Our Annual Meeting is open to all League members. Your participation is important.
Guests are also welcome to come to the lunch at noon (with registration below) or the speech at 12:45pm (please RSVP to annualmeeting@lwvlamv.org so we can gauge seating).
League members will:
Vote on the proposed budget for 2015-2016
Elect officers and directors for 2015-2016
Adopt LWV Los Altos-Mountain View positions and program for emphasis
Provide direction to the new board
Our original Annual Meeting keynote speaker, Nuria Fernandez, will not be able to attend our meeting due to an unexpected scheduling conflict. In her place, Jim Lawson, Executive Policy Advisor and Director of Government Affairs, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will speak on the State of Transportation in Silicon Valley.
Your annual meeting kit will be arriving in early June by email. If you do not have an email, it will be mailed to you. You can download the Annual Meeting Kit here.
Paul George, Executive Director of Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
Municipalities around the country are raising their local minimum wage. Is it time for Los Altos to join Mountain View, Sunnyvale and San Jose? Paul George will explain what is happening nationally and explore the myths and facts about doing so. Come, learn and discuss this timely topic with us.
For the past 25 years, Paul George has served as Executive Director of Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, the local area’s leading grassroots activist organization. Paul has been a grassroots activist and organizer for peace and human rights his entire adult life. He has worked on electoral campaigns, as a political organizer for labor, and on international solidarity campaigns. Paul hosts the award-winning monthly TV program, “Other Voices”. He is a frequent and popular public speaker on a broad range of topics.
Location & Time
Ristorante Bella Vita 376 First Street, Los Altos May 8th, 11:30am to 1pm
Reserve Offline
Cost is $27 per person. If you don’t wish to RSVP and pay online, you can RSVP by phone or email with Ellyn Corey at 650-559-1828 by May 6th with your choice of entree (Chicken Marsala or Vegetarian Ravioli with Tomato Sauce). Bring your payment check with you on May 8th. We look forward to seeing you there! Bring a friend.
MAP • Ristorante Bella Vita • 376 First Street, Los Altos
Hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area and the Los Altos Public Library, this biennial event is an informal community gathering to hear from our office holders about their priorities ranging from land use, housing, transportation, water supply, education, healthcare and open space.
We look forward to your joining us to ask questions about what is happening in our communities and to share your views with the elected officials whose decisions shape the quality of life in our part of Silicon Valley.
Please help us reach out to the community by sharing the flyer for the event with your friends, neighbors and colleagues or sharing our event on Facebook!
For more information, contact us by email at info@lwvlamv.org or phone at (650) 429-8382.
Featured Officials
Rich Gordon, CA Assembly Member District 24
Grace Mah, Santa Clara County Office of Education Board Member, Area 1
Gary Kremen, Santa Clara County Water District, Director – District 7 and 2015 Board Chair
John McAlister, Mountain View City Mayor
Jan Pepper, Los Altos City Mayor
Courtenay Corrigan, Los Altos Hills Town Mayor
Ellen Wheeler, Mountain View Whisman School District, Vice President
Steve Taglio, Los Altos School District, President
Susan Sweeley, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, President
Joan Barram, Foothill – De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees, Vice President
Curt Riffle, MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District Board Members
Dr. Peter Fung, El Camino Health Care District Board
Scott Haywood: VTA Policy & Community Relations Manager
Our April Lunch with the League guest speaker is Scott Haywood, Policy & Community Relations Manager for VTA. VTA has been discussing the possibility of placing a sales tax measure on the 2016 ballot for transportation improvements. VTA has launched Envision Silicon Valley to help them prepare for a potential ballot measure. This is a new effort where VTA will engage community leaders in a dynamic visioning process to discuss current and future transportation needs, identify solutions and craft funding priorities.
As Policy & Community Relations Manager for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Scott manages and coordinates VTA’s regional legislative program and serves as liaison with various boards, elected officials, commissions, business organizations and community groups. Previously, Scott served as the Sales Program Manager at VTA, implementing a variety of marketing programs. Prior to working at VTA, Scott worked for Apple Computer Inc. in their Transportation Demand Management Department. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration.
Location & Time
Ristorante Bella Vita 376 First Street, Los Altos April 17th, 11:30am to 1pm
Reserve Offline
Cost is $27 per person. If you don’t wish to RSVP and pay online, you can RSVP by phone or email with Ellyn Corey at 650-559-1828 by April 15th with your choice of entree (Dover Sole or Vegetarian Pasta with Tomato Sauce). Bring your payment check with you on April 17. We look forward to seeing you there! Bring a friend.
