 | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
Saturday was a BIG day for LWV-Wake as we held our first Voter Girl Project event.
Collaborating with Girl Scouts of NC Coastal Pines, we hosted approximately 50 girls at Camp Mary Atkinson. Leaguers presented and led activities centered around citizenship, voting and leadership, including a voting booth where girls served as poll workers while others voted. In addition to Wake County, troops representing Cumberland (Fayetteville), Onslow, and Johnston Counties attended.
Several elected officials participated and helped the girls earn their democracy badge while discussing their duties and responsibilities. Girls even had the opportunity to try on Court of Appeals Judge Allison Rigg's black robe. To see more pictures of our event, please visit our Facebook page here.
A big THANK YOU to our 'Super Hero Voter Girl' Laurel Voelker (pictured above left) for leading this event, and to the following volunteers: Lily Barnett, Candace Blackley, Dale Cousins, Karen Ferguson, Amanda Funderberg, Geri Goldstein, Pauline Houlden, Jenny Kotora-Lynch, Debbie Moose, Elaine Okal, Sally Pinnix, Celeste Stanley, Reagan Aduddell (LWVNC) and Dianna Wynn.
Also, THANK YOU to the elected officials that participated including: Congresswoman Deborah Ross, State Senator Natalie Murdock, Judge Allegra Collins, Judge Allison Riggs, Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas, Raleigh City Council Member Christina Jones, and Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones.
This LWV program is instrumental in empowering girls to become engaged citizens and to VOTE. We are excited to announce that the Girl Scouts of NC Coastal Pines Council has invited LWV-Wake to continue our collaboration on the Voter Girl Project and planning has already begun for next year!
| Yolanda Taylor Speaks Out Against Book Bans
Attorney, professor, community activist, and LWV-Wake member Yolanda Taylor was recently interviewed by WUNC during Sunshine Week about book bans that focus on racial disparities.
In the interview, Taylor expresses her concerns that legislative bills, like SB 49 (Parent's Bill of Rights) and HB 187 (Equality in Education), will further limit students ability to learn about history and important figures that led the fight for civil rights.
Taylor also discusses how, as a board member at her daughter's school, she has seen an increase in the number books being challenged. You can listen to Yolanda and others discuss book bans on WUNC here. Way to go Yolanda! |
- April 18th 4pm-5pm - League Leaders Roundtable - Learn about the new committee work plan that will guide committees as they determine their focus areas and actions for the next year. This roundtable is open to ALL committee members. Register here.
- April 19th 5pm-6pm- Timely Topics: Why Are Library Books Making Headlines? - Join us for our last Timely Topics presentation of the (League) year. Guest presenters, Dan Brooks, Materials Selector Manager for Wake County Public Libraries and Michelle Underhill, State Librarian for the State of North Carolina, will discuss current trends and responses in making book selections for public libraries. This virtual event is open to the public. Register here.
- April 25th 10am-12pm - League 101 - We are excited to offer League 101 again! This is a great way opportunity for new and new-ish members to learn more about the League, make new friends and find out how to get more involved. Leaguers Karen Ferguson and Judee Lonnee will guide attendees through an interactive session with time for mingling. To register, click here.
- May 4th 2pm-3:30pm - League Lit - The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - From Amazon: "A rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it―the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. A testament to hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit to survive adversity, The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation." To register, click here.
- May 11th 10:30am - NC Art Museum Tour - Join the Women's Rights Committee at the NC Museum of Art in the East Building for a tour of Women Artists as Influencers. Explore the innovation and influence of women artists from 19th century art movements to contemporary art exploration. Attendees will learn the names, techniques, and intent of women across art genre and form. Reservations are limited to 20 spots and open to all LWV-Wake members. To register, click here.
- May 24th 5:30pm-6:30pm - Women's Right's Committee welcomes Lisa Finaldi with NC Early Childhood Foundation. Ms. Finaldi will discuss how community collaboration with business leaders is helping to build a strong foundation for lifelong success for North Carolina’s children. Her focus is the Family Forward NC and Campaign for Grade-Level Reading initiatives. To register, click here.
|  | | Food Waste Prevention Week
April 10-16
Did you know?
- NC generated about 3.5 billion pounds of food waste in 2019.
- Food waste cost North Carolina about 12.7 billion dollars in 2019.
- 1,245,870 people faced hunger in North Carolina in 2020, including 394,300 children.
LWV-Wake is partnering with state and local governments and other organizations across the country on the first nationwide Food Waste Prevention Week. During April 10-16, our Environment Committee with help from our Social Media Committee will be posting food waste prevention tips on the League’s social media accounts.
We encourage League members to follow and share our Facebook and Twitter posts, to repost on Nextdoor and other platforms you use, and to use our tips to save food and save money! To learn more about how you can help reduce food waste, click here.
|  | | Annual Meeting with Guest Speaker Carmen Cauthen
Wednesday, May 17th 5:30pm - 7:30pm
NCSU University Club
We are pleased to announce that local author Carmen Cauthen will serve as our guest speaker for this year's LWV of Wake County Annual Meeting! Carmen will discuss her recently published book Historic Black Neighborhoods of Raleigh. The meeting will also include a brief update on this year's strategic objectives, the 2023-2024 budget and election of new board members.
