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A Voice for Citizens, a Force for Change
e-bulletin
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Message from the Steering Committee |
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A Message From Chair of the Month, Elayne Berger |
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This past July brought the return of the book sale this past summer. Was it the 76th or 77th? No one I asked could recall the exact year of the first sale, but everyone was truly happy to welcome its return after the two years when it was halted. Members who I encountered after the sale ended in August asked for the results. Although the Steering Committee heard a report of the profits, many other League members might be wondering about the sale. So there is space for a brief report below.
The two weeks of collection brought the usual flood of books that covered the 80 tables and filled numerous boxes beneath, as well as the 24 gaylords that were removed prior to the start of the sale. Then Dealers’ Day and the next two weekends saw the removal of a majority of these books! Finally, on the Monday after the second weekend of the sale, a half dozen or so volunteers placed the remaining books into another set of gaylords, and a day later they were taken away, along with the tables. The final tally after expenses is available from the treasurer, and can be reviewed next June at our annual meeting. In addition to being a cherished fundraiser for the organization and a community event, this sale serves as an extremely effective recycling effort. Approximately 100,000 pounds of books are either reused or recycled by the middle of August.
What comes next? The preparations for the summer 2023 sale begin with a reservation of the gym after determining the time frame. Then throughout the spring, other logistics are attended to. Although many members are generous with their time during the collection and sorting phase (first two weeks of July) as well as helping as cashiers during the sale, it really does take an organizer or even better, a small team of organizers to make a few phone calls, and send a few emails.
Who will do this? This is the question. There is ample information from both a manual, as well as past organizers, so this is not an impossible task. If anyone reading this would like the rewarding challenge of organizing and running this sale, please contact the Steering Committee.
~ Elayne Berger, SC Chair of the Month
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In Memoriam
It is with great regret that we note the passing of our over 50-year member, Rhoda Honigberg. She served as president and held other offices, served on committees. In addition she served the town on the Amherst School Committee and the Solid Waste Committee.
It is with great regret that we note the passing of our member Mary Hough. She participated in many meetings and was a member of the League book group.
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Reminder: it is time to renew your membership. Members can renew and pay on line or by mail.
~ Phyllis Lehrer, membership
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Conversations about Reparations: “The Stolen Beam” Series*
****Final Opportunity to Sign Up!****
We announced previously that RJC member Jeff Gold, co-creator of “The Stolen Beam” curriculum will lead a study series of readings and discussion about reparations just for Amherst LWV members. The series features small-group discussions on readings and videos by African-American thought leaders, moral philosophy, US history, current reparations models, and the faith-based case for reparations. The study series will meet biweekly for 5 sessions, via Zoom, beginning in January.
The response from LWVA members has been large enough that Jeff is considering offering a second concurrent series. We need just a few more members, to make a second set worthwhile. A concurrent series has the advantage of accommodating everyone’s schedule more easily. This is your opportunity to think deeply about an important topic; please consider joining!
If you are interested, please contact Jeff Gold as soon as possible.
*The name "Stolen Beam" is a reference to a Talmudic debate about the right thing to do when we discover that the house in which we live was built with stolen materials, "a stolen beam."
~ Martha Hanner
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Meet the LWVUS UN Observers
Some of us may have been following the reports from COP27. Here’s a chance to meet the current LWVUS United Nations Observer team, get an introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals that guide their work, and what individuals and communities can do towards achieving these goals! November 30, 3–4:00 p.m. ET Register Here
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DARK SKIES
Want to find out more about the importance of preserving our dark skies for human, wildlife, and ecosystem health?
Join the Annual meeting for the International Dark Skies Massachusetts chapter meeting, virtually or in person: IDA-MA annual meeting this Saturday the 19th in Whately!
Speakers
* Massachusetts-based lighting designer and dark-sky evangelist Jane Slade will talk about her work as a dark-sky-friendly lighting professional.
* Rémi Boucher from Mont Mégantic Observatory in Quebec will share his experience with controlling light pollution from greenhouses (to be confirmed).
* Nantucket Lights leader Gail Walker and/or Cambridge-based lighting designer Glen Heinmiller will share their expertise in writing successful lighting bylaws for Massachusetts towns.
Want to drop in but can’t attend in person? We’ll stream (and record) the entire meeting from 1:30–4:00 p.m. by Zoom at this link.
Capacity of the Bechtel building at the MacLeish Field Station is 35 people, so we’re asking everyone please to register. Registration is free — we just want to make sure we don’t overfill the place. Registration page for in-person at this link.
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FOSSIL FUELS
Want to know about the work to encourage powerful corporations to move out of investments in fossil fuels?
Related recent mailing from the Sierra Club:
The Big Six Banks—Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs—have all made bold statements claiming that they will cease all their financing for fossil fuels. Yet, among them, the Big Six US banks have funded nearly $140 billion in liquefied natural gas since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. While we continue to pressure global financial institutions to pull their direct support from these projects, we also need to make sure the major US banks’ fossil fuel projects stay far away from vulnerable communities across the nation, like the Rio Grande Valley.
