Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. | | The official newsletter of the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County.
Vol 65 | Issue 5 | Date: June 1, 2023 | | | LWVC CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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Power & Possibility
Highlights from the 2023 LWVC Convention | |
The 2023 League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) Convention was held in San Francisco the weekend of May 19th to 21st. Approximately 200 delegates – League board and staff, local League representatives, and guests – attended. The SLO County League was represented by Treasurer and Communications Chair Janice Langley, 2nd Vice-President Ed Cabrera, and President Cindy Marie Absey. The Convention theme, “Power & Possibility”, connected the events, which included the League’s biennial business meeting, plus several inspiring speakers and an awards ceremony.
Featured events included a panel discussion on “Driving Impact: The Importance of Collaboration". Four political activists with a wide range of backgrounds and experience discussed the importance of working with diverse groups toward common goals in criminal justice reform. LWVSLOCO 2nd VP Ed Cabrera noted “A theme that persisted throughout the convention was collaboration – fostering sharing among delegates, to develop strategies and maximize resources by joining forces on common goals.”
Speakers included UC Berkeley Professor Lisa Garcia Bedolla and Cathy Darling Allen, County Clerk and Registrar of Voters in Shasta County, who riveted the audience describing the challenges they face in her county following a board of supervisors’ decision to change to hand counting ballots.
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 *** We won an award!! ***
During the Convention’s Award ceremony, the San Luis Obispo County League was honored with the 2023 “Leaning into League Power Award” for our effective promotion of the League’s mission and work through activism and education by mobilizing members and influencing public opinion to ensure fairly redistricted representation. Read more about the award here. |
At the end of the action-packed weekend LWVSLOCO President Absey concluded “Conducting LWVC business, the speakers and workshops, and connecting with other League members, all were instructive and inspiring in equal measure. We left knowing that our time at the 2023 LWVC Convention was time well spent.”
We encourage everyone to read a full report of convention activities and guest speakers here. | BIENNIAL MEMBER MEETING & LUNCHEON
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Don't miss the June 10 Biennial Member Meeting & Luncheon
Where: In person at the Madonna Inn
or attend virtually on Zoom
When: June 10 at 10 am
***Registration ends on June 3***
| | | Meeting highlights:
➤ Listen to keynote speaker: Dawn Addis, Assemblymember, CA District 30
➤ Socialize with fellow League members
➤ Enjoy a delicious Madonna Inn sandwich & salad buffet luncheon ($40)
➤ 25th Anniversary Presentation to the Community Foundation of SLO County
➤ Vote on the League's priority issues, biennial budget and elect League officers and board members
| LUNCH WITH THE LEAGUE WEBINAR
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What Is "Affordable" Housing and How Do We Get It?
June 5 at noon on Zoom |  |
Learn why it is so difficult to build affordable housing in Coastal California. This webinar, the second in a series of 4 webinars on affordable housing, will discuss this complicated and seemingly intractable issue. Register here to attend.
High land costs are part of the problem. Despite the many policies and programs in place to build more affordable housing, there is still not enough of it. The expert presenters for this webinar are among the community leaders seeking to make affordable housing a reality. They will describe how the current system is designed and how it works in practice.
What: What is “Affordable” Housing and How Do We Get It?
When: Monday, June 5 at noon
Where: on Zoom, registration required
Moderator: Shelly Higginbotham, Board Chair, Peoples’ Self Help Housing
Panelists:
James Worthley, Planning Director, SLO Council of Governments
Teresa McClish, Housing Policy and Program Manager, SLO City
Scott Collins, Executive Director, Housing Authority of SLO
Stephen Peck, President, Peck Planning and Development
Register here
| TEST YOUR CIVICS KNOWLEDGE
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Verify It! The Premier Civics, Voting, News Literacy Game
Reaching younger voters with accurate information on voting & citizenship | |
• Do you know enough civics to pass the U.S. Citizenship test?
• Do you know how to register/pre-register to vote and vote in your State?
