LWVSpring2012Newsletter

featureSusanLerner,theExecutive DirectorofCommonCause,whowill discusscampaignfinancereformand thestatusofredistrictinginNew York. CandidatesForumsforcontested schooltrusteeelectionsare scheduled(checkUpcomingEvents fordetails);ElectionDayisTuesday, May15. OurSpringCocktailParty,Cocktails withDistrictAttorneyDiFioriis scheduledforSunday,May6.Janet DiFiorewilljoinusforinformal conversationandadiscussionthat willincludeherworkaschairofthe JointCommissiononPublicEthics. Asalways,yourparticipation,input andsupportarevitaltotheabilityof ourLeaguetoberelevantandof servicetoourcommunity.Weare lookingforwardtoseeingyou. DebbieReisner,President TomKissner,Editor

UPCOMINGEVENTS
StudentsInsideAlbanyConference March2528,Albany,NY ToolsforChangeStudentsPresentation RyeTownHall,10PearlStreet,Port Chester,Tuesday,April17,8:00PM

PresidentsMessage
Wehaveafullspringprogram planned. OnThursday,April26,ournextIssue Forumwillzeroinonthevexing challengeofunfundedmandates. Thisprogramisafollowuptoour2% TaxCapForumheldlastspringin whichallofourpanelistsagreedthat thispolicyinnovationwouldbea disasterifitwerenotcoupledwith relieffromtheunfundedmandates imposedbythestatelegislatureon ourschoolandmunicipalbudgets. OurSIAscholarswereannounced lastmonthandinMarchthreehigh schoolstudentsrepresentedour chapterataconferenceofstudent leadersheldannuallyintheState Capitolwheretheyexperienced,first hand,thelegislativeprocessandthe peoplewhomakeithappen. Onpage3youwillreadaboutthe ToolsforChangeseminarweare cosponsoringinwhich24students fromRyeTownareexaminingthe impactofsocialmediaoncivic engagement.Pleaseconsiderjoining usatRyeTownHallat8:00pmon Tuesday,April17th,whenthe studentswillpresenttheirresearch. OnFriday,April27th,ourannual SoundShoreLeaguesLuncheonwill

Running&WinningWorkshop Forhighschoolgirls,515NorthStreet, WhitePlains,Tuesday,April17,8AM2PM IssueForumUnfundedStateMandates RyeMiddleSchool,MultiPurposeRoom, Thursday,April26,7:30PM SoundShoreLeaguesAnnualLuncheon OrientaBeachClub,Mamaroneck,Friday, April27,Noon. SpringCocktailParty CocktailswithDistrictAttorneyDiFiore, Sunday,May6.57PM,5Manursing Way,Rye SchoolBoardCandidatesForums, ifContestedElections RyeNeckMonday,April30, 7:30PM,RNPerformingArtsCenter PortChesterTuesday,May1,7PM, Room#229ofPortChesterHS BlindBrookHighSchoolAuditorium, Thursday,May1,8:00PM RyeCityWednesday,May2, 7:30PM,MiddleSchoolMultipurpose Room SchoolBoardElectionandBudgetVote Tuesday,May15

LWVIssueForum UnfundedStateMandates andMandateRelief

Whataretheimpactsof unfundedmandatesand what,ifanythingshouldor canbedone?

AnnualMeeting
Tentatively:Friday,June1,locationtobe determined.

RyeMiddleSchool,MultiPurpose Room,Thursday,April26,7:30PM

OnTuesday,April26,wewillbe sponsoringanIssueForumonthe controversialtopicofunfundedstate mandatesandmandaterelief.This importantandtimelyforumwill

addresssuchtopicsaswhatisa mandate?Whatdoes"unfunded" actuallymean?Whatarethe impactsoncountyandlocal communities,educationand taxpayers?WhatisAlbanydoing aboutunfundedmandatesandis thereanyreliefinsight? Ourdistinguishedpanelwillpresent abroadrangeofperspectives.This eventisdesignedtoimpartabetter understandingoftheissueandto facilitateanexchangeofideasfor potentiallegislativereliefand regulatoryreform. Panel: RobAstorino,Westchester CountyExecutive SandyGalef,NewYorkState Assemblywoman,District90 JoanFeinstein,Mayor, VillageofRyeBrook PeterMustich, Superintendent,RyeNeck SchoolDistrict StephenAcquario,Executive Director,NYAssociationof Counties HarryWilson,Advocatefor PensionReform

