| September 2022
Editor Jennifer Bales
communications@lwvbc.org
| | | |
President's Letter
for September 2022
By Elizabeth Crowe | | | Women’s Work to Defend Democracy |
I hope that by the time you read this newsletter, you are well into your Labor Day holiday weekend and have plans for rest and relaxation, and maybe some fun. This holiday celebrates the role of workers in our community, and falls shortly after Women’s Equality Day (August 26) which honors the certification of the 19th Amendment, which solidified the right of [white] women to vote.
Reflecting on the League’s “Women Power Democracy” platform, we have much to celebrate and SO MUCH work to do. Our democratic processes continue to be threatened by mis- and disinformation strategies and white supremacy ideologies; women’s employment and income opportunities are still setback due to COVID; the rights to reproductive choice are being taken away.
League is the place where people of all kinds – regardless of gender identity – can take action! Our Voter Service team is in full swing and there are lots of opportunities to lend your time and talent:
|
- Ballot Issues team is researching and publicizing nonpartisan, objective information on more than a dozen initiaitves on the November ballot;
- Candidate Forum team will be hosting 11 virtual forums for municipal, county and state district races;
- Voter outreach has roughly 20 voter registration and outreach slots available at locations all over the county and even more plans in development to reach youth and underserved community members.
| We’re also holding Community Conversations this fall on Reproductive Health and Justice (TBD, likely September 28); and Even- vs. Odd-Year Elections as part of our LWVBC study process to arrive at an organizational position on that issue.
Let’s celebrate women’s work to defend democracy, and to demand women’s equality! Click here to go to our volunteer page on our website, or visit the team pages to connect with other voter service or advocacy opportunities.
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Elizabeth | The Fund Development Team is Leaping into Action
By Mary Ann Wilner | | The Fund Development Team has leapt into action for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Since member dues cover only 10 percent of LWVBC’s annual expenses, we actively pursue additional revenue from grants, businesses, events and larger donations from members and friends. | | Recruiting Local Businesses to be Election Sponsors
Carol Caudill and Mary Ann Wilner are leading the effort to recruit Election Sponsors, locally owned businesses in Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Boulder and Erie. Our goal is to raise $5000, and we have raised $1200 so far, with $750 pledged. | | | We are thrilled that the “Big Red” restaurant group is placing LWVBC placards in their Boulder County restaurants during Happy Hours for the week starting with Women’s Equality Day.
You, too, can ask three local businesses if they will donate $250 or $500 to become a LWVBC Election Sponsor. You will help us pay for candidate forums, Latino voter outreach, Spanish translation of all our materials and our administrative leader.
Your favorite taco place, hair salon, physical therapist, dentist, realtor or ice cream shop will all make excellent Election Sponsors for LWVBC. Download a letter describing election sponsorship and an election sponsorship flyer for posting and handing out.
If you need some help speaking to the business owners you know, feel free to call me. (347-385-6888) We can practice that short introduction you will use. Follow the old adage…..”If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”
Grants
Elizabeth Crowe, Pat Long and Ana Lamarque, our invaluable new administrator, have already submitted grant reports to two of our 2021-’22 funders and are now writing proposals to submit to the Community Foundation of Boulder County, the Longmont Foundation and the Boulder County Bar Association for 2023 funds. Judy Bicknell is researching new possibilities.
| Climate Action: composting, recycling and more
By The Climate Action Team | LWVBC has had a Climate Action Team for over two years. The team initially dealt with the then suggested compost facility site and had a very informative meeting on “what is composting”. The team is now dealing with climate issues such as recycling and plastics, composting and generally reducing environmental impacts. We have looked at the climate positions for all the cities and the county in Boulder. Check out your own town or the county. Many good facts and incentives for citizens.
One area that the group felt was necessary was to address how locals, or individuals can address climate change or environmental impacts, making this a very local effort. We are going to be submitting “Tips” in each upcoming VOTER and if any of you have suggestions for one, submit to Jeannette Hillery, jmhillery915@comcast.net.
