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MEMBERS MATTER NEWSLETTER
November 2023
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As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, it's a perfect moment to reflect on the true meaning of this holiday – giving thanks for the people and organizations that enrich our lives and our community.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for the invaluable support and dedication of the remarkable members of our League; your tireless efforts in promoting civic engagement and advocacy for important issues have made a significant impact on our community and beyond.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the many ways your dedication and hard work have enriched our community. Just as Thanksgiving is a time for coming together, your efforts have united voices and inspired positive change. Your commitment to ensuring that every voice is heard and every vote counts is truly inspiring.
Much like the cornucopia symbolizes abundance, the League of Women Voters is a source of abundant hope, education, and advocacy for a better world. The work you do empowers individuals and strengthens our democracy, and I am deeply appreciative of your contributions.
Your work has made a tangible difference, and I am genuinely thankful for your unwavering support. In the spirit of giving thanks, please accept this message as a small token of my and the Board’s appreciation for all you do. May the spirit of Thanksgiving be a reminder of the positive impact you make every day.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and gratitude-filled Thanksgiving.
In League Service,
Pinny Sheoran, President
LWV Metro Phoenix
480.540.4934
|  | | SPECIAL NEWS!
Announcing Our Newly Appointed President-Elect, Marcia Barry
The LWVMP board is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcia Barry as President-Elect for the remainder of the 2023-2024 term! Marcia will begin her term as LWVMP president April 2024. She is a current member of the board and chairs the budget committee. Please read more about Marica and all our board members in the October issue of Members Matter.
Per our bylaws, the board has the authority to appoint officers for vacancies as they arise. At the 2023 annual meeting, the President-Elect position was unfilled. The board appointed an ad hoc committee composed of members of the nominating committee and additional board and non--board members to recruit and recommend nominees. The vacancy was promoted through the Members Matter newsletter for the past few months. October 15 was the deadline for applications. At the Nov 6 board meeting, the ad hoc committee presented their report and recommended Marcia Barry and the board voted unanimously to appoint her as our current President-Elect.
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Click on the links to register...
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 12-1 pm: Alternatives to Community Safety: Restorative Justice - A Community Conversation with Leo Hylton. Presented by the LWVMP Advocacy Criminal Justice Issue team. Register here
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30-6:30 pm: Voter Services Committee Meeting. Register here
Thursday, Nov. 16, 9am - 2pm: Voter Registration Drive at Carrington College. Please sign in to www.LWVMetroPhoenix.org then go to the Events calendar to volunteer.
Monday, Nov. 27, 6 pm: Outreach Circle/ League in Action Training. Register here
Sunday, Dec. 3, 3-4 pm: Request to Speak Training. Register here
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Growing our Membership and League Power
Please join us in welcoming our 11 new League members who joined in October: Frances Beard, Susan Herrick, Brett Lengel, Cindy Leonard, Care McCray-Lengel, Nicholas Pelletier, Wendy Schellberg, Sarabeth Spencer, Michelle Therrien, James Zaleschuk, and Christina Zhou.
And, thank you to all nine renewing members: Evelyn Araneda, Beth Ballmann, Candace Englert, Susan Goldsmith, Susan Hillabold, Kathleen Hindle, Nancy Marshall, Vance Marshall, and James Zaleschuk.
Engagement Highlights:
Democracy is on the ballot for 2024. There are many opportunities for you to volunteer. Please sign up for the opportunities described in our Voter Services and Advocacy section of this newsletter. We need volunteers for registering voters, getting signatures on ballot initiatives and more...
November 28th is Giving Tuesday
Please think of the league and support our work with a donation on Giving Tuesday.
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We Desperately Need Volunteers for afternoon and morning shifts at the Carrington College event. This is a great opportunity to reach out to young voters. The campus is in the northwest portion of Mesa, so easy to reach from the East Metro Phoenix area.
Thursday, Nov. 16, 9 am - 2 pm Voter Registration Drive at Carrington College
Carrington College (Mesa Campus) is hosting a voter registration drive for their students and community members in the area. There will be tabling booths at both campuses to maximize the opportunity for students and community members to register. The Main campus is at 1001 W. Southern Ave, Suite 130, Mesa, AZ 85210 and the second campus is close by at 1300 S. Country Club Dr. #2, Mesa, AZ 85210.
Please sign in to www.LWVMetroPhoenix.org then go to the Events calendar to volunteer. The campuses are close together so there is just one volunteer signup.
