LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON, CONNECTICUT
Annual Meeting, Betty Hill Forum (14th year)
and Luncheon
Friday, May 17, 2013 at The Red Barn,
Westport
WATCH NOW!
Best viewed with Internet Explorer, which will automatically
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42 minutes
51 seconds; 113 Megabytes - click below -
Annual
Meeting 2013
First things first - the business part of the day - Annual
Meeting - where we remind ourselves of the past year's
activities, review and decide to accept or not Program Planning
recommendations, new study ideas and action plans for NEXT year
(July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014)! A quorum was present, and
all Steering Committee members agreed to continue their roles
from 2012-2013. With the upcoming local electon season,
Voter Service volunteers sprouted like spring flowers (see
minutes of the meeting). The agenda was actually completed
before luncheon guests started filtering in!!! A picture
story follows of the luncheon and Senator John McKinney's speech
on "The Power and Potential of Bipartisan Action."
THE SCENE...
After a
busy Reception we sat down for lunch - the tables filled with
friends of League as well as members.
- Senator
Freedman
was a wonderful addition to the luncheon crowd!!!
- In
particular
we note that we had in attendance the First Selectwoman,
Gayle Weinstein, who was very helpful answering a question
on the Legislature's M.O.R.E. Commission (regarding
"regional efficiencies...").
- We
were honored to have LWVCT President Cheryl Dunson and the
Gun Control Specialist for LWVCT join us for Senator
McKinney's address (as well as lunch!).
- RTC
Chair.
(and member of P&Z) Britta Lerner was also at the head
table, and both she and First Selectwoman Weinstein invited
all present to a fund-raiser for the Women's Campaign School
at Yale.
- The
Chairman
of the Historical Society was present, as well as members of
the Charter Revision Commission 2012-2013. The Lachat
Oversight Committee Chair. was present and our former
Republican Registrar of Voters (and present Democratic
Registrar). Two members of the Board of Education
came, too!
Introduction by Steering Committe member of speaker...
Senator
John McKinney, Minority Leader of the CT State Senate, on the
topic:
"The Power and Potential of
Bipartisan Action"
This Session in
Hartford...
Senator
McKinney chose to give three examples of bipartisan action in
the past 2 years. One involved, of course, the response to
the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.and bipartisan action
taken.
Previously, in
the Special Session on Jobs...
First
try
at bipartisan action was on jobs, after union negotiation
drama. It was successful in Governor Malloy's first
year. A start!
Decline of
bipartisan action, the "why?" An idea.
Senator McKinney suggests a
non-partisan entity should do redistricting.
It is the fault of partisan redistricting of "safe seats" thus
making for very few contests and causing lobbying intensity in
fewer and fewer areas. Connecticut isn't as bad as
Washington D.C., but it still has become more polarized.
With Hon. Judith Freedman (in picture) to confirm his thoughts,
Senator McKinney tried to give everyone some hope...is the
League of Women Voters going to lead us?
Can we work
together on issues? Should we seek a common ground?
Yes, we can
and we should!
In responding to question about genetically modified food and a
labeling bill, from an audience member, Sen. McKinney notes the
CT Senate has approved it in bipartisan voting...Speaker
of the House not on board.
Another question was about "mandates" - under discussion by
the "M.O.R.E." Commission (stands for Municipal Opportunies and
Regional Efficiency). Senator McKinney then gave the floor
to First Selectwoman Weinstein, whose response can be seen in
the video...towards the end.
WATCH NOW!
Best viewed with Internet Explorer, which will automatically
open Windows Media Player and start playback without waiting for
the download to complete.
42 minutes
51 seconds; 113 Megabytes - click below -
What was it the Brooklyn Dodgers
used to say? Wait 'til next year!
And the sun was still
shining after lunch - a great day in many ways!
Inspired after an excellent Annual Meeting and great pitch for
bipartisan action, we set off to start work in this an upcoming
local election year!!!