Bulletin
League of Women Voters
of Greater Omaha
1941 South 42
Street, Suite 501
Omaha, NE 68105-2945
Phone: 402-344-3701
League of Women Voters of
Greater Omaha
March, 2007
A non-partisan political organization open to
all citizens 18 years of age or older Volume 49 No 9
League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha
March General Meeting
Study
presentation and Consensus discussion by
Bev T.
and LWVGO Study Group
"CITY-COUNTY
MERGER"
Thursday, March 15 - 11:30 a.m.
Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church
2650 Farnam Street
See page 7
MAKING
DEMOCRACY WORK AWARD
Ellie Archer has been selected as the first ever Making
Democracy Work Award Honoree. The Award
is designed to honor a local woman who exemplifies the League principal of
participatory citizenship; someone who is actively engaged in effecting change and improving
our community. Ellie has been the
Executive Director of the Omaha Women's Fund for over five years. One of the programs she organized locally
is the Ready To Run Program. This is a
program designed to assist women with the basic information, skills, and
connections necessary to run for a political office. Ellie was honored by Mayor Mike Fahey with a
proclamation making February 14, 2007, the official Making Democracy Work Day. We applaud Ellie for her efforts and
congratulate her as the inaugural Making Democracy Work Honoree.
The
Making Democracy Work
Award is made possible by a generous grant from Dianne Lozier.
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
Wednesday,
February 28: Deadline for program
planning ideas. See page 3.
Thursday,
March 8, 9:30 a.m., League office. LWVGO
board meeting. All members welcome.
Thursday,
March 8, 7:30 p.m., :
International Relations Committee.
See page 4.
Friday,
March 9: Deadline for Annual Report
information.
Wednesday,
March 14: Deadline for March Bulletin.
Wednesday,
March 21, 2007, 7:00 p.m., The Reading Grounds Book
Store, 3928 Farnam, Reading Resource Group. See Page 3.
Tuesday,
March 27, 7:00 p.m., Milo Bail Student Center, UNO, Nebraska Judicial
Networking Coalition final lecture "Civil Rights and the Courts.” See page 4.
Sunday,
April 15, 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., UNO:
Peace and Justice Expo. See page
2 for your input.
Saturday,
April 21: Annual meeting
Thursday, October 11, 2007,
Thompson Alumni Center, UNO: Running and
Winning program.
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Thank You, Polly G., for hosting the
Program Planning meeting in January, and to Jonah D. for running the
meeting. It was a productive session,
precipitated by excellent discussion among members. If you did not attend, make a vow to attend
next year's Program Planning meeting. It
is stimulating!
Happy Birthday, League of Women
Voters! This year marks the 87th
birthday of League of Women Voters.
League has worked tirelessly and has been instrumental in improving the
democratic process in our country. There
is so much to ask of the processes that turn the very wheels of democracy. Members know it's a never-ending battle to
keep the democratic process open and fair.
Based on the 2000 Presidential election and on the amount of discussion
following the 2004 Presidential election and 2006 Mid-term Election, it is
obvious to me that a fundamental right is not being given its due. Have you ever thought that the technology at
the grocery is much better than the technology from our election system in the
US? We, as citizens of this country,
ought to demand that a fair technological system for voting be adopted.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) adopted
since the last Presidential election has only begun the election reform
process. The voting lines are shorter,
but there is much room for improvement; voters with disabilities do not have
consistent access to voting, although many areas (including Douglas County), do
having a voting option that allows blind and visually impaired voters to vote
privately and independently; poll workers are often poorly trained; many poll
workers have no option to work split shifts, which means that many end up working
12-16 hrs/day on election day. With working conditions like these, it is not
surprising that many voters are complaining that poll workers are rude or not
helpful.
Certainly the nomination process is
long and very expensive. A sitting
candidate who currently is a member of Congress inevitably neglects their
governing responsibilities. The
lo….o….o….o….ong campaign increases
the cost of running for president.
Another nomination process is the length of time between the first
caucus/ first primary and the nomination.
States holding either of these see far more of the candidates than any
other states and receive substantially more press coverage. Thus, they have far more influence on the
final outcome. In contrast, the state
holding a much later nominating process is ineffective by the time that state
selects delegates.
LWV's work
is far from finished; I challenge League to continue their diligent, hard
work. We cannot rest on our laurels with
the idea that we cannot do it all--it is one step at a time. Think of the improvements and changes since
you began voting. Let us persist in
maintaining our values, let us carry on working to make our community the best
it can be, let us persevere in making democracy work!
Barbara T.
