With this September VOTER, we end our summer wanderings
and begin a new League program year. Be sure to peruse the enclosed
Member Handbook and Calendar for events to come.
Our traditional "Opening Luncheon" on
September 18th will bring us an opportunity to advance our
understanding of the District's fiscal problems. Dr. Alice Rivlin of
the Brookings Institution, co-author of "A Sound Fiscal Footing
for the Nation's Capital: A Federal Responsibility," will speak
about some of the potential solutions to those problems. The luncheon
will take place at our own University of the District of Columbia, in
the rooms of the David A. Clarke School of Law.
We'll begin October with the October 4th visit to
Hillwood, the mansion left by Marjorie Merriwether Post to house her
art collection. The room where we'll gather for tea will only
accommodate 50 persons, so I hope you've already made reservations
for
yourself and your guests.
October will continue by bringing Unit discussions on
regional transportation planning (October 14-16), an issue which
concerns all Leagues in the National Capital Area. The NCA League has
provided fact sheets on which Unit discussions will be based to try to
discern a consensus among all NCA members. Watch for fact sheets in a
separate mailing.
November will bring opportunity to learn about and
reach a consensus in the D.C. League as to the potential impact of
school vouchers on D.C. public schools and their students. In the week
following an informational forum presenting pros and cons on November
12, Units will discuss vouchers and aim to reach a consensus on that
subject.
December will bring a general meeting on Presidential
Selection in its second week, and Unit discussions on subjects of
their choice in the third week. Meanwhile, the International Relations
Committee will meet each month on topics of interest in that field.
The election year 2004 will begin with the FIRST
Presidential Preference Primary here in D.C. on January 13th. Spread
the word: December 15, 2003 is the deadline for voters to register to
vote on January 13. — Frances Gemmill, President
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Don't Miss These Events
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The D.C. Zoning Commission has postponed until mid fall
a vote on Georgetown University's proposal for a private boathouse at
the gateway to the C&O Canal National Historical Park. This will
allow opponents of the plan, as proposed, to comment on the still
unpublished wording of the regulations for a new waterfront-zoning
category, W-O, applicable in this case. The opponents, who prefer an
alternative location for the boathouse -- outside the C&O Canal
National Historical Park boundary -- have formed a coalition called
"Defenders of Potomac River Parkland," which includes the
C&O Canal Association, the Capital Crescent Trail Coalition, the
Washington Canoe Club, and others. The Board of the DC League of Women
Voters also voted to join the Defenders group, and recommended to the
Zoning Commission that an Environmental Assessment of the impact of
the proposed boathouse on the river and its surrounding area be
developed before a decision is made. — Frances Gemmill
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The Affordable Housing Committee will meet Thursday,
September 11 at 5:30 pm at the LWVDC office to review pending DC
housing legislation for possible action. — Sharron Hines (395-9348), Chair
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The League's study of the pros and cons of school
vouchers: The Education Committee presented the following proposal to
the DC League Board on May 7, 2003, for consideration and approval.
The Board approved the plan.
The rationale for the study: President Bush selected
the D.C. Public Schools as one of three systems to carry out a pilot
voucher plan. The position of the Mayor, School Board President and
members, and some DC Council members, originally opposed to the
voucher concept, changed.
LWVUS has a position on quality education, but not
specifically on vouchers. Following is the LWVUS position on Quality
Education, as it appears in the 2002-2004 Impact on Issues:
"The 1974-76 LWVUS program included the phrase
'equal access to ... quality education,' reflecting League recognition
that 'equality' and `quality' ultimately are inseparable. However,
LWVUS has never undertaken a process for determining a common League
definition of quality education that could serve as a basis for action
nationwide. Therefore, when the definition of quality is a key factor
in a state or local community, a state or local league must conduct
its own study rather than relying on the LWVUS position to take
action. Many Leagues that have member agreement on quality education
in specific terms use their positions to support an array of local and
state educational reforms. A number of Leagues have used this position
to oppose private school vouchers. The LWVUS is a member of the
National Coalition for Public Education, which opposes vouchers."
Thus, LWVDC needs to develop a position on vouchers
relating to our own public schools.
The Process of the Study:
- To determine the present thinking of D.C. League
members and their interest in the proposed use of school vouchers,
financed by federal money.
- To determine whether there is a consensus on the use
of school vouchers. This should include basic reasons for their
positions.
- To report to the Board the results and the
rationale.
- The timing for this study will be November 2003, including an all-member meeting followed by
discussion in unit meetings.
The next meeting of the Education Committee will be
Wednesday, September 10, at 10 am at the LWVDC Office. The meeting is
of course open to all members. — Connie Tate (882-0387) and Gladys Weaver (554-3055), Co-chairs
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A committee to study the options to alleviate D.C.'s
lack of full voting representation in Congress is being formed. Our
first meeting will be held Thursday, September 11, from 3:00 to 5:30
p.m. at the Cleveland Park Library meeting room.
Come as early as you can, but I shall stay until the
end so that any part of the meeting you miss I shall try to repeat.
The library is just one black south of the Cleveland Park Metro (red
line). Get off on the west side of the street. — Kathy Schmidt (237-5550), Chair
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If you want to help register high school students in
time for the January Primary, call or email Elinor Hart at 387-2966 or
hart1651@juno.com.
Ongoing voter registration of new citizens after their
Naturalization Ceremony will take place Tuesday, September 9. Contact
Judy Smith at 882-3021 to participate. — Elinor Hart (387-2966) and Judy Smith (882-3021), Voters Service Co-chairs
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Put on your regional hat. Can we improve on the process
for making decisions and for funding regional approaches? A two-year
study conducted jointly by League members within the National Capital
Area will be presented for consensus in the October Unit meetings.
