LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of Baltimore County. The Voter

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1 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of Baltimore County Volume Issue 4 November-December 2018 The Voter Newsletter CALENDAR Inside this issue: Calendar... 1 From Our Co-Presidents... 2 LWV... 3 LWVMD... 3 Committees and Reports... 4 Membership... 4 Programming and Events... 5 Of Further Interest... 8 Flyers Board of Directors November 6- Election Day and Poll evaluations 8- Thursday, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Gerrymandering Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. LWVMD Gerrymandering Veterans Day 14- Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Book Club at Betsy Sexton s home, The President is Missing, by Bill Clinton and James Patterson 14- Wednesday, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Gerrymandering Thursday, 9:30 am Membership Committee meeting, Terri Lawler's 22- Thanksgiving Day 30- Friday, 10 a.m. Death with Dignity Consensus meeting Charlestown Community, Charlestown Square Room Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD (Fact sheets in Oct/Nov Voter) December- 1- Holiday Brunch at the BMA (flyer p. 9) 6- Thursday, 10 a.m. Board Meeting 19- Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Book Club, Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan January Thursday, Board Meeting and Retreat 5- Saturday, noon Annual Legislative Luncheon (flyer p. 10) 10- Thursday, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. Death with Dignity Study consensus/concurrence meeting, Broadmead Retirement Community Stony Run board room 23- Wednesday, 7:30 Book Club, The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis League of Women Voters of Baltimore County 6600 York Road, Suite 211, Baltimore, MD lwvbaltimore@comcast.net

2 Dear League Members, FROM OUR CO-PRESIDENTS When you read this letter, it will be after the Mid-term elections. No matter how the election comes out, you can be proud of the performance of our League in carrying out our mission of strengthening democracy. Kudos are deserved for the Program committee for the series of forums featuring the candidates and giving the public an opportunity not only to learn more about their governing philosophy, but also meet them and develop a more intimate sense of their personality and competence. Particular recognition is due Jen Haire, Betsy Sexton and the moderators Neilson Andrews and Leslie Grant. For developing and assembling the Voter s Guide Barbara Crain and Caroline Seamon deserve not only our thanks but also admiration for the quality of their work. Thanks also to Ann Lee for reading and editing the Guide. Our public education effort at election time is a hallmark of the League, serves to raise our visibility and is an important public service. Judging from the lines at the polls, this election has energized much of the electorate. The work by us and others registering new citizens, eligible high school and college students and others contributes to size of the electorate and the right of every citizen to participate in this country s future. In Maryland we are fortunate that so far, we do not have laws that serve to suppress voting. In fact, one of the State questions on the ballot will allow same day registration, another step towards a universal franchise. Other encouraging developments are the number of young people and women who have elected to run for office. For example, in this year s national primaries there were 476 female house candidates, a record number. 1 Though dark money remains important, increasingly campaigns are financed by small contributions. Attention is being paid to security regarding outside interference in our elections. Only five states, Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina run their elections using direct recording electronic machines (DREs), which provide no paper trail of the votes 2. Our work is not done. Redistricting is an issue on the LWV national agenda and the subject of a Supreme Court case that involves Maryland. The way the 2020 Census will be conducted is of concern. In Maryland though felons can vote, little effort is made to register them and explain their rights. The voting rights law has been weakened. In fact, this is the first general election without some of the original protections in the law. Hacking into the voting systems continues to be a concern. The League is an important community organization in assuring fair and equable elections. We carried out that mission this election with the hard work of our members and volunteers. Thank you. WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS Marion Goodrich, Wendy Flowers, Gwen Wilson, Debbie Oppenheim, Dorothy Rosenthal, Judith Robertson, Linda Emerick, Crystal Peters 1 New York Times, May 12,

