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Date: 7/3/2022
Subject: July 2022 LWVNAZ League Lookout
From: LWVNAZ




 
July 2022 League Lookout - LWVNAZ News/Events Northern Arizona and Greater Verde Valley
 
 

LWVNAZ Members and Supporters:

 

Our goal with the monthly newsletter is to provide you with a quick snapshot of our monthly events and activities all in one place.  Hope you enjoy it!

 

We are providing information that the League is sponsoring as well as information about events that you might find of interest. Feel free to share this information with anyone you think would benefit from this information!


Message from the President

Hello fellow Leaguers,

 

We have seen a month of disturbing news:  a Supreme court decision that struck down 50 years of precedent, continued news of the attack on democracy and obstruction of the peaceful transfer of power and  action by the Arizona legislature to expand universal school vouchers, despite overwhelming disapproval by the residents of Arizona.

 

Finding hope in these times is challenging, but we must: states still retain the ability to enable women to make their most intimate choices in privacy, those who attempted to thwart the transfer of power are starting to be held accountable, and this years’ elections will enable the voters of Arizona to exercise their influence at the ballot box.

 

As members of the League of Women Voters we believe in the power of people to create a more perfect democracy.    We lean on a long tradition of advocacy and community.  We empower voters and we support each other as we try to move forward toward a better future.

 
 

Maryann Kenney

President LWV Northern Arizona

 

 


MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL COMING SOON

Membership renewal is July 1st 2022.

Since we are using Club Express to notify members, there are some dates to be aware of:

  • June 15, 2022 First Notice, in the form of an E-MAIL to all current members. (Done)
  • July 1, 2022 Second Notice, if you have not paid. (Done)
  • August 1, 2022 Third and final notice if not paid.

If not paid by the August 1st, your Membership will change to Expired. You can still RENEW your membership, but will not receive any updates on Chapter activities until your MEMBERSHIP becomes current.

 

Please renew your Membership as soon as possible, so you don’t miss out the many great things going on with LWVNAZ. 

 

By the time you receive this Newsletter, if you have not paid, you will have received your second Notice.

If you paid prior to July 1st, please let me know so we can get it posted ASAP.

 

It should also be noted that in the letter it states you can pay via check and credit card.    At this time, we are only accepting checks and credit cards using PayPal. 

 

Should you have any questions, feel free to contract the Membership Chairman Dale Webber, cell 619-851-9616.


LWVNAZ Hosts Candidate Forums Ahead of August 2, 2022 Primary Election

 

Camp Verde Town Council Forum - June 28

There are three open seats on the town council and four candidates.  Candidates participating in the forum were Wendy Escoffier, Robert Foreman, Marie Moore, and Robin Whately.    Watch forum.

 

Camp Verde Mayoral Forum - June 28

The two candidates running for mayor are Denise Jenkins and Reason Shipley.  Both candidates participated in the forum.  Watch forum.

 

Sedona City Council Forum – June 29

There are three open seats on the city council and six candidates.  Candidates participating in the forum were Melissa Dunn, Brian Fultz, Jennifer Strait, and Jon “JT” Thompson.  Pete Furman and Scott Moffatt were unable to attend.

 

Due to wifi issues in recording the forum, the video does not include approximately the first thirty minutes of the forum.   Watch forum.

 

 

Upcoming Forums:

 

  • Sedona City Council Forum:June 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center
  • Sedona Mayoral Forum:July 6, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center 
  • Jerome City Council Forum:July 11, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Spook Hall

Volunteers Needed for Jerome Town Council Forum on July 11

 

Would you like to see democracy up close and have a couple of hours to spare?  Two volunteers are needed to assist with the Jerome forum:  a person to collect questions from the audience and a person to compile the questions.  Both positions will be working with another volunteer.

The forum is Monday, July 11 from 6 to 8 PM at Spook Hall in Jerome.  Carpooling can be arranged.  Please contact Robin Low at robinlow2270@gmail.com or 206-200-6822.

 

The League of Women Voters of Northern Arizona is a nonpartisan political organization open to all individuals.  It encourages informed and active participation in government and works to influence public policy through education and advocacy.  LWVNAZ is fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. For voting information, see www.lwvnaz.org under the Voting and Registration tab.
 
 
 
Political Book Club
 


July 25, 2022, Monday 3:00-5:00 pm MST

Gail Digate - facilitator

 

The selection is Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America by Ari Berman (August 2015, 384 pages) The author offers the first comprehensive history of its kind and provides new insight into voting rights issues of our time. This should become a primer for every American because it so capably describes the intricate interplay between grass-roots activism and the halls of Congress – Congress must fix the Voting Rights Act, and this book explains why. More than fifty years after the passing of the Act, while racial minorities are still being systemically excluded from the ballot box, the power to define the scope of voting rights in America has shifted from Congress to the courts.

 

To join the Zoom meeting, click here and use passcode 220148.
 
The only requirement to join the discussion is that each participant has read the book. The standard format consists of each person giving a brief (1-2 minute) statement concerning the book’s overall impressions and implications. This segment is followed by group questions and discussions of the material.   If you would like to join the book club, or want to submit the title of books you are interested in reading and discussing, or if you would like any other information about the book club, please contact jananderson46@gmail.com.

 

Future books are:

 

August 29 - Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America by John Della Vople (January 2022)

 

September 26 - Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN and the Birth of the 24-Hour News by Lisa Napoli (May 2020)


Vote 411 Update
 
Work has begun on the races in the LWVNAZ area. Several cities have mayoral and council races for voting in the August primary. If you have particular questions you’d like to submit for consideration, please drop me an email (marsh.86326@gmail.com) and I’m happy to add it to the list of options! Thank you!
 

