CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE

Transcription

1 The Kent County Voter P.O. Box 374 Chestertown, MD CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE July-August 2016 Vol. 40, No. 6

2 League of Women Voters of Kent County, Maryland, Inc Officers President Sandra Bjork 110 Birch Run Rd., Chestertown, ; 1 st Vice President Nancy Smith P.O. Box 715, Rock Hall nd Vice President Barbara Flook Lovely Lane, Chestertown ; Secretary George Shivers 116 School Rd., Chestertown ; Treasurer, Webmaster Lillian Zelinski 5960 Lawton Ave. Rock Hall, MD Rock Hall, MD Cell: ; Directors Margie Baker 220 Calvert St., Chestertown Betty Barbe P.O. Box 83, Massey , Lynn Dollinger Tolchester Beach Road, Chestertown, Juliana Dulmage 501 E. Campus Ave., Apt. 203 Chestertown, , Jane Hardy 6023 Lawson Ave. Rock Hall, MD ; Frances Miller 221 Birch Run Rd., Chestertown ; Linda Reed 110 Oak Leaf Drive Chestertown, MD Bobby Sutton P.O. Box 475 Chestertown, MD ; 2

3 Events Calendar Tuesday, August 9 Building LWVKC Board Meeting, Kent County Public Library, Yellow Message from the President June and early July have been busy and interesting for the Kent League. Details of our Board retreat, the LWVUS Convention in Washington, and our participation in the Rock Hall July 4th parade appear elsewhere in the Voter. I hope that you are resting and staying cool in this typical Maryland summer so that you will be energized and enthusiastic as we move forward this fall in this important election campaign. Best, Sandra Board Retreat On June 14 th, our treasurer, Lillian Zelinski, opened her home again to the Board to provide and idyllic setting for the Board retreat with its delightful view of the Rock Hall harbor. A lovely June day completed the picture. Board members confirmed their portfolios for the coming year: Membership Margie Baker and Juli Dulmage Agriculture, Education Betty Barbe Corresponding Secretary Betty Barbe Education Linda Reed Education Barb Flook Transportation, State Board Jane Hardy Historian (Scrapbook) Francie Miller Voter Service George Shivers and Lynn Dolinger (Bjork & Smith assisting) Secretary (Recording) George Shivers Arrangements/Events Bobby Sutton Communications/Webmaster Lillian Zelinski Publicity vacant 3

4 Among the items discussed for the upcoming program year were efforts to increase membership and member participation as well as League activities relating to the election. One of the ideas that was considered and will be developed was a Celebrate the Vote event that might include a showing of Iron Jawed Angels, a possible interview on WTCR and Trader ads leading up to National Voter Registration Day on September 27 th. Candidate forums will be held for the Kent County Board of Education and the 1 st Congressional District. The Congressional forum will depend on acceptance and appearance of at least two of the candidates on the ballot. The Kent League will, as requested, decorate the Library window in October. The theme will emphasize voting and the importance of every vote. The Kent and Queen Anne s Leagues are pleased to host the 2017 LWVMD state convention at Washington College. The Board received a report on the current status of the event from Jane Hardy, and initial planning for the event was discussed. 4

5 The 2016 Corr Award The League was pleased to have had two equally qualified applicants for the 2016 Corr Award. Linda Reed presented both Ahmani Johnson and Lakesia Wright with awards of $500 each on Awards Day. She read thank you notes from each of the girls at the Board Retreat. Ahmani Johnson was inducted into the National Honor Society. She also played field hockey and lacrosse. She volunteered at the Kent Center and worked at Heron Point. She is going to attend the University of Maryland in the fall and plans to study criminology. Lakeshia Wright was also inducted into the National Honor Society and was part of the STEM program since 7th grade. Like Ahmani she played field hockey and volunteered at the Kent Center. She is going to attend the University of Maryland in the fall and study biology. She plans to be a dentist. LWVUS National Convention Making Democracy Work for All, June Leaguers from most of the states, along with Puerto Rico and the Pacific Islands grew the attendance to more than 1,500 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Sandra Bjork and Nancy Smith attended the 52 nd LWVUS National Convention in Washington from Friday afternoon through to closing. As the theme indicates, speakers from various voter advocacy organizations spoke about their challenges and activities to ensure voting rights. The programs adopted for included the campaign to make democracy work, positions on redistricting and behavioral health. A summary of LWVUS public policy positions is available at The keynote speaker was Wylecia Wiggs Harris, the new executive director of LWVUS, who outlined the steps being considered to update, streamline, and increase membership of the League. Friday concluded with a hilarious presentation by the Capitol Steps, poking fun at the leaders and candidates in this election cycle. Speakers on Saturday were Peter Overby, NPR correspondent and Joe Goldman, president of Democracy Fund, whose topic was Our Democracy Complex Systems and Major Forces at Play in The major item of business was the presentation and adoption of bylaws changes. 5

6 The most significant and contentious were proposed changed to Membership. Changes approved were Citizens to Persons and at least 18 years of age to at least 16 years of age. The bylaws of our local League have been changed to conform with National. President Elizabeth MacNamara challenged the attendees to consider how the League, in the current campaign, could continue advocate for principles of civility, fairness, and honesty without appearing to have abandon it traditional stance of nonpartisanship. The convention had a period of open discussion that indicated those present generally felt that it was part of the League s responsibility to speak to those values. Speaking points on this issue will be coming from National in the near future. Leaguers should always preface comments with, The League does not support candidates or political parties. On Sunday, the budget was approved with the PMP being held to its current level. Elizabeth MacNamara and the outgoing board were celebrated and honored, and Chris Carson was welcomed as the new president along with the incoming board. Attending the 2016 National convention was enlightening and much enjoyed. Nancy and Sandy with other representatives from Maryland Leagues at the National Convention 6

7 Nancy and Sandy at the Convention Nancy and Sandy with Susan B. Anthony July 4 th Parade in Rock Hall An enthusiastic group of Kent Leaguers marched in the Rock Hall parade on Independence Day and received a rousing welcome all along the route. 7

8 Jeep in staging area with Emeritus Members, Betty Kerr & Elaine Naper. Also in picture, Alice Ritchie & John LaFerla Marchers of all ages! A good time was had by all! 8