Presidents’ Letter
‘Tis Spring! And a League member’s heart (and mind) turns to . . . well, to so many things.
Paul Hiller, Fairfield’s Chief Fiscal Officer addresses the April 1 Brown Bag—no foolin’! And a week later, April 8, League members head for Quinnipiac University, with a pair of students from each high school, to concentrate on the SIR topic of the day: “The Movement of People: A Global Perspective on Migrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons.” There’s still room if you’re interested in joining them. Contact Tom Flynn if you are.
Meanwhile, we look ahead to the future —well, May, anyway. That’s when—on Thursday, the 15th—the Annual Meeting takes place. While basic information—time, place, speaker—follows in this League Lines issue, keep an eye out for the special Annual Meeting League Lines later this month. It will contain anything and everything for the event.
We know you spent March delving through attic, basement, and environs in between, for items to donate to the May 31 tag sale. If you didn’t, please take the plunge. Included in this issue is a form for listing all your goodies. Send it back to Carlisle Spivey or Pat Reilly so we can start the ball rolling. Don’t worry, there will be a form in the May League Lines, too. But why wait ‘til the last moment? Let’s get that adrenaline pumping!
While you’re mulling over tag sale contributions, consider, too, who among your friends and acquaintances would enjoy League programs and activities. We’ve also included in this issue the membership proposal form from last month’s League Lines.
May means the Memorial Day parade, as well: A time to salute and remember our country’s heroes, rejoice in bands and organizations—and a great venue for voter registration. Who better to lead the voter-registration charge than Joyce Flynn? But even she will need help in this venture. Enjoy a beautiful day with fellow Fairfieldians—and help get out the vote, too.
Whatever you choose to take part in, we’re looking forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting!
Pat and Carlisle
Tag (Sale)—You’re It!
Expect a call! Joyce Flynn and Carol Hofflich—co-chairs of the Tag Sale Volunteer Committee—are gathering volunteers like spring flowers.
Help is needed from all—you, your spouse, your kids. To do this right, we need volunteers to price (experience is what counts here), set-up, sell (part of the day or all of it, your choice), and clean up. And you’re in luck: You can volunteer for more than one task!
Know what you want to do? Contact Joyce (flynjoyce@yahoo.com or 334-8096) or Carol (hankhoff@optonline.net or 372-1559) and make their day!
Meanwhile, promotional plans are under way and the site-meisters—Deb Etzel and Lauren Lanhem—having secured the location (thanks to Alex Stadler), are making plans for its use.
Now what we need, along with volunteers, is: Stuff to Sell. Included at the end of this issue of League Lines is a donation form. Fill it out, send it in, and the Donations Committee (Pat Reilly and Carlisle Spivey) will contact you. Your list need not be comprehensive—you can always add to it (next month’s League Lines will include another form). However, the sooner we know what is coming in, the sooner we can start pricing and planning.
Let’s make this first Annual Tag Sale a hit!
Annual Meeting Set
For May 15
Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 15: our Annual Meeting—an evening for dining, conversation and catching-up, a terrific speaker, and LWV business. A-long that League business line, we elect Board members, discuss and approve a budget, and discuss and approve LWV positions and programs.
Juan Figueroa, President, Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut will be the evening’s featured speaker. Established in 2000, the Foundation is an independent non-profit organization committed to making the health care system work for everyone in our state.
Cinzano’s is the chosen Annual Meeting site. Watch for the League Lines Special Annual Meeting issue due out mid-April. It will have key background information for the meeting, such as the proposed slate of board members and (obviously most important) a menu of food choices. Make sure you have read this special issue before the meeting. And bring it with you as source material for business at hand. And do remember to send in your menu choices.
39th SIR Focus: People on the Move
“The Movement of People: A Global Perspective On Migrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons” is the subject of the 39th Symposium on International Relations (SIR), this year being held on Tuesday, April 8, at Quinnipiac College, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 AM.
