Welcome back to your exclusive, bi-monthly newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Wake County. If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to become a member, just click here.
|  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV-Wake. It’s beginning to get busy here. I hope each of you have had the opportunity to rest and think about how you can be involved in protecting our democracy over the coming year. We have several opportunities where we need member involvement.
Our Membership Committee is looking for members who can welcome those joining us for the first time, and help guide them to volunteer opportunities that are meaningful to them. We also need members to register voters at upcoming USCIS New Citizen Ceremonies.
We are also looking for new board members who can help govern our organization. If you’re not sure where you fit, that’s okay! Just contact me or our Nominating Committee Chair Cheryl Tung, to see where your talents can best be utilized. Also, please sign into lwvwake.org regularly to see upcoming volunteer opportunities and events.
We just wrapped up an extensive 2024 All-League Survey for LWVUS. This survey is extremely important as it assists LWVUS in securing funding for our League activities. It takes work from several board members to provide metrics for all of our work from the past calendar year. Thank you to everyone who assisted with this huge effort.
Of course, the BIG news all members need to be made aware of is our recent membership changes, resulting from the Transformation Journey that was approved by Leagues during the 2018 LWVUS Convention. Cheryl Tung has provided an overview with links for more information. Please scroll down to read about actions every member will need to take this week.
We’ve also posted a Zoom recording from our January Timely Topics. We wish to thank NCBOE Executive Director Karen Brinson-Bell for an excellent overview of the 2024 General Election. It is extremely important that we support the work of the NC Board of Elections and Wake County Board of Elections, for it is these men and women who work to ensure free and fair elections. Scroll down for the link to Ms. Brinson-Bell’s presentation.
Lastly, I wish to thank all the members who assisted with another wonderful Voter Girl Project event this past Saturday. We helped 90 Girl Scouts from NC Coastal Pines earn their Democracy Badges! Thanks also to the elected officials who took time to interact with the girls during projects, describe their official duties, and answer questions. This is a wonderful way for our League to help engage our future leaders and provide them an opportunity to learn about the work of the League of Women Voters. See below for additional highlights.
As we continue our work, I encourage all of you to get involved to help us carry out our mission of Empowering Voters & Defending Democracy.
In League,
Helen
|  | Introducing the NEW LWV Membership Portal
LWV has a new Membership Portal for joining and renewing League memberships.
Members and those wishing to join LWV-Wake will still join/renew on our website at www.lwvwake.org. However, you will be redirected to the LWVUS Membership Portal for completing your join/renew process and paying your dues.
In addition, when your renewal date approaches, you will receive email reminders from LWVUS instead of LWV-Wake.
ACTIONS ALL MEMBERS NEED TO TAKE THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 3rd:
During this week, ALL current LWV members will receive an LWVUS email asking you to login to the new membership portal to verify your contact information, so that when renewal time comes, the information will be correct. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AT THIS TIME, unless this is your typical renewal month. You are only being asked to verify your email and contact information, and to complete a brief survey. That's it until it's time for you to renew. Beginning 30 and 15 days prior to your renewal date, you will receive email reminders from LWVUS to login to the portal and renew your membership.
In addition to the way memberships are being processed, changes have also been made to:
- Levels of membership
- The amount you will pay
- How dues will be allocated among LWVUS, LWVNC and LWV-Wake
- Guidance on the best way to make donations to LWV-Wake, separate from dues
These changes are outlined here on the new Membership Resources page. We encourage all members to read through this material. You can also view the Membership Tutorial Video, located on our homepage.
Please look for an email from LWVUS this week. If you do not see it in your Inbox, please check your SPAM folder. If you have any questions about the membership portal or renewing your membership, please reach out to Cheryl Tung. | Join Us for Our February Timely Topics
Join us on Thursday, February 20 at 5:00 p.m. as we welcome North Carolina Department of Commerce Chief Culture & Community Engagement Officer, Betty Marrow-Taylor.
Ms. Marrow-Taylor will explore the impact and importance of initiatives that promote fairness, opportunity, and a sense of belonging in workplaces and communities across North Carolina.
She will highlight the benefits of creating environments where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute, as well as share insights on how we can support engagement efforts to build thriving, inclusive business, organizations, and communities.
Click below to register for this important Timely Topics session on Zoom!
| | Timely Topics Book Discussion
Please join us on Wednesday, March 5th 6pm at Mindful Merchant to discuss 'Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World', by Edward Humes prior to our April Timely Topics event.
| | |  | | March Timely Topics: Current Status of the ERA
The Women’s Rights Committee of LWV of Wake County invites everyone to our Timely Topics event on Monday, March 17th from 12pm-1:30pm at the Highland UMC to discuss the current status of the Equal Rights Amendment.
We will cover the importance of adding this to the constitution of the state of NC, the current status here and nationally, and how to advocate for its passage.
This event is open to the public. Please bring your own lunch (and guests!) to this event.
REGISTER HERE
|  | April Timely Topics: The Effects of Plastics on Human Health
Join us as our Environment Committee host's Timely Topics on Tuesday, April 22nd from 12pm-1:30pm at Highland UMC.
Guest speakers will present "Plasticized! The Plastics in Our Bodies and Their Effect on Our Health". This event is open to the public.
Mindful Merchants will also be there and have plastic alternative wares available for purchase.
Bring your own lunch. Light refreshments will be served.
| | |
| Watch the January 14 Timely Topics Video
Click the button below if you missed last month's Timely Topics, featuring Executive Director of the NC State Board of Elections, Karen Brinson Bell.
Ms. Brinson Bell provided us with a 2024 North Carolina General Election Analysis. Don't miss this!
| | | LWV-WAKE LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS | City of Raleigh Needs Your Voice!
The City of Raleigh is seeking public participation/input for two projects:
Public Meeting Series: Seeking Input on Housing Barriers
In collaboration with Wake County government, the Town of Cary and the local housing authorities, the City of Raleigh is seeking input on fair housing challenges in our communities. Your feedback will help shape housing goals for the next five years.
Click below to register:
Safe Streets for All - Comprehensive Safety Action Plan - Public Input Meetings and Survey
Attend an upcoming meeting to hear about the City of Raleigh's plan for safer streets. Public meetings have been scheduled in each district.
Click below for more information:
| LWV-WAKE VOTER GIRL RECAP | | Pictured left to right: NC Senator Natalie Murdock, NC Rep Maria Cervania, Judge Donna Stroud, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones, Cary Town Council Member Lori Bush, Rosemarie Wilson, LWVUS President Dianna Wynn, WCPSS Board Member Lynn Edmonds.
This past Saturday, LWV-Wake co-hosted our third Voter Girl Project with Girl Scouts NC Coastal Pines. 90 girls attended and earned their Democracy Badge.
Laurel Voelker returned as Voter Girl wearing her cape and we were visited by Suffragist Rosemarie Wilson. Rosemarie discussed what it was like to fight so hard for women to be able to vote, and how the deciding vote in favor of the 19th Amendment was cast. She looked fabulous in her dress, hat and sash.
We had several elected officials participate and the girls enjoyed hearing from them about the work they do and how they campaign for office. Thank you to all members who assisted with this event.
| Looking for information from a past newsletter? Previous League Updates can now be viewed on our website's home page. Look for the "League Updates" blue tab on the top menu.
Thank you for continuing to support the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
Sincerely,
Helen Zimmerman
President | | The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. | |