THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LAS VEGAS VALLEY LWVLVV OFFICERS 2015-2016 President: Sondra Cosgrove 1st. VP: Beverly Abderrahman 2nd VP: Kathleen Bienenstein Treasurer: Ann Marie Smith Secretary: Betty Pardo Directors: Jan Biggerstaff Denise Gerdes Bonnie Swadling Ruth Weinrott LEAGUE WEBSITE www.lwvlasvegasvalley.org SATURDAY, March 19, 2016 Lt. Patricia Spencer LVMPD VICE SEX TRAFFICKING 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 SOCIAL 9:30-10:00 a.m. HOT BREAKFAST 10:00 a.m. PROGRAM Breakfast & Program $15 Program no charge Beverages available with donation Reservations requested by Wednesday, March 16th [email protected]* (702) 464-7887 THE VOTER MARCH 2016 Welcome to Our New Home! UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4412 S. Maryland Parkway Across from UNLV Between Flamingo and Tropicana ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
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THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LAS VEGAS VALLEY
LWVLVV OFFICERS
2015-2016
President: Sondra Cosgrove 1st. VP: Beverly Abderrahman 2nd VP: Kathleen Bienenstein Treasurer: Ann Marie Smith
Secretary: Betty Pardo Directors:
Jan Biggerstaff Denise Gerdes
Bonnie Swadling Ruth Weinrott
LEAGUE WEBSITE www.lwvlasvegasvalley.org
SATURDAY, March 19, 2016
Lt. Patricia Spencer LVMPD VICE
SEX TRAFFICKING
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 SOCIAL
9:30-10:00 a.m. HOT BREAKFAST
10:00 a.m. PROGRAM
Breakfast & Program $15
Program no charge Beverages available with donation
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By: Sondra Cosgrove My how time flies! It’s time once again to vote on a new board and our program planning emphasis. I hope that everyone will be able to attend our March meeting to have a say in what the Las Vegas League will be doing over the next year. Remember, to be able to vote, you’ll need to be a mem-ber with current dues. Fortunately it is very easy to join or renew your membership right from our website. We have a link to our PayPal account at: www.lwvlasvegasvalley.org. As March is Women’s History Month, we felt it was important to revisit the topic of sex trafficking. It’s not a pleasant thing to talk about, but until this scourge is eradicat-ed from our state, we must stay vigilant and help where we can. Our speaker will be Lieutenant Patricia Spencer from the LVMPD Vice Department. In April we will have a panel to discuss the Centers For Public Integrity score of F for Nevada’s government. We’ll have the report’s Nevada author Felicia Mello, Assembly-woman Patricia Farley, and Executive Director of the Nevada Commission on Ethics Yvonne Nevarez-Goodson help walk us through what the F grade means for groups, such as the League of Women Voters, that focus on promoting good gov-ernance. As we wrap up the spring the LWVLVV Board will be hosting a social get-together for anyone interested in learning more about League committees and service on the board. All board meetings are open for members to attend and we have many committee chair and membership opportunities availa-ble. By the time we meet for our March meeting the deadline for candidates to file will have passed and we’ll know who is running. As in 2014, we will once again be offering the League’s Vote411.org voter registration and voter guide service. This election cycle we are happy to announce that Vote411.org will be statewide for both the primary and general election!
NEVADA STATE LEAGUE OFFICERS President –Jan Browne, No. Nevada
1st. Vice-President - Sondra Cosgrove, Las Vegas 2nd Vice-President—Beverly Abderrahman, Las Vegas
Secretary — Jean Laird, No. Nevada Treasurer—Ann Smith, Las Vegas
With sadness we announce the passing of Nevada Senator Debbie Smith. Her commit-ment to the families and especially the educa-tion of our children in Nevada was unparal-leled. She was a fearless and tireless fighter in the legislature even after her diagnosis of cancer and removal of a brain
tumor. She is survived by her husband Greg and children Erin, Ian and Olivia. She will be missed.
With the election cycle now in full swing, we’re pleased to share our presi-dential voters’ guide to help
voters learn about the candidates and their visions for America’s future. The League of Women Voters Education Fund, with the assistance of incredible volunteers from the League of Wom-en Voters of Maryland, asked leading presidential candidates to share their thoughts on a range of issues from the economy to foreign policy, as well as their position on the role money plays in our current political process. In order to be included in our voters’ guide, candidates had to make a public announcement to seek his/her party’s nomi-nation as well as meet the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act’s minimum contribution threshold requirements for matching funds, based on the most recent data publicly availa-ble from the Federal Election Commission. We’ve listed the candidates that have met our criteria, The League of Women Voters never supports or op-poses any candidate or political party. The responses in-cluded in our voters’ guide are verbatim from the candidates, though they were limited to 400 characters per question. Can-didates that have met our criteria but have not yet replied are included and we hope you’ll help us encourage their participa-tion by tweeting at them! As you review our voters’ guide, we also encourage you learn more about how the presidential primary process works as well as the presidential se-lection process, through our guide: Electing the President.