PEACE
& JUSTICE EXPO
Leaguers, we are looking for input
on LWVGO'sarticipation in:
The Peace & Justice Expo in the
student center at UNO on 4/15/07, 1PM to 6PM. This is an annual event and
workshop topics this year will be centered around the theme "Bringing the War
Home". Workshop panels will discuss alternatives to military
service, challenges to returning veterans, economic/health environmental
impacts of war, etc. Cindy Sheehan will be keynote speaker. About
80 organizations in the Omaha area have been invited to host informational
booths. Booths are tables to hand out literature about the organization,
chat w/people who stop by, network, and increase visibility in the
community. This would be a chance for us
to highlight League activities, mission, and accomplishments. There is a
$5.00 charge for attendees, which helps pay rent & other expenses.
The Board did discuss this at
Thursday's meeting, but we made no decision. It was decided to seek input
from the membership, so please let me know your thoughts; it is important that
you let us know your ideas/feelings/thoughts.
Please respond by e-mail if
possible. Thank you.
Barbara T. E-mail address and phone number removed from web copy.
RUNNING
AND WINNING UPDATE
We
have a date for our Running and Winning program--it is Thursday, October 11,
2007. We also have chosen a venue--the Thompson Alumni Center at
University of Nebraska Omaha. Now we just need about 40 high school
girls, (and transportation for them), a lot of local women politicians, a
couple of co-sponsors, promises of help from our members, and quite a bit of
money. Shouldn't be a problem!
Give me a call if you have any contacts you think would be helpful to
us.
Thanks, Linda D.
PROGRAM
PLANNING MEETING
January 18, 2007
Following
is a listing of topics suggested for emphasis and action, for update, or for
information and education for 2007-08.
These ideas are the result of our meeting for program planning. If you were unable to attend the meeting,
your input is needed. Working from this
list, please send in your top five(5) priorities by
February 28. If you have ideas that are
not included, you may certainly suggest them.
As always, if you are willing to take responsibility for a topic, share
your expertise, or suggest a speaker, please let us know. Member participation is important!! Please mail your responses to Barbara T. Address and phone number removed from web copy. Again,
the deadline is February 28, 2007.
1. Children's Mental Health
Relinquishment of Custody
Service Plan
Community Based Services
Suggested Activities:
Data Gathering Update;
Report
Foster Care/Treatment
2.
Immigration
Training for CBO (Community Based
Organizations) of local group on voting importance;
National Study
3. Renewable Energy
Review NE legislation re: purchase
of;
Review information on issue;
Speaker (?)
4.
Education
Report from Education Committee;
Speaker;
Series of meetings/various speakers
5. Independent Public Safety Auditor
Authority Speaker;
Present Various Stances;
6. Omaha By Design
Review 3 areas: LWVGO Positions regarding Parks; billboards;
transportation
7. Global Warming
Transportation
Clean Air
MARCH
DEADLINE FOR ANNUAL MEETING REPORT
The
LWVGO Annual Report will be published with the April Bulletin. This needs to be sent 30 days before our
Annual Meeting. Therefore, the deadline
for Annual Report information is Friday, March 9. The Bulletin deadline is Wednesday March 14.
Choose a job you love and
you will never have to work a day in your life.
-- Confucius
CONDOLENCES
Our condolences to the
family and friends of Mimi Waldbaum, a former League
and State League president, who died in January. As a community volunteer for over 50 years,
she strived to improve the opportunities for all Nebraskans, especially for
women and girls all across the state. A woman of action and strong conviction,
Mimi dedicated herself to community organizations where she made significant
and lasting contributions. She will forever remain an inspiration to all who
knew her. She was very active in the League of Women Voters, serving as city
and state President. She was appointed by the Governor to serve as the first
chairman of the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission which
monitors campaign contributions. She was a member of the Nebraska Real Estate
Commission and the Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights
Commission. She was the founding member of the Nebraska Humanities Council, the
Omaha Community Foundation and its Women's Fund. Throughout her volunteer
career she received numerous awards and recognitions including: United Way
Outstanding Volunteer, the Torch of Liberty award from the Anti Defamation
League, the Women of Achievement Award from the Great Plains Girl Scout Council,
and the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Jewish Federation of Omaha.
VOTER
SERVICE, PAT H. AND CAROLYN I.
A
training class for those who would like to help with voter registration is
being planned for early April. If you
are interested in becoming a voter registrant or if you were trained years ago
and want to be re-trained, please call or e-mail Pat H. or Carolyn I. E-mail addresses removed from web copy.
READING
RESOURCE GROUP
When:
Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
Where:
The Reading Grounds Book Store, 3928 Farnam
St.
( NOTE DIFFERENT LOCATION THIS ONE TIME.)
Discussion will be on the first half of the book
“The Broken Branch—How Congress is Failing America and How to Get it Back on
Track” by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein—Chapters 1 through 4, Pages 1
through 140.
We welcome new readers.
For more information, call Jeannette S. Phone number removed from web version.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEE
THURDAY, MARCH 8, 7:30 P.M.
