Full Calendar

CivicsFest is almost here! The first annual Amherst League of Women Voters CivicsFest will be held on Friday, March 24, 7-8:30 p.m. in ARMS auditorium. A celebration and competition centered around government and politics, this year's theme is American Institutions. Civics education is and has long been an important concern of the League of Women Voters. So come out to support a program to stimulate interest in civics, and to support fellow LWVA members who made it possible, especially Cynthia Brubaker.

High Schoolers have formed teams for the debate portion of the evening, and twenty teams of adults will play civic trivia. The evening, hosted by new State Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, will also include music, some theatrical performances, and (of course) food.  The food will be served before the event, starting at 6:30. Free to participate in and to watch.

CivicsFest will be aired by Amherst Media on Channel 12 at 6 p.m. on March 31.

Election Night Coverage on Amherst Media: Once again the LWVA will be partnering with Amherst Media to provide the Election Night Coverage on March 28th. Our own Cynthia Brubaker with be hosting with Tony Maroulis. Early in the evening the hosts will be talking with various town officials while later on they will talk with winning candidates. Please join us on Channel 17 starting at 7:45 p.m.

Commonwealth Conversations: Senate President Stan Rosenberg is continuing the Commonwealth Conversations tour that began last year, as a way to connect with residents across the state. The tour will be in Western Massachusetts on March 28th. Two sessions are open to all interested: one is the MassMoves Transportation Forum (hosted by the Barr Foundation), meeting from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on the UMass Amherst-Springfield Campus at 1500 Main St., Springfield. Transportation is a main theme for this year's tour. Because this forum includes a meal, you need to register to attend it. Register here.

The tour will conclude at UMass Amherst, in the Student Union Ballroom, 280 Hicks Way, with a Town Hall Forum from 6:15-8:15 pm.. Take advantage of this opportunity to tell legislators your concerns. According to Laura Zimmaro from LWVMA, "these sessions are proving to be very effective advocacy opportunities, based on information that is coming from our representatives."

Food Security in the Pioneer Valley: From 6:30-8 p.m. on April 5, the LWVA will co-sponsor with the Amherst Survival Center a community meeting to learn about the potential impacts of activity in Washington on federal and state safety net programs. A staff member from Congressman Jim McGovern's office, Keith Barnicle, will give a presentation at the Survival Center and learn our concerns.

Following the presentation and discussion,  if attendees wish to communicate their concerns and their experience to their elected officials, there will be an opportunity to write then and there. The Center will provide postcards and postage.

Would you like to attend the next board meeting? Any member is welcome to attend an LWVA board meeting. The host asks only that you let her know you plan to attend, so she knows what number to expect. The next board meeting is April 19, from 1-2:30 at Kathy Campbell's. Email ksmithcamp@post.harvard.edu. If you'd like a copy of the agenda, or the minutes of a meeting (once approved) contact Rebecca here. (If the link fails to work, email Rebecca at rebfricke@gmail.com.)

Sing Into Spring: Concert, Sunday, April 30, 2-4 p.m.
The League of Women Voters of Amherst presents a family concert featuring Jay Mankita, singer, and Henry the Juggler.

At Immanuel Lutheran Church, 867 North Pleasant Street, Amherst. Tickets will be $20 a family OR a donation of any amount. No one will be turned away from celebrating spring.   Light refreshments will be provided.

Sponsored by the LWVAmherst Health Care Committee, which advocates for single payer health care. The funds collected are for the Universal Health Care Education Fund, which supports legislation establishing a single payer health care plan in Massachusetts.

Women's Health Events: On March 1, LWV Amherst Health Care Committee member Jackie Wolf  (far right at table) joined Cheryl Zoll, Executive Director of Tapestry Health (far left in photo) and Gerald Friedman, UMass economics professor (center) on a panel discussing the question "Health Care & Coverage in MA: What's Next?"

"Women's Health in 2017" was the subject of a panel held at the Amherst Survival Center on March 8. The discussants were from the three sponsoring organizations: Mindy Domb (the Survival Center), Lucy Hartry (Tapestry Health) and  Jackie Wolf (LWVA). Jackie reported on the high cost of health care, attributed that largely to the private insurance industry, and urged the adoption of Medicare for All in Massachusetts. Jackie Wolf's fuller description of the event will be found in the Spring print bulletin.

  League members attending the discussion at the Survival Center were asked to bring feminine hygiene items to donate, since  girls and women need these expensive items. Rebecca Fricke stands with a shopping cart filled with what the League members brought: 218 pads, 134 tampons, and 244 panty liners. Mindy sends her thanks from the Center.

Candidates for Town Office.

Photos fro m Candidates Night, March 16

League members working on questions

 

Candidates describing their positions to potential voters