The Voter. The League of Women Voters. Saturday, February 13, 2010, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm Rohnert Park Library 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park

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1 The Voter The League of Women Voters of Sonoma County Volume 15, No. 2 Inside Page 2 President s Message Page 3 Program Planning Petaluma Unit Page 4 Notice to National Members Board Briefs Book Group Page 5 New Member Portraits Page 6 Water Conservation Page 7 Voter Service State Water Plan Page 8 Environmental Awards Dinner Page 9 Directory Changes Back Page Calendar Happy 90 th Birthday to LWV & Welcome to Program Planning Saturday, February 13, 2010, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm Rohnert Park Library 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park February 2010 Celebrate the League s 90 th birthday by reviewing national and local League positions, by joining members in a brown bag lunch, and celebrating our 90 years with birthday cake. Just what is program planning? (See page 3) Lunch with the League Wednesday, March 3, 2010, Noon Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary Café Corner of 7th and B Streets, Santa Rosa Lunch will include a three course meal with choice of entree, plus coffee or tea. Our speaker will be Jake Mackenzie, Rohnert Park City Councilman, Chair of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, Chair of the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, and the Sonoma County representative on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. He attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December, and he will speak about his experience there and the issues that were addressed. The cost, including tip, is $23/person. To reserve a place, send a check for $23.00/person made out to the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County and mail it to Nancy Richards, 1009 Hyland Drive, Santa Rosa, The deadline is Monday, March 1. There is metered street parking and a city parking garage across 7th Street from the café. For questions, contact me. Nancy Richards, nancyr@sonic.net.

2 Volume 15, No. 2 The Voter The League of Women Voters of Sonoma County 555 Fifth St., Suite 300 O Santa Rosa, CA league@lwvsonoma.org See CONTACT US page to our directors. Directors on the Executive Committee Chlele Gummer, President Alice Richardson, VP Administration Lynda Hungerford,Voter Editor Willard Richards, Secretary Ethel Schy, Membership Directors Elisabeth Hawthorne, Program Co-Chair Susannah Likins, Treasurer Anita Lytle, Voter Service Co-Chair Gloria Norton, At Large Nancy Richards, Program Co-Chair Muriel Smith, Voter Service Co-Chair President s Message Hi League Members, This is the month when all members have the opportunity to shape League positions and action. We will meet on Saturday, February 13, to consider the positions of The League of Women Voters of the United States, The Bay Area League, and our own local League. Read more about program planning on page 3. Also this month our Nominating Committee is beginning the search for the leaders who keep the League active in educating voters and advocating for our positions. Let me give you, especially new members, a quick synopsis of each job. Each of the following positions is supported by a committee, the President s committee being the Board itself: The President arranges the agenda and leads the monthly Board meetings. Also, with the approval of the board, she speaks for the League. The Vice President of Administration keeps the office running smoothly, checking mail, ordering paper, and organizing the mailing of the VOTER each month. The Program chair arranges for monthly events or forums for the public and/or the membership for each month. The Membership Chair maintains a table of information and signup sheets at events, follows up with potential members, and hosts events for potential members. The Advocacy Chair keeps an eye on current issues to decide when to involve the League in action composing letters to be approved by the Board, marching, or putting on advocacy forums. The Voter Service Chair arranges the candidate forums before an election, ensures that voter registration forms are available to the voters. Other positions on the Board are: 2 Fundraising Chair VOTER editor Treasurer Secretary. The VOTER editor, Treasurer, and Secretary function without a committee, and all Board members are expected to attend the monthly Board meetings. The League does important work for Sonoma County communities. We need many leaders to do this. I encourage you to say yes when the nominating committee calls. Each one of us on the Board had to take that first step in getting into the fray of League work. You will find that in serving the League in a leadership capacity you will learn much about this county and its communities and you will gain skills that you hadn t thought you d ever learn. And you will be working with at least ten others who are supportive and friendly. So, no excuses accepted, say yes. Better yet, contact us! Chlele Gummer chleleg@sonic.net The VOTER, a publication of The League of Women Voters of Sonoma County is published monthly except during the summer, i.e. ten regular issues per year. The deadline is the 10th of the month preceding the issue month.

