National Voter articles from February 2008

National Voter archives from February 2008

Has the "civil" disappeared from our civil society?(OUT FRONT)
February 1, 2008... Even those of us considered members of the Baby Boom generation remember the days when election campaigns, federal and state legislative proceedings, and certainly, "affairs of State" were conducted in a manner that could be described...

Happy new year!(NEWS FROM M STREET)
February 1, 2008... We are starting this 2008 presidential election year with tremendous energy and lots of election-related activities. Also, we continue our work on many other projects and issues. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As usual, I'll highlight here...

Meet the staff.(NEWS FROM M STREET)
February 1, 2008... We are pleased to introduce five new staff members: Julianne Minar, Tim O'Brien, Allison O'Flinn, Brook Thompson and Christina Vamvas. Four of them fill vacated positions; Tim's position is grant-funded. Julianne Minar, Membership/Field...

Communications.(NEWS FROM M STREET)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The communications department is geared up for the 2008 elections--getting the word out about League projects, promoting VOTE411.org, and communicating with voters, the media and the LWV community about our election reform efforts. To make...

Members can update their information online.(MEMBERSHIP/FIELD SUPPORT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... In response to requests, we've upgraded the LWVUS database and Web site. Now, individual members can update their profiles in the League's online database; go to the "Login" section (top right side of homepage) of www.lwv.org. Members can...

League Basics (formerly In League) now available online.(MEMBERSHIP/FIELD SUPPORT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The LWVUS has streamlined our basic operating publication (formerly In League) into a new online document, League Basics (at www.lwv.org). This publication is an essential tool to help League leaders understand the basic aspects of running the...

Lead--and learn--at the League!(MEMBERSHIP/FIELD SUPPORT)(League of Women Voters)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... As part of phase two of the Membership Recruitment Inititiative, the LWVUS conducted field training throughout the fall. The sessions focused on tactics for capacity building and community outreach. Leagues from 14 states participated and began...

Federal health coverage programs: building blocks for coverage of the uninsured.(Cover story)
February 1, 2008... As the 2008 presidential campaign gears up, health care reform is ranked just below Iraq as a public priority. Thus, it has become a top issue for candidates to address. Filling the gaps in coverage that leave millions uninsured, constraining...

A fair, impartial and independent judiciary: judicial independence does not just happen all by itself. It is tremendously hard to create, and easier than most people imagine to destroy.
February 1, 2008... For more than 85 years, the League of Women Voters has been helping to support our democracy through citizen education. This is an important mission and one I wholeheartedly support. When a national survey finds that more American teenagers can...

Compliance with the NVRA: not optional.(National Voter Registration Act)
February 1, 2008... Compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) could help up to 2.5 million additional low-income Americans register to vote. Right now, litigation and special complaints are pending in several states. For example, in Ohio,...

Hill Bulletin.(Capitol Hill)
February 1, 2008... Having worked into late December, members of Congress return this month to urgent unfinished legislation, including many of the League's priorities. Because The National Voter is published just three times yearly, we strongly urge you to...

Voter outreach and education.(EDUCATION FUND)
February 1, 2008... The LWVEF has been hard at work on Election 2008 activities as follows: VOTE411.org remains a top site for election information. It's been updated to show all primary election dates and registration deadlines for 2008. People can continue...

Election reform.(EDUCATION FUND)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Phase II of the Public Advocacy for Voter Protection Project (PAVP) is moving full steam ahead. It focuses on approaches to five specific issues threatening the voting rights of citizens nationwide: (1) oppose ID and documentary proof of...

Fair and independent judiciary.(EDUCATION FUND)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The League has received two additional years of funding for Safeguarding U.S. Democracy: Promoting an Independent Judiciary by Defending the U.S. Constitution (Sept. 2007-Aug. 2009) from the Open Society Institute. Proposals from Leagues for...

Global democracy.(EDUCATION FUND)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The LWVs of Baltimore County (MD) and Southwest Missouri (MO) were selected (from six submitted proposals) to host ten visitors from different areas in Azerbaijan in April 2008. The theme is accountability and elections. The League will be...

Going green and cutting postage costs ...(LEAGUE MATTERS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The National Voter has sent a survey to all subscribers with e-mail addresses asking if they would accept electronic delivery in place of a hard copy. We are asking for "definitely yes" and "interested" responses; we assume that no response...

Advocacy.(LEAGUE MATTERS)
February 1, 2008... Leading up to the end of the calendar year, LWVUS President Mary Wilson, the LWVUS Advocacy staff and the Lobby Corps worked with the Congress on priorities set by the LWVUS Board. After a remarkably successful legislative campaign to...

League of woman voters of the United States: 48th National Convention--reaching new heights together.
February 1, 2008... The LWVUS invites all members to join fellow Leaguers from 50 states, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hong Kong to celebrate 88 remarkable years of League achievements and chart the course for the next biennium of League programs. The...

A major victory.(SOUNDING OFF)
February 1, 2008... In August 2007, Congress passed landmark lobbying and ethics reforms, hailed as the most important such reforms since the Watergate era. The reforms, in response to the corruption scandals revealed in the last Congress, represent a major...