LWV-Wake Update 9/29/2025 |
Welcome back to your exclusive, bi-weekly newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Wake County. If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to become a member, or are interested in learning more, just click here.
| | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Our members invest so much time, energy and effort in support of our mission. We appreciate the contributions of every member, whether it be an investment of time or money, small or big. It takes all of us, giving when and how we can to continue to have a thriving organization. This month we are featuring one of our members.
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Tracy Vosburgh
Tracy Vosburgh lives in Raleigh and joined the Wake County League in April — and she didn’t waste any time getting involved! In just a few months, she’s become a key member of the Communications Committee, taken on responsibility for publishing the LWV-Wake bi-weekly newsletter, and recently agreed to co-chair the Communications committee with Cheryl Tung.
Tracy brings incredible experience and energy to this work. She retired in July 2024 after nearly a decade at Virginia Tech, where she served as Vice President of Communications and Marketing. In that role, she led efforts to elevate the university’s brand and integrate marketing and communications across campus, including launching the annual State of the University Address. Her career also includes senior leadership roles at Cornell University, as well as earlier work managing PBS television and radio stations and overseeing post-production for National Geographic Explorer.
Virginia Tech recently honored Tracy with the prestigious title of Vice President Emerita for Communications and Marketing — a distinction recognizing her outstanding contributions to the university’s reputation and leadership. Read more about this honor here.
Here at LWV-Wake, Tracy is already working on exciting new initiatives, including launching a Communications internship program with local colleges and universities — more details to come soon!
As she refocuses her energies away from her career, Tracy is investing as much of her time as she can with her family, including her husband, son, daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.
We’re so fortunate to have Tracy’s talent, vision, and leadership helping to tell the League’s story and expand our reach. Welcome, Tracy!
|  | | League Leaders (L to R): Liz Simon Bryant, Cheryl Tung, Kathy Taylor, Suzanne Botts, Helen Zimmerman, Kathy Turnowchyk, Annette Green, Celeste Stanley, Gaye Williams, Mary Ellen Anderson, Jackie Giordano, Sandra Birckhead, Kristen Howard. Not pictured: Johanne Christensen, Robin Hammond, Sandy Hutchinson, Retta Riordan, and Eve Vitaglione.
On September 23, the LWV-Wake "League Leaders" met in our new office on Wade Avenue. The discussion focused on reviewing strategic priorities for our League that were determined over the summer by the board, with input received from League members at our annual meeting. The League Leaders team includes all chairs and co-chairs of LWV-Wake committees. League Leaders is not a new concept for us, but has been inactive for a while. Going forward, the group collectively decided a bi-monthly meeting cadence will be helpful, with a focus on cross-committee collaboration. The next gathering will be virtual, on November 18th. You can find the LWV-Wake League Leaders and their corresponding committees on our website.
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A few volunteers needed! Can you help in Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, or Zebulon?
Many thanks to all of the volunteers who have stepped up to support elections this year, where 11 of the 12 municipalities in Wake County have local races. The Vote411 team is reaching out to candidates in ALL 11 municipals to request their participation in our Vote411.org candidate guide, which will allow voters to view and compare candidate responses side-by-side. Many of you are busy contacting candidates to encourage their participation. THANK YOU!
Can you help? We will start placing Vote411 signs in mid-October, close to the time that early voting starts. We have 8 of the towns covered and just need 3 more volunteers to help place, monitor, and remove signs. If you can cover Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, or Zebulon, find all the details and sign-up on our Volunteer page: Vote411 Yard Signs in Wake County Municipalities.
|  | | Please join us for the Cary Candidate Forum 2025.
This is a public candidate Forum with all candidates for Cary Town Council.
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM
Program starts at 7PM
Christ the King Lutheran Church
600 Walnut St, Cary, NC
| In addition to the Cary Town Council Candidate Forum the LWVWake is presenting four more Candidate Forums that will be recorded and shared with you after October 10.
When available, the following Forums will be posted on our YouTube Channel.
