|
MEMBERS MATTER NEWSLETTER
March 2025
|
|
| Quick Links to Articles in this Issue
|
It was truly wonderful to gather in person for our annual All Member Meeting. The event provided an invaluable opportunity for our members to engage in face-to-face discussions with our dedicated leaders about their focus and ongoing activities. We also welcomed new members, discovering how their interests align with our mission. We are especially grateful for the unwavering support and presence of our interns, along with our esteemed LWV AZ state leaders: Pinny Sheoran, President, and Emily Bridson, President Elect.
As you explore the impactful work happening within our committees, we hope you recognize exciting opportunities for both involvement and leadership growth. Our current leaders are eager to share their plans and support your journey toward new responsibilities. With a passionate and knowledgeable team by your side, you can be confident that you will have all the encouragement and resources needed to be successful. If you’re interested in stepping up or simply learning more, we invite you to reach out to us at infoLWVMP@gmail.com
During March, we honor the women whose strength and vision have paved the way for our work to Defend Democracy and Empower Voters. From the early struggles of the suffragette movement to the ongoing battles for civil rights, women have always led the charge to ensure that every voice is heard. There is still much work to be done, and the League of Women Voters remains a community of like-minded individuals united by one powerful voice, committed to making a difference at this pivotal time.
Join us as we continue our journey to empower voters and build a stronger, more inclusive democracy.
In League Service,
Marcia Barry, President
LWV Metro Phoenix
|  | |
LWVMP All-Member Meeting 2025
Members of the Metro Phoenix League gathered for an in-person meeting at the beautiful Madison Center for the Arts last month. The theme for our annual All-Member Meeting was Perseverance! Our President, Marcia Barry, opened the meeting with comments about persevering into 2025 and recognizing the wins we achieved in 2024: Access to Abortion Care, 80+ new members to LWVMP, and that the LWV has been steadfast in supporting voter rights for 105 years.
Here are some of the highlights of our time together:
~ LWVMP members who have been working diligently in the Housing Public Policy Committee were on hand to give an update of the study findings. This study will be presented in full at the LWV MP 2025 Annual Business meeting on April 27 via zoom.
~ President-Elect, Kara Pelletier, introduced the Ambassador Corps Initiative, an exciting new program to engage young adults (ages 18-29) by providing an avenue to participate as committee chairs, serve on boards, and lead league events. We are looking for volunteers to serve on the Development Team for this new membership initiative.
~ Nominations Chair, Jean Conway, presented openings for 2025-26 officers and director positions for LWVMP. Each of the Committee Chairs was available to discuss the type of work involved and help members find the perfect match for their skill set.
We look forward to another year of progress and perseverance! | |
LWVMP Annual Meeting
Save the date for our Annual Meeting via zoom, scheduled for Sunday afternoon on April 27. Registration details will be provided in the April Members Matter newsletter. As a reminder this meeting is required by our Bylaws and includes the election of Officers and Board members for the 2025-26 term. Members also vote on a Budget, new Public Policy Positions, recommended changes to the Bylaws, and any other required business actions. | |
Voter Outreach at Celebrate Mesa Spring Festival
Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main St, Mesa on Saturday, Apr 12, 9 am - 2 pm.
A free family festival, with music, food trucks, and lots of family friendly activities. Please click here to volunteer: CelebrateMesaVolunteerLink
Look for more outreach opportunities in the future and please feel free to contact Voter Services for potential outreach in your own community. Email: voterslwvmp@gmail.com
| |
Leadership Opportunities for League Members 2025-2027
We need you! Five opportunities have opened up on the LWVMP Board of Directors: President-Elect, Secretary, and Three Board of Director Positions. Two of the Board positions will fill the roles of Voter Services Chair and Nominating Committee Chair.
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!
Applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must be League members in good standing. Please submit a brief personal biography including any relevant experiences and skills to Jean Conway, Nominating Chair, calif.conway@gmail.com. Each candidate will be interviewed by the Nominating Committee via Zoom. | |
Call to Action:
Opportunities for all members to engage -
help in a way that works for you!
Thank you to everyone who participated and took action last month. Your involvement is greatly valued. Special thanks to those who attended the All Members Meeting and joined us for our discussions on advocacy.
Let’s get every member engaged in advocacy!
Read and Print this handout, which was shared at the All Members Meeting. It’s a great starting point on all the things needed to start taking action in advocacy! If you have any questions or want to discuss more, read below or contact
Learn more about how the league is standing up now: "Women Defend Democracy” is the new programmatic focus for the League in 2025, centering on people power and moving our country towards a more substantial, multi-racial democracy. Read more about Women Defend Democracy, check back often at LWV.org, or sign up for email updates. Two recent articles:
League of Women Voters Responds to President’s Address to Congress
The State of Democracy 2025 - Celina Stewart, CEO of LWV of the US
LWV State activities on Advocacy: Read further in this newsletter for LWVAZ Actions you can take - including continued support for RTS Actions, how you and your friends can contact our representatives to oppose the SAVE act, and more. If you could not attend the Legislative Week Lunch and Learn sessions, watch them on YouTube. These videos are very informative on issues that affect us all! YouTube Link @lwvarizona3069
Any Questions or help needed with LWVMP Advocacy - Contact AdvocacyLWVMP@gmail.com or text Mark at 707-701-3399 | |
Growing our Membership and League Power
Please join us in welcoming eight New League Members who joined in the month of February: Tiffany Barr, Mihika Gadagkar, Paula Glitsos-Walsh, Jana Granillo, Vanessa Haney, Brenda Rankin, Patricia Raphael, and Jennifer Sprague.
And, thank you to al Renewing Member: Elaine "Kiki" Whissen.
