- state-members - lists.bikelover.org

LWV of WV Membership Renewal
by teresa.m.koon＠gmail.com 14 May '25

14 May '25

Hello LWV of West Virginia members - Many of our LWV of WV members at large have a membership that will expire 5/31/25. For those who do, you received an email on May 1, 2025 from Membership membership(a)lwv.org <mailto:membership@lwv.org> with a subject of "Renew Your League of Women Voters Membership". If you would like to remain a member of the League of Women Voters, log into your account to rejoin. If you need assistance, please let me know. If you did not receive the email, you may disregard. Thirty (30) days prior to when your membership is due, you will receive an email. If you have questions about the status of your membership, feel free to contact me. For those who have already renewed, thank you! Your membership will be in place for one year from the time you renew. As always, thank you for being a member of the LWV of WV. Please don't hesitate to contact me anytime. Teresa Koon Treasurer 304-590-5476

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Video - Redistricting Presentation at Convention
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 21 May '21

21 May '21

State Members, Here is a link to the redistricting presentation given at Convention: https://youtu.be/w_UKgzLCsuw "Professor Martis speaks on the electoral history of the United States. As an American political geographer his knowledge and expertise lies in mapping and documentation of electoral history. He is a Professor emeritus in the Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia university." "Professors Martis research of geography of Elections and geographical aspects of American political culture, legislative redistricting and gerrymandering are important and informative to all voters." -Jonathan

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LWVWV VOTER SPRING 2021
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 30 Apr '21

30 Apr '21

Attached is an electronic copy of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia Spring 2021 Voter newsletter. Please distribute widely. Make sure to register at https://convention.lwvwv.org to attend our 2021 Convention on May 15! -Jonathan

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Registration Call to LWVWV Convention
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 22 Apr '21

22 Apr '21

CALL TO CONVENTION SATURDAY, MAY 15 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. https://convention.lwvwv.org YOU are invited to attend the Biennial Convention of the West Virginia League of Women Voters! Convention siting and location rotates among local Leagues, this year it will be held virtually on Zoom by our host, League of Women Voters of Jefferson County. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Kenneth C. Martis, Emeritus Professor of Geography at WVU. He will give a quick history about redistricting and current legal standings including a focus on redistricting in WV, pending State legislation, and deadlines. Schedule Synopsis: May 14 - State board meeting is held Friday evening at 7:00 pm. May 15 - Convention check-in begins at 9:30 am; First Plenary commences at 10:00 am; Lunch at 12:00; Guest Speaker at 1:00 pm; Second Plenary begins at 2:00 pm and should end by 3:00 pm. All new and existing Board Members will then attend a brief Post-Convention Board Meeting. According to the Bylaws, each League may send the League president (or alternate) plus one delegate for the first 15 members, and one additional delegate for each 10 additional members or major fraction thereof. Each Member-at-Large Unit shall be entitled to one delegate. All additional members may attend as Visitors. Please register by April 30, but no later than May 8th at https://convention.lwvwv.org . * Name of your League or Member-at-Large Unit or N/A: * Jefferson County, Huntington, Morgantown-Monongalia, Wood County, Charleston Area Member-At-Large or N/A * Your name * Are you a Delegate or Visitor? * Email address (Note: Convention Workbook will be sent out electronically on May 10.) Registrants will be receiving Zoom meeting links. Please attend to vote for the bright future of the League in our state! -Jonathan

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IMPORTANT S1 Lobbying - All members invited
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 21 Apr '21

21 Apr '21

You are invited!! Lobby Corps has opened up two IMPORTANT lobbying opportunities with our US Senators to all WV League members concerning S1 - April 27 (phone) and April 28 (Zoom and/or phone), both @ 11 am: The For the People Act aligns with many of the League's long-held positions. In particular, the LWV is advocating for the following essential elements of the bill: Expanding voter registration Returning citizens' voting rights Increasing voter participation, and Implementing fair redistricting Meetings with Sens. Manchin and Capito on S1 For the People: Tuesday, April 27, 11 am : Senator Capito Chief of Staff Dial by your location +1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose) +1 646 828 7666 US (New York) Meeting ID: 161 553 2095 Passcode: 65445331 Wednesday, April 28, 11am: Senator Manchin Chief of Staff To join and listen to zoom meeting https://senate.zoomgov.com/j/1618324972?pwd=d2t4dnp1OHpHanVvNis5Y0lXNFYrQT09 Meeting ID: 161 832 4972 Passcode: *fAzV^4! One tap mobile +16692545252,,1618324972#,,,,*55054456# US (San Jose) +16468287666,,1618324972#,,,,*55054456# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose) +1 646 828 7666 US (New York) Meeting ID: 161 832 4972 Passcode: 55054456 Find your local number: https://senate.zoomgov.com/u/adv0PAuNj Attachment -Jonathan

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Action needed: SB 565 and HB 3300
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 25 Mar '21

25 Mar '21

Please read on about 2 bad bills moving in the Legislature and contact your legislators and tell them to vote no. Each legislators' phone number and a link to email can be accessed at https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Senate1/roster.cfm [1] and https://www.wvlegislature.gov/House/roster.cfm SB565 pertains to elections and has passed the House and will move to the Senate. The worst aspects are that it includes none of the reforms that contributed to the high turnouts in 2020, such as no-excuse absentee voting or having drop boxes for absentee ballot requests and ballots, and worse, it pretty much guts the Automatic Voter Registration at DMV bill that passed a few years ago but has yet to be implemented. It also moves the dates for early in-person voting back so that the Saturday before Election Day, the most popular day for early voting, is eliminated. This bill reflects the wish list of the Secretary of State and includes a few acceptable changes, but the bad far outweighs the good. The League has been involved in discussions along with other pro-voter organizations with the Secretary's election staff advocating for voter-friendly changes, to no avail. The LWVWV priority on taxation for this session was that the LWVWV _Supports measures that modernize the elections process, allow more efficient procedures for election officials, and give voters easier access to voting such as making permanent the expanded voting options that were available during the pandemic in 2020._ HB3300 is the House's version of the governor's plan to phase out the state income tax. It is on second reading in the House today. While the House's bill phases the tax out more gradually than the governor's plan, there is no way it could make up for the lost revenue without drastic cuts in funding to already strapped agencies and programs. Many West Virginians earn too little to pay income taxes and will see increases in sales taxes. Cutting and eliminating the state income tax will benefit the well-off while raising taxes and cutting services for people who are struggling. The LWVWV priority on taxation for this session was that the LWVWV _Supports reforms of the West Virginia tax system that are broadly based, rely on diverse revenue sources, provide adequate, stable yield sufficient to provide essential services, and treat taxpayers fairly._ For more information on both bills, Citizen Action Group has up-to-date information: wvcag.org or type in the bill number (digits only) at the Legislature's Bill Statue site: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bill_status.cfm Kathy Stoltz Links: ------ [1] https://mom.bikelover.org/#NOP

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Action Needed on Tank Deregulation, Water Quality Standards
by Julie Archer 28 Feb '21

