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Date: 8/21/2022
Subject: LWV-Wake Update August 22nd 2022
From: League of Women Voters of Wake County



LWV-Wake Update 8/22/2022

 

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WED 2022 Honorees w Girl Scouts
WED Janet Cowell
WED Candace
WED Cheryl
WED Girls Scouts

Dear ~~first_name~~,
 
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
 
It's a wrap for our biggest fundraiser of the year, Women's Equality Day! It was a fabulous evening filled with food, fun and friendship with fellow Leaguers and local elected officials who were honored for their service to Wake County. Over $10,000 was raised for the League as our members stepped up in support of our mission and our work.
 
We are so grateful to all who donated their time, energy and money to make this a successful event.
 
If you missed the opportunity to be an event sponsor, you can STILL support the League. Just click the 'donate' button at the top or bottom of this newsletter. Donations are tax-deductible. 
 
Women's Equality Day Recognition
I would like to give special recognition to our Women's Equality Day Chair, Candace Blackley, for all her work in managing this fabulous event. Thanks also to Leaguers: Brittany Bryan (printed items, slides, promo) Catherine Freeman (honoree communications), Sally Pinnix (theme, decorations), Jenny Kotora-Lynch (editing), Mary Jane Slipsky, Louise Lockwood-Zorowski and Judith Hoffman (registration), and Meredith and Clyde Lundy, Jennifer Haigwood and Tracy Hurly for their assistance during the event. 
 
Special thanks also to all the spouses/family members, and Dix Chapel facilities manager, Sara DeSpain, who jumped in to move tables and chairs and unload/reload the cars. I'm sure there are others who assisted with last minute tasks and we greatly appreciate all the help. This event takes months of work and preparation and we could not do it without volunteers who are willing to "take a task" and run.
 
Did you attend and enjoy Women's Equality Day? Do you like to help plan events? Interested in fundraising? Please join us! We need more volunteers to assist with this event to ensure it is successful. If interested, please email Candace Blackley 
 
Abortion Protections in NC - Update
We could foresee the domino effect the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe (Dobbs decision) would have on reproductive freedoms in North Carolina.
 
On August 17th, at the request of anti-choice legislators in the NCGA, U.S. District Judge William Osteen “vacated and dissolved” his injunction against North Carolina’s abortion law. This decision now allows a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks. In his 14 page decision, Judge Osteen stated "“This court will vacate its injunction because it was based on Supreme Court precedent that has since been reversed.”
 
The request from the NCGA came after much back and forth between NC Attorney General Josh Stein and NCGA leadership, with  AG Stein refusing to act to lift the injunction (Yay!).
 
GOP leaders have vowed to take up the issue of abortion in the 2023 session with House Leader Tim Moore stating “North Carolinians can also expect pro-life protections to be a top priority of the legislature when we return to our normal legislative session in January,”.
 
Want to get involved in defending abortion rights? Join our Women's Rights committee by emailing co-chairs, Elaine Okal or Kristen Howard.  
Pro-Choice NC has tentatively scheduled a rally on August 26th. You can find more information about this and other events on their website.
 
News from the League
Second League Leaders Roundtable September 17th - Join Us!
If you are a committee chair or co-chair, project leader or have an interest in leadership opportunities in LWV-Wake, please attend our second League Leader's Roundtable.
 
Leaguer/Consultant, Sandra Birkhead, will provide training how to lead an effective team, including meeting management (staying on point, on time, rules, etc.) and most importantly, ensuring a committee's work plan aligns with the mission and each year's strategic priorities chosen by the board from the strategic plan. This is a great time to learn new skills and to brush up on others.
To register, click on the link below:
 
 

Wake County Board of Education Virtual Candidate Forums
The League Education/Candidate Forum committee is busy organizing virtual recorded candidate forums. The League will record candidate forums for all 9 Wake County Board of Education districts, from September 8th through September 12th.
 
The recordings will then be uploaded for public viewing on our YouTube channel with links provided on our website and on social media so they can be widely viewed and shared. Links will also be provided to the candidates and others for additional promotional outreach.
 
As described on Wake County Board of Education's website, "The school board sets policy for the school system implemented by the superintendent and administrative staff. The board also adopts an annual budget proposal that includes its request for local funding from the Wake County Board of Commissioners as well as its plan for using state and federal funds."
 
Needless to say, these are important races to ensure our schools receive adequate funding and promote the well-being of ALL students. 
 
Finance Committee Members Needed
As part of our strategic plan implementation, LWW-Wake is creating a finance committee. This committee will work with the Treasurer to expand the types of financial reporting presented to the board, create processes to mitigate financial risk and assist with the yearly budget process.
 
Experience with, or knowledge of, budgeting, financial statements, and Quickbooks would be helpful. The committee will determine the frequency of meetings and work process. If you are interested, please email Elaine Okal
 

Clouds Brewing Collaboration Image
Voter Services - Clouds Brewing Collaboration
Volunteers Needed
The Voter Services Committee is excited to announce a Get Out The Vote collaboration with Clouds Brewing in Raleigh. The Clouds brewmasters will be formulating a special brew just for LWV-Wake! It will be branded with our League logo with graphics that promote voting. The special brew is targeted for launch in mid-September. As part of Clouds nonprofit Silver Linings beer collaboration, Clouds will donate 20% of the special brew beer profit to our League. 
 
