The Voter: Your LWV Newsletter for Feb. 2010
The Voter
Feb. 2010 LWV Newsletter
In This Issue:
-Report to the Community – Homelessness
-90th Anniversay Luncheon
-In memory of Shirley Parker
-Recap- National and Local Planning
-March 15 Community Forum – Sunshine or Secrecy
-Presidents Post-Happy Birthday to US!
-Earth Day Delaware
-Redistricting Forum
-Public Transit Forum
February 23
Report to the Community: Homelessness in Delaware County
Yes, there is homelessness in Delaware County. To learn about the issue, come to our public meeting on Tuesday, February 23, when the Affordable Housing Task Force will report to the community on progress made in meeting the needs of homeless persons. The meeting will be held at the Willis Building, 2079 US 23 North (next door to Big Lots), beginning at 7:00 PM.
Three years ago, the task force–a broad-based coalition of public
agencies, service providers, and citizen organizations, including the League–adopted a ten-year plan to end homelessness in Delaware County. While progress has been made in achieving the plan’s goals, Delaware County still has significant service gaps.
The task force also functions as the county’s Continuum of Care
Committee, coordinating activities and applications for federal
funding for programs serving homeless persons. On January 26, the C of C Committee held its annual point-in-time count to determine how many people need assistance and to learn more about their situations. This information will be presented during the meeting. A resource pamphlet showing program and contact information will be available to attendees.
League is joined by the Concerned Citizens Against Homelessness in sponsoring this meeting. We are hoping to build on growing awareness of the problem and come together to create solutions.
Celebrate! League Turns 90 this Month
Birthday Luncheon to be held February 27
You’re invited! LWV Delaware County and LWV Marion are collaborating to host a celebratory luncheon at All Occasions Catering in Waldo on Saturday, February 27, from 11:00 to 1:00. The cost is a nominal $15, payable to LWV Delaware County and mailed to Carolyn Kneisly, 49 Euclid Ave., Delaware 43015. Reservations are due by February 12, so please act swiftly; we can add but not subtract after that date.
Guests are welcome to join us.
Our program will be a presentation by Sherry Hall, site manager for Harding Home in Marion, entitled: 1920: The Women’s Suffrage Experience. Sherry notes that before he was elected president, Sen. Harding and his wife were key players in the passage of the 19th Amendment–an interesting story indeed.
Remember when women wore hats and men wore ties to meetings? Check your attics and cedar chests for vintage clothes and accessories–wear something to the luncheon that reflects an era of League history–or perhaps the time when you joined the League. Note that this is not a requirement for attendance, but it will make for some great photo ops.
The buffet lunch will include a vegetarian entree. We’ll end the meal with birthday cake and homemade ice cream.
In Memory of Shirley Parker
Shirley Parker, a charter member of LWV Delaware, died on January 18 at the age of 90. Shirley was president of the League in the late 50′s, and is quoted extensively on the League’s early days in a 1995 Gazette article. Initially, she noted, League members stood on street corners to pass out the Voter Guide, and later involved Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to help deliver the material door to door.
Some things haven’t changed–Parker stated, “You work like the devil when you’re in the League.” Thanks to her commitment and her family’s designation of the League of Women Voters of Delaware County Education Fund as a recipient of donations in her honor, the League’s Education Fund has received several donations. We are grateful for this legacy, and will continue the voter service activities Shirley worked so hard to establish.
A memorial service will be held March 20 at the First Baptist Church, 101 N. Franklin St., Delaware.
Recap: National and Local Program Planning
League members came together on January 20 to review options for national program planning prior to the LWVUS convention this summer, as well as to look at local program positions and possibilities.
On the national level, League members could consider and select one of four options:
· Recommend a new topic for study by the entire League of Women Voters;
· Recommend a revision to an existing position;
· Recommend that no study be undertaken at this time; or
· Endorse a study proposed by another state or local League.
Each League can only recommend one topic for national consideration. Our group chose to recommend a revision of the health care position, which currently emphasizes the “single-payer” approach, believing that incremental steps toward better health coverage may need consideration. A close second was a new study of the federal role in education, particularly in view of the coming reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
Locally, no changes were recommended in existing positions, but a new study was recommended: Public transportation in Delaware County. The study could include a review of current transportation and plans for expansion, with a focus on consumer needs. This recommendation will be presented in full for consideration at the annual meeting May 12.
