League of Women Voters Arlington, Massachusetts

Transcription

1 October 2009 Friday 10/2 noon to 1 pm Monday 10/12 7 pm Wednesday 10/14 7 pm Wednesday 10/28 6:30 to 8:45 pm Friday 11/6 noon to 1 pm League of Women Voters Arlington, Massachusetts Calendar October First Friday Lunch with Joe Connelly, Director of Recreation for the Town, at Carma Forgie s home, 11 Stony Brook Road. All are welcome. LWVA Board Meeting at Phyllis Maddox s home, 55 Hillside Ave. All members welcome. Let s Talk Trash, program sponsored by LWV of Concord-Carlisle, at Concord Academy Chapel, 166 Main St., Concord. Details on page 8. LWVMA Board Meeting, Community Room, Robbins Library Lower Level, 700 Massachusetts. Ave. League members from Arlington and other towns welcome. Details on page 5. November First Friday Lunch with Ruth Yannetti, Recycling Coordinator, at Carma Forgie s home, 11 Stony Brook Road. All are welcome. Wednesday 11/18 8 pm Voter registration deadline for State Primary. Tuesday 12/8 State Primary for special election to fill U.S. Senate vacancy. Wednesday 12/30 8 pm Voter registration deadline for State Election. Tuesday 1/19 State Election to fill U.S. Senate vacancy. Carolyn Parsons and Angela Olszewski: Co-Presidents CarolynMParsons@msn.com, amolszewski@gmail.com Ann FitzGerald: Membership AnnFitz@rcn.com Kim Haase: Bulletin Editor c.haase@comcast.net Margaret Reiners: Bulletin Mailing mlreiners@gmail.com

2 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 2 Co-President s Message In an effort to involve local Leagues in state League issues, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts will be holding its October board meeting at the Robbins Library on October 28. (See calendar, and article on page 5.) One topic on the agenda will be the planning for a series of candidate forums across the state for the special election to fill the U. S. Senate seat. (See article on page 7.) Please come to hear the discussion and maybe volunteer to participate. Joe Donnelly, Recreation Director, will be our First Friday luncheon speaker on October 2. Bring a sandwich/salad; beverages are provided. Also bring your questions about programs, funding, etc. The luncheons are informal and always interesting. If you would like a ride, please give me a call at Carolyn Parsons Directions to Phyllis Maddox s home: 55 Hillside Ave. is between Appleton St. and Florence Ave. Follow Mass. Ave. to Park Ave. in Arlington Heights. Take Park toward Rt. 2 for 2 blocks to Appleton. Turn right on Appleton for one block to Hillside, then turn left on Hillside. 55 is the 3rd house on the right with a front porch and a large yew bush in the front yard. If you are coming down Park Avenue from the south, take a left on Florence, then the first right on Hillside. 55 is about 8 houses down on your left. LWVA LEADERSHIP Carolyn Parsons, Co-President Angela Olszewski, Co-President Meredith Zona, Organization VP Patricia Muldoon, Action VP Patricia Lieberson, Local Action VP Kathleen Colwell, Treasurer Anne Linn, Secretary Ann FitzGerald, Membership Director Deborah Sirotkin Butler, Publicity Carma Forgie, Speaker Series Katharine Fennelly, Voters Guide Kim Haase, Bulletin Editor Margaret Reiners, Bulletin Mailing Janice Bakey, Coordinator Phyllis Maddox, Webmistress The BULLETIN is published monthly except during the summer and December by the League of Women Voters of Arlington, PO Box 461, Arlington, MA

3 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 3 Town Day By Carolyn Parsons The day started off rather chilly but warmed up within an hour. Massachusetts Avenue was chaotic; no one was obeying the rules of the road. A car was parked at our booth site; the owner was among the missing. Phyllis Maddox and I unloaded the car; I went to park my car and, when I returned, the missing car owner had moved her car to another spot. Having a canopy is a necessity; having some height to put up the canopy is also a necessity. Not to worry, help was given by a lovely young woman giving out information about the Mystic River Watershed Association. A number of people indicated their interest in the League by participating in a raffle of League items, books about the history of Arlington, and notecards of scenes in Arlington. Maybe some will actually join the League! League members Lenore Winkler, Elizabeth Blumenthal, Ann FitzGerald, Anne Linn, Meredith Zona, Kim Haase, Clare Gordon, Patricia Muldoon, and Patricia Lieberson distributed League information and registered citizens to vote. The League is most appreciative. Lenore Winkler, Carolyn Parsons, and Angela Olszewski at the League booth on Town Day, September 26. Photo by Phyllis Maddox

