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Civic Engagement Does Not End With Our Vote

Letter to the editor, Hampshire Gazette, printed Nov. 24, 2020

We celebrate the amazing success of the November 3^rd elections. In spite of extreme challenges, Americans voted in record numbers! We voted safely and early during the pandemic!  We voted in one of our most partisan and contentious elections, guided by nonpartisan election officials, who oversaw the most secure election in our history!  Young and minority voters surged to the polls.

Dr. Deborah Turner, president of the national League of Women Voters (LWV) and CEO Virginia Kase issued this election statement, “We applaud the will and determination of the American public to participate in elections amid an ongoing pandemic. This unprecedented turnout is a testament to the determination of the American voters and the strength of our democratic system. It is also a testament to the tenacity and power of Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Muslim, LGBTQ+, and young voters who turned out in record numbers demanding their voices be heard. We are truly inspired.  Democracy defines America, and democracy has prevailed in the 2020 elections.”

The smooth-running election on November 3rd was not the inevitable outcome.  In fact, the chances were far higher for a very different election.  We are deeply grateful for those who made it work.  Grateful for the dedication and hard work of tens of thousands of Americans who made this election such a great achievement.  A huge thank you to state and local election officials, town clerks, hard-working poll workers, ballot counters, and new, young volunteers, who worked countless hours during early voting, on Election day, and beyond under extremely difficult conditions.

The election revealed the fragility of the system. Reforms can begin by making procedures that worked well this year permanent, wrote LWV leaders, Turner and Kase. “There will be many lessons learned from the 2020 elections, and we should celebrate our successes, including the expansion of voter access, record-breaking early voting, and the wide-scale use of absentee and mail-in voting options. This is what creating a more perfect union looks like, and we hope to see these expansions become a more permanent part of our voting system.” Here in Massachusetts early voting and expanded mail-in voting options were set up just for the 2020 elections. Now is the time to make these reforms permanent. 

Civic engagement does not end with our vote. Let’s turn our excitement and energy generated by the election toward making government work. The Massachusetts legislature has just one month left to pass bills on the climate, economy, immigration, housing, racial justice, health care (ROE Act), and much more.  If our legislators don’t hear us, we are invisible. Speak out. Demand action now.  

Nancy Polan

Legislative Director, Northampton Area League of Women Voters

Getting League supported bills out of committee. Is your legislator a cosponsor? Testimony by League members?

Getting League Supported bills out of Committee (or keeping League opposed bills from coming out) Advanced Advocacy

In 2020, the deadline for a bill to come out of Committee is Feb. 5, 2020. If a committee decides to, it can extend the deadline a few weeks for particular bills, to keep them “alive”.

Finding out about a bill, bill number, bill testimony, if your legislator is a cosponsor, if your legislator is on the committee the bill is in:

1. All League Supported/Opposed Legislation is listed on the website: https://lwvma.org/advocacy/league-supported-legislation/  Here you will find the bill name, the bill number with links to the text and cosponsors of the bill, and League testimony (after a hearing is done).
2. Once a bill has had a hearing, the LWVMA posts the testimony for the bill. The testimony will include more information about the bill that you can use to learn about the bill or bring to a legislator for advocacy.
3. If you follow the link to the bill number, you can find out who the sponsors and cosponsors of the bill are. Be aware there are often two versions of the same bill and each one has different or overlapping sponsors and cosponsors.  The lead sponsors are also called Presenters, and Status indicates where the bill is in the process, usually the joint committee where the bill is. If you click on the tab Petitioners, you will find a list of all the cosponsors.  On the Bill History tab, you will see what the current status of the bill is: has it had a vote or moved to another committee?  With every action, the bill will get a new number. But the original number allows you to track what the new number is, in the last item under Bill History. Always click on the new number to see what other activity has happened concerning that bill.
4. If you click on the link to the Committee the bill is assigned to, you will find out who is on that committee and who are the chairs.
5. In general, focus on bill sponsors, to give them support, and on Committee members to see if they can assist getting a bill out of the committee, when they are legislators who represent your districts.

If your legislator is a sponsor:

• If your legislator is the sponsor/presenter, you can thank them for the bill and ask them what you can do to help this bill come out of committee.  You may ask them to ask the Chair of the Committee to prioritize the bill we are interested in.

