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~~,
Women’s History Month celebrates women’s contributions to history, culture, and society. It has been observed annually in March in the United States since 1987. In 1987 (38 years ago) after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project (which had already spent over 30 years of "Writing Women Back into History"), Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated March 1987 as Women's History Month. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month. Since 1988, some U.S. presidents have designated March Women's History Month.
Closer to home, the Wake County Board of Supervisors is issuing a Proclamation for March 2025 as Women’s History Month. LWV-Wake is very honored that this Proclamation will be presented to us on March 17, 2025, at 1:45 pm. I, as the current president of LWV-Wake, will receive the proclamation with nine other past LWV-Wake presidents, who will be at the ceremony. All LWV-Wake members are invited to attend this event. You may register on the calendar, or scroll down and register from this newsletter.
The Board of Supervisors event is just after our Women’s History Month event on the Equal Rights Amendment. LWV-Wake March Timely Topics is on March 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Highland United Methodist Church to discuss the current state of the Equal Rights Amendment. Invited panelists will provide the current status of the amendment nationally and in North Carolina, and how to advocate for its passage. Scroll down for more information and to register for this important event.
The Voter Services Committee announces the kick-off of the newest sub-committee: Civics Education. Civics Education currently includes Kathy Thompson as Captain, and members Cheryl Tung, Johanne Christensen, Eleanor Goodwin, Annette Green, and myself. WELCOME ALL. Kathy is looking for more folks to join.
Nine LWV-Wake members attended the LWVNC – Central Regional Meeting on February 22, 2025, in Greensboro. Our Wake members pictured here are: L-R, Marian Lewin (VP-LWVNC), Kathy Thompson, Helen Zimmerman (Pres. LWV-Wake), Mary Thompson (Treas. LWVNC), Mike Warner, Johanne Christensen (Director, LWV-Wake Voter Services), Gaye Williams, Dianna Wynn (Pres. LWVUS) and Sandy Hutchinson. Wake sent some great officers and league leaders.
It was a fantastic and thorough meeting regarding items such as State-Wide Goal Setting, the LWVNC Strategic Plan, updates on Membership Transformation and State Legislation, and two projects in which LWV-Wake is taking part: Observer Corps and LWVUS Study on the Federal Judiciary.
Observer Corps – LWV-Wake already engages in Observer Corps by observing the Wake County Board of Elections. However, we are also looking for members to observe the Wake County Board of Commissioners, the Wake County Board of Supervisors, the Wake Board of Education, and the various City Councils. In educating the public about Defending Democracy we will concentrate more on local governments and governance. I’d love to hear if you’re interested in joining any of these local government meetings. We already have a few enthusiastic participants! More details about reporting forms and other information will be shared soon.
LWVUS Study on the Federal Judiciary - At the LWVUS 2024 Convention, delegates voted to conduct a one-year study on the Federal Judiciary to arrive at a policy position, which will be announced at the LWVUS Council in June 2025. This is a very tight timeframe as a policy position process usually takes two-three years. The delegates felt a policy on the Federal Judiciary was needed as soon as possible. LWVUS has come up with 12 statements that need to have consensus measured and recorded with LWVUS by April 14, 2025. Persons volunteering for this project will be studying the issues in the statements, listening to a webinar from Feb 4; reading LWVUS and other documentation, and attending 2 meetings: 1) to discuss the issues in the statements, and 2) to come to a consensus on all the statements. I am leading this project. Please contact me if you are interested in participating.
As a last note – “LIKE AND SHARE.” When you see something on Social Media from LWVUS or LWV-Wake, if you “LIKE” it please consider hitting the “SHARE” button. That gets the message out farther than you can imagine.
Lots to do – and to quote Dr. Turner – we need to “keep on, keepin' on.”
In Service
Helen Zimmerman
|  | | Membership Meeting & Social Thursday, March 13
Looking for an opportunity to meet other members of LWV-Wake? Want to learn about the various committees and how you can get involved? Then join us on Thursday, March 13 at 5:00 p.m. at Bittersweet Lounge in downtown Raleigh.
