LWVRC is focused on preparing for the November 5th election.
These local elections are all about who best represents us in our local governments.
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The League will partner with the three colleges in Rensselaer County; Sage, RPI and Hudson Valley CC. We will work with student groups to create and execute voter registration events on campus.
We will contact student leaders to empower them to take complete ownership of the voter registration process. The
NVR website
is full of information, including a
Campus Takeover Toolkit
that provides general guidance on how to plan and execute a successful voter registration drive.
The Toolkit includes valuable information on volunteer recruitment, training, logistics and communications such as the use of social media (Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram) and how to contact the local media to promote the event. The League will assist students on how to use the Toolkit and educate them on NYS voter registration requirements.
In addition, as part of NVR Day, the League is reaching out to all the County libraries and to the
Troy Area United Ministries
to create registration events. We are repeating events of last year at the Snowman Ice Cream House, Unity House, YMCAs, YWCA, Family Fun Day at Prospect Park, and CEO.
To volunteer to be part of this effort, contact Noreen McKee, mckeenoreen@gmail.com, 917-533-4641.
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We continue our monthly tabling at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market and have had a busy season. People enjoy seeing our resident Suffragette and have really enjoyed challenging themselves with our Civics Quiz game complete with prizes!
Thank you to all of the volunteers who have made this possible! We continue to need more volunteers for September/October/November. Please check out the Farmers Market Signup on SignUpGenius.com and join us at the table! Or contact Shirley Buel directly at jbuel@taconic.net
518-441-4704.
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The League website
Vote411.org
is possibly the most valuable in a local election year. Local races generally receive less coverage in the press and other media. This year we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of including all local candidates in the guide. While the races, names, and party endorsements are easily found on the
Board of Elections
website, our challenge is to invite each of these candidates, both contested and uncontested, to submit information about their education, experience and about their view of key local issues and the best approach to them. Our team is busy at work and the results will be found on the
Vote411.org
website after Labor Day. Do take a look.
Contact: Judy Meyer, jdymyr@yahoo.com
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Election Preparation Websites
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Early Voting in New York State
Early Voting in New York State was one of several voting reforms passed earlier this year. Voters will be able to vote in the usual way with the addition of electronic poll books. No advance request is necessary.
In Rensselaer County the poll sites and times are listed here:
Schodack Town Hall
265 Schuurman Rd.
Castleton, NY 12033
Brunswick Office Building
336 Town Office Rd
Troy, NY 12180
Early Voting begins on Saturday, October 26th, 10 days before Election Day, and ends on Sunday, November 3rd, 2 days before Election Day.
Please note: There is no early voting the day before Election Day.
Early Voting Hours are as follows:
Saturday 9am to 2pm
Sunday9am to 2pm
MondayNoon to 8pm
Tuesday9am to 5pm
WednesdayNoon to 8pm
Thursday9am to 5pm
Friday9am to 5pm
Saturday 9am to 2pm
Sunday9am to 2pm
While our League joined other groups in advocating for a polling site in Troy - the largest concentration of people and particularly of people dependent on public transportation - a resolution to this effect advanced by the Troy county Legislators was defeated at least for this year.
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Election Monitoring
Several years ago the Board of Trustees of the Troy Public Library asked the League of Women Voters of Rensselaer County to conduct the annual vote for trustees and the budget. In return the Library makes a donation to LWV of Rensselaer County. Troy residents who are registered to vote in the general election are eligible to vote.
Fourteen League members work in shifts at the Main Library and the Lansingburgh branch from noon until 8:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of September - the 24th in 2019. Volunteers check computer lists of eligible voters from the Rensselaer County Board of Elections and explain the procedure for casting a ballot. At the end of the evening ballots are counted at the Main Library.
If this sounds like something you would like to do contact Margaret Story at 518-272-1566, 518-225-1939 or MrgStry@aol.com.
We have also conducted the vote for the East Greenbush Community Library on the first Thursday of September for several years.
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LWVRC 80th Annual Meeting
Our 80th Annual Meeting was held at Paolo Lombardi’s in West Sand Lake
May 30, 2019
Approximately 40 League members and guests enjoyed hearing from our Students Inside Albany - Shannon Tracy and Noah Albanese. Journalist Karen DeWitt gave us an inside view of the recent changes in the State Legislature and various legislative proposals, including marijuana reform, rent control expiration, and universal health care. The Governor's relationship with the Democrats in the Legislature was the subject of candid remarks from both Karen and the students.
Pauline Kamen Miller is the newest addition to our Board. And three members leaving the Board were thanked for their many years of service: Chris Salmon, Lorrie Smith, and Jill Nagy.
This year’s Mary Stierer Award for "Making Democracy Work" was presented to Lorrie Smith. She in turn presented a check to the Troy Public Library, one of Mary's favorite institutions.
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Second Annual Summer Picnic
On Saturday, 7/20/19, 25 LWVRC members and friends enjoyed a picnic lunch at Grafton State Park. On this day when the heat index was the highest of the season, we were happy to be out of the sun and in a much cooler place with a breeze. And is usual there were many interesting conversations between all of the picnic goers. We plan to repeat next summer and hope you will join us.
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During July and August we partnered with Albany LWV members at all six Spirit of the Suffragettes concerts held in Freedom Square in North Central Troy. Each event resulted in many new and updated voter registrations.
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LVWRC On the Radio
Board member Corinne Carey volunteers her time as a correspondent for the capital region's independent community-supported radio station, WOOC 105.3 FM, run out of the Sanctuary for Independent Media in North Troy. She produces shows highlighting a wide variety of political & public affairs issues for the station's hour-long Hudson Mohawk Magazine, which airs weeknights at 6 pm. The show re-airs each weekday morning at 7 am, and then each segment is available on the station's podcast, where they can be heard here:
https://www.mediasanctuary.org/podcasts
Corinne's stories have featured profiles of candidates for political office, interviews with elected officials, and segments with community leaders on issues relating to human and civil rights, criminal justice, and public health. Frequent guests have been leaders of the League of Women Voters of New York State as well as local board members. Always on the lookout for a good story, Corinne welcomes the opportunity to talk through story ideas, and she can be reached at
corinne.carey@yahoo.com
.
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Membership Renewals
Renewal letters for the 2019/20 year have been mailed. Please return your choice for membership level as soon as you can. If you know of someone who is interested in joining our league, please direct them to our website lwvrc.org.
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ATTAIN at the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) on River Street in Troy
If you would like to have help with and access to the internet at no cost to you, consider contacting EOC about their Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) Lab program. The phone number is 518 273 1900, ext 2281 and the email address for the coordinator is
k.beam@hvcc.edu
.
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Past Issues of The Voter are now available on our website
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Follow LWVRC on Social Media
Check out our new handle on
Twitter @lwvrc!
We’ve used this platform to remind our followers (currently a small group) about candidate forums and other informational opportunities. We also retweet State League tweets.
Let us know how we’re doing!
Would you like to see more or less of certain kinds of information?
Do tell! Contact Ona Papageorgion at pagonapenelope@yahoo.com
Please share pictures that tell a story relevant to our League or the world of civic engagement!
Send pics to Carol Bell at cbell7153@hotmail.com
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Election Calendar
September 24: National Voter Registration Day
September 24: Troy Public Library Board & Budget vote 12 noon - 9pm
October 11: last day to register by mail or in person for General Election
October 11: last day to change Party enrollment for 2020
October 16: last day to change address for the general election
October 26: Begin Early Voting
November 5: General Election
6am - 9pm
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