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Amherst League Aids a Neighboring District with Candidates Forum
The Amherst League joined the Worcester League and LWVMA in co-sponsoring an in-person Candidates Forum for the new Hampden 7 District. The 7 Hampden was created by the 2022 redistricting; it consists of parts of Ludlow and Belchertown, together with Pelham, Shutesbury, Wendell, New Salem and (on the east side of the Quabbin) Petersham.
As you can imagine, the establishment of this new district caused quite a bit of upheaval for the towns involved, since parts of four different counties are involved, and five different representatives are being replaced. Pelham, for example, was unhappy about losing Mindy Domb, whom it has been sharing with Amherst. Since we have members who live in the new district, it was appropriate for Amherst to share in organizing this event when asked to do so by LWVMA.
The October 19 event was held in Petersham because a Petersham resident, Maryanne Reynolds, had initiated the event, seeking help from LWV. Reynolds organized the event with League guidance and assistance; Worcester provided an experienced moderator; four Amherst members staffed time-keeping and the question period, and assisted Athol-Orange TV’s Carol Courville in filming.
For the curious, the forum, in which candidates Aaron Saunders of Belchertown (the ultimate winner of the election) and Chip Harrington of Ludlow participated, can be viewed on LWVMA’s YouTube site at this link, or at Athol-Orange TV at this link.
The Leagues involved wish to thank Maryanne Reynolds of Petersham for choosing to ask the League‘s help with the forum and for all her work towards a successful event. We thank, too, both Candidate Harrington and Candidate Saunders and AOL TV.
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The School Civics Celebration Project Toolkit
Want to find out more about LWVMA’s new Civics Celebration project? There’s a lot of information at the link to the right:
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LWVMA Town Hall: Program Planning
Please save the date for the next quarterly LWVMA Town Hall,
Wednesday, December 14, 7 p.m.
The meeting will focus on how local Leagues can get involved in program planning and other substantive areas as we prepare for the LWVMA Convention (scheduled for June 17, 2023).
Register here for the December 14 Town Hall.
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League Choice Books for Children and Teens: Holiday Gifts, perhaps?
LWVMA has identified and selected books that may help inform kids and teens about our nation’s history and system of voting and elections. Several such books appear at the link. Local Leagues may wish to: (a) donate copies of the books to libraries; (b) award them as student essay or video contest prizes; (c) present them as League prizes at school awards ceremonies; (d) include them in gift baskets for silent auctions or other fundraisers; or (e) organize programming featuring them. These books also may make fine gifts for children and young adults.
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League of Women Voters Files Amicus Brief in Moore v. Harper
WASHINGTON — Today [October 26] the League of Women Voters of the United States and League chapters from all 50 states and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief in the Moore v. Harper case before the Supreme Court. The case concerns the so-called “independent state legislature theory” (ISLT), which, if adopted, would have far-reaching implications for the future of American democracy. The League is represented by Fair Elections Center and O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
“Giving states unchecked power to set rules for federal elections is an assault on the American voter,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the US. “Historically, state legislatures have enacted the most harmful and suppressive anti-voter laws, and pro-voter groups like the League have relied on the ability to fight them in state courts. The Independent State Legislature Theory is a dangerous, fringe ideology that leaves voters effectively defenseless from harmful election laws….
Read LWVUS' press release for the rest of this letter and the statements of LWVMA and other state Leagues at this link.
Organizing Field Call: Join LWV to discuss the latest updates on the mobilization and engagement opportunities on the day of action around the Moore v. Harper case. November 17, 4:30–5:30 p.m. ET Register Here
On Dec. 7, LWV is planning to show up and peacefully rally at the US Supreme Court as the Justices will hear oral arguments on Moore v. Harper. The case could give state legislatures the authority to rewrite the rules of how federal elections are run at the state level, altering the checks and balances of our democracy. LWVUS will offer a training for participants on the evening of Dec. 6. Join us in Washington DC and register here.
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November is Native American Heritage Month!
Throughout the month, LWV will be honoring the contributions, achievements, and legacy of America’s Native communities. Dr Deborah Turner, the LWV’s president, urges us to check out our DEI resources on acknowledging the richness of Native culture and partnering with Native American communities. Stay tuned LWVUS' newsletter League Update for highlights throughout November.
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From LWVUS’ Blog: Continuing the Election News
You've cast your vote and possibly received the results — so what do you do now to defend democracy? LWVUS advocacy, litigation, and voting rights teams have some tips. 11/9/2022
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FORWARD THIS MESSAGE!
This monthly message is for anyone interested in the League, not just members. If you know someone who might be interested, forward this message and invite them to subscribe themselves, using the link below.
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e-BULLETIN STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS IN NOVEMBER
The Editor of the LWVAmherst e-Bulletin, Jessica Ryan can be contacted here. The Associate Editors are Trish Farrington and Susan Millinger; Assistant Editors are Phyllis Lehrer, Sue Lowery, and Kay Fite who checks the links. Contributors to this month's e-Bulletin include LWVA members: Elayne Berger, Phyllis Lehrer, Martha Hanner, Susan Millinger, and Rebecca Fricke. Material on LWVMA and LWVUS comes from Mass League Action newsletter and lwvma.org; League Update and lwvus.org, respectively, selected by Susan Millinger.
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