28 Feb '21

Dear LWV-WV Members, We're writing to urge you to contact legislators and tell them to oppose two measures that would weaken regulations intended to protect our drinking water and public health. Tell the House Judiciary Committee: No More Toxins in Our Water Tomorrow, March 1, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a virtual public hearing on HB 2389, the Water Quality Standards Rule. Registration for the hearing has closed, but you can still make your voice heard by contacting members of the committee and telling them not to allow more chemical toxins in our water. The WV Rivers Coalition has more information here [1], along with an easy way to send a message to all the committee members. You can also find contact information of House Judiciary Committee Members here [2]. Say No to Removing Regulation for Storage Tanks Near Drinking Water Intakes Another bill moving in the House of Delegates would exempt oil and gas tanks in "zones of critical concern" (ZCCs) from the Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Act. ZCCs are areas directly upstream from public drinking water intakes in which a released contaminant will reach the intake within five hours. The Freedom Industries tank leak in 2014 demonstrated what can go terribly wrong when tanks close to our drinking water intakes are overlooked. The water crisis that resulted when the drinking water for over 300,000 West Virginians was contaminated by the leak spurred unanimous passage of the AST Act. Now, industry lobbyists want deregulate oil and gas storage tanks closest to our drinking water intakes, with HB 2598. On Tuesday, members of the House Energy Committee sent the bill the full vote, however, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw agreed to send the bill to the Health Committee for further scrutiny [3]. Now is the time to let Health committee members know HB 2598 puts our drinking water at an unnecessary risk. See this WV Rivers Coalition action alert [4] to send a message to the committee, or click here [5] for a list of House Health Committee members and their contact information. Thank you for taking action to protect our drinking water and our health! LWV-WV Natural Resources Committee Links: ------ [1] https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/senatejudiciary/index.html [2] https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/house-judiciary-committee/ [3] https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/proposed-rollback… [4] https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/2021NoRollbackstoASTAHealth/index.html [5] https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/wv-house-health-and-human-resources/

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Urgent Action for Water Quality Standards - Act by 12/9
by Julie Archer 03 Dec '20

03 Dec '20

Dear LWV-WV Members, We're passing along this urgent action alert from our friends at the WV Rivers Coalition. Urgent Action for Water Quality Standards - Act by 12/9 In preparation for the 2021 WV Legislative Session, the Legislative Rule Making Committee will meet on Wednesday, 12/9, and water quality standards are on the agenda. The committee needs to hear from you TODAY about the importance of clean water! [1] This is the second time we are sharing this action alert with you. In September, the Committee met and Water Quality Standards were on the agenda. But your messages got committee members attention and the Water Quality Standards Rule was removed from the agenda [2]. Your messages make a real difference! Please act today! [1] You may recall that it was during a meeting of the Legislative Rule Making Committee in 2018 [3] that essential updates to human health protections were stripped from the 2019 proposed water quality standards rule. This act by the Rule Making Committee triggered years of industry-led delay tactics and attempts to weaken drinking water protections. All the while, West Virginia's water quality standards remained outdated. Now, after years of delays, the Legislative Rule Making Committee will once again consider much needed updates to our water quality standards. We've reviewed the proposed water quality standards rule [4] and sadly, the rule would rollback protections for 13 toxins. It is extremely important that members of the Legislative Rule Making Committee hear from you before they meet. Tell members of the committee that you oppose any weakening of water quality standards. [1] Links: ------ [1] https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/rulemakingwqs/index.html [2] https://wvrivers.org/2020/09/rulemakingupdate [3] https://wvrivers.org/2018/11/wqs-4 [4] https://wvrivers.org/2020/07/wqs-7

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In Their Remembrance: Moral Monday Caravan
by Julie Archer 22 Nov '20

22 Nov '20

Dear LWV-WV Members, We hope you are staying safe and healthy during this challenging time. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we are joining with the the West Virginia Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival in a public act of mourning and remembrance. On Monday, November 23rd the West Virginia Poor People's Campaign is hosting a Moral Monday caravan [1] at our statehouse to mourn the more than 658 West Virignians who have died from COVID-19, demand a smooth and open transition of power and lift up the moral policies we need immediately and in the first days of the new administration. You can join the caravan in Charleston and participate safely from your vehicle, or join the online action at 2:30 PM. Click here [1] to register. LWV-WV will also be streaming the event live on our Facebook page [2]. In addition to demanding the federal government pass a comprehensive COVID relief package, the West Virginia Poor People's Campaign is calling on Governor Justice to immediately spend the remaining CARES Act funding West Virginia received in April to address the extreme hardship present through out the state. Call Governor Justice and demand he target these remaining funds to those West Virginians who need them the most. Call him now at (304)-558-2000 or click here [3] to send a letter. Ending the suffering of our families and communities is a moral mandate to all who are tasked with governance now and in the new year. Calls for cooperation cannot compromise with injustice. In Solidarity, Julie Archer, Vice President on behalf of LWV-WV Links: ------ [1] https://actionnetwork.org/forms/november-23-moral-monday-caravan/ [2] https://www.facebook.com/lwvwv/ [3] https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urge-governor-justice-to-spend-cares-act-…

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LWVWV VOTER FALL 2020
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 05 Oct '20

05 Oct '20

Attached is an electronic copy of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia Fall 2020 Voter newsletter. Please distribute widely. -Jonathan

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Important Absentee Voting Information & Actions
by Julie Archer 01 Sep '20

01 Sep '20

Dear LWV-WV Members, As you probably know, all West Virginia voters have the option of voting absentee due to concerns about COVID-19. This is the safest option because you can vote from home. However, despite our efforts to make the process consistent with the primary [1], for the general election registered voters in most counties won't be mailed an absentee ballot application. As things currently stand, here are your options for requesting an absentee ballot. 1). Request a ballot online using the Secretary of State's absentee ballot application portal [2]. While this is a welcome option for those voters who are able to use it, many voters in WV are not able to access it or are just not comfortable using it. Those voters can do one of the following: 2). Call or email your county clerk [3] and ask them to mail an application to you; OR 3). Download and print an application [4] and return it to your county clerk [3] by mail or email. At this point, only voters in Lincoln and Ohio counties will be mailed absentee ballot applications [5]. But there's still time for the Governor and Secretary of State to get this right and order election officials to mail absentee ballot applications to all eligible voters. With the threat of COVID-19 greater than it was in June, and at a time when USPS is under attack and mail delivery may be delayed, the Governor also could authorize the use of drop boxes to allow voters to hand deliver their ballots without putting themselves, county clerks and their staffs at risk. That's where you come in. Demand Governor Jim Justice and Secretary of State Mac Warner to protect our health and our right to vote safely by taking action on these two issues: * Mailing Absentee Ballot Applications - A county by county decision on this issue does not guarantee the benefit of an application to every registered voter regardless of where they live and their ability to access or use the online portal. Absentee ballot applications should be sent to all registered voters as was done for the primary election. Contact the Governor and the Secretary of State and tell them that their constituents deserve to have the same chance to vote safely in November as they had in June. * Drop Boxes for Ballot Delivery - At the same time as elections officials are projecting--and seeing--an increase in the number of voters choosing to vote absentee, internal policy changes within the USPS have led to delays in mail delivery that may result in absentee ballots not being delivered on time. The Secretary of State's office has determined that the use of drop boxes don't comply with the allowable delivery methods for absentee ballots. However the Governor could issue an executive order authorizing the use of secure drop boxes. Voters shouldn't have to rely on the USPS or go into the Court House during working hours to make sure their absentee ballot arrives on time. Please contact the Governor and Secretary of State now to ensure that our democracy can function during this pandemic. Governor Jim Justice - call (304) 558-2000 or email governor(a)wv.gov [6] Secretary of State Mac Warner - call (304) 558-6000 or email mwarner(a)wvsos.gov [7] _Want to do more?_ Contact your legislators [8] and commissioners [9] and ask them to advocate for their constituents on these issues and ensure we can safely vote by mail in November. Thanks for doing your part to defend our democracy and empower West Virginia voters. Sincerely, _Julie_ Julie Archer Vice President PS: Please remember these important election dates and deadlines: * September 18, 2020 - County clerks will begin mailing out Absentee Ballots. * October 13, 2020 - Voter Registration Deadline * October 21 - October 31, 2020 - Early Voting at the county courthouse, annex or designated community voting location during normal business hours and Saturdays 9AM to 5PM. * October 28, 2020 - Deadline for Absentee Ballot Requests. Absentee ballot applications received after October 28, even if postmarked, cannot be accepted by law. (Note: In a letter to the Secretary of State [10], the General Counsel for the USPS recommended voters submit their request early enough to be received 15 days before the election (October 19). The letter also recommended voters mail their completed ballots a week before the state's due date.) * November 2, 2020 - Deadline to hand-deliver Absentee Ballot to County Clerk's office. Choose this option if you don't want to use the mail to return your ballot. (Note: No person may hand deliver more than two absentee ballots and any person hand delivering an absentee ballot is required to certify that he or she has not examined or altered the ballot(s).) * November 3, 2020 - General Election Day * November 4, 2020 - Absentee Ballots mailed, but without a postmark accepted. * November 9, 2020 - (Canvass) - Absentee Ballot postmarked by Election Day accepted if received by start of Canvass. For more voting information visit GoVoteWV.com [11]. Links: ------ [1] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [2] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [3] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [4] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [5] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [6] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [7] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [8] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [9] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [10] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a… [11] https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…