3 The Voter Volume 15, No. 2 Program Planning Every year, local Leagues individually review positions which have been adopted after in depth study and consensus. This year, local Leagues throughout the country will review their local positions as well as the positions of the League of Women Voters of the United States. In addition, Bay Area Leagues, such as ours, will review the positions of our Inter- League Organization, The League of Women Voters of the Bay Area. The purpose of the review is to recommend which existing positions to retain, drop, or update; to propose new studies; and to suggest issues for emphasis for for LWVSC and for for LWVUS. These recommendations will be sifted by the appropriate boards and then presented to an annual meeting at the local level or to a convention at the regional and national levels. This bottom-up approach is what makes the League of Women Voters a grassroots organization. Members are urged to attend the program planning meeting on February 13. It is your opportunity to better understand League procedure and to suggest issues for education and/or advocacy. To prepare for the meeting, please look over our local, national and regional positions. Our local positions can be found on our local League Website at org/positions.html. The LWV Bay Area positions are here on the Bay Area League site at org/advocacy.html#positions The LWVUS positions are available on screen in summaries from the Issues link on the LWV US website at You may also either download PDF files for the complete positions or buy them packaged in a booklet, Impact on Issues for $7 from the LWVUS website. If you do not have access to the Internet you may call the League office ( ) to leave your name and address on the answering machine. The positions will be mailed to you. 3 Petaluma Unit At the January 21 Petaluma Unit meeting the following were decided: The LWVSC and the AAUW will co-sponsor two forums in the Petaluma City Council chambers. The first forum will be held on April 20 for the 2nd District Supervisor s primary race in June. The second forum will be held on September 21 for the City Council candidates and mayor s election in November. Anyone who wants to help with the forums is very welcome. We need your help; give me a call. Stan Gold will draft a League position letter in opposition to the Petaluma wastewater-sewer rate roll-back initiative that is on the November ballot. The Petaluma members will review the draft before it is given to the League board for review and delivered to the Petaluma City Council. We also discussed drafting letters to be sent to newspapers (Press Democrat and Argus Courier) by individual members (not on behalf of the League but as voters) explaining the facts involved with the rate charges and what the rate roll-back would mean to Petaluma s fiscal and economic position. Stan Gold will send links of the Petaluma Community Impact Report and the Fiscal Economic Impact Assessment to Petaluma League members prior to a discussion at the February 18 meeting on Petaluma CIR. Stan plans to present a report to the LWVSC Advocacy Committee regarding the Petaluma CIR. Also for discussion at the February 18 meeting, Stan Gold will bring information on the Statewide Initiative on Public Financing of Secretary of State Office that will appear on the June primary ballot. The next Petaluma unit meeting is on Thursday, February 18, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. in the Basin Street Properties community room, 109 C Street on the corner of 1st Street. Rosalie Gillmore