3 LWV Your League of Women Voters/ Greater League commitment through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Trust Across All Levels of the League Adapting the League Way to Current Needs Engagement, Membership, and Retention Communications DEATH WITH DIGNITY STUDY LWVMD League studies are conducted so that we may create League positions and advocacy based on facts. Once the study is researched it is presented to all leagues, in this case all Maryland Leagues. Each League votes either to endorse or oppose the conclusions of the study. In turn, our united decision determines how we proceed. Often, we end up in Annapolis, advocating our position, as we did with our local Board of Education study. Baltimore County now has a bifurcated Bd of Ed, which we voted on this month. LWVMD Death with Dignity study is now being presented to Leagues throughout Maryland. Fact sheets and supporting documents were printed in our October/November Voter and can be viewed and downloaded at Our first LWV Baltimore County Consensus meeting will be on November 30 th at 10 a.m., at Charlestown Retirement Community, Charlestown Square 116, (lobby level). The person at the desk can direct you. 715 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD Parking is as usual in the large lot across from Charlestown Square. Broadmead Retirement Community will host the second consensus meeting on January 10 th in the Stony Run board room from 10 a.m.- 12 noon. Our final Study/Consensus meeting will be scheduled for late January. Details on that meeting location will be in our December Voter. Please try to attend at least one meeting to discuss this important question as we decide whether LWVMD should endorse and advocate for a new Maryland law. GERRYMANDERING 101 Want to know more about this devious practice and learn what is needed to make our redistricting process fair? Presented by LWV Howard County & LWVMD There is still time to register and attend. All dates are listed in our calendar, page 1. Full registration information is online: For more information contact: Beth Hufnagel, info@howard.lwvmd.org 3

4 LWV BALTIMORE COUNTY COMMITTEES AND REPORTS MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP AT WORK Our New League Members party held on November 1st was a success! From left: Co-president Camille Marx, Caroline Seamon, Mindy Braiberman Epstein, Co-president Camille Wheeler, Judith Schagrin, Barbara Crain, Arlene Saks-Martin, Terri Lawler, Sharon, Janey McCarthy. Thank you, Janey, for being a wonderful host. FOCUS ON STUDENTS! Terri Lawler, Membership Chair Our student outreach efforts and partnership with Towson University remain strong! At the invitation of Towson University Chris Jensen, Director of Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, League members Barbara Crain and Tracy Miller, handed out information about Vote411.org to new and returning TU students on September 5, Chris Jensen assisted in distributing 700 copies of our Voters Guide around key areas on campus and included Vote411.org on the TU website regarding voter information. Betsy Sexton made available Vote411.org cards and information about our League at the TU sponsored debate held September 28, 2018 featuring candidates running in Legislative Districts 42 and 42A. Sharalyn Luciani and Barbara Hopkins, are working on a pilot project to update and expand our League s Face Book presence with TU Masters Business student, Gulalai Khan, and Professor Phillipe Duverger. League member, Janey McCarthy, is looking into the possibility of our League hosting a TU student intern in the future. Our League continues to look for ways to connect with students and encourage them to join us in making democracy work! The LWV of Baltimore County recently approved a pilot project to offer free membership to students while they are attending high school or an accredited two or four-year college/university program. This pilot is consistent with national and state initiatives to encourage students to join us. 4