Volunteers are needed to host voter engagement/voter registration tabling activities during weekend brunch hours at Clouds Brewing Raleigh location beginning September 18th and continuing through November 6th.
 
In addition to voter registration, tabling will consist of a 'Spin to Win' voting trivia game, giveaways and voter information handouts. Our goal with this project is to register people to vote, and to encourage them to make a voting plan to get to the polls.
 
To volunteer, click on the links below. Please note: You must have voter registration training to volunteer for voter registration activities. However, no previous experience is necessary for voter outreach tabling. We'll provide all necessary information needed. 
 
 
 

We also need your help to name our special brew. If you have a catchy name that you feel encompasses our mission and project goal of getting people to vote, we want to hear from you! Please submit your ideas, by clicking on the link below. Please submit your ideas no later than Friday, August 26th. 
 
 
 

Upcoming LWV-Wake Events
  • August 26th 1:30pm - Affordable Housing Special Meeting - All League members are encouraged to attend this month's Affordable Housing committee meeting as we welcome guest speaker, Lisa Rowe, Executive Director of Families Together. Families Together is an organization that focuses on moving families in Wake and surrounding counties from homelessness to stable homes through mentoring, housing support and connection to community resources.To register, click here.
  • September 14th 10am - Pauli Murray Exhibit at the NC Museum of History Field Trip & Lunch - Join other Leaguers to visit the Pauli Murray exhibition at the NC Museum of History. After the tour, we will gather for lunch at one of the restaurants across the walkway. For more details and to register, click here.
  • September 15th 2pm - League Lit - Will discuss The Women They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore. For more information and to register, click here. 
  • November 17th 2pm - League Lit - Will discuss Pelosi by Molly Ball. For more information and to register, click here. 

Wake County Board of Commissioners Candidate Forum
September 20th
LWV-Wake will host a candidate forum for Wake County Commissioner districts 1, 2, 3 and 7 on Tuesday, September 20th at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the candidates who, if elected, will make important decisions about about parks and recreation, public health and safety, education, and many other important issues.
 
As a reminder, the current board voted last fall, during redistricting, to return to 4-year staggered terms. To learn more about the current board's 2022 strategic goals, click here.

LWVNC Events
To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
 
 

Thank You Women's Equality Day Sponsors!
 
Diamond Sponsors
Cheryl & Dr. Henry Tung
Laurel Voelker
❤️
Platinum Sponsors
Jenny Kotora-Lynch & Jeff Lynch
Mary Lelik & James P. Henry

❤️
Gold Sponsors
Peggy Birkemeier
Candace & Ron Blackley
Claudia Kadis
Naomi Lambert
Meredith & Clyde Lundy
Sally & John Pinnix
Mary Jane Slipsky
Dianna Wynn
❤️
Silver Sponsors
Brittany Bryan & Jake Epstein
Dale Cousins
Dina Deaton
Lynn Edmonds
Tom & Victoria Gerig
Jeri & Mike Gray
Beth Hahn
Robin Hammond & Bill Sandifer
Holly Knox
Marian Lewin
Tim & Landen Longest
Judee Lonnee
Marie C. Moylan
Bobbi Mullins
Betsy & Jim Munroe
Elaine Okal, in honor of Sheila Denn
Dorothy Raynes
Terri & Mark Ring
Eve Vitaglione

❤️
In-Kind Donors
Peggy Birkemeier - Graphic design 
Candace Blackley - Punch & linens 
Brittany Bryan & The Wine Feed - Wine
Claudia Kadis - Flower arrangements
Sally Pinnix - Honoree gift bags & table decorations
Cheryl Tung - Photography
❤️
Acknowledgements
Sara Birkemeier - 8 Dot Graphics LLC
Catherine Davis - Photographer
Sally Pinnix - Event pearl theme
Girl Scout Troop 1106 members:
Julia Brown
Casey Colapietro
Henleigh Gaul
Caroline Smith

More Women's Equality Day Moments
WED Eesha
WED Judith and Louise
WED Deborah Ross
WED Elaine Marshall and Girl Scouts
WED Julie von Haefen
WED Robin on screen
WED Allison Dahle, Rosa Gill
WED Marian
WED program
WED Vivian Jones, Cheryl
WED Donna Stroud
WED Jeri Gray

💐THINKING OF MARY "POLLY" WILLIAMS💐
Polly, a long-standing and formerly very active (especially for Women’s Rights in the 1970’s) Wake League member, recently entered hospice care.  Mary “Polly” Williams has lived a very active life in her 99 years, filled with social justice and human rights issues. She taught in the English Department at NCSU for many years as well.  She won a Justice Center award just a few years back for her life’s passion of advocacy for human rights. If you would like to send a 'thinking of you' card to Polly, please email Dale Cousins, who will provide her mailing address. Thanks to Theresa Rosenberg for bringing this to our attention. 

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO SEPTEMBER 5TH LEAGUE UPDATE. THE NEXT LEAGUE UPDATE WILL BE SEPTEMBER 19TH. 
 

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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Support the LWV-Wake with Amazon Smile donations
You can now select our League as your charity of choice and support LWV-Wake at no cost to you. A portion of all your Amazon purchases will be donated to LWV-Wake by Amazon. To learn more about Amazon Smile and how to sign up, click here. Once you have signed up and chosen League of Women Voters of Wake County as your charity, you can bookmark the Amazon Smile page. Thank you!