April 2015 - League of Women Voters of Arlington

League of Women Voters
of Arlington, Virginia
BULLETIN
Volume LX – No.8
President: Kristin Goss
Editor: Maggie Bush
REGISTER NOW: ANNUAL MEETING & BREAKFAST
Saturday, May 16, 2015 ~ Sheraton National Hotel
900 South Orme Street (near Washington Blvd. & Columbia Pike)
Breakfast 9:30 AM – Followed by Meeting till 12 noon
Featured Speaker
Karen Marangi, The Raben Group & Everytown for Gun Safety
Registration Form on page 5
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015
Letter from the President
Kristin Goss
OFFICERS 2014-2015
Kristin Goss, President
[email protected]
As we head into our annual meeting, let me issue a challenge: Please
recruit a friend and bring her or him along. We will cover the
costs!
VP, Administration: Kathy Matusiak
Secretary: Madeline Jervis
Treasurer: Rita McGovern
The League has new energy and new ideas – and we need more
help. Everyone has something to contribute: an idea, a dollar, or an
hour.
LWV of Arlington Bulletin is published
approximately 7 times a year by the
League of Women Voters of Arlington, VA
Mail to P.O. Box 100577
Arlington, VA 22210
The annual meeting hotel will need a headcount the first week of May,
so please send in your annual meeting registration as soon as
possible. If you can bring a friend, email us at
[email protected].
Editor: Maggie Bush
[email protected]
Visit us:
www.LWV-ArlingtonVa.org
“Like” us:
facebook.com/LWVArlington
Join us:
Membership Chair Marion Moore
703-243-2434;
[email protected]
The League of Women Voters is a
nonpartisan, political membership
organization that encourages informed
and active participation in government,
works to increase the
understanding of major public policy
issues through education
and influences public policy
through advocacy.
We welcome both female and male
members. We are part of the League of
Women Voters of the US (www.lwv.org).
Over the past month we have two successful public events to
celebrate:
“Border Crossings,” an NCA-sponsored forum on transportation in
the DC region. Kathy Matusiak was our lead in helping organize the
forum. Please see her report on page 4.
“Who Can Afford to Live Here? Affordable Housing and
Arlington’s Future,” sponsored by the Arlington League. After her
especially timely forum on the future of Columbia Pike, Beth Cogswell
jumped in to organize a terrific follow-up panel on this most central of
issues in our community. We had eight speakers, including residents
providing a ground-level view of how the housing crunch affects
different demographic constituencies, County housing officials,
advocacy group leaders, and a County Board member. Roughly 40
people attended – a rousing success. See photos on page 3.
Besides extending gratitude to Beth – who spent countless hours on a
thousand details that nobody could possibly appreciate – I would like
to thank two new members who really stepped up to the plate to help
us get the word out: Courtney Hill and Joan Porte. Thanks also to
League member Pat McGrady for serving as a panelist speaking to
the experience of retirees.
(Continued next page)
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015
Anyone who has organized public events knows the challenges inherent in prying people
away from their private commitments to learn and deliberate in face-to-face settings.
People’s schedules are busy and complicated, and pulling off a successful forum is tough.
However, as League members we know how very important these face-to-face meetings are
to our community’s long term wellbeing. Huge congratulations go out to Beth and Kathy for
their extraordinary work.
As we end the “League year” and segue into summer, I’d like to issue a challenge: Let’s
spend the next three months thinking about creative ways to recruit and quickly
engage new members. To be honest, we have a lot of ideas and the resources to
support our work – what we need are people to help us carry out the work.
We can accommodate all kinds of people – those who can work a few hours every once in a
while on a specific project all the way up to those who can help lead a portfolio of projects
throughout the year. We can accommodate those who have free time during the day and
those who can squeeze in a bit of work early in the morning or late at night.
I would be grateful for – and will immediately follow up on – any ideas you have on how to
recruit more people to help us carry out our work!
Affordable Housing Forum Draws a Crowd
Thanks to all who attended the League’s successful Affordable Housing Event on April 19.