5 HOLIDAY BRUNCH! Terri Lawler, Membership Chair PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS Don t miss out on a delicious Holiday Brunch scheduled for Saturday, December 1, 2018 from 10 a.m. to Noon at Gertrude s Chesapeake Kitchen to be followed by an optional docent tour of the Baltimore Museum of Art at 1 pm. The menu includes your choice of entrée: Back Creek Inn Crab Quiche, Challah French Toast or Highlandtown Chicken Salad. Appetizers include fresh fruit and classic beignets! Dessert will be an assortment of delicious pastries. There is a reason why Gertrude s is so highly rated. You are in for a culinary treat! We will be seated in the heated Terrace at Gertrude s and our speakers are Lois Hybl and Flo Valentine, Presidents of the Baltimore City League, who will tell us what is happening in the City League and share thoughts about how the County and City Leagues might work together on future projects. Come and bring your spouse or other family members or friends as guests! It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate accomplishments to date, socialize with friends old and new, and start off the holidays on a festive note at a lovely venue. The cost is $40 per person. Register now on-line or by mailing your check and the registration form found in this Voter to the League Office by November 26, Please let us know if you will be attending the private docent led tour of the Baltimore Museum of Art afterwards at 1 pm. Holiday Brunch Don t miss out on this fun event! OUR BOOK CLUB READS Everyone is invited to join our book club. All discussions begin at 7:30 p.m. at Betsy Sexton s home. Contact esexton2009@gmail.com for directions. Books are chosen by members and available at the public library. Discussions are open whether you ve finished reading or not. Wednesday, November 14, The President is Missing, by Bill Clinton and James Patterson The White House is the home of the President of the United States, the most guarded, monitored, closely watched person in the world. So how could a U.S. President vanish without a trace? And why would he choose to do so? An unprecedented collaboration between President Bill Clinton and the world's bestselling novelist, James Patterson, The President Is Missing is a breathtaking story from the pinnacle of power. Full of what it truly feels like to be the person in the Oval Office -- the mind-boggling pressure, the heartbreaking decisions, the exhilarating opportunities, the soul-wrenching power -- this is the thriller of the decade, confronting the darkest threats that face the world today, with the highest stakes conceivable. -- From publisher's description. 5

6 Book Club Cont. Cont. next page. Wednesday, December 19, Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan Manhattan Beach opens in Brooklyn during the Great Depression. Anna Kerrigan, nearly twelve years old, accompanies her father to the house of Dexter Styles, a man who, she gleans, is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. Years later, her father has disappeared and the country is at war. Anna works at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, where women are allowed to hold jobs that had always belonged to men. She becomes the first female diver, the most dangerous and exclusive of occupations, repairing the ships that will help America win the war. She is the sole provider for her mother, a farm girl who had a brief and glamorous career with the Ziegfeld Follies, and her lovely, severely disabled sister. At a nightclub, she chances to meet Dexter Styles again, and she begins to understand the complexity of her father's life, the reasons he might have vanished. Mesmerizing, hauntingly beautiful, with the pace and atmosphere of a noir thriller, Egan's first historical novel is a masterpiece, a deft, startling, intimate exploration of a transformative moment in the lives of women and men, America and the world. Manhattan Beach is a spectacular novel by one of the greatest writers of our time- - Provided by publisher. Wednesday, January 23, The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis What are the consequences if the people given control over our government have no idea how it works? From Publisher's description. LUNCH WITH OUR LEGISLATORS Leslie Grant Mark Your Calendar January 5, 2019 will be upon us before you know it, so mark your calendar for lunch with our Legislators before they head to Annapolis for the 2019 session. The luncheon will be held at the Woodbrook Baptist Church, 25 Stevenson Lane, We are most appreciative of Woodbrook s hospitality. This is our opportunity to meet with Legislators, old and new, in a relaxed environment. We will discuss and support the 2019 Legislative Priorities of the Maryland League of Women Voters. (More information on the priorities will be coming in next month s Voter). The flyer can be found on page 11. Bring a friend and spend a couple of hours with your Legislator on Saturday, January 5th at noon at the Woodbrook Baptist Church, 25 Stevenson Lane, Baltimore If you would like to bring a salad or dessert, please let us know ( ). Please call the office ( ) to RSVP, so we can plan for lunch. Guests are most welcome. 6

