Ann Jaynes, Editor


The VOTER

“The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose until someday,
somebody who believes as you do wins.” -- I. F. Stone
                                  May 2005
League of Women Voters
317 Peoples Street, Suite 404
P. O. Box 8276, Corpus Christi, TX 78468-8276
361-993-7851
Email:  lwvcc@lwv-cc.org, Web:  http://www.lwv-cc.org

LWVCC Officers
President
Lois Huff, 985-9702
Secretary
Treasurer
Velma Luna-Budd,881-8022 Ext 4237 Work, or  949-0511 Home
Vice President, Program
Patricia Mattocks,991-9480 Home or 855-4215 Work
Vice President, Community Relations
Elia Gutierrez,852-6779
Vice President, Member Services
Linda Allen,949-7869

Directors
Ann Jaynes, 852-7942
Elizabeth Stewart, 994-1212
Marjorie Walraven, 992-8031

Off-Board Chair
Pat Parr, Voter Service
855-3664

Nominating Committee
2005-2006
Pauline Clarke, Chair
Jane Bachman
Carol Scott
Elizabeth Stewart
Ann Jaynes

Newsletter Editor
The Voter
Ann Jaynes, 852-7942

Webmaster
http://www.lwv-cc.org
Linda Allen, 949-7869
Visit our Web Site
http://www.lwv-cc.org

Annual Meeting
Thursday, May 19, 11:30 a.m.
Seaman’s Center, 1501 Mesquite
RSVP 853-9642 by Monday Evening 5/16
60th Anniversary Celebration and Business Meeting
Honoring Past Presidents
 
As my calendar flipped to May I began thinking about Mother’s Day.  Some of you know I lost my Mom a little over a year ago and, for some reason, even though this is the second Mother’s Day since her passing, I’m having a whole lot more tears this year.  Maybe it’s the plans to invite daughters (and sons) to this year’s LWV-CC annual meeting that got me thinking about how I became involved with the League.
I did a little time-traveling in my head, recalling the many campaigns I worked on with my Mom.  I remembered the weekends I spent as a “Romney Girl” wearing a bright blue dress that she made to specific specifications.  And, of course, don’t forget the silly straw hat with the traditional red, white and corresponding blue ribbon.  I couldn’t begin to calculate the number of envelopes the two of us stuffed or to estimate the impact of the hours we spend working side by side.
When Mom could no longer enjoy reading we bought books on tape, but soon they were no longer a fun surprise.  Always impeccably dressed, as her health began failing new clothes also lost their appeal.  Now I realize this could be construed as depressing, so please hear me out. 
It was for Mom’s birthday that I had this terrific idea  . . . We joined LWV-CC.  It was the perfect gift for a woman born in 1920, the very year the 19th amend-ment was passed.  Our joint membership was wrapped in red, white and blue ribbon in honor of the wonderful hours we spent working together. 

Most of you know that my real job is with the March of Dimes.  You may also have seen a pin I wore last fall.  It simply said, “Vote for Someone You Love”.   Whatever your interpretation of that was, be it school funding, social security reform or maternal and child health, it was to encourage everyone to VOTE.  Well, now I’d like to paraphrase it, BRING SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.  Time passes far too fast, and memories last forever.  Thanks for listening,
Pat E. Mattocks, Vice President, Program.  Home: 991-9480   Work: 855-4215
Email: pmattocks@marchofdimes.com

President’s Message

Dear members and supporters, 
 
Thanks to Peggy Duran, Peg MacPhail, Michelle Guglielmino, Evy Coppola, and Carolyn Moon, the League of Women Voters was represented at Earth Day-Bay Day.  You can read about it in this issue of the Voter.
 
There are two topics directly related to this event:  the impor-tance of volunteering and fin-ances.  We need members to sit at booths, to be a "public face" for the League.  The members who where there at Earth Day-Bay Day performed a valuable service to the League, and please ask them if they enjoyed themselves and would recommend it for you (my bet is that they will say YES!).  We had to pass on a couple of other opportunities, including booths to distribute Voters Guides, because we did not have enough volunteers available to help on this project.  So, please consider responding positively when you learn about future events.  You will have a good time, and serve a valuable purpose--voter education.
 
The second topic is the need for finances.  The League has been very fortunate that we have had the help of Ed Hecht, Nan Pillinger and Peggy Duran over the past few years.  These individuals have carried out three very successful fund drives, helping provide funds for our League and for the League of Women Voters Education Fund.  Donations to the Education Fund are tax deductible, and are the funds we draw upon to finance our Voters Guide.  As the volunteers