President's Report

President's Column May 2010.  League of Women Voters Celebrates Milestone Birthday.

President's Column May 2010

Greetings,

More than five years ago the LWV, in collaboration with AAUW, established the Schenectady County Working Group on Girls, a community collaboration whose mission statement reads: `Working together to put the spotlight on girls, facilitate programs on their behalf and educate the community about their needs, challenges, opportunities and successes.' You have read in this bulletin about our exciting First Annual Girls' Day Out. Now, plan to attend the Girls' Day Out Report to the Community. On May 12th, at 7pm in the McChesney Room at the Main Library, we will have a panel of some of the women involved as workshop presenters, Girls' Circle `Muses,' and school clinicians, as well as a panel of Middle School girls to discuss this years' series of programs. We will also discuss what we have learned and how we plan to move ahead with the opportunity for Q&A. Light refreshments will be served. This is an opportunity for you to hear about how the League, in collaboration with other organizations and agencies that work with and care about girls, is working to improve the lives of middle school girls in Schenectady. It is also an opportunity for you to consider if you would like to become involved. We are already planning for our Second Annual Girls' Day Out, beginning on November 17th, 2010. I hope to see you there and at our member consensus meeting on May 25th! Please note that important items are included in this newsletter in preparation for our Annual Meeting on June 9 at the Edison Club. At that time, we will be voting on the following proposed items: Board nominations, budget, local program and by-laws changes. Look them over so you know what you're voting on. Let us know if you have any questions.

Joanne

League of Women Voters Celebrates Milestone Birthday

Washington, D.C. The League of Women Voters celebrated its 90th birthday on Sunday, February 14th. Known widely for its voter education efforts, this non-partisan, government watchdog group has been an American institution since 1920. "More than 850 state and local Leagues across the country will celebrate this milestone birthday throughout 2010," said Mary G. Wilson national president of the League of Women Voters. "But most importantly, we'll be doing what we always do: discussing the important issues, challenging the status quo and demanding accountability." In 1920, after a 72 year struggle, and when passage of the 19th amendment appeared to be imminent, members of the National American Woman Suffrage Association met to form the League of Women Voters. Carrie Chapman Catt first proposed the creation of a League to "finish the fight" and to work to end all discrimination against women. Today, the League works to effect change on a variety of issues including health care, climate change, election and campaign finance reforms, land use and education. "The women who fought for voting rights in the first part of the 20th century did not know if they would be successful," Wilson continued. "And yet they persevered + changing our democracy and society. Today we are equally committed to improving our democracy at all levels, making sure it represents the common good + not special interests and big money." "Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages," Wilson continued. "We have members that have been League activists for over 50 years and members who have just joined + inspired by a particular issue or after attending and event. If a particular issue attracts new members, they will keep coming back after meeting the wonderful people who are similarly dedicated to change in the communities. For more information, visit the League on line at http://www.lwv.org and www. facebook. com/leagueofwomenvoters. Become a fan of the League on Facebook.

For more information, contact Joanne Tobiessen at president@lwvschenectady.org.

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