ToolsforChange StudentsToPresent FindingstoTownCouncil

Thecollegelevelseminarweareco sponsoringwiththeTownofRyeand BuildingCommunityBridges, enableshighschoolstudentsfrom BlindBrook,PortChesterandRye NeckHighSchoolstoworktogether asateamastheylearntoconduct researchontimelycivicissues.This yearsquestion:HowdoesSocial MediaimpactCivicEngagement? Theseminar,ledbyDr.WilliamTobin ofDukeUniversity,culminateswith studentpresentationsbeforetheRye TownCouncilonTuesday,April17, 8:00PM,RyeTownHall.

ThesessionwillbeheldattheYWCA WhitePlainsandCentral Westchester,515NorthStreet, WhitePlains.Volunteersareneeded tofacilitateactivities8a.m.to2 p.m.Aonehourtrainingsessionwill takeplaceonApril13th.League membersinterestedinparticipating shouldemailCherylFeldmanat cfeld10284@aol.com.

SoundShoreArea LeaguestoAddress CampaignFinanceat AnnualSpringLuncheon onFriday,April27

LeagueofWomenVoters supportingRunningand WinningProgram

OnTuesday,April17,2012,the LeagueofWomenVotersof WestchesterCountyandtheYWCA ofWhitePlains&Central Westchesterwillcohostaunique workshopprogramforyoungwomen entitledRunning&Winning.The programisdesignedtoprovide womeninhighschoolwiththe opportunitytoexplorepublicservice asacareer.Theworkshopwillbring togetherstudentsfromWestchester Countyhighschoolsforanactive politicalexperience.Workinginsmall groups,thestudentswillinterview localfemaleelectedofficialsand learnabouttheofficialsexperiences inseekingandholdingpublic office.Toprovidepractical application,thestudentswilldesign acampaignsloganandwriteand deliverameaningfulcampaign speechonanissueselectedbythe League.MadeleineKunin,thefirst womangovernorofVermont,willbe thekeynotespeaker.

Thetimelyissueofcampaignfinance inthemidstofthisPresidential electionyearisthefocusofthe LeagueofWomenVotersannual luncheonatnoononFriday,April 27thattheOrientaBeachClubin Mamaroneck. SusanLerner,ExecutiveDirectorof CommonCauseNY,willtacklethe controversialtopic:Moneyin PoliticsCanAmericansBeatthe OddsandEstablishFairnessin CampaignFinance?attheluncheon thatiscosponsoredbytheLWV chaptersofLarchmontMamaroneck, NewRochelle andRye,Rye Brook&Port Chester. Theeventis opentothe public.Tomakeareservation,please mailacheckfor$45payabletoLWV Larchmont/MamaronecktoLWV,PO Box811,Larchmont,NY10538.

Ourobjectiveistogetbeyondthe rhetoricandfacilitateaninformative dialoguebetweenpanelistsand membersoftheaudience.Cometo reallyunderstandwhatunfunded statemandatesareallaboutand whatthegovernorandlegislature areorshouldbedoingintermsof modificationorrepeal. TheIssueForumwillbeheldon Tuesday,April26,7:30pm,inthe RyeMiddleSchoolMultiPurpose Room,3ParsonsStreet,Rye,NY.The publicisinvitedandthereisno admissioncharge.Studentsare welcome.

DontForgettoVoteonMay15. ElectionofSchoolBoardCandidates andSchoolBudgetsApproval

Nee eded:Mem mberstoSt taff Trus steeCandi idateForums

CandidatesForums swillbeheldfo or ontestedelectionsthisSpring g.If allco youw wouldliketoh helpout,please conta actDebbieReisner(6987166 6) DaaR Reisner@gmail.com

getafirsthandeducationab g bout theirstategov t vernment.The eprogram isdesignedtoincreasehigh school i studentsawarenessoftheir s r responsibilityinrepresentat r tive governmentandprovideinf g formation abouttoolsne a ecessaryform eeting thatresponsib t bility.