Help us grow our League power by inviting friends, neighbors, and democracy allies to Join the League today! L | |
2025 Legislative Week
The LWVAZ hosted a week of successful virtual Lunch and Learn sessions from February 24 to 28. Each day’s program included informative and engaging presentations by expert speakers on subjects of interest and importance to our members and the public. Over 350 + members and nonmembers attended these programs.
Federalism and States’ Rights: Intersection of Federal and State Laws and the Impact on Arizonans.
Speakers: Professor Sean Beienburg, Associate Professor & Associate Director, School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL), Director, Center for American Civics (ASU); Professor Justin Weinstein-Tull, Professor of Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (ASU)
Funding the Future: Strengthening Public Education in Arizona.
Speakers: Beth Lewis, Executive Director, Save our Schools Arizona, Jennifer Burns, Director of Government Relations & Health Policy, Children's Action Alliance
Drought and Debate: The Legislative Landscape of Arizona Water Policy.
Speakers: Kathy Jacobs, Director of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions, University of Arizona; Cynthia Campbell, Director of Research, GF Global Institute of Sustainability & Innovation, Arizona State University
Ballots & Bills: The Legislative Fight for Voting Rights in Arizona
Speakers: Alex Alvarez, Progress Arizona Director; Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, Faculty Director for Indian Legal Clinic; Eric Chalmers, Founder, Resilient Strategies; Michael Ramirez, American Votes, Arizona State Director
Navigating the Legislative Landscape: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
Speakers: Elizabeth Higgins, Senate Minority General Counsel/Policy Advisor, Michael Hans, Policy Advisor Senate Democratic Staff, Rhonda Barnes, House Minority Deputy Chief of Staff/General Counsel
Learn more about these topics Lunch and Learn Resources 2025.pdf | |
The S.A.V.E. Act
Call your representatives and senators in Congress to
Vote NO on the SAVE Act
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require citizenship documentation to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering to vote.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) and proceeding through U.S. Congress for review and vote, would require the in-person submission of documentary proof of American citizenship each time a person registers to vote. This goes beyond the current requirement—present in every state—that voters affirm or verify their citizenship when registering. If enacted, the law would effectively eliminate online and mail voter registration options by mandating that applicants bring approved citizenship documents to election offices.
Acceptable documentation under the bill includes:
-
U.S. passport, a government-issued photo ID with a listed place of birth,
-
REAL ID-compliant form of identification.
-
Military IDs and other government-issued photo IDs are acceptable only if accompanied by additional proof of citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate.
-
Allows for a discrepancy process in which applicants without standard documentation must provide supplementary records—such as a naturalization certificate, consulate birth report, or qualifying adoption decree—to establish citizenship.
Critics point out that birth certificates often do not reflect current legal names, which could disproportionately affect voters who have changed their names—particularly married women. Research suggests that up to 34% of voting-age women lack citizenship documents matching their current legal name, and more than 9% of Americans do not have readily available proof of citizenship. Because marriage certificates are not explicitly listed as acceptable documentation, these changes may pose additional barriers to registering and voting under the SAVE Act.
 Voting-age youth in foster care often do not have access to birth certificates. Many older voters may struggle to update their records due to the difficulty of locating their birth certificates. Many registered decades ago and have consistently voted without ever needing to provide such documentation.
Make Your Voice Heard! Call on all Arizona Representatives and Senators to oppose this bill. Let the bill’s sponsors—Reps. Elijah Crane, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and Abraham Hamadeh—know that Arizonans reject any legislation that undermines our right to vote.
Spread the Word! Reach out to your friends, family, and community across the country to contact their elected officials—especially women legislators, both Democrats and Republicans — and urge them to oppose this legislation.
Find YOUR elected officials here:
https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials (includes telephone numbers)
|
The LWVUS Joins Voting Rights Groups to Applaud Decision Affirming Voting Rights in Arizona
LWVUS and co-amici applaud the Arizona Ninth Circuit Court for protecting
the rights of Arizona voters.
Phoenix, AZ - The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), League of Women Voters of Arizona (LWV Arizona), and co-amici applaud Tuesday’s decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The decision protects the rights of all eligible Arizona voters to register and vote in all federal elections.
LWV Arizona, LWVUS, the Secure Families Initiative, and the Modern Military Association of America, represented by the ACLU, Brennan Center, Keker Van Nest & Peters LLP, and Demos, jointly filed an amicus brief in a federal lawsuit to defend the National Voter Registration Act’s applicability to presidential elections. The brief challenged Arizona’s HB 2492, which imposed proof of citizenship requirements for presidential voting, among other restrictions. After the District Court enjoined these provisions, the defendants appealed to the Ninth Circuit, arguing the NVRA didn’t apply to presidential elections. The Ninth Circuit’s decision upheld and confirmed the NVRA’s applicability to all federal elections.
Read the complete press release here. |
The LWV US Urges Congress to Act in New Letter
The League of Women Voters of the United States and League chapters from all 50 states and the District of Columbia sent a letter to congressional leaders expressing strong concern over abandoning its duties and authorities under Article I of the US Constitution, urging leaders to address the unprecedented executive branch overreach threatening American democracy.
"This is a critical moment for congressional oversight, and Congress must do its part to ensure that our great democracy is preserved and protected," said Marcia Johnson, chief counsel at the League. "The outcry from Americans speaking out against the impact of these executive orders should be all that is needed for Congress to stand in its authority and restore stability to our system of government."
The letter emphasizes that while federal courts have already enjoined several of these executive actions, Congress has not exercised its constitutional oversight. The League and its supporters urge Congress to exercise its authority to protect the rule of law, defend the Constitution, and rein in the executive branch's overreach. Read the letter here | 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 | |