March 15 Community Forum: Sunshine or Secrecy
Stay tuned for more information in your next Voter– Sunshine or
Secrecy: A Community Forum on Your Right to Know and Your Right to Privacy will be held on March 15 at the Summit Room at Willow Brook Delaware Run, beginning at 7:00 PM. A great panel of speakers has been assembled to stimulate discussion. Access to public information, transparency in campaign funding, and protection of your personal information in government records are the chief topics. The forum will take place during the annual Sunshine Week sponsored by the American Society of News Editors to promote dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.
The Presidents’ Post: Happy Birthday to Us
The League was founded on February 14, 1920, six months before the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was passed, to “finish the fight,” in the words of founder Carrie Chapman Catt. From its beginning, the League has been a grass-roots organization, strictly non-partisan, but always political, advocating for issues critical to our nation and our communities.
On the 25th anniversary of the founding of LWV Delaware, President Janie Wilson stated, “The League of Women Voters is here because 25 years ago a group of women cared what happened in this community. We care today and hopefully some of us will still be caring and filled with curiosity and willing to act 25 years from now.” We couldn’t say it any better than that. Our League, now 62 and encompassing the entire county, is proud to be a part of this organization.
Diane and Karen
EARTH DAY DELAWARE
Is Coming!
Please remember to talk to your frineds and neighbors aobut our earth day events and invite them to join us.
Our next planning meeting will be Thursday February 27, at noon.
38 E. Winter St., second floor. Please attend if you can.
Earth Day:
Saturday, April 17, 2010, 10 am to 2 pm
Marking the 40th anniversary
of the first Earth Day
Scheduled events include:
Green Expo in downtown Delaware
Activities and film screenings
Creation of local “green network”
and Environmental Advocacy group
This event has come to life through the efforts of many in Delaware including: League of Women Voters, Ohio Wesleyan University, DATA, Delaware Health Department, Main St. Delaware, Northwest Neighborhood Association, Ohio Wildlife Center, Delaware Parks and Recreation, Strand Theatre; Roxanne Amidon, Laurel Anderson, Karen Chapman, Larry Cline, Joseph Diamond, Sheila Fox, Marianne Gabel (chair), Cara Hering, Corinne Lyman, Karen Rainey, Susan Sutherland, Barb Tull, Sally Waterhouse, Traci Cromwell.
For more information e-mail: emgabel@gmail.com,
or call 740-363-1324
Redistricting Forum
Redrawing the Boundaries: An Ohio Redistricting Discussion
Monday, March 1, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Auditorium – Downtown Columbus Metropolitan Library
95 South Grant Avenue, Columbus OH 43215
The forum is open to the public, geared in particular toward community leaders, academics, public officials and staff, and concerned citizens.
The cost is FREE, including a catered lunch.
Please RSVP before February 24 by going to
http://www.midwestredistricting.org/ohioforum.php
For questions, please call Leontien Kennedy at 614-221-6077
Public Transit Forum
The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus is hosting a forum on Public Transit in Central Ohio . You can help us inform others by forwarding this email message to.interested parties. You can also help by copying the attached flier for distribution or posting in the community.
No matter how you choose to disseminate this information the League of Women Voters appreciates your help. If you have any questions please contact Amy Pulles, vote@lwvcols.org or 614-837-1089. Thank you.
Beyond the Bus?
Public Transit in Central Ohio
Presented by
The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus
Thursday, March 18, 2010
University Plaza Hotel, Ballroom V-VI
3110 Olentangy River Road,
Columbus , Ohio 43202
5:30 Registration with a cash bar
6:15 Dinner at a charge of $25.
RSVP to Amy Pulles at vote@lwvcols.org or 614-837-1089 by March 11 to reserve a dinner, indicating regular or vegetarian.
7:15 Panel discussion is free and open to the public.
Gulsah Akar, a visiting assistant professor in city and regional planning at OSU’s Knowlton School of Architecture, will moderate a discussion of transit prospects among a panel that will include:
Chester Jourdan, executive director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Bill Lhota, president and chief executive officer, Central Ohio Transit Authority Brent Simonds, advocacy coordinator, Mid-Ohio Board for an Independent Living Environment, Inc. ( MOBILE )
The dinner and panel discussion are presented by the
League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus.
