 |  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
Happy Labor Day! A sign that summer is leaving us (except for the temps), today we celebrate and honor laborers who fought for better working conditions amid the Industrial Revolution. To learn more about Labor Day, click here.
With summer at an end and another successful Women's Equality Day fundraiser on the books, LWV-Wake is busier than ever with several new events and volunteer opportunities available.
While most events are described in League Updates, please 'check in' with us weekly by logging into our website to view the calendar. Also, remember to log in first to view and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Otherwise, it will show 'none available'.
League Leaders Meeting September 11th - Please Attend
With an increase in events and volunteer activities, we need more of our members to become involved as project leaders and committee co-chairs. What better way to find out how to become more involved than to attend our first League Leader's Meeting on September 11th? This meeting will provide an opportunity to better understand how committee work is completed and how this work accomplishes our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy.
This information session will also provide an opportunity to determine where your talents and availability best align with the League. We especially need members with communication, project management and computer skills to assist with League management functions such as website updates, social media and special projects and events. For members wanting to develop new and existing skills, we can help! To register, click below:
|  | | LWVNC Releases Statement on NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls Lawsuit
On August 31st, LWVNC released a statement regarding the lawsuit filed by NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls against the Judicial Standards Commission for violation of her First Amendment Rights. The revelations in the lawsuit are startling and relate to issues of race and gender. You can read LWVNC's statement here:
LWV-Wake stands with Justice Earls and we echo the concerns described by LWVNC regarding the investigation by the Judicial Standards Board:
"This investigation appears to be a politically-charged attempt to silence a sitting justice, and it is a threat to any free speech that does not align with the views of those who wield power and control.
The issues of race and gender – in our judicial system and in our society as a whole – require and deserve free and open discussion in order for progress to be made."
Justice Earls founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice – an organization with which we proudly partner – and formerly served as the organization’s inaugural executive director. She was elected in 2018, having earned 1.8 million votes.
We stand with Justice Earls.
|  | | Thank you to all of our 2023 Women's Equality Day
Sponsors and attendees!
Thanks to everyone who attended and supported our annual Women's Equality Day event! Because of your generosity, we raised $11,350! 81 guests and 29 honorees attended.
A HUGE THANK YOU to the Women's Equality Day and the Environment Committees for all their help in making this a successful event. Our keynote speaker, Nora Spencer was excellent and I invite anyone who was unable to attend to check out her organization's website: https://www.hoperenovations.org/
Diamond Sponsors - $1000
Nadine Carozzi
Cheryl & Henry Tung
| | Platinum Sponsors
$500
Mary Lelik
Jenny Kotora-Lynch & Jeff Lynch
Laurel Voelker
Dianna Wynn
| | Gold Sponsors
$300
Claudia Kadis
Meredith & Clyde Lundy
Marie C. Moylan
Betsy & Jim Munroe
Mary Jane Slipsky
Eve & Tom Vitaglione | | | | Candace & Ron Blackley
Gary Bryant & Liz Simon Bryant
Pat Butler
Senator Ben Clark
Dale Cousins
Dina Deaton
Nita L. DeNicola
Anita Earls
Karen E. Ferguson
Jean Ford
Tom & Vicki Gerig
Mike & Jeri Gray
Robin Hammond
| | Ashley Jacobs
Holly Knox
Naomi & Charles Lambert
Marian Lewin
Kathleen Liebowitz
Judee Lonnee
Bobbi Mullins
Elaine Okal in Memory of Sheila Denn
Jack & Sally Pinnix
Mark & Terri Ring
Retta Riordan & Jack Clark
Anita L. Stejskal
Mary Thompson | | |  | | NEW Volunteer Opportunities
With municipal elections requiring Voter ID and impending election laws, LWV-Wake is increasing our voter outreach efforts.....but we need your help! We have established partnerships with the following organizations to provide voter outreach/education. These include:
- NC MedAssist
- Wake Tech North Campus
- NC Courage Soccer Team
- HollyFest
- Junior League of Raleigh
- Glenaire Retirement Center
- Temple Retirement Community
- Neighborhood CACs
- Churches
There are many volunteer opportunities listed on our Volunteer page on our website. Please consider donating your time to help LWV-Wake empower voters. Members get a chance to meet people and socialize with other Leaguers. It's an excellent way to promote LWV-Wake!
