Minutes of the League of Women Voters of the Northampton Area Annual Meeting Thursday, June 2, 2022
A CELEBRATION OF THE FOUNDING OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE NORTHAMPTON AREA’S 100th ANNIVERSARY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1922
Twenty-five members of the LWVNA gathered at 5:30 at the Florence Civic and Business Association Civic Center, 90 Park Street, Florence, MA for the Annual Meeting. Members were greeted by a display of posters about early local LWV members. The research and artful visual displays were provided by Nancy Polan, Sharon Farmer, Nancy Brady ad Zjemi Moulton.
Speaker: Regis Chandler, 6th grade teacher at JFK Middle School described the project she spear-headed at the school about the 100th anniversary of the fight for Women’s Suffrage. The project centered around curriculum materials developed by teachers at the school using the Berkshire Museum exhibit “She Shapes History,” which this League borrowed over the past two years. Teachers also used copies of the Daily Hampshire Gazette supplement, written by members of this League as a resource for students. The teachers wrote and were awarded a grant from the Northampton Education Foundation that supported their work. Ms. Chandler spoke about enthusiasm for the project by both teachers and students as a valuable learning opportunity especially during the pandemic. The first year students accessed the material virtually. This year the exhibit was set up in the school as an in-house “field trip,” which was well received. Teachers plan to continue the project with entering 6th grade students next year.
Business Meeting
Lou Bouley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and presided.
Program reports for the past year 2021-2022 were presented by chairs.
Health Care – Osa Flory reported continuing efforts to put forward the issue of single-payer health insurance.
Education – Bob Riddle reported that the Covid 19 ongoing world-wide pandemic has created two years of particular stress on public school systems. From March 2020-June 2021 area schools were mostly virtual with teachers adopting lessons on-line. The current school year 2021-2022 has returned to in-person learning with covid-safe procedures restricting education activities like volunteer support and field trips. Students and staff were masked, and staff were required to be vaccinated. Although much has returned to normal at this point, staffing has been very difficult to maintain because of continued illness of staff and family members. The collaboration with teachers at JFK Middle School with She Shapes History was also an education project.
Meeting Basic Human Needs – Cynthia Sigda DiGeronimo reported an active team from the League provided monthly meals from November-April to the Cot Shelter, which was moved to First Churches on Center Street for expanded space. She thanked the team and said it is hoped that a more permanent larger space will be found for next season
Voter Service – Osa Flory reported that the annual New Americans ceremony in Northampton was held July 4, 2021 as usual with many new citizens from around the world being sworn in. The League assisted although was not able to provide Voter Registration because of limited space. Brigid Glackin and Sharon Farmer reported League collaboration with the Daily Hampshire Gazette on several Candidate Forums in October 2021. The forums were produced in Northampton and, for the first time, in Holyoke, in a virtual format, and were well attended by hundreds of voters. They mentioned the invaluable support of Brynne Gorman at the LWVMA in recruiting moderators and training participants in the virtual format.
Membership – Brigid Glackin and Lou Bouley reported that this League continues to be strong and active with about 120 members including the Springfield Unit. Brigid mentioned the importance of ensuring that membership in the League has value for members offering them meaningful ways to participate as citizens in our democracy with Voter Service being a focus.
Natural Resources and Legislation – Nancy Polan reported on a number of legislative initiatives that she has regularly researched and presented to the membership for action. Of particular interest has been protection of our democracy through the VOTES ACT and legislative support of climate action issues and conservation.
Homeless study – Margie Riddle and Brigid Glackin reported that this study, begun in January 2022, has progressed with an active group investigating issues in Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield. The group originally proposed to investigate two areas:
1. What agencies, non-profits and volunteer groups are offering support? For each: What is their mission – their specific goal for clients? Who (entity or individual) is in charge? How do they understand the causes of homelessness in this area? With what other groups or services do they coordinate? How are they funded?
2. What has been the role of government (local, state, federal)– in funding and regulating services or perhaps limiting the availability of truly affordable housing for all?
After a period of investigation, the group has agreed to refocus on the second area, specifically the provision of adequate affordable housing.
Treasurer’s Report and 2022-2023 Budget – Lou Bouley reported $19,285.46 currently in the League checking account. She presented the proposed budget for 2022-3, which was unanimously approved by vote of those in attendance (attached).
Report of the Nominating Committee – Lou Bouley presented the Report of the Nominating Committee, which was unanimously approved by vote of those in attendance.
