OF SNOHOMISH COUNTYNOVEMBER 2008 Vol. 50, Issue 4
This Newsletter published by and for the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County lwvwa.org/snohomish
NOVEMBER CALENDAR - EARLY LEARNING STUDY
November 1st, Saturday, 10 a.m., Board Meeting, YMCA Mukilteo, 10601 47th Pl W, Mukilteo, WA 98275 “Every one is welcome.”November 4th, Election Day - Have you voted?
November 6th, Thursday, 7 p.m., North Unit, at the home of the Abbenhouses, 23431 Maranatha Way, Arlington (Unit leader: Marian Harrison 360-652-5497)
November 10th, Monday, 6 p.m., listen to KSER 90.7 FM (see enclosed item)
November 15th, Saturday, LWVWA Action Workshop (see enclosed item)
November 15th, Please e-mail your Voter articles to Melanie - gregnmel50s@verizon.net
November 18th, Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Monroe Unit, Monroe Library, 1070 Village Way, Monroe (Unit Leader: Joan Brown 206-399-9994)
November 20th, Thursday, 10 a.m., South Unit, 8711 182nd Place, Edmonds (Unit leader: Rowena Miller 425-776-3071)
November 20th, Thursday, 10 a.m., Central Unit, 2008 Grand Ave., #204, Everett (Unit leader: George Beykovsky 425-422-7936 (New number)
November 22nd, Saturday, 10 a.m., Mukilteo Unit, at the home of Rosemary Nellist, 11600 East Oakmont Drive, Mukilteo 425-349-1737 (Unit leader: Joan Smith 425-745-2576)
November 27th, Thursday, THANKSGIVING DAY
Be Part of the Family, Don't Be Afraid To Participate
PRESIDENT’S PEN - NOVEMBER 2008 
We live in interesting times.
In spite of those interesting times, our relatively normal lives continue. We hope the election will give us leaders who can smooth out the bumps in our political and economic lives. As League members, our part in the complex machinery of government is to observe and advocate. We hope League members will accept more responsibility for both of those activities.
Our leader for our local League’s observer function needs your support. We try to bring a League presence into several county decision-making bodies that meet in the daytime. If you can attend one or more of those government meetings most months, let Lois Wentink know (425-303-9530).
An important state legislative session is ahead. Funding the government programs we support will be a challenge for League lobbyists and our legislation partners. The economic downturn means a struggle lies ahead to keep funding for the legislative successes of the past in place and to pass and get funds for new programs. We need a local League action chair to keep us effective in getting bills that do what League wants government to do passed. Consider being action chair now and through the 2009 legislative session.
The team approach has worked well with the VOTER newsletter. We expect it would also be useful for service and program work. Let’s start putting that together. If you find you are willing to contribute in some way to any of the functions mentioned here and do not know whom to contact, please let me know.
Margaret Johnson
425-776-1674
marggladeyes@comcast.net
LEAGUE TAKES POSITIONS
The state League:- Opposes Initiative 985 (eliminating HOV lane restrictions)
- Supports Initiative 1029 (care worker training)
- Remains neutral on Initiative 1000 (aid in dying)
- Supports Sound Transit Proposition 1 (financing for regional mass transit).
November Unit Meetings – Early Learning
Which early learning and child care services should be provided in Washington state? Who should provide them? How will they be funded? These are just a few of the questions we will consider at our November Unit meetings.
Before the meetings, please read the excellent study published in our recent state Voter (Summer 2008) or available online at www.lwvwa.org. The study provides a wealth of information about what services are currently available in our state, where the gaps are, the quality and affordability of current care, and the emerging issues in the field.
Then, ask yourself why we as citizens should be concerned about childcare and early learning services for other people’s children; review the discussion and consensus questions that follow here; and, come to your unit meeting prepared to help develop our local league recommendation for a new state position on Early Care and Education of Young Children.
Barbara Bush, Program Chair
LWVWA Early Care and Education of Young Children Study
Discussion Questions: 1) Brain research demonstrates the critical importance of the time from birth – three years in a child’s development. What should the state’s role be in providing services to this population? Please be specific.
2) Early care and education quality depends on quality child care workers. How can we provide living-wage salaries for child care workers without increasing the financial burden on parents? Comments, please.
Consensus Questions:
3) Which of the following should the State of Washington fund? Please rate individual programs, 0 = no funding; 1 = partial funding, 2 =full funding.
Type of Program
a) Birth through age 3 programs:
1. Home visiting
2. Special needs
3. Family, friends, neighbors
b) Pre-school for ages 3-5 2. Special needs
3. Family, friends, neighbors
c) Child care programs.
d) Programs for parents.
e) Quality improvement initiatives
4) Should Early Care and Education be included in Washington State’s basic education funding formula?
5) Should we support public-private partnerships such as Thrive by Five Washington as a means of expanding the early care system?
6) Collective bargaining between Service Employees International Union and the State of Washington over child care subsidy rates for family child care home providers and other in-home providers produced increased subsidies. Should child care centers collectively bargain with the State of Washington over subsidies?
Consensus due to the state office December 8.
STATE LEAGUE ACTION WORKSHOP
Barbara Bush, Program Chair· Did you know there’s a crisis in K-12 education financing in this state? What is to be done?
· What is the Western Climate Initiative, and what’s their Cap & Trade proposal to the Legislature?
· How will the Legislature deal with all the major transportation needs in the state?
· Since both gubernatorial candidates have pledged no new taxes, will key programs be cut to balance the budget?
These are just some of the topics that will be covered at the LWVWA Action Workshop in Bellevue, Saturday, November 15, 9:30 – 2:30.
