Bulletin
League of Women Voters of Greater
1941 South 42 Street
Suite 501
Omaha, NE 68105-2945
Phone: 402-344-3701
League of Women
Voters of Greater Omaha August, 2006
A non-partisan political organization open to all citizens 18
years of age or older Volume 49
No 2
THIRD
ANNUAL SHRIMP FEED, AUGUST 21, 2006
4:30
to 8:30 p.m.
Surfside
Club
4
miles north of the Mormon Bridge on North River Road
LWVGO
will hold the 3rd Annual Shrimp Feed Fundraiser on Monday, August 21, (rain
date August 28) at the Surfside Club. Last year the event was a great
success. It provided an opportunity for food, fun, and fellowship, and it
raised significant operating funds for our organization. We hope this
year will be even better.
The Shrimp Feed is open to
the general public as well as to League members, their families and
friends. Tickets are $12.00. The meal includes a generous portion
of shrimp with several side dishes. And don't forget the ambience of the
Surfside Club!. If you've never been to this Omaha "classic,"
this is the perfect opportunity. The Missouri River setting makes for a
great casual evening.
Directions: From
To make the event a
success, we need as many members as possible to help. There are lots of
ways to get involved. We'll need ticket takers, food runners, and
clean-up crew the night of the event.
We'll need help with advertising and promotion and with baking
desserts. Most all, we'll need
help selling tickets! You have recently received a packet of
information about the shrimp feed and a few tickets to sell. While no one
is required to sell tickets, we hope that everyone will choose to buy tickets
to use personally and to sell tickets to friends and neighbors. The meal
is a good value, and the success of the event is very important to the
financial health of the League.
If you want to volunteer to
help with the event, please contact the LWV at 344-3701 and leave your contact
information on the voicemail. A caller
will be contacting all members soon for help with desserts and working.
See
you on August 21.
HELP
WRITE VOTERS’ GUIDE QUESTIONS
A
group of us will start writing fall Voters’ Guide questions on Wednesday,
August 16 at 9:30 a.m. in the League Office.
If you wish to be included, please let Annette Conser know. Bring a sack lunch if you wish.
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
Wednesday, August 9, 2006, 11:30 a.m., League
Office, Speakers Bureau Meeting
Thursday, August 10, 9:30 a.m., League
office. LWVGO board meeting. All members welcome.
Tuesday, August 15: Deadline for September Bulletin.
Wednesday, August 16, 9:30 a.m., League
Office: Write Voters’ Guide questions
Monday, August 21: Annual SHRIMP FEED. See above.
Saturday,
September 16: Morning bus tour regarding
urban flooding and NRD dams in Washington County. See page 2.
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
I
would like to thank LWVGO for the opportunity to attend the “Meeting in the
Middle”, the 47th National Convention in Minneapolis. Two other members from our local League and I
just returned after four inspiring, motivational and hard-working days. We attended training workshops, plenary
sessions and caucuses, planning LWVUS
Program involving many issues surrounding public policy, education, immigration,
finance to mention but a few. Though
there were opportunities to stray and visit some of the attractions in
Minneapolis, we stayed the course and there was no hooky played in the Omaha
delegation!! You will hear more about
this in the coming months.
Dr.
Thomas Mann from The Brookings Institution provided the opening address and
referred to “mutualism”. It is in
collaboration with others and using differences to help one another that groups
accomplish their mission. We create new
ideas through different people, innovate, find new wealth that we accomplish
what we set out to do. It occurred to me
that he was validating the League's abilities to do all of these things. That's where we shine!
Delegates
debated many of the critical issues facing citizens across the nation,
including immigration reform, the erosion of civil liberties, the need for
redistricting reform, and voting systems in which voters have confidence. Delegates set the LWVUS program agenda for
the next 2 years, voting to study Immigration Policy and called for the
Abolition of the Death Penalty. We listened
to a discussion of the Courts System that emphasized how vital and strong our
third branch of government is.
Mary
Wilson, new National President elected by the more than 700 delegates, urged
delegates to build on their strength as leaders promoting citizen participation
in public affairs.
