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Amherst League of Women Voters

A Voice for Citizens, a Force for Change


September 23, 2017
In This Issue:
UPCOMING EVENTS


September 26, National Voter Registration Day
Amherst Survival Center.  
September 27, 7-9 p.m., Carbon Pricing: The Keystone to Saving Our Planet, Talk, Hitchcock Center, 845 West St. 
October 6, 3-5 p.m., Legislative Reception, Applewood.  
October 16 , 3 p.m., Book Group Discussion of Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, 197 Pondview Dr.
October 19, 7-9 p.m., Moving Toward Zero Waste Program, Hitchcock Center, 845 West St.
October 24, 2-3:30 p.m., LWVA Board Meeting, 11 Western Ln. Open to all members, but please call 256-0809 or email if planning to attend.
October 25, 7 p.m., Affordable Housing Forum, Unitarian Universalist Meeting House Social Hall, 121 North Pleasant St.
November 14, 7-8:30 p.m., National Security Presidential Power and Holding Government Accountable, talk by Western New England University School of Law professor and  LWVA member Sudha Setty, Large Activity Rm, Bangs Center.
November 20, 3 p.m., Book Group discussion of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, Place TBA.
 
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LWVA News: Coming Events 

Voter Registration Day at the Amherst Survival Center

On  Tuesday, September 26, Voter Registration Day, Judy Brooks and Cynthia Brubaker will be registering voters at the Amherst Survival Center. As a recent email from LWVMA reminded us, "Across the United States voter registration and voter participation rates are low. A 2012 study by The Pew Charitable Trusts estimates
that 24% of the voting-eligible population in the United States is not registered to vote-- representing at least 51 million eligible U.S. citizens. "
 
 
"Carbon Pricing: The Keystone to Saving our Planet" Talk at the Hitchcock Center,  September 27

Mary Jo Maffei, chair of the Carbon Pollution and Rebate Committee of Climate Action Now, and Mark Hart will speak at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27 in a program co-sponsored by the LWVA. Both LWVMA and Climate Action Now (CAN) are members of the Massachusetts Campaign for a Clean Energy Future which works to pass Carbon Pricing and Rebate legislation.  Come to this presentation for a clear and informative description of carbon pricing and the work to pass it in Massachusetts.

Although this presentation is free and open to the public, the Hitchcock Center would appreciate registration. The Center is at 845 West St.


Annual Legislative Reception October 6 at Applewood

Sen. Stan Rosenberg, our senator and MA Senate President,  Amherst Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose and Amherst Town Administrator Paul Bockelman are confirmed attendees; the Select Board and District Attorney Dave Sullivan have also been invited. This annual event, in which we are given insight into the policies and activities of these state and local leaders, is always one of the highlights of the LWVA's year. Join us on Friday, October 6 (apologies for the incorrect date given in the August e-bulletin) from 3-5 p.m. at Applewood.


Moving Towards Zero Waste: October 19 at the Hitchcock Center

What is zero waste? What can Amherst do to move toward that goal? What can we as individuals do to help reach that goal? Amherst is launching a campaign to reduce waste and increase recycling. Find out what is being planned and share your ideas at the Thursday, October 19  program at the Hitchcock Center which is co-sponsored by the Amherst Refuse and Recycling Management Committee, Sustainability Amherst, LWV Amherst and the Hitchcock Center. Refreshments and a tour of the Center  (at 845 West St.) from 6-7 p.m.; program from 7-9 p.m. Free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Hitchcock Center (413-256-6006) or Cynthia Brubaker (413-253-6679)


Affordable Housing Forum, Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, Oct. 25

Co-sponsored by the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust and LWV Amherst, a public forum on housing will be held in the Unitarian Universalists' Social Hall (121 North Pleasant St) starting at 7 p.m on Wednesday, October 25.  There will be a review of recent developments in the town and the nonprofit Valley Community Development Corporation will host a panel on its proposal to develop "micro-apartments." The event will conclude with a series of facilitated round tables on various housing-related topics. For additional information, see the September 2017 print Bulletin, available at the LWVA's website.


