• Video taken of the 1 hour and 45 minute event now in Weston Library (3 copies--one S-VHS and two VHS) - for those who do not have Cableision Channel 79, the Town TV station.
• Congressman Christopher Shays came and reported on post-tsunami and Iraq election observations he's made...notes stark limits to devastation on some islands, based up the reach of the "wave."  Poorest neighborhoods were located on the beach.
• LWV Webmaster offers VERY SPECIAL BROWNIES...all gone!  (This is another measure of the size of the audience--if all the cookies and stuff disappear, it is a successful event!)
• NOTE:  Weston FORUM said in Thursday, Feb. 10 edition that only 75 persons were in the audience.  Since League did not count the actual number of people, just the chairs, the final determination of the number present will have to wait for the videotape!  Considering that there were 150 chairs set out for the Audience = website manager/camara operator lowest number at estimated 100 in audience--plus 35 more on stage;  150 chairs set out fan-like, with 2 aisles--front row for press (Westport NEWS and FORUM--plus photographer), 1/3rd of furthest from entrance "sector" empty plus first row mostly empty.  All Town, State and Federal officials seated up on stage (another 35 people).  Plus three (3) student volunteer microphine sprinters;  plus two (2) camera operators...

Prelude to "Speak Up 2005"

Message from the Board...

Events leading up to "Speak Up 2005" (get ideas here):

• Program Planning to be held at Terry Hulley's home on Thursday, Jan. 13, at noon.  Bring a brown bag, Terry will provide beverages.  The focus of the meeting will be plans for the local program and suggestions for strengthening the membership of our group.  Please come with ideas and concerns. Everyone's input is so important.
  

• LWVCT co-sponsored a Transportation Rally, on Wed. Jan. 19, in Hartford. Read all about it!  The rally was to advocate for strong and immediate measures to ease the gridlock on our highways and help mass transit initiatives. A bus was available.

• Our annual Legislative Breakfast will be held with the Westport LWV on Friday, Jan. 21, at 9 AM. The location is the home of Pat Thornton, 4 Broadview Rd. Westport. Our league will carpool from Weston Center at 8:30 am. Our representatives, Rep. John Stripp, Senator John McKinney and Senator Judith Freedman will be in attendance.  Come and let them know what issues concern you most.

• Finally, mark your calendar for the 14th Annual Speak-Up ("Speak Up 2005") program to be held on Feb. 5 at 10:30 am at Norfield Church Parish Hall. Come a bit before the 10:30 start time and help our chairman put out the chairs, (Barbara Rowland) and set up for our opening community event for 2005!

HARTFORD -- Gov. M. Jodi Rell promised yesterday to address transportation issues in her upcoming budget and seek more input on Metro-North's controlling board during a transportation rally at the Capitol.

Through a spokesman, Rell said she would make "a substantial new commitment to alleviate congestion on our highways." Rell's office did not elaborate on the proposal.

Phil Dukes, the governor's counsel for policy, told those at the rally that Rell also will appeal to New York Gov. George Pataki to win a seat on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board of directors.

The 23-member MTA board is appointed by Pataki and oversees Metro-North. Members are recommended by New York county executives, labor groups and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. However, there is no representative from Connecticut. Rell was at home recovering from breast cancer surgery earlier this month, Dukes said. Calls seeking comment from Pataki were not returned yesterday.

More than 100 commuters and legislators were on hand for the statement at a rally organized by the Connecticut Citizens Transportation Lobby, a transportation advocacy group of "concerned citizens."

Most participants traveled by private bus to the Capitol, to lobby for statewide transportation improvements and a comprehensive funding strategy to pay for it all.

The rally was endorsed by the Connecticut League of Women Voters, the Connecticut Sierra Club and the Hartford-based rail advocacy group, All Aboard!, which all sent members.