There will be a mix & mingle followed by dinner and program. Registration is $35 and includes dinner. There will be an open bar for the first hour. Ms. Cauthen will sign books available for purchase. To learn more about Carmen Cauthen and her book and to register, click the link below.
|  | | LWVNC Convention May 19th-21st
LWV-Wake Member Delegates Needed
LWVNC’s 39th Convention will take place May 19-21, 2023 in Charlotte. We are excited to announce that Dr. Deborah Turner, the 20th president of the League of Women Voters of the United States, will speak at the Saturday evening banquet.
We really need our members to attend and participate in important League decisions and show support for our state League and LWVUS President. Among the agenda items:
- Analysis of 2022 Elections—Who’s Voting, Who’s Not
- Upcoming Legislative Trends: Initiatives We Need to Prepare For
- Misinformation/Disinformation in the Media and the League’s Role
- ERA—What’s Happening and What We Need to Do
- Tax Policy Presentation
- Effective Advocacy in Education
In addition, there will be two plenary sessions for official League business. This is an excellent opportunity for newer members to learn about important issues as well as how the League works.
The early bird registration fee (through April 15th) is $250. LWV-Wake will reimburse the registration fee for members who want to attend. We encourage any member who wants to learn more about the League to join us for a weekend full of fun and learning.
Please email Cheryl Tung if you have registered so we can arrange reimbursement. Click on the links below to register and to make hotel reservations:
| To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
|  | | NCGA Legislative Update
2023-2025 Budget
House Republicans released their budget last Wednesday. While it provides raises for teachers and other state employees, it also contains a lot of bad legislation.
From WRAL: "This initial budget draft includes language banning pro-environmental policies, millions of dollars for antiabortion groups, an expansion of the state’s private school voucher program and public school policy changes, including a new way to ban classroom books."
In addition, the budget also contains a bill that would increase the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges from 72 to 76, creating a plan to retain a conservative majority on the NC Supreme Court.
The House is expected to pass their budget this week, then the Senate will propose changes and begin negotiations.
To read more about the House budget proposal, click here (WRAL) and here (WUNC).
Governor Cooper released his 2023-2025 $32.9 billion dollar budget proposal on March 15. You can read about Governor Cooper's budget here.
Abortion Bill Filed
HB 533 Human Life Protection Act of 2023 - "An act to prohibit abortion after conception except when necessary to preserve the life of the mother" was filed on March 29th. The bill passed first reading on March 30th and now heads to committee. This bill will likely be met with some opposition in the Senate, with negotiations centering on the number of weeks before abortion is prohibited. Read more here.
There will be additional advocacy efforts against any Senate bill that is proposed, and we encourage phone calls and emails be sent to ALL legislators.
Voter Roll Bill Filed
HB 396 Repeal Participation in ERIC was filed March 15th. This bill would repeal the state's authorization to participate in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonprofit organization that allows states to share information to help maintain accurate voter rolls.
LWV-Wake has advocated on the benefits of joining ERIC for several years. We fear passage of this bill may lead to legislators selecting alternate methods that create more inaccuracies, giving election deniers evidence for litigation.
A Letter to the Editor was submitted to the News & Observe, but not published. You can read the letter here. WUNC recently published an excellent article about the benefits of ERIC and the disinformation being promoted by election deniers here.
Other Bills to Watch
HB 187 Equality in Education, was filed on February 23rd. This is an anti-CRT bill similar to one that was vetoed by Governor Cooper last year. This bill was approved by the House and sent to the Senate where it has advanced.
SB 49, Parents Bill of Rights, was introduced on Jan. 31 and passed the Senate on Feb. 7, 29-18 partisan vote. It has been referred to the House.
HB 17 Election of SBE, is moving to the House floor. This would have members of the State Board of Education chosen by partisan elections instead of appointed, and SPI becomes chair of SBE automatically. The concern is that this will further politicize the K-12 educational system in NC. Ref to Rules committee on Feb. 15th.
SB 88 Election Day Integrity Act, was filed February 9th. This bill effectively shortens the date by which absentee ballots must be received to 7:30pm on Election Day. This is a very troubling bill. Referred to Redistricting & Elections Committee on Feb. 13th.
SB 89 Prohibit Private Money in Elections Admin. was filed February 9th. This bill prohibits the State Board of Election from accepting private donations to conduct elections or provide temporary employment of individuals. Referred to Redistricting & Elections Committee on Feb. 13th.
Good Bills Continue To Be Filed
Previously filed pro-democracy bills
HB 72(SB 313) Safeguard Fair Elections Act creates protections for poll workers and voters against intimidation, disqualifies any public official who refuses to certify the election, prevents interference with the election process, and more.
HB 293 (SB 226) Freedom to Vote would fully fund elections and implement online voter registration, prevent wrongful voter roll purges and create a study commission to develop nonpartisan redistricting by 2030.
HB 362 (SB 306) Fix Our Democracy also addresses redistricting reform and online voter registration, reduces the mail-in ballot signature requirement to one and allows forms to be returned in person, by mail, email, or fax. In addition, it returns the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and trial court elections back to nonpartisan, contains open meeting reforms, and extends the ban from six months to two years for a former public servant/legislator to register as a lobbyist. | League Advocacy
Encouraging effective advocacy on issues that align with our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy is the heart of what we do. And while we can send emails and provide public comment, we must also advocate to our family, friends and neighbors, social groups, etc. and encourage them to contact their representatives as well.
Find your representatives here.
Find 2023-2024 NC House Leaders here.
Find 2023-2024 NC Senate Leaders here.
| 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,
Cheryl Tung
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. | |