League Leaders’ Letters

From Martha Goralka, LWVDV Co-President

I’m writing this on the 98th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution granting women the right to vote.  It is also the day after John McCain’s death and a couple of weeks after the loss of Aretha Franklin.  This is a great time to rededicate ourselves to those high causes the women and men who came before us struggled so hard to bring to fruition.

The Diablo Valley League has committed all of our resources this fall to making democracy work.  We have scheduled dozens of candidate roundtables and forums (and are searching vigorously for the moderators and timers we need in order to staff these many events). We are training voter registrars  (see photo, left, of a recent training at the LWVDV office) and have an extensive plan to deliver voter registration forms throughout our large county as well as conduct dozens of in-person registration initiatives. 

Kay James and Janet Thomas are working vigorously to schedule, staff and prepare scripts for our Pros & Cons of Ballot Issues presentations.

Marian Shostrom, with the assistance of Tiffany Martin, has been recruiting volunteers to contact candidates to participate in “Voter’s Edge” the free voter education website available to all candidates for public office for this November’s election.

Many of you have committed yourself to the League to spend hour upon hour to make democracy work.  As you spread yourself thin – take those moments to reflect on the importance of your efforts.  When I was a little girl, my grandfather would take us to visit all the family and family friend graves on Memorial Day.  He would point out that we shouldn’t honor only those who gave their last ounce during battle – but also those who gave their last ounce of courage doing the day-to-day necessary activities to keep our country safe through voting rights and civic engagement.   So stop and celebrate each newly registered voter and each candidate who shares a unique perspective.  Your efforts are so very appreciated and so crucial to making democracy work.

From Suzan Requa, LWVDV Co-President

It is awesome to learn of Martha’s family history of activism and strong commitment to democratic process and values.

We are working to feel proud of our democracy again, and this election and full participation in activities to promote voter registration and voter mobilization are in full bloom.  Martha has described them so well.  If you want to join in, call the League office and volunteer in any capacity that interests you. If you’d like suggestions or training, use the resources in this Voter or come to our September 6 meeting.

If you prefer individual effort, would you share information with neighbors and family wherever they live in California?  Do you know about online county Voter Registration options? Do you know about the California League’s online resource Voter’s Edge California or the Easy Voter Guide election information available online and at county libraries? If not, check into those resources to help you to get prepared for the selection of candidates and measures on the ballot. 

If you’re familiar with those online tools, you can individually share the websites and how they help voters through your local Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.  We will be providing those county and LWVC website URLs on our LWVDV website and Facebook and Twitter in the coming weeks.

If we can stimulate voter registration and include methods to be prepared to vote that result in voter incentive to VOTE and thus increase voter turnout, we will have made great strides in a return to faith in our democracy.

Join in.  Let friends, family and acquaintances know that THEIR VOTE MATTERS.

Yours in League,

Suzan