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Convention - 7:30 - Expanding the Vote
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 25 Jun '20

25 Jun '20

Reminder, LWVUS Convention Panel discussion, "Expanding the Vote" begins at 7:30 pm. Anyone can watch it live at https://www.facebook.com/leagueofwomenvoters/live_videos/ -Jonathan

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LWVUS Convention 2020 / Jefferson County Finalist (please vote)
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 14 Jun '20

14 Jun '20

Dear members of the League! If you have not already heard, this year the historic 2020 LWVUS Convention is completely virtual. Any League member may listen/learn/participate in the Caucuses (Monday, June 22 - Wednesday, June 24) by registering for each respect Caucus here [1] , and observe the Plenary session (Friday, June 26 - Saturday, June 27, 3pm - 8pm each day) by registering here [2] . Thursday's, June 25, panel event (7:30pm - 8:40pm) is open to everyone and will be streamed live on Facebook. I highly recommend taking advantage of this unique opportunity during the 100th year of the League! The complete agenda may be found at https://www.lwv.org/ConventionSchedule . I am delighted to announce that the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County West Virginia [3] has been selected from a large list of applicants as one of three Finalists for the Strengthening Democracy Award [4] for their work on Virtual Candidate Forums this year! Please vote [5] in favor of LWVJCWV here [5] ! Additionally, we can provide you with a video recording of the lunchtime presentation given by Jefferson County at our recent Council meeting. -Jonathan Links: ------ [1] https://www.lwv.org/league-management/council-convention/2020-convention-vi… [2] https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_vu-kM5t3066ijX7ZxMRJGv… [3] https://lwv-jcwv.org/ [4] https://www.lwv.org/league-management/strengthening-democracy-local-league-… [5] https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_vu-kM5t3066ijX7ZxMRJGv…

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Take Action Today to Restore the Voting Rights Act
by Julie Archer via state-members 04 Dec '19

04 Dec '19

Dear LWV-WV Members, Last month the LWV-US sent out a call to action asking members to contact their US Representatives and urge their support for the Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 4). HR 4 will be voted on by the full House Thursday or Friday of this week. This legislation will restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) that were struck down by the US Supreme Court in the _Shelby v. Holder_ decision. If you haven't already, please call or click here [1] to contact your representative today. 1ST DISTRICT Congressman David McKinley - (202) 225-4172 2ND DISTRICT Congressman Alex Mooney - (202) 225-2711 3RD DISTRICT Congresswoman Carol Miller - (202) 225-3452 Thank you for taking action. Sincerely, Julie Archer 1st Vice President, LWV-WV Links: ------ [1] http://participate.lwv.org/c/10065/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=…

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Easy Action to Oppose SNAP Eligibility Changes
by Julie Archer via state-members 17 Sep '19

17 Sep '19

Dear LWV-WV Members, Board, and Local Leaders, The LWV-WV has send a letter to US Department of Agriculture opposing proposed changes to SNAP eligibility requirements. These proposed changes would deny nutrition assistance to 3.1 million people and more than 25,000 West Virginians. [1] Please take a few minutes and join us in submitting comments opposing this proposed rule. Click here [2] to send a letter. Comments must be received on or before Monday, September 23, 2019. Below is the letter sent by LWV-WV. Thanks for taking action! Sincerely, Julie Archer 1st Vice President, LWV-WV September 14, 2019 USDA, Food and Nutrition Service Program Design Branch, Program Development Division 3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302 Re: Docket ID Number FNS-2018-0037 - Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Dear Secretary Perdue, I am writing on behalf of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia to oppose the proposed rule to eliminate SNAP's broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) option that allows states to streamline the process for households with slightly higher incomes that still experience financial hardship to participate in SNAP. SNAP plays a critical role in food security in West Virginia. In fiscal year 2017, SNAP benefits reached 340,000 West Virginia residents, or 19% of our state population. Eliminating the BBCE option would deny access to food assistance to more than 3 million people, including thousands of West Virginians, and punish families for saving money for emergencies or for their children's future. This proposed policy change would also be counterproductive and remove incentives for people to enter and stay in the workforce. Allowing them to continue to receive assistance lets them focus on being successful rather than having to worry about how they will pay for food. Additionally, this attack on those struggling to get by sidesteps Congress by eliminating an option that has been in place for more than 20 years and was recently upheld in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. Eliminating this option takes food off the tables of working individuals and families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The League of Women Voters supports programs and policies to prevent or reduce poverty and to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families, and believes those who are unable to work, whose earnings are inadequate or for whom jobs are not available have the right to an income and/or services sufficient to meet their basic human needs for food, shelter, and access to health care. SNAP helps millions of Americans and thousands of West Virginians make ends meet. Please reject these unnecessary changes to this proven program. Sincerely, Jonathan Rosenbaum, President 531 Woodland Circle Morgantown WV 26505 304-599-2370, jr(a)lwvwv.org Links: ------ [1] http://foodjustice.wvu.edu/2019/09/05/categorical-eligibility-rule-impacts-… [2] https://actionnetwork.org/letters/take-action-today-tell-the-administration…

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Honoring Helen Gibbins and Nancy Novak _ Please share
by Teresa Koon via state-members 26 Apr '19

26 Apr '19

Dear Local League Presidents and Members at Large - After more than 35 years on the state board, Helen Gibbins and Nancy Novak are retiring. Both served 2 terms as President of LWVWV among other positions. Helen and Nancy also served (and continue to serve) in leadership positions on their local Boards for over 40 years. Nancy will be moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family and Helen will remain in Huntington. In honor of their years of service to the LWVWV, contributions can be made to the League of Women Voters Endowment Trust. The Endowment Trust was established in 1981 to provide supplemental funding to sustain the League of Women Voters of West Virginia. I have attached the brochure. Please share this email with your members. Contributions can be mailed to the Treasurer at the address below: Pamela Cutright Treasurer, LWVWV Endowment Trust 548 Creekstone Ridge South Charleston 25309-9115 Teresa Koon Secretary, LWVWV Endowment Trust --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com

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Call to LWVWV Convention
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 07 Mar '19

07 Mar '19

CALL TO CONVENTION SATURDAY, APRIL 13 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. YOU are invited to attend the Biennial Convention of the West Virginia League of Women Voters! Convention rotates among local Leagues each time, and this year it will be held in Morgantown at the Springhill Suites. Our guest speaker will be Angie Rosser, Executive Director of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. She will speak about clean water issues and legislation. Rooms have been reserved for Friday night at the Springhill Suites for members traveling some distance. PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATION WITH THE HOTEL: 304-225-5200. TELL THEM YOU ARE WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO GET A DISCOUNT RATE. You are invited, in addition, to attend the pot luck dinner at the hotel, and the state board meeting on Friday evening, April 12.. The cost for members will be $18, which will include lunch. Cost for a single or double room will be $89, which includes breakfast. Please reply BY MARCH 28, and specify: * Your relationship to LWVWV: State Member * Your name * Phone number * Any special food needs * EMAIL ADDRESS (Note: To reduce waste, and to help the environment, this year's convention workbook will be sent out electronically as a packet, rather than being printed) Hotel Address: Springhill Suites 1910 Hunters Way Morgantown, WV 26505 (304) 225-5200 Please come to vote on the future of the League in our state! -Jonathan

