February 2024 Highlights
Denise Mueller, Editor

“Democracy is based upon the conviction there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people."                                                                                                                                               -  Harry Emerson Fosdick

Coming Events – Save Your Seat!

• March 7, 5-7 pm—"Eat, Drink, Donate” kickoff for LWVDE’s DoMore24Delaware campaign at Iron Hill Brewery. Register on Eventbrite at this link.
• March 13, 10 am—Voter registration training. Lewes Library, Medium Meeting Room. Will include State Board of Election Voter Registration Training beginning at 11 AM via video. All who complete the training will receive a 2 year certificate from the State. Contact:
• March 18, 6-9 pm—“Defending Democracy: Then and Now,” a Get Out The Vote 2024 fundraiser for Sussex LWV, in partnership with the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. Includes reception, raffle items, short films, and a panel discussion. Cinema Arts Theater, Lewes. Tickets available now at https://www.rehobothfilm.com/coming-soon-film-guide.

President's Message – Martha Rothenberg

• Fundraising is essential to support 2024 Get Out The Vote (GOTV)—venues for candidate forums, print materials, and publicity pose significant costs.
• Election 2024 Planning: Core GOTV team met to work out next steps toward building a GOTV coalition to extend our reach and impact. Youth Vote and DEI in general are major focus—and challenge—of our GOTV campaign.
• State-Level Strategic Communications Planning: Team is discussing how best to use limited communications capabilities through collaboration and consolidation.

Communications – Chelsea Wootten

• Discussion of relationship between Tech Team and Communications Committee. Team created a flow chart documenting specific roles and responsibilities within the committee and how they all work together.
• Continued work on wallet insert cards – first draft complete; currently working on edits.
• Planning promotion of March 18 fundraiser at Cinema Arts Theater.

Membership – Sue Claire Harper

• Feb. 5 meeting held to plan for Feb. 13 League, Libations and Learning (LLL) event featuring Amy Grace as speaker.
• Virden Center, Lewes, added to spreadsheet of Sussex meeting venues.
• $15 dues discount used by 11 new and 8 renewing members.
• January 17 LLL luncheon featuring speaker Ruth Briggs King: 46 people (approximately 20 non-members) attended at Cottage Cafe, Bethany Beach.
• February 13 LLL luncheon featuring speaker Amy Grace at Iron Hill Brewery was sold out (50 seats).
• 2023 End of Year Membership Roster Report (January 31) indicates final membership count: 127 members with 110 primary, 15 additional, one student and one life member.
• Next Membership Committee Meeting will be March 1, 3:30-5:30 PM, to evaluate Feb. LLL and plan April LLL Dinner Event.

Observer Corps – Jack Young

Observer Corps has attended all three Council meetings held in January, as well as one meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Significant issues before the County Council include:

• Revisions of buffer and forest preservation ordinances associated with approval of developments. County Administrator has proposed over 39 action items for consideration relating to perimeter buffers, forest preservation, open spaces, interconnectivity between developments, and related updates of the County Code. LWVSCDE is working with Sussex Preservation Coalition (SPC) on these issues.
• Approval of solar arrays (farms) in general and in agricultural/residential zones, and the need for ordinance to govern their consideration.
• Continuation of the reassessment process now scheduled to be complete in Nov. 2024 with final notices going out in Feb. 2025.

Social Policy – Cristi Gillean

• Homelessness/affordable housing: Sussex County/Milford City presentation on Jan. 22, 2024, discussed workforce housing needs and importance of local zoning to support additional housing.
• Update on early childhood issues (Vision Coalition Town Hall), impact of social media on children and teens. Attorney General Jennings and the State of Delaware joined other states in suing Meta for damages to youth.
• Letter to editor will be written by Jane Lord supporting attendance at the Vision Coalition Town Hall in Georgetown.
• Health care access and availability in Sussex County (Bebee and BayHealth update).

Voter Services Committee – Judy Parkins

• Voter registration training will be held on Wed. March 13 at 10 AM at the Lewes Library, Medium Meeting Room, and will include the State Board of Election VR Training which will begin at 11 AM via video. All who complete the training will receive a 2-year certificate from the State.
• Rehoboth Village Improvement Association members will work with Sussex LWV on voter registration.
• High school voter registration program and goals for 2024: Lyn Brown reviewed the assignments/timeline and the need for additional volunteers. Volunteers spend about 2 hrs. at each school.