To sign up, you must first log into our website. Then click on the 'Volunteer' tab on either the top or the bottom of our home page. You will see descriptions in the drop down menus. Thank you for helping with voter outreach!
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- September 19th 4pm - 6pm Member Social at Pimiento Tea Room - Meet other Leaguers and learn more about League activities. Members are encouraged to bring friends! Registration is not required. More details here.
- September 20th 5:30pm - Timely Topics: Reproductive Rights & Abortion - Join us for our first Timely Topics program of the season. This event will feature guests Dr. Beverly Gray of Duke Obstetrics & Gynecology and Tara Romano, Executive Director of Pro-Choice NC. Register here.
- September 29th 11:30am - Affordable Housing Special Presentation - Join us for an informational session on efforts to end homelessness. Hannah Olsen and Beth Silverman from the Lotus Campaign will speak about efforts being made to create solutions by partnering with the for-profit sector. Register here.
- October 5th 9:30am-11:30am - Member Field Trip: Raleigh Fire Training Academy - Learn all about firefighting, fire prevention and Raleigh’s fire history. Watch the Raleigh Fire Cadets as they train to fight fires at the Raleigh Keeter Training Center. For more details and to register, click here.
- October 7th 6pm Member/Guest Social at NC Courage - Join Leaguers and help cheer on the women of NC Courage Soccer Team. This event is open to the public and we encourage you to invite family & friends. Purchase tickets to sit together on the event link and then register on our website so we know you are coming. For more details and to access the ticket and registration link, click here.
- October 19th 12noon-1:30pm - Timely Topics: Article 5 and the Threat to the US Constitution - Join us IN PERSON at Highland Methodist Church as we welcome guest speaker Dennis Burns, chairman of the State Advisory Board for Common Cause NC. For more details and to register, click here.
|  | | Member Voter Registration Training
September 11th 10am League Office
Join us to learn how to learn the rules and best practices of registering voters. Training is for members only and space is limited to 10 people. Register here:
|  | | Hosts Needed for New Member Potlucks
In past years (pre-COVID), the Wake League held periodic potluck dinners in members’ homes as a way to meet and welcome new members. After a long hiatus, and with a continually growing membership, we’d like to resume these events, opening them to all members while especially encouraging newer members to attend.
To make this happen, WE NEED HOSTS! If you’d like to open your home to guests, all we ask of you is to set your table and prepare an entrée to feed them. Your house, your choice: brunch, lunch, dinner; meat, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free etc. We’ll promote it, register attendees, coordinate guests’ potluck contributions, and provide a facilitator.
Interested? If so, contact Karen Ferguson with your name, how many can sit around your dining table, and what part of Wake County you live in. As the Membership committee plans for 2023-24, we’ll reach out to prospective hosts with possible dates to hold potlucks and you can indicate what might work for you.
We look forward to hearing from you, and to sitting down to get to know more of our membership. You’ll enjoy that, too. Thanks!
|  | | NCGA Legislative Update
As expected, Governor Cooper vetoed SB 747 on August 24th. Read his statement here. NCGA has scheduled both House and Senate sessions tomorrow (September 5th). However, it is unknown whether a veto override vote is scheduled to occur.
SB 749, an equally troubling bill is scheduled to be heard tomorrow (September 5th) by the Rules Committee at 1pm. You can read the Committee Substitute Bill here.
Marian Lewin, LWV-Wake Voter Services Co-Chair describes SB 749 concerns in her Legislative Update:
"The changes in Committee Substitute for S749 will be noticeable during CBOE meetings after June 1, 2024. (If it becomes law.) The CBOE would decrease from 5 to 4 members. All members would be appointed by the legislature with some input from the State political party chairs. The county directors of election are appointed by the county boards of elections (not the county board of commissioners). An even-numbered board will have consequences for decision making.
I expect several provisions in this bill/law to be challenged in court, even though we know the current court structure has not generally ruled against the NCGA. In 2017 a related law was introduced, passed, and found unconstitutional. In 2018 a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would make similar changes was rejected 2-1 by the voters."
LWV-Wake members are encouraged to voice opposition to this bill by contacting legislators and sharing information with family and friends.
The work of LWV-Wake will continue to be very important as we work to educate voters about the new voting restrictions leading up to the 2024 election. We encourage our members to become active in the League and help us to strengthen our organization to fulfill our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy.
| 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.
| PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO SEPTEMBER 18TH LEAGUE UPDATE.
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. | |