Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

March is Women’s History Month and a good time to reflect on all the contributions that women have made to our country and worldwide. The League of Women Voters, which grew out of the Suffrage Movement, just celebrated its 105th birthday on February 14th. On that same date the League sent a letter to Congressional Leadership regarding the organization's grave concern over the state of our nation. The letter is signed by leadership from every state League and DC affiliate in the country. The letter can be read using this link.

Locally in February we held our Program Planning Meeting which generated enthusiasm and interest from the members and guests who attended. We were happy that several new members attended as it gave them an opportunity to hear what our league is doing and to share their ideas and interests. We would like to thank Vice President Terry Garman for all her planning and coordination of this meeting.

Our League also was lucky to have a tour of the Ventura County Elections Office, guided by our Registrar of Voters, Michelle Ascencion. The tour was very interesting and informative and gave those attending a better understanding of how elections are run in Ventura County and an appreciation of all the safeguards in place to keep our elections secure.

We hope to see you at an upcoming event! 

Warmly,

Kathy Morgan and Susan Roth

Co-Presidents LWVVC

Women of the Civil Rights Movement

The fight for voting rights has been long and hard-fought, led by courageous women who understand that democracy is strongest when every voice is heard. One notable period of female advocacy and leadership was during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. 

While the contributions of men in the Civil Rights Movement have been widely documented, women’s contributions are often overlooked. Figures like Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Diane Nash, and Gloria Richardson were as vital as men like Martin Luther King Jr. And John R. Lewis in securing voting access. Like their male counterparts, they often did so at great personal risk. Their stories remain deeply relevant today, as many of the barriers they fought against have persisted or resurfaced in new forms, reminding us that vigilance in protecting voting rights is as critical as ever. 

Read more about these women using the button below.

New Membership Model is Here

League of Women Voters US switched to ChapterSpot as our membership management system.  

Member can now log into the portal to verify and update their information.

For more information about the change in the League's membership management system, check out the LWVUS FAQ page or the LWVVC website.

FROM LWVC

Join us on Sunday, March 30, 4-5:30 (zoom)

With incessant attacks on our nation's democracy making daily headlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many of our California cities, however, should also be making headlines. Cities are doing all they can to uphold democracy, and real change is happening at the local level—change that aligns with our values of inclusion, community, and equity. We are proud that some of our Leaguers have recently been elected to serve their cities, and they are stepping up to defend democracy, protect rights, and drive policy that ripples across the nation.

Join us on March 30 for a powerful conversation with three League members recently elected to local office:

🌟 Adena Ishii – Mayor, City of Berkeley

🌟 Lorrel Plimier – Councilmember, City of Piedmont

🌟 Natalya Zernitskaya – Councilmember, City of Santa Monica

Our three panelists will share why local government is more important than ever, what they're working on locally to defend democracy, and why strengthening democracy starts at the community level.

Tickets for this unique event are only $10, but the LWVC Development Committee strongly encourages additional donations. All funds raised will support the LWVC's advocacy efforts in Sacramento and throughout the state.

Use the button below to obtain additional information on registering.

FROM LWVVC

Legislative interviews coordinated by LWV of California provide valuable opportunities for meaningful dialogue between elected officials and local League members. These sessions allow legislators to outline their priorities while gaining insight into League positions on critical issues. Though the League maintains its nonpartisan stance by never supporting or opposing candidates or political parties, these interviews reinforce our identity as a political organization that takes well-researched positions on important issues following thorough study and member consensus.

Key Legislative Priorities for 2025

During our discussion, Assemblymember Bennett highlighted two major challenges facing the California legislature in the coming year:

• Responding to federal budget cuts and policy changes that will impact state programs and services
• Addressing California's cost of living crisis that continues to erode public confidence in government, particularly regarding:
• Housing affordability
• Transportation costs (especially gasoline)
• Insurance availability and pricing
• Underlying income inequality issues

Climate Change and Insurance: Bennett's Focus

Bennett's personal legislative priority centers on reducing losses from climate change-fueled wildfires while ensuring home insurance remains affordable for Californians.