MAP • Ristorante Bella Vita • 376 First Street, Los Altos
Our March Lunch with the League guest speaker is Marc Sidel, Deputy Director of Development with Hidden Villa. He is eager to bring to us news from “behind the scenes” of the people and the place that today make this living part of our rural past so important to all generations.
Location & Time
Ristorante Bella Vita 376 First Street, Los Altos March 20th, 11:30am to 1pm
Reserve Offline
Cost is $27 per person. If you don’t wish to RSVP and pay online, you can RSVP by phone or email with Ellyn Corey at 650-559-1828 by March 18th with your choice of entree (Chicken Marsala or Vegetarian Ravioli). Bring your payment check with you on March 20. We look forward to seeing you there! Bring a friend.
MAP • Ristorante Bella Vita • 376 First Street, Los Altos
Some of the assembly of members who attended our 2015 LWV Program Planning meeting. We are a diverse group!
Our annual 2015 LWV program planning meeting had a new, snappier format this year. The attendees broke into sub-groups so that more issues could be covered by having members specialize.
We assumed that attendees had reviewed the League positions documents, so it was not necessary to take the time to read them aloud as a group. These changes really speed things up.
But before turning to discussion of issues, first the members had to attend to a bit of 501(c)3 paperwork. Just to cross the t’s and dot the i’s, the attendees had to vote to approve the renumbering of our articles of incorporation. [Amendments that implemented the 501(c)3 status were previously approved.]
After all the discussions and deliberations, the main assembly voted to recommend to LWVC a study on Alternative Electoral Methods that can be used to settle California Voting Rights Act lawsuits. We voted to ask LWVC to focus its state advocacy programs and its state education programs on, in order of highest to lowest priority, money in politics, Prop 13 commercial property reform, and a fossil fuel extraction tax.
Max Beckman-Harned conducted the meeting. Sue Graham made the introduction.
Proceedings
Sue Graham provided an overview of the Program Planning meeting agenda and process. Max Heckman-Bernard ran the meeting and voting processes.
The participants divided into three groups — Social Portfolio, Government Portfolio, and Natural Resources Portfolio — to discuss the LWVC’s state level positions. The task of each group was to decide are the current positions relevant, not relevant, or in need of being updated? In addition, each group was to determine what issues LWVC should focus on for the next two years (2015-2017), and if any new state study should be recommended. We included for consideration study recommendations from other Leagues: Minimum Livable Wage and Death with Dignity. One of our members, Steve Chessin, proposed a study on Alternative Electoral Methods. Another one of our members brought forward a Proposition 13 Commercial Property Reform recommendation.
Steve Chessin on the right proposed a study of Alternative Electoral Methods
The Government Portfolio group voted to recommend a LWVC study on Voting Alternatives to Settle Voting Act Lawsuits, (including cumulative voting) as presented by Steve Chessin.
Another group voted to reccommend that the LWVC advocate for Proposition 13 Commercial Property Reform in order to promote greater equity and that it advocate for continued education about the harm of money in politics.
The three groups — Social Portfolio, Government Portfolio, and Natural Resources Portfolio — re-convened into the main assembly, where the members voted to retain all LWVC positions on government, natural resources, and social issues.
Members discuss issues at Program Planning 2015. Director-at-large Julie Cates on the right.
Consideration of Several New State Studies
The main assembly of our chapter considered studies on the following topics:
— Alternative Electoral Methods that can be used to settle California Voting Rights Act lawsuits (government)
— Death with Dignity (social)
— Kansas proposal on Minimum Livable Wage (social)
— Tax on Fossil Fuel Extraction (natural resources)
Our Vote to Recommend a New State Study
The main assembly of our chapter voted to recommend to LWVC a study on Alternative Electoral Methods that can be used to settle California Voting Rights Act lawsuits.
Member Abby Longcor with our chapter Director of the Government Portfolio, Kathy Zoglin. Sue Graham, VP of Programs, is in the back.
Consideration of Areas for State Advocacy Focus
For advocacy, the main assembly of our chapter considered:
–Fossil Fuel Extraction Tax
–Prop 13 Commercial Property Reform
–Drought Mitigation
–Money in Politics
Our LWVLAMV chapter has many men as members. Here from left to right Max Beckman-Harned, Lucas Ramirez, Ralph Kuiper
Our Vote to Recommend State Advocacy Focus
Our chapter voted and will ask LWVC to focus advocacy and education on, in order of highest to lowest priority, money in politics, Prop 13 commercial property reform, and a fossil fuel extraction tax.
