Your continued membership is more important than ever before. We are gearing up for the November elections and will be working hard to register new voters, convene candidate forums and get out the vote as we near Election Day. Our mission is critical as recent polls suggest only slightly more than 30 percent of registered voters in Santa Clara County intend to vote in November.
Thank you for your continued membership in the Los Altos-Mountain View League of Women Voters. For the upcoming year the membership is $75/year for individuals and $110/year for households.
Also, for the first time, we are seeing a decline in our membership, which has fallen below 200 members. Although national League membership has been declining for many years, this is the first time we have seen a dip in the Los Altos-Mountain View numbers. Your continued membership is essential to sustaining our local League, and if you can recruit some new members, so much the better!
To save time, paper and postage, you can submit your renewal form online and then pay by check, PayPal or credit card. Checks should be made out to the League of Women Voters Los Altos-Mountain View. Optionally, you can fill out and mail a paper renewal form.
Dues and contributions to the League of Women Voters Los Altos-Mountain View are not tax deductible; contributions to the LWV Education Fund are tax deductible.
Founder and close the gap, CA Board Member Mary V. Hughes* was guest speaker at the LWV-LAMVA’s Annual Meeting, held June 20, 2014, at Michael’s at Shoreline. The Mary Hughes talk was a stirring analysis of Women Leaders in U.S. Politics and Corporate America.
Hughes Recognizes the League’s Contribution
Hughes thanked the League for its dedication to non-partisanship and encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. She expressed concern that the disregard in which elected officials are held is a danger to the country. Hughes said that citizens count on the League to make the case that government matters and serving in government is a high calling. Where we live, people tend to be active and informed, but this is not the case around the country. Hughes urged the League to keep up its efforts, that all the ways the League can add to good governance and support for those who serve is to the good.
Women’s Participation Statistics – sadly a drop
Unfortunately, increasing the numbers of women serving in the California Legislature has lost ground. The numbers have dropped from a high of 31 to the current number of 26.
Hughes said that the bad news is that in any sector—law, medicine, academics, government—women hold only 18-23% of the leadership positions, the high of 23% being in academia. Women constitute only 18% in businesses among Fortune 500 companies.
“Through the decades of the Woman’s Movement, this percentage has not changed,” Hughes said. “This under-representation by women in these policy and leadership positions matters to all women and society.
Why Leadership Gender Makes a big difference in Outcomes
Research and good arguments reveal why it is important for more women to aim for leadership positions and be successful in achieving these positions in all walks of life.
Gender matters. Women in leadership roles add value to all enterprises where they serve.
Men and women differ, and this difference has value in solving problems, achieving goals, a better bottom line, avoiding fraud and corruption.
Examples In Business:
• Credit Suisse studies revealed the importance of gender balanced, decision making in investment. Gender balanced teams produced better returns. Gender balanced teams scored better in risk avoidance and consumer understanding.
• Carnegie Mellon studies found gender balanced teams were better at problem understanding and defining problems and had higher Emotional IQs.
Gender balanced boards have higher returns.
Examples In Politics:
• In the CA Legislature, 26% are women; in the US Congress, 18% are women. When women have a voice, their voices make a difference.
In 1992 the largest cohort of women were elected to Congress: Pat Schroeder, CO; Olympia Snow, ME and the presence of women in Congress changed the agenda.
• In the area of Women’s Health: Clinical trials now done in more diverse ways with better conclusions.
•Congresswoman Gabby Gifford: When she served on the Armed Services Committee, she pushed to learn the effects on soldiers and families when soldiers return from war and what support they need. Gifford helped change the agenda to the physical and mental health needs of returning soldiers and families; the effects on children. Because a woman served and asked these questions, returning soldiers were viewed through a different lens. Kristen Gillibrand’s presence on this committee has facilitated the focus on sexual assault, harassment in the military.”
How Women in Politics Differ
According to Hughes, women tend to be more open and transparent and are motivated more by a desire for public service versus a political career to amass power for power’s sake.