"Before 2017, we rarely lost structures in wildfires," Bennett noted. "Then the Thomas Fire destroyed 1,000 homes—the largest loss in California history at that time. Eight years and 120 fires later, the Thomas Fire now ranks as only the eighth largest. The climate is changing, and we must become better prepared and more resilient, or no one will be able to afford to live here."

To address these challenges, Bennett plans to introduce a comprehensive legislative package aimed at improving California's firefighting infrastructure and reducing property losses. He has already introduced several bills toward this goal, including AB367, AB372, and AB1143.

LWVVC thank Assemblymember Bennett and his staff for their time and candid discussion of these pressing issues facing our community.

An impressive turnout of 42 members and guests gathered on February 15 to shape the future direction of our League at our annual Program Planning meeting.

Co-Presidents Kathy and Susan opened the session with a compelling overview of our 2023-2025 state and local program achievements, followed by an introduction to the LWVUS 2024-2026 program initiatives that will guide our work ahead.

The heart of our meeting featured an engaging "speed dating" format that sparked dynamic conversations across five critical topic areas:

1. Environmental Education
2. Equity and Inclusion Education  
3. Civic Education
4. Racial and Social Justice Initiatives
5. Housing Affordability and Homelessness

Key Outcomes

After thoughtful deliberation, we reached consensus on recommending the following Issues for Emphasis to the League of Women Voters of California - as priority areas for League resources, study, action, and community education, as well as the focus areas for our own local league:

• Civic Education - Enhance civic engagement through comprehensive education on U.S. governance structures and processes, with particular emphasis on:

1. Constitutional foundations and separation of powers
2. Federal, state, and local government operations
3. Voter rights and electoral processes
4. Public service delivery and civic participation opportunities

• Climate Education - Enhance public understanding of climate change impacts and solutions, with particular emphasis on:

1. Connection between climate action and economic justice
2. Local impacts on housing, insurance, and community stability
3. Intersection of climate change and democratic resilience
4. Evidence-based solutions and transition strategies
5. Policy options at local, state, and federal levels

• Racial and Social Justice Education - The League's nonpartisan status and community credibility make us uniquely positioned to reach audiences who might not engage with traditional immigration advocacy organizations. Address immigration issues affecting California communities through broad-based education and advocacy, with particular emphasis on:

1. Increasing public understanding of immigration policies and their local impacts
2. Supporting informed civic engagement around immigration issues
3. Building bridges between immigrant and non-immigrant communities
4. Addressing increased ICE activity impacts on California communities

The group also enthusiastically endorsed continuing all current committees, reflecting strong support across all our focus areas.

We're deeply grateful to everyone who participated. Your thoughtful contributions will strengthen the League's impact throughout California and in our local communities.

Join Us for the LWVVC Federal Judiciary Study: March-April 2025

Important League-Wide Initiative

LWVUS has launched an important national study examining the Federal Judiciary system. This initiative was approved by delegates at the June 2024 LWVUS Convention and will run from February through April 14, 2025.

Why This Matters

This study gives our local League members the opportunity to better understand the Federal Judiciary process while providing a forum to discuss key concerns about the judicial system. Through our participation, our local League will contribute to potential national policy positions on issues of significant public interest, including:

• Judicial accountability
• Transparency
• Independence
• Ethics

Meeting Schedule: Weekly Saturday Discussions

We invite all members to participate in a series of five one-hour meetings to be held from 11:00 to noon via Zoom:

• Saturday, March 8, 2025 - Topic: Transparency
• Saturday, March 15, 2025 - Topic: TBD
• Saturday, March 22, 2025 - Topic: TBD
• Saturday, March 29, 2025 - Topic: TBD
• Saturday, April 5, 2025 - Final discussion and consensus (In-person meeting).

All Zoom meetings will run from 1:00 to 2:00 (this is a correction from an earlier version of the Voter). The in-person meeting location will be announced closer to the date.

How to Prepare

Each week before our meetings, members will receive email "teasers" containing key questions and background information to help everyone prepare for robust, informed discussions.

Members will receive a separate email with study materials and a link to our shared Google Drive folder containing recommended reading materials.

Contributing to the Discussion

We encourage members to:

• Research beyond the provided materials
• Add relevant articles and resources to our shared Google Drive folder
• Come prepared with questions and perspectives
• Participate actively in reaching consensus on these important issues

Members, be on the lookout for weekly emails with additional information along with the Zoom link to join the Federal Judiciary sessions!

Wednesday, March 5th, 5:30pm - Happy Hour at Aloha Steakhouse, 364 S. California Street, Ventura, CA 93001 - RSVP to Matty Park.  

Sunday, March 9th, 4:00 - Housing and Homelessness Committee - see below for more details.

Thursday, March 13th, 11:00 - LWVVC Board Meeting, at The Colleges of Law Ventura campus, 4475 Market Street, Ventura, CA 93003.

Wednesday, March 19th, 5:30pm - Happy Hour on Zoom 

Thursday, March 20th, 4:00 - DEI/Race & Social Justice Committee - see below for more details.

Sunday, March 23rd, 2:00 - Women's History Month 2025 Film Screening - EP Foster Library's Topping Room, Downtown, Ventura. RSVP: Justice for All

Thursday, March 27th, 3:00 - Climate Change Committee - see below for details.

Be a Part of the Greater League

Participate in LWVUS and LWVC. Sign up for Updates and League Groups -

Open to all League Members

Join by signing in at: Join an Online Discussion Group and work with other leagues, LWV California staff and LWV US staff.

Additionally, the LWVVC has several interest committees - see details below.

Learn with the League: Elections Office Tour

February’s tour of the Elections Office, conducted by Registrar of Voters, Michelle Ascencion was very informative and interesting. We followed the path of a returned ballot through the process of signature verification, opening of the ballot envelopes, “flattening” of the ballots and tabulation of the votes. We learned what it means to “cure the ballots”, what the required 1% manual tally of ballots tabulated by machine to verify the accuracy of the automated count entails and of the many safeguards in place to ensure secure elections.

The 20 tour attendees left with a greater understanding of how our elections are conducted and a deep appreciation for the work done by our Ventura County Elections Office. We thank Michelle and her staff for providing us the opportunity for a tour!

Look for more Learn with the League events in the near future.

Women's History Month 2025 Film Screening

Justice for All, in partnership with the Ventura County Library, will be screening the award winning documentary "She's Beautiful When She's Angry," exploring 60's and 70's feminism, followed by a community discussion of where the modern women's movement is heading.

Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 at the EP Foster Library's Topping Room, 651 East Main Street, Ventura. Free parking behind the library near Poli and Chestnut Streets.

RSVP: Justice for All using this link.

Community Outreach Committee (Tabling)

The Community Outreach team has already identified 16 promising events for 2025. These occasions offer excellent opportunities to advance the League's mission while enjoying outdoor activities with fellow members. Stay tuned for volunteer sign-ups - we'd love to have you join us!

The LWVVC Observer Corps observes county and city meetings of governing boards and councils. Please reach out to Carol Lindberg if you are interested in becoming a part of the Observer Corps. You can participate as your time permits and will be providing a great service to the other League members.

Future dates for County Board of Supervisors meetings include: March 11 and 18, April 8 and 29, May 13 and 20, and June 3 and 24.

Scholarship donations, of any size, are very much appreciated!! If anyone has questions for us about our meeting or would like to join us, please contact Kay Armstrong.

Community Advocates Address Immigration Issues at LWVVC Meeting

We were fortunate to have Primitiva Hernandez and Willie Lubka speak at our last meeting. Ms. Hernandez, Executive Director of 805 Undocufund, shared valuable information about their 805 Rapid Response Network. To learn more about their history and programs, I encourage you to visit [805undocufund.org](https://805undocufund.org).

