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PRESIDENT'S LETTER
Dear LWVFC Members,
Can you believe how busy we were during election season? Voter Service Co-chairs Grace Rissetto and Sandy Tarpinian deserve a good rest or a least a spa visit! City Council and School Board Candidates Forums were well received. Special thanks to moderators Olga Hernandez and Joan Wodiska. Kudos also to the many volunteers, including those who distributed Voters Guides at the polls on Election Day.
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The Oct. 1 City Council Candidates Forum was one of several Voter Services activities with which the League has been busy. More photos are featured below.
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The recent program on "Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?" and the companion information paper are excellent examples of what the League does for the community. Thanks to Wendy Frieman, Local Affairs Chair and her committee for bringing us this information. See the handout from the presentation
here
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Important meetings on the LWVUS Study on Constitutional Amendment are underway. November 8th we hosted an expert on the Constitution and November. 15th is the consensus meeting, open to discussion for members only. Others may attend but cannot participate in the consensus. Be sure to download and/or read the background information which was recently emailed three installments.
The three documents have been combined here for your convenience.
On December 2, LWV VA is sponsoring a General Assembly pre-session workshop in Richmond. It's an excellent opportunity to learn about this year's General Assembly. Read more in the article below and be sure to register and let me know if you are going, so we can arrange a carpool.
December 12th is the Holiday Party. You'll be receiving extra invites, so make an effort to bring along a friend or two. All are welcome. There will be an array of raffle items to choose from.
Working with the League doesn't end with the election season. We need you all year long,so don't hesitate to volunteer as activities come up.
Best to all,
Ellen
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LOCAL ARTISTS SUPPORT LWVFC
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| Under the Sea by Ellie Flaherty. |
Local artists Ellie Flaherty and Sharon Van Duizend will be featured in an upcoming Falls Church Arts
Gallery G-1 exhibit at City Hall, level G-1 corridor, opening November 18. The show runs through mid-January.
Ellie has been a League member for several years and 20% of the profit from any sale to a League member will be donated directly to LWVFC.
Though they work in different media, they have found their work to be complementary. Sharon's work is mixed media including collage, photography and line drawing. Ellie combines fiber/fabric/beads and other mixed media. They are members of Falls Church Arts, Del Ray Artisans and other professional organizations.
Gallery G-1 is an initiative by Falls Church Arts to bring local artists' work into the community. The exhibit will be open to the public during normal City Hall hours.
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WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE PRE-SESSION SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2
Plans are shaping up for the League's annual Women's Legislative Roundtable. In preparation for the WLRTs, the League holds a Pre-Session gathering December 2. This provides an opportunity to look at the anticipated issues that will arise during the upcoming General Assembly Session.
Networking with activists and many advocacy groups is one of the top reasons given for attending. A full morning of five-minute power speeches from issue experts who have been on the front lines during General Assembly sessions will preview, predict, and prepare league members and others for action in January.
Brian Moran, Virginia's Secretary for Public Safety and Homeland Security, and members of his staff, will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon, taking on the subject of "Criminal Justice Reforms in Virginia." This topic is of special interest to our members who have been instrumental in this area for some time.
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OTHER RECENT VOTER SERVICES ACTIVITIES:
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Linda Garvelink was one of several LWVFC volunteers distributing our non-partisan Voters Guide on Election Day.
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Voter Services provided multiple ways for citizens to learn about candidates and requirements for voting. This display was available to patrons of the Mary Riley Styles Library.
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The October 15 School Board Candidates Fourm was well attended and provided useful insights into candidate's positions on a variety of topics.
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| 2015-2016 LWVFC Board and Off-Board Members President Ellen Salsbury Vice President Linda Garvelink Programs Co-Chairs Robert Crowe Renee Andrews Local Affairs Chair Wendy Frieman Secretary Martha Cooper Treasurer Ruth Rodgers Voter Service Co-Chairs
Liaison to NCA Ellen Gross Administrative Team Madalyn Cafruny Genie Flahie Edith Snyder Special Projects Cindy Donaldson Bunny Jarrett Marty Meserve Jane Scully
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
LWVFC Consensus Meeting on Constitutional Amendment Study
Sunday, Nov. 15
3 - 5 p.m.
Falls Church Community Center
LWVFC Holiday Social
Saturday, Dec. 12
3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Falls Church Episcopal
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THE HOLIDAY PARTY NEEDS YOU
This is our 17th Annual Holiday Party and Fundraiser. It's coming up soon -
Saturday December 12th for 3:30 to 6:30 pm at the Fellowship Hall of the Falls Church Episcopal Church.
The party's for fun and fundraising. Our voter service and other program expenses have risen and our dues have not. We know you like to visit and enjoy the party but we also need your financial support to continue our mission. In addition to buying raffle tickets, you can use the party as an opportunity to make an end of the year tax-exempt donation to the LWVUS Education Fund which pays for our educational activities.
We're looking for donations of items to make up raffle baskets, so it's time to scour your house for those things you can live without-collectibles, small antiques, toys (new and gently used), hobby items, teapots, ceramics/glass, funny gadgets and that gift you can't re-gift anywhere else! If you've downsized, look into that box you haven't unpacked yet. If you have an idea for a theme basket, put the items together and we'll package them up. It makes our job so much easier.
We will need large and flat baskets (or trays) for displays, so bring those, too. Linda Garvelink's newly renovated basement will be the drop off point at 804 Ridge Place. You'll be getting a special notice on drop off details after Thanksgiving.
When you walk in and see the raffle items, the decorations, and the bounteous food table, it won't have happened by magic. It happened because loyal league members like you pitched in and did a variety of jobs. There are still plenty of one-time jobs to be done. Here are a few of them:
- Picking up flowers for decoration
- Picking up paper goods
- Greeting and selling raffle tickets ( very important jobs!)
- Setting up and cleaning up
- Bartending
- Picking up balloons
- Contacting members for service donations such as IT support, a dessert on demand, etc.
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A great way to stay current on issues of interest to the League is to follow the
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