Bittersweet is a cocktail/dessert/coffee lounge with the motto, "Eat dessert first." (Yes please!) And their desserts are beautiful! Come sit at the League table and order a coffee or a cocktail to drink with a cupcake or a slice of Derby Pie, or, if you're more traditional, try a pimiento cheese & crostini or baked brie.
Join us any time, no need to register - bring a friend! The LWV-Wake Membership Committee Meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the Bittersweet Lounge. Social to immediately follow!
Membership Committee representatives will be there until 7:00 p.m.
We recommend parking at the Moore Square Parking Deck ($1.00 for first two hours, then $2.00/hour; no charge after 7:00 p.m.), located at 233 South Wilmington Street.
|  | Membership Potluck Saturday, March 22
LWV-Wake's Membership Committee invites our members to a potluck brunch on Saturday, March 22 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Our host will provide the entree and you can bring your brunch specialty and enjoy a lovely get together! Take advantage of this chance to get acquainted in a member's home, with stimulating conversation and good food. Any member may attend. It's a great way to connect and learn what has drawn others to join, especially if you're new.
After you register, you'll receive an email with the host's name and address, the entree she is providing, and suggestions for what you might bring!
Register soon! Our host will let you know if you have a seat, or if you're on the waiting list.
| | |
 | | League 101 - Wednesday, March 26
Come learn about League structure, our history, and how you can get the most from your membership on Wednesday, March 26, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. League Membership Committee members Celeste Stanley and Judee Lonnee look forward to guiding you through an interactive session with time for mingling.
This is a great opportunity for new and new-ish members to learn more about the League, make new friends and find out how to get more involved.
|  | Member Social Wednesday, April 2
Join members of the LWV-Wake Membership Committee and meet new members during our April Member Social on Wednesday, April 2. Feel free to drop in anytime between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The Garden Bar serves a selection of beer, wine and mimosas.
Registration is not required, however if you register, you will receive reminder emails.
| | |
LWV-WAKE VOTER SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENT | NEW - Civics Education Project
Civics Education is a critical path for achievement of LWV-Wake's mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy. In addition to preserving democracy, civics education increases an informed citizenry, greater civic engagement and critical thinking skills.
We are very proud to announce that the Education Sub-Committee of Voter Services is taking on renewal of the Civics Education Project. This ongoing project will involve determining pertinent topics to cover, locating or creating resources to teach about those topics and finding effective vehicles for conveying the information to our community.
If you would like to be a part of this project, we would love to have you Interested or have questions? Contact Kathy Thompson at kthomp1211@gmail.com. | LWV-WAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING |  | Advocate for Affordable Housing
Here are two things you can do this week to advocate for affordable housing in Wake County:
1. Call your senators and members of Congress and tell them that the cuts to HUD of people and funds, particularly from the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and the Office of Community Planning and Development, will negatively impact your constituents. Because of these cuts, North Carolina citizens are going to lose their homes. The problem is not fraud, waste and abuse; the problem is that there are not now, and never have been, enough resources to provide housing assistance for the homeless and marginalized communities in our area.
2. Consider participating in State and Local Lobby Days sponsored by Wake County Habitat for Humanity and the North Carolina Housing Coalition.
Then participate in the training on March 22 and the lobby days in your community on April 8, 9 and 10. Meetings will be scheduled with elected officials in all Wake County municipalities as well as at the North Carolina General Assembly." |
Timely Topics Book Discussion
Please join us on Wednesday, March 5, 6:00 p.m. at Mindful Merchant to discuss the book, 'Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World', by Edward Humes.
Click below to register, and to see how this ties into our April Timely Topics speaker 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 17 from Noon -1:30 p.m. at the Highland United Methodist Church 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 22 from Noon -1:30 p.m. at Highland United Methodist Church.