TIPS:
1. When cleaning fruit and vegetables from the store, remove the PLASTIC labels and dispose of them in the trash. They CANNOT be composted. Related to this, ECO-Cycle is urging all those who do compost to ensure that your compost stream is free from glass, plastics, metals, decals/stickers, twist ties and rubber bands from produce. This will contaminate the compostables which may end up in landfills. That isn’t what we want.
2. How many remember darning? There was a hole in the sock or sweater, you repaired it. We are a country that has become one to dispose of anything with a minor flaw. There is a website to teach you how to darn. This is becoming a fashion accessory. Just log onto rrepairs.shop.
|  | Welcome to these new members who joined in August: Jessica Hunt, Paul Hurley, Olivia Busselle, Patricia Goward, Claudia Imhoff, David Imhoff, Daryl Walker and Amy Freeth-Rice.
League Events in August: A League coffee was held via Zoom on Saturday, August 13. 18 people attended the report and discussion of the National Convention led by Elizabeth Crowe and other convention attendees.
Betasso Preserve was the beautiful setting for a Friendraiser on August 26. Seventeen members and guests attended the picnic and gathering hosted by Elizabeth Crowe and Laura Coates.
Website Tip of the Month: How to find out the current leaders of LWVBC:
1. Go to lwvbc.org. It’s not necessary to login.
2. Put your cursor on “Get to Know Us” so that you see the dropdown menu underneath it.
3. Click on “Our Leaders” to see the current leadership.
4. In the “Get to Know Us” options, notice other choices which can lead you to much information about the League.
| Civics Education in Colorado
By Linda Hultman |
Election season is here! We are seeing many candidate commercials on TV and social media, and getting campaign literature in the mail. Every year we have a new crop of voters who just turned 18. The question that comes up frequently is “Do the schools still teach civics?” The answer here in Colorado is a resounding “YES”!
Colorado is a “local control” state regarding education. Local districts have a great deal of flexibility, though there are state standards. Colorado state law requires the teaching of civics in high school, in addition to teaching Colorado history and government. Schools are required to include the history, culture, and contributions of minorities, including, but not limited to, the American Indians, the Hispanic Americans, and the African Americans. Schools implement this law in various ways at various grade levels.
The LWVBC gave a “Community Conversation” about Civics education in both the Boulder Valley School District and the St.Vrain Valley School District several years ago. Both districts have robust civics programs that start in early elementary school.
The Colorado law requiring civics education is “Colorado Revised Statutes Title 22. Education § 22-1-104. Teaching of history, culture, and civil government.
|  | All hands needed on deck to help
mobilize voters for the 2022 Midterm Elections!!
How do you volunteer to help?
Sign up for a volunteer slot on our website LWVBC.org.
Here's how:
From the Events dropdown menu, choose Volunteering.
Click on "view more" on the left side of the entry to choose a date/time.
Then click on the green icon on the right and follow the prompts.
There are volunteer slots available for nonmembers, as well as members.
Training will be provided in advance by Zoom, in-person or on site.
YES! WE CAN MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK AND WORK FOR ALL!!
Questions? Contact Pirie Jensen, Voter Outreach Leader: voteroutreach@lwvbc.org
| LWVBC member Harry Hempy, III died on July 14, 2022. Harry joined the League four years ago and became a spirited member of the state Legislative Action Committee serving in 2020 as the editor of its newsletter. While his career in various capacities at IBM was as an analyst, Harry relished his life as an activist. He was raised in a family committed to civic engagement. In 2012 he left the Democratic Party, joined the Greens, and ran a campaign for Governor of Colorado in 2014 garnering 1.3% of the vote. Harry was an all-around nice guy, known for speaking out against the many societal inequities that exist. He is survived by his wife of 44 years Sally Hempy. Harry Hempe's obituary appeared in the August 7th issue of the Daily Camera. | | | |