YOU ARE ALWAYS INVITED!
All members are invited and encouraged to attend any LWVLVV Board meeting. Our next board
meeting is just prior to our regular meeting on March 19th at 8 am.
Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in histo-ry and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corre-sponding with International Women's Day on March 8. The roots of National Women’s History Month go back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women’s Day was first observed in 1909, but it wasn’t until 1981 that Congress established National Women’s History Week to be commemorated the second week of March. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women’s History Month, and the President has issued a proclamation. 162 million, The number of females in the U.S. as of July 2014. The number of males was 157.0 million. 2 to 1 At 85 and older, the approximate ratio by which women outnumbered men in 2014 (4.1 million to 2.1 million). 43.0% Percentage of female citizens 18 and older who reported voting in the 2014 election. By comparison, 40.8 percent of their male counterparts reported voting.
TOTAL EXPENSES .......................................... 11,430
CANDIDATES FOR 2016-2017 OFFICERS Candidates must have been voting members of LWVLVV for at least
1 year
Proposed Slate:
PRESIDENT: Sondra Cosgrove
1st. VICE PRESIDENT: Beverly Abderrahman
2nd VICE PRESIDENT: Kathleen Bienenstein
SECRETARY: Sandra Metcalf
TREASURER: Ann Smith
BOARD MEMBERS: Sari Aizley Jan Biggerstaff Denise Gerdes Camile Naaktgeboren Betty Pardo Bonnie Swadling
NOMINATING COMMITTEE Teresa Bell Kathleen Dickinson
DUES: Annual dues shall be due and payable each April 1 for the new fiscal year….
WHAT DO OUR $55 DUES PAY FOR? National Dues (per member) $32.00 State Dues (per member) $15.00 Local Dues (what’s left) $ 8.00 The local yearly dues of $9.00 pays for a monthly answering service, a post office box, a website, mailings, insurance, brochures, newsletters and office supplies. All the work and effort to keep the LWVLVV relevant is donated by our active members.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY 1. No member of the League shall support or oppose any political
party or any candidate for a partisan office at an official League activity. This includes, but is not limited to, wearing political buttons, distributing promotional material and soliciting contri-butions.
2. No League member may be a candidate for elective public office in a partisan election and hold a League Board positon. 3. No League member may serve as an officer of a political party and hold a League Board position 4. No League Board member may use her/his official authority or influence for purposes of interfering with or affecting the results of any partisan election. 5. Nonpartisan election activity is unrestricted. 6. No Board member may participate in a Board activity that places her /him in a position of conflict between private (personal, business or professional) interest and the League’s interest. Board members who have affiliations or financial interests that are conflicts of interest, or create even the appearance of conflicts of interest, with their official duties, shall disqualify themselves from Board decisions until such conflicts cease to exist.
Page 4 THE VOTER
PRESIDENT: Sondra Cosgrove I’ve been a Nevada resident since 1986 and raised my two chil-dren here in Las Vegas. I worked for the Clark County School District while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. My B.A. is in American History, with a Minor in Anthropology and I received a Ph.D. in American History with an emphasis in the U.S. West, Native American, and Latin American History in 2004. As a Professor of History at the College of Southern Nevada since 2003 I teach in all my fields. I have been actively involved in Nevada politics for many years. My League membership dates to 2008 and I have been Chair of the Voter Services Committee for the past year. As a historian I have always been a fan of the League of Women Voters and strongly believe League is one institution that can help us overcome the grave issues we face as a nation. Collective grassroots advocacy has always been a part of the American political system and is still the best remedy for many of the dysfunctions causing gridlock both nationally and in the several states. When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking and camping and am a big fan of all the great outdoor activities we in Nevada can enjoy.
1st. VICE PRESIDENT: Beverly Abderrahman I had been married for 54 years have 3 children and 5 grandchil-dren, 2 granddaughters graduated from Las Vegas Academy and the youngest is currently in French elementary school. I am a member of stagehands union local 720,was an elected officer and executive board member. I am on the board of directors of the stage employees federal credit union and one of their trustees. I belong to University United Methodist Church. I taught Sunday school and am on the children’s council. It has been an honor to serve on the League's Board of Direc-tors and I look forward to continue serving as your first vice president.
2nd VICE PRESIDENT: Kathleen Bienenstein Kathleen is currently employed by Mothers Against Drunk Driv-ing (MADD) as the program coordinator for Southern Nevada. Prior to moving to Nevada from Michigan, she spent 30 years as an automotive design engineer. She is a past president of the League of Women Vot-ers Las Vegas Valley and a volunteer with the USO at McCarran Air-port. She is also past chair of the Nevada Site Specific Advisory Board, formerly the Nevada Test Site.
