Date: 2/2/2023
Subject: February 2023 League Lookout
From: LWVNAZ

February 2023 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!

To get information about other league activities, see our website.

Message from the President

Hello fellow Leaguers,

It’s nice to be leaving a cold, wet January behind us and looking forward to a busy and exciting few months for our League.

Feb 6 kicks off Legislative week at the Capital with Lunch & Learn daily zooms and Feb 9 LWV day at the capital – with a program of speakers, lunch and a visit to the chambers.
Feb 10 – our local league has a fun social outing planned, courtesy of Charlotte Hosseini, with lunch in Camp Verde and a visit to a local winery… with special guests Virginia Kase Solomon, CEO of LWVUS and Pinny Sheoran, President of LWVAZ.Come join us!
Feb through April (or later) –State advocacy is actively monitoring bills at the legislature and sending out Calls to Action.Join our advocacy email list to learn more.
April 12 – Robin Low and her hardworking team have plans underway for a VEP program on housing
May 19 – 21 – Our local league is hosting the State Convention. Jan Anderson and team are working on a program of speakers and plans for a dinner event.

Wow – that’s a lot going on. I’m so grateful for the energy and commitment of our teams. I hope you will have time to attend several of these events. You can find more details below.

Maryann Kenney

President LWV Northern Arizona

It's time to get Social!

There are only a few places left... reply by Feb 4.

*** SPECIAL UPDATE ***

VIRGINIA KASE SOLOMÓN, CEO OF LWVUS and

PINNY SHEORAN, PRESIDENT OF LWV AZ WILL BE ATTENDING

The League of Women Voters of Northern Arizona

Is planning a social outing to Camp Verde

Come join us for great food, wine and conversation

On Friday, February 10, 2023

which includes

Lunch at Astoria International Bistro followed by

A Winery Tour and tasting at Salt Mine Winery

Lunch at 12:30 pm, Salt Mine Winery approximately 2:00 pm-4:00 pm

Directions provided to those attending. Limit is 30 persons, so let us know and let’s carpool! RSVP if you are interested to lwvnaz@gmail.com by Saturday, February 4

Astoria International Bistro is a new offering in Camp Verde and getting very good reviews. Lunch will be a fixed price of $25 per person and there will be a family style presentation of bruschettas, various salads, pierogies, hummus and mushroom plate, and a cheese board. Salt Mine Wine is a boutique winery owned and operated by the family of a League member (saltminewine.com). Their specialties are Italian reds and Spanish and French grape blends. Flights are $10 and bottles of your favorites are available for purchase. LWVNAZ members receive 10% off ! Sweets to accompany the wines will be provided.

Political Book Club

Political Book Club (PBC) Let’s Talk Politics (LTP)

February 27, 2023 February 27, 2023

3:00 - 4:15 pm MST 4:15 - 5:00 pm MST

PBC - The book for February 27, 2023 is How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them by Barbara F. Walter (January 2022, 320 pages). A leading political scientist examines the dramatic rise in violent extremism around the globe and sounds the alarm on the increasing likelihood of a second civil war in the United States (NYT). Over the last two decades, the number of active civil wars around the world has almost doubled. Walter reveals the warning signs – where wars tend to start, who initiates them, what triggers them – and why some countries tip over into conflict while others remain stable.

The only requirement to join the book club 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 .

Lets Talk Politics: At 4:15 pm, those who have not read the book can join the group to share thoughts, concerns, insights, and predilections about current political and societal events. As one member stated, we can talk about “those issues which keep you awake at night.” Everyone has a chance to speak, while we all listen. Topics for discussion usually evolve from the group concerns. Whatever your political persuasion, you are welcome to join this accepting and respectful group.

To join the Zoom meeting, click here and use passcode 220148. You will need to be admitted by the host.

Voter Education

On Wednesday, April 12, the League of Women Voters of Northern Arizona will hold a program on Creating Affordable Housing in the Verde Valley. Speakers will include Shannon Boone, who works on housing issues for Sedona and Cottonwood, and Mary Chicoine of the Verde Valley Housing.

In order to accommodate members and guests who are employed, the meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Camp Verde Public Library. Please join us to hear the latest on affordable housing and to give your input on how best to deal with this challenging situation

A Nominating Committee has been formed to boost interest in our League’s Board of Directors. The President and Treasurer positions will be open in July. If you are interested in more information or know someone who would be a good fit for the Board, please email marianne.schaeferLWV@gmail.com

It’s a great opportunity to work with committed folks on issues affecting us all!

Please join us for the annual

LWVAZ Lobby day at the Arizona Capitol on Thursday, February 9.

Registration is required to attend.

You must register and arrange for payment by February 4th.