4 Volume 15, No. 2 The Voter Special Notice to National Members What s a National member? Don t we all belong to and support every level of League? Yes, but if you joined the League through the Washington, D.C. office, you are considered a National member and will probably be receiving a request for renewal from them soon. Their fiscal year is different than ours which begins July 1. We ll be sending our LWVSC renewal notices around the time of our Annual Meeting this spring. We request that you wait and renew locally. Is there a difference? Yes, there is! When you join locally we receive a little more to maintain our local League office, support our programs, provide voter registration and education, and advocate for local issues. Of course, the major portion of the dues you pay goes to National, State and Bay Area Leagues whether you join at the local or national level. Any additional contribution that you are able to make to LWVSC is greatly appreciated at any time of the year. If you also wish to make a tax deductible donation, it can be made to our Education Fund. Thank you for your present membership and we look forward to your renewal with LWVSC. If you have any questions, please contact me, Ethel Schy ethels@sonic.net Help Wanted: We need a member with average computer skills to manage the Smart Voter website. We need to fill this position before the next election cycle (beginning in March). Our voters depend on learning about the candidates from this site. You would be doing a great service to the League and to our voting community. Please Chlele Gummer (chleleg@ sonic.net) if you are interested. 4 Board Briefs January 7, 2010 Board Meeting Treasurer Susannah Likins reported that Susan Gorin will audit the LWVSC books this year and will Chair the Budget Committee. The Board discussed the revision of the report recently prepared by the Juvenile Justice Interest Group so that it complies with League policies. This report summarizes the work this group has done investigating and analyzing juvenile justice in Sonoma County. Lynda Hungerford and Nancy Richards will meet with the group. The Program Planning meeting on February 13 will review the positions of the National, Bay Area, and Sonoma County Leagues. Each Board member will lead the discussion of a related group of positions. Lynda Hungerford will lead, or find someone to lead, the discussion of an LWVUS study of the Federal role in education recommended by the Palo Alto League. This study would enable taking positions on Federal legislation on education. There is $2,000 in the budget to help send one or two LWVSC representatives to the National Convention in Atlanta, GA. The representatives would need to pay some of their expenses. Lynda Picton will represent the LWVSC on the Task Force for the Homeless. Voters Service Chair Anita Lytle reported that three ballot measures have been approved by the Secretary of State and 59 are in circulation. Willard Richards, Secretary Book Group League members and the public are invited to join the book group at 10:30 am, Thursday, February 18, 2010 to discuss Joseph Schumpter s Can Capitalism Survive? Creative Destruction and the Future of the Global Economy. The group meets in the conference room immediately opposite the elevator on the third floor of 555 Fifth Street, Santa Rosa.

5 The Voter Volume 15, No. 2 Can Capitalism Survive? is Part II of Schumpter s most notable book, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, first published in Can Capitalism Survive? is a non-mathematical explanation of the influential concept of creative destruction. Our discussion of this book will be complemented by a discussion of Paul Krugman s The Return of Depression Economics in March. The book group meets on the third Thursday of the month, except for July and December. You may download the 2010 schedule for the book group from the calendar page of our local League website. If you have questions about the group, please call or send me a message. Lynda Hungerford lh@sonic.net New Member Portraits Helen Grieco 5 New member, Helen Grieco, writes, I joined the local League when I recently moved to Petaluma. Founder of SHE Institute, she describes it as... dedicated to teaching sustainable living and leadership...and committed to combating stereotypic gender socialization and barriers to women and girls so they can become effective agents for change. She has been active in women s rights for 25 years. Helen writes that she was born in Long Island, New York into a family plagued with alcoholism, violence, abuse and poverty. By her early 20 s Helen recognized that she was repeating her family history and made a commitment to change. She earned a B.A. in Women s Studies and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in women s therapy and education. She has more than twenty years experience as an individual and group counselor. Helen founded Defending Ourselves Self-Defense School with her partner where they trained thousands of women and girls in self-defense. She has trained women to be community activists and leaders. She is an author and producer of educational media for women and girls. Helen states that she has dedicated her life to help women and girls become safer, healthier, and economically independent. Becoming a mother has made her profoundly more passionate about her mission. We welcome Helen to LWVSC! Rosalind Morino New member Rosalind Morino writes that she is very pleased to have the opportunity to join the League of Women Voters (and her San Francisco Girl Scout friend Janie Hawker). A life-long Girl Scout, Rita considers membership and participation in LWV as an extension of working on her Citizenship Badge. Rosalind retired from IRS s Customer Service Division about 15 years ago and is presently a volunteer in the Tax-Aide program for Napa/Sonoma County. She has year-round hours at the Codding Recreation Center in Rohnert Park every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, serving taxpayers of all ages with limited to moderate income. In former volunteer work she has met many friends who have enriched her life and plans to be as active as possible in the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County. She and her husband James are presently raising her 10 year old granddaughter, a fourth generation Girl Scout and a future member of LWV. We are pleased that Rosalind has joined us! Mission 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. We do not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. We do, however, take action on selected government issues in the public interest.