SECRETARY: Sandy Metcalf My goals for the Las Vegas League are to increase our visibility in the community and to gain members. I have served the Las Vegas League in many capacities from study leader to treasurer of both the League and the Education fund as well as serving the state league as president for two terms. I first joined the League in Torrance, Califor-nia and when we moved to Arizona, I became a member of the Phoenix League where I was a director and the State League President. I am a retired secondary principal from the CCSD. I served on the Nevada State Board of Education, am currently on the board of the Retired School Administrators of Nevada. I am also active in the Assistance League of Las Vegas. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Arizona and my graduate degree is from UNLV. I have been mar-ried to Lyell for over 50 years and we have three grown children: Douglas, Stephanie,and Craig.
TREASURER: Ann Marie Smith I have been a member of the LWVLVV since 2006, and have served most of that time as Secretary of the Board of Directors. I was ap-pointed as Treasurer during the last year to fill a vacancy, and am will-ing to continue in that role. I have been an advocate for mental health since moving to Nevada in 1987 and have served on several communi-ty boards in that capacity, as well as serving on the League's Health Committee. I am co-owner of Communications Consulting Service LLC, a foreign language translation service, and have handled the ad-ministration/financial duties for my company since it was founded.
BIOGRAPHIES OF LWVLVV NOMINEES (Proposed Slate) NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED FROM FLOOR Candidates must have been voting members of LWVLVV for at least 1 year
DIRECTORS:
Sari Aizley Born in New Jersey, I grew up in Lancaster, PA, and then lived in Florida, South Carolina and Upstate New York. During those years, I accumulated four charming children and a lot of experience in radio and the advertising world. In 1967, I was hired by the Review-Journal to create its Promotions Depart-ment and founded the still-successful Newspaper in the Class-room program. My next move was to UNLV as the Publications Director , I established and directed the ACLU chapter in South-ern Nevada and co-founded (with Paul and our son David Phil-lips) a non-profit organization called CLASS! It served some 40,000 high school students of Clark County for 16 years. For nearly 20 years before fully retiring, I published “The Faculty Alliance” as a free-lance project. It was the national award-winning newspaper for higher education in Nevada. Jan Biggerstaff I am very interested in serving the League of Women Voters in whatever capacity that enables my past experi-ences to further the League's goals. I served 4 years as a Clark County School Board Trustee, 8 years an active CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and 12 years on the State Board of Education. I believe an informed and educated public is the only way our democracy can work. Denise Gerdes Longtime community activist I am now a realtor. I was co-editor of the Nevada Women's Legacy book that highlighted the roles and contributions of Nevada’s women. I received my Masters in Library Science from University of Ari-zona and was a Library Professional at the Clark County Library for over 15 years. Camille Naaktgeboren Camille is a professor of Microbiolo-gy at the College of Southern Nevada. Currently, Camille is the CSN Faculty Senate Chair and the lead faculty for the CSN NASA grant. Camille works on renewable energy projects and is very interested in the solar energy industry in Nevada. Betty Pardo I am a retired art teacher and school administra-tor. I have been involved with the League of Women Voters for over twenty years and was actively involved with the defeat of the voucher system in California and helped formulate the Neva-da State League’s position on vouchers and charter schools. I have served on the board of the Las Vegas Valley League in the positions of vice-president, president and director. As president my goal was to improve both the age and diversity of the mem-bership. Most recently I participated with the formulation of a consensus on an Immigration Position for the National League. I had been actively involved with the production of the Voter Guide since its inception as well as voter registration. For the future, she would like to see greater participation of its members in the many and varied pursuits of the Las Vegas Valley League. Bonnie Swadling: Bonnie is currently employed by the Nevada Department of Corrections as a Psychologist at Southern Nevada Correctional Center in Indian Springs. Prior to moving to Nevada from Michigan, she spent 5 years as a Psychologist with the Michigan Department of Corrections and 25 years in Private Practice. She is a former board member of the League of Women Voters Las Vegas Valley and a volunteer with MADD as a Victim Services advocate.