Apex Town Council Election Candidate Forum. Moderator is Helen Zimmerman
Zebulon Mayoral Election Candidate Forum. Moderator is Cheryl Tung.
Zebulon Board of Commissioners Election Candidate Forum. Moderator is Cheryl Tung.
Garner Town Council Election Candidate Forum. Moderator is Kathy Thompson.
Updates will be shared in upcoming newsletters.
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Join fellow members for a relaxed afternoon at The Turkish Coffee Lady, 1460 Chapel Ridge Rd., Apex, on Thursday, October 9, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. Drop by anytime during those hours!
If you’ve never experienced authentic Turkish coffee served with Turkish Delight, this is the perfect opportunity. The café also offers American-style coffee, herbal teas, and an assortment of delicious baklava.
A chair of the Healthcare Committee will be there to share a brief update on the committee’s work and chat with you about ways to get involved.
As always, friends are welcome. Weather permitting, we’ll enjoy the patio; otherwise, we’ll be inside.
Questions? Email Pauline Houlden at Pauline.houlden82@gmail.com
This will ensure you receive reminders. Not registered, no problem. Come anyway!
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Join us for a warm and welcoming Open House at our new League of Women Voters of Wake County office! We’re excited to open our doors and show you around our updated space — a fresh start for continued impact.
Whether you’ve been with us for years or just joined, this is a perfect chance to connect with fellow members, meet our leadership team, and learn more about the work ahead. Light refreshments will be served, and there will be opportunities to get involved, ask questions, and celebrate our growing community. This is a drop-in event, so come for just a few minutes or the full time. While registration is not required, doing so will guide us in assuring we provide enough food. Please come and see where the future of the League begins - we can't wait to welcome you!
Thursday, October 23, 2025 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Light refreshments served.
Register on the LWV-Wake calendar
|  | | Come join LWV members for an important Timely Topic with our featured guests: Shadonna Headen and Rebecca Cerese.
This presentation will provide an overview of the Federal changes to Medicaid and SNAP, the impact of these changes in North Carolina, key decisions that the North Carolina General Assembly is facing, timelines for decisions, and actions League members can take in response to decisions that must be made.
Registrants are encouraged to bring their own lunch.
|  | | As an all-volunteer organization, our work is largely achieved through Committees. Investing your time here is a great way to learn about the work of our League and meet other active League members. You can review our online calendar anytime for upcoming meetings and other events happening every month.
See Upcoming Meetings and register online. To learn more about LWV-Wake’s current committees or to email a chair/co-chair, go to our Our Work page.
| At our most recent Meet and Chat, Liz Simon Bryant spoke with the members about the work of the Affordable Housing Committee. Meet and Chat is a monthly event for conversation and updates on the work of LWV-Wake County. In September we met at Ladyfingers in Raleigh and our next Meet and Chat is on October 9th at the Turkish Coffee Lady in Cary. Join us!
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The Membership Committee is busy- come join us!
Before our Meet and Chat from 1pm-3pm, all LWV-WC members are invited to attend the Membership Committee meeting at the Turkish Coffee Lady from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on Thursday, October 23rd. For more information and to register, please visit the Membership Committee Meeting event on the LWV-Wake website. Registration is required.
Join us for a warm and welcoming Open House at our new League of Women Voters of Wake County office! This event will be held on Thursday, October 23rd, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. For more information and to register, please go to the Member Open House event on the LWV-WC calendar.
The Membership Committee is hosting a potluck brunch in central Cary on Saturday, November 1st, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other members in a relaxed home setting, enjoying stimulating conversation and good food. Any member may attend. Spaces are limited, so please register as soon as possible on the Potluck Brunch event on the LWV-WC calendar.
|  | | The LWV US Unite and Rise 8.5 project gives us the information and resources we need to join into the fight for our democracy on multiple fronts, from the courts to the streets.
