Annual Meeting Materials
Electronic Ballot &
LWV-Wake Update 4/17/2023
|  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
This week's League Update is serving both as a required distribution of our 2023-2024 annual meeting materials per our by-laws, as well as our usual events and legislative updates.
This year, we are pivoting to electronic voting rather than in-person voting to conduct annual meeting business. Electronic voting provides members with more flexibility to participate if they cannot attend our annual meeting. It also provides more time for League discussions (social and organizational), and for our guest speaker's presentation. Votes will be tallied, and results will be announced during the meeting, allowing all required official business to take place.
Please review the materials included in this newsletter and submit your electronic ballot. Ballots must be submitted no later than noon on May 17, 2023. Ballots may only be submitted by members in good standing (dues paid), and each must have an email address on file. As an alternative for nominations from the floor during the annual meeting, we have provided a space for write-in candidates.
The following materials are included in this email to be approved by members no later than noon on May 17th:
- LWV-Wake Board candidate bios
- 2023-2024 LWV-Wake proposed budget
- Electronic ballot link
In addition, we will be holding a 2023-2024 Budget Information Session on Tuesday, April 25th from 7pm-8pm. Treasurer Elaine Okal will provide a brief overview followed by Q&A. You can drop into the Zoom at any time between 7-8pm to ask questions. You can find more information, including the registration link below.
Please participate in LWV-Wake's official business of voting and attend our annual meeting. League leaders devote much time and energy to keep our organization operating smoothly so that we ALL can carry out our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy. Your participation demonstrates your commitment to the League and our mission.
|  | | April 25th 7pm-8pm
2023-2024 LWV-Wake Proposed Budget Information Session
All voting for LWV-Wake Board Nominees and the Proposed budget will take place electronically this year. Please plan to attend this budget information session to learn about the budget and ask any questions. Zoom link will be included in the registration confirmation email. Click on the link below to register.
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- 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.
- April 26th 5pm-7pm - Social Gathering at The Prohibitive - Join us at an informal gathering of LWV-Wake members. Renew connections and make new ones in the charming Prohibitive, in Cary. Prohibitive is located inside The Mathews House at 317 West Chatham St. Plenty of parking adjacent to the house. For more details and 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 9th 1pm-2pm - Timely Topics Brainstorming Session - Join League Leaders at the office to brainstorm ideas for speakers for our 2023-2024 Timely Topics Series. Timely Topics is one of our signature events, and we need ideas from our subject matter experts- Committee Chairs and other leaders! This meeting is part of our League Leaders' series, but all members are welcome to attend. The event is in person at the LWV-Wake Office. 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.
|  | | 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, announcement of new board members and special recognition.
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 passed their budget April 6th with a 78-38 vote. ABC11.com provides a good review of the NC House budget. As mentioned in the last update, while it provides raises for teachers and other state employees, it also contains a lot of bad legislation. It is now the Senate's turn to pass their budget before a compromise budget is created and sent to Governor Cooper.
Governor Cooper released his 2023-2025 $32.9 billion dollar budget proposal on March 15. You can read about Governor Cooper's budget here.
Legislative Deadlines:
Senate Bill Filing Deadline: April 4th
House Bill Filing Deadlines (not for appropriations or finance bills): April 18th
House Bill Filing Deadlines (appropriations or finance bills): April 25th
Crossover deadline is May 4.
Bills that do not involve money (appropriations or revenue) or are not part of a legislative study must pass either the House or the Senate by May 4 in order to be eligible to be passed in the remainder of the Long Session or in the 2024 Short Session.
Good Bills Continue To Be Filed
SB 642 Independent Redistricting Commission - Filed April 5th. Creates an Independent Redistricting Commission and establishes processes. Referred to Rules April 6th.
HB 569 (SB 555) Working Families Act - Filed April 4th. Would provide an increase in childcare tax credits, raise the state minimum wage to $15/hour and allow local jurisdictions to set higher minimums, increase income eligibility limit for property tax credits, establish a first-time homebuyers assistance fund for public servants, and create a paid family leave insurance fund paid by employers.
HB 581 (SB 562) Investing in North Carolina Act - Filed April 4th. Would provide salary increased for all state employees, including community and state colleges and early childhood educators, provide a cost of living increase for state, legislative, judicial, and teacher's retirement system, and provides a small business tax credit.
HB 552 (S467) 2023 MOMnibus Act - Filed April 3rd. Would provide a Maternal Mortality Prevention Grant to prevent maternal mortality/severe morbidity among black women. Referred to Appropriations Committee on April 4th.
Advocacy Alert: We are asking members to advocate for the passage of the MOMnibus Act by sending emails to Senate Appropriations chairs as well as NCGA leadership. For email addresses and sample language, click on the link below:
New Bills Filed on Watch List
HB 613 Access to Voted Ballots - Filed April 13th. Changes access to voted ballots, other than by election officials, to include response to public records requests for all voted ballots of a precinct, ward, or other election district. Records requested must redact all voter identifiable information as well as how voter voted. Also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for violation of statute.
HB40 Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder Law Update: On April 11th, ACLU filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming parts of this law are unconstitutional. Governor Cooper allowed this bill to become law without his signature in March, but expressed concerns about "disparate impacts on communities of color." Details can be found here.
For a list of previously filed bills of interest, please review previous League Updates, found here.
Please note: This list does not include all bills for which the League may take a position or that may be important for advocacy. To see a description of bills filed each day, see the UNC School of Government Legislative Reporting Service Daily Bulletin Online here.
| 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. | |