LWV-Wake Update 5/29/2023 | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV-Wake. On this Memorial Day, we recognize and honor all those who have served our country and fought for the values and principles of democracy that we hold dear.
To learn more about the creation of Memorial Day and its traditions, click here. To find out what events and ceremonies are happening around the triangle, click here.
LWV-Wake 2022-2023 Annual Report Released
We have corrected the broken link to our annual report. If you were not able to access it, please try again. We have accomplished much this past year, from registering over 2300 new voters to celebrating our special "Wheat the People" brew collaboration with Clouds Brewing to hosting our first Voter Girl Project with Girls Scouts of NC Coastal Pines.
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Read about our impact in Wake County
|  | | LWV-Wake Annual Meeting Results
Thank you to everyone who attend our LWV of Wake County Annual Meeting on May 17th and congratulations to our new 2023-2024 Board of Directors. The following nominees were elected:
Sandra Birkhead - 1-year term, Board At-Large
Cheryl Tung - 1-year term, President
Dale Cousins - 2-year term, Membership
Kristin Howard - 2-year term, At-Large
Mary Lelik - 2-year term, At-Large
Retta Riordan - 2-year term, At-Large
In addition, the following were elected to the 2023-2024 Nominating Committee for 1-year terms:
Mary Lelik
Judee Lonnee
Laurel Voelker
The LWV-Wake Nominating Committee will begin the search for our next LWV-Wake president, as well as identifying and preparing other board candidates immediately. Please consider serving. It is beneficial to step up early so that potential nominees have an opportunity to learn about the office well ahead of next year's annual meeting. If you are interested in serving, please contact any member of the nominating committee.
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- July 21st 9:00am - Tour of North Carolina State Crime Lab - Join us for a tour of the North Carolina State Crime Lab and hear from the scientists about the work that they do and how they help the citizens of NC. Following the tour, there is an optional group lunch at Parkside Restaurant, 301 W. Martin St. For more info and to register, click here.
- September 20th 5:30pm - SAVE THE DATE for Timely Topics: Reproductive Rights & Abortion - Join us for our first Timely Topics program of the season. This event will feature guest panelists Dr. Beverly Gray of Duke Obstetrics & Gynecology and Tara Romano, Executive Director of Pro-Choice NC. Others will be added. Registration opens soon.
As a reminder, while there are not as many scheduled events taking place during the summer months, several committees are continuing to meet. Please check the League calendar to register for committee meetings.
|  | | SAVE THE DATE
Women's Equality Day 'Democracy In Bloom'
Join us as we commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment and recognize all women elected officials serving Wake County. Our guest speaker will be Nora Spencer, 2022 CNN Top 10 Hero of the Year and Founder/CEO of Hope Renovations. Event will be held at Dix Chapel in Dix Park. Registration opens June 1st. More details, including sponsorship info, can be found here.
|  | | LWVNC Convention Highlights
LWVNC’s 39th Convention took place May 19-21, 2023 in Charlotte. LWV-Wake delegates met and shared information with Leaguers from around the state, learned about current legislation and NC's polarized politics, and enjoyed a lovely dinner together at Bricktops!
Thank you to the following LWV-Wake members who attended:
Leigh Greene
Marian Lewin
Elaine Okal
Mary Thompson
Cheryl Tung
Helen Zimmerman
In addition to the business of approving the program, budget and new LWVNC board, the following presentations were made:
- North Carolina's Polarized Politics: Voting Patterns in Recent Elections - Dr. Michael Bitzer, Prof. of Politics and History, Catawba College
- Upcoming Legislative Trends: Initiatives We Need to Prepare For - Melissa Price Kromm, Director, NC Voters for Clean Elections
- How You Can Help Protect Democracy in an Age of Misinformation - Dr. Amanda Sturgill, Assoc. Prof. of Journalism, Elon University
- Update on ERA - Jimmie Cochran-Pratt and Teri Walley, Co-Chairs of ERA-NC Alliance
- Tax Policy - Dr. Kenneth Klase, Assoc. Prof. , Dept. of Political Science, UNC Greensboro
- Update on 2023 NC K-12 Education Legislation - NC Senator DeAndrea Salvador
During the dinner banquet, LWV-Wake was presented with the Outstanding Local League Award (membership over 200). Our work in providing a Pay-What-You-Can membership and Voter Girl Project was recognized.