Are we in a Constitutional Crisis? (From the LWV website)
The League defines a Constitutional Crisis as: When the executive, the legislative, or judiciary branches cannot or will not adequately protect the US Constitution, when there are explicit attempts to dismantle a functional democracy within any of the three branches, or when any level of federal government takes action to destroy democratic institutions in a manner that intentionally or purposefully jeopardizes the US Constitution. When these events occur, the constitution is deemed at the highest serious risk and warrants full-scale action to preserve and protect democratic institutions and civil society.
|  | | Defending Democracy in NC – Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy 2025
Join the Institute for Southern Studies and North Carolina For the People for a timely webinar on the 2025 Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy Report next Wednesday, October 1st at 1pm.
As lawmakers push new restrictions and voter eligibility challenges grow, this report brings together the expertise of 20 state and national partners to highlight best practices and policy solutions that defend our elections and strengthen democratic institutions.
At the webinar, you’ll hear from leading experts on urgent issues, including voter registration, voter challenges, election disinformation, protecting the right to protest, judicial reforms, and more. Together, we’ll explore more than 40 pro-democracy solutions designed to safeguard fair representation and protect the voice of every North Carolinian.
|  | | The City of Raleigh Wants to Hear from You!
Affordable housing, transportation, and environmental initiatives all depend on how city resources are allocated. Make your voice heard by sharing your priorities with the City of Raleigh during the annual budget process.
You can participate in one of six in-person listening sessions held across Raleigh, or join the virtual session to ensure your input helps shape the city’s future. There is also an online survey.
To learn more and to register for an upcoming session, click here.
| N.C. State Board of Elections Registration Repair Project
Your vote is your power, so if your name is on the list, please take steps to ensure your information is up to date. Click HERE.
All voters are encouraged to check your voter registration online at VOTE411.org. Anyone in NC with an "inactive" registration status should call their Board of Elections office to resolve the inactive status.
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Membership Renewals and Credit Cards
To renew your membership visit the Join page on our website and click "Join and Renew" to access the renewal portal on LWV.org. If you'd like to make an additional contribution to LWV-Wake, there is an opportunity to do so in the renewal process. Please note that your credit card will only be retained in the lwv.org system if you sign up for automatic renewals. Thank you for your support!
|  | Media placements help us get our voice heard. And being heard helps us make an impact. You can keep up with LWVUS press coverage at the League of Women's Voters Newsroom.
September 17, 2025: South Carolina Supreme Court Green-lights Partisan Gerrymandered Maps
COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Supreme Court has dismissed a legal case brought by the League of Women Voters of South Carolina that challenged the practice of partisan gerrymandering. In a 5 – 0 opinion, the court held that the case presented a “nonjusticiable political question” and dismissed the claims brought in League of Women Voters of South Carolina v. Alexander. Read Full Story
September 16, 2025: League of Women Voters Denounces National Guard Deployment in Memphis as Dangerous Overreach
MEMPHIS AND WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of Memphis-Shelby County, League of Women Voters of Tennessee, and League of Women Voters of the US issued a joint statement in response to President Trump and Governor Bill Lee’s plan to deploy the National Guard in Memphis. See Statement
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October 2, 1967 - Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) was sworn in as the first African American associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He served until 1991 and was known for opposing discrimination and the death penalty, and for championing free speech and civil liberties.
October 10, 1973 - Spiro T. Agnew (1918-1996) resigned from the office of Vice President of the United States amid charges of income tax evasion on illegal payments allegedly received while he was governor of Maryland and after he became Vice President. He was later given a $10,000 fine and sentenced to serve three years probation. He was succeeded as Vice President by Gerald R. Ford, who went on to become President after the resignation of Richard M. Nixon.
October 10, 1884 - Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was born in New York City. She was the wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President. As First Lady, she led an unprecedented independent life, striving to improve the lives of people all over the world. In 1933, she became the first wife of a president to give her own news conference in the White House. She traveled extensively on her own and was affectionately called "First Lady of the world." She served as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations for many years and helped write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
October 14, 1964 - Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He donated the $54,000 in prize money to the Civil Rights movement.
|  |  | 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. | |