Thank you to all of you who volunteered for the National Voter Registration week events and Pride. The weather was not kind to us and the League appreciates your willingness to endure the heat. As a result of those events we reached out to over 600 people, had 160 play the history game, gave materials to 115 people, and finally registered 24 new voters. These numbers all represent your hard work and time as well as the League's ability to impact voters. Thank you again.
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30 - 6:30 pm, November Voter Services Committee Meeting Tuesday, via Zoom. Register here: Zoom Link Nov 14 VS MTG. The focus of the November meeting will be discussing the September and October voter registration events and getting feedback on locations and volunteer experiences. | |
The LWVMP Housing Study Committee Needs Your Help!
Rent has increased in the Metro Phoenix area by 68% in the past 5 years (2017-2022).
The median price of new homes has increased 2.5x in the past ten years and gone up by 33% in the past two years.
Arizona is ranked the 4th most undersupplied housing market in the United States.
The following short survey will give the committee a snapshot of the opinions and priorities of our membership as we begin to develop a position from which we can advocate. If you would like to join this important project or if you have any questions, concerns or comments please let us know at the end of this survey.
| Calling all MP Members to Help with Gathering Signatures
Looking for a great way to get involved? Please consider becoming a signature gatherer for the “Arizona for Abortion Access” (AAA) campaign to help get reproductive rights on the ballot next November. We have petitions, clipboards, instructions, and training to get anyone ready to help us get to our first League goal of 10,000 signatures. With your help, we can help the campaign reach their 350,000+ signature threshold and get closer to enshrining abortion access in Arizona’s constitution.
You can also support this campaign by volunteering to serve as a Depot or a Hub. Broadly speaking Depots and Hubs are locations where volunteers gathering signatures can pick up petitions and campaign materials and drop off completed notarized petitions.
Please click here to volunteer to be a Depot or Hub or gather signatures. The form includes descriptions of the responsibilities of each role. Feel free to email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com with any questions. |  | |
State Advocacy Opportunities
Get ready for the 2024 election year. We have many opportunities for you to volunteer. Please read this list of activities and email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com expressing your interest.
Arizona for Abortion Access Citizens Initiative
Depots and Hubs - volunteers needed!
You can also support this campaign by volunteering to serve as a Depot or a Hub. Broadly speaking Depots and Hubs are locations where volunteers gathering signatures can pick up petitions and campaign materials and drop off completed notarized petitions.
Please click here to volunteer to be a Depot or Hub or gather signatures. The form includes descriptions of the responsibilities of each role. Feel free to email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com with any questions.
Read about the initiative: Arizona for Abortion Access Article
Request to Speak Training Sunday, Dec 3, 3-4 pm, on Zoom Register Here
Mobilizing Our Members for 2024 Elections
We will use League in Action/Outreach Circle, a League-branded digital organizing tool for calls to action (including legislative calls to action), event notifications, get-out-the-vote, need-to-know messages, candidate contact for VOTE411 during election season, and more.
League in Action, powered by Outreach Circle, will enable you to quickly and seamlessly reach out to other League members, the public, friends, and family with targeted messages. Some of you may be familiar with Outreach Circle; League in Action is an expanded and more powerful organizing tool that has capabilities beyond texting. Please attend one of our upcoming training sessions on Zoom to learn to leverage this tool; pre-registration is required.
Outreach Circle/ League in Action Training:
Monday, Nov. 27, 6 pm: Register Here
Monday, Dec. 11, 6 pm: Register Here | LWV METRO PHOENIX BOARD OF DIRECTORS | LWV Metro Phoenix Board of Directors
Officers
President and LWVAZ State Board President Elect: Pinny Sheoran
President Elect: Vacant
Secretary: Beth Ballmann
Treasurer, Finance and Development Committee Chair: Barbara Cricket Mitchell
Board of Directors
Advocacy Committee Chair: Leslie Hanson
Budget Committee Chair: Marcia Barry
Bylaws Committee Co-chairs: Jean Conway and Gitelle Seer
Communications Committee Chair: Connie Cornelius
Forums Committee Chair: Cindy Walsh
League Representative to State Board: Gitelle Seer
Membership Committee Chair: Alexis Lane
Nominations Committee Chair: Jean Conway
Voter Services Chair: Gretchen Bolerjack
Contact us at InfoLWVMP@gmail.com | I hope you have enjoyed reading this issue of Members Matter! As always, please feel free to reach out to me personally to share your feedback and League experiences. You can email me at infolwvmp@gmail.com or call 480.540.4934.
In League Service,
Pinny Sheoran, LWVMP President | | | |
LWV Metro Phoenix, 3219 E Camelback Road, #187, Phoenix, AZ 86018 | 480.540.4934
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved | |