The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences

public policy through education and advocacy. LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice.

Hello Friends –

The lazy days of summer now lay behind us. I hope you all had a good summer, traveling, enjoying the company of friends and family, and relaxing!

How fitting that we end relaxing with Labor Day! Labor seems to be having its moment in the sun. Income disparities are greater than any time in recent memory. It will take thoughtful and widespread government action to level the playing field. Let’s get out the vote (GOTV). To help click here.

We sincerely hope you have each considered joining LWVSMV or have renewed your membership at the highest possible level. The League of Women Voters needs YOUR insights, not just your dues payment. In fact, if dues are a problem for you at the moment, LWVSMV has scholarship funding available to address that. Click here for our membership form. Out of the basic membership payment of $65, only $5 stays with the local branch, the rest goes to the great work LWVCA and LWVUS does on behalf of Voter Education and Advocacy.

LWVSMV is proud to bring you an enjoyable/educational late Friday afternoon meeting with YOUR State Senator Monique Limón! Friday, September 29th, 5pm, at PICO Restaurant Patio, Los Alamos. We are very near capacity so click here to reserve NOW!

If you are eager to take meaningful action…here's your chance. LWVCA recommends an Action Alert! opposing Governor Newsom’s Constitutional Convention proposal. See Action Alert section below to learn more. BTW, the UCSB Arts and Lectures talk October 24th is on the same topic: U.S. Constitution. See Calendar for sign-up and car pool info.

Onward and upward friends; hoping to meet up September 29th.

 Vote Local -- Your Vote Counts More!

Sincerely,



Virginia

According to our Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall consist of five elected officer positions which are currently held by Virginia Souza, President; Alison Wales, First Vice President – Voter Service; Tracy Beard, Second Vice President – Programs; Lisa Thornhill, Treasurer; and Sandy Boyd, Secretary. (Featured in our August VOTER.) In addition, there are four elected Directors and not more than two appointed Directors, deemed necessary to carry on the work of the League. Elections are held at the Annual Meeting and all voting members may participate.

The additional Board Members and their committee affiliations are:

LWV -- California:

OPPOSE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

LWVCA strongly opposes Governor Newsom's recent decision to seek an Article V constitutional convention. The proposal, encapsulated in SJR-7, seeks to add California to the states aiming to alter the U.S. Constitution, a move that comes without a clear structure or guidelines.

The Constitution is a living document, representing the fundamental tenets on which our democracy rests. The LWVCA supports targeted and focused policy action to address gun violence and the damage it is doing to our children and our communities, but a constitutional convention is not the right approach.

Chris Carson, LWVCA Board President, explains: “Opening a constitutional convention puts every right, civil liberty, and the underlying value of our country at risk. There are no limits or guardrails to what can be changed during a constitutional convention and it opens the door to well-funded special interests buying access to change the Constitution to serve their purposes.”

We urgently request the legislature and every Californian to reject SJR-7 and continue working with communities to find solutions to our challenges that do not put the very foundations of our state in peril. Tell your Legislators today that you oppose SJR-7. Take action here.

SUPPORT D.C. STATEHOOD AND FULL REPRESENTATION

The California legislature recently introduced SJR-8, a joint resolution championing federal legislation that would grant statehood and ensure full representation and voting rights to the people of Washington, D.C. Disenfranchising this group through the denial of statehood is a civil rights and racial justice failure.

The resolution would register California's support for federal legislation H.R. 51 and S. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which provides that the people of the State of Washington, D.C. would have all the rights of citizenship as tax-paying American citizens, including two senators and at least one representative. Lack of representation for the 700,000 people who call the nation’s capital home – the majority of whom are Black or Brown – gives the U.S. the unfortunate distinction of being the only democracy in the world that denies the residents of its capital city the full rights of citizenship. Click here to take action.

LWVUS

More than 50 years after the Voting Rights Act was passed, full protections for voting rights are not guaranteed for all voters. While we have made progress in expanding voter access, many people still face challenges to participating in elections due to factors including race, income, health, age, disability, and gender identity. Voting is a fundamental right and all Americans deserve an equal opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy. Urge Congress to protect voting rights here.

 SEPTEMBER

13: LWVSMV Board Meeting. 5:30pm on Zoom. All members are welcome. To get the Zoom link, email here.

15-17: Celebrate the 86th Anniversary of Solvang Danish Days with authentic food, music, dancing, parades, live entertainment, and family activities. This year’s theme is “Kom Sammen” (“Come Together”). View the weekend’s schedule here.

19: Celebrate National Voter Registration Day by registering to vote, confirming your registration, updating your address, serving as a poll worker, or finding information about election dates. Just click here.

OCTOBER

9: Open Streets Santa Maria is back this year – a mile of care-free space for people of all ages and abilities to play and be active. Join the fun on Main Street, from Broadway to Blosser, by signing up for a shift at the LWVSMV table here. Plans for the celebration are in the works and you can learn the latest here.

12: Do you have an interest in promoting government transparency and accountability? Then you might be interested in joining the LWV Observer Corp. Members provide a valuable service by attending governmental meetings, noting what happens at the meeting, and reporting back through the League to the community. Learn more at our

Observer Corp training. 3pm via Zoom. Email us here with questions or for Zoom link.

12: LWVSB Overbooked Book Group will discuss "After the Apocalypse: American's Role in the World" by Andrew Bacevich. 1:30pm. This book is free on Hoopla audio. For Zoom link, visit the LWVSB website here to access Events/Calendar listing.

24: UCSB Arts and Lectures presents two-time Pulitzer Award finalist and award-winning historian and journalist Jill Lepore for a talk titled “Amend: Rewriting the Constitution,” focusing on why the U.S. Constitution, which was meant to be amendable, is so difficult to change. 7:30pm; UCSB Campbell Hall. Group ticketing and carpooling from Santa Maria may be available. Click here to email name and contact information if interested.

Stay tuned for dates: The PCPA will present “The Agitators,” a 2-character play based on the tempestuous yet close friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Click here if interested in possible discounted group ticket purchase.

Our new fiscal year began July 1 and our Committees are busy with plans for the upcoming election cycle -- from voter registration tabling events to 7 issue and/or candidate forums to inform and educate voters through the upcoming election cycle.

We'd love to have you join us. We have much work to do across all of North Santa Barbara County and we need you. And if you're a current member, it's time to renew our membership. You can join or renew online by clicking here and pay online or by mailing your check to LWVSMV, P.O. Box 1388, Santa Maria, CA 93456. Scholarship funds are available and dues are waived for students of any age.