NWMC Board Meeting, Monday, Nov. 7, 2023 on Zoom at 3pm

Education Meeting, In-person, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 at UU Church at 10am

Book Club Meeting, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 by Zoom at 3pm 

For links, contact Judy Moor, Communications Chair at jmoor628@gmail.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE NWMC MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

CALLING ALL INTERESTED MEMBERS

Hello everyone!
Well, this is my fifth and final year as your Membership Chair. It has been a great experience and it is the best way to get to know all of your fellow members! Up until now, I have been a committee of one. I would love to see several members out there join together to form a “Membership Team”. Each of you can decide how to divide up the various tasks that are involved. (The larger the team, the less responsibilities!) This is the perfect time for a team with new ideas on how to attract new members, and what to do to encourage participation and continuing enthusiasm among our existing members.
Please contact me ASAP if you are interested in becoming a team member. I am available now to train the team to take over at the end of my term in April. Working and learning together now will be the best way for you to prepare for the coming year.
Please contact me by phone, text, or email and we can start to build your team!
Susie Bowman, Membership Chair
469-371-1959
susiebo74@gmail.com

ARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACCESS CAMPAIGN AND LEAGUE INVOLVEMENT

About the Campaign

Arizona for Abortion Access is a coalition of reproductive health rights and justice organizations working to ensure Arizonans can make the decisions that are best for them and their families — free from government interference.  This proposed ballot initiative, if passed in November 2024, would amend the Arizona Constitution to add a right to abortion thus protecting abortion access in AZ.  See these two websites for more information:

Arizona for Abortion Access Website  

Petition I-05-2024 Arizona Abortion Access Act

The League’s Role

The League of Women Voters of Arizona has committed to obtaining a minimum of 10,000 signatures supporting the Arizona for Abortion Access ballot measure. The deadline for submitting signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State is July 3, 2024. The League petitions are identified by numbers within a range. For the League to get credit for the signatures, we urge our members to seek out a League location (see below) and sign our petitions.

Learn More About Circulating Petitions

To get an idea about what is involved as a circulator, access the AZ Secretary of State website:  SOS Circulator Portal and Arizona Petition Circulator Training Guide

Distributing and Collecting Petitions 

How to Get Training as a Volunteer

Lunch and Learn training for petition signature gatherers.  Choose from these two dates:

Thursday, Nov 2, 1-2 pm   Please REGISTER HERE in advance.  

Thursday, Nov 9,  1- 2pm Please REGISTER HERE in advance.  

We know our members are eager to start this critical project, so you must raise your hand to volunteer for the roles described above so we can be efficient and successful! Complete this SHORT SURVEY and let us know how you want to help. Thank you for your continued support. 

VETERANS STAND FOR DEMOCRACY CONVENING

Monday-Tuesday, Nov 13-14  @ Noon

Please join us at the Veterans Stand for Democracy event Nov 13 and 14. Event is free to the public. Register here.  LWV Arizona is partnering with Veterans for American Ideals.  If you have members who are currently veterans or family members, please urge them to attend this event. It is open to all.  

Attend a school board meeting in NOVEMBER

Agua Fria Union HS Wednesday, 11/15 @ 5:30 pm,  1481 N. Eliseo Felix Jr. Way, Avondale

Avondale Elementary Tuesday, 11/14 @ 5:30pm, 295 W Western Ave, Avondale

Buckeye Elementary Monday, 11/6 @ 5:30pm, 25555 W. Durango Street, Buckeye

Buckeye Union HS  Monday, 11/13 @ 6:30 pm, 902 East Eason Avenue, Buckeye

Deer Valley Unified Tuesday, 11/14 & 11/28 @ 7pm, 20402 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Dysart Unified Thursday, 11/16 @ 6pm 15802 N Parkview Pl, Surprise

Glendale Elementary Thursday, 11/16 @ 5:30pm, 7301 North 58th Avenue, Glendale
Glendale HS Wednesday, 11/1 & 11/15, 7650 N 43rd Avenue, Glendale