Countyandthefederal lgovernment eHousingin forFairandAffordable ster. Westches Thepane elistsincludedFederalCourt appointe edMonitor,Jam mesE. Johnson;seniorreprese entativesof tchesterCount tyExecutives theWest officeand dPlanningDep partment; HUDsoff ficeFairHousi ingandEqual Opportun nity,theMayo orsofRye,Rye e BrookandPortChester r,and,a ousingunits. builderofaffordableho member,GaryZ Zuckerman Leaguem servedas sModerator. Allpaneli istsagreedtha atdespitethe oftencon ntentionnewsrhetoric, progresswasbeingma adetowardan eimplementationofthe amicable settlementagreement. .

Boa ardPositionsAvailab ble fort the20121 13Season

TheB Boardcurrently yhastwoseat ts open.Anyoneinte erested,please e conta actNominating gCommitteeC Chair GaryZuckermanat tzucom@aol.c com (914)9371817

Spri ingCocktailParty
Wes stchesterDAJanet DiFiorewilljoinusat thehomeofJoyce e andPaulRheingold,5 nursingWay,R Rye, Man Sunday,May6,5: :00 pm.S ssherworkas Shewilldiscus chairoftheJointCo ommissionon eisnocharget to PublicEthics.There nd.Voluntarydonationstoh help atten offset tthecostofth heeveningwillbe accep pted.

AnnabelGuttermanandLukeM A Murphy, RyeNeckHighS R SchoolwithNYS State AssemblymanG A GeorgeLatimer

Fundra aiserheldf for Studen ntOutreac ch Progra ams

Celebrati ionoftheChin neseNewYear r st wasthet themeoftheJanuary21 DimSumcocktailparty yfundraiserfor uesstudentoutreach theLeagu programs s.PeterandRo ozLarrwere mostgrac ciousinprovid dingtheir hometha atwasdecorat tedwith Chineseo objectsdart.P Plattersof Chinesed delicacieswere eservedas numerou uspoliticallead ders,members s andsupp portersoftheL League mingledf foragalaeven ning. Congress swomanNitaL Loweywasour r uest. specialgu

LaraCohen,Bl L lindBrookHig ghSchool

Loca alStudentsSelected dto Atte endStuden ntsInside Alba anyConference

Thre eestudents,La araCohen,aju unior
atBlindBrookHigh hSchool;andL Luke phyandAnnab belGutterman, Murp whob bothattendRy yeNeckHigh Schoo ol(andenteredasateam),w were select tedbytheLea agueforanall expen nsepaidtripto oAlbanytoat ttend thisy yearsStudents sInsideAlban ny (SIA)Conference.T TheConferenc ceis soredbytheLeagueofWom men spons Voter rsofNewYork kStateEducational Found dation.Thiste enthannualSIA A Confe erencetookplacefromMarc ch 2528 8,2012,andbr rought55stud dents fromacrossthesta atetoAlbanyto

Thestudentsw T wereselected bythe Rye,RyeBrook&PortChest R terLWV chapterthroug c ghacompetiti ive processdesign p nedtoassesst the studentsinter s rests,goalsan nd leadershipabilities.Thecom l mpetition wasopentost w tudentswholi iveor attendhighschoolsinRye,R a RyeNeck, BlindBrookan B ndPortCheste er.

LeagueSponsoredIs ssue ForumonFairand Affordable A eHousing

OnDecember6,beforeano O overflow audienceatth a heRyeFreeMe eeting Room,theLea R aguesponsore dan IssueForumin I ncludingapan elof stakeholdersinthesettlem s ment agreementbet a tweenWestch hester

DebbieR Reisner,Congre esswoman NitaLowey,andhostes ssRozLarr

LWVMEMBERSHIPAPPLICATION

LEAGUEOFWOMENVOTERSRYE,RYEBROOK&PORTCHESTER NAME________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________________________ CITY,STATE,ZIP________________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE____________________________EMAIL_________________________________________ SelectMembershipLevel:MakecheckspayabletoRye,RyeBrook&PortChesterLWV _____Individual$65_____Family$85_____Sponsor$125*_____Patron$250* TheLWVisa501(C)4advocacyorganization,membershipduesarenottaxdeductible. *Includesmembership.Moniesinexcessof$65Individualand$85FamilygototheLWVEducationalFoundation,a501 (C)3organization,andaretaxdeductible

RETURNAPPLICATIONWITHCHECKTO:LWVRYERBPC,POBox194,Rye,NY10580