Come to the workshop to learn about these and other issues the League will be covering this year, and what you can do to help. For $20 you’ll get all this good information, meet interesting people from Leagues all over the state, and enjoy great food prepared by the Lake Washington East Unit.
The Bellevue workshop is at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 2650 148th Ave. S.E., Bellevue
Time -
Registration 9:00; Program - 9:30 - 2:30
You can register online at www.lwvwa.org or by mailing in the form in the Fall (Summer 2008) LWVWA Voter.
If you would like to carpool, call Barb Bush, 425-349-5184.
TRY Contributions Needed
Work is underway on the 2009 edition of our cornerstone publication, They Represent You, which lists elected officials at all levels of government who represent the residents of Snohomish County. We solicit contributions from businesses, unions, cities and others to pay for printing this valuable publication. We must have financial support from members also—in fact, it helps when soliciting others to be able to show that members invest also.Contributions to this project are tax-deductible, whereas our dues are not. Please make out a check to the League of Women Voters Education Fund and mail it to Margaret Johnson, 7804 - 238th Street SW, Edmonds, WA 98026.
Membership Update
Janet Chalupnik, Membership ChairWe currently have 110 members. Please welcome the following new members:
May Fenerly
Gloria Hopkins
June Hooper
Camilla Yeend
OCTOBER CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM: A CALL TO ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM
Joan Smith, Chair, Natural Resources CommitteeGregg Small, Executive Director of Climate Solutions, opened the League's October 18th Climate Forum, "Climate Change: Do Take It Personally," in the Black Box Theater at Edmonds Community College by speaking to the five points of opportunity that exist in the years ahead. With the downturn in the economy, he was especially hopeful for green job development. We export our knowledge, and nations such as the Netherlands and Germany have been using it to become less fossil fuel dependent. We need venture capital to make that happen right here at home!
Dr. Richard Gammon, UW professor of Oceanography, Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences, delivered his message with a light touch but urgent tone. "We have reached the 'tipping point’; the next four years are absolutely crucial to the sustainability of the planet," he imparted. Doing a little is no longer enough! Janice Adair, from the Washington State Department of Ecology and member of the Climate Action Team, reiterated Dr. Gammon's urgency and pointed to Washington State’s new regional cap and trade agreement as a step forward for the Northwest region. The power of the vote and citizen participation in local level government meetings is more important than ever! We also need to see more "market demand," or change is not going to occur as quickly as needed cautioned Aaron Reardon, County Executive.
Two outstanding panels of experts fielded questions for two hours, giving workable explanations and revealing many community-based opportunities to the audience of over one hundred. Liam Moriarty, Environmental Reporter at KPLU/NPR 88.5 FM, guided the event with wit and summed up with a sense of hope, yet directing to us to take responsibility. In the lobby, attendees wandered among an array of fifteen displays, including the ongoing video "Sisters of the Planet," from the Oxfam Foundation of America. The film depicts the environmental activism of four women whose communities are impacted by aspects of climate change. The DVD is available for unit programs and discussion.
Evaluations praised every part of the forum, especially the caliber and expertise of the speakers. The filming department at Edmonds Community College will edit and run the forum on its public TV channel later this year. KSER also taped the program for future use. Our thanks to nearly thirty different sponsors! Also students of Linda Matthews' graphic arts classes did amazing posters, as did one student at Cascade High. The art classes of Kim Christie at Sequoia High contributed "art posters" for the lobby area.
I wish to express my appreciation to all those who helped with this educational outreach. Your tireless labor produced an exceptional opportunity within our community. Dorothy Jones, Janet Chalupnik, Barbara Bush, Eva Mehaffrey, Peggy Toepel, Michelle Valentine, Rowena Miller – bouquets to you all! Moreover, I thank those who supported our ten-month effort by attending. With so many interests competing for time—especially a sunny day in the Northwest—your willingness to come out and back this type of major League event reflects well on your personal commitment to the League's mission of citizen education and activism. According to these speakers, we have no time for the luxury of apathy on this issue! Thank you.
KSER Anticipates December’s Unit Meeting Program
Listen to KSER 90.7 FM on Monday, November 10, at 6 pm for a preview of next month’s local league program on the National Popular Vote (NPV) Compact. The community radio hour will begin with commentary by Norma Bruns before taking up the NPV issue, which seeks electoral college reform not through constitutional amendment but through individual states deciding to allocate their electoral votes according to the national popular vote. The program will wrap up with a segment on sustainability.The current League position supports abolishing the electoral college.
For more information on the NPV alternative, see:
- The National Voter, October 2008, pp. 16-17
- lwvwa.org/snohomish Where We Stand>Local Program>national popular vote link
Trailblazing Candidate, 1884: Belva Lockwood
After meeting Susan B. Anthony, Belva Ann Lockwood went to law school, earned her law degree, and in 1879 convinced Congress to pass a bill enabling women attorneys to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1884 she became the first woman to run a full campaign for U. S. President, as the candidate of the Equal Rights Party. She repeated her presidential campaign in 1888 and practiced law, but she later became better known for her work on behalf of world peace and served on the nominating committee for the Nobel Peace Prize (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belva_Lockwood).
VOTER TEAM
Editors:
Gloria S. Katz - gsk_teach@hotmail.com
Melanie Lewis - gregnmel50s@verizon.net
Lois Wentink - lwentink@hotmail.com
Distribution:
Pat Bennett
Julia Gordon
Contacts:
Kay Wilcox
Advisors:
Laura McCarty
Peggy Toepel
Margaret Johnson
Please feel free to comment or state your preferences.
A special thank you to our advisors!
The Voter is published monthly, except June and August, by:
LWV of Snohomish County
P.O. Box 1146, Everett, WA 98206