6 Volume 15, No. 2 The Voter Water Conservation At the request of Phyllis Stanley, LWVSC representative to the Sonoma County Water Coalition, the following article is reproduced in its entirety from the LWVUS web site. According to the World Water Forum, the climate change forecast for drought areas is less rainfall, less runoff, higher temperatures, which means higher water demand and more severe droughts. How does water relate to climate change? Water is an increasingly scarce resource. Even in areas where water seems to be abundant, careful management of this precious resource is essential if we are to ensure a reliable supply for future generations. Using water efficiently also saves energy. For most municipalities, the biggest use of electricity is associated with treating and distributing drinking water and then collecting, treating, and disposing of it after it has been used. Water conservation is clearly an important component of sustainability. How can we, as individual consumers, help? Saving Water Indoors Indoor water usage in a typical single family home in the United States is about 70 gallons per person per day. But fixing leaks, installing waterefficient plumbing fixtures, and changing some everyday habits can reduce water usage significantly to around 45 gallons/person/day. Fix those Leaks Leaks account for about 13 percent of the water used in a typical home. A slowly dripping faucet or a toilet that keeps running can waste thousands of gallons of water a year. To check for leaks, read the water meter before and after a two-hour period in which no water is being used. After the test period, if the meter has a higher reading, there is probably a leak. 6 Buy Water-Saving Fixtures, Appliances Toilets are typically the greatest water user in the house, accounting for more than onequarter of the total used in a home each day. Replacing an older 3.5-gallons-per-flush (gpf) toilet with a 1.6-gpf, low-flush model will save at least 10 gallons of water/per person/day. New lower-flow dual-flush toilets will cut usage even further. By reducing water bills, newer toilets pay for themselves in just a few years. Replacing older showerheads with lowflow fixtures and installing low-flow aerators in existing faucets are both low-cost ways to save water. And by cutting the demand for hot water, this step will result in energy savings as well. Water-efficient dishwashers and clothes washers also help save water and energy. Turn Off the Tap A few small changes in everyday habits can result in significant water savings. Turn off the tap while brushing teeth and save well over 1000 gallons/person/year. Take a five-minute shower (12.5 gallons of water with a new showerhead) instead of a bath and save gallons each time. Conserving Water Outside In urbanized areas, roads, rooftops and parking lots cover much of the landscape and prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground and replenishing groundwater. Rainwater runoff flows instead into the storm sewer system, picking up pesticides, fertilizers, oil and other pollutants as it makes its way to local rivers, lakes and bays. continued on page 7

7 The Voter Volume 15, No. 2 continued from page 6 Green Infrastructure A new approach to storm water management uses natural systems to absorb and filter rainwater and make use of it where it falls. It treats rainwater as an asset rather than a waste product. Using permeable paving for driveways and parking areas allows rainwater to seep into the ground, thus recharging groundwater and reducing stormwater runoff. Rainwater can be harvested collected as it runs off the roof and stored in rain barrels or a cistern for future landscape irrigation. Benefits include lower water bills, less waste of precious drinking water, reduced demand on the municipal water system and increased groundwater recharge. Replacing lawn areas with natural landscaping will save water and energy as well as benefit the natural environment. Lawn maintenance is water intensive some 30 percent of our water is used to irrigate lawns and lawnmowers cause five percent of the nation s air pollution. Native plants, on the other hand, help reduce runoff and minimize the need for watering. They do not need fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. And they provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and beneficial insects. Voter Service As mentioned in January s Voter, planning for the June 3 primary election cycle has begun. Prior to the mailing out of ballots on April 29, our Petaluma Unit will hold a candidates forum, co-sponsored with AAUW, for their District 2 Supervisor primary race. In addition, at least one candidate forum will be held for the District 4 Supervisor race in Healdsburg. Any help you can give to assist at these forums, as well as at other events which may be planned during this primary election cycle, will be greatly appreciated. We would also like to remind all volunteers that now is the time to restock voter registration forms at the locations you service. The next meeting of Voter Service is Thursday, February 11 at 10:00 am in the League office. All are welcome. For information about these meetings, please contact me at MurielinCA@sbcglobal.net or call me at You may also contact Voter Service Chair Anita Lytle at alytle@sonic.net, or call her at Muriel Smith, Voter Service Co-Chair State Water Plan While the LWVC was not actively involved in lobbying on the latest round of water legislation, members of the LWVC legislation team continued to monitor the major package of bills that passed the state legislature late last month. The Governor signed the four policy bills and an $11 billion bond act in press conferences around the state. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has published a summary at waterplan.water.ca.gov/. The LWVC will analyze the bond measure and consider action on it as it goes before the voters in If you want updates you can subscribe to a weekly newsletter at Linda Craig, LWV Bay Area Regional Government, Land Use Chair 7