4 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 4 FITNESS FIRST Arlington s Neighborhood Health Club Since Mass. Ave. Arlington (781) Club Hours: M-F 5:30 am to 10 pm, S-S 8 am to 6 pm LEONE & LEONE ATTORNEYS AT LAW A GENERAL PRACTICE LAW FIRM EXPERIENCED IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AND PROBATE MATTERS ALSO CONCENTRATING IN: CONDO CONVERSION - WILLS AND TRUSTS ESTATE PLANNING - GUARDIANSHIPS PROBATE MATTERS - BUSINESS LAW DAVID A. LEONE JOHN D. LEONE SUZANNE M. LEONE 637 Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA (Tel) (Fax) John@LeoneLaw.com Initial Free Consultation for League Members

5 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 5 Library Board Thanks League Donors By Katharine Fennelly Earlier in the year, an appeal was made to LWV members to support a fundraising drive to open the Library on Sundays. On behalf of the Trustees of Robbins Library, I would like to thank our generous LWV donors for their contributions. Together League members contributed over $1200! That is enough to pay for a whole Sunday. The Robbins Library will be open on Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM starting October 4th, thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses in the community. So far we have been able to raise 60% of what we will need to keep the library open on Sunday for the School year, but we still have a ways to go. The library had been open on Sundays intermittently over the last 30 years using grant funding. Because of reductions in municipal and state funding several years ago, the Robbins Library was forced to cut back hours including Sundays. Sunday was always a very popular day with families and individuals who found that afternoon to be a very convenient time to utilize the library s vast resources. The Board of Trustees intends to continue fundraising so that Sundays can also be offered through June, Anyone interested in contributing should make checks payable to the Friends of the Robbins Library. To make a donation online by credit card or by using Pay- Pal, go to: Contributions are tax deductible. Kathy Fennelly is Chair of the Robbins Board of Trustees and a longtime LWV member. League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Board to Meet in Arlington October 28 To help forge stronger connections between the State League, local Leagues, and communities, the LWVMA has asked local Leagues to host State Board meetings this year. The League of Women Voters of Arlington will host the October meeting. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Community Room on the lower level of Robbins Library, 700 Massachusetts Ave. Refreshments will be served from 6:30 to 7 p.m. This will be a great opportunity for local League members and friends to see how the State Board works.

6 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 6 KESHIAN & REYNOLDS ATTORNEYS AT LAW Arlington s Community Television Station Salutes the League of Women Voters Park Avenue Arlington, MA Richard Keshian Francis T. Reynolds A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION 1040 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, ARLINGTON COST EFFECTIVE, QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES SINCE 1958 To advertise in the Bulletin, call or Kim Haase , c.haase@comcast.net

7 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 7 League of Women Voters to Sponsor Candidate Forums for U.S. Senate Special Election The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts will sponsor a series of candidate forums across the state in the special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Sen. Edward Kennedy. The League encourages all candidates in the special election to participate in the statewide forums. The dates and locations will be announced later, but the Massachusetts League expects to sponsor at least three forums in different parts of the state and to work with a broadcast partner to televise the forums. "The League of Women Voters has historically provided a neutral venue for all the candidates in local, state and national elections to be seen and heard by all voters," said Zaxaro Bennett, president. "The upcoming special Senate election is of critical importance to the citizens of Massachusetts, and the League hopes that all of the candidates for this office will participate in these statewide candidates' nights," she said. In the special election to fill the Fifth Congressional District seat vacated by Rep. Martin Meehan in 2007, the Leagues of Women Voters in that district's towns worked together to sponsor both primary and general election candidates' nights featuring all of the candidates. On a national level, the League of Women Voters sponsored debates between the presidential and vice-presidential candidates from 1976 through the 1984 election. After 1984, the national Democratic and Republican parties jointly decided to move sponsorship of those debates to a Commission on Presidential Debates which the parties created. The League of Women Voters declined to participate any longer in the presidential debates because of the rules and restrictions the Commission placed on the debates and because of control by the major party candidates' campaigns over the process. Following the presidential debates last fall, many commentators expressed the desire that the non-partisan League again begin sponsoring debates. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization. The League encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues. For more information on the state and local Leagues, see the website,

