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Date: 5/15/2022
Subject: LWV-Wake Update May 16th 2022
From: League of Women Voters of Wake County



LWV-Wake Update 5/16/2022

 

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Dear ~~first_name~~,
 
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
 
Primary election day is tomorrow and if you are a resident of Cary, it is also election day for municipal elections. If you didn't vote early, please make your voting plan and encourage others to vote. If you need candidate info, polling place info and/or ballot information, please visit VOTE411org.  
 
Bans Off Our Bodies Rally
Women and men across the country marched in solidarity on Saturday, May 14th, demanding safe and legal abortions for women. The League was present (see picture above) with over 1000 in attendance in Raleigh. While rain made it a bit more challenging at the start of rally, the weather did clear up and we marched alongside moms and dads with strollers, activists, and women and men of all ages. Thanks to all Leaguers who participated. 
 
ICYMI
If you missed reading LWVNC's outstanding Letter to the Editor regarding reproductive rights that was published by the News & Observer on May 11th, you can read it here.
 
Notice of Annual Meeting - May 19th 6pm
All members were emailed two Annual Meeting Notices that included the Nominations Committee Report with LWV-Wake Board nomination recommendations as well as the LWV-Wake 2022-2023 Proposed Budget. Board elections and a budget vote will be carried out by membership during the annual meeting. A final notice with a link to our 2021-2022 Annual Report will be sent Tuesday, May 17th.  
 
If you did not receive these notices, please check you spam folder. Also check to make sure you have a correct email listing in our member directory on our website (members only view). These email notices can also be found under the League Updates tab on our homepage. All members are requested to attend the LWV-Wake Annual Meeting. More info including the registration link can be found below.
 
There is an addition to the voting slate that was omitted in the previous notices. In addition to a board positions, we will also be voting to re-elect Nominating Committee members Jackie Giordano and Judee Lonnee. 
 
Coming to an Inbox Near You - Membership Renewals
Although our new website allows an annual renewal of dues based on your individual registration date, many of our long-standing members remain registered with a June/July renewal date. This means that beginning late May, many of you will receive the first of three renewal email notices generated from the membership roster on the website.
 
You can extend your membership for another full year by paying dues in one of three ways: on the website, using your credit card through our  PayPal credit card processing system (no PayPal account required), via a PayPal account, or by downloading the form and mailing a check ($60 individual; $90 household). Our office address is 3509 Haworth Drive Suite 306  Raleigh, NC 27609. Office mail is checked once or twice a week. Once your check is received, your membership will be noted as paid on our website directory.
 
In addition to our regular individual/household membership, we now offer a benefactor/benefactor household level membership for $100/$150.  This type of membership is being offered to raise funds for memberships for those that may want to join the League but lack adequate financial resources to do so. Once we have collected enough benefactor memberships, we will begin to offer a "Pay What You Can" membership. We encourage any member who is interested in helping others join the League to choose this membership level. 

If you have forgotten your password in order to log in to your account, you may follow the instructions to create a new one, or you may contact roster guru Laurel Voelker to assist you. Should you have any questions about memberships, please contact Dale Cousins.

We hope all of you will continue your membership and support the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
 
LWV-Wake Cary Town Council Candidate Forum - Video available
If you were not able to attend the Cary Town Council candidate forum on April 24th, Christ the King Lutheran Church did an amazing job recording it. You can find it on our website under the 'Voters' tab and on our LWV of Wake YouTube channel here. Please feel free to forward to your Cary family and friends! 
 
Ways to Get Involved with the League
League Leaders Needed - Please Step Up
Timely Topics Co-Chair- Heather Dennis will continue as a co-chair but would like to have a partner to assist in the planning and implementation of our Timely Topics program series. If you have an interest and/or experience in planning events, please reach out to our nominations committee co-chair Jackie Giordano. A job description is available upon request. Timely Topics is also looking for additional members that can assist with registration check-in for events. 
 
Development Committee Co-Chair - Carol Lenhardt will continue as a co-chair but would like a lead partner to assist in carrying out the fundraising activities of the League. If you have an interest/experience in fundraising, please email nominations committee co-chair Jackie Giordano. A job description is available upon request. 

