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LWVCT Convention 2009 Report
Jara Burnett

The 52nd Convention of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut was held on Saturday, June 6, at the Lyceum in Hartford. Continuing the practice begun in 2007, it was a one-day convention. 46 delegates and board members attended. Enid Oresman of Darien served as Parliamentarian.

As usual, the delegates discussed and adopted Program for the biennium, including a new study (see announcement in this report) and adopted three legislative priorities for the next two years: election laws, health care and transportation. Proposed bylaws changes to permit the LWVCT to update program at Council as well as Convention without having to declare an emergency was adopted, as well as a minor change to allow the LWVCT Board to add membership categories. The LWVCT budget was adopted without discussion. The League, as are many other organizations, is seeing a drop in contributions due to the current economic downturn, but we are hanging in there.

The LWVCT is also pleased to present the newly elected or re-elected board for the 2009-2010 biennium:
President                    Jara Burnett, Greenwich
VP Public Issues                Cheryl Dunson, Greenwich
Co-VPs Communications        Carole Kleinfeld, Wilton and Pua Ford, Amity
VP Voter Service                Pat Donovan, Litchfield
VP Program                Claudia Saunders, Westport
Secretary                    Jane Eyes, Westport
Treasurer                    Johanna Malinowski, Bridgeport Area
Government                Christine Horriga, Litchfield
Social Policy                Naomi Schiff Myers, Greenwich
Natural Resources            Karen Burnaska, Bridgeport Area
Membership                Elona Vaisnys, Hamden/No.Haven
Nominating Committee Chair        Catherine Sturgess, New Canaan
Nominating Committee Off-Board    Terry Gerratana, New Britain Area
Nominating Committee Off-Board    Christine Lodewick, Ridgefield

Three workshops were presented: “Successful Debates” by Hollie Courage of LWV Rhode Island, “Membership” by Elona Vaisnys and “Demystifying Program Planning” by Cheryl Dunson. Ellen Andrews of Connecticut Health Policy was the lunch speaker, reporting on the state of health care in Connecticut.

At the request of the delegates, a communication was sent to the Governor, her budget Director and the entire legislature, strongly opposing the 40% increase on the bus fares in the Governor’s latest proposed budget. The letter is posted on the website.

As always, it was great to reconnect with other League friends over breakfast and lunch. My thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the Convention and to all the delegates and especially Jean Rabinow who has handled the countless details needed to make the meting run smoothly and efficiently.

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Previously ...
LWVCT CONVENTION 2007 - video here!

SATURDAY, June 16th
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bartels Hall
University of New Haven
300 Orange Avenue (U. S. 1), West Haven CT

WHAT HAPPENED:
P.I. Team report showed the good and the "wait 'til next year" features of the Long Session. Budget was adopted; Program includes two (2) new studies for concurrence - descriptions here; Bylaws changes done; new Board elected; two (2) great speakers at the sessions we attended: 1)NET NEUTRALITY visiting speaker from "Free Press" (with Power Point that worked!) and 2)NED LAMONT (at lunch).

Also, briefly, last year's Green Party Gubernatorial Candidate, who thanked the LWVCT for its position
on qualification of candidates for debates.

New voting technology report (more to come). Message was: the word of the new method needs to be spread far and wide and the LWV and its members can play a part in cooperation with registrars, etc.

The Ridgefield LWV got an award for its membership growth (must call them for ideas for new membership), and the LWV of Weston, amidst stiff competition (1/3 of all CT Leagues applied for this award) won the first ever "E-Award 2007" - with kudos from LWVCT V-P on our website's special 21st century-features!

UNH was very convenient to get to, parking was excellent, the campus environment excellent. Food was great, coffee flowed freely, brownies excellent but not as good as those made by the immediate past President of the Weston LWV!

LWVCT offered to help us out in any way we might need during the coming year.


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