Litchfield Elementary Tuesday, 11/14 @ 6pm, 255 E. Wigwam Blvd, Litchfield Park

Morristown Elementary Monday, 11/13 @ 5:30pm, 25950 W Rockaway Hills Rd, Morristown

Nadaburg Unified Wednesday, 11/08, Mountainside High School (Hybrid) 
Peoria Unified Thursday, 11/16 @ 6pm, 6330 West Thunderbird Road, Glendale

Tolleson Elementary Tuesday, 11/1 @ 6pm, 9401 W. Garfield Tolleson
Tolleson HS Tuesday, 11/14 @ 6pm, 9801 W. Van Buren Street Tolleson

NOVEMBER MEMBER MEETING - NWMC EDUCATION TEAM 

SATURDAY, NOV 18, 2023 10AM
Join the NWMC Education team as they discuss the current state of Arizona public schools including an update on the progress of the LWVAZ Education Position study.  Our guest will be Donna Davis, Senior Community Impact Manager of Education Forward Arizona.  Education Forward Arizona is a statewide nonpartisan organization believing that a thriving economy and a strong quality of life is possible when every Arizona student has a fair shot at success. She will be discussing their Arizona Education Progress meter and our Achieve 60 action plan.  Donna has over 30 years of experience in the non-profit sector, devoting most of her time to organizations that focus on youth, education and workforce development.

NWMC BOOK CLUB

Submitted by Bonnie Saunders

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, NOV 20, 2023

Our October meeting was a lively discussion on Rogue Justice by Stacy Abrams.  We could not decide on a book for November. So, we decided that everyone should read a separate book (your favorite or a new one) and tell us at the next meeting why we should read this book. The next discussion will be on zoom at 3:00 p.m. (AZ time) on Monday, November 20, 2023.  We will send a link before that day so look for it. Hoping to see many of you then.

NWMC WATER WARRIORS ATTEND PROGRAM ON WATER IN AZ

DRIP, DRIP, GONE

On Saturday, 10-28-23, many League members and guests were in attendance to hear a program presented by NWMC members.  Where does out water come from?  How much water do we have in Arizona---surface and groundwater?  Who uses the most water and the least?  Subjects discussed included how to achieve safe yield, 100-year certificates of assured water supply, overallocation, and climate change are all contributors to the water problems we see now.

The LWVAZ Public Policy Position on water that was revised, updated and adopted in May 2023 was reflected in the content. This position supports expanding regulation of groundwater to the entire state. Areas of concern are the amount of water that is being pumped by foreign companies who have purchased or leased land in AZ, agriculture farming of water intensive crops, and the rapid housing and municipal development that is happening now as well as water contamination with forever chemicals.  Also discussed was the critical need for the AZ Legislature to pass meaningful legislation directed toward this issue in the coming year.

LWVNWMC FIRST GROUP INVITED TO TOUR NEWLY RENOVATED MCTEC

Submitted by Susan Penner

The League of Women Voters of Northwest Maricopa County was honored to be the first group invited to tour the newly renovated Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) on September 18, 2023.  Recorder Richer welcomed us and Scott Jarrett and Ilene Habor were our tour hosts. 

Security and transparency remain the primary focus of the department. Each step in the ballot processing was explained and all questions were answered. No stone was left unturned.  Two of the favorite stops were the tabulation room and the Command Center. All areas have state of the art equipment to facilitate counting of ballots.  They are ready to address any issues with voting and votes centers, starting with early voting this October.

Many thanks to Josh and Justin Heywood, Roman Sierra and Sierra Ciaramella from the Recorders office for arranging the tour. If you know of a group interested in a tour call (602) 506-1511.

For over 100 years, the League of Women Voters has been a nonpartisan, activist, grassroots, national organization that believes voters should play a critical role in democracy.  Your gift will help support our effective citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts at the local, state and national level, including voter services and education, outreach at collaborative nonpartisan events, team meeting activities, speakers and newsletters. 
You do not have to be a member to donate. We appreciate all donations!  The LWV is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(4) organization. Contributions, gifts, and dues to the NW Maricopa County LWV are not tax-deductible.  

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