LWV League Lines

The League of Women Voters of Fairfield

http:/www.lwvct.org/fairfield/

 

March 2008

CALENDAR

 

Editor                                                                                     Co-Presidents

Tom Flynn: 334-8096                                                        Pat Reilly: 259-1297

flynjoyce@yahoo.com                                                      pareilly@optonline.net       

                                                                                                Carlisle Spivey: 292-3246

one50e37@optonline.net

 

March
4	Brown Bag Luncheon, Library, Memorial Room, 12:15 PM-1:15 PM, Pat Hines, Editor, Fairfield Citizen-News “All The News That’s Fit To Print”
11	Book Discussion Group, Carlisle Spivey, 91 Brookmere Drive, 292-3246
13	Board Meeting, 7:15 PM, Carlisle Spivey, 91 Brookmere Drive, 292-3246
19	League Lines deadline
April
1	Brown Bag Luncheon, Library, Memorial Room, 12:15 PM-1:15 PM, Paul Hiller, Chief Fiscal Officer, Town of Fairfield
8	Symposium on International Relations, “The Movement of People: A Global Perspective on Migrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons,” Quinnipiac University 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
8	Board Meeting, 7:15 PM, Pat Reilly, 738 Beach Road, 259-1297
14	League Lines deadline
TBD	Book Discussion group
May	No Board Meeting or League Lines this month
6	Brown Bag Luncheon, Library, Rotary Room, 12;15 PM-1:15 PM, Jill Kelly and Carol Leighton, "Transportation"
15	Annual Meeting, Cinzano‘s, Time TBD
TBD	Book Discussion group

 

 

 

 

Presidents’ Letter

 

Could Fairfield’s primary election take place without your League’s involvement? Of course not! Thanks go out to Joyce Flynn for organizing pre-primary voter service activities. Also our thanks to members present at the Fairfield Main Library and the Fairfield Woods branch to answer questions about ballots, voter registration, absentee balloting, and political party enrollment. Participating were Joyce and Tom Flynn, Pat Reilly, Peg Rendl, Ann Flanagan, Charlotte Garrell, Sarah Morehouse Jewell, and Pam Ritter. 

 

As for providing interesting, intriguing, and insightful information on timely public concerns, the February Brown Bag packed ‘em in to hear New Haven architect and national SmartGrowth guru Robert Orr. The audience—Leaguers, town officials, and interested members of the public—filled every seat in the Library’s Memorial Room, while the overflow took to perching on nearby tables. Bravo, Sarah Morehouse Jewell and the Brown Bag committee! March’s Brown Bag presents the news behind the news and the making thereof: Pat Hines, Editor, Fairfield Citizen-News.

 

Our attention now turns to membership, program planning, and nominations for the 2008-2009 Board slate. Since members are the point of any member-ship organization, we are kicking off a new effort to increase our League’s rolls with new or returning members—female and male, alike. The question arises: Who would enjoy being a member? What better person to answer that than members themselves! Check out the form on the final page of this issue of League Lines to find out what you—a Fairfield LWV member—can tell us.

 

Meanwhile, momentum is building for April’s annual Symposium on International Relations (SIR), May’s Annual Meeting, and last (calendarwise), but certainly not least, our first-ever Tag Sale. 

 

This year could be one of the best for any one—and even all—of these events? Why? Read on!

 

Pat and Carlisle

 

Spring Cleaning=Tag Sale Prep

 

March is when it usually starts: spring-cleaning. And, as such, it’s also the month to start zeroing in on stuff to donate to the May 31 tag sale. At this time of the year when sorting and sifting, cleaning and tossing is at hand, consider what could be someone else’s “find” at the first (we hope of many) Fairfield League fund-raiser of its type.

 

And notice, please, the term “stuff”—as opposed to “junk.” “No” to cracked cups, dinged dishes, moth-eaten everything, or dog-chewed anything. “Yes” to anything—the humble and haute, alike—(but not adult clothing) that’s whole and hearty. IT may be worth something to someone else. Questions? Contact one of the two donations co-chairs: Pat Reilly (parreilly@optonline.net or 259-1297) and Carlisle Spivey (292-3246 or one50e37@optonline.net).

 

Thinking spring also means thinking plants—and, again, we’re talking tag sale planning. Jo Fleshood (374-1589 or jafleshood@sbcglobal.net) is the plant sale chair for the May 31 event. As you consider cutting back and separating out, plan to save a few for the sales to those with green-thumb aspirations.