7 MEMORIUM FOR KAY TERRY It is with profound sadness that we note the September 21 st passing of our dear friend, Kay Terry, a long-time member who made important contributions to our history and success. Kay served on the Board in several positions including Secretary and First Vice-President. She was President from 1993 to Kay served on the Recycling Committee with Ruth Smith, on the State League Board and worked with the State League for campaign finance reform. Frequently at League events she contributed to the success of the League and our activities. She was gentle, soft spoken, intelligent and principled. Originally from Michigan, she is survived by a sister. A memorial gathering is being planned at Charlestown Retirement community to which League friends are invited. More information is forthcoming and will be ed or posted in our next Voter. Please contact the League office if you have questions. COMING SOON ASKING FOR YOUR HELP Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, will be here before you know it. It is a good time to think about year-end contributions. We hope that you will consider a contribution to the Baltimore County League as you make your list of contributions. We have had more expenses this year than we usually do. We have mailed and distributed the largest number of Voters Guides in the history of the League. We were able to mail them to all the newly registered voters in the county. Soon we will be mailing an updated copy of the Know Your Government Officials to our members and everyone who attended forums this year. We hope that you will consider a contribution as the end of the year approaches. You can donate through our website, just click the donate button, or send your check to the office at 6600 York Road, Suite 211, Baltimore, MD Your Board thanks you for the support. WE DID IT! We worked hard to make this election a voter s dream, voter registrations, flyers, stickers, vote411.org, social media, informative forums, publicity, road signs, poll evaluations. Special thanks to all of those energetic Leaguers who created, edited, published, distributed and promoted our Voters Guides. POST-ELECTION HOPE FROM FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. "Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country." 7

8 OF FURTHER INTEREST Although not officially a position, Leagues throughout the United States are studying the use of Marijuana in the medical world. As part of the League commitment to education, the following is an enlightening essay on medical Cannabis in our region. MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND Neilson Andrews Sixty-nine Cannabis dispensaries have received licenses throughout the state, and others will come online in the near future. Some patients are finding Cannabis a better solution than opioids or other pain medications. However, before embarking on a regimen, it is imperative that patients bone up on Cannabis, its different qualities and the different dispensaries. This is new territory and there is little information or data for patients. In early October the Baltimore County Medical Association held a panel discussion on Medical Marijuana at GBMC. The panel consisted of Edward Ehlinger, MD, MSPH, former Commissioner of Health in Minnesota and a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health; Lori Dotson, MS, MT, Deputy Director, Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC); Ryan Vandrey, PhD, Associate Professor Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Arnold Honkofsky, BS, PD, Clinical Director Wellness Institute of Maryland, Medical Marijuana Dispensary. Dr. Francisco Ward, a Medical Cannabis Certifier, moderated the panel. Patients should know that physicians cannot write prescriptions for marijuana/cannabis products without risking losing their DEA licenses. A physician recommending medical Cannabis must be a Maryland Medical Cannabis Certifier. The Commission has a list of certified providers, and a physician can send a patient to one of these. To obtain medical Cannabis, the patient and the certifier must have a bona fide physician/patient relationship, and the patient must be registered with the MMCC. Before purchasing medical Cannabis, the patient must be registered with the MMCC and must provide the Cannabis dispensary with either their photo ID or a MMCC ID. There is a $50 charge for the MMCC ID. The certification is voided after 120 days if the patient does not purchase Cannabis from a dispensary. Mr. Honkofsky reported that there are more than 100 different varieties and different strengths of Cannabis available. There is poor empirical evidence of the efficacy of the products available. He cautioned that patients need to look at the components of the Cannabis before purchasing. Dr. Vandrey cautioned that patients need to start with very small doses and go very slowly. He cautioned any patient with a family history of psychosis to be extremely careful, as there are no studies on the long- or short-term effect. Both Dr. Vandrey and Mr. Honkofsky warned that micro dosing is a must and patients should keep a diary and return to the physician within 10 days or two weeks. 8

