NEW DAY AND TIME FOR MONTHLY LEAGUE MEETINGS; BIG CHANGES FOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KERN COUNTY

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1 A PUBLICATION OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KERN COUNTY SEPTTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2017 NEW DAY AND TIME FOR MONTHLY LEAGUE MEETINGS; BIG CHANGES FOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KERN COUNTY This year your League is making some dynamic changes in our programs and meeting dates. We are moving from the third Wednesday evening of the month to the 2 nd Saturday morning (except September meeting will be the third Saturday). Time will be 8:15am, Breakfast 8:30am. Cost $15. Program emphases will be Hot Topics, current citizen concerns about events happening in Kern County. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: September 16 th Community/Police Relations Joey Williams October 14 th, November 11 th, December 9 th, January 13 th, February 10 th, March 10 th, April 14 th and May 12 th the Annual Meeting. If you have an issue you would like the League to address, please let any of our board members know. -Lois Watson SEPTEMBER 16 TH HOT TOPIC: THE DILEMMA OF POLICING IN KERN COUNTY: WHERE ARE WE AND HOW DID WE GET HERE? Faith in the Valley leader, Joey Williams will join us on September 16 th for an exploration into the policies and practices of policing here in Kern and particularly, in Bakersfield. Faith in the Valley and its community partners believe a different, better future is possible for the Central Valley if we work together. A future in which everyone is included, treated as sacred, has a chance to thrive and live a healthy, decent life. A future in which no one is seen as less than or lives in fear because of the color of their skin, their legal status, or the amount of money they earn. A future where everyone has access to good jobs, clean air, clean water, alternatives to incarceration, quality healthcare, and safe neighborhoods.(cont. p. 2) IN THIS ISSUE President s Message 2 Sept. 16 th Hot Topic (cont.) 2 Hot Topics Program 3 October 14th Hot Topic 3 Bakersfield Loses Icon 3 Sponsors 5 Calendar 6

2 President s Message At the Annual Meeting last May, Mary Helen Barro was elected president for the term. Due to a conflict of interest, she had to resign the position at eh Aug. 28 th LWV Board meeting. Paula De La Riva was appointed by the Board to fill the position in line with the Bylaws. Mary Helen was appointed as a Board Member. I didn t anticipate enough time for Paula to write a message for this issue of the Voter. I did get a picture to post. I apologize for the cropping job I did. Paula will have a message for you in the next issue of the VOTER. Let s welcome her as our new president! Pam Baugher! SEPTEMBER 16 TH HOT TOPIC, cont. As part of the national Live Free campaign, Faith in the Valley is advancing efforts to promote alternatives to incarceration and to end racial profiling and the criminalization of black and brown young people. Leaders in several of our counties have built support for the implementation of 21st Century Policing and are currently organizing for independent review and investigation of deadly force and other mechanisms to improve transparency and accountability among law enforcement. Here in Kern, Faith in the Valley leaders have successfully secured the commitment of the Bakersfield Police Department to begin implementation of 21st Century Policing, building on our community s eight-year history of working with the Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership. This initiative includes advocating for more diverse hiring of police officers, implicit bias training, and greater accountability and transparency, including advancing investigation and review of deadly force. The September 16 th, Saturday, general BREAKFAST meeting begins at 8:15 a.m. at Hodels, 5917 Knudsen Drive. Reservations are necessary by noon Wednesday, September 14. Breakfast is $15. Call the League Line, , or Jill Egland at jegland@gmail.com. Those who wish to attend only the program may do so at no cost and should plan to arrive at 8:45 a.m. As always, guests are welcome. Jill Egland HELP OUR LEAGUE GROW, BRING A FRIEND TO A MEETING! 2

3 HOT TOPICS WITH THE LEAGUE: PROGRAM CALENDAR FOCUSES IN ON THE LOCAL ISSUES ON MOST PEOPLE S MINDS With the national policy landscape changing as rapidly as it is, Kern is finding itself with many new and complex decisions to make. LWVKC s monthly meeting, Hot Topic Saturday, will be a time to take on these topics as they emerge, identify the various threads of the issue, and explore the ramifications for our community. Hot Topic Saturday will allow us to engage in dialogue with the people most in the know; and get into the kind of back-and-forth conversation needed to truly understand another s perspective. Topics in the works: 21 st Century Policing, Justice and the Prison System, Cannabis as a Community Economic Development Strategy, Engaging Voters in a Time of Apathy, The Prognosis of Local Newspapers, Hunger on our Local College Campuses. Have a topic you d like to see us dive into? Contact Jill Egland, jill.e@uwkern.org. Our new program year of monthly gatherings will also have a new day and a new time: Beginning in October, our meetings will be held the second Saturday of the month at Hodel s, 8:15am 11:30am. This month will be the exception to the rule, however, and our meeting will take place on September 16 th. -Jill Egland OCTOBER 14 TH HOT TOPIC Due to scheduling conflicts, our October speaker had to cancel. At this time, we do not have a replacement. As soon as we do have a speaker, an will be sent to you. If you don t have , you either will receive a phone call or a postcard. Please keep the date calendared. There will be a program. Pam Baugher BAKERSFIELD AND LOCAL LEAGUE LOSE AN ICON With the passing of Milt Younger this summer, our entire community lost a true Man for All Seasons. Milt and Betty, his wife, have left their thumbprints on many aspects of Kern County. Whether it was politics, symphony, supporting young artists, the KCLWV, etc., Milt was there with his presence and his checkbook. He truly wanted the best for the community. Milt, you will be sorely missed! -Pam Baugher 3

4 Join the Nation of the well protected. Get a quote today from: MARY HELEN BARRO CA - license #0H66986, AZ, NV, OR Mountain Pacific Ins. and Financial Services th St., Ste. 103 Bakersfield, CA barrom1@nationwide.com wwwmtn-pacific.com Auto. Home. Life. Business. Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Company and Affiliated Companies, Columbus, Ohio. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review and approval. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPO-0194M1.1 (09/14) PAID ADVERTiSEMENT League of Women Voters of Kern County PO Box 132 Bakersfield, CA League Line (661) hawksheart@sbcglobal.net Paula De La Riva, President Jill Egland, 1st Vice President Lois Watson, 2nd Vice President Terri Stanton, Secretary Patti Jepsen Treasurer Pam Baugher, Voter Editor Directors Anna Poggi Mary Helen Barro Irene Heath Elaine McNearney Tracey LaMonica The LWVKC in both its values and practices affirms its belief in the commitment to diversity and pluralism. Voting membership is open to all citizens of voting age (18 years); associate membership is open to non-citizens and citizens under the age of 18. Our activities in the community are open to everyone. 4

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6 League of Women Voters of Kern County PO Box 132 Bakersfield, CA SEPTEMBER 16 TH (SATURDAY) MEETING DILEMMA OF POLICING IN OUR COMMUNITY HODEL S, 8:15 AM Calendar Aug 28 - Monday, 5:30 pm. LWVKC Board meeting, Beale Library. September 16 - SATURDAY, 8:15 AM, General meeting. Dilemma of Policing In Our Community, Hodel s Knudsen. Reservations due by noon, Wednesday, September 13. October 2 - Monday, 5:30 pm. LWVKC Board meeting, Beale October 14 SATURDAY, 8:15 AM., General meeting. Topic to be determined, Hodel s Knudsen. Reservations due by noon, Wednesday, October 11. November 6 - Monday, 5:30 pm. LWVKC Board meeting, Beale Reminder: General meetings are usually on the second Saturday of the month. If you need transportation to a meeting, please leave that message on the League Line