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MEMBERS MATTER NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2024
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August is a month in which we celebrate volunteerism's critical impact on the health of our democratic processes. The League of Women Voters enjoys a rich history of civic engagement through the collective and generous efforts of countless volunteers, and LWV Metropolitan Phoenix has shared in this work for over 60 years.
We are less than ninety days from a consequential election and want to highlight the LWVMP activities supported by our members' selfless involvement.
Our focus over the next several weeks involves all aspects of voter services—from partnering with various groups to register voters to providing non-partisan information through the VOTE411 digital voters’ guide. Volunteers will support our Get Out the Vote effort by texting and calling voters, encouraging them to vote. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved. As you peruse this month’s newsletter, you will find details on how to join in.
Voter Registration: The LWVMP Voter Services Committee continues to receive requests from organizations to assist with voter registrations. One important reason we are contacted is our nonpartisan status and commitment to supporting all in participating in the democratic process. Please share your positive experiences with the voting process at various events this fall.
Engaging with Youth Voters: We are seeing increasing interest in having our presence at higher education venues to encourage involvement and build awareness that every vote counts. Do you have time to help with these discussions? Our Voter Services Committee would love other volunteers to join this important discussion.
Get Out The Vote: Arizona continues to be highlighted in the national discourse about election integrity and the importance of participation. If you are more comfortable helping behind the scenes, texting messaging is a great way to help from the comfort of your home. LWVMP provides training and technology support to enable you to message large numbers of voters without using your personal phone number.
Election Protection AZ: This non-partisan volunteer program supports the integrity of the voting process from registration to assistance and monitoring at the poll sites.
Education: Even if now isn’t the right time for your involvement in these various activities, you should become familiar with the information we provide about ballot propositions and how the League protects the democratic process. We provide objective information to voters, critical to combat mis- and dis-information, a growing threat to voting integrity. When you share your knowledge during discussions with your family, friends, and neighbors, you support this work in a meaningful way.
Volunteerism happens in many ways – all of which support a healthy democracy. If you have particular interests, please email infolwvmp@gmail.com, and we will connect you with the right groups!
In League Service,
Marcia Barry, President
LWV Metro Phoenix
| Welcome Mark Giles as Advocacy Chair for LWVMP
Mark has been an active poll worker for the last three election cycles (2020, 2022, and 2024). He became a deputy registrar for Maricopa County in 2021 and with his wife, Jackie, joined the Metro Phoenix League of Women Voters. Having just retired in January, Mark is devoting his time toward a broader and more engaged role to further support civic and democratic causes. You are invited to join Mark on the Advocacy Committee - just email advocacylwvmp@gmail.com | |
Sign up Today!
Click on the links to register...
"Get to Know LWVAZ" Bootcamps
Monday, Aug 19, 6-7 pm: Board Operations and Fiduciary Responsibility Register here
Monday, Aug 26, 6-7 pm: 2024 Ballot Propositions. Register here
Monday, Sep 9, 6-7 pm: League Funding & Understanding our Non-profit Status Register here
Monday, Sep 16, 6-7 pm: VOTE411 Digital Voter Guide Register here
Monday, Sep 30, 6-7 pm: How to use Social Media to Advance League Work Register here
Monday, Oct 6, 6-7 pm: Learn About League Advocacy Register here
Voter Services Programs
Wednesday, Aug 28, 8 am-3 pm: Project Connect Tabling Event - Voter registration and education for the unhoused population. First Christian Church, 2759 N 7th Ave, Phoenix 85013. Volunteer here
Tuesday, Sep 10, 4:30 pm: Voter Services Committee Meeting - We will review how to do voter registration and common questions. Register here
Tuesday, Sep 17: Voter Registration at Keys to Change. Voter registration and education tabling at Keys to Change Campus in downtown Phoenix, 1214 W Madison. Volunteer here
Saturday/Sunday, Oct 19-20: Phoenix Pride Festival. Sign up to help register voters at this popular event. Volunteer here
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We Need Every Member to Pitch In!
This year’s general election couldn’t be more important for all Arizonans, from the Presidential race to our state and local elections and several important ballot propositions.
We need your assistance in helping us do what we do best: Getting Out the Vote! There are numerous activities and events where we need your assistance! These include:
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Tabling at Events - We provide voter registration and general voting information and recruit new members
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Texting Voters - We send notifications to voters of upcoming elections and ballot initiatives
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Phone Banking - We call to remind voters to vote
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Door-to-Door Canvassing - We share non-partisan information on candidates & ballot issues
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Promote VOTE411.org - Our free, digital voters guide provides the accurate and unbiased election and candidate information voters need to make informed choices when they vote. Content is available in English and Spanish! Please share information about @VOTE411 on social media with friends, family, neighbors, and local groups such as community, faith-based, or special interest organizations.