Willie Lubka, Executive Director of Buen Vecino, discussed their community outreach efforts, including "Know Your Rights" trainings and other advocacy programs. For more information, please visit their website at [Buen-Vecino.org](https://Buen-Vecino.org).

It was enlightening to learn how these organizations are collaborating to support our immigrant neighbors as they navigate increased ICE and Customs and Border Control activities. It's crucial for all of us to understand our rights and to share this knowledge throughout our community.

We were privileged to have these speakers, and we're providing additional resources from ACLU.org/know-your-rights and Vera.org for those interested in learning more.

The LWVVC will be exploring potential roles in advocacy and education regarding these issues, as well as ways individuals can provide support. Please join us in this important endeavor.

Please contact Kay with any questions or to obtain a link to a future Social Justice Committee meeting.

Housing & Homelessness Committee Update

Join our Housing & Homelessness Committee meetings! We welcome your ideas on supporting diverse housing initiatives, prevention efforts, and essential services.

Recent Developments

• Met with LWV Santa Barbara to explore collaboration. We agreed to work together on specific issues rather than forming a formal coalition.
• Planning public education initiatives including "Lunch & Learn" events and expert speaker sessions to highlight how addressing homelessness benefits our entire community.

Ongoing Work

• Tracking housing developments across Ventura County—completed, in-progress, and planned.
• Researching supportive services staffing and Care Court implementation.
• Following up on Proposition 1 fund distribution to Ventura County.

Please join us for our monthly meeting.

Remember to use ChapterSpot to join or review your League membership. See below

RENEWING MEMBERS: Many thanks and gratitude to our members who have renewed their membership and to those who have made an additional contribution toward the expenses of operating the LWVVC and towards the scholarship fund.

our support is critical!

 March 19th (3^rd Wednesday) @ 5:30pm, on Zoom. Please RSVP to Kay Armstrong.

Happy hour events are not just for new members – everyone is welcome, including guests. Join us for an informal conversation about all things LWVVC. Interested in becoming more involved in our mission of "Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy"? Come, learn about what we're doing, and how you can help.

You don't have to be a League member to join us for happy hour. Come for five minutes, the whole hour or anywhere in between. We hope to see you there! You are welcome to attend either or both Happy Hours. Please register with the host in advance. If you would like to have an in-person Meet the Members in your area, please let us know. 

For all relevant news about the County of Ventura: https://www.ventura.org/  Find out how to view Board of Supervisor agendas, documents, broadcasts, and videos. Connect with County services.  

We're excited to announce that we've transitioned to a new membership management system, ChapterSpot, to make joining and renewing your membership easier than ever! 

How to Join or Renew? Visit the LWVVC website and select the Join/Renew link to access the membership portal.

Why Renew or Join? Your membership supports our critical work in:

1. Voter education and registration
2. Advocacy for important local and state issues
3. Promoting civic engagement in Ventura County

Questions? Contact our membership team for assistance with the new ChapterSpot system.

   Donate 

Tax deductible donations may be made to:

•      General Fund

•      Scholarship Fund

•      Ann Gist Scholarship Fund  

•      Ann Gist Voter Education Fund

 OR make your check payable to LWVVC and send it to

P.O. Box 6786, Ventura, CA 93006

If you wish to donate in remembrance of someone, please include their name and a few lines about their life. Please specify the fund you want to support.

Thank you  

Raise Awareness of the League 

Email: info@lwvVenturaCounty.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LWVVenturaCounty  

Mailing Address: LWVVC, P.O. Box 6786, Ventura, CA 93006 

Phone Number: (805) 303-1476 

  Facebook: @lwvventuraco

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwvofventura/

The League of Women Voters of Ventura County is a 501(c)3 organization.

All contributions are tax deductible.  

The League of Women Voters, a grassroots non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates or political parties.