyinterestsfrom1923to2007.Somecollectionsoverlapwithothersinyears,butallcollectionshaveuniquepapersorphotosortapesdemonstratingthebreadththeLeague’swork,communityinvolvement,voterservices,andadvocacy. ThiscollectionoffersaclosetocontinuousmaterialhistoryoflocalLeague,evenincludingsomeoftheLWVJCfounderZellaWhiteStewart’spapers(othersarehousedintheJohnsonCountyHistoricalSociety,Coralville,Iowa).InadditiontohavingcopiesoftheLeague’scurrentmembernewsletter,theVOTER,from1955to1994,thecollectionhousesacompleterunoftheVOTER’sprecursor,BulletinoftheJohnsonCountyLeagueofWomenVotersfrom1923to1956.BecausetheserecordsdocumentlocalhistoryaswellasLeaguehistory,theyshouldbeavaluableresourceforanylocalhistorians. ThesecretaryoftheBoardofDirectorswillbegingatheringdocumentsduring2016fornewboxesofdonations.InadditiontoupdatingMinutesofBoardmeetingsandissuesoftheVOTER,shewillencouragecurrentmemberstochecktheirownfilesforitemstheywouldliketoarchiveforposterity.TheWomen’sArchivesareinterestedintheLeague’sday-to-daybusinessanditsspecialeventsforthepublic—forums,educationallectureseries,workshops,studygroupsandadvocacygroups.Ifyouwouldliketocontributetothisproject,contactSyndyConger,Secretary([email protected]).
LWVIACouncil
OurIowaLeagueCouncilwillmeetonthecampusoftheMarshalltownCommunityCollege,inMarshalltown,IA,onSaturday,June11from9:30AM-2:30PM.TheCouncil,whichconsistsofaminimumoftwodelegatesfromeachlocalLeagueaswellastheLWVIABoardofDirectors,willelectofficersanddirectors,giveguidancetotheBoardonprogramming,adoptabudgetfor2016-17,andoffertrainingtoattendees.OpeningsontheLWVIABoardincludeco-President,VicePresident,Treasurer,andDirectors(2). Thereare4BoardofDirectorsmeetingsand3generalmeetings(IssuesBriefing,LobbyDay,CouncilorConvention)inacalendaryear.LWVIAhas3part-timepaidemployees-AdministrativeAssistantwhodoestheVOTER/website,aBookkeeperwhodoestheaccountingandfinancialspreadsheets,andaLobbyistattheCapitolinDesMoines. IfyouareinterestedorseekmoreinformationaboutservingontheLWVIABoard,pleasecontactme.PollyHorton [email protected]
DoYouHaveLeagueArtifactsthatShouldGoDownInHistory?
Website: lwvjc.org
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VOTE411.orgisanelectronicvotingguide(website)createdandmanagedbytheLeagueofWomenVotersoftheU.S.,andfundedbytheLeague’sEducationFund.Itusesvoterguidesoftwaredevelopedandmaintainedbye.thepeople(ETP).VOTE411providesvoterregistrationinformation,candidateinformation,anddescriptionsoftheofficesforwhichcandidatesarerunning,pollinglocations,andlistselectedofficialswiththeircontactinformation.VOTE411extendsthecountyauditor’swebsitewithinformationaboutthebackgroundofacandidate,andthecandidatesresponsestospecificissuesaffectingtheDistrict,Countyand/orCity. WhyistheLeaguegoingtoallthiswork?Itisdifficultforvoterstogetobjectiveandconsistentinformationtocomparecandidatesinordertodecideamongthem.VOTE411doesnotsupportoropposecandidatesorpoliticalparties.Itasksthesamequestionsofallofthecandidatesinaparticularrace,questionsthataddressthemajorissuesforthatoffice. Thereare3levelsforcoveringracesinVOTE411.org,muchthesameasthethreelevelsoftheLeague.LWVUScoversthePresidentialRace.StateLeaguescoverracesforstatewideelectedofficials:Governor,Lt.Governor,etc.StateLeaguesalsocoverU.S.Senateraces.LocalLeaguescoverthefollowingraces:U.S.Congressionalseats,IowaLegislators,CountyandCityofficialsandSchoolBoardraces. ThisyearIowahasprimariesforaU.S.Senateseat,the1st,3rd,and4thCongressionalDistrictsandseveralIowaLegislativeDistricts.LocalLeaguescancoverprimaryracesintheircityorcountyorjustcoverthegeneralelection. LWVIABoardofDirectorsmadethedecisiontoparticipateatthestatelevelinVOTE411.orgagainthisyear.TwomembersoftheBoard,LindaMurkenandTereseGrant,havevolunteeredtoassistlocalLeaguesinorganizingandcoordinatingtheireffortsshouldthelocalLeaguechoosetoparticipateaswell. ThereisanannualfeetouseVOTE411.org.LWVIApays$500,andlocalLeaguepricingvariesfrom$200-$400dependingonnumberofmembers(LWVJCwouldpay$400).ThisfeecanbepaidfromEdFunds. PleasecontactmeifyouareinterestedinparticipatinginVOTE411!PollyHorton(LWVIAandLWVJC)[email protected]
VotereditorisNancyLynch [email protected]
Pleasewelcomeournewestmembers:
AbbieWeipertTravisWeipert
Website: lwvjc.org
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FundraisingDrive2016
TheLeagueofWomenVotesofJohnsonCounty,Iowa(LWVJC)hasworkedsinceourinceptiontofostercivicengagementandensureaccesstovoting.Oureffortsaretomakegovernmentparticipatoryandinclude:
• Monitoringvotingrightslawsandlobbyingforinclusionofallcitizens• Holdingcandidateforums,legislativeforums,andprogramstolearnabout
anddiscussthemeritsofcurrentissues• Studyingparticularissuessuchasaffordablehousingandcampaign
financereformbothlocallyandinconjunctionwithourstateandnationalorganizationsinordertolobbyforourprinciples
• Registeringnewvotersandencouragingallcitizenstoparticipateandvote. Doyoualsoappreciatethevalueofanhonestpoliticalprocess?Ifso,wewouldappreciateyourfinancial(andparticipatory)support.Allofourworkiscarriedoutusingthevolunteereffortsofourmembers,butwedoneedtoraisefundstopayforcommunicationcosts,educationalmaterialsandmeetings.FundraisingCommittee,CathyEisenhofer,KatyHansen,PollyHorton,NancyLynch,andJudyPfohlAtthiswriting,25ofour77Leaguemembersand2localbusinesseshavecontributed.Ifyouhavealreadydonated,thankyou!Ifyoucanhelp,pleasesendyourdonationwiththeformbelow:_________________________________________________________________________________________________WeNeedYourHelpin2016“IwanttosupporttheLeagueofWomenVotersofJohnsonCounty,Iowa.
Politicsshouldnotbeaspectatorsport”Name:___________________________________________________________________________Address:_________________________________________________________________________
o ChecksmaybemadeouttoLWVJC,c/oPollyHorton,221ECollegeStreet,IowaCity,Iowa52240.GiftstotheLeagueareveryimportant,butbecausetheysupportactivitiesthatincludeadvocacy,theyarenottaxdeductible.
o EducationFund:GiftsdesignatedforourEducationFundaretaxdeductible.ThesecheckscanbemadeouttoLWVJC/EF.Pleasereturnthisformwithyourcheck.Youwillreceiveanacknowledgement