Back
to LWVGO, we are updating the yearbook, so please make sure that Hedy Ahlvers
has all of your current information, including your e-mail address. LWVUS stressed the importance of providing
e-mail addresses by ALL members for communication purposes.
Have
a good summer and see you at the Shrimp Feed on August 21st. This will be a great opportunity for all
League members to be involved! We need
your help!!
Barbara
Tripp
TENTATIVE
MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS FOR 2006-2007
Mark
your calendars for upcoming meetings and programs for 2006-2007. Some programs are still in the planning. More details will follow in the next
bulletin.
Saturday, September 16 - Morning
bus tour regarding urban flooding and NRD dams in
Thursday, October 19th, 11:30 a.m.
- 2nd District Congressional Debate at the Omaha Press Club.
November - Possible forum on the
immigration issue.
Thursday, December 14, 11:30 a.m.
- Luncheon at Field Club
Speaker: W. Cecil Steward, President & CEO
of Sustainable Design
Topic: Sustainable Development: “What Does It
Mean to the Omaha/Council Bluffs/Lincoln Metroplex?”
Thursday, January 18th - Program
Planning meeting
Thursday, February 15th -
Luncheon location to be announced.
Speaker: Linda Duckworth will give us an overview of Susan B. Anthony.
Thursday, March 15th - City
County Merger study discussion.
April
- The Annual Meeting
AIN'T IT SO
Hard work spotlights the character of people:
some turn up their
sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all. -- Sam
Ewing
JEANETTE
SMITH RECEIVES “MAKE A DIFFERENCE” AWARD
The
International Relations Committee of the League of Women Voters of Greater
Omaha has experienced many very successful meetings during the past six years
due to the responsible reliability of Jeanette Smith. Jeanette volunteered to communicate with each
member prior to every meeting and remind them of the content of the agenda for
the program. The members appreciate this
special effort on behalf of Jeanette to ensure that we have a well-attended
meeting and to best utilize the time of our guest speaker by doing some
background reading about the topic for discussion.
We
are all busy people and yet very interested in the Chairperson’s efforts to
relate to the concerns in achieving a very productive and well attended
meeting. Jeanette emphasizes the
necessity to be prepared to discuss and challenge the numerous ideas that
permeate each meeting. She is also
personally prepared, through electronic research, to contribute to the varied
opinions that keep our meetings stimulating.
Congratulations
for years of service to the League and to this committee. “The Jefferson Cup” is a recognition that you
have earned with our pleasure.
Tessie
O. Edwards, IRC Committee Chairperson
PRESIDENT'S
REPORT, JULY 13, 2006-Barbara Tripp
I
know summer is thought to be laid back and taking it easy, but LWVGO does not
listen to that idea!
Peg
Adair and Pat Hansen participated in the Urban League Expo in June; they registered
17 voters and passed out information on “Why I Should Vote” to people who were
reluctant to register. They received
many positive comments about League.
People spoke highly of the Voters' Guide and how they look forward to
the next issue. They also commended on
the “good work” the League does and what a value we are to the community. They felt it was successful event from the
perspective that the League got some visibility.
Other
things in the works:
-
Annual Shrimp Feed Aug. 21, 2006;
-
Program Planning for 2006-07;
-
Nancy Shugrue has accepted the position as Yearbook Editor. She is hard at work as this is being written;
-
Debate training for LWVGO and the State League.
- Membership Recruitment Initiative
endorsed at the Convention. Through the
project, five Leagues will test messaging and recruitment materials, as well as
receive technical assistance. The
information learned from the initiative will be shared throughout the
organization to help all Leagues recruit new members and strengthen our
grassroots network. The five pilot
Leagues will be chosen through an application process. More to follow.
VICE
PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATION-Sharon Conlon
Convention
Report
“I
have learned the difference between a cactus and a caucus. On a cactus, the
pricks are on the outside” -Rep. Morris K. Udall (D-AZ). In the workshop
“Getting Your League Attention in a Crowded, Non-Stop Marketplace” their advice
was “when you write for the media, pay close attention to your 1st 7 words, so
I used 20 and I bet that got your attention.
