VOTER-February-2008

February Stir the Pot Program Featuring
MARGARET GORDON, new Oakland Port Commissioner

Come hear about what is going on at the Port and what the opportunities are for the League to be involved at the Port.

Monday, February 25
5:30 --7 PM
Dimond Library
3565 Fruitvale Avenue

Bring your favorite food and or/beverage (no alcohol at the library).

Program Planning - Grassroots in Action

Program is a three-part process that is a core component of the League's mission. It consists of program planning, study and consensus, and advocacy. Every year League members are invited to set the agenda for the various levels of the League. We always review our local and Bay Area positions and every other year we review the LWVUS positions.
This is a great meeting for new members. We discuss and review our current positions, learn how we have used these positions locally and at the Bay Area level, and discuss whether any of the current national positions needs to be reviewed and/or whether we need to study a new area of concern.
Saturday, February 9
9:30 AM Coffee and Brunch goodies
9:45 AM - Program begins
This free event will be held at the home of Bonnie Hamlin, 5818 Ivanhoe Road, Oakland.
Call the League office at 834-7640 if you would like a ride. Call Bonnie at 658-6212 if you need directions. The house is just a few blocks from the Rockridge BART station.
For those members that would like to get a headstart for this meeting, please check out our position at http://www.lwvoakland.org/positions.html.
If you cannot attend this meeting, you can email any comments on our positions to nikkihar@aol.com.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Helen Hutchison
Making Democracy Work Award - nominations sought

You'll find a nomination form for our "Making Democracy Work" award to be given at our All-City Luncheon on page 6 of the VOTER. Please feel free to copy this form and give it to anyone you feel might be interested in making a nomination for this year's award--or nominate someone yourself.
Print out the nomination form for LWV Oakland's Making Democracy Work award
This is the second year that we're soliciting nominations from the public. It was a great success last year + in large part because our members helped to spread the word, and made great nominations. Please help us make this another great year.
This month I am devoting the rest of the president's message to an article by LWVC President Janis R. Hirohama. I think it gives us all something to think about!
In a recent issue of Oprah magazine, columnist Martha Beck explains how the time and energy spent complaining can be harnessed to create action and change instead of inertia and frustration. She gives the example of a college student, Dinah, who spent hours ranting about a certain elected official with her friends. This, Dinah said, was "activism." Ms. Beck responded, "I said it looked more like passivism + neither activism nor pacifism but an excellent way of feeling intelligent and important without studying." She goes on to say: "These venters thought their chronic complaining was `powerful civil disobedience.' Actually, it was disempowering uncivil obedience."
I love this example because it reminds me of what is so valuable about the League of Women Voters. Everything we do is oriented toward creating activists, not mere complainers. Our mission is to promote informed and active participation in government. In 1920, the founders of the League understood the importance of educating millions of newly-enfranchised women about the processes of government and the mechanics of voting. But they also understood that such education was part of the greater task of preparing women to become active participants in the governing. Studying issues and then using that knowledge to improve our world for the better is what the League is all about.
What the column expresses, and what we in the League understand so well, is that knowledge, and the ability and motivation to use it, are empowering. If your local library lacks technology and its hours have been reduced, you could fume inwardly about the problems, but that won't improve things. But what if the local League conducts a study of the library? Based on the study, the League adopts a position. Now, armed with information you've learned about the library's needs and funding sources, you write letters to the editor and lobby your elected officials. You learned how to do this in the League. If the council is unresponsive, you organize voters in your community to put a library bond measure on the ballot and campaign for its passage. Now, doesn't that feel better than complaining?
The 2008 elections will give us more opportunities not only to provide our communities with top-notch voter service information, but also to let people know more about the League of Women Voters. Use these opportunities to remind people what the League is about + knowledge, empowerment, and the ability to effect positive change. Make sure they know that we can give them the tools to be activists + not passivists!
Janis R. Hirohama