Women serving in the State Legislature encourage other groups who are underrepresented such as people of color, immigrants, the gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual community to approach women as portals and gateways to inclusiveness.
Women say ethics matter. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the House, formalized ethics standards for Congress.
When women are present, they tend to create more open avenues toward collaborative solutions vs picking one solution.
“Women tend to collaborate and co-sponsor more legislation than men and generate more tax dollars for their district,” Hughes said. “If you are represented by a woman in Congress, she delivers $47 million more in government assistance and other benefits to your district than her male counterpart.”
Hughes said that women fought hard that birth control and benefits for children were included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). When Congresswoman Eshoo learned that reconstructive breast surgery had not been a covered procedure, but was viewed as a cosmetic or optional procedure, her efforts resulted in reconstructive breast surgery as a covered procedure.
Women in politics are more civil
Women’s Tutorial in the Senate: The 4 Republican and 16 Democratic women senators meet for dinner once a month. They collaborate and have made a commitment not to speak ill of each other. They are committed to maintaining civil respect in public. This coalition is largely responsible for passage of the current budget and the farm bill.
“The collaboration and work of these women are making a positive difference with just 20% of the body,” Hughes said. “Think what value added if women were serving in Congress and State houses in equal numbers. Get a glimpse of how good and great the country could be, at home and aboard, if legislatures could be opened up and inclusive.”
Hughes again thanked the League and asked us to think about the value added by women and how that can work in implementing the LWV agenda. She urged us to think about how we can better take credit and be more forceful in leadership, be more present and set a standard others want to live up to.
Getting Out the Women’s Vote
Hughes said that women have everything at stake in these elections. (Large numbers of women are heads of households and single moms supporting children.) Hughes said that it is critically important that women take time to vote, to mail in their vote by mail ballot or take time off from work to vote or vote from the library.
“More women need to understand what is at stake in electing more women to office and lifting the 20% cap,” Hughes said. “Government sets the example. If women chaired the Judiciary Committee, we would not have all male committees, and this will lift the standards in the private sector also.
The rationale for electing women is so that there are enough women in leadership positions now so our daughters get to be in those leadership chairs. The 20% cap sits heavily on all heads. The best way to move history faster is electing more women in government.”
In conclusion, Hughes said, “Do what you are doing faster, bigger, louder.”
L to R. Martha McClatchie, LASD, Pat Showalter, MV CC, Ellen Wheeler, MVWhisman, Marcy Hughes our speaker, Margaret Capriles, MV CC
Q&A:
Q: How do we change the negative perception of women who are more assertive?
A: Over 15 years of study, the perception of assertive women is changing from assertiveness/toughness being off-putting to now when a woman who speaks out knowledgeably with compassion is perceived as strong rather than tough.
It is important to have wit and call things the way you see it, but contain flashes of anger, impatience. If people know your story, they will be more open to your views. Q: What do you think about Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In?
A: I have respect for anyone who wants to help women find their way to leadership. I recommend Anne Marie Slaughter’s article titled “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All” which appeared in the July/August 2012 issue of The Atlantic. : More women leaders make a more compassionate society.
Unfortunately, US society is not structured to value family the way we pretend to value family. What work requires and the way we think of success make it difficult to accommodate family and get to the top.
Q: What about studies that show women prefer male bosses? Women do not always support other competent women.
A: A recent study showed 15% of women felt a woman is not ready to be President, but that perception is changing.
A Governors’ study showed older women delayed making up their mind whom to vote for until the last minute. Boomer women, aged 46-68, are mostly ok with women leaders. But a younger cohort split and were as much for Obama as Hillary Clinton and have a different view about women leaders. They do not feel the same need to support women as older women. There is a constant need for reeducation. We cannot assume the next generation of women will have awareness unless we help them develop it.
Again, keep on doing what you are doing, but bigger, louder, better.