See more detail under LWVAZ NEWS. Please check our Event Calendar to volunteer for upcoming events and training. | |
Thank you ALL for your continuing support of the Voter Services events. Your time and commitment enable the League to reach voters and make a difference in our communities. Please join us at any of these events this fall:
Project Connect, Wednesday, August 28. Project Connect provides services to people at risk or experiencing homelessness. Location: First Christian Church (6750 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, 85013. Sign up for Project Connect
Keys to Change (formerly Human Services Campus) on Tuesday, September 17, with shifts at 8:30-10:30 am and 10:30-12:30 pm. Location: s 1214 W Madison ST, Phoenix 85007 Sign up for Keys to Change
Phoenix Pride Festival, October 19-20 We still need tabling captains for Saturday and volunteers for all shifts on Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday afternoon Captain just needs to put supplies away on site. It is a great way to start if this is your first time. The Pride Festival is critical for getting the word out about election information and VOTE411. Sign up for Phoenix Pride Festival Tabling
We are working with community partners to participate in the "Defending Democracy in the Age of Disinformation" sponsored by the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. Watch for registration link on the website.
LWVMP is planning several voter registration drives the week of September 17 to support National Voter Registration Day. Watch for registration links on the website LWVMetroPhoenix.org.
Join our Voter Services meeting on September 10, 4:30 pm. We will have a quick review of how to do voter registration and confirm events for September and October. Register here | |
Volunteering on the Advocacy Committee
We are looking for volunteers to join the Advocacy Committee, under the leadership of Mark Giles, who was confirmed as the Advocacy Chair by the LWVMP Board in July. During August, September and October, volunteers are needed to support the statewide election 2024 activities. Please sign up to assist with any of the following election activities:
- Statewide Debates and Issues Forums, lead by the State Advocacy Committee, includes the Senate and select Congressional Districts, Corporation Commission and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board.
- Local Debates, lead by MP Advocacy, includes municipal and county races. We need help:
- Preparing debate questions, checking people into the debate, monitoring the audience, serving as timekeepers, and train to be moderators.
- Securing venues, promoting the event, and supporting ZOOM webinars.
- Get out the Vote - Sign up now to help text and phone voters or drop of information to voters. See LWVAZ NEWS for details
- Train to make LWVAZ presentations about the 2024 statewide ballot propositions.. We are starting to get many requests for group presentations about the ballot. Members interested in making presentations must go through training and only use LWVAZ provided content. Contact Cindy Walsh for training: cindywalsh190@gmail.com
- Sign up to volunteer as an Election Protection Monitor with Election Protection. Learn more here: bit.ly/EPAZVOLUNTEERS!
Please contact Mark Giles if you would like to engage in any advocacy matter by emailing him at advocacylwvmp@gmail.com | |
Growing our Membership and League Power
Please join us in welcoming our 11 New League Members who joined in July: Cathy Arroyo, Gregory Bernstein, Christine Besaw-McGavren, Annikka Jensen, Mary Kelly, Cayla McAllister, Elisabeth Monson, Jennifer Quinn, Annabel Sclippa, Brooke Turley, and Nancy Vukelich.
And thank you to all 17 Renewing Members: Julie Allen, Kevin Caron, Gerry Corey, Marcia D'Alessandro, Betsy Flaten, Cindy Hans, Laura Hudson, Barbara Kain, Linda Landy, Suzanne Miller, Barbara Rosenberg, Cherie Stafford, Alexandria Stevens, Mary Westheimer, Carrie Wikle, Carie Wilson, and Cindy Wolf.
Engagement Highlights
Looking for ways to get involved? Contact the following people for more information on joining their committee: Mark Giles, Advocacy Chair; Kara Pelletier, Voter Services Co-Chair; Gretchen Bolerjack Voter Services Co-Chair.
Help us grow our League power by inviting friends, neighbors, and democracy allies to Join the League today! Let’s get it done together.
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Election Protection Arizona
Please join Election Protection Arizona as a nonpartisan, volunteer poll monitor where you can assist voters on Election Day should they encounter any problems voting. Election Protection Arizona provides training so you can help at the polls. Training is available several times a week through September and October. Sign up here bit.ly/EPAZVOLUNTEERS | Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
Volunteers Needed! All Hands on Deck!
Sign up now to receive training and make a difference in getting out the vote.