The event brought together a range of experts to discuss housing issues in the County.
(Photo, Left): Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (moderator); Russell Danao-Schroeder,
Arlington County Senior Housing Planner; Nina Janopaul, President, Arlington Partnership
for Affordable Housing; Catherine Bucknam, Director of Community Relations, AHC Inc.
(Photo, Right): Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (moderator), David Cristeal, Arlington County
Housing Director, Walter Tejada, Vice
Chair, Arlington County Board.
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015
Crossing Borders Transportation Forum Brings Together Experts, Concerned Citizens
The Crossing Boundaries Forum was held March 28 at the Conference Center at NRECA National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington. A panel of experts in many
different aspects of the field presented information about all kinds of transportation issues
and concerns in the capital area.
Guest speakers were:
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


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Shyam Kannan, WMATA Director of Planning;
Dan Reed, a consultant with Nelson Nygaard;
Garritt Knapp, University of Maryland, Center for Smart Growth;
Tom Fairchild, a mobility and technology expert;
Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter
Growth;
Ross Capon, railroads expert;
Aldea Douglas, AARP;
Rich Kuzmyak, Renaissance Planning
Group.
The Arlington League was well represented by
Kathy Matusiak, Bonnie Franklin, Marion
Moore (photo, below) and others who
participated and asked great questions.
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015
REGISTRATION: ANNUAL MEETING & BREAKFAST
Saturday, May 16, 2015 ~ Sheraton National Hotel
900 South Orme Street (near Washington Blvd. & Columbia Pike)
Breakfast 9:30 AM – Followed by Meeting till 12 noon
Featured Speaker
Karen Marangi, The Raben Group & Everytown for Gun Safety
Arlingtonian Karen Marangi has spent more than 20 years in Washington working both on and off
Capitol Hill. She has particularly deep ties to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she served as Counsel
to Senator Patrick Leahy, and has since worked on a range of criminal justice, intellectual property and
technology issues. In recent years, Karen has become one of the leading advocates for reducing gun
violence in the U.S. through her strategic role with Everytown for Gun Safety, where she helped develop
legislative proposals after the tragic shootings in Tucson, AZ, and Newtown, CT. Karen is a graduate of
Stanford University and Stanford Law School. Her husband, Federico Cura, is a member of the Arlington
League.
Annual Meeting Registration & Dues Form
Name(s)___________________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________
Phone ______________________________ Email_________________________
Please reserve breakfast for ______ people @ $30 each $__________
(You do not need to pay if you come for only the meeting.)
I would like to pay my dues at this time (For July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016)
(1) Dues at $50 for Individual Membership $__________
(Please make your check payable to LWV of Arlington.)
OR
(2) Dues at $75 for Household Membership $__________
(Two members at same address get one Bulletin; make check payable to LWV of Arlington.)
I would like to make an additional donation to LWV-Arlington $__________
(Make check payable to LWV of Arlington)
I would like to make a tax-deductible donation to LWV-Arlington $__________
(Make a separate check payable to LWV-Education Fund)
Total Included $__________
Please return this form by May 2 with check(s) to
League of Women Voters of Arlington
Attn: Annual Meeting
P.O. Box 100577 Arlington, VA 22210
The League is an advocacy organization. Dues and contributions to the LWV are not deductible as a personal or business expense for tax purposes. For taxdeductible contributions, please make a separate check payable to the LWV Education Fund.
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015
2015 PROGRAM PLANNING REPORT AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
At the local level, the Board recommends retention of all existing positions, and no new
studies. The board is proposing two semantic updates to our education position. They
remove antiquated language to better reflect today’s educational realities. The
language we propose to delete is reflected in “strike through” font below; the addition
is in all caps.
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
The League of Women Voters of Arlington supports:
Curriculum —
1. Curriculum that is designed to include:
• programs that impart basic skills (reading, writing, and
• computation MATHEMATICS);
• Program Diversity —
•
• 1. Maintaining the present program diversity in the face of shifting enrollment patterns.