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spread the word: Citizen Lobbying Webinar, Monday, Feb 4, noon
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

Friends, partners, and collaborators, Please spread the word to your contact networks about the Grassroots Lobbying Skills Webinar [1] hosted by Solar United Neighbors of West Virginia [2] next Monday, February 4, at noon. Attendees will learn practical skills to become effective citizen lobbyists. We'll review best practices to advocate to state representatives to promote priority legislation, like the bipartisan bill to legalize Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) [3] for on-site renewable and alternative energy generation sources in the Mountain State! webinar RSVP link [1] webinar Facebook event [4] After attending the webinar, attendees can put their citizen lobbying skills to good use on Environmental Day (E-Day) at the WV State Capitol [5] on February 7. Find out more and RSVP to attend E-Day here [5]. Thank you for helping to spread the word about this webinar, and for your support for renewable energy in West Virginia. Cheers, -- AUTUMN LONG Program Director 304-608-3539 [6] Help more people go solar, join together, and fight for our energy rights! Support SOLAR UNITED NEIGHBORS at solarunitedneighbors.org/donate [7]. Links: ------ [1] https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K6f2w4Y7TCm6intF2lxWGw?fbclid=IwAR1zlG6… [2] http://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/westvirginia [3] http://www.wv4ef.org [4] https://www.facebook.com/events/2323626447918639/ [5] https://www.facebook.com/events/139289283676548/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3… XEumSL1cK4xIdYf1tm8GVJEcTu0wmpfI [6] https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/westvirginia/ [7] https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/donate

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West Virginia League Update, January, 2019
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 09 Jan '19