 

Finally, now is the time to start thinking about what you will do to get the tag sale off to full swing: setting up, selling, clearing out, cleaning up—or multiples thereof. Contact Carol Hofflich (372-1559 or hankhoff@optonline.net) or Joyce Flynn (flynjoyce@yahoo.com or 334-8096) to slot in a time or times.

 

Carlisle Spivey

 

Voting Machine Demos Were Successful

 

Members of the Fairfield LWV demonstrated the voting machine on January 27 and 28 at the two libraries. 

 

Voters of all ages stopped by. Most all seemed quite comfortable with the new voting system, but were intrigued by the presidential primary ballots that we had enlarged and posted. Questions about the order on the ballot and the number of candidates (those withdrawing had to do so formally by December 27) were asked by many.

 

Thank you to Pat Reilly, Pam Ritter, Peg Rendl, Ann Flanagan, Charlotte Garrell, and Sarah Morehouse Jewell. Thanks, too, to Tom Flynn, who set up the voting machine and provided the enlarged ballots.      

 

Joyce Flynn

 

Annual Meeting—Save The Date!

 

Mark your calendar for May 15! On that date, Cinzano’s will be the site for our Annual Meeting.

Our featured speaker will be Juan Figueroa, President of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, an independent, nonprofit charity dedicated to making the health care system work for all Connecticut residents.

 

Consider Coming to SIR

 

“The Movement of People: A Global Perspective On Migrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons” is the subject of the 39^th Symposium on International Relations (SIR), this year being held on Tuesday, April 8 at Quinnipiac College, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 AM. Three very impressive speakers are scheduled, with the session moderated by Dr. Nancy Ruther, Associate Director, MacMillan center for International and area studies at Yale University.

 

As usual, we will sponsor attendance by two students each from Fairfield Ludlow and Fairfield Warde. If you would like to attend, please contact Tom Flynn (334-8096 or flynjoyce@yahoo.com). Adults are $20.00 preregistered, $25.00 at the door (continental breakfast is included).

 

Updated Membership List

 

Enclosed with this issue (both e-mail and print versions) is the updated Fairfield League Membership List. Its sole purpose is to allow the most efficient possible communication among members. We respect your privacy, so as in the past, the list has not been included in issues of this publication that are sent to others, e.g., newspapers.

 

Please review your own information, particularly regarding phone and e-mail contacts, and tell Tom Flynn via e-mail if anything needs changing.

Memorial Day Voter Registration

 

Save some time on the morning of Monday, May 26, to help register voters at the Memorial Day Parade. This is not just for newcomers to town. Remember, if you move—even within town—you must inform the registrar's office.

 

This event, 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. Last year, about twenty 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 out 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, you 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, flynjoyce@yahoo.com)

.

Joyce Flynn

 

Become a Ten-Minute Activist!

  

Interested in voting issues? Solving the transportation crisis? Getting guns away from Connecticut’s children? Any other topics of concern? 

 

We all know that legislators are most responsive to their “hometown” constituents. So . . . won’t you consider joining the LWVCT Public Issues (PI) Team’s Grassroots Lobby Corps? You can be involved as much as you wish—and it can be as little as 10 minutes! We are asking you to volunteer to make a phone call or send an e-mail to elected officials on issues of your choosing. PI Team specialists provide the expertise, background information, and e-mailed Action Alerts on your topic of interest. You offer a “voice” from your community —a phone call, a letter to a legislator, or just a “heads-up” to others who might be interested. 

          

Many League members around Connecticut have already signed up to be part of this informal group. But we want YOU, too! The only qualification needed is a desire to make your voice heard on League issues that matter to you. This year, our PI Team specialists will be working on a variety of legislative proposals, including Election Laws, Health Care, Air Quality and Water Supply Protection, Education Funding, Gun Control, Transportation, and Waste Management. They need your help!  The small amount of time you give can result in big gains for issues that you and other League members care about.

 

To sign up or to get more information, just e-mail CT League President Jean Rabinow at league@snet.net to request the list of lobby corps issues. Once you receive the list, contact Jean via return e-mail to identify which topics interest you, and she will sign you up. It’s that easy!

 

We look forward to hearing from you about your choices and experiences.