Here
are some other random thoughts and lessons I've gleaned from the Convention.
I've
learned League is a series of steps with interesting company along the way. I
am astonished how far I have traveled up the long learning curve of how
government and League works in my 2 short years with League. From: “stop
kvetching and do something”, to sending in dues, going to a first meeting,
volunteering with the thought “even I can do that”, till I'm on the board and
attending National Convention!
Few foundations fund what League does.
League needs to encourage active participation
in government for all citizens, not just our members. Make sure what we're
doing speaks to the community.
Our activities and projects should have impact
& visibility; otherwise skip them.
Convention
helped me see the Big Picture. I felt a sense of pride in the 1000 women and
men from 49 states, all interested and working for my same goals: to be
informed and participate in government.
Now when I get the e-mail alerts, I can put a face on the National Board
members and I can hear president Mary Wilson speaking the printed words. I met
a lot of League members from other cities and now have a stronger
identification with being a League member as I can see how our local Omaha
group fits with the state and national scheme.
Q-tip
rule - Quit taking things too personally.
I
don't have to believe what someone else believes to treat them civilly and
professionally.
I've
learned there is power in numbers. The strength of our numbers really can turn
a big battleship and help make good public policy. I learned our numbers have
been dwindling over the years and I need to be more active about inviting
friends to share League's interests and efforts.
The
law is a promise, a promise of neutrality.
I've
learned how many multiple issues the League deals with. There were workshops
about keeping the organization itself functioning: membership, fundraising,
working with the media, technology, etc. In addition to these, there were many,
many more on public policy: civil
liberties, courts, immigration, health care, redistricting, death penalty,
global warming, telecommunications, etc. I had two favorites. “Electoral Extravaganza”/The National Popular
Vote made me want to learn everything about proportional voting and instant
runoff voting. I am reading “Every Vote Equal: A state-based plan for electing
the president” by National Popular Vote. See www.nationalpopularvote.com
or www.fairvote.org. The “United Nations
Caucus” was led by two League members who monitor the UN. They were very respectful
of the organization, saying that the public lacks so much information about the
UN, how it functions and all it does. See www.unausa.org or www.un.org and sign the petition on
www.DontshutdowntheUN.org. I am
now on their listserv e-mail news. If you would like to be included let me
know.
And
the good company I mentioned earlier. I've learned a lot about Sandra Powell
(state pres.) and the multiple hats she wears as city administrator in
Springfield, NE. Barb Tripp and I were
hotel roommates so that already tells you the vastness of what I learned about
her, besides staying up talking for nearly two hours every night after the
workshops ended at 10 pm. And I am
always learning Linda Duckworth's endless capacity to enjoy herself, wherever
and with whomever. So in summary, I want to thank the Omaha members for giving
me the opportunity to broaden and strengthen my commitment to League.
P.S.
Hail to thee L- W- V.
VICE
PRESIDENT ACTION-- Linda Duckworth
"We
Make Good Public Policy" - when our new League President, Mary Wilson said
those words in her inaugural address I knew they were something I could
remember when trying to describe League to non-Leaguers. It follows that we accomplish this good public
policy by educating and informing our members about issues, by contacting our
elected representatives, and by involving and educating the general public
about candidates and issues.
In the next few months we'll have
plenty of opportunities to inform and educate, and I'm looking forward to
it. I think the programs we've planned
are all winners and I hope all of our members will attend those programs and
bring guests.
And then there's the Help America
Vote Act (HAVA) committee. We have
various subcommittees, all making big plans.
LWVNE President Sandra Powell (my roommate at convention) and I are
working on getting an 800 number that LWV
can make available to voters who have election questions. We'll need volunteers to help during the
couple of weeks leading up to the November 7 election, so feel free to call me
with your offer of assistance!
As to my first trip to
As convention delegates we had a
number of votes to cast, and I noticed we of the
MEMBERSHIP
REPORT--Hedy Ahlvers
We
currently have 185 members ( Of which 15 are family memberships and one life
membership) Most of our member increase is at the national level. We
encourage all of you national members to rejoin us through the local level when
your membership is due. Please call us if you have questions as our
fiscal year runs from April 1 forward.