Exploration of innovative means of providing education (such as interactive cable TV
courses, experimental education in the community) with a consideration of their cost
effectiveness. (1982)
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015
Report of the 2014-2015 Nominating Committee
Changes in the bylaws voted on at the 2014 LWV of Arlington Annual Meeting directed that
the terms of officers should be staggered so that two are elected at each annual meeting.
Also, the number of elected directors was reduced from six to four and the number of
nominating committee members was reduced from five to three.
Under Article VII. Nominations and Elections Sec. 2. Report of the Nominating Committee
The bylaws state, “The report of the nominating committee, containing its nominations for
officers and directors and the chair and two members of the next nominating committee, shall
be sent to the members one month before the annual meeting.” For clarity this could be
changed to read that the report contains “nominations for officers and directors and the chair
and one member of the next nominating committee.” Our committee thinks we are still
fulfilling the requirements of the bylaws by reporting two members of the next nominating
committee and designating one to be chair.
The slate of candidates presented for consideration at the 2015 Annual Meeting is:
Office
Candidate
Term Expires
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Kristin Goss
Kathy Matusiak
Rita McGovern
Seema Kakad Jain
2016
2017
2016
2017
Director
Director
Maggie Bush
Natalie Goldring
2017
2017
Nominating Committee Chair
Madeline Jervis
Nominating Committee Member Beth Cogswell
2016
2016
Continuing on the board as elected members are:
Director, Membership
Director, Voter Service
Marion Moore
Karen Kimball
2016
2016
Respectfully submitted by Nominating Committee Chair, Susan Trice; Elected Member, Mary
Finger; and Appointed Member, Madeline Jervis
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015
Proposed Budget June 2015--2016
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF
ARLINGTON
ALL AMOUNTS IN EVEN $
Final
6/2015
Jun-14 BUDGET
RECEIPTS CASH
Dues
Member Contributions
Condo Elections
Other Fund Raising
Annual Meeting
Interest
TOTAL CASH RECEIPTS
RESTRICTED FUNDS
FROM EDUCATION FUND
for Voters' Service & Comm.Ed.
LWVUS Project Grant
FROM HOLLY WILLIAMS BEQUEST
FROM UNDESIGNATED RESERVES
TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS RECEIPTS
TOTAL CASH & RESTRICTED FUNDS
DISBURSEMENTS ADMINISTRATION
President/Board
Bulletin
Fees and Dues
Finance Expense (Condo Elections)
Fund Raising
Liability Insurance
Membership
Telephone
Website
TOTAL ADMINISTRATION
League of Women Voters of Arlington
Proposed
6/2016
BUDGET
3,550
1,720
4,362
4000
750
2500
3125
500
2000
720
38
10,390
1000
40
8,290
1000
30
6,655
1,000
5,000
1,423
7,423
15,713
2000
273
5000
2332
9,605
16,260
1200
600
100
0
50
325
500
75
200
3050
1200
600
100
0
0
325
700
0
200
3125
600
2,000
849
3,449
13,839
969
541
75
662
325
247
260
3,079
8
April 2015
PROGRAM
Voters' Service
Community Education on Issues
Annual Meeting
Other Member Meetings
Community Events
Williams Fund Project TBA
H Williams Environmental Project
TOTAL PROGRAM
1,088
2500
200
1000
300
300
2000
2000
8300
2500
1000
1000
300
3,337
0
700
100
100
900
2700
0
120
200
3020
2,108
1,020
75
3,203
2,232
1,152
79
3463
2160
1080
75
3315
13,839
15713
16260
786
210
136
1,000
1,000
4,220
DELEGATES AND TRAVEL
National Convention
State Convention/Council
NCA Convention
Workshops
TOTAL DELEGATES AND TRAVEL
3,257
40
40
AFFILIATIONS
LWV-US
LWV-VA
LWV-NCA
TOTAL AFFILIATIONS
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS
1000
1000
6800
Welcome New Member!
Please welcome Carla de la Pava to our membership ranks! Carla is the Arlington County
Treasurer. Carla, welcome to the League of Women Voters.
League of Women Voters of Arlington
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April 2015