We were asked to provide names of members willing to work on these issues:
Money in Politics – Katie Zoglin, Julie Cates
Prop Commercial Property Reform – Dianne Gershuny
Fossil Fuel Extraction Tax –Terry Terman
If you want to join the effort to work on one or more of these issues, please contact the above members. They are listed in your member directory.
Next Year
In January 2016 we will be contributing to program planning for LWVUS, the national league. State programs vs. national programs are considered every other year. But when it comes to local positions, local advocacy programs and local education programs, we consider those every year.
Members help themselves to a buffet lunch at 2015 Program Planning
And then there is Lunch
Members stayed after the meeting to enjoy the traditional soup lunch and tasty desserts prepared by the board and other volunteers.
Bruce Barton: Editor-in-Chief, Los Altos Town Crier Andrea Gemmet: Editor, Mountain View Voice
Our February 2015 Lunch with The League, titled “Local Reporters, Local Cities”, will feature Bruce Barton (Editor-in-Chief of the Los Altos Town Crier) and Andrea Gemmet (Editor of the Mountain View Voice). Both are Bay Area natives and have been engaged in regional newspapers in their professional careers. Our program will feature the current events, new city councils, and the roles of the the papers and their publics in influencing the natures of their respective communities.
Bruce Barton has practiced community journalism since 1984, when he received his bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University with a concentration in reporting and editing. He has worked at eight different newspaper organizations, including the Los Altos Town Crier. He joined the Town Crier in 1993 after five years at daily publications, one of which was the ill-fated Peninsula Times Tribune. Bruce served first as copyeditor and then as assistant lifestyle editor at the Times Tribune until 1992. The paper closed down in March 1993. After the Times Tribune, Bruce spent a year on the copy desk of Dean Singleton’s Alameda Newspaper Group.
Andrea Gemmet joined the Mountain View Voice in 2010 as the newspaper’s managing editor after a brief three-week stint as its heath and education reporter. She was named editor of the Voice in July 2014, following the retirement of editor and publisher Tom Gibboney. Born and raised in Redwood City, her journalism career started in high school, with an after-school job at the Redwood City Tribune and a job as the Woodside High School correspondent for the Redwood City Weekly News.
Location & Time
Ristorante Bella Vita 376 First Street, Los Altos Feb 20th, 11:30am to 1pm
Reserve Offline
Cost is $27 per person. If you don’t wish to RSVP and pay online, you can RSVP by phone or email with Ellyn Corey at 650-559-1828 by February 18th with your choice of entree (Chicken with Vegetables or Vegetarian Ravioli). Bring your payment check with you on February 20. We look forward to seeing you there! Bring a friend.
MAP • Ristorante Bella Vita • 376 First Street, Los Altos
The paperwork has finally been completed…the League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area is now a 501(c)3 non-profit…meaning that all dues and contributions you make to us are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law!
Director – District 2, Santa Clara Valley Water District
Our January 2015 Lunch with The League, titled “Water Supply, Drought and the Santa Clara Valley Water District”, will feature Barbara Keegan, District 2 director for the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
Barbara Keegan first moved to San Jose in 1975 and has lived in District 2 for most of her life. Barbara and her husband Tom currently reside in Willow Glen. Barbara is a third generation Civil Engineer and has lived in Canada, Ireland, the United States, and Brazil. She attended San Jose State University where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering. Barbara is a licensed Civil Engineer. She was formerly the City Engineer/Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Sunnyvale. Barbara represented Sunnyvale on the Cities/County/Water District collaborative that dealt with land use authority adjacent to streams.
Location & Time
Ristorante Bella Vita 376 First Street, Los Altos Jan 16th, 11:30am to 1pm
Reserve Offline
Cost is $27 per person. If you don’t wish to RSVP and pay online, you can RSVP by phone or email with Ellyn Corey at 650-559-1828 by January 14 with your choice of entree (Chicken Saltimbocca or Vegetable Risotto). Bring your payment check with you on January 16. We look forward to seeing you there! Bring a friend.
MAP • Ristorante Bella Vita • 376 First Street, Los Altos
Join us for our Annual Business Meeting!