Upcoming LWV-Wake Events
Annual Meeting 500x350
League Lit Western Wake June 2022
  • May 19th 2:00pm-3:00pm - League Lit Raleigh - Will discuss The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Truer. From Amazon: "The received idea of Native American history has been that American Indian history essentially ended with the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee. Not only did one hundred fifty Sioux die at the hands of the U.S. Cavalry, the sense was, that Native civilization did as well. In his book, Treuer melds history with reportage and memoir. Tracing the (Sioux) tribes' distinctive cultures from first contact, he explores how the depredations of each era spawned new modes of survival". Register here.
  • May 19th 6pm - Annual Meeting - We hope to see all our members at this year's annual meeting! Important information will be shared, including a brief update on the forthcoming 5-year strategic plan, the 2022-2023 budget, election of new board members, nominating committee members and table discussions. There will be a mix & mingle followed by dinner and program. Registration cost is $30 and includes dinner and one drink. Register here.
  • June 14th 12pm - Disparities in Black Maternal and Child Health - Presentation on Wake County’s Best Babies Zone - Please join the LWV-Wake Healthcare and Women's Rights Committees for a special program about Disparities in Black Maternal and Child Health and how Wake County's Best Babies Zone Program is working to address infant mortality and health disparities, particularly in Southeast Raleigh. Guest speaker is Dauline M. Singletary,  Public Health Educator in Maternal and Child Health with Wake County Health and Human Services who leads the Best Babies Zone. Register here.
  • June 21st 3pm-4:30pm - League Lit Western Wake - Will discuss The Wilmington Lie by David Zucchino. A gripping account of the overthrow of the elected government of a Black-majority North Carolina city after Reconstruction that untangles a complicated set of power dynamics cutting across race, class and gender. Register here. 

NCGA Short Session Begins May 18th
 
State legislators will return to Raleigh to begin the short session on Wednesday, May 18th at noon. The session is expected to end in early July. Items that could occur during the short session include:
  • Budget adjustments - With the release of Governor Cooper's budget last week, we may see some additional funding, given a projected surplus of approx. 6.2 billion. However, given the lukewarm response from Republican House Speaker Tim Moore, it could be a wish unfulfilled. 
  • Veto Overrides - There are currently 17 vetos from Governor Cooper from the long session that legislators could work to override. Among them: abortion and Critical Race Theory.
  • Bills: The filing deadline was May 9th for bills to be considered during short session. Only certain types of bills may be filed during short session. To be eligible for filing, they must meet criteria established here..
Joint Legislative Committee On Access To Healthcare And Medicaid Expansion
Since the Joint Legislative Committee On Access To Healthcare And Medicaid Expansion has continued to meet after the long session ended, it is expected that legislators will address health profession shortages, Telehealth, loss of rural hospitals and NC's uninsured. Committee agendas and past presentations can be found here.
 
House Select Committee on An Education System for North Carolina’s Future
Legislation that we won't see during the short session is that from the House Select Committee On An Education System For North Carolina’s Future. While they have held meetings since January and continued after the long session ended, Committee Chair Rep Torbett commented that any legislation would not likely be seen until the 2023 session. Public comments on behalf of LWVNC were provided to the committee during the May 9th public hearing. You can read my comments here.
 
PLEASE NOTE: This committee is still accepting public comments. They have posed the following question: If today there was no education system in North Carolina, and we were charged with establishing one, what would you like to see in a new education system, or not see in a new education system?
 
As an observer of the May 9th public hearing, we MUST encourage supporters of public education to make public comments. During the recent public hearing in Raleigh, and in reviewing comments made at other public hearings across the state, the overwhelming comment themes include: support of religion in curriculum, more parental involvement in school curriculum, sticking to common core, abandoning common core, reinstating cursive writing, abolishment/reduction of influence of DPI, abandoning mask mandates, adequately funding schools, expansion of charter schools, the banning of books and silencing discussions about race. You can provide public comments here.  
LWVNC Events
To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
 
 

Looking for information from a past newsletter? Previous League Updates can now be viewed on our website's home page. Look for the "League Updates" blue tab on the top menu.
Thank you for continuing to support the League of Women Voters of Wake County. 
Sincerely,
Cheryl Tung
President
The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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