Page 5 THE VOTER
Minutes to the March 15, 2015 Annual Meeting By: Betty Pardo, Secretary The annual business meeting was called to order at 11:00 am by Presi-dent Sondra Cosgrove. She thanked the outgoing board First Vice President Jan Biggerstaff; Second Vice President Beverly Abderrahman; Secretary Betty Pardo; Treasurer Ann Marie Smith; and Directors Kathleen Bienen-stein, Freda Greenfield, Gloria Porter, Pat Van Betten, Ruth Weinrott, Sandy Metcalf (Past President). The March 15, 2015 meeting minutes were made available to the mem-bers prior to the annual meeting. No amendments or objections were made to the March 15, 2015 minutes. Kathleen Bienenstein made the motion to accept the minutes as presented and Dewayne Chesnut seconded the motion. The minutes were accepted by a unanimous vote and entered into the record. The budget for 2015-16 was presented to the membership before the meet-ing and Treasurer Ann Marie Smith announced that the budget committee presented the budget for a vote. Betty Pardo moved to accept the budget and Sandy Metcalf seconded the motion. The budget was then entered into the record upon a unanimous vote of the membership. Suggested changes to the bylaws were presented to the membership prior to the meeting. Jan Biggerstaff explained the suggested changes. After a discussion, Beverly Abderrahman made the motion to accept the bylaw’s changes as presented and Kathleen Bienenstein seconded the mo-tion. After a unanimous vote of the membership the suggested bylaws changes were entered into the record. President Cosgrove then turned the meeting over to Chair Forrest Dar-by of the Nominating Committee, which also included member Jan Biggerstaff. Chair Darby informed the members the vote for the board would be managed with a paper ballot; he then read through the ballot. After familiarizing the membership with the ballot, Chair Darby asked, per the bylaws, for any nominations from the floor. Betty Pardo nominated Denise Gerdes to become a Director and Denise accepted the nomination. There were no further nominations from the floor, so Chair Darby requested
that the members vote for the slate of Board Officers and six out of seven nominated directors. Upon completion of the ballot Jan Biggerstaff, Ann Marie Smith, and Kathleen Dickinson independently verified the count of the ballot votes. Upon completion of the count, Chair Darby an-nounced the results: President: Sondra Cosgrove, First Vice Presi-dent: Beverly Abderrahman, Second Vice President: Kathleen Bienenstein, Secretary: Betty Pardo: and Treasurer: Ann Marie Smith. For the Board of Directors, the results were: Bonnie Swadling, Pat Van Betten, Ruth Weinrott, Denise Gerdes, Sharon Bruno, and Sam Lieberman. President Cosgrove presented the slate for the LWVLVV Educational Project, which was provided in advance to the members before the meeting. The slate consisted of: President: Betty Pardo; First Vice President: Mary Beth Heavrin; Second Vice President: Kathleen Bienenstein; Secretary: Kathleen Dickinson; and Treasur-er: Sandy Metcalf. Beverly Abderrahman made a motion to accept the slate and Forrest Darby seconded the motion. Upon a unanimous vote the slate was elected and entered into the record. President Cosgrove then presented the slate for the 2015-16 Nominating Committee, which was presented to the memberships before the meeting. The slate included: Chair: Jan Biggerstaff and Member: Mary Beth Heavrin. President Cosgrove explained that the LWVLVV Board will select the third member of the Nominating Committee at the next Board meeting, per the Bylaws. Beverly Abderrahman made a motion to accept the slate and Sandy Metcalf seconded the motion. Upon a unanimous vote, the slate was entered into the record. President Cosgrove presented the Program for Emphasis for the next year as a continuance of: Good Governance. Upon a unani-mous vote, the 2015-16 Program for Emphasis was accepted and entered into the record. President Cosgrove ended the meeting with a summary of the League of Women Voters of Las Vegas Valley’s plans for the upcoming year. The meeting adjourned at 11:40 am.
Long, slow lines at the Democratic caucus, Feb. 20 made many appreciate primaries..
Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske and Roderick Steincamp at the Nov. 20 meeting
P.O. Box 12291, Las Vegas, NV 89112 Phone: (702) 464-7887
Email: [email protected] Website: www.lwvlasvegasvalley.org THE VOTER is published as a service for members of the League of Women Voters of Las Vegas Valley. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited
2016 PROGRAM CALENDAR
MARCH Annual Business Meeting
APRIL Government Integrity
MAY TBA
JUNE 14 Primary Election/ State & Federal
SEPTEMBER 17 We’re back!
NOVEMBER 8 GENERAL ELECTION
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The LWVLVV meets September through May, the third Saturday of the month. A 9:30 a.m. breakfast/social is followed by the program at 10:00 a.m.
YEARLY DUES: ( ) $55 New/Renew Member ( ) $75 Household ( ) $25 Student ( ) FRIEND Donation to Education Fund 501c3 $ ________(tax deductible)
Now accepting payment through PayPal—check our website Mail to: LWVLVV, PO Box 12291, Las Vegas, NV 89112
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NOTE! Our New Home is at the UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4412 S. Maryland Pkwy
Across from UNLV LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LAS VEGAS Note Cards & Envelopes $2.00 ea -3 for $5.00 Official LWVLVV Mugs Donate $10 to Education Fund and receive one free.
