eVOTER NEWSLETTER
November 6, 2023 - Vol. 5, No. 05 |
Upcoming Board Meetings. All Members Welcome!
- December - no Board meeting
- Wed. Jan. 3 | 4 PM | Schell Room, WRL (Scotland Street)
For Your Calendar
- Wed. Dec 6 | 9 AM | League of Women Voters of Virginia Pre-Session 2023, a virtual event | Register Here
- Sun. Dec. 10 | 2 PM | Members' Holiday Party! | Sign Up to Come
LWVUS Action Alerts
| | Shown above: the final pre-election social media post scheduled for November 6, 2023. | On Tuesday, Virginia Decides Its Future
~Harry Chancey, LWVWA Social Media Lead
Stunning as that may sound, there is no other way to say it.
Virginia decides its future by the choices voters make electing candidates to fill the 140 vacant seats in the state House and state Senate chambers.
Since Labor Day, the League of Voters of the Williamsburg Area has posted every day over five social media platforms. Sometimes multiple times a day. Our messaging has been on two fronts:
(1) Empowering Voters—with vital information about the mechanics of voting, voter registration, same day registration, early voting, mail in balloting, youth registration and much more. LWV’s site VOTE411.org was used extensively.
(2) Defending Democracy—advocating the ten key Virginia League Legislative priorities ranging from reproductive justice to voting rights and gun safety legislation. Advisories were also posted about political measures and tactics threatening democracy.
In all, over 1,000 social media posts went out over the Williamsburg League social media banner. Growth in followers surpassed 1,000 over the five platforms. Based on available demographics, at least 50% of League followers are GenZ zoomers and GenX millennials, creating the potential for younger League membership growth.
Tomorrow, the countdown to Virginia’s General Assembly election ends. While we await results, the runup to the Presidential Election in November 2024 begins. That is when voters will decide the future of the entire country. Virginia and Ohio are bellwether states as we look toward 2024. Decisions made in both states will be strong indicators as to the direction the nation will take next year.
Social media never takes a break, and neither will the Williamsburg League. Posts geared toward the November 2024 election will begin immediately on November 8, 2023. “Operation Democracy” is our working plan. The national stakes have never been higher. We plan to team up with select national and local social media partners in the coming year including pro-democracy and rights-based groups like the Brennan Center, We The People, Think Big America, Protect Democracy, Common Cause, NAACP-Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, Human Right Campaign REV UP Virginia, Equality Virginia, NoLef Turns and many others. By joining forces and followers, the Williamsburg League hopes to spread its messaging on behalf of American voters and American democracy while continuing to call out threats to our constitutional government. The challenge is daunting, but essential. We have voters to empower and a democracy to defend.
| Great Opportunities to Be Involved
~Susan Bivins, President of LWV of Williamsburg Area
I would think that with the election on November 7th, there would be a downtime coming for the League. But, there never really is a downtime on the League calendar.
Next month on December 6th is the Pre-session Zoom, starting at 9 AM. There will be at least 20 speakers addressing legislative priorities for the 2024 General Assembly session. Registration is open now.
December 10th is the holiday party!
January starts the General Assembly session, and early voting for Super Tuesday. Every Wednesday morning, while the GA is in session, there will be Roundtable zooms (or you can go in person). Tuesday mornings in February and March are Great Decisions!
There are many great ways to get involved!! | | League of Women Voters of Virginia Pre-Session 2023 is Wed. December 6, 2023, starting at 9 AM - a virtual, all-online event!
Pre-Session is when LWV of Virginia brings in our partner organizations to have them present their legislative priorities for the 2024 General Assembly Session. Invited guests include: Susan Beals, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Elections; Stephen E. Cummings, Secretary of Finance, Commonwealth of Virginia; Narissa S. Rahaman Executive Director, Equality VA; James W. Speer, Executive Director, Virginia Poverty Law Center.
