• President's Message
• Mark Your Calendar
• Nominations
  
• Voter Services
• Advocacy
• Membership
• LWVAZ News

Monday, Jan 20, 8:45 am:  PLEASE show solidarity and join us at the Martin Luther King March!  The March is about two miles, beginning at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (near the 12th St Light Rail stop) and culminates with a festival at Margaret T. Hance Park (10am to 4pm). LWVMP will participating in the march and the festival. We need volunteers to carry our banners in the march and staff our booth during the festival.   Members and non-members welcome in this important time of unity and support.  Link to register and volunteer: Martin Luther King March  

Wednesday, Jan 29, 6:00-7:30 pm:  LWVMP Housing Study Committee is hosting a virtual forum on Arizona’s Affordable Housing Crisis, with guest speaker, Shane Phillips, author of The Affordable City.  Reserve your place to learn about strategies to put housing within reach. He will discuss housing supply and ways to make communities more affordable in the metro area. Guests are welcome. RSVP here

Saturday, Feb 15, 2:00-4:00pm - LWV MP All Member Meeting 
Make plans now to attend the 2025 LWV Metro Phoenix Meeting. See old friends and meet new members.  Find out about:  Implementation of LWV Transformation,  Advocacy Priorities for 2025,  New Partnership with the Girl Scouts, Youth Ambassador Program, and how to find the tools to stay informed.   This meeting is free to all MP members and guests.  Please Register here.

Leadership Opportunities for League Members

Call for Nominations for the Offices of LWVMP: 
President-Elect, Secretary, and

Three Board of Director Positions 

We encourage you to put yourself forward as a possible nominee to the LWVMP Board of Directors to be part of a dynamic group of people empowering voters and defending democracy!

President-Elect
Nominations are currently being accepted for the office of LWVMP President-Elect. This position provides the opportunity to work with the President in 2025-26 with the support of an experienced Board of Directors for one year before becoming President in 2026-27. The President-Elect position ensures continuity in the event of a vacancy in the presidency and to allow for a smooth transition and continuation of essential actions and policies approved by the current board. To learn more about this vital leadership role, please read a detailed description of the roles and responsibilities here. 

Secretary
The Secretary shall take minutes at all Board and general membership meetings, record other special events and meetings as requested by the President or Board,  and shall perform such duties as customarily pertain to the office as required by the President and the Board.  To learn more about this vital leadership role, please read a detailed description of the roles and responsibilities here. 

Board Director
Three elected positions are open for the 2025 - 2027 term. General responsibilities include understanding and maintaining the Leagues’ nonpartisan policy, attending all Board meetings, assisting in overall planning and decision-making, explaining and promoting League activities, and carrying out specific assignments, which may include chairing a Committee. 

The Application Process

Voter Services Committee Chair Position Now Open!

Many of you joined the League of Women Voters with a shared commitment to preserving democracy, understanding that voting is the key safeguard against dark money, gerrymandering, and forms of government that are not accountable to the people. For over a century, the League has been dedicated to protecting voting rights and empowering voters to engage meaningfully in elections.
Now, we’re excited to announce that the position of Voter Services Committee Chair is open, and we are seeking a dedicated individual to take on this role. No Experience necessary. This is a great opportunity, fully supported by the LWVMP Board, and a wonderful way to make a positive impact with meaningful action. By serving as the Voter Services Committee Chair, you will:
Play a key role in strengthening democracy
Collaborate with fellow members who are making a real difference in our community
Gain valuable leadership experience and insight into the mechanics of democracy
If you're ready to take the next step and lead the way, we invite you to apply today or send your bio to kara_pelletier@yahoo.com  We look forward to hearing from you and hope you’ll seize this opportunity to make a real difference!

Are you fully engaged in our advocacy efforts?
We are here to help you make a difference in advocacy and become more engaged in our advocacy work at the local level. If you are a new member - or an experienced member of the League - we encourage you to become start with these action items:

Attend the LWVMP All-Members Meeting - Saturday, Feb 15th

Join us at Madison Center for the Arts, Phoenix, 2:00 to 4:00 pm for our annual in-person meeting. We will have snacks and beverages and there is no charge for members and guests. We will share the Advocacy focus areas for 2025 and have a table dedicated to answering your questions and getting you the tools you need. This is a great place to learn more about our work in Advocacy.

Sign up for one of the LWVMP Advocacy - Zoom Office Hours sessions  

Office hours are scheduled weekly through February - click here to find a time that works for you. Anyone can attend! The meetings are open format, and you can get your issues or questions answered, including how to get information or tools working as you want!  If you want an alternative time to connect, we can make that happen!  We can work around schedules to accommodate you.  Please contact us at  AdvocacyLWVMP@gmail.com

Growing our Membership and League power

Please join us in welcoming three New League Members who joined in the month of December:  Perri Benemelis, Kyle Chalmers,  and Shae Taylor.  Plus we are celebrating the 87 New League Members who joined LWV Metro Phoenix in 2024 to stand with us in our mission to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy. 