8 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 8 LWVMA News: Phonathon Under Way The LWVMA's Annual Phonathon Campaign has begun. This year our theme is "90 for 90" in celebration of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts 90th birthday coming up on May 27, Our Phonathon goal is $90,000, or $1,000 for each year the League has been defending democracy in Massachusetts. Everything the League has accomplished so far has been a team effort and raising the funds to continue our work is no different. Thank you for being part of the League team. Our continued success depends on all of us. Phonathon calling by local Leagues will take place from October 12th until November 1st. This year we are offering local Leagues maximum flexibility in how they set up their calling. Some may choose to meet at a single location to make calls. Others may divide up the pledge slips and ask members to call at their own convenience. Each League will receive its own members to call, plus a selection of other potential League donors and supporters from around the state. Local Leagues will receive 15% of the funds raised during the calling period, in addition to a bonus of $1 for each credit card contribution. The same share will go to your League for those who donate before October 2nd. If you re interested in helping with the Arlington phonothon, please contact Angela Olszewski, , or amolszewski@gmail.com. Concord-Carlisle League To Sponsor Climate Change Series The League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle is co-sponsoring an engaging set of evening programs on climate change issues, Life in the Balance: A Public Forum Series. Please plan to attend Let's Talk Trash on Wed., October 14, 7pm at the Concord Academy Chapel. Let's Talk Trash will trace the life cycle of trash and its impact on our resources, environment and economy. Learn why trash is trouble and how we can dig our way out from under its growing piles. The program features keynote speaker Lynne Pledger (Sierra Club Zero Waste Committee; Don't Waste Massachusetts) and a panel including State Rep. Cory Atkins, Brooke Nash (MassDEP), Ann Dorfman (consultant and former Concord official), and Amy Perlmutter (consultant and former official in numerous posts around the U.S.) Concord Academy is located at 166 Main St. in Concord, and parking is available on Main Street. All programs in the series are free and open to the public. Life in the Balance: A Public Forum Series is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle, ConcordCAN (Concord Climate Action Network), Carlisle Climate Action and Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community Education. For more information, visit Green_Initiatives@lwvcc.com, or call Future talks will take place in November and January.

9 October 2009 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 9 We welcome new members at all times. Contact Ann Fitzgerald, annfitz@rcn.com, if you have any questions. LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ARLINGTON Membership Application/Renewal Form **Fiscal Year runs from April 1 to March 31** Name Precinct Date Address Zip Occupation Telephone Please indicate if you do NOT want your contact information sent to Arlington League members Basic Membership Dues.. $50 2nd member in household.. $23 Student (full-time).. $20 Contribution to help the LWV in Arlington, add $ TOTAL ENCLOSED $ If $50 is a hardship, please pay what you can and let us know that this is your dues payment. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: League of Women Voters of Arlington MAIL TO: Kathy Colwell, 60 Claremont Ave., Arlington, MA *********************************************************************************** Please check areas of interest and activity even if you can t be actively involved THIS year. SPECIAL LEAGUE ACTIVITIES FOLLOW ISSUES, KEEP LEAGUE Join the Board. Position: AND COMMUNITY INFORMED Action: phone calls letters Congress/Presidency/Election Process Bulletin: mailing soliciting ads Discrimination/Equal Employment/Civil Rights Membership Education/Child Care Nominating Committee Environment/Recycling Publicity Writer Health Care Voter Service: Rides to the polls Justice/Courts/Prisons Candidates Night Land Use Voters Guide Taxation/Budgets/Deficits Attend State League s Phonothon Transportation/Urban Policy Be a discussion leader at local meetings Voting Rights Fundraising activities Warrant Articles Review Offer meeting refreshments Welfare Policies/Basic Human Needs Post fliers and deliver brochures Women s Issues Host a meeting in my home Zoning/Community Development/Land Use Monitor elections for nonprofit organizations SKILLS LEAGUE COULD DRAW ON OBSERVE AT Computer database Fundraising TOWN BOARD MEETINGS* Graphic design Writing articles Selectmen (Mondays) Desktop publishing Other Redevelopment Board (Mondays) Web site maintenance School Committee (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) Membership development Conservation Commission (1st & 3rd Thurs.) Moderating meetings Housing Authority BEST TIME TO CALL YOU: (for phone tree reminders) Call before o clock *Some of these can be seen on cable TV

10 First Friday Lunches of Begin The season of League of Women Voters First Friday Lunches begins on Friday, October 2, 2009 with Joseph Connelly, Director of Recreation. On Friday, November 6, the speaker will be Ruth Yannetti, Recycling Coordinator. The Friday brown bag lunches are sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Arlington. The Friday Lunch Discussion Series is held at the home of Carma and Jim Forgie at 11 Stony Brook Road in Arlington. Beverages will be provided by the hosts to accompany brown bag lunches brought by those attending. On street parking is available near the Forgie home. For additional information, call Clare Gordon at Information is also available online at Directions to Carma Forgie s house: From Arlington Center, take Jason Street towards Route 2. Bear left onto Hillsdale Road at island opposite entrance to Menotomy Rocks Park, keep to left at fork in road, and take next left onto Stony Brook Road. Carma s house is on the right in the cul-desac at the end of the street. League of Women Voters of Arlington Post Office Box 461 Arlington, MA October 2009