You should be seeing more content on our VOTE411 page by early July. Check back there for more information on the answers given by the candidates.


LWV ADVOCACY - Voting Rights & Election Systems

It’s Sine Die!!  Adjournment “sine die” is Latin for “without a day” and marks the end of the legislative session because it does not set a time for reconvening. It terminates all unfinished business.

This is good news as it means the assault by the AZ Legislature on Voting Rights is now over for the year, barring any special sessions.

 

This also means any laws signed the Governor will take effect 90 days from now.  The full impact of these laws is now being assessed by the members of our Voting Rights Coalition.  By the numbers, as of June 27, action by the Legislature on voting rights and election security included:

  • 3 Ballot resolutions
  • 13 bills signed by governor
  • 3 bills awaiting signature
  • 1 bill vetoed

LWVAZ and its partners were effective in blocking many of the worst attacks on voting rights including numerous bills to eliminate or seriously curtail mail balloting, force all voting to be in-person on election day,  initiate on-demand recounts by any resident with sufficient funds, and require all of the millions of AZ ballots to be counted by hand.  League members efforts with RTS, calls to Legislators, and testimony in the Legislature continue to be powerful ways to Defend Democracy. 

 

Of the bills enacted, several contain troubling provisions

 

HB2492 Hoffman –

If citizenship proof not provided, recorder must verify citizenship status.  Unverified not eligible to vote by mail or vote in a Presidential election,  “non-citizen” referred to AG for investigation.  Voter must provide proof of residence and list place of birth when registering. May result in purging of many older, longtime Arizona residents who registered with older driver’s licenses

 

HB2236  Hoffman -

No government agency may register voter without affirmative request

 

Our next major effort will be to push back on a number of ballot propositions that could also seriously impact voting.  In addition to the 3 ballot issues placed on the ballot by the Legislature, a number of other issues have been certified to appear on the ballot.  The deadline for filing initiatives is July 7.  Look for the League Advocacy to provide helpful information on League positions for these issues so you may readily understand the implications of a “YES” or “NO” vote.

 

Watch for your Advocacy newsletter for more updates on the impact of these new laws and ballot propositions.

 


REPORT FROM LWV NATIONAL CONVENTION

Jane Anderson, Maryann Kenney

 

The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) held its biennial convention June 24, 25, and 26, 2022, at Denver, CO. The Northern Arizona League (LWVNAZ) had three voting delegates: Maryann Kinney, President LWVNAZ; Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer, 40+ year member of LWV; and Jan Anderson, former LWVNAZ Board of Directors. Through the magic of technology, Maryann and Jan were able to attend virtually with approximately 600 other League members via Zoom plus another 300 in-person delegates in Colorado.

 

These biennial meetings represent a lot of work for both LWV staff, presenters and delegates to determine the focus and priorities for the League. The delegates vote on recommendations, bylaws, and resolutions. One of the first items was to retain the League’s current positions in four areas (there is more information at lwvus.org):                                         

                        Representative Government

                        International Relations

                        Natural Resources 

                        Social Policy

Two concurrence items, meaning the work has already been accomplished by a state and national can adopt the position, were recommended and approved:

                        California’s Criminal Justice position (LWVAZ adopted last year)

                        New York’s Healthcare position

Another position was voted by the delegates for adoption:

                        Connecticuts Digital Equity supported by the rural caucus

There was approval for Make Democracy Work with five components:

                        Voting Rights

                        Improve Elections

                        Campaign Finance and Money

                        Redistricting

Direct election of the President by popular vote to include National Popular Vote   Interstate Compact (NPVIC) and abolishment of the electoral college by constitutional amendment.

Other items to be elevated were approved by the delegates:

                        Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

                        Immigration

                        Climate Emergency

                        D.C. Statehood

                        Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

                        Reproductive Choice

                       

 

There were approximately 60 informational, educational sessions from which to choose five to attend. Some of the titles were:

            Monetary Principles to Make Democracy Work,

            UN Climate Conference — What it’s all about? (You can sign-up to be an observer.)

            Maximizing Election Outreach Through Partnerships

            Crisis in Health Care - Quality, Equity, and Affordability: The Search for Solutions

            How Do We Move from Us vs. Themto Me and You?

            Combatting Mis- and Disinformation in Your Community: Understanding it and Effective             Response Strategies 

We thought we were back in school and there would be a test!

 

LWVUS Bylaws were also amended to change the membership model.  In the future members will join/renew via a national portal. Membership will be managed nationally and portions of dues will then be sent to states and locals. This change will occur over the next two years.  As changes evolve, we will keep members informed.  In the meantime, we ask for your patience as we navigate changing systems.

 

And, to end on a light note, watch  Oh Democracy – very fun and effective video from LWV Snohomish county  at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjpU9_wFtr4

 


Would you like to help sign up the voters of tomorrow?  Then join us as we visit area high school government classes to explore the importance of voting and then register eligible students.  We had very successful visits to schools in Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Flagstaff and Sedona this Spring and will be returning for the Fall term. To join this important activity contact Gail Digate at ggdigate@gmail.com All materials are prepared and you would be going with an experienced volunteer. 


If you have missed any past newsletters, you can view them on the website.
 
To view a previous newsletter:
  1. On the menu, click Emailing.
  2. Click the title for the newsletter you want to view.