 |
League of Women Voters of Butte County Board Meeting Minutes January 12, 2021 5:30 pm, via Zoom
|
Members Present: Mahalley Allen, Debra Barger, Roxanne Ferry, Sandra Flake, Lori Fuentes, Claire Greene, Patty Haley, Maureen Kirk, Toni Reid, and Satsie Veith
- 1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 5:30 pm.
2. Approve Meeting Minutes
The December meeting minutes were approved.
3. Midyear Budget to Actuals
Treasurer Sandra Flake updated board members on the budget to actuals for July through December 2020. The budget sheet does not include the Annual Week of Giving donations, which were deposited last week but are in the North Valley Community Foundation LWVBC education account. We have not received payment from the Butte County Registrar of Voters for voter service activities.
4. Membership Renewal Follow-Up Calls
The LWV census is the end of January. Lori and Patty volunteered to help Roxanne, who will develop a script, make follow-up calls to members still needing to renew their membership. Roxanne and Sandra discussed issues related to getting members to renew, such as the need for separate emails for new members.
5. North Valley Community Foundation Week of Giving Results/Debrief
The LWVBC had our best results ever for this type of event, receiving a little over $2,100 in donations from the 2020 North Valley Community Foundation Week of Giving fundraising event. The LWVBC was the recipient of two incentive awards from the North Valley Community Foundation, a $500 award and a $2000 award for the most number of unique donors. LWVBC recently received the donor list, and Debra and Roxanne are writing thank you notes.
6. Local Advocacy and LWVUS Positions/Impeachment
The National LWV sent information about recent political events, directing local league chapters to:
“a. For state Leagues with Senators or Representatives objecting to the process and challenging election results, we recommend Leagues do not single out any individual lawmakers but instead call on ALL your state’s members of Congress (House of Representatives and Senators) to certify the electoral results.
b. Leagues may also choose not to message about this and stick with simply elevating the national message.
c. LWVUS is connecting directly with states whose election results are being challenged.
d. LWVUS is preparing rapid response messages to counter disinformation and will be prepared to respond to any violence in Washington, D.C., should it occur in the coming days.”
The LWVUS has called for the immediate removal and impeachment of President Donald Trump. The LWV of California sent a message that “The League of Women Voters nonpartisan policy says that League does not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. The League mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. Defending democracy includes pointing out and criticizing the conduct of an elected official if necessary.”
Board members discussed (1) sharing the LWVUS’s statement calling for the impeachment and removal of Donald Trump and (2) whether the LWVBC should make a statement about Representative LaMalfa’s votes against certifying the Electoral College vote counts.
Motion:
Toni moved and Satsie seconded a motion to re-post the LWVUS statement calling for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion:
Maureen moved and Satsie seconded a motion to proceed with drafting a statement condemning Representative LaMalfa’s efforts to disenfranchise voters, threaten democracy, and interfere with the democratic process. Motion passed unanimously.
Toni, Sandra, Claire, and Mahalley will work on a statement about Representative LaMalfa’s recent actions. Plans for distribution include sharing the statement on social media and the LWVBC website, sending a letter to the editor of the Chico Enterprise Record, and sending the statement directly to Representative LaMalfa.
Once a statement is drafted, Debra will share it with Carol Moon Goldberg, president of the LWVC, for feedback. Debra will reach out to other local California leagues in districts where their representatives also voted against certifying the Electoral College votes to ask about their plans to make similar statements.
7. Program Planning
On Wednesday, January 27th, from 6:30-8 pm, LWVBC will host a virtual preliminary position planning meeting. On Wednesday, February 24th from 6:30-8 pm, LWVBC will host a second/final virtual position planning meeting. Board members will lead break-out discussions about LWVBC positions:
Satsie and Toni– Water Resources of Butte County position
Sandra and Maureen – Housing (and homelessness) position
Mahalley – Juvenile Justice position
Roxanne and Patty – Energy position
Claire and Lori – Government and Redistricting position
Debra – Health Care Delivery position
Board members can find a list of local California leagues at: https://lwvc.org/about/local-leagues
8. January to June Schedule of Activities
January 27th, 6:30-8 pm – Preliminary Position Planning Meeting
February 24th, 6:30-8 pm – Second/Final Position Planning Meeting
February Date TBD - The Role of Journalism in Preserving Democracy program
March Date TBD - Sunshine Week program
April 10, 2021, 10 am – Biomass Potential program
May – LWVBC annual business meeting
June – LWVC state convention
9. Certificates of Appreciation from Candance Grubbs for November 3rd Election
Candace Grubbs sent certificates of appreciation to distribute to LWVBC volunteers, acknowledging their work at voting centers.
10. Other Business/Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 7:19 pm.