THE MARCH INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE
WILL FEATURE OUR THIRD SERIES SPEAKER, DR. SADE KOSOKO-LASAKI, WHO WILL ADDRESS
OUR MEMBERS ABOUT
"GLOBAL HEALTH AWARENESS:
U.S.A. BE RESPONSIBLE
CITIZENS"
Address of meeting removed from web version.
Our January meeting had an excellent
response and discussion. Please respond
again with that capacity, weather permitting.
Nebraska
Judicial Networking Coalition lecture:
March 27, 2007 (Final
lecture) "Civil Rights and the Courts, 7PM, Milo Bail Student Center, UNO.
NEBRASKA
STATE BOARD MEETING REPORT
Virginia B., State
Liaison
January 20, 2007
Sandy P. started the meeting and
informed us that a Policy Manuel was being set up and that we would all get
copies soon.
The state LWV Bylaws were reviewed
in entirety, and in some places the wording was changed, but no substantive
changes were made.
A new MAL (Members at Large) group
has been set up in Sarpy County, and reportedly has several enthusiastic
members. A new Representative from Sarpy County will be appointed soon.
Peggy A. reported on the Nebraska
Right to Vote Campaign, which was very successful overall. She presented
the expenses incurred, and the fact that there is still a positive balance
which will be held over for future activities. She also stated that her
group’s actions were used as a model all over the US. [Great work Peggy !!]
Sherry M. (Treasurer) gave us a
report on the state funds, which are in good shape. She also informed us
about a State Fund Raiser letter which will be the focus at the State
Convention--to be held on Saturday, April 28th. The convention will
feature a dramatist, followed by ‘break out’ groups
on School Consolidation, Education Reform, and Water Resources.
Lois P. reported on the HAVA
activities and the need for each local league to send in their expenses.
Priscilla L. reported on the
formation of a new League group in Seward, and the fact her group is already
actively following the plans of the Trans Canada Keystone Pipeline (which is to
deliver oil from Canada south through Nebraska, close to Seward).
Peggy A. gave us a list of the
current bills to be introduced to the new Legislature. She went
over the list briefly, and will give us more information latter as to which are
most important to the League.
Sandy P. advised us that there will
be a new league brochure available soon which will be produced in house.
The next State meeting will be held
on March 17th, with March 24th as the snow date.
THE
SEARCH IS ON: LWVGO IS LOOKING FOR
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Our membership information
database does not include the year our members joined, and we are interested in
this information. Listed below is a
partial list showing some information; if
your name is on the list, please confirm that what we have is correct. If your name is not on the list, please
provide the year you joined LWVGO to Hedy A. Contact information removed from web version. Thanks!!
Member
information removed from web version.
People
of character do the right thing, not because they think it
will
change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the
world. -- Michael Josephson
A compliment is verbal
sunshine. -- Robert Orben
MEMBERSHIP
Hedy A.
Membership Chair
Contact
information removed from web version.
NEW MEMBERS
New member information removed from web version.
Please remember: If you change
your address, phone #, e-mail etc please let me know so we can keep our
data base up to date. We’d like to have everyone’s email address
as we communicate with our members through email quite often.
PLEASE
NOTE: Anyone joining now will be a paid member thru April 2008; however,
everyone please note: the upcoming dues April 1will be $60 for a single
membership and $90 for two people in the same household.
If you change your address, phone #,
e-mail etc, please let me know so we can keep our data base up to date.
Please call or e-mail with any of
your prospective members. I will add them to our bulletin list.
Also, please send Hedy your original date of joining League of Women
Voters. We are trying to track our members. See list above.
Pass
this membership application on to a friend:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GREATER OMAHA
MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
Name
______________________________________________________________________
Address
__________________________________City___________State
_____ ZIP _______
Home
phone ____________________________Work phone ___________________________
Fax
_______________________________________ E-mail ____________________________
____Single
member, $60 ___Family membership,
$90 ___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
League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha
March General Meeting
"CITY-COUNTY
MERGER"
Study presentation and Consensus discussion by Bev T. and LWVGO Study Group
Thursday, March 15 - 11:30 a.m.
A city-county merger has been a
recurring topic in Omaha for many years. This year legislation has been
introduced in the Unicameral which would create a commission to develop a
plan to merge Omaha and Douglas County governments. Eventually, such a
plan would be on a ballot and Douglas County voters would decide whether
or not to approve a change in the structure of our local government.
Voters need to understand the issues to be considered in major
structural changes for cities. It is helpful to look at
other mergers to see how they are working. There are differences in
the ways they are formed and operate. Currently, Omaha operates under a
city charter which was approved by the voters in 1956. At that time the
Omaha League vigorously supported adopting the proposed charter.
Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church
2650 Farnam Street
(Enter through office/fellowship hall doors. Free parking is available in the lots just to
the west of the church building. Please
do not
park in the Channel 7 lot.)
A FREE Soup and Salad Luncheon will be served
Reservations are not required, but a rough head count would be helpful. Please contact Belinda G. if you are planning
to come. Contact information removed from web
version.