There will be more than 20 partners in attendance. LWV of Virginia will continue to update you when we get a full agenda.
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Holiday Party - December 10
| Please join fellow members of the League of Women Voters of Williamsburg Area for our annual Holiday Get Together at Don Schilling's home in Kingsmill on Sunday December 10 from 2-4 PM. Enjoy refreshments and friendship!
Parking
Since there is little space for parking at Don's home, please either:
- Park in the parking lot to the left just after you turn in France Thacker -- OR --
- Park farther along in the circular area next to the old Plantation buildings. This is within reasonable walking distance
We will have shuttle service for both parking options! If you arrive between close to 2 PM and need a shuttle ride, call Don at 757-871-1775.
|  | Great Decisions, sponsored by The League of Women Voters of the Williamsburg Area, will return in 2024!
The program runs from February 6th through March 26th for eight sessions. Meetings are Tuesday mornings from 10:30 AM-11:45 AM at the Williamsburg Regional Library in Williamsburg. The program is hybrid with in-person and Zoom participation available.
The Foreign Policy Association has selected these topics: Mideast realignment, Climate technology, Science across borders, US-China trade rivalry, NATO’s future, Understanding Indonesia, High Seas Treaty, and Pandemic preparation.
Registration Begins November 13
Priority registration for League members starts November 13. The program cost is $65 for an individual and $90 for a household. Members will be able to register on our Great Decisions webpage.
We will also email registration links to Members on November 13th.
General Registration Begins November 27
The public can signup beginning November 27th. |
Join Our Great Decisions Organizers
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We Need You!
~Don Schilling, League Director and Great Decisions Chair
I have now served for five years recruiting speakers to address the topics selected by the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions Program and to arrange their visits either in person in the Williamsburg Regional Library Auditorium or on
Zoom.
It has been very rewarding to be part of this program, but next year will be my last in this position. I would like the transition to new leadership to be seamless, so I encourage anyone with a possible interest taking over in 2025 to contact me. We could have a team and not just an individual assuming this role. Next year we would do some training and I would expect to be around in 2025 to help out as needed. We do need members to step forward!!
| Thurs. Jan. 25 | 4:30 PM
Member's Home
The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell
Join us to discuss Stephen Vladeck's examination of the Supreme Court's use of unsigned orders, the shadow docket.
Thurs. Apr. 25 | 4:30 PM
April 25, 2024 | 4:30 PM – The Gun Dilemma: How history is Against Expanded Gun Rights by Robert Spitzer
| | | Rally for Voting Rights - November 1
| "Anyone convicted of a felony in Virginia automatically loses their civil rights - the right to vote, serve on a jury, run for office, become a notary public and carry a firearm. The Constitution of Virginia gives the Governor the sole discretion to restore civil rights, not including firearm rights. Individuals seeking restoration of their civil rights are encouraged to apply with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office..."
| Virginia's Harsh Stand on Voting Rights of Former Felons
~Pat Evers, LWVWA Advocacy Chair
Virginia has many notable “firsts” in its history. But more recently we are being watched across the country for falling into the “only” category. Virginia is one of ONLY three states whose constitution permanently disenfranchises all citizens with past felony convictions and grants only the state’s governor the authority to restore voting rights.
The League’s position is that voting rights restoration should be automatic upon release from prison and we have advocated for many years to make this change in our state constitution.
On November 1, 2023 Joan Porte (LWV-VA President), Alice Tousignant (LWV-VA Program Director), Candi Bradshaw (LWV-VA Social Media Strategist), and Pat Evers (LWV-WA Advocacy) attended a rally/press conference at the Richmond Bell Tower organized by NoLef Turns (a volunteer group that advocates for citizens with felony convictions) to bring attention to the 3,400 Virginians with felony convictions who erroneously had their voter registrations canceled when Gov. GlennYoungkin’s administration took a stricter approach to cleaning up the voter rolls.