Facts about Mary Hughes
* Hughes is a co-founder and President of Hughes & Company, a strategic communications and political consulting firm in Palo Alto, California. Mary founded and served as Director of the 2012 Project, a national, non-partisan campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University to increase the number of women in Congress and state legislatures by taking advantage of newly drawn and newly created districts resulting from redistricting and reapportionment.
close the gap CA is a campaign to increase the number of progressive women in the California legislature by recruiting talented, progressive women to run for open, winnable seats in 2014 and 2016. Changes to California’s term limit law in 2012 means another opportunity like this will not occur again until [the next decade’s redistricting].
Cathy Lazarus, our board president, started the annual business meeting by thanking all of the dedicated volunteers who volunteered time and expertise to our League over the past year.
Together, these individuals account for around 40 members who regularly contribute to the success or our League. “That is an amazing number! That’s more than the total membership of some leagues.” These 40 include the Observer Corp, the board and all our many off-board volunteers. In addition, Lazarus thanked those who organize our popular Lunch with the League series and those who participate in our active Housing Committee and Education Committee. Many thanks to our mailing party volunteers and to those who are helping new citizens register to vote.
Lazarus Presented the Year in Review
2013/14 was a busy year for our League with many significant program initiatives; many were organized in partnership with other Leagues in Santa Clara and San Mateo County. Some of the highlights include:
Affordable Care Act Forums
Lunch With the League (Topics ranging from El Camino Hospital, Voter Suppression, commercial development in Los Altos and Mountain View)
Bay Delta Conservation Plan Forum
Registering New Citizens after Naturalization Ceremony
“Modernizing” the look and methods of outreach for our League
New Website
Communicating with you on line (Voter, PayPal payments, registration)- Saves time, saves money
Facebook, Twitter (Find us and LIKE us)
June Candidate Forums: (Contested judicial races, assembly candidates) Much more planned for November election.
Launch of new LWV State Higher Ed Study thanks to our local Education Committee
Themes from National Convention in Dallas
Lazarus shared some of the major themes from the National Convention in Dallas and explained how they relate to our local League. Addressing the membership challenges is particularly important as the League begins to prepare for its 100 anniversary in 2020.
Membership Challenges
A key set of challenges is that League membership is declining nationally, is aging and is not diverse. The League is not unique in having this challenge. Most other volunteer organizations – artistic, cultural, historical, etc. – have membership issues.
League membership reached its all time high of over 150,000 members in 1962
In 2000 national membership was just under 77,000
In 2014 national member ship was just over 50,000
The average age of a League Member is 73, hardly a young crowd.
Our membership does not reflect the current diversity of our communities or Country.
Membership Strategy
She explained that to address the membership issue, the US League has developed a two-pronged strategy.
Engage and recruit younger members. (League of Women Voters Young People Task Force was 100% millennials. This “under 45” group concluded that the old ways of attracting members will not work for current generations of millenials and those younger. The Task Force is producing a report and “tool kit” for local Leagues.)
Reach out to minority/majority communities in our Cities and Towns. (For a historically white, middle class membership that may not be easy in some places.)
The Key Political Issues Today
Lazarus went on to identify the key political issues that engage voters as presented at the Dallas National Convention.
Income Inequality -We have a changing national demographic that in a few years means that in most parts of the United States minority groups will become the majority in our communities. Already the case in California. If we do not find ways to improve education, income and job opportunities to these soon to be majorities the implications to our economy and social fabric are significant.
Climate Change – There are emergent impacts on food, water, animal species with the attendant economic and societal disruptions world wide.
Voter Suppression – It is unbelievable what is happening in other parts of the Country. Use judge example, and Texas purge of voter roles.)
Money In Politics is a huge topic: In the 2012 election, 57% of all the superpac donations came from 47 people giving $1 million or more. .000015% of the population
What can we do about it here in Silicon Valley?
To close, Lazarus brought it all back to the local level. “So what do we do about the key political issues here at home? 2014-2015 needs to be an all hands on deck year.” Her suggestions:
Get out the local vote in November. (A recent Leadership Group poll found projected a 32% voter turnout for November)
Develop and implement outreach/recruitment strategies that work in Silicon Valley.