LWVA News: Recent Accomplishments


LWV Amherst Consensus Meetings

Rebecca Fricke, speaking on behalf of the Board and the organizers of the two recent Consensus Meetings, thanks everyone who came to one or both sessions for being a part of the process. There will be a statement about the outcome of those meetings after the Board's next meeting on October 24.
 
Here's a picture from the second meeting on September 14:






Opening Meeting, September 19

The speaker at Opening Meeting on September 19th was Laurie Millman, Executive Director of the Center for New Americans. Laurie  introduced the important work of the Center, which began its work of serving immigrants in Amherst, in 1992, with English classes for Tibetan immigrants.

Free classes in English for adult immigrants remains a main focus. However, grant money increasingly emphasizes preparation for specific jobs, and the Center provides training in computer skills and career pathways classes for jobs in health care (a new grant) and manufacturing (with Greenfield Community College.)

The Center also provides help with preparation to become a citizen. This can involve helping people fill out the long and complicated application, helping people apply for fee reductions (the full price is over $700), and assistance preparing for the citizenship interview. Center staff who help with citizenship and immigration legal services are licensed.

Immigration lawyers providing pro bono services are also available through the Center, though not as many as are needed to deal with the complexities of immigration law. We are probably all familiar with the 4th of July Ceremony swearing in new citizens which the Center sponsors; LWV Northampton attends to register the new citizens to vote.

What can members of the League of Women Voters do to help this extremely valuable work? Volunteer as a tutor or citizenship coach; serve as a drive
Rebecca Fricke; the speaker: commenter Sudha Setty.
r for those for whom driving is unsafe, given their immigrant status; participate in one or more of the Center's fund-raising activities: attend the program "Immigrant Voices," held in Turners Falls' Shea Theater; get friends and family to pledge for each of the 30 Poems In November you (or the members of your group) write.
At the conclusion of her remarks, Laurie was joined by LWVA member, law professor Sudha Setty, who commented briefly on the status of President Trump's executive orders on immigration.

For more information on the Center and its work, click here. 

As usual, members enjoyed socializing around a table of goodies:

Kathy Campbell, Eva Cashdan, Maija Lillya.
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Martha Hanner, Trish Farrington, Deanna Pearlstein

 


We miss having Ellen Story as our rep, but it's great to have her at meetings. Here with Deanna Pearlstein and Barbara Ford

LWVA had a table on ARHS First Day Celebration on August 29 with a focus on Health Care for all..


Table at ARPS event




VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

LWVA Website apprentices needed
 
The LWVA Communications team is looking for apprentice web masters for LWVA web site.  Training provided.  Required:  logical thinking, good at detail, reasonable level of comfort with computers, and willingness to spend two to four hours per month working on the site.  Not required:  experience with web site design or management.  Training provided.  Bonus:  if you are still in the labor force, familiarity with the Drupal platform, which you will gain, is worth putting on your resume.  Contact Kathy Campbell if you are interested in finding out more.
 
Photographers needed for Facebook and the e-bulletin
 
Are you willing to take a few pictures at an LWVA sponsored or co-sponsored event and send them to the Facebook page editor and the e-bulletin editor? We would certainly appreciate any pictures you might take, whether regularly or occasionally. 

LWVMA News

Annual Day on the Hill:
Tuesday, October 24, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Click here for the LWVMA calendar; click here for LWVMA's legislative agenda.

Automatic Voter Registration is a legislative priority for LWVMA: "During the 2017-18 legislative session in Massachusetts, we will be working hard with our partners in the Election Modernization Coalition to pass S373/H2091, a bill sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Creem and Rep. Peter Kocut, to bring Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) to our state....." for more on this statement, click here

You may have received an email from LWVMA asking for a donation. LWV Amherst will receive 15% of a donation of $100 or more received from an LWVA member    by October 13 (or 10% of  a donation less than $100.) Also the promise is: no call during the Phonathon for those who donate now! If you're interested, here's the link to donate.
LWVUS News
 
Click here to read LWVUS's statement on new attempt at a Health Care Bill.

Sign the LWVUS petition to reject the 'Election Integrity' Commission's Voter Suppression Agenda! This petition has a goal of 10,000 signatures: there are now 12,742 total signers.
  
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