Resource materials and consensus questions on Regional Transportation
Planning will be mailed to League members at the end of September.
Mark your calendar for October 14-16 and plan to attend one of the
unit meetings to give your input. The location, date and time of the
unit meetings will be announced in the October DC Voter: Call the
League office if you do not receive the October Voter in time. — Grace Malakoff (387-7540), Chair
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The International Relations Committee will meet on
Sunday, September 28, 2 pm, at Sheila Keeny's home. Her address is:
3600 Albemarle, NW. Street parking is available. (Red Line Metro stops
Tenleytown-AU & Van Ness-UDC are within walking distance.) We will
discuss our activities during the past year and determine the best way
to proceed for the next year.
Those interested in arms control may wish to stay after
the regular meeting to watch a recent C-Span interview with member
Spurgeon Keeny commemorating the 40th anniversary of the signing of
the Limited Test Ban Treaty. — Ann Porowski (364-0557) and Susan Rao (636-1688), Co-chairs
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Andrea Gruhl reported that the location of the first
meeting of the Homeland Security Committee has been changed to the
boardroom at LWVUS Headquarters (10th floor, 1730 M Street, near
Farragut North Metro stop). It will convene at 10 a.m. on the symbolic
date of Sept. 11th. Each local league will send at least one rep to
the meeting, which will be followed by a Dutch treat lunch at the
Mayflower Hotel. For more info contact Andrea Gruhl, Chair at (301)
596-5460.
Melpi Jeffries requested more committee members for
the Housing Update Committee. Melpi's phone number in Montgomery
County is 301-530-5452; her email address is melpijeffries@msn.com.
The Presidents' Brunch will occur Fri., Oct. 3rd.
Kay Maxwell will attend. There will be no agenda for our NCA Board.
The Presidential Roundtable will function throughout the event.
The next NCA meeting will be held Friday, September
5 at 10 am in the LWVUS Board Room, 1730 M Street, NW. All are
welcome. — Andrea Gruhl & Barbara Sherrill, LWV National
Capital Area
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NEW MEMBERS: We welcome Dr. Elizabeth Clark-Lewis and
Irena L. Webster.
CONTRIBUTIONS: We gratefully acknowledge and thank the
following for their contributions to the League support: Audrey Hatry,
Helen Latimer [in memory of Mrs. John Francis Latimer (Helen) who was
LWVDC President 195355], and Anna Marsh.
IN MEMORIAM: We are sad to report the recent death of
Paul Whipple, a member of the DC League who, with his wife Irma Stark
Whipple, worked for DC Home Rule and contributed a great deal to the
League's study of the DC budget and other matters relating to DC
government in the 1960s and early 70s, when several of us maintained a
full set of copies of the DC budget on our dining room tables
annually. Irma (who died in 1988) and Paul Whipple are well remembered
by many League members for their keen interest in issues and
government. They lived the slogan: "Democracy is not a spectator
sport."
SHARE THE LEAGUE: Share the League with your friends
and acquaintances in 3 easy steps:
- Show them this newsletter.
- Print out and give to them the membership form
- Invite them to attend the Fall Opening Luncheon and
the Hillwood Tour and Tea. Additional flyers and membership forms are
available from the League office.
Questions concerning League membership can be directed
to Linda Softli (667-8210) or Suzanne Campagna (338-1055). — Linda Softli (667-8210), Membership Chair
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Presidential Selection Update: LWVDC plans to review
and update the League position on Election of the President, now
called Presidential Selection, include a General Meeting on the
Electoral College in on December 10, followed by Unit meetings in
January, with a concurrence deadline of 1 February. Be sure to look
for your September issue of the National Voter (in mail immediately
after Labor Day), which contains a second article and second survey on
the update. A small committee has been formed to lead our review of
the Presidential Selection update - if you are interested in joining
this group, call Sheila Keeny at 966-1692.
Monthly Newsletter from
LWVUS: The first issue of the League's monthly newsletter was sent out
on-line in early July. In addition to a welcoming message from
President Kay Maxwell, the issue contains Kay's message of support for
legislation requiring TV and radio stations to provide free airtime to
candidates and political parties. In a letter to members of Congress,
Kay also expresses concern about the impact on our civil liberties of
provisions of the USA Patriot Act as well as of a possible Patriot Act
II. The newsletter also congratulates League members for helping
maintain Title IX, the federal law that prohibits gender
discrimination in all aspects of education including athletics.
Finally, the newsletter reports League partnership with World
Wrestling Entertainment Smackdown the Vote.
To receive the National League's monthly electronic
newsletter "The LeaguE-Voice," send an email (with the
subject line and message blank) to league-voice
subscribe@lists.lwv.org.
— Sheila Keeny, (966-1692), 3rd Vice President - National Program
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SUN |
MON |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
|
1 |
2 |
3 10:00 am, LWVDC Board
Mtg. |
4 |
5 10:00 am, NCA Mtg. |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 9:45 am, Voter
Registration of New US Citizens |
10 10:00 am, Education
Cmte |
11 10:00 am, NCA
Homeland Security Mtg.
3:30-5:00 pm, Voting Representation Study Cmte. Mtg.
5:30 pm, Affordable Housing Cmte Mtg. |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 11:30 am, Fall
Opening Luncheon |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 October DC Voter
mailed |
27 |
28 2:00 pm, IR Cmte Mtg |
29 |
30 |
|
|
|
OCTOBER 4
12:00-2:30 pm, Hillwood Tour & Tea |
|