Continue to address income inequality (which is a huge issue with increasing rents and housing) by advocating for investment in education, affordable housing and support services for low-income families and the elderly in our communities.
Continue to educate people about the long-term effects of climate change by forming coalitions and taking action with other environmental groups like Green Town Los Altos or Sustainable Mountain View.
Work at all levels to make sure that voter suppression legislation is repealed, that political contributions are transparent and that the forces that are turning our country into a divided monied oligarchy are not allowed to succeed. Our democracy depends on it.
The annual meeting of 2014 was attended by about 40 members. Mary Hughes our lunch speaker spoke about the desirability of getting more women into elected office. According to Mary only 20% of legislative positions are held by women. Participation seems to be stuck at the level. Shouldn’t it be more like 50%? Mary believes such a body politic would be more collaborative, more productive, more civil and less polarized than the one we have now.
We’ve written more about the meeting in these posts:
1) the form for online RSVP Yes, lunch entree selection and online payment via Paypal or credit card. Taking online orders through and including June 19.
2) instructions for offline RSVP Yes and payment by check. Payment by mailed check is now closed.
3) a link for downloading the 20 page annual meeting kit document
3) instructions for sending an email to RSVP Yes for the meeting only without lunch
YES, I’LL ATTEND THE MEETING AND LUNCH WITH MARY HUGHES AND PAY ONLINE.
The form has been removed because the event has occurred.
You can get your meeting kit inside this article. In order to reduce costs and be greener, we will *If you have any problems with this online form please email memberships@lwvlamv.org.
Yes, I’ll Attend the Meeting and Lunch with Mary Hughes and pay by check. CLOSED AS OF JUNE 13
If you don’t want to pay online, please print out this last page of the meeting kit, fill out the paper form at the bottom of that page, and then mail it with a check payment per the instructions. If you do not have a home printer, you can simply write a note with the information requested in the form above and mail your check.
In order to reduce costs and be greener, we will NOT be mailing the printed Annual Meeting Kits to all members. Instead please download it. We are sending members email asking members to download the Annual Meeting Kit from our website by clicking on this convenient weblink or the pink image. We anticipate members will read the kit at home and optionally print it on their home or office printer. (If you sign-up to attend the meeting, you may request that we provide you with a printed kit at the meeting.) About a dozen members without email will receive the kits by U.S. mail.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING THE MEETING KIT WITH YOU ON JUNE 21!
ATTEND ONLY THE MEETING
If you want to attend ONLY the business meeting and aren’t staying for the lunch and the speaker, please email memberships@lwvlamv.org. And tell us if you can’t print the meeting kit yourself and need a meeting kit provided at the meeting
Our speaker this year is Mary Hughes of close the gap CA. Mary aims to help progressive women run for elected office in California.
Saturday June 21 is Our Annual Meeting.
Our Schedule:
10:00 am Registration
10:20 am Meeting Called to Order
11:45 am Break and Conversation
NOON LUNCH
12:45 pm SPEAKER: Mary Hughes, close the Gap CA
TOPIC: Helping more progressive women run for elected office
1:30 pm Adjourn
Location:
Michaels at Shoreline
2960 Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, CA (in Shoreline Park)
Menu:An entree salad with iced tea. Choices are chopped cobb salad, pasta primavera salad, chinese chicken salad
Mary Hughes – Recruiting Women to run for elected office
We have an exceptionally interesting and timely speaker this year – Mary Hughes. Mary’s organization, close the gap CA, was formed “to increase the number of progressive women in the California legislature by recruiting talented, community-based, policy-focused women to run for open seats in 2014 and 2016.”
Mary V. Hughes is the President of Hughes & Company a political strategy and communications firm. She is the architect of close the gap CA, a four-year (2013 – 2016) campaign to recruit talented, progressive women to run for the California legislature and of The 2012 Project, a national, non-partisan campaign to increase the number of women in Congress and state legislatures.