09 Jan '19

WEST VIRGINIA LEAGUE UPDATE, JANUARY, 2019 [1] The WV Legislature is back in session as of Wednesday, January 9th [2]. This update is designed to prepare and educate you, and includes a special section about our DEI activities! GET INVOLVED AT THE CAPITOL JAN 11: Women and Girls Day at the Legislature JAN 15: OCOF Kids and Families Day MONDAYS AT 12PM DURING SESSION: LEGISLATIVE ACTION TEAM ON WV CHILDREN AND FAMILIES at in governor's cabin room or treasurer's conference room, look for info from Jim McKay CITIZEN LOBBYING TUESDAYS DURING SESSION: OCOF is hosting weekly community lobby days every Tuesday during the session - anyone working on an issue on the OCOF platform can come lobby their issues and get support. Good way to engage people who haven't been to Capitol Contact Carey Jo Grace or your local OCOF regional organizer to sign up for a lobby day FRIDAYS AT 12PM DURING SESSION, STARTING JAN 11: WV UNITED “WAR ROOM” at new Healthy Kids & Families office (1636 Kanawha Boulevard - use back entrance to access Healthy Kids offices) LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2019 The League of Women Voters of West Virginia: * SUPPORTS MAINTAINING WEST VIRGINIA’S WATER STANDARDS TO REFLECT EPA RECOMMENDED HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA. * SUPPORTS STRENGTHENING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOURCES OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING DARK MONEY. * SUPPORTS ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO DRAW UP REDISTRICTING PLANS FOR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE WV LEGISLATURE. * SUPPORTS MEASURES THAT ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN WEST VIRGINIA’S HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND INDUSTRIES. * SUPPORTS MAINTAINING EXPANDED MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WEST VIRGINIANS WHO RELY ON IT FOR HEALTH CARE. HEALTH ISSUES FOR THE LEGISLATURE _By Betty Barrett_ Medicaid is always a subject for discussion. Matching funds must come from the state, though most of the funds are federal. One of the League's priorities for this session is maintaining Medicaid expansion that provides thousands of West Virginia's citizens with health care. Medicaid is the health insurance for more than a third of West Virginians. Many recipients work at low-paying jobs. Others are too old, too ill or too young to be employed. There is frequent discussion nationally of adding work requirements to eligibility criteria. This has been tried, proved to be unworkable, and led to many people being cut from Medicaid. For example, Arkansas added work requirements with difficult eligibility rules. After the first three months, more than 4,000 recipients lost coverage due to inability to meet work requirements or rules. Medicaid expansion research has shown success in improving health. In the 2018 election, three state's voters agreed to expand Medicaid, despite opposition from their state legislatures. Maine's new governor has pledged to expand Medicaid, after resistance from the outgoing governor to a vote for expansion in 2016. LWVWV will oppose legislation that reduces access to health care. In past years several bills were introduced to allow parents more say in vaccinating their children, despite laws in effect for many years that have required specific vaccinations for entry to school. In other states, such relaxation of laws resulted in increased cases of such common children's illnesses as measles, which can have serious effects on babies, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups. LWVWV would support maintaining high levels of vaccinations in order to prevent serious and widespread diseases. Constant efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act at the federal level are of concern. After large increases in health insurance coverage under ACA, West Virginia's uninsured rate increased from 5.3% to 6.3% from 2016 to 2017, according to the WV Center on Budget and Policy. Repeal would reduce health care to almost 800,000 West Virginians with pre-existing conditions. The League of Women Voters believes in basic affordable health care that includes prevention of disease, primary care, acute care, long-term care and mental health care. All of this is available to some extent in ACA. NATURAL RESOURCES _By Helen Gibbins_ PROTECTING WEST VIRGINIA’S WATERS Protecting West Virginia's waters is one of the League's priorities. In 2018 the WV Triennial Review allowed stakeholders to submit their recommendations on WV's water quality standards. Nearly 600 spoke up for protections of our waters. After reviewing the comments the WV DEP submitted a final rule that included an updated list of toxic and cancer-causing chemicals to be regulated in our waters. After considerable scientific studies the US EPA had designated the list as harmful to human health. But pressures from the WV Manufacturers Association led the the WV Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee to eliminate these new toxics from regulation in WV's waters, a source for many of our people's drinking water. Actually the EPA listed many more chemicals than the DEP included on its original list and many adjoining states included EPA's entire list. The water quality standards will be brought to the legislature for its amendments or approval. The League urges the legislature to reinstate DEP's original list of toxic chemicals that should be added to regulation. West Virginia must protect our drinking water sources using up-to-date science to determine the controls. Let your legislators know that protecting our waters from toxic chemicals is one of your top priorities. (Thanks to WV Rivers Coalition and the WV Water Policy Work Group for their leadership and the information on this issue and other water issues.) LOCAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY PARTNERSHIP (LEEP) ACT The League supports the LEEP program because energy efficiency should be a primary public policy. For several years the Local Energy Efficiency Partnership (LEEP) Act has been submitted to the legislature for its approval. LEEP would help local businesses secure financing for the up-front costs for improving their buildings' energy efficiency. The funding mechanism would be through local governments (municipalities and counties). The LEEP authorizes local governments to impose a voluntary assessment on building owners (only when the building owner requests it) to repay the project's costs. To ensure that the public is not responsible for the costs the LEEP Act requires a public hearing and many other safeguards. LEEP will produce jobs, help businesses secure financing for their improvements, and encourage businesses to stay in the state. (Thanks to Energy Efficiency West Virginia for its leadership and this information on energy efficiency.) SOLAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS (PPA’S) The League supports solar power as a good alternative to fossil fuels. Allowing solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA's) in West Virginia is a step towards promoting the use of solar power. A PPA is a method to finance solar installations for both commercial businesses and tax-exempt entities like governments and nonprofits. PPA's are legal in 26 states, but not yet in West Virginia. With PPA's a tax-paying third party developer installs, owns, and operates a solar array on a customer's property. The customer agrees to purchase electricity produced by the array at a fixed rate (typically lower than that of the local utility) for a specific time period, usually 15 years. Some of the benefits include installing solar with zero upfront costs, lower electric bills, locked in long-term affordable electricity rates, and stabilized monthly budget expenditures. (Thanks to Solar United Neighbors of West Virginia for its leadership and this information on funding solar installations.) If you would like to receive the Fact Sheets on each of these issues, you may contact Helen Gibbins, gibbins(a)frontier.com. WV’S STATE PARKS _By Helen Gibbins_ Last year a proposal to timber in state parks lost because many organizations and individuals worked to defeat the proposal. The "SOSParks" group continues to work this year to encourage the state to appropriate funds for the considerable infrastructure needs in the state parks. A recent state parks report listed several possible sources of funds. SOSParks is reviewing the proposals and will make decisions and proposals for the funding. Here is some information from the report prepared by SOSParks. "-Even with last year's $60 million bond sale, the parks still need more money. The total maintenance backlog is likely $100 million or slightly higher, so $40+ millions in additional funds are needed. "-Entry fees are still recommended in the report, despite the possible drawbacks of reduced access, overhead costs etc. "-On the good side, the report did recommend that the legislature appropriate more money for parks. An additional excise tax is also an option. "-Unfortunately, it also recommends that legislation be introduced to allow the DNR to sell park property and resources if needed to raise funds. This could indirectly reintroduce the idea of logging. ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES "-New internet sales tax could bring in $21 million this year, and $42 million per year thereafter, according to a WV official. Federal estimates are higher. Even a small percentage of that revenue, dedicated to parks on an annual basis, would provide a lot of extra money. "-The pipeline mitigation funds could contribute a bunch of money to the DNR, but there isn't much information being made public about how the funds will be used or what (if any) restrictions may apply." The LWVWV will continue to be a part of SOSParks to ensure that WV's wonderful parks will not deteriorate. Be ready for some Action Alerts. DEVELOPING LEGISLATION WATCH Delegate Rodney Pyle wants to change Social Security. From his petition: We, the undersigned support the efforts of Delegate Rodney A. Pyles and others to: * -strongly urge Congress to increase the death benefit under Social Security from $255 to $1000 (has not increased since 1935) as requested by House Concurrent Resolution 73 sponsored by Pyles. * -Convince the West Virginia Legislature to increase the homestead exemption for senior citizens, 65 years of age and older, from $20,000 to $30,000 assessed value (has not been increased since 1985). * -Convince the West Virginia Legislature to exclude Social Security income from the State income tax (House Bill 2417, sponsored by Pyles) and urge Congress to do so at the Federal level. * -Urge the West Virginia Legislature to pass House Bill 2848, the Livable Home Tax Credit (co-sponsored by Pyles) to provide a tax credit to elderly and disabled persons who need to modify their homes. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) LWVMM RECEIVES AWARD FROM THE MORGANTOWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Congratulations to the League on receiving the Commission's 2018 Human Rights Day Award for a local organization. The award was presented at the December 18th meeting of the Morgantown City Council, where Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer received the award for an individual. The League is a member organization of CCSJ [3]. The LWVUS League Update (December 20, 2018) reported in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion section, "The LWV of Morgantown-Monongalia County is receiving the annual Human Rights Day group/organization award [4] from the Morgantown Human Rights Commission. This awards program spotlights local residents and organizations that have provided outstanding leadership in the support and advocacy of human rights and have enabled the city to become a more inclusive community." Jonathan Rosenbaum, president of the League, said that the reception at the Aull Center after the presentation in Council chambers was "wonderful with excellent speakers." Here are his comments from that event: [5] We are sincerely honored to receive this outstanding award from the Morgantown Human Rights Commission. The League has a long-standing position that all levels of government have the responsibility to provide equality of opportunity for education, employment and housing for all persons in the United States regardless of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability. In 1974, at the National League Convention, the League opened up membership to men. According to the New York Times, President Lucy Wilson Benson of the National League said, "If we're ready for the ERA, then we darn well ought to be ready for men." Because of this I had the opportunity to serve 4 years as President of the Morgantown-Monongalia League. Currently, I am the President of the West Virginia State League. When several of us attended the most recent National Convention, a motion passed with overwhelming support that the Equal Rights Amendment be ratified and that it becomes a U.S. Constitutional Amendment. Every hand went up in support! Obviously, I am very proud of our League for receiving this award, and all the volunteers of the League who have worked so hard over all these years to Defend Democracy and the rights of all humans. The League takes action on positions that we have reached a consensus on through intensive studies. Most recently we asked people to vote "No" on Amendment 1. We have educated the public about the Affordable Care Act, had forums about county-wide planning, local and county government. We have worked successfully with City Planning on zoning code revisions relating to the extractive industry to protect the livability of our town, and educated the public on Green Jobs and Renewable Energy. We are a partner with Solar United. You can learn more about our history and what we do at morgantown.lwvwv.org. We do not build barriers to becoming a member. If you live in the United States, and are not a citizen, you can become a voting member. If you are a student, and 16 years or older you can join our local League at low cost! We were happy to learn that the Human Rights Commission is in the process of drafting a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan - DEI. You will be happy to learn that the League's membership program is now focusing on DEI, which will involve creating an action plan. Maybe we will be comparing notes! Once again, we graciously thank-you for tonight's award to the League! STATE REPRESENTATIVE WANTED: LWV RUTH SHUR FELLOWS DEI PROGRAM We are currently looking for a representative for the League's new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion planning program: Action Plan: The action plan will include a set of designed by LWVEF and additional goals designed by the state that will be customized to best reflect each state's DEI needs. All goals will have corresponding inputs and measured outcomes that the states will track and report on. * Agreement to meet with their Shur Fellow at least once a month. * Agreement to participate in LWVEF-led webinars for all Shur Fellows and participating states once every three months. * Agreement to share successes and challenges to enable other Leagues to understand what is needed to achieve DEI goals. If you are interested in serving as the representative for West Virginia please contact President Jonathan Rosenbaum. [6] Links: ------ [1] https://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWVWV_rgb-1.png [2] http://www.wvlegislature.gov/nowcalendar_legis3.cfm [3] http://www.ccsjwv.org/ [4] http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=rh8IPM%2F%2Fdo%2Byp… [5] https://www.lwvwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWVMM-HRC-AWARD.jpg [6] https://www.lwvwv.org/contact/?si_contact_CID=1

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Fwd: Grassroots Action Request: HR1 and Democracy Reforms
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 14 Dec '18

14 Dec '18

Dear Board, local League Presidents, Lobbyists, Members at Large, LWVUS wants our grassroots support of HR1, this can be as simple as dropping off the attached flyer at your congressman's local office or participating in or creating a local event at http://act.pfaw.org/event/declaration-american-democracy-district-visits/se… . Thank-you for you help! -Jonathan -------- Original Message -------- SUBJECT: Grassroots Action Request: HR1 and Democracy Reforms DATE: 2018-12-14 15:56 FROM: Jessica Jones Capparell <JJones(a)lwv.org> TO: Jessica Jones Capparell <JJones(a)lwv.org> CC: Celina Stewart <cstewart(a)lwv.org> Dear State Presidents and Executive Directors: The upcoming 116th Congress could make history with the first comprehensive package of democracy reforms scheduled for 2019, HR1. Since the announcement of HR1, LWVUS has been talking to folks on the Hill and working with partner organizations to help shape the bill's language and ensure that voting rights are strengthened by this important legislation. As part of the League's support for these reforms, we are encouraging you to ask your members to join our coalition partners for in-district drop in meetings around the country. These meetings are a quick way to urge your Congressperson to prioritize democracy reform when they get back in January. To participate, all you need to do is print out the one-page document attached and bring it by your Congressperson's office. There's no need to make an appointment, but if you're worried about going by yourself you can find others that will also be going at the same time using this website [1]. You can also create your own event that let's others join you! PLEASE SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR MEMBERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET INVOLVED! The League is very excited at the prospect of HR1 because it aims to include elements that align with many of the League's long-held positions, like election modernization, redistricting reform, restoring the Voting Rights Act and creating a public financing system. For more information on the provisions we're fighting for check out our blog on the topic! [2] Thanks for all that you do for the League! Happy Holidays, Jessica JESSICA JONES CAPPARELL (she/her) Policy and Legislative Affairs Senior Manager League of Women Voters of the United States 1730 M St, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 263-1328 | jjonescapparell(a)lwv.org lwv.org [3] Facebook [4] | Twitter [5] Links: ------ [1] http://act.pfaw.org/event/declaration-american-democracy-district-visits/se… [2] https://www.lwv.org/blog/4-key-elements-hr1 [3] applewebdata://A0E29528-06CC-4108-AA9D-A40D65D8A760/www.lwv.org [4] http://facebook.com/leagueofwomenvoters [5] http://twitter.com/lwv

