February 2024 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,
Hope you had a happy groundhog day! Due to unforeseen circumstances, we're repeating last month's message. It still applies.
Collectively, as a country and as a society, we are facing a very challenging year. Division and misinformation continue to grow at an alarming rate. This will be the year we all need to engage to protect our democracy.
There will be many small ways to help. Vote – for sure, I know you all do that!! Encourage others to vote – especially our younger family members – children or grandchildren. Be informed – go to Voter Ed presentations, read the news from a reputable source, follow newsletters you trust. Make a donation to an advocacy group you feel strongly about – perhaps LWVNAZ Ed Fund. Join a group of like-minded people. Pick up and circulate a petition. Follow events at the AZ State Legislature via the LWVAZ Advocacy newsletter. Use the state Legislature Request to Speak System.
You may have heard the quote “it’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” While often attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, the first use might likely be William Watkinson, an American preacher, in 1907. Writing about the troubling times he wrote
"But denunciatory rhetoric is so much easier and cheaper than good works, and proves a popular temptation. Yet is it far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness."
As true a thought for 2024 as 1907.
Yours in league,
Maryann Kenney
President LWVNAZ
| Voter Education Programs
The LWV of Northern Arizona is sponsoring Voter Education Programs on the Independent Voter, produced and facilitated by long-time Sedona residents Paul Friedman and Jon Thompson.
Here is the link to the first program:
Stay tuned for updates!
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The Political Book Club meets at 3:00 pm MST on the last Monday of the month.
On January 29, Michelle Lambeau led the discussion of Rachel Maddow’s Prequel: an American Fight Against Fascism. This history of the period between the wars tracks home-grown fascists and white supremacists who worked, sometimes with inside help, to bring down American democracy. A sobering and somewhat depressing read as it mirrors much of what is happening in the U.S. today. Michelle’s challenge for each of us was to think of something we could do to combat today’s Fascism.
Books for the next three months will be the following:
February 26 - Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson
Many books tell us what has happened over the last five years. Democracy Awakening explains how we got to this perilous point, what our history really tells us about ourselves, and what the future of democracy can be.
March 25 - The Shadow Docket by Stephen Vladeck
The Supreme Court has always had the authority to issue emergency rulings in exceptional circumstances. But since 2017, the Court has dramatically expanded its use of the behind-the-scenes “shadow docket,” regularly making decisions that affect millions of Americans without public hearings and without explanation, through cryptic late-night rulings that leave lawyers—and citizens—scrambling. The Court’s conservative majority has used the shadow docket to green-light restrictive voting laws and bans on abortion, and to curtail immigration and COVID vaccine mandates. But Americans of all political stripes should be worried about what the shadow docket portends for the rule of law, argues Supreme Court expert Stephen Vladeck.
April 29 - Enough by Cassidy Hutchinson
Cassidy Hutchinson’s desk was mere steps from the most controversial president in recent American history. Now, she provides a riveting account of her extraordinary experiences as an idealistic young woman thrust into the middle of a national crisis, where she risked everything to tell the truth about some of the most powerful people in Washington.
The only requirement to join us is to have 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.
We are still meeting via Zoom. If you would like to join the group, contact ann.holland99@gmail.com to obtain the Zoom link for the meeting.
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Arizona for Abortion Access Campaign and League Involvement | | | LWV Northern Arizona Collecting Signatures for
ARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACCESS CAMPAIGN
UPDATE
Let’s begin 2024 with a big push to collect signatures for the Arizona for Abortion Access Campaign! We have petitions, clipboards, instructions, and training to get anyone ready to help us reach the LWV Arizona goal of 10,000 signatures. With your help, we can help the campaign reach its 350,000+ signature threshold and get closer to enshrining abortion access in Arizona’s constitution.
LWV Northern Arizona members can pick-up campaign petitions and material from League member, Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer. Please email, Robyn at lwvnaz@gmail.com if you are interested in gathering signatures or have any questions. Robyn will deliver petitions to you! A link to a recorded Zoom training session for gathering signatures will be sent to League members volunteering to collect signatures.
LWV’s Role in the Campaign
The LWV Arizona has a key role as a member of the field committee organized under the auspices of Health Care Rising (HCR). The deadline for submitting signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State is July 3, 2024. Our goal is to submit our petitions to the campaign by June 30, 2024, to allow time for the campaign to quality-check the petitions.
Distributing and Collecting Petitions (Petition circulators)
- Ask for petitions from LWVNAZ member, Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer
- Collect signatures following the guidelines in the petition’s "Dos and Dont's" document
- Easy way to collect signatures: Ask family members, friends, colleagues or neighbors who are registered voters to sign a petition. If every League member collected 10 signatures – LWVAZ would easily meet their signature collection goal!
- Take signed petitions to a notary to be notarized (a list of notaries provided with your petitions)
- Return signed and notarized petitions to LWVNAZ or non-League AAA petition collection location (Drop-off locations will be provided with your petitions) or Robyn will pick-up completed petitions!
- Training and Support materials
- Copies of role-specific instructions will be given to all volunteers with the petitions.
- A recorded Petition Circulator Training will be sent to all volunteers
About the Campaign
Arizona for Abortion Access is a coalition of reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations working to ensure Arizonans can make the decisions that are best for them and their families — free from government interference.
This initiative will protect abortion access in Arizona and ensure every person can make this deeply personal decision with dignity. The “Arizona Abortion Access Act” would enshrine the fundamental right to abortion in Arizona’s constitution: Arizona for Abortion Access Website
***Send an email to Robyn at lwvnaz@gmail.com and ask for your petition today and start collecting signatures ***
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AZ State Legislative Session
Started January 8, 2024
| | | A few quick reminders for how to stay engaged...
Advocacy Newsletter -- is generally sent weekly to subscribers during the Legislative season. You can be informed of critical bills, our stance to oppose or support and receive suggested talking points. Sign up at lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com
After receiving the newsletter letter, the best way to take action is by using the Request to Speak System.
Request to Speak (RTS) – this is a wonderful, unique feature of the AZ Legislature. Any member registered on the site can express support or opposition to a bill before a committee hearing, as well as leave comments – which legislators do read! This is an easy and important way to become involved. Training is offered and we will help you register for the system. If you haven’t done this before – this is the year! The next session is in January
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Get a closer look at your Legislature
Take part in LWVAZ Legislative Week
Feb 19 - 23
| | | This is a great opportunity to learn more about activity at the Legislature relating to areas where the League is monitoring legislation and advocating for our positions. The week will have Lunch & Learn Zoom sessions Monday - Thursday on select policy areas. Stay informed from the comfort of your home!
On Friday, February 23 LWVAZ is coordinating our Legislative Day at the Capitol. If you have not done this before, I would strongly encourage you to join this in-person event at the Capitol. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet with other Leaguers from around the state, and hear from Legislators on current topics of interest. If time, and schedule allows, we will also visit one of the chambers and see our Legislators in action.
Since it's a bit of a trip for us living in Northern Arizona, we'll be arranging carpooling.
Hold the day open - more details to follow!!
| League Activity Around the State | |
LWVAZ EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE BEGINS ITS WORK
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In a recent survey conducted by the LWVAZ, members identified education as a top issue of importance. At the May 2023 LWVAZ Business Meeting, the members unanimously adopted a proposal to create a study committee representative of all AZ local leagues to update the league’s education position.
The LWVAZ Education Position was originally adopted in 1979 and expanded to include Charter schools in 1999 and high-stakes testing in 2005. Since its last update in 2017, the education landscape has shifted again, and we need to strengthen our position to more effectively advocate for Arizona’s students and the public education community.
The LWVAZ Education Position Study Committee is currently reviewing and revising the updated position and we would like your input. As a leader in voting rights, LWVAZ strives also to be a leader in public education advocacy. Equal access to quality education for all students is crucial to preparing the voters of the future. Your feedback is important to this goal. Please complete the LWVAZ Education Study Member Poll as soon as possible. Thank you for your support. | 
Be on the forefront of empowering voters and defending democracy!
Nominations are currently being accepted for the office of
President-Elect, LWV Arizona.
You can nominate yourself or another League member!
Applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply.
The successful candidate will have experience in leadership, advocacy,
business, or non-government profit work, and will have served as a
League member in good standing for a minimum of one year.
President-Elect Job Description
This position provides the opportunity to apprentice to the President in 2024-25
with the support of an experienced Board of Directors for one year
before ascending to the role of President in 2025-26.
There is a strong team waiting for you…
Use this QR code to access Application Form
Application deadline is February 15, 2024 | |
The Greater Tucson League is going to host a social meet and greet event at the UA vs ASU women's basketball game on Sunday, February 4th at noon at McKale Stadium in Tucson. We're getting a block of tickets at the group rate of $12 each, and the deadline to register is January 21. We wanted to invite all the local leagues to come join us, so feel free to put this in your newsletters.
Click this link to register and pay on their website:
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