If your legislator is on the Committee the bill is in:

• If your legislator is on the Committee the bill is in, find out if they are a cosponsor, and if so thank them and see what you can do, or if they can ask the Chair of the Committee to prioritize this bill. If they are not a cosponsor, you can find out if they are a supporter, and if not, why not. If they have specific questions about the bill, you can get them fact sheets or let the legislative specialists know about their concerns.  Feedback is greatly appreciated and important.

If your legislator is not on the Committee and is not the lead sponsor:

• Find out if your legislator is a cosponsor, thank them if so, and if not, find out if they are a supporter or are not familiar with the bill, or have questions, or oppose the bill.  If they have questions or concerns, see if there are fact sheets or questions the specialists can answer.

It’s all about showing that there is support from constituents for any given bill, and that we are paying attention.

Important: Limit any one visit or communication to one or a small number of bills.

Minutes: Annual Meeting June 2, 2020

League of Women Voters of the Northampton Area

Annual Meeting, Respectfully submitted by Margie Riddle, Secretary

June 2, 2020

Call to Order:   The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Mary Lou Bouley through Zoom connection because of the restrictions due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic of 2020.  Present were twenty-one members of 127 to date.  The  board meeting that had been scheduled for March 29 had been cancelled for the same reason because most gatherings were cancelled by March 20, 2020.

Program reports 2019–2020

            Health Care – Osa Flory reported on various activities during the year to promote health coverage for all in the U.S. through panel discussions, showing films and contacting legislators.   

            Education – Margie Riddle reported a year-long effort of outreach to area educators in districts represented by members of our local LWV.  Specific information about the 100^th anniversary of the amendment granting women’s suffrage was shared with thirty-five educators in grades kindergarten through university and college.  Educators were encouraged to include related history in their curricula with particular concentration on the contributions of African American Suffragists who may not be as well known.  A Book Group that included both League members and visitors met six times with the same focus.  A book list of children’s books on the topic was developed and shared with teachers and librarians.

            Meeting Basic Human Needs – Cynthia DiGeronimo reported that a team of twelve LWV members prepared and served dinner at the Cot Shelter in Northampton from November-February.  After that time the shelter was moved to Northampton High School and meals were prepared by Smith College staff and served by shelter staff.  

            Voter Service – Osa Flory reported that LWV members co-sponsored three candidates’ nights with representatives of the Daily Hampshire Gazette and also participated and registered new voters at the annual July 4^th new citizen Naturalization Ceremony at the Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton.  

            Membership – Brigid Glackin reported on a number of activities designed to offer value and relevance to members and to attract new members.  Activities included the Book Group, gatherings to write postcards to legislators, and a reception open to all on February 14, 2020, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters.

            Natural resources – Legislation – Nancy Polan reported on both of these topics.  She has followed and researched a number of legislative issues related to environmental concerns and prepared materials for outreach to legislators through postcards and emails sent by members and interested citizens.

            Treasurer’s Report and 2020-2021 Budget – Mary Lou Bouley presented the Treasurer’s Report which was accepted with a unanimous vote moved by Bob Riddle and seconded by Sharon Moulton.  Funds on hand in checking and CD totaled $17,855 April 30 with outstanding bills totaling  $2,284 leaving available funds at this time of  approximately $15,571.  Lou will send out dues request by email and mail for the upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021).  The budget details are below. 

            Report of the Nominating Committee – Lou Bouley presented the following report of the nominating committee.  The proposed officers and directors were approved by a unanimous vote.

Officers:

            President                                               Vacant 

            Vice President                                      Bob Riddle (2019-2021)

            Secretary                                               Margie Riddle (2019-2021)

            Treasurer                                              Mary Lou Bouley (2019-2021)

            Assistant Treasurer                           Ingrid Flory (2020-2022)

Directors Continuing (2019-2021)

1. Osa Flory
2. Nancy Polan
3. Cynthia Sigda DiGeronimo
4. Randi Klein                                                           

Directors (2020 – 2022)

1. Connie Burak
2. Sharon Farmer
3. Brigid Glackin
4. Zaida Govan
5. Gillian Hinkson

Nominating Committee (2020-2021) 

1. Nancy Brady
2. Janice Moulton
3. Donna Zuckerman 

Proposed Local Program – Mary Lou Bouley presented the following Proposed Local Program, which was unanimously approved.  