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Video: Supreme Court of Appeals Forum (Division 1)
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 22 Oct '18

22 Oct '18

This is the first video of the two Supreme Court of Appeals Candidate forums hosted by the WV Bar Association. Division 2 will be streamed tonight from 6-8pm. I will post the second video when it becomes available. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0qK__BKAFI -Jonathan

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LWVWV Voters Guide available
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 19 Oct '18

19 Oct '18

The League of Women Voters of West Virginia 2018 General Election Voter Guides are now available, Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, US House of Representatives, and US Senate. https://www.lwvwv.org/category/league-of-women-votes-of-wv/voters-guide/gen… -Jonathan

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LWVWV VOTER Fall 2018 and ALERT
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 05 Oct '18

05 Oct '18

Attached is an electronic copy of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia Fall 2018 Voter newsletter. As an addendum, yesterday (10/4), the League issued this unprecedented press release: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-urges-senators-vote-no-k… "Judge Kavanaugh has shown the country that he does not possess fair and unbiased judicial temperament." "We urge Senators to vote NO on Kavanaugh." If you get the opportunity, please call Senator Manchin, who remains undecided, and Senator Capito to urge them to vote NO. Here is a communication from the League of Women Voters President, Chris Carson, that clarifies the League's position: Last week the national Board met in Washington DC as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Kavanaugh testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. As a Board, we made the decision that we could not sit silent. This is an important moment in our history and the League must demand a process that will uphold the integrity of the U.S. Supreme Court. We stood with a number of nonpartisan organizations, including the American Bar Association, which asked the Senate to delay a floor vote pending a full investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct. We made a strong statement and issued an Action Alert encouraging the public to call their senators to encourage them to delay a vote. Yesterday, we made the decision to formally oppose this nominee based on his judicial temperament. This is not about the nominee's judicial philosophy; where he stands on issues which we have studied and have a position. This is about his ability to step away from personal beliefs and render judgement based on facts and the law. This nominee launched an unprovoked and blatant partisan attack on those who opposed his nomination, claiming that was their motivation. He was abusive and insulting to US Senators when they questioned him. It is their right and obligation as our elected representatives to ask tough questions of nominees for our highest court. Yet he treated them - the women Senators - with rudeness and disrespect. This has never happened before. The Supreme Court decides cases which impact our nation's future. We cannot sit silent and by that silence acquiesce in the appointment of someone who has publicly declared himself to be deeply partisan and highly emotional when faced with sustained disagreement. Fifty years ago, LWVUS leadership sat silent when the Civil Rights movement began. The rationale was that we hadn't specifically studied those issues, even the voting rights component, and so we couldn't speak out. I understand why they felt they couldn't speak out. It was the culture. But by 1970, the membership was so angry they forced a statement through at the biennial convention which allowed us to speak out without having 'studied' those particular issues. We're now acknowledging that error and apologizing for what happened. I offer our membership the vision fifty years hence of their president acknowledging and apologizing for the League silence on this unprecedented situation because we hadn't studied the issue of whether we thought judicial temperament was important for our democracy. I will close with this bit of news which has just come over the wires. Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, a lifelong Republican, told a small crowd in Boca Raton that Judge Brett Kavanaugh's performance at confirmation hearings should disqualify him. Chris Carson, President/Chair League of Women Voters of the United States

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Researcher seeks Biographical Sketches about WV Suffragists
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 22 Jun '18

22 Jun '18

Native-born West Virginian, and a US Historian, Suronda Gonzalez, is leading a WV team for a suffrage project seeking to crowdsource an "Online Biographical Dictionary of the Woman Suffrage Movement in the United States [1]" She is working to coordinate authors for biographies about Suffragists from West Virginia. She is looking for historians and students of history interested in researching and writing 500-word biographical sketches of suffrage supporters in their state. In the first phase of our work, we have received excellent sketches written by high school, community college, and four-year college students, working under the direction of their history faculty. We also have had volunteers who are graduate students or independent historians, who have written one or two biographical sketches. Complete biographical sketches will be submitted on a rotating basis in 2018 and 2019 in order to post the sketches on the website in time for the centennial of the passage of the nineteenth amendment which assured all women in the United States the right to vote. She thought this might be a perfect project for members of the League of Women Voters. Here is a link with all the individuals included in the WV entries [2]. You can see which ones are available (in the salmon color). Please send her any information you may have, and local Presidents please share this with your members! Contact Information: Suronda Gonzalez, Chair surondagonzalez(a)gmail.com Cultures And Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC) Consortium [3] P.O. Box 24152 | Rochester, NY 14624 | 607.768.4603 Links: ------ [1] http://chswg.binghamton.edu/WASM-US/crowdsourcing/NAWSA_description.html [2] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-VcnvdgtsU5JhHHBLWn9zW5zdaZ6eC1u8xz… [3] https://clacconsortium.org/

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Host an OCOF Voting Workshop!
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 24 May '18

24 May '18

This is a great opportunity for Leagues, as well as interested state members. LWVMM hosted one of these workshops two year ago, at that time it was branded as a Civic Engagement Workshop, and it attracted a sizable crowd. OCOF brings in the speakers, etc. An organization's commitment to the event is working on the logistics, as well as having the opportunity to offer their own tracts at the workshop if they wish. See below for more information. -Jonathan Dear League of Women Voters of, West Virginians are ready to be heard at the ballot box. We can help. Click here [1] if you would like to host an OUR CHILDREN, OUR FUTURE VOTER WORKSHOP in your county this summer, and learn how you can register, educate, and turnout voters in your community. The last 5 years the Our Children, Our Future Campaign has brought people together from both parties and all walks of life to fight for our children. With your help, we have held dozens of candidate forums, trained hundreds of citizens to run for office, and mobilized thousands to the Capitol for our annual advocacy days. Our work has paid off in 27 STATEWIDE POLICY VICTORIES (INCLUDING RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE, EXPANDING SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAMS BY 5.2 MILLION MEALS, AND REQUIRING SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION EDUCATION IN EVERY GRADE). We also proudly supported our teachers this spring (that's my son below). . Every two years, we hold NON-PARTISAN Voter Workshops around the state - in order to train West Virginia families, churches, community organizations, schools, and other partner groups how they can make sure that they get their communities registered and educated to vote. We believe it's our job as citizens to hold all political parties accountable to the issues that matter to us. These are ACTION workshops - they are designed to get communities off to a strong start so that they can organize their own candidate forum, voter registration drive, hold an issue forum, get-out-the-vote effort, etc. We'd love to do one in your county. Sign your county up here! [2] We would be happy to come lead a Voter Workshop in your county this June, July, or August. But we need someone like you to be the host! Hosts agree to: * Secure a location, date, and time * Find at least 2 local groups, congregations, etc. to partner with you * Recruit at least 7 people to attend (an ideal workshop is more like 15-25), but we ask for at least 7 people there, so that we can have a real diversity of opinion and experience * By hosting a workshop, you also qualify to come for free to our People's Policy Summit on September 18th * Most important: by committing to host a workshop, you are also committing to wanting to take some action in your community after the workshop! Make sure to complete the Host Form here [3], and we'll get back to you. If we get multiple hosts from one county or region, we'll work to get you all together and co-host. Give us 10 days to get back to you... we want to give everyone a chance to sign-up. See you soon, Stephen _Thanks to all of our current Statewide Co-Sponsors: WV Healthy Kids and Families Coalition, WV Center on Budget and Policy, Our Children, Our Future, Families Leading Change, Young WV, Try This WV, Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, WV FREE, WV Council of Churches, WV Working Families, West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, WV Citizen Action Group, Prevent Child Abuse WV, Call to Action for Racial Equality, National Association of Social Workers WV Chapter, WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and ACLU-WV, and the list is growing..._ Links: ------ [1] http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/CQE/ni0YAA/t.2hq/KM9LGIwMTF-gDaZoVjoO… [2] http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/CQE/ni0YAA/t.2hq/KM9LGIwMTF-gDaZoVjoO… [3] http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/CQE/ni0YAA/t.2hq/KM9LGIwMTF-gDaZoVjoO…