We welcome all our new members and hope you will become involved.
We
still have 24 unpaid members. Please get your renewal in so you will not
be left out of the year book.
Remember
to call or e-mail me with any prospects you may have. I add them to our mailing
list and we’ve had great success with those prospects joining league.
MEETING
COORDINATOR-Belinda Greiner
A bus will be reserved for the September
“meeting” as soon as a date for the planned tour is confirmed. Our October meeting will be a debate between
the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District in Nebraska, sponsored
jointly with the Omaha Press Club. The
luncheon meeting will be at the Press Club on Thursday, October 19, 2006. Letters have been sent to the candidates, but
we do not yet have a reply. Our December
meeting will be a luncheon at the Field Club on Thursday, December 14,
2006. The year's remaining meeting
locations will be scheduled as soon as the program details are finalized.
NATURAL
RESOURCES REPORT--Jonah Deppe
Mercury
Issues
The
Nebraska Department of Environmental Protection has been holding hearings
related to adopting federal power-plant pollution - whether Nebraska standards
should be tougher. The next hearing is July 18 at 10 a.m. at the NDEQ offices
at 2727 South 8th Street in Lincoln.
These
standards address new federal mercury pollution standards covering the state's
power plants. In Nebraska, 22 lakes and streams have fish consumption
advisories due to mercury contamination. Most at risk for mercury's toxic
effects are fetuses and young children whose neurological systems are still
developing.
Electric power plants are the largest
source of manmade mercury pollution in the
Lead
Issues:
The
Omaha Lead Superfund Site projects that it will take another 10 to 15 years to
clean up the soil contamination caused by industry in the past. While the Omaha
site is the largest residential site in the United States, EPA’s inability to
take care of the contaminated soil in a more expedient manner will leave
several more cohorts of young children exposed to this hazardous component.
Lead damages both a fetus and young child most severely as their
neurological systems are still developing.
The
EPA has agreed to address lead based paint found on the exterior of homes where
soil in the yard is being replaced due to high levels of lead in the soil.
Exterior lead-base paint has the potential of recontaminating the soil replaced
through Superfund efforts. EPA is now going back to homes where soil was
replaced during the past five years to determine if there is lead-based paint
with the potential of re-contaminating the soil.
Senator
Barbara Boxer of
Land
Use:
Sustainable
communities held a workshop on July 13 regarding the use of rural land. This
workshop is being held at
Water:
The
plan for dams in the Omaha Metropolitan area is still under discussion even
though some work has begun on some dam sites. The Natural Resource Department
will be discussing this issue at their meeting on July 20.
VOTER
SERVICE-Carolyn Ireland & Pat Hanson
Cox
Cable brought the C-SPAN School Bus to downtown Omaha on June 16, 2006. The public was invited to tour the bus, which
is a mobile multimedia demonstration center and TV production unit for
C-SPAN. The bus was parked in front of
the W. Dale Clark branch of the Omaha Public Library. Cox Cable invited the League to join them at
this event to provide voter registration.
On
June 23, the League helped with voter registration at the Employment and
Empowerment Expo at Metropolitan Community College's For Omaha Campus.
WEB/MAILING
LIST UPDATE--Kathy Dewell
The
website has been updated to include current e-mail links. I am also working on content. I'm requesting Board members take a look at
the site and let me know if anything needs to be updated.
We've been experiencing problems
with spam being sent out to our members group.
I'm monitoring the situation to see if I need to make changes to our
e-mail groups.
MEMBERSHIP
For membership updates, please contact Hedy
Ahlvers, Membership Chair.
Pass this membership application on to a friend:
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LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GREATER OMAHA
MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
Name
______________________________________________________________________
Address
__________________________________City___________State _____ ZIP _______
Home phone ____________________________Work
phone ___________________________
Fax _______________________________________
E-mail ____________________________
____Single member, $50 ___Family membership, $75 ___Additional contribution $_____
Please make your checks payable to LWVGO and
send to:
League of Women Voters of Greater
Omaha
1941
S. 42nd Street, Suite 501
Omaha, NE 68105