            Legislation –  Our advocacy will focus on two issues:   1.Voter service. Passing legislation that expands voting options to safeguard the fall elections, at the state and national levels.    2. Rebuilding a post-COVID-19 economy that greatly expands economic and racial equality, enables a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and builds communities more resilient to the climate crisis. (Chairperson: Nancy Polan)

            Voter Service –  Creating voting practices that will allow everyone to participate in the fall elections during the pandemic, while protecting the health and safety of the voters and the poll workers, presents unprecedented challenges.  Our role in the league is ever more critical, as we learn to work in isolation, increase use of social media, fight misinformation, work with town clerks and state officials to secure our polling sites, provide for the safety of voters and poll workers, protect the USPS and their ability to handle huge volumes of mail-in ballots, and inform the public about all of the changes. Across the country the League is fighting voter suppression (and winning lawsuits against it), and is fighting for legislation to provide equal access to the ballot for all Americans.

            Meeting Basic Human Needs- While there are many unknowns, the importance of advocating for the needs of the homeless is unchanged.  Taking into consideration the health and safety of all, and depending on operational need, members will advocate for the needs of the homeless and provide a team of members once each month (November-April) to provide the evening meal for clients at the emergency shelter for the homeless (Chairperson: Cynthia Sigda DiGeronimo)

            Membership – The suffragist history book club after 6 meetings at Lilly Library, with the leadership of Margie Riddle went into hiatus in March, but will meet again in the fall, virtually or live.  Collaborations with Historic Northampton, Berkshire Museums and Forbes Library will continued to develop and co-sponsor joint programming.  These will include speaker presentations, panels, and a film series with talk backs, most probably virtually.  The goal will be to provide value to the membership, with opportunities to explore the suffragist history and its relevance to the continuing struggle to “finish the fight” to provide access to the vote for all.  (Chairperson: Brigid Glackin)

            Education and 100^th Anniversary Celebration of Women’s Suffrage in the U.S. – Our local League will reach out to educators to encourage them and their students to join us in researching and highlighting the special contributions of African American Suffragists to the effort that lasted for eighty years and finally culminated in the passage of the 19^th Amendment in 1920. We will continue to monitor local preK-College public education delivery during the pandemic to ensure equity and access for all students in our area.  (Chairperson: Margie Riddle)

            Health Care – We will continue to monitor the progress of the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act and national health care legislation.  The committee will continue to support efforts to obtain single-payer universal health care as endorsed by the National LWV. (Chairperson: Osa Flory)

Springfield Unit

            Member Growth – Focus on building the Springfield Unit membership, intentionally recruiting younger women new to civic/voter engagement in the community (especially new Americans) in the colleges and in the high schools. (Members of the Springfield Unit)

            Voter Service in Springfield – We will continue to work with other groups to increase voter participation in the upcoming elections.  (Members of the Springfield Unit)

            Police Accountability Committee – We will continue its work by releasing the results of our series of community deliberative discussion forums and offering continuing opportunities for public education on civilian police oversight in Springfield. (Members of the Springfield Unit)

            Observer Corp – We will continue to develop our Observer Corps to help residents understand and participate in the work of Springfield’s boards and commissions, as well as City Council and School Committee. (Members of the Springfield Unit)

Book Sale – Margie Riddle reported that, because of the Covid-19 Pandemic the annual Book Sale, which has been held by our Northampton Area LWV for 70 years, had to be cancelled for the traditional September date.  She noted that this event is our only fund-raiser of the year, but it is also a beloved community event that is well attended and offers quality reading materials to community members and educators at modest prices while also bringing attention to our League and supporting our environmental recycling goal.  About half of our members participate in the book sale in some way from collecting, sorting and storing books to selling them at the sale, and promoting and organizing the sale.  Therefore, it is also an event that brings our League membership together for a shared purpose.  

Directions to the Board – It was suggested that our League donate as usual $250 to the LWVMA as has been done in the past.  It was unanimously agreed to honor Sojourner Truth in this way for this 100^th anniversary year since she was an early suffragist and a resident of Florence in Northampton.  

The very significant contributions of Jean Cherdack to our League was also noted.  Jean has joined the Franklin County LWV, since that is her residence.  She will be greatly missed, and we know she will remain active in her new LWV home. We have many fond memories of our LWV adventurers with Jean. 

Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 by Mary Lou Bouley.

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

                                                            Margaret Riddle

                                                            Secretary