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LWVWV VOTER Spring 2018
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 08 Apr '18

08 Apr '18

Attached is an electronic copy of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia Spring 2018 Voter newsletter. Make sure to say hi to me at our new communication tool discussed in the newsletter, so much better than Facebook! https://chat.lwvwv.org [1] -Jonathan Links: ------ [1] https://chat.lwvwv.org/

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Council Meeting - 2018
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 28 Mar '18

28 Mar '18

Dear State Members of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia, State Council 2018 will be held on April 21, from 10am - 3pm at Morgantown Public Library in the upstairs conference room. Councils are held in the interim years between Conventions primarily for the adoption of a budget for the ensuing fiscal year. This year's Council is generating significant interest because the Board is proposing lowering the Per Member Payment (PMP), as a bonus, recently the Board of LWVUS announced they are waiving student PMP until January 31, 2021. The Council is composed of the presidents of the local Leagues or an alternate in the event a president is unable to attend, and two delegates chosen by each local League, and one delegate from the state board. Normally, Council is held first thing in the morning, but because several interested participants have indicated they will not be able to attend until the afternoon, this includes some people traveling a long distance as well as some LWVMM members tabling voter registration at the Farmers Market, the Council will commence at 1pm. The morning session will be a normal Board meeting which will include interesting Portfolio reports and discussion. Lunch will be held from 12 noon - 1pm. Meals will not be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own lunch or visit one of Morgantown's excellent nearby restaurants. After Council, the remaining time will be devoted to Legislation, beginning with special speaker Julie Archer, state board member, and LWVWV lobbyist presenting what transpired at the Legislature this year. You can be certain that there will be a healthy discussion about the "No Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment" and how local Leagues can take action to educate the public before the November election. Please RSVP (jr(a)lwvwv.org) if you are planning to attend. -Jonathan, President, LWVWV

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Action Alert SJR 12, Reproductive Rights
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 06 Feb '18

06 Feb '18

Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 12 is a proposed amendment to the WV Constitution that would be disastrous for women's reproductive right in West Virginia. It would add language to Article IV of the state constitution "To amend the West Virginia Constitution to clarify that nothing in the Constitution of West Virginia secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion". If approved, it would be on the November general election ballot. This amendment would allow the state to stop funding abortions under Medicaid, no matter the circumstances. (HB 4012, soon to be taken up by the House Judiciary Committee, also would do this.) It may open the door for other restrictions on abortion, further limiting all women's access to comprehensive reproductive services. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SJR 12 on a voice vote Monday with the recommendation that the Senate pass it. SJR 12 is on first reading in the full Senate on Wednesday, making it important that senators hear from constituents ASAP. (Joint resolutions require a two-thirds vote for passage; every vote matters.) _PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON SJR 12._ A women is the one best qualified to make decisions about her own reproductive life. (Aside from Kathy: I cannot recall another time when the Legislature proposed adding language to the state constitution specifying whether a person's right to a specific medical procedure was or was not guaranteed. What next?) Kathy Stoltz & Julie Archer

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Lobby Day Reminder, Health Not Politics, Save Our State Parks
by Julie Archer via state-members 03 Feb '18

03 Feb '18

Dear LWV-WV Members, This is just a friendly reminder about the 2018 All Kinds Are Welcome Here Civil Liberties Lobby Day [1] this Thursday, February 8 at the State Capitol in Charleston. The LWV-WV is excited to join with other organizations and individuals committed to moving West Virginia forward as a supporting partner of this event. Please register here [2] to let us know which parts of the day you'll be attending, and which issues matter the most to you. Stop by our table in the lower rotunda. We look forward to seeing you there! We also wanted to let you know about two important campaigns the LWV-WV is supporting and actions you can take (see details below). THANKS FOR TAKING ACTION AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN CHARLESTON ON FEBRUARY 8! Sincerely, Julie Archer Director, LWV-WV HEALTH NOT POLITICS - STOP HB 4012 WV-LWV and other organizations have joined our friends at WV FREE in a new Health Not Politics campaign to defeat a proposed ban on Medicaid coverage for abortions for low-income women in West Virginia. At the campaign launch, WV FREE released new polling data [3] showing that West Virginians don't believe that politicians should be focused on creating new laws that take away health coverage for women. Unfortunately, the day after the launch the House Health Committee passed HB 4012 [4], which bans Medicaid insurance coverage for abortion. HB 4012 is now before the House Judiciary Committee, which will hold a public hearing on the bill Monday, February 5 at 8:30AM in the House Chamber. When a woman in West Virginia is enrolled in the state's Medicaid health insurance program, all of her reproductive health services should be covered including annual check-ups, prenatal and maternity care, family planning services including birth control, and abortion. HB 4012 aims to take away abortion coverage under Medicaid and we must stop it! Please contact House Judiciary Committee members and tell them they shouldn't be playing politics with women's health care. Click here [5]to contact House Judiciary Committee members now or send a personalized email to all committee members by copying the list below and pasting into your email "To:" field: john.shott(a)wvhouse.gov, roger.hanshaw(a)wvhouse.gov, barbaraf(a)wvhouse.gov, shawn.fluharty(a)wvhouse.gov, andrew.byrd(a)wvhouse.gov, joe.canestraro(a)wvhouse.gov, moore.capito(a)wvhouse.gov, frank.deem(a)wvhouse.gov, tom.fast(a)wvhouse.gov, geoff.foster(a)wvhouse.gov, jason.harshbarger(a)wvhouse.gov, ray.hollen(a)wvhouse.gov, phil.isner(a)wvhouse.gov, kayla.kessinger(a)wvhouse.gov, charlotte.lane(a)wvhouse.gov, chad.lovejoy(a)wvhouse.gov, rodney.miller(a)wvhouse.gov, riley.moore(a)wvhouse.gov, john(a)overington.com, mike.pushkin(a)wvhouse.gov, ben.queen(a)wvhouse.gov, andrew.robinson(a)wvhouse.gov, kelli.sobonya(a)wvhouse.gov, amy.summers(a)wvhouse.gov, mark.zatezalo(a)wvhouse.gov Click here [6] to learn more about the Health Not Politics campaign and what's at stake with HB 4012 and a proposed constitutional amendment that would take Medicaid coverage away from West Virginia's most vulnerable people seeking abortion care. #SOS PARKS (SAVE OUR STATE PARKS) - OPPOSE SB 270 & HB 4182 Governor Jim Justice and the State Department of Commerce are pushing for the passage of legislation (SB 270 & HB 4182) that would allow commercial logging in WV State Parks. The LWV-WV opposes allowing timbering in state parks. Our state parks harbor special natural features that should be protected. WV is a state where the diversity of plants (Including native orchids), birds, animals, and other wildlife lure out-of-state visitors, as well as West Virginians, to hike and see our beautiful outdoors and its diversity. SB 270 runs counter to the goal of promoting tourism. The bills were proposed with the aim of generating income to make repairs and improvements in the parks but there are other ways to provide needed revenue to support our parks. The house version of the bill (HB 4182) to open up state parks to commercial logging, could be considered by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday morning. As they are currently considering whether to take up the bill, now is the time to let these committee members know that commercial logging does not belong in our state parks. Our partner, WV Environmental Council, has put in a request for a public hearing on the bill. We'll alert you when the public hearing on HB 4182 is scheduled. In the meantime, send a letter [7] to members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and ask them to vote NO on SB 4182! And if you haven't already, contact the governor at 1-888-433-2731 to tell him you oppse logging in our State Parks. You can learn more about HB 4182 and SB 270 by visiting WV Rivers' SOS Parks resources page [8]. There you'll find a FAQ, a summary of alternative ways to generate funds for state park maintenance, and articles on how commercial logging will harm forest ecosystems and wildlife. Links: ------ [1] https://www.facebook.com/events/366199640474078/ [2] https://secure.everyaction.com/cyog7F19D0KVB_yGOHe1Fw2 [3] http://www.wvfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-Medicaid-Poll-1.pdf [4] http://wvmetronews.com/2018/01/25/abortion-bill-clears-first-committee-in-h… [5] https://secure.everyaction.com/GEn7IgwMb0if5HqF7ksDhw2 [6] http://www.wvfree.org/healthnotpolitics/ [7] http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51680/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY… [8] http://wvrivers.org/sosparks-resources/