Dr. Nancy Ruther, Associate Director for the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, Yale University, will be the moderator. Panelists are Dr. Stephen Pitti, Professor of History, and Director, Program in Ethnicity, Race and Migration, Yale University; Dr. Elizabeth Campbell, Director, Refugee Council USA; and Dr. Peggy Levitt, Chair, Department of Sociology, Wellesley College, and Co-Director, Transnational Studies Initiative, Harvard University.
As usual, our League is sponsoring at-tendance for two students each from Fairfield Ludlow and Fairfield Warde. If you would like to attend, please contact Tom Flynn (flynjoyce@yahoo.com or 334-8096). Adults admission is $20.00 preregistered, $25.00 at the door (continental breakfast). Save $5.00 on your admission fee by calling or e-mailing Tom today!
Memorial Day Parade
Voter Registration
Save some time on the morning of Mon-day, May 26, to help register voters at the Memorial Day Parade.
This is not just for newcomers to town (just informing the Motor Vehicle Department isn’t enough). Remember, if you move—even within town—you must inform the Registrar's office.
The parade, attended by many from the area, is an ideal venue for registering voters. In past years, we have had a stationary booth near the main library to attract people. However, last year about 20 minutes before the parade started, I walked down the Post Road on both sides boldly hawking registration forms. To my surprise, many raised their hands or shouted that they wanted to fill one out. It is their responsibility to get it to the Registrar's office.
This year I would like the LWV to cover the entire parade route. As I envision it, volunteers will be given an area perhaps 100 yards long on both sides of the street. Cover that and you are done. Then you can enjoy the parade.
Please let me know if you will take part (334-8096 or flynjoyce@yahoo.com)
.
Joyce Flynn
Suggestions for New Members?
You’re a member of the Fairfield LWV. You know what you like about it, what you get out of it, what you learn from it. Now: Who’s like you?
Use the attached form to send us the names and addresses of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues who you feel would enjoy our programs and members, and we will send them an invitation to join us. If you would like us to say you suggested them, just check off the appropriate box by their name.
Don’t forget the men you know, as well! They are welcome to join with full LWV membership rights and privileges.
Help make our League bigger and stronger—and without steroids!
Book Group Shifts Its
April Choice
April’s Book Club selection has shifted to Linda Monk’s “The Words We Live By,” a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Constitution Publishers Weekly called “even-handed” and an “engaging blend of history and commentary.” Monk—twice winner of the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award for “The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide” and “Profiles of Freedom: A Living Bill of Rights”—is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a frequent contributor to newspapers nationwide.
April’s meeting is Monday the 14th at Pam Ritter’s (54 Elm Street), 7 PM. All are welcome, but if you haven’t attended in the past, please let Pam know you will be there (255-4796).
May’s book (the original April choice) is “Experiments in Ethics,” by Kwame Anthony Appiath.
Members’ Membership Suggestions
You’re a member of the Fairfield League. You know what you like about it, what you get out of it, what you learn from it. Now, who is like you?
If you provide us with names of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues who you think would like the Fairfield Leagues’ programs and members, we will contact them by mail inviting them to join us.
And, if you would like us to tell them who suggested them, just check the appropriate box by their name.
Don’t forget the men you know, as well! They are welcome to join the League with full membership rights and privileges.
Help make our League bigger and stronger—and without steroids!
Name:
Address:
Check here if we may say you suggested we contact this person.
Name:
Address:
Check here if we may say you suggested we contact this person.
If you have more names, please just attach to this page a separate piece of paper with names, addresses, and permission to note your name.
Return to:
Amanda Flanagan
605 Eleven O’Clock Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
TAG SALE DONATIONS
Now is the time to get an idea donations coming in from Fairfield League members (family and friends, too). Please fill in your name, address, phone number, and e-mail below, and list those items you intend to donate. Not enough room? Attach another page or use the back of this one. Think there might be more? Send this list now, add another later.
Please send to either: Carlisle Spivey, 91 Brookmere Drive, Fairfield, CT 06824 or Pat Reilly, 738 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
Name:
Address:
Telephone #:
E-Mail Address:
Items (list below; need more room, attach a page)
Questions? Please contact Pat (pareilly@optonline.net or 259-1297) or Carlisle (one50e37@optonline.net or 292-3246).