Thank you to all six Renewing Members: Jill Gargano, Vanessa Palacios, Marilyn & John Hamilton, and Felice & Wayne Zensius. And, a big thankyou to each of you who renewed in 2024. By promptly renewing your membership before it expires, you help the Membership Committee and MP Board immensely as this allows us to devote our resources to projects outside of the more labor intensive work of reminding members individually. Onward to 2025!

Engagement Highlights
In 2024 LWV MP engaged countless members of our organization and allies in the community to educate voters, advocate on issues, and empower people to engage in the election and make our voices heard.  We could not do that work without each of our valued members, and we thank you all, including the 87 new members and the 129 of you who renewed your membership last year. These strong numbers show that the League is an increasingly powerful  voice in our state, and we must continue to do the important work that is vital  to our critical mission.
Help us grow our League power by inviting friends, neighbors, and democracy allies to Join the League today

New Dates for Legislative Week & Legislative Lobby Day  

Our highly successful and anticipated annual Legislative Week and Legislative Lobby Day traditions continue, and planning starts now. 

Overview

LWVAZ  will host an in-person Legislative Day at the Capitol on Thursday, March 6, 2025. This is for members only.  In addition, five virtual lunch and learn sessions will be offered to members and non-members on February 17-21.  

Opportunities include, but are not limited to: 

• Planning and administrative support for all events

• Brainstorming topics for lunch and learn

• Suggesting and contacting speakers 

• Moderating and presenting virtual programs

• Providing tech support for Lunch and Learn sessions

• On-site assistance at the Capitol

We need to convene a Planning Team now to help make this week a success. Please volunteer using this link or email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com to volunteer.
Registration for the Lunch and Learn sessions and the LWVAZ Legislative Lobby Day at the Capitol will open in February 2025. In the meantime, please save the following dates:

February 17-21 – Lunch and Learn Virtual Sessions, from 12 - 1:30 PM.
March 6  – Legislative Lobby Day at the Capitol. Registration and check-in will begin at 9:00 AM. The program will start at 10:00 AM. League members can meet with their legislators to present League priorities and positions and attend floor sessions, subject to the legislative schedule. Registration will include an option to request a meeting with legislators.

Prepare for the 2025 Legislative Session:  Calling League Volunteers to Join the Advocacy Issue Teams!
The LWVAZ board has approved the state advocacy committees' recommended priorities, driven by your input and that of advocacy leaders in each local league. We received feedback from over 164 members across the state. The priority numbering indicates the number of survey respondents who ranked these as their number one priority; the highest was 66, and the lowest was three.
Top 4 priorities:
1. Voting Rights / Election Security
2. Women’s Rights
3. Education
4. Climate (Water)
Lower priorities: Advocacy actions for these priorities will be determined based on the capacity to respond, the number of volunteers, and their commitment to the time required to prepare for action:  5. Ranked Choice Voting, 6. Healthcare, 7. Gun Safety, 8. Immigration, and 9. Criminal Justice Reform.
We track the shifting legislative landscape and direct resources to key areas where we can make the most significant impact. Our decisions to advance advocacy efforts are guided by these priorities and a careful assessment of our capacity to influence legislation. In some cases, we’ll offer allyship to other organizations with the expertise and resources to lead on specific issues rather than taking the lead ourselves.
Now is the time to take action
Join an Issue Team to help us resist harmful bills and champion legislation that benefits all Arizonans. Your voice, energy, and commitment are crucial to our success. Together, we can make our presence undeniable and our impact unstoppable.
Our issue teams are the core of our advocacy—and we need YOU! No experience? No problem. Each team works collaboratively, offering training, mentoring, and clear guidance so you can contribute meaningfully. Whether you’re a policy expert, passionate about public issues, or just eager to learn, there’s a place for you. With the right support, you can turn your skills into powerful advocacy. Join us and make your voice count!

Tell the Legislators Your Opinion on Bills! 

Request to Speak (RTS)

The 57th legislative session starts on January 13.  RTS is a real-time online system that enables Arizonans to express support or opposition to a legislative bill scheduled for a committee hearing. Share your opinions directly with legislators without traveling to the state Capitol. You do not have to be a registered AZ voter to use RTS.

You can take the following actions:

• Indicate “for” or “against” a bill

• Write a comment explaining your position (optional but could be persuasive)

• Sign up to speak in person (testify at a committee hearing) 

Obtaining an RTS account

Although you can sign up online, you cannot register your opinion on bills unless your login is activated at the Capitol.  We rely on league member volunteers to set up and activate accounts.  Please complete this Google Form if you need an RTS login. Logins do not expire. If you think you have an account, try logging in and resetting your password if necessary. 

Volunteers Needed to Register Accounts at the Capitol

We need volunteers to register members (and nonmembers) at the Capitol. In the past, two members have alternated, each going once a week during business hours. Registering is easy using self-service kiosks and is an invaluable service to those who can’t get to the Capitol. Instructions and training will be provided.

 Please email lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com to learn more and volunteer to register accounts at the Capitol.

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