Black History Program

Sat., Feb. 2, 2 pm, Rockridge Library
Betty Reid Soskin, Black social activist of the 50's and California Woman of the Year award winner in 1995 will be the featured speaker at Oakland Eastbay NOW's offering for Black History Month . The afternoon presentation will take place on Saturday, February 2, from 2-4 pm at the Rockridge Library, 5366 College Ave., just five blocks from the BART Station.
Soskin's on-going career as a cultural anthropologist and writer began in Berkeley where she initiated the overhaul of a a drug and crime-infested neighborhood and and continues today as history librarian at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, the site of the Kaiser shipyards that brought thousands of women, white and colored, to assist in the heretofore male-only occupation of shipbuilding memorialized in the "We Can Do It!" poster. She was honored in 2006 by the National Women's History Project as one of their "Builders of Communities and Dreams" in helping to make women's history authentic by persuading Park developers to acknowledge the role of Black neighborhoods surrounding the Richmond site which had been bulldozed after the war.
The 86-year-old Soskin will relate what it was like for Black Americans growing up in the Eastbay from 1927 when she arrived with her family from Louisiana as victims of a Katrina-like hurricane which destroyed their home and business. Many years later she married into the pioneer Reid family that had escaped from slavery to the haven of California during the Civil War, later working in their Berkeley music store when her husband fell ill. She, like many Black Americans like her, faced a lifetime of racial prejudice leading to a mid-life crisis, an experience which, she says, opened up new avenues to recovery---singing, painting and creating music--resulting in her recognition that there is a universality shared with everyone else on the planet.
Co-sponsors include the Women of Color Resource Center, National Women's History Project, California Women's Agenda, Oakland League of Women Voters , San Francisco NOW and AAUW , Berkeley chapter.
For more information, contact Carol Norberg, cdnorberg@comcast.net, 510 251-0559.

The League Needs You to Make Redistricting Reform Happen!

From LWV California

We're off and running on our campaign to effect fair and open redistricting reform in California. In order to get the California Voters FIRST initiative on the ballot, we need a million signatures. The League has pledged to do its part. So we're calling all League members to rally to the cause and help us get those signatures.
How? First, every member will receive a petition with three signature spaces. Sign it yourself, get two more signatures from your family, friends or colleagues, and send it in. It's easy!
Second, volunteer to take more petitions and get signatures at meetings, rallies, parties, supermarkets, movie lines, wherever you go. Please contact LWVC Advocacy Assistant Maggie Young to volunteer (myoung@lwvc.org, 916-442-7215). We'll be working with your League, Inter League Organization, or County Council to make it happen.
Allowing legislators to draw their own districts is a serious conflict of interest that harms voters. This reform will put the voters back in charge. Read the text of the initiative, see the talking points, and get the very latest news about the campaign on our Web site at http://www.ca.lwv.org/.
Sign on for an exciting, hands-on experience in making democracy work!

Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District Needs You

The League has been asked to help find an Oakland representative to the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District Board of Trustees to replace the current representative who would like to retire.
If you want to know more about the district, you can look at its website: http://www.mosquitoes.org/
If you personally are not interested in serving on the Board of Trustees, perhaps you know someone who might be a good candidate. Please ask him or her to consider this job.
The Board meets once a month, on Wednesday evenings, in Hayward. The meetings usually last about one hour.
If you are interested, please call or email Helen Hutchison at 510 654 2216, helen@helenhutch.com.

Reproduction Rights - Action on Two Fronts

Buffer Ordinance

The Oakland Buffer Ordinance, which will ensure safe and unimpeded access to abortions clinics in Oakland, passed its second reading in December and was immediately challenged in Federal Court. At an informal hearing the City agreed to make some changes to the ordinance that will not affect the protection for the clinics. The revisions required a new first and second reading by the City Council. The revised ordinance passed its first reading on January 15 and is scheduled for its second reading on February 5. The ordinance requires that all protestors stay at least 8 feet away from patients, doctors and other clinic employees within 100 feet of a reproductive health facility.

Clinic Escorts

On January 18, because of an anti-abortion march and rally in Oakland, there was concern about the potential for disruptive protest activity at the abortion clinics in Oakland. The regular clinic escorts asked for help from several organizations, including the League. The League organized a phone tree of volunteers ready to go to one of the clinics when called. Happily, there was no protest activity at any of the clinics. If any League members are interested in learning more about the clinic escort program, please contact Sandra Coleman 510 451-6796, Sandra@mbcarch.com, or Barbara Hoke, hokex@comcast.net.

New Ethics Guidance Allows Loopholes

From LWVUS
League Objects to New Ethics Guidance Allowing Loopholes in Recently Enacted Rules

The League and coalition partners strongly object to the guidance recently issued by the House Ethics Committee to implement the new ethics rule to restrict House members from participating in parties that take place at the national nominating convention to "honor" those members. This guidance opens gaping loopholes in the new ethics rule just enacted a few months ago that prevents lobbyists and lobbying organizations from gaining favor and influence with Representatives by paying for lavish parties to "honor" those members.

LWVO Annual Luncheon

Save The Date
Wednesday, April 2, at noon
at the Marriott
(same location as last year)
The theme for this years luncheon is "Oakland Without Borders? Immigration and the East Bay." Our speaker will be Alex Saragosa who also spoke to us at the general meeting in September on immigration. He is an entertaining speaker with a great store of knowledge of immigration issues.
Letters have gone out to potential underwriters and supporters. We anticipate an exciting and stimulating event.

We Need Help with Mailing

On Wednesday, February 27 we will be having our annual Mailing Party!!!!
You are cordially invited to help any time between 10 AM and 8 PM. The location is the Swans CoHousing Common room.
Healthy snacks will be provided but you'll have to supply the good conversation and amusing anecdotes. We hope to see as many of you there as possible. For newer members, this is a wonderful way to "get your feet wet." We'll be stuffing envelopes and attaching address labels so the mind can relax while you enjoy the company of like-minded people around you. If you are able to help, you can accomplish a lot--even in an hour. For more info or to let us know that you are available to help please call Bea Rudney at 531-8287 or Sandra Coleman at 451-6796.

Public Advocacy for Voter Protection Project

From LWVUS
LWV has created The League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) Public Advocacy for Voter Protection Project. The purpose is to help bolster the League's capacity to expand its critical state-based advocacy to prevent the disenfranchisement of eligible citizens, particularly underserved populations.
In 2002, in the wake of the tumultuous 2000 election, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to modernize the nation's election processes and to help ensure that eligible voters are no longer deprived of the franchise due to administrative errors.
Unfortunately, in many states, politicians have seized on this opportunity as a means of disenfranchising targeted voters through changes in election laws. These new measures have the potential of disenfranchising more Americans than any Election Day problems we have seen in the past.
In its effort to fight back, the League of Women Voters is focusing on five specific issues:
▪ Oppose ID and documentary proof of citizenship
▪ Improve administration of statewide database systems
▪ Guard against undue restrictions on voter registration
▪ Improve polling place management
▪ Improve poll worker training

BAY AREA LEAGUE DAY

League of Women Voters of the Bay Area
An Inter-League Organization of the San Francisco Bay Area

Transportation Solutions to Climate Change

Friday, February 22, 2008
Nile Hall, Preservation Park in Downtown Oakland
(12th Street and Martin Luther King Way)
9:00 AM - Registration and Refreshments
9:30 AM - Program
9:45 AM - Keynote: The Regional Transportation Plan 2035 and Climate Change
    Therese McMillan, Deputy Executive Director of Policy, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
10:30 AM - Morning Panel: Perspectives on the Regional Plan and Funding Options
    Stuart Cohen, Executive Director, Transportation and Land Use Coalition
    Robert McCleary, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transit Authority
    Bob Allen, Transportation & Housing Program Director, Urban Habitat

12 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM - Afternoon Panel 1: Safe Routes to Schools and Other Local Solutions
    Jim Smith, Public Information Officer, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
    Rochelle Wheeler, Program Coordinator, Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority
1:45 p.m. - Afternoon Panel 2: Sub-Regional Bus Service and Pedestrian/Bicycle Options
    Robert Raburn, East Bay Bicycle Coalition
    Representative from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

To register in advance send a check for $25 (or $15 if not having lunch) payable to the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area to the address below, or you can register online: visit http://www.lwvbayarea.org/BALD.html. The deadline for pre-paid registration is Wednesday, February 13, after which the cost increases to the day-of-registration fee of $30.
1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 300, Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 839-1608  Fax: (510) 839-1610 http://www.lwvbayarea.org

MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

The League of Women Voters of Oakland celebrates community leaders - individuals and organizations that have envisioned a way to improve Oakland and have mobilized others to work with them to effect a change that has benefited the broader community. These awards will honor two such individuals and/or organizations that have, in the League tradition, helped to make Oakland strong, vibrant and fair.
Nominations are open to any Oakland resident or organization that is contributing or has contributed to our community in a significant and meaningful way. Nominees may apply themselves or may be nominated by a friend or colleague. All applications must be received by Friday, February 22, 2008.
Print out the nomination form for LWV Oakland's Making Democracy Work award

Membership Update

Welcome New Members:
Nicole Boyle
Ronnie Caplane
Laura Courtney
Beverly A. Daniels-Greenberg
Daniel H, Eilbeck
Rebecca Goodman
Dr. Amy Gurowitz
Daphne Markham
Natasha Minsker
Hope Spandora
Elizabeth Summers
Address and emails are in the paper VOTER

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: June 5, 2008 13:47 PDT.