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Join Us Feb. 8 for All Kinds Are Welcome Here Lobby Day
by Julie Archer via state-members 30 Jan '18

30 Jan '18

Dear LWV-WV Members, The LWV-WV is excited to join with other organizations and individuals committed to moving West Virginia forward as a supporting partner of the 2018 All Kinds Are Welcome Here Civil Liberties Lobby Day [1] on February 8 at the State Capitol in Charleston. COME STAND WITH US IN SOLIDARITY TO SHOW THE WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE THAT WEST VIRGINIA SHOULD BE A PLACE THAT WELCOMES AND RESPECTS ALL PEOPLE! There will be an advocacy training starting at 9 am to make sure you are comfortable talking with your elected officials about issues that matter to you, followed by a large press conference and rally featuring our lawmakers and other members of the community. Following the press conference, attendees will watch a floor session from the House or Senate galleries at 11 am when legislators convene. The afternoon is devoted to meeting with your elected officials. Attendees are encouraged to arrange their own meetings with their legislators, but there will be a table were folks can connect with other from there area to attend meetings as a group. If you plan to attend and need help arranging a meeting with your legislators please let me know by replying to this email. Please register here [2] to let us know which parts of the day you'll be attending, and which issues matter the most to you. We look forward to seeing you there. Please stop by our table in the lower rotunda. ALL KINDS ARE WELCOME AND ALL VOICES MUST BE HEARD! PLEASE JOIN US AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TODAY. Sincerely, Julie Archer Director, LWV-WV Links: ------ [1] https://www.facebook.com/events/366199640474078/ [2] https://secure.everyaction.com/cyog7F19D0KVB_yGOHe1Fw2

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Event Opportunity: Nancy Tate - Past LWVUS Exec. Dir. in Charleston Oct. 23-26
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 24 Oct '17

24 Oct '17

There is an amazing opportunity to attend panel discussions, public lectures, and classroom discussions (Suffrage, How does LWV make decisions) which are all open to the public, with past LWVUS Exective Director, Nancy Tate at the University of Charleston from Tuesday 23 to Thursday 26. I have attached Nancy's full schedule of events. Our own Becky Cain-Ceperly who served as LWVWV President (1983-1987) and LWVUS President (1992-1998) will take part on one of the panels! If you are in the area and cannot attend any of the daytime events, please consider attending "The US Election System. How it Works and Why it Matters" with Nancy Tate as speaker. This event will take place Tuesday, October 24, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the Erma Byrd Gallery, third floor of Riggleman Hall, University of Charleston campus. If you need directions on how to get to any particular session please contact: Bradford W. Deel, J.D. braddeel(a)ucwv.edu (304) 357-4701 Nancy Tate Bio: Before taking over leadership of the League in 1994, Tate was the Chief Operating Officer at the National Academy of Public Administration, an independent, nonprofit organization working to improve the effectiveness of government at all levels. She has also served as a senior administrator in a management consulting firm and worked at the federal Department of Energy, Department of Education, and Office of Economic Opportunity. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Public Administration. Tate also serves on the Advisory Committee of George Washington University's School of Public Policy and Public Administration and as a citizen representative on the Audit Commission of Arlington County, VA. She has a BA in political science from Stanford University and a Master's degree in public administration from George Washington University. Tate is the co-chair of the 2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative, a national collaborative effort to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, recognizing the right of women to vote. -Jonathan

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Decision on FirstEnergy's Bad Deal for WV Coming Soon - Speak Out Now!
by Julie Archer via state-members 19 Oct '17

19 Oct '17

Dear LWV-WV Members, The WV Public Service Commission is considering whether FirstEnergy can transfer a power plant from one subsidiary company to another subsidiary company. The PSC heard from more than 100 people during public hearings and received more than 2,000 written protests. NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. If you are a Mon Power or Potomac Edison customer and have not submitted a letter to the PSC, please go on the record with your opposition to FirstEnergy's bailout. Below are links to talking points and other resources to help frame your arguments. Need help writing a letter to the PSC? Just reply to this email and we'll help you out. ONLINE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU WRITE YOUR LETTER TO THE PSC: * TALKING POINTS FROM EXPERT TESTIMONY [1] * FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR BILL COULD INCREASE OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS WITH OUR COST CALCULATOR. [2] * "This whole filing is a house of cards" and a step backward for West Virginia writes Jamie Van Nostrand director of the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development at the WVU College of Law. CLICK HERE TO READ HIS OP/ED IN THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL. [3] * CLICK HERE TO READ A DEEP DIVE ON THE DEAL [4] from former business owner and WV resident John Jacobs. He says the deal is risky business for ratepayers. * CLICK HERE TO SEND A FAX TO THE PSC [5]. Please take time to personalize the sample letter provided. A DECISION FROM THE PSC ON THIS BAD DEAL FOR WV IS COMING SOON, AND IF FIRSTENERGY GETS ITS WAY, MON POWER AND POTOMAC EDISON CUSTOMERS WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR THE $400 MILLION AND PAY HIGHER RATES. Letters can be mailed or FAXed to the PSC as follows: Public Service Commission of West Virginia Ingrid Ferrell, Executive Secretary 201 Brooks Street Charleston, WV 25301 FAX: (304) 340-0325 Please reference Case No. 17-0296-E-PC. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY. TELL THE PSC TO SAY NO TO FIRSTENERGY'S BAILOUT SCHEME [5]. Links: ------ [1] https://eewv.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a7f997ae0a2b865fd867d90c7&am… [2] https://eewv.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a7f997ae0a2b865fd867d90c7&am… [3] https://eewv.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a7f997ae0a2b865fd867d90c7&am… [4] https://eewv.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a7f997ae0a2b865fd867d90c7&am… [5] http://energyfreedomwv.org/take-action

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LWVWV VOTER Fall 2017
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 04 Oct '17

04 Oct '17

Attached is an electronic copy of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia Fall 2017 Voter newsletter. Make sure to say hi to me at our new communication tool discussed in the newsletter! https://chat.lwvwv.org -Jonathan

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First message
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via state-members 27 Aug '17

27 Aug '17

Making sure this is working properly! -Jonathan

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