Starting in late September, we will begin reaching out to women voters across the state. Our messages will cover:
How to confirm voter registration
Following up to verify mail ballot receipt
Encouraging early ballot submission
Providing polling information
We will direct voters to VOTE411, where they can find all the information they need in one place.
Texting: We currently have 36 volunteers signed up for texting. Additional volunteers welcome
Phone banking: We will be calling voters and leaving messages. We need volunteers
Door-to-door canvassing: In select communities, we will talk to voters and distribute vote411 door hangers. We need volunteers
We will use the League in Action (LIA) app to organize actions for GOTV. League in Action is powered by Outreach Circle. Use this link on your mobile device https://vc0.co/OZ5 If you have the League in Action app installed, the link will take you to the “Join Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Team!” page, where you can sign up for one or more of the volunteer opportunities. If you don’t have the LIA app, you will be prompted to install it, which will bring you to the LWVAZ League in Action page. Hit the “JOIN” button at the bottom right and follow the prompts to set up your account. We recommend that you sign in using email. Once you sign up, you are a League in Action Supporter. [You can use your existing credentials if you have an Outreach Circle account, but you must download the new app.]
If you have League in Action signup issues, email us at LWVAZADVOCACY@gmail.com | |
Helping Shape Arizona's Future: Ballot Measures Review and Analysis
The LWVAZ Ballot Proposition Analysis Teams have reason to celebrate. We successfully posted LWVAZ arguments on the Arizona Secretary of State portal for all the ballot measures for which the League has a public policy position – whether in opposition or support of the propositions.
Teamwork and Dedication
Kudos to all the volunteers who made this possible!
Here are some key numbers related to our collective efforts:
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51 Volunteers: Engaged in the Ballot Proposition Analysis, representing all the local leagues across the state. Some joined us in May, while others came aboard in June.
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11 Teams: Our volunteers focused their efforts on specific topics. Each team reviewed relevant ballot measures and collaborated as needed with other teams. Special thanks to our document leads for coordinating this collaboration!
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39 Potential Propositions: Initially, we considered 39 potential ballot propositions, including legislative referrals and citizen initiatives.
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23 Propositions Analyzed: These were assigned to teams for in-depth analysis. Determining the LWVAZ Position and crafting persuasive arguments for voters was no small task!
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10 LWVAZ Arguments Submitted: Out of the 23 analyzed, we submitted 10 well-crafted arguments. The remaining 13 either failed before reaching the Secretary of State, or the league lacked a relevant public policy position – great work by our analysis teams!
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Deadline Met: July 3rd was our deadline to submit arguments to the secretary of State - and we nailed it. Thank you all!
What’s Next?
While submitting the LWVAZ Arguments was a major milestone, our Ballot Proposition Analysis Team still has work ahead, and we are currently working on:
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VOTE411 Content: For propositions that continue to move forward, we’ll create educational content for VOTE411 to inform voters.
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League Talking Points: Once our teams complete the ballot propositions analysis, we will prepare public-facing material, using content such as critical provisions and arguments to share with our leagues for internal use and community events.
Your dedication matters, and together, we’re making a difference!
It’s not too late to engage in the Ballot Proposition Analysis teams or the VOTE411 work to educate voters. We welcome additional volunteers, so if you are interested, please email LWVAZAdvocacy@gmail.com | |
One Person One Vote
Five times in American history, the will of the people was overridden as the presidential candidate with the most votes did not win the presidency.
Five times, millions of votes were silenced. This is because our system prioritizes not the power of its people, but the power of the Electoral College.
It's no surprise that most American voters want to eliminate the Electoral College. Just as we did in the early days of the women's suffrage movement, we're creating the One Person One Vote campaign to demand that the people's voices be heard.
The One Person One Vote campaign is on a mission to educate, engage, and activate the American people. The League of Women Voters’ One Person One Vote campaign is working for true representation in our elections. We deserve a democracy powered by the people, for the people. Learn more: lwv.org/onepersononevote | LWV METRO PHOENIX BOARD OF DIRECTORS | LWV Metro Phoenix Board of Directors
Officers
President: Marcia Barry
President Elect: Kara Pelletier
Secretary: Gretchen Bolerjack
Treasurer, Finance and Development Committee Chair: Barbara Cricket Mitchell
Board of Directors
Advocacy Committee Chair: Mark Giles
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! Feel free to share your feedback, ask questions, or request additional information about the League. You may email me at infolwvmp@gmail.com.
In League Service,
Marcia Barry, LWVMP President | | | |
LWV Metro Phoenix, 3219 E Camelback Road, #187, Phoenix, AZ 86018 | 858.220.0655
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved | |