steeringcommittee

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters of Weston is proud of Westonites, who won the 2008 "Democracy Cup" for medium sized municipalities in CT (l.) with a turnout of 90.4%. Local league members include, back row, from left, Barbara Rowland, Ann Malin, Pat Heifetz, Helen de Keijzer, and Pat Powers, and, seated, from left, Lucy Bowden, Kay Clark, and Terry Hulley. —Patricia Gay photo

LOCAL ELECTION, FUND-RAISING AND SPEAK-UP 2010 TOOK MOST OF LEAGUE'S TIME...THEN:

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON
Steering Committee Meeting
March 3, 2010
AGENDA
I. Review February minutes
II. LWV of Weston & LWV of Weston Ed Fund Treasurer Reports
III. Membership Report
IV. Speak-Up Report and Review
V. What’s next in the 2010 League Year:
    1) Citizen of the Year
    2) LWVUS liaison meeting
    3) Secret Ballot initiative
    4) April membership brunch/meeting
    5) Program possibilities: Wilton Charter Revision program/Legislative Wrap-Up
    6) Annual Meeting/luncheon and Betty Hill Forum
VI. Know Your Town Directory
VII. Announcements/Other Business

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON
Steering Committee got together September 11, 2009 for a long meeting and set up plans for e-mail discussions as well as others as may be needed...and has e-mail discussion the following week. Discussed initially was: which of the four (4) major town Boards and Commissions the LWV should sponsor this season, as there are more contested races than usual...First Selectman/Board of Selectmen, Board of Education determined as the two League will undertake: SAVE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009 at 2PM AT NORFIELD PARISH HALL! Back-to-back debates!

League is now also sending out VOTER'S GUIDE questions to candidates - who will have their answers and photographs displayed in the newspaper prior to November 3rd, Election Day. Since Labor Day was late this year, the political campaign season is somewhat abbreviated - deadlines are tighter!

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON
Steering Committee June meeting (3rd?), Weston Library
At the Steering Committee meeting after Annual Meeting, with renewed vigor, the idea for providing Civics Education assistance in the schools was suggested.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON
Annual Meeting 2009 and the 20th Betty Hill Forum report here.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON
Steering Committee Meeting, 4/8/09, Weston Library

AGENDA

A quick reminder about the meeting on Wed. 9:30 in the Library.

Suggested agenda:

Minutes

Treasurer's report

Membership update

KYT Directory update

Water Program for May

Annual Meeting - ideas for agenda

Betty Hill Forum - speaker and location

Other business

Next steering committee meeting...

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON
Steering Committee Meeting, 3/4/09, Weston Library

AGENDA

1. Review 2/04/09 minutes - Helen
2. LWV & LWV Ed Fund Treasurer’s Reports – Ann
3. Membership Report – Lucy
4. Speak-Up 2009 Assessment/Logistical Review – Barbara
5. League Calendar (program/dates & times/logistics/co-sponsorships/publicity):
items #6&#7...
Film/Iron Jawed Angels, in March – Laura and Talk on Water/Health District Director Mark Cooper, in April – Helen
Annual Lunch Betty Hill Forum, May 15th – Helen - (discuss board/steering committee structure) - Luncheon progress-Pat/Pat Powers
8. Town Plan Update – Lucy & Helen
9. Know Your Town Directory Web Update – Helen
10. Set next Steering Committee meeting (date, convener, and scribe)
11. Other Business

League of Women Voters of Weston
Steering Committee Meeting at the Library Conference Room
02/04/09
Agenda
1.    Review and approval of minutes of January meeting
2.    Treasurer’s report
3.    Ed Fund contributions update
4.    Speak Up 2009 progress

Norfield rental arrangements/insurance
Refreshment
Board responsibilities

5.    P&Z report –Topics to bring to the commission when we are called for input to the Town Plan.
6.    March program
7.    LWVCT Board Report
8.    Annual Meeting/Betty Hill Forum
9. Set next Steering Committee meeting date, convener, and scribe

Meeting at Library Conference Room at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, December 3

Approval of the minutes of November 5
The main business of this meeting is to assemble and prepare for mailing the fund-drive letter; to be mailed right after the meeting
In, addition, there will be:
Membership update
Treasurer's report
OBSERVER CORPS REPORT: Progress on P&Z's work on town plan
Update on Speak-Up 2009
Any other business that might come before the meeting

N O T I C E O F S T E E R I N G C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at the usual time in the usual place.