In addition, some last minute debate occurred on the LWVNC Education program as it relates to support of nonpartisan school board elections, as well as some minor edits to the Proposed Issues for Emphasis. LWVNC will provide an overview of the convention with more details soon.
| To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
| | NC IOPL Offers Campaign Training for Women June 10th
In collaboration with the Center for American Women in Politics, IOPL is hosting the first Ready to Run® North Carolina event on June 10th in Raleigh. This nonpartisan program has assisted thousands of women across the country in running for office, seeking appointed positions, and managing campaigns. Ready to Run® program attendees walk away with the following:
“How to” instructions on running for office
Fundraising and media skills
Real-world advice and best practices from experts
Strategies for positioning yourself for public leadership
Inspiration to launch a campaign
In addition to the program, there will be a keynote lunch address with Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-2). Lunch is included with registration. For more details and to register, click here.
|  | | ICYMI: Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy Report
Note: This article first appeared in the May 1st League Update. It is being included again as this report was referenced in Melissa Price Kromm's presentation at the LWVNC Convention.
The Institute for Southern Studies and N.C. Voters for Clean Elections recently released a report that presents a positive vision for democracy by laying out a blueprint for improved voter access and election administration.
This report is an update to a similar 2021 report and reflects changes in voting preferences and patterns since COVID, as well as addresses the recent increase in mis- and disinformation and intimidation of election officials. It includes contributions from several organizations, including League of Women Voter of North Carolina.
Recommendations are organized by topic and while many require legislative action, there are educational outreach opportunities as well, especially around topics such as voter roll maintenance, funding elections, and voter registration and ballot challenges.
|  | | NCGA Legislative Update
Two issues from the NCGA 2023 legislative session made national headlines last week: Abortion and education. Neither were positive.
Abortion
First, the May 16th veto override of SB 20, which will ban most abortions after 12 weeks and puts into effect several roadblocks for women seeking abortion medications, infuriated those of us who believe elected officials have no business dictating an individual's reproductive health choices. For an overview from NBC, click here.
Thanks to all the women warriors who showed up at the NCGA for both the original vote and veto override. It is important to show up, be vocal and show solidarity with others who believe in reproductive justice.
Education
Second, on May 24th Governor Cooper made national news by declaring a 'State of Emergency for Public Education' over the state's continued lack of funding for public education and recent SB 406/HB 823 Opportunity Scholarship Program bills. You can read the Governor's press release here.
This declaration has been applauded by many public education supporters (such as LWV) and has outraged those who view it as a political stunt.
However, these same folks who are outraged fail to acknowledge the over-a-decade purposeful dismantling of public education by NCGA leadership. The siphoning of money to private school vouchers, teacher pay reductions (followed by insignificant raises) and budget-slashing have led to teacher/staff shortages and affected the quality of public education for students, especially those in rural areas.
In addition, the state legislature's continued interference in public education curriculum is especially disturbing and ignores the experience and expertise of educators, scientists and those who have spent decades developing education curriculum and best practice techniques.
For an Impact Analysis of SB 406/HB 823 (Opportunity Scholarships) by the Office of State Budget and Management, click here.
Budget Update
Last Monday, NC Senate released its budget bill. This budget contains 5% across-the-board raises over the next two years for State employees, and 4.5% for teachers. These are lower than the 7.5% increase in the House budget.
In addition to underfunding public education, both the NC House and NC Senate budgets fail to adequately fund elections in North Carolina. For a review of the troubling legislation contained within the NC Senate budget, as well as an overview of the threats to elections/voting in NC, please read the LWVNC Legislative Updates prepared by Marian Lewin.
19 Restrictive Election/Voting Bills We Continue to Watch
From a proposed amendment to cut short early voting days to further restrictions on the acceptance of absentee ballots, NCGA leadership purposely signal they do not want to make voting easy, and along with underfunding elections, are undermining democracy. For a description of the 19 restrictive bills currently in session, click on the link below.
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. In addition, please share this newsletter.
Find your representatives here.
Find 2023-2024 NC House Leaders here.
Find 2023-2024 NC Senate Leaders here.
| PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO LEAGUE UPDATE ON JUNE 12TH. THE NEXT LEAGUE UPDATE WILL BE JUNE 26TH.
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. | |