League of Women Voters of Denton Newsletter: September 2008

Sue Smith, President
Sondra Ferstl, VOTER Editor
P. O. Box 424945 TWU Station
Denton, TX 76204
www.lwvdenton.org

Calendar

Thursday, September 11, 7 – 9 p.m.
Back to the Basics, a meeting for all LWV-Denton members, Environmental Education Science and Technology Building (EESAT), Room 176, on the University of North Texas campus, Hickory and Avenue C. Get your hang tag before parking.

Saturday, September 20, Voter Registration at the Blues Festival.

Friday, September 26, Voter Registration at Fiesta on the Square.

Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28.
Register voters (with AAUW assisting) at the three branches of the Denton Public Library.

Friday, October 3, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Meet and Greet Party at the home of Teddy and Barbara Coe, 2002 Mistywood, Denton.
Hold the date.

Monday, October 6, Last Day to Register to Vote.

Monday, October 20. First Day of Early Voting.

PRESIDENT’S PODIUM

What is the most important word in the name of our organization? I would suggest “Voters.” Every election is important to League members, but a presidential election seems more important to the general public. With that in mind, we will be stressing voter registration drives, Voters Guides, and interviews with candidates throughout September and October.

For our first general meeting, we usually invite a guest speaker. This year we are going “Back to the Basics” with every member participating in a work session on Thursday, September 11. We will be working on questions for candidates in contested races in Denton County for our local General Election Voters Guide. We will also plan for voter registration opportunities with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Blues Festival in Quaker Town Park on September 20, Fiesta on the Square on September 26, and at the three branches of the Denton Public Library on September 27 and 28. We will also be addressing invitations to our meet and greet party which will be held October 3 at the home of Teddy and Barbara Coe. If you know someone you think might be interested in joining the League, please send their name and address to Sondra Ferstl (smferstl@charter.net) ASAP.

On September 3, Sondra Ferstl, Sarah McIntire, and I will be attending the monthly meeting of the Denton AAUW to speak about our voters service projects such as Voters Guides and voter registration. Linnie McAdams will be speaking to the University Women about Women’s Participation in Voting. In October Dorothy Damico will give a presentation at the Emily Fowler Library about the League of Women Voters and the importance of informed voting.

Sue Smith, President

NOTE THESE CHANGES IN YOUR MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

As membership renewals have come in, we have noticed the following changes for the member handbook. Ruth Clark has moved from Apt. 235 to the Lake Forest Good Samaritan Health Care Center, Room 212 (same address on Montecito). Dorothy Damico has a new e-mail address: dldamico@charter.net. Maggie Dodd has a new e-mail address: maggiedodddenton@verizon.net. Maisie Kashka’s new mailing address is 129 Mill Pond Rd. and the zip is now 76209.

REPORT FROM NATIONAL CONVENTION

In June I represented the Denton League at the National Convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States in Portland, Oregon. Being in a cooler clime for five days during a Texas summer was an added bonus for this delegate!

Program action included amending the League Principles to refer to the three branches of government in the order mentioned in the Constitution: “legislative, executive, and judicial.” Interesting, that detail!

Delegates adopted a Health Care Program to educate members and communities in order to be better prepared to do health care advocacy as needed. Another amendment that passed was to adopt a “multi-level education and advocacy campaign to promote solutions to global climate change.” All current program positions were retained.

The nominated slate for the national board was elected. A male member joins the national board for the first time.

I attended two workshops on voters service. SmartVoter.org was one interesting educational effort. Project VOTE also helps people develop systems for voter registration.

Two former governors of Oregon, Barbara Roberts and John Kitzhaber, gave rousing and inspiring speeches to the delegates.

There were approximately 690 voting delegates. Fourteen of us were from Texas. At one break I heard my name called. I turned around to find Carol Wilson, formerly from Richardson, Texas but now a Portland resident. Carol and I served on the Texas state board together in the 80’s. She was working as one of the local League volunteers at convention.

President Mary G. Wilson, in her prepared remarks for convention, issued this challenge to delegates: “How will you engage this cadre of new voters? And make them life-long voters? And members of the League?

Sondra Ferstl

MEET AND GREET PARTY SET FOR OCTOBER 3

The gathering planned for Friday evening, October 3, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. will be an opportunity for members of the LWV-Denton to share information about the League with others in the community. We will invite our guests to join us as we seek to make democracy work. A printed invitation will be sent to members and prospective members, with a reply needed so we can plan the logistics and refreshments.

The event will be catered by the Emerald Bee and have finger foods and beverages (wine, sparkling lemonade punch, iced tea, and coffee). Dress is business casual.

President Sue Smith will give a brief explanation of what the League of Women Voters is to the groups gathered in the home of Teddy and Barbara Coe, 2002 Mistywood. A membership brochure with information on the Denton League’s support positions and a membership application and information about the dues will be handed to each visitor to the party as they depart.

CONTESTED RACES IN DENTON COUNTY
NOVEMBER 2008 GENERAL ELECTION

U.S. Representative, District 26
    D – Ken Leach
    R – Michael Burgess*

State Senator, District 9
    D – Melvin Willms
    R – Chris Harris*

State Representative, District 63
    D – Jesus Carrillo
    L - John Turner
    R – Tan Parker*

State Representative, District 64
    D – John McClelland
    L - Jason Jordan
    R – Myra Crownover*

State Representative, District 65
    L – Lee Hooper
    R - Burt Solomons*

County Commissioner, Precinct 1
    D – Phyllis Wolper
    R – Hugh Coleman

Constable, Precinct 5
    D – Mike Ballard
    R – Ken Jannereth*

D = Democratic L = Libertarian R = Republican
* = Incumbent

The local Voters Guide to be published by LWV-Denton will cover the contested races listed above. The race for the State Board of Education will be covered by the state League and published by the LWV-Texas Education Fund. Copies of both guides will be distributed to members and placed throughout Denton County, primarily at libraries and recreation centers.