• Do you know how to spot disinformation online?
| The LWV of Alameda Youth Services Committee has created VerifyIt!, an online, single-player game designed to help young voters and voters-to-be evaluate the accuracy and bias of the news media they read, hear, and share, and to help them understand and exercise their voting rights in California and be better informed citizens. VerifyIt! was developed to address media literacy, citizenship, and voting knowledge and to encourage civic engagement.
The competitive game can be played by a single player or accommodate competition among large groups in remote settings. Most importantly, the questions are written by League members and student volunteers and the answers are supported by factual, up-to-date information. Questions are regularly refreshed to keep the game timely. The game is available statewide with plans to share with Leagues throughout the country in the near future. Learn more, play the game here!
| HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REGISTRATION |
 The Voter Service subcommittee charged with registering high school students completed its latest campaign with a visit to San Luis Obispo High on May 25. The team of Betsy Gaudette-Cross, Maureen Cormier and Ed Cabrera welcomed 40 new voters to the rolls.
They shared a presentation introducing the students to the League and its mission to protect voter rights, the evolution of voter rights in our country’s history, and the responsibilities of voters. Most importantly, they guided the pupils in the completion of their voter registration forms.
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Our visit coincided with the instructor, Jim Johnson’s, final year of teaching. He invited the LWV team into his classroom to join him in celebrating a notable 33 year teaching career. Partnerships with local teachers like Mr. Johnson have been instrumental to the success of the League’s program to register young voters.
Beginning with the next school year, the subcommittee will be headed by Betsy Gaudette-Cross who is inheriting the program from long-time leader, Julie Rodewald.
| LUNCH WITH THE LEAGUE WEBINAR REPLAYS | | Why Should YOU Care
about Affordable Housing?
Watch a replay of the webinar here. | | The Promise and Challenges
of Offshore Wind Power Generation
Watch a replay of the webinar here. | | | UPCOMING EVENTS & WEBINARS | Central Coast Pride Celebration
Friday, June 2 - Sunday, June 4
| | Burlesque & Drag Show
Friday, June 2, 7 pm - 10 pm
Fremont Theatre | 18+ event
Pridefest
Saturday, June 3, 10 am - 5 pm
Laguna Lake Park, SLO
Pride in the Plaza
Family Stone | Free Concert
Sunday, June 4, 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Mission Plaza, SLO
Find more information on all Central Coast Pride events at SLO Pride Fest. | | | Juneteenth SLO - June 17 & 19, 2023
Theme: Human Liberation Now!
| | Saturday, June 17, 11 am – 5 pm
Mission Plaza, 980 Palm Street, SLO
• Speakers
• Musical Performances
• Resource Fair
• Silent auction and Bake Sale
• Soul food dinner
Freedom Lounge - Black History and Cultural Display at the SLO County History Center, 646 Monterey St, SLO | | | Monday, June 19, 3 pm – 6 pm
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2201 Lawton Ave (corner of Broad/Lawton), SLO
Private screening and panel discussion of the inspirational film “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.”
Find more information about these events here.
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Join YIMBY in honor of Juneteenth!
June 15 at 4 pm on Zoom | | This year in honor of Juneteenth, YIMBY is convening a panel of housing advocates from across the country to discuss the national housing crisis, the historic and present day impact on Black communities, and solutions that improve outcomes for Black Americans. Hear from Black housing activists about their work in the fight for housing, and solutions that address systemic inequity in Black communities. | | | Thursday, June 15, 4 pm on Zoom. Find more information and register here. | Equity & Access to Literacy: Getting more books to children!
A collaboration between The Monday Club Raising A Reader Committee & the SLO Food Bank.
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Help make a difference in the lives of young readers.
Donate new and gently used English and Spanish books for infants through age 12, including board books and paperbacks. Clean out your bookcases or buy a few new books and bring them on the one of the dates below!
Book drop off dates:
Monday, June 12 & Monday, June 26, 2 - 5 pm
Drop off location: The Monday Club, 1815 Monterey Street, SLO
Donated books will be distributed in our Wagons of Books, at SLO Food Bank sites, and through Raising A Reader events throughout San Luis Obispo County.
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League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to people 16 years and older, of all gender identities. With over 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations.
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