Hughes has advised candidates for President, Congress, state and legislative office. Her work has contributed to several historic “firsts” for women: the first woman to lead her Party in Congress, the first woman Superintendent of California schools and the first out-lesbian judge elected in the nation. Her writing on American politics has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Huffington Post. In 2013, Hughes was named “woman of the year” by California Women Lead and in 2012 Women’s e-News named her one of “21 leaders for the 21st Century.”
Hughes is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Mt. Holyoke College and lives with her husband in Palo Alto, California.
Make the most of your right to vote. Learn about the candidates for County Superior Court at who spoke at our May 5 Forum in Mountain View by viewing or browsing this video. You can use the control to jump around and fast forward.
The League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area and the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto sponsored two forums for Santa Clara County Superior Court judges candidates, Office #21 and #24 on Monday, May 5, 2014. As is customary with League of Women Voters forums, questions from the audience were the major part of the evening.
Along with this YouTube video we hope you will visit the Santa Clara County League of Women Voter website, smartvoter.org.Smartvoter.org has information about the candidates the state propositions and county measures for the primary election on June 3rd. You can also find your polling place. It is one-stop election shopping!
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Forum 1 was at 6:45 p.m.
Candidates for Office #21
Julianne Sylva and Dennis A. Lempert
Moderator Ginny Lear
Forum 2 was at 8:00 p.m.
Candidates Office #24
Dianne Ritchie, Annrae Angel and Mathew S. Harris
Moderator Eleanor Yick
Location: Council Chambers of the City of Mountain View, 500 Castro Street
Videography: KMVT, Mountain View
Make the most of your right to vote. Learn about the candidates for County Superior Court at our May 5 Forum in Mountain View. In the voting booth, it is not good enough to just punch the button for the candidate whose name we vaguely recognize or who shook our hand at the 4th of July Celebration. Instead we must make decisions based upon the candidates qualifications, record of community and/or public service, and their stated and written responses to questions and issues that we in the community find important.
A well-planned and executed candidate forum can help the community make the most of their right to vote. To this end, the League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area and the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto will co-sponsor two forums for Santa Clara County Superior Court judges candidates, Office #21 and #24 on Monday, May 5, 2014 starting at 6:45 pm in the Council Chambers of the City of Mountain View, 500 Castro Street. As is customary with League of Women Voters forums, questions from the audience will be the major part of the evening.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
6:45 p.m.
Candidates for Office #21
Julianne Sylva and Dennis A. Lempert
8:00 p.m.
Candidates Office #24
Dianne Ritchie, Annrae Angel and Mathew S. Harris
LOCATION: Council Chambers of the City of Mountain View, 500 Castro Street
Open Space-the next 40 years-Measure AA-June 3 Ballot
Curt Riffle — board member for our Mountain View-Los Altos ward of the Midpeninsua Regional Open Space District (MROSD) — will be our speaker. Come learn more about what the bond money will do and ask questions. Cost is $25 per person. RSVP online now for this lunch with the League. Space is limited.
Our League supported the formation of MROSD in 1972 and we believe that the District has done an outstanding job in acquiring property for “passive” recreational use and for protecting open space resources. Over 62,000 acres have been protected since MROSD’s inception. Now the District needs funding to open much of this acreage to the public, and to fund additional acquisitions.
Recently the board completed a series of public visioning meetings to shape the direction and priorities of the District. The resulting plan reflects the public’s input on the 25 top projects to expand, enhance, and connect regional trails and open space areas, to preserve open space, and to complete restoration projects. The Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and San Mateo County have endorsed the ballot measure, Measure AA, because our natural resources positionsupports measures that ensure adequate parks and protection of natural resources, open space, and agricultural land, both outside urban growth boundaries and in urbanized areas
James Walgren, Director of Community Development for the City of Los Altos is our speaker. He will be sharing his insights on balancing aspects of development — commercial & office development, city infrastructure projects, affordable housing, preserving neighborhoods and transportation. He can address how city staff is implementing and influencing city council policy. Cost is $25 per person. RSVP online now for this lunch with the League. Space is limited.