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.
| | |
| Women's History Month Proclamation
Monday, March 17
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The NC Wake County Board of Commissioners will issue a 2025 Wake County Women’s History Month Proclamation and present it to the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
Please click the button below for more information and to register to attend this event.
| | |  | NCGA Field Trip & Advocacy Day
Join LWV-Wake on Tuesday, March 18th at 11am as we tour the NC General Assembly and and Legislative Office Building. Learn how to locate and observe committee meetings, and how to locate your elected representative's office. We will also meet with NCGA Wake delegates to discuss current bills and learn how we can best advocate for pro-democracy bills.
The field trip is limited to 15 members. Members are invited to have lunch as a group at Sitti Lebanese restaurant after visiting the NCGA. Click on the button below for more information and to register. Remember to log into the website to ensure you are recognized as a member.
| LWV-WAKE HEALTHCARE/WOMEN'S RIGHTS COMMITTEE |  | ACTION ALERT: NO CUTS TO MEDICAID!
On February 25, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution that calls for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $2 trillion reduction in federal spending. The Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, needs to come up with at least $880 billion in cuts. Exactly how these cuts will be carried out is still unclear. Possibilities include:
* Imposing per capita caps – limits on how much health care each person enrolled in Medicaid will get.
* Shift financing to block grants – each State gets a set amount of money for its Medicaid program based on a formula.
* Lowering the 90% Federal match for Medicaid Expansion.
Any of these options would reduce the amount of Federal funding North Carolina receives for Medicaid, leaving a budget shortfall. North Carolina included a trigger law in the Medicaid Expansion bill that states if the Federal match goes below 90% the program can be ended.
Please contact your Federal representatives NOW and remind them of the serious consequences of cuts in the Medicaid program.
Here are some facts:
* Cuts to Medicaid will result in poor health statistics and increased medical debt for individuals and families.
* Cuts to Medicaid will also have an impact on communities. Unemployed people as a result of illness or injury are not able to contribute to the economy of the community. In North Carolina, this will impact rural areas significantly as a little over 39% of all Medicaid beneficiaries in North Carolina live in rural areas.
* Medicaid cuts will also impact hospitals and providers, resulting in hospital closings and providers choosing not to enroll.
* Reductions in hospitals and providers don’t just impact people enrolled in Medicaid. It will impact health access for everyone, hitting rural areas that are already underserved, the hardest.
US SENATORS
Thom Tillis: 202-224-6342
Ted Budd: 202-224-3154
US REPRESENTATIVES FOR WAKE COUNTY:
CD 2: Deborah Ross: 202-225-3032
CD 4: Valerie Foushee: 202-225-1784
For others, or not sure, go here: Find Your Representative | house.gov
Resources:
Links to resources for contacting representatives from the North Carolina Justice Center.
https://www.ncjustice.org/publications/protect-medicaid-congressional-call-in-toolkit/
For additional information contact LWV-Wake member Mary Ellen Anderson.
|  | Join Us: Light for Our Democracy - Tuesday, March 4, 8:30 p.m. in Chapel Hill, NC
Leagues across the country will join with Black Voters Matter, the Workers Circle, the American Association of People with Disabilities, National Organization for Women, American Federation of Teachers, Southern Poverty Law Center, Common Cause, the National Council of Jewish Women, APIA Vote, Center for Common Good, Declaration for American Democracy, and Public Citizen to stage community gatherings at state capitols, city halls, town halls, and public gathering spaces across the country, bringing people together in reflection, action, and solidarity during the President's address.
The Light for Our Democracy event will be in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on East Franklin & North Columbia Streets. There are still opportunities to sign up and participate in this nationwide event.
Democracy is not just a system of government: it’s the power of the people. It begins with us, our voices, and our votes. At a time when democracy is under threat, we're asking you - and folks across the country - to come together to defend it.
On Tuesday, March 4, We the People are hosting a gathering in our community, in solidarity with people across the country, to unite people in reflection, action, and solidarity during the President’s address to Congress on March 4. | LWV-WAKE COMMUNICATION CONTACTS | Meet Your LWV-Communications Team!
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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. | |