The Great American Write In Was Held on March 14

by Anne Stone

The Great American Write-In, started in 1986 by Women For: Orange County, and is now sponsored by the Orange County affiliate of the National Organization of Women: OC Now.

As we have for the past several years, LWV Orange Coast, with the LWV North Orange County, participated along with around 60 other organizations.  The focus of each organization was to bring whatever issues that are important to them to the awareness of our local, State or Federal representatives.

With the SAVE Act still looming in the Senate, LWVOC and LWVNOC decided to focus on our Federal Representatives.  Our postcards either thanked them for voting against, and fighting to keep the SAVE Act from becoming law, or expressing our deep disappointment that they supported the SAVE Act.  We also had a postcard thanking the Orange County ROV for standing up and protecting our voter information from Federal demands to release that information.

This year, to encourage more youth to become aware of GAWI, local teachers were encouraged to give their students extra credit for attending the event.  In addition, an award of a $100 check went to the teacher who sent the most students.  We spoke with several students about the LWV and gave them information to share with other students and their families.

If you have gone to the GAWI in the past, or have never gone, put the second Saturday in March on your calendar.  Get involved with us helping with the table, creating the postcards, or simply attending to learn about the amazing array of nonprofit organizations here in Orange County.