LWV Steering Committee notes - Oct. 1, 2008

The meeting began at 9:55am at the home of a member. Minutes of the September 10, 2008 Steering Committee meeting were approved.

Treasurer's Report and Membership Report were given.

Voter Service report given:

October 19, 2008 – 4th U.S.Congressional District – between Christopher Shays (R) and Jim Himes(D). This will be held at the Clune Center at Wilton High School from 4:00 – 5:30 PM
October 20, 2008 – 28th State Senate District – between John McKinney(R) and Martin Goldberg (D). This will be held at the Fairfield Library in the Rotary Room from 7:30 -9:00PM
October 29, 2008 – 26th State Senate District – between Toni Boucher (R) and John Hartwell (D). This will be held at the Westport Town Hall auditorium at 7:00PM.

With approx. one-third of the local membership present, the remainder of the meeting was devoted to planning the rest of the year and reviewing policies and procedures for proper League action activity in 2008-2009 (Program Planning).

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 9:30am in the Weston Library Conference Room.

LWV Steering Committee Meeting notes – 9/10/08

The meeting convened at 9:40 a.m. The minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report and Membership Report were given.

Know Your Town – now linked on the Town website; two “update inserts” between now and 2010 will be done for free (thank you!)and both the schools and the town hall annex have requested more brochures.

Voter Service – the 4th congressional debate hosted by the “North Fourth” should be on 10/5. The Westport League will also be hosting the two Major Party candidates on 10/29 at 7 p.m. in the Westport Library. “North Fourth” group is hoping to have high school students act as ushers – 2 from Wilton, 2 from Weston and 2 from New Canaan.

Program Planning, and internal League activity was rescheduled to 10/1 due to a conflict with a “North Fourth” meeting on 9/24.

The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.

From the MINUTES of the LWV of Weston Steering Committee...not official!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at Weston Library

Meetings: The first meeting of the 2008 fiscal year was set for Wednesday, Sept. 10. Program Planning was set for September 24 at a private home on the agenda will be planning for further meetings.

Annual Luncheon Recommendation: A “logistics person” is needed to coordinate the details such as welcoming guests and planning a “head table”. This person will also close the meeting/luncheon. In reviewing the past luncheon, many thanks were given to organizer of '08; thanks for successful arrangements! Helen noted that Julie Belaga, the guest speaker, had telephoned to express her appreciation for the framed Saugatuck Reservoir picture that had been presented to her in gratitude for her appearance.

Treasurer’s Report: permanent treasurer for 2008-09, reported on funds and expenditures. Committee members thanked her for her very complete report.

Membership Report: It was agreed that we should produce a small flyer for new members highlighting activities, etc. A new membership booklet may be prepared following Program Planning at which time new national and state LWV positions will be available.

“North Fourth” Debate: It was reported that Weston, Westport, Wilton, New Canaan, Redding and Ridgefield are again - for the third time - planning a debate for the Fourth Congressional District. So far candidates include incumbent Chris Shays, Republican, and Jim Himes, Democrat, from Greenwich. A tentative date is set for Sunday, October 5, in the afternoon at Wilton High School auditorium. Himes has agreed to “North Fourth” meeting date. So far, no reply from Shays campaign people. Lucy said that there is not any opponent announced for Rep. John Stripp and should he continue to be running unopposed, we - Weston LWV - will not hold a “meet and greet” prior to election. Westport and Fairfield will be asked if we can join in any candidate events they might be holding for their state senate candidates. Westport’s John Hartwall (D) will be running against Toni Boucher (R) of Wilton who is running for the Senatorial 26th District seat being vacated by Judi Freedman. In Fairfield, incumbent Senate 28th District’s John McKinney is being opposed by Martin Goldberg of Fairfield. Voters registration efforts in conjunction with the Registrars are planned...other business.

Early Draft E-Minutes (names not included) of the Annual Meeting, May 16, 2008, Cobb's Mill Inn

With a quorum present, Annual Meeting 2008 began! Annual Meeting minutes of 2007 approved May 16, 2008. As minutes for 2008 are in draft state until approved the next year; we will not upload the draft.

Lots happened, all good. A budget was approved for both LWV and Ed Fund. We will still be a Steering Committee again next year, but we are getting comfortable with this new structure. Steering Committee will next meet Wednesday, June 4, 2008 in the Weston Library small conference room.

Annual Meeting goers wanted everyone to know we meet in a public place and if you would like to see what the Steering Committee does, drop in the first Wednesday of each month (not in the summer, tho') at 9:30a.m. at Weston Library's small conference room! And join the League!!!

LWV of Weston Steering Committee Meetings 2008-2009 - names available on request.
Time: Monthly on Wednesdays at 9:30a.m.
Location: Weston Library small conference room

“Convener” and “Scribe” for each monthly Steering Committee (different individuals);
Treasurer - required official position;
Finance Drive;
Membership;
LWVUS and LWVCT Coordinator;
Voter Service Coordinators;
“Speak Up” Coordinator;
Publicity;
Publications;
Special Projects;
Videographer and Website Manager (does not attend Steering Committee meetings).

Minutes of the Feb. 13 Steering Committee in Weston Library:
Steering Committee meeting
February 13, 2008

The January 8th convener’s notes were approved as written.

An abbreviated treasurer’s report was given... more detailed accounting will be available next month...donations for the 2007 Ed Fund totals. A new member joined the League at ‘Speak-Up’. Actual Ed Fund expenses reported.

Everyone was delighted with how ‘Speak-Up’ went this year (including how smoothly the sound system worked) and we thanked Barbara once again for doing such an outstanding job of coordinating everything. Barbara’s letter-to-the-editor thanking those who participated in the event will appear in The Weston Forum this week.

The Directory was discussed next and everyone thanked Helen for her efforts in updating it. Discussion of paying for occasional revisions of the PDF file to keep the web version updated was postponed until our next meeting.

The date for the annual meeting and Betty Hill Forum on International Affairs was tentatively left at May 16th and Helen suggested that it would be great to have Lynn Pierson as our speaker if , by any chance, she was going to be back for a visit from the Middle East where she is serving as an educational consultant. All agreed and Helen will investigate.

The next steering committee meeting was set for Wednesday, March 12 at 9:30 am at the Library Conference Room and Barbara volunteered to serve as convener.

See Speak Up 2008 again!

Secondhand report for the web...
The Steering Committee met Wednesday, January 9, 2008 in Weston Library.
A long agenda considered a report on the Fundraising Drive. Thank you, thank you, thank you to a generous Weston community once again! "Know Your Town" to be republished in time for "Speak Up 2008" - which will be on February 9, 2008 from 10:30am to 12 noon at Norfield. Onion Barn sign, video arrangements, and other details, including selecting a moderator, invitation letter, arranging for good weather...

Fundraising effort through December...
The Steering Committee met Wednesday, November 14, 2007 in Weston Library.
At the beginning of the meeting many thanks were expressed to the Voter Service team for the Voters' Guide, the Debates (back-to-back Finance and Selectmen contests). Future events were discussed, including Speak Up 2008 (more to come).

ACTIVITIES DISCUSSION/ACTION/RESPONSIBILITES
Setting dates for activities for each project or event 2007-2008
Voter Service Team (includes additional help as available in addition to coordinators)
Fall Registrations
Voters Guide (November 1 FORUM, tent.)
Candidates Forum (Saturday after Kiwanis, at Library or Norfield, October 20 or 27)
Know Your Town Guide (available first at Speak Up 2008)
Speak Up 2008 (Saturday at usual time, 10:30am - in February)
Annual Meeting/Betty Hill Forum - (tent.) May 30, 2008

SINCE FORUM ARTICLE BELOW: Weston LWV had an excellent year 2007-2008. Will have "action" focus on Land Use positions for 2008-2009!
League of Women Voters: Revamped organization focuses on voter service in Weston
Weston FORUM
by PATRICIA GAY
Aug 8, 2007

Members of Weston’s League of Women Voters have their work cut out for them. And they know it. While summer is in full swing and most people are on vacation, league volunteers are meeting to discuss the logistics of scheduling a selectmen’s debate and voter registration sessions. The group is also in the throes of an internal restructuring to improve its operational efficiency.

“Our big focus is on voter service,” said Lucy Bowden, league member.

The League of Women Voters of Weston is a nonpartisan political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government. Despite its name, the league is open to both men and women who seek to improve the quality of democracy by increasing voters’ knowledge of candidates and issues.

Nonpartisan services

The local league provides many services to Weston voters. For the upcoming November municipal election, the league will sponsor a debate among the candidates for first selectman and selectman. League member Terry Hulley will be available at the local Farmers’ Market and the Emmanuel Church Fair to register new voters.

The group is also helping to organize a voters guide to be published before the election in The Weston Forum to help voters learn more about candidates running for elected office.

In additional to election activities, the league is busy throughout the year as well.

The league publishes a Know Your Town directory, containing contact information for government officials.
It hosts the annual Speak Up forum, an event that allows Westonites to speak directly with government officials.
It also sponsors the Betty Hill International Forum, named after the late Betty Hill, a Weston suffragette and longtime league member who was very involved in international affairs.

The League of Women Voters of Weston is a member of both state and national leagues, charged with the same mission — to educate voters in a nonpartisan manner.

Members believe one of the league’s strengths is the fact that it does not support any particular party. When league members get together they leave their political affiliations at the door. “We don’t support individual candidates, our goal is voter service and education,” said league member Helen de Keijzer.

“This is not a political group,” said Ms. Heifetz.

Exposure

The national League of Women Voters first came about in the 1920s as a continuation of the women’s suffrage movement. Today, there are hundreds of local leagues nationwide.

Although the league is nonpartisan and does not support a political party, league members have gone on to political careers. According to league member Pat Heifetz, perhaps the most well-known member to gain political recognition was Ella Grasso. Ms. Grasso, a Democrat, was a member of her local league in the 1940s. She served in the state legislature in the 1950s and then as Connecticut’s secretary of state for 12 years, before being elected governor in 1974.

She had the distinction of becoming the first woman governor of Connecticut, as well as the first woman to be elected governor of any state who was not the wife or widow of a governor. Ms. Grasso was elected to a second term as governor but resigned in December 1980 due to ovarian cancer. She died several weeks later at the age of 61.

Ms. Heifetz noted that since Ms. Grasso’s time there are many more women serving in government. “I think in that regard, the League of Women Voters has been successful,” she said.

New format

Recognizing that the league’s events and projects require a substantial amount of work, in June the Weston league decided to change its organizational structure.

Starting this month, it is no longer operating with a president or other permanently elected officers, except for a treasurer. The duties which formerly fell to the officers are being divided among the group.

Because there is no president to lead meetings, each month, on a rotating basis, a member will be designated as that meeting’s “convener.” The convener will also act as the recorder and take notes.

Other positions under the re-structuring include the designation of a contact person for the Connecticut and national leagues; membership coordinator; education fund treasurer; Webmaster and videographer; finance drive coordinator; signage director; editor/publisher of the membership handbook; editor/publisher of the Know Your Town Guide, and communication coordinator for members without e-mail.

The treasurer’s position from the old format will remain the same.

“These are new waters for us, and I’m not sure how it will turn out,” said Ms. Heifetz. But so far, she said, the change has appeared to be very positive among members.