The cost is $5.00 to attend, which covers drinks and expenses related to the event. If you wish to join us for lunch, the total cost is $20.00. If you have financial hardship but would like to attend, please email LWVAZ president Pinny Sheoran at pinny.sheoran@gmail.com . We usually have generous league members willing to help other members attend the event.

Registration form.

Date: Feb 9th

Venue: Arizona Capitol - Tower Building (where the executive offices are located) 3rd Floor.

Conference Room 104,

Time: 10:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. Please arrive by 9:30 a.m. The program begins promptly at 10:00 a.m.

Program Schedule

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 registration and coffee

10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Speakers.

Minority Leaders Senator Raquel Terán (LD-26), Representative Andrés Cano (LD-20), and Minority Caucus Chair Senator Lela Alston (LD-5)
Majority Leaders Senator Sonny Borelli (LD-30) and Representative Leo Biasiucci (LD-30) (invited)
LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase Solomón. She will share the LWVUS priorities for the current congress and meet League members
First-time state legislators (invited)

Noon Lunch and conversations with Virginia Case Solomón and legislators

1:00 p.m. (approx). League members may attend the sessions in the House and Senate chambers.

Meet your legislators

League members who want to schedule a meeting with their legislators to present League priorities must email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com. Talking points regarding league priorities will be provided.

If you plan to meet with legislators representing yourself, please do not wear League buttons or t-shirts.

Please join us for our popular virtual Lunch and Learn sessions, open to League members and the general public. Our speakers include experts in some of the key areas of Arizona League advocacy and senior legislative staff members. Coverage will include the current legislative landscape and how you can advocate for issues important to you. All sessions are conducted on Zoom and will begin promptly at 12:00 p.m. (noon) and finish at 1:30 p.m. Click on the QR code or click on https://linktr.ee/lwvazlunchandlearn to register for the events.

Monday Feb. 6, 12 - 1:00 p.m.

Topic: Women's Reproductive Rights

Speakers: Kelley Dubbs Senior Director of Public Policy & Government Relations, Planned Parenthood Arizona/Advocates of Arizona, Jodi Liggett, LWVAZ Lobbyist, Jennifer Allen, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona

Moderator: Alexis Lane

Tuesday Feb. 7, 12 - 1:00 p.m.

Topic: Education Legislation in 2023

Speakers: Beth Lewis, SOS AZ, Senator Catherine Miranda (invited)

Moderators: Karen Devine and Tina Mollica

Wednesday Feb. 8, 12 - 1:00 p.m.

Topic Voting Rights and Election Administration Legislative Landscape

Speakers: Senate Elections, Senate Government, House Municipal Oversight & Elections, and House Government Committee members (invited)

Moderators: Pinny Sheoran and Gitelle Seer

Friday Feb. 10, 12 - 1:00 p.m.

Topic: Behind the Scenes at the Legislature:

Speakers: Rhonda Barnes, House Minority Deputy Chief of Staff/ General Counsel, Elizabeth Higgins, Senate Minority General Counsel/Policy Advisor

Moderators: Jodi Liggett & Gitelle Seer

Taking a Position

Water Policy Update Review

Updating the LWVAZ water policy to meet new water challenges

Zoom discussion for Northern Arizona members on February 28, 2023 at 4:00 pm

At the LWVAZ State Convention in 2021, delegates authorized an Ad Hoc Committee to revise and amend the LWVAZ public policy position on water. This committee has been working for over a year and has now drafted a proposed revision of the LWVAZ water policy that it believes will better address the many serious challenges that Arizona faces in managing its finite water resources.

On February 28, 2023, at 4:00 pm you are invited to join a Zoom presentation on water for members in the Northern Arizona local league to discuss this proposed policy revision. Lyn Loveless (LWVGT), the chair of the committee, and Nancy Steele, a member of LWVNAZ, will outline why an amended policy is needed and will summarize the changes being proposed. We want to make sure all league members in the Northern Arizona chapter are aware of this effort, are familiar with the draft proposal, and understand how this revised policy will help our advocacy for effective water management in the state. We also want to answer your questions. You can participate in this meeting by signing in on February 28 to this zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81815854417?pwd=NkU1WkxGOHYrVkZSRXhhYWswNkZRUT09 using the passcode: 843128.

The state LWVAZ webpage has a tab on water with more information for those who are interested. We have posted an information hub at https://my.lwv.org/arizona/water-issues You can also review the current water policy and the proposed draft revision online on this page or follow this direct link: https://my.lwv.org/arizona/read-and-review-proposed-2023-lwvaz-water-policy You can communicate your questions to the committee by email, especially if you cannot come to the online discussion. Send your comments and questions to lwvarizona@gmail.com before March 5, 2023. The proposed revised water policy will be considered and voted on at the State LWVAZ convention in Cottonwood in May, 2023.

We hope to see you online on Tuesday, February 28 to discuss these proposed revisions to the LWVAZ public policy on water.

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