Report of the Nominating Committee
Officers:
Vice President, Bob Riddle (2021-2023)
Secretary, Margie Riddle (2021-2023)
Treasurer, Mary Lou Bouley (2021-2023)
Assistant Treasurer, Ingrid Flory (2022-2024)
Directors (2022-2024) Directors Continuing (2021-2023)
- Connie Burak 1. Janice Moulton
- Sharon Farmer 2. Nancy Polan
- Brigid Glackin 3. Cynthia Sigda Digeronimo
- Gillian Hinkson
- Randi Klein
- Ann Wedaman
Nominating Committee (2022-2023)
1. Nancy Brady 2. Fran Volkman 3. Donna Zuckerman
Proposed Local Program – Lou Bouley and members of each portion of the Proposed Local Program presented the following, which was unanimously approved by vote of those in attendance.
Proposed Local Program
Study of Issues of Homelessness in our Local Area: We propose two main areas of focus for our study. 1. What agencies, non-profits and volunteer groups are offering support? 2. What has been role of government (local, state, federal) – in funding and regulating services or perhaps limiting the availability of truly affordable housing for all? (Margie Riddle, Brigid Glackin, Sharon Farmer, Cynthia DiGeronimo, Zjemi Moulton, Meredith Boone, Amy Rome, Pamela Hunter)
Membership: The goals of the membership subcommittee continue to be to raise the profile of our nonpartisan voter education and voter access advocacy organization, in order to recruit new members, and to assist current members in pursuing their individual interests and concerns, within our organization’s overall mission. (Brigid Glackin)
Newsletter: The newsletter will continue to update the membership through the year on advocacy initiatives they can pursue individually, and opportunities to volunteer with the chapter’s activities (Brigid Glackin)
Voter Service: At the naturalization ceremony we will make voter registration information available to new citizens and their families. We will do outreach directed towards young and first-time voters. Provide voter information on vote411.org and with tools from the state and national leagues. We are planning a candidate forum for the general election final two candidates for Hampshire County sheriff in October,2022.We have secured the collaboration of LWV Amherst for this forum and will support theirs before the preliminary election in September.
Meeting Basic Human Needs: Although the emergency shelter plans are still developing, we expect to continue our regular meal team schedule. Taking into consideration the health and safety of all, and depending on shelter needs, members will work as a team once each month (November-April) to provide the evening meal for guests at the emergency shelter for the homeless. Members have the opportunity to join our team once or multiple times, preparing a component of the meal in advance and/or serving the meal at the shelter. (Chairperson: Cynthia Sigda DiGeronimo, digeronimo@comcast.net)
Legislation: Our advocacy will focus on two issues: 1. National Democracy Crisis. Protecting and defending voting rights with new strong federal legislation to keep national and state elections safe and democratic. Passage of the Massachusetts VOTES ACT, including Same Day Voting Registration. 2. Climate. Work for passage of bills to implement the MA Next Generation Climate law and the Transportation Climate Initiative. Develop policies at the municipal and state level to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and build communities more resilient to the climate crisis. Focus on conserving natural lands and enabling forests and farms to store carbon, and maintain biodiversity. (Chairperson: Nancy Polan)
Education and 100th Anniversary Celebration of Women’s Suffrage in the U.S. The Committee hopes to bring back the Voting Rights Book Group open to the public for four in-person meetings when pandemic restrictions allow. (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 League. (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. (Springfield Unit)
Voter Service in Springfield: We will continue to work with other groups to increase voter participation in the upcoming elections. (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. (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. (Springfield Unit)
Book Sale – Margie Riddle announced that the 72st annual book sale will be from 9-4 Saturday, September 24 at Smith Vocational High School (with an early bird special from 8-9 AM). Set-up will be Friday, September 23 from 4-7. Books will be collected at Forbes Library, Cooper’s Corner and Smith Vocational from July 11-30, and sorting and pricing will take place from 7:30-2:00 at the school from July 11-August 5. A successful sale depends on help from LWVNA members, family and friends, which we anticipate again this year. Since our local dues are required to cover per-member payments to state and national LWV, we rely on the book sale to provide all the funding for our local programming.
Directions to the Board – Announcements – The meeting concluded with an acknowledgement of the significant contributions of Lou Bouey over many years to our local League. Lou has filled numerous roles beyond her official one as Treasurer, which were noted in words and song to the enjoyment of those gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our local LWV chapter, now known as the League of Women Voters of the Northampton Area and including members on the western side of the Connecticut River from Williamsburg to Springfield including Northampton, Easthampton, Holyoke and the Springfield Unit.
Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned by 8:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
Margie Riddle, Secretary