9 Ms. Dotson reported that there are 62,000 patients registered and only 1,065 physicians/medical Certifiers. (At this time the MMCC is not allowing out-of-state patients to purchase). She also emphasized the need for empirical data from researchers. Dr. Vandrey noted that they are doing research at Hopkins, but more is needed and it is difficult to obtain funding. Also, it is impossible to do a blind study. He also indicated that it is difficult to test for the efficacy because of the half-life of Cannabis. He said their research seems to indicate that Cannabis helps most chronic pain, nausea, multiple sclerosis and some forms of insomnia and some forms of childhood epilepsy. Minnesota has the most information as they have been studying it for some time. However, Dr. Ehlinger indicated that it is still the wild west of medicine and it may be years before there is empirical data. There is a need to have a national standardized dosage. Minnesota has seen some decrease in Opioid use in the state since medical marijuana was passed. Mr. Honkofsky concurred; patients with chronic pain want to get off the opioids and have a normal life, but we don t know how many accomplish this. Dr. Ehlinger cautioned the physicians attending that Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time as the brain is developing and there is little or no research on the developmental problems Cannabis can cause. What about patients; how do they navigate medical Cannabis? I want to make it clear that I am not advocating or discouraging the medical use of Cannabis. I thought our members would find some of this information interesting and informative. First and foremost be careful and discuss medical Cannabis with your physician and the Cannabis Medical Certifier. Then comes the hard part; navigate carefully. You may have to visit more than one dispensary. You want a dispensary where the staff knows the product and is able to explain it to you. There are many ways to purchase the product and many different varieties and some forms are stronger than others. Start slowly with very small doses; keep a diary. Be careful of dispensaries that seem to be a mere place to purchase pot. If you have concerns, call the MMCC. They are there to protect both the patient and the physician. For more information visit to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission website: For research and information use the Health and Human Services website: MedChi, the Maryland Medical Society, website also has information: Advocacy Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving! 9

10 Holiday Brunch Saturday, December 1, a.m. to Noon Let s celebrate our accomplishments and socialize with friends old and new. Gertrude s Chesapeake Kitchen Baltimore Museum of Art 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, MD Speakers: LWV Baltimore City Co-Presidents, Lois Hybl & Flo Valentine Learn how our leagues work together and how you can help make Democracy Work! Feel free to bring your spouse or a guest! Cost for the brunch is $40 per person and includes brunch and optional BMA docent led tour at 1 p.m. Reservations required! Reservation deadline: must be received by November 26 th. Two ways to sign up: Sign up online: Use the link on our homepage, Mail your check: and the form below to the office: Checks should be payable to The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County, Inc. Questions: Terri Lawler, talawler@gmail.com or League office, Name(s): Reservation Form for LWV Baltimore County Holiday Brunch (10-12) and BMA Tour (1 p.m.). Saturday, December 1, 2018 (registration due by November 26 th ) Address: phone: (H) (C) Number attending: X $40 = Number attending 1 p.m. docent tour: Checks should be payable to The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County, Inc. Mail to: LWV Baltimore County, 6600 York Road, Suite 211, Baltimore, MD

11 Annual LWV Baltimore County Legislative Luncheon Saturday, January 5, noon to 2 p.m. Woodbrook Baptist Church 25 Stevenson Lane, Baltimore Participate in our legislative luncheon where league members connect with our Baltimore County Delegation, State Delegates and Senators. There will be time for members and their guests to ask questions of their legislators. Lunch provided; Guests welcome! Please RSVP to the League office to help us plan effectively ; lwvbaltimore@comcast.net

12 LWV BALTIMORE COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Co-Presidents: Camille Marx, Camille Wheeler 1 st Vice President: Neilson Andrews 2 nd Vice President: Jennifer Haire Secretary & Website: Sheila Maleson Treasurer: Barbara Dezmon Elected Directors: Barbara Crain, Leslie Grant, Barbara Hopkins, Theresa Lawler, Jane McCarthy, Ralph Rigger, Caroline Seamon, Elizabeth Sexton, Barbara Ensor, Barbara Simmons Newsletter: Sharalyn Luciani Office Manager: Wilma Rosenberger Not a member yet? Join today! Call the office: Visit: League of Women Voters of Baltimore County 6600 York Road, Suite 211 Baltimore, MD Return service requested. LEAGUE OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 10a.m.-1p.m. Office Manager, Wilma Rosenberger lwvbaltimore@comcast.net