A Great Blog

2012-04-19T13:24:00.001-07:00

The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The convention was held just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle. The League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters. It encouraged them to use their new power to participate in shaping public policy. From the beginning, the League has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy. It was then, and is now, a nonpartisan organization. League founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance would protect the fledgling organization from becoming mired in the party politics of the day. However, League members were encouraged to be political themselves, by educating citizens about, and lobbying for, government and social reform legislation. This holds true today. The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. The League has a long, rich history that continues with each passing year. -----LWVUS A fundamental principle of the League is that we are a non-partisan organization. "Non Partisan" is not just empty words. These words say who we are, and what we should look like to the people we reach out to. It is a unique feature of our organization, as opposed to the other organizations in the political arena, and we should be proud of our nonpartisan status, and not allow any candidate for office or political party to get special treatment from us. We stand by our commitment of not bringing campaign literature to our meetings and the wearing of political buttons. By the way the Veterans Centers standing rule of no political or religious literature in their building is strongly enforced. Our roster is confidential. While wearing of the League outerwear, pin, hat, or working in any League endeavors to bring a bias or personal preference of those running for office. What an individual member participates in politically is their choice as long as they keep it separate from the function as a member of the LWVM. Our members are our greatest strength. It is important that every member practices the principles that are the bedrock of what the League stands for. When we keep true to the principles of our organization, we are at our best.

CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

2012-04-10T12:57:00.002-07:00

April Presidents Remarks
SERIOUSLY, we are in dire need of your help. We are having a great concern in having all our members attend the Saturday, April 14th, 2012 League of Women Voters of Mesquite Annual meeting.
Four of the League’s Board members are committed to either scheduled training classes or in functions in Making Democracy Work issues and have been granted an absence.
We ask that all LWVM members PLEASE attend this most important meeting for the adoption of the distributed revised bylaws that our Bylaws Committee created and the election of the incoming 2012-2013 new League Board members that our Nomination Committee diligently put together. These items need a quorum to be accomplished.
Your attendance is required to take a forward step in our League business. Without your attendance at our meetings and not making the numbers for a quorum we are stifled in our works that so many have spent hours of their volunteered hours to put together.
Please mark your calendars.
Plan on being there, we sincerely need you there.

CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

2012-03-06T13:25:00.000-08:00

March2012, Co-president’s Message:
Good News - Most of our 2012 projects are progressing. The fashion show plans are almost complete. Now, we have to diligently pursue the sale of the tickets. 200 were printed, wouldn't be great to sell them all? Also any gifts for the raffle need to be recorded by Rosemary by Mar.15 so please let her know by then.
Our By-Laws committee has finished its work. Please read the document so that you will be prepared to vote at our April meeting. We know that the IRS has received our 501c3 application. We are awaiting further direction from them. It is a slow process. We may not get approval for a few months.
The Voters Guide committee is busy gathering information for distribution. The events committee may hold a meet and greet day for the candidates. The Education committee will try to register senior High School students in April. Project Feel Good collected several bins of toiletries. Last day to collect is March 15.
The Sponsored Membership project has already received $20 in donations. Remember donations may be made at any time. The nominating committee will announce their slate of officers in April. The membership will vote for officers at that meeting.
I would like to thank all the members for their efforts this year. Bravo to you all!

CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

2012-02-03T14:06:00.001-08:00

Co-presidents Report:
Before the date of February 2, 2012 becomes a distant memory I would like to share several milestones that the LWVM reached on that date. The reason for doing so goes back to memories of last spring when before Ginny and I accepted the positions of Co-presidents we discussed what we wanted the League to be. Does that question sound familiar to some of you? For those who might have forgotten or are newer to our roster let me explain briefly that it was the question asked for our May Installation luncheon program. We wanted to know your thoughts of what your vision might be too.
Your voices expressed time honored traditions being maintained and actions of voter education and voter registration were to be utmost the goals. That became our challenge to marry new ideas with traditions.
We believe Membership is a key component. With every new member brings the possibilities of new ideas to the table. So on February 2, 2012 our once future voter Vanessa Giebink became our 37th League member. We are honored to have proudly registered her to vote as she turned 18 as well and look forward to the promise of what her membership will become. Later that same afternoon to add to our excitement Pat Schaller became our 38th member to join our League.
Next we believed we needed to become a 501( c)(3) tax exempt entity to not only maintain goals but to expand on our Voter Education and Voter Registration. It was time in the growth of this League to now do so. So formally on February 2, 2012 your Board took Minutes of the First Meeting of the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters Educational Project. We formally disbanded the 501( c)(3) Committee for the completion of that undertaking as we now await in good faith the Declaration from the IRS. Thank you to those committee members, Ginny Loomis, Rosemary Gary, Gracie Toval, Mina Stone in helping to take on this project. The new directors of the LWVMEP are Carmel Piquette and Ginny Loomis, Co-presidents, Anne Miranda, Vice-President, Gracie Toval, Treasurer and Mina Stone, Secretary. Their term of office ends on January 31st, 2013.
Another milestone was in the Board’s unanimous approval and acceptance of a new Committee called the Sponsored Membership Program with a mission to administer a partial monetary assistance for those needing a financial remedy towards the LWVM membership dues. Details on how it is funded will be discussed and voted on at the next general meeting.
Not bad for Ground Hog Day, 2012.
Carmel Piquette

CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

2012-01-11T12:10:00.001-08:00

CoPresident’s message:
As we start this new year I hope this will be the best for you personally
and for the league as well. Although we are only half way through our
fiscal year in the league. I’m so proud of the achievements made so
far. Some of the goals yet to be achieved are: completion of our
501c3 status, registration of senior H.S. students as well as new
residents to our community,and amending our by-laws so that they
comply with our growth as a league. We are always looking to increase
our membership as well.
The fund raising committee has been very busy . They will need all
of us to help with the fashion show. Please volunteer your assistance.
The education committee is looking for additional members as well. We
will need to form a by- laws committee to help with the needed
revisions. I envision a busy but fruitful new year.
May 2012 bring you good health and much happiness in all you do!
Respectfully,
Ginny Loomis
1/6/12

CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

2011-10-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

My JURY DUTY
Entering the Federal courthouse after filling out a jury questionnaire weeks earlier, our group was directed to a waiting court room. There the Judge sits formidable high above the dais. The room is respectful with silence. Numerous smiling attorneys sit looking at us all like fish in a fish bowl. Questions begin and those in our group are excused. One for scheduled chemo treatments and one whose child’s first day of kindergartner was the following morning. The judge calls 15 random names, I’m number 15. More questions are asked when he announces that soon 9 jurors will be chosen for this civil case. When the 8th name was called I said to myself only one more name and I am so outta here. I was accepted for the case as juror number 9. We started the trial immediately. I sat there thinking why did they pick me, was it my age, my gender, my bandaged finger? I believe now it was the finger.
Nine people weeks later are no longer strangers. New friend Juror #8 turned 92 during this trial and male Juror #7 baked a delicious cake from scratch for her birthday. By the way this is Juror #8’s, eighth and final jury duty and yes she could have been excused but she would fight to be doing this duty. She is a spitfire. Not one of us since that first day has taken this job lightly. We listen but at times have struggled with eye closings and snores. Juror #5 actually did snore once but Juror #4 hit his chair, thankfully the judge did not notice. We are getting to know more of one another daily yet we have no clue as to how one feels about this actual case per the judges rules.
Now weary of living in a hotel room and eating from restaurant menus and that’s coming from one who says “it’s a good day when I don’t cook. Strange how fully captivated in this trial I’ve become. My mind is starting to form a direction after what seems like a flipping of back and forth depending on which attorney was speaking. We were told to just listen very close and you will figure it out and know. Now I would fight to remain on this case. From security guards to the judge you are made to feel and understand daily that we are revered for the job that we have been selected to accomplish. Yes someone in this case will probably be called the winner and one will lose. But this is what I have discovered so far by this process. That I have changed my mind about serving on a jury even with all the inconveniences, that I believe I’m wanted and that’s a feeling I had not felt for some time, plus that my brain still comprehends and is operational but most significantly of all I am so proud of ME for actually being a Juror.
Juror # 9, Carm Piquette

CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

2011-09-02T14:49:00.001-07:00

I look forward to seeing all of you at our first meeting in September. It is my privilege to be working with all of you.
Perhaps some of you will be bringing a guest. That would be so nice. Our meetings are open to the public. Most of all I want to thank my Co-President Carm Piquette for her wonderful guidance and skills. She is an asset to this organization. She has a wealth of experience that she brings to the table every time. She has become my friend as well as my colleague. To think a year ago I barely knew her. See what fringe benefits being a member of the League can bring to you. We have an excellent board as well. They have been working hard all summer so that we can get off to a good start. So please think of how you can help us make this year fruitful. Let’s continue to put the League of Women Voters of Mesquite on the map. And as the League motto says “Lets Make Democracy Work.”
Co-president, Ginny Loomis

CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

2011-08-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

For All Our Returning LWVM Members

Welcome back to our refurbished website. So what do you think? We now have the League State President Report and a Lobbyist Message here for a one stop convenience along with our own Presidents column. Hopefully now there will be less individual emails being sent out. Please take a stroll through the pages and give us your critique. Oh yes the History tab will be re-instated.

Big Thanks to Cindi Delaney for time spent training Annalee Camp, Mina Stone and Rosemary Gary on updating and maintaining the information on our website.

Take notice that the LWVM Facebook is going to be used more frequently to help keep on top of League news. It will be home for our League event pictures too. Mina Stone adds the remarks in the LWVM Facebook pages so those wanting to add a League appropriate news item please contact her. Take a look at our website calendar which is now updated.

As you can imagine during the hot days of summer we have had several “work sessions” to get a head start on our upcoming year. A collaborate accomplishment of a new Membership Tri-fold will shortly be presented. Please throw out all old tri-folds. Wait till you see our new business card for all members to personally pass out to prospective new members.

As you might all know by now we have secured a new Home at the Veterans Center located at 830 Hafen Lane starting with our first General Meeting on Saturday, September 10th. We signed a one year agreement so hopefully this becomes a great experience for us all.
As we speak we are doing paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) from our existing 501(c)(4) non-profit status. Forms are completed for registering us with the State of Nevada. Yes even our IRS tax forms have been completed by our Treasurer Gracie Toval who has a budget in place. Know that a Treasurers Report along with Minutes will be provided for all General Meetings for your viewing.
For those wanting more information on the Juvenile Justice project please contact Karen Beardsley or Mary Daigle. There seems to be a renewed interest in this area.
Lets all give a huge Thank You to all our members providing Voter Registration up at the Senior Center every Thursday from 11 am till 1 pm. All your diligent work is so appreciated. Great Job! Anyone wanting to become a registrar please contact Jeanette Kendrick.
So now it’s your turn. We are requesting that you think about what committee(s) interests you or that you might want to explore this upcoming season. We need you HELP. All our League Committees are in dire need of participation. Probably this month Ginny and I will be calling on you personally to help out.
Now on a personal level, lets all have a safe and wonderful summer filled with health, fun and love. Carm Piquette
** LWVM Board Meetings held at the Chamber of Commerce on SECOND Thursday before the Second Saturday of the month’s General Meeting at Noon.
All League Members Invited

Get To Know Our New Presidents

2011-07-10T22:36:00.003-07:00

Words can not explain enough the pleasure it is working with my new partner, Co-President Virgina “Ginny” Loomis is and how she has brought such enlightenment, wisdom and joy into my life. Having really just known each other for a brief time now we just “click” and what a adventure we both are going to bring to the new session of the League when we formally return in September. Yes we are stirring it up. I hope that intrigues you all.
With a board that includes our Vice-President, Anne Miranda, Gracie Toval our Treasurer along with Annalee Camp our Secretary and Mina Stone as our Correspondence Secretary let me say what a privilege it is to be surrounded by these exceptional women.
Finally to you the Members, know you are “Most Important” and that you are “Appreciated”. We are hoping to ask each and every one of you to be a part of our vision and to co-partner with us all throughout this upcoming term. May we bring you an environment where members are secure with sharing opinions, a sense of empowerment to explore, the pleasure of responsibility and the added opportunity to be a positive presence in our community. Let’s make it happen!
Carmel Piquette, Co-President, 2011-2012.

As you can see Carm has put into beautiful words our personal goals for the League. We bring to you, our Members, our heartfelt enthusiasm for the year. Hopefully we can live up to your expectations. We only want what is good for the League as citizens of this community. All of us will be helping to make the LWVM a recognized organization that will do it’s best to contribute to the good of Mesquite. Together only Great things can happen.
Ginny Loomis, Co-President, 2011-2012.