To prep for Q&A with James, check out the Housing Reading List from last month that we are recommending againhere.
Ristorante Bella Vita
376 First Street, Los Altos 11:30am to 1pm
RSVP & PAY BELOW
Make your selections using the form below. RSVP by 4/16. For questions contact Natalie Elefant at 650-383-5590 or at natalie.elefant@gmail.com
* Indicates items that are required.
How to register and pay by check
You can RSVP by email to Margaret Brooks with your choice of entree, lemon chicken or vegetarian pasta and arrange for payment. Alternatively, until April 15you can mail a check made out to the League of Women Voters Mountain View-Los Altos. Thereafter please email or phone Natalie Elefant at 650-383-5590 to arrange in person payment. Please add attendee names, menu selections and a memo to the check that the payment is for LWL 04/18/2014 so that we may process your check properly. If mailing, mail the check and your notations to the League office at 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos, CA 94022.
Glossary of Affordable Housing Terms
The co-chair of our Affordable Housing Committee –Sue Russell– has recently developed a draft version of a Glossary of Housing Development Terms you may want to refer to or print out before the lunch. It includes a review of laws and housing programs as they apply specifically to Los Altos and Mountain View.
BIO
James Walgren, AICP
Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development
City of Los Altos
“Downtown Public & Private Projects”
James Walgren has worked for the City of Los Altos for over 14 years. In his present position, James directs the Community Development Department, including the Planning Division, the Building Plan Check and Inspection Division, the Engineering Services Division and the Economic Development Division. With a staff of about twenty five, James administers a $3.5 million annual operating budget and an approximately $2 million annual capital projects program.
James earned a B.S. in City and Regional Planning from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, with an emphasis in architecture and urban design. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the American Planning Association, and the Santa Clara County Association of Planning Officials. James and his wife Kerry have two sons – Andrew, 17, and Christian, 13.
MAP • Ristorante Bella Vita • 376 First Street, Los Altos
Our League is thrilled that Mary Hughes close the gap CA — a renown speaker and advocate for recruiting more women to elected office — is the keynote speaker at our Annual Business Meeting on June 21. The meeting and luncheon from 10am to 1:30 will be held at Michaels at Shoreline as usual.
New this Year – Annual Meeting Kit will be Online
In order to reduce costs and be greener, we will be asking members to download the Annual Meeting Kit from our website. In late May — when the Annual Meeting Kit is completed — the League will email members with a convenient weblink. Those members without email or computers, will continue to receive a kit by mail.
Mary’s Bio
Mary V. Hughes is the President of Hughes & Company a political strategy and communications firm. She is the architect of close the gap CA, a four-year (2013 – 2016) campaign to recruit talented, progressive women to run for the California legislature and of The 2012 Project, a national, non-partisan campaign to increase the number of women in Congress and state legislatures.
Hughes has advised candidates for President, Congress, state and legislative office. Her work has contributed to several historic “firsts” for women: the first woman to lead her Party in Congress, the first woman Superintendent of California schools and the first out-lesbian judge elected in the nation. Her writing on American politics has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Huffington Post. In 2013, Hughes was named “woman of the year” by California Women Lead and in 2012 Women’s e-News named her one of “21 leaders for the 21st Century.”
Hughes is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Mt. Holyoke College and lives with her husband in Palo Alto, California.
In February and March, our League has asked both the Mountain View EPC and the Mountain View City Council to be more aggressive in negotiating BMR Housing Mountain View for the Prometheus 1616 El Camino Real West Project. Our Affordable Housing Committee argues that the developer has received a considerable number of concessions and exceptions, so the city could be requesting more public benefits. Many other cities have been able to extract more from developers under these circumstances.
Your continued membership is more important than ever before. We are gearing up for the November elections and will be working hard to register new voters, convene candidate forums and get out the vote as we near Election Day. Our mission is critical as recent polls suggest only slightly more than 30 percent of registered voters in Santa Clara County intend to vote in November.