8 Volume 15, No. 2 The Voter The 34th Annual Sonoma County Environmental Awards Dinner Saturday, March 6, 2010 Sebastopol Veterans Auditorium, 5:30-9:00 pm 282 South High Street, Sebastopol Optional afternoon workshop: Turning the Tide on Our Waste Stream Award Nomination Solicitation will be sent out soon! Tickets: $40/After 2/21: $50, Students with ID: $25/After 2/21: $30 Non-Profit Group Discounts: 5 tickets for the price of 4 until 2/21 RSVP: Envr Award Dinner 201, PO Box 4346, Santa Rosa, CA or info@envirocentersoco.org. Make checks payable to SCCC Volunteers needed - wendyk@pon.net Limited work trades available This is a zero waste and car-lite event; Please carpool. Ride sharing program in development. A Little History League was first formed as part of the the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) shortly before suffrage was achieved. It was the brain child of Carrie Chapman Catt, long time leader of NAWSA. At two early conventions Catt moved that the name be changed to the League of Voters. Both times the motions failed. Catt appears to have envisioned that the League would evolve into a political party. Source: Louise M. Young, In the Public Interest: The League of Women Voters, I Love the League Because League is here To advocate for Good Government For Voter Information For Education on Issues Anonymous

9 The Voter Volume 15, No. 2 Directory Changes Add Joanne Brion Delete Mary Ruthsdotter (deceased) To protect the privacy of our members, contact information is not included in the VOTER posted on the Internet. League of Women Voters of Sonoma County Membership Application Name Address City Zip Telephone Fax Yes, I want to join the League of Women Voters. Enclosed is my check for dues ($60.00 for individual annual membership, $90.00 for household, and $40.00 for limited income). The membership year is July 1 to June 30. Please mail check to LWV Sonoma County, 555 Fifth Street. Suite 300 O, Santa Rosa, CA Thank you. I am interested in the following areas: Program Membership Speakers Bureau Social Policy Natural Resources Voters Service Newsletter Fundraising Cable TV Smart Voter Community Outreach Website

10 The League Of Women Voters OF Sonoma County 555 Fifth Street, Suite 300 O Santa Rosa, CA Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Santa Rosa CA Permit No. 65 Return Service Requested Time Dated Material February 2010 Calendar Unless otherwise noted, meetings are open to the public. Date Time Place Description Thursday, Feb 4 10 am to noon The Conference Room* Board Meeting. League members are welcome. Others by invitation Thursday, Feb :00 am The Conference Room* Voter Service Meeting Saturday, Feb :30 am to 1:30 pm Rohnert Park Library Program Planning & Birthday Celebration for the League (p. 1) Thursday, Feb :30 am to noon The Conference Room* Book Group Thursday, Feb. 18 1:00 to 3:00 pm The Conference Room* Joint Membership and Nominating Committee Meetings Thursday, Feb. 18 3:30 to 5:00 pm Basin Street Properties, Petaluma Unit Meeting Community Room, 109 C Street, Petaluma Friday, Feb :00 am to noon The Conference Room* Juvenile Justice Interest Group Thursday, Feb am to noon The Conference Room* Advocacy Meeting Wed., March 3 Noon Culinary Café Lunch with the League (p. 1) *The Conference Room is opposite the elevator on the third floor of 555 Fifth Street, Santa Rosa. Check out the League website, for current dates and time for meetings and for back issues of The VOTER.