Voting rights advocates and speakers at the rally included Sheba Williams, NoLef Turns; Joan Porte, LWV of Virginia; LeVar Stoney, Mayor of Richmond; Ryan Snow, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Natasha White, Interfaith Action for Human Rights; Liz White, UpVote; Shawn Wenta, Policy Strategist at ACLU of Virginia, Nick Gothard, Election Protection Manager for the Virginia Civic Engagement Table; and volunteers from Election Protection 866-OUR-VOTE.
| If you would like to join the League's Right to Vote issue group, contact Deb Wake.
| | Saturday, Oct 28, was a perfect day to distribute non partisan door hangers in the Lackey Clinic area of York County.
| With the collaboration of YJCW NAACP, our League’s DEI Committee, Williamsburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc./Williamsburg, and Nabeeh Court/Mason's Eastern Star, we had a non-partisan get out the vote drive in York County's Lackey community on Saturday, October 28, 2023. We "hit" 196 doors!
Additionally, several volunteers put information at doors in neighborhoods of Highland Park and Forest Glen, as well as at the Bruton Woods and Lafayette Apartments. We also dropped off information at local Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Newport News businesses. We appreciate all the volunteers and League members who made this happen successfully!
| | On October 20, the League joined the W&M Homecoming Parade, with our dashing jeep, banner, signs, American flags, and lots of enthusiasm. We handed out small American flags to children along the parade route. And we were surprised and flattered to win Third Prize in the community float judging!
We hope more of you will join in next year.
Many thanks to Chuck Johnston who lent his vintage mustard yellow '78 Toyota Land Cruiser. League members Susan Bivins, Sudie Watkins, and Candi Bradshaw rode in style. The rest of us followed on foot! | | | | On October 19, League members gathered at Legacy Hall for our annual Back To League event. We had a spirited presentation from three panelists on the diverse issues of concern to our nation and League. We were welcomed by the President of our Local League, Susan Bivins. Denise Harrington, local League member and a director on the board of LWV of Virginia, moderated the presentation.
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Observing Public Meetings
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Thank-you!
Thank you new and renewing members! Welcome new members!
Here are the new/renewing members since 10/7/2023 through 11/4/2023.
Members and friends with asterisks gave an extra donation above basic dues!
Linda Boyce, Candi Bradshaw, Harry Chancey, Penny Coley, *Christine Faia & Franz Gross, Tanya Fisher, *Cynthia & Joseph Fridgen, *Ann & Ted Gerarden, *Carolyn Greathouse, *Paula & Lee Hougen, Joan Keith, Denise Koch, *Leith & Charles Mullaly, Patricia Myers, Priscilla Nystrom, Alynn Parham, Pam Pettengell, Jeannette Potter, *Nancy Risseeuw, *Holly Quick (non member), Cindy Sherwood, Les Smith, Jo & Les Solomon, *Carl & Caroline Wirth
Renewals
Based on the month you joined, we will remind you to renew your membership yearly. **Students (aged 16+) are free.**
| Exploring Multicultural Roots
Christy Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, talks with prominent scholars and public figures on topics of our diverse legacies.
COMING UP
November 15 | 7 PM | Jamestown Settlement
Susan Devan Harness
Susan is a cultural anthropologist, member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes and an American Indian transracial adoptee.
| | Registration is open for the Virginia Commission on Civics Education's annual Virginia Civics Summit. The 2023 summit is Monday, November 13th from 8:30 AM-4:00 PM at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture located at 428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220.
Register Here -- Registration closes at 5 PM on Thursday, November 9th.
Read the impressive agenda Here.
| | | FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
| Hey! We have a social media campaign to present vital information about voting and upcoming Virginia elections. We have accounts on:
Encourage GenX, GenY, and GenZ family and friends to check us out. | | | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
League of Women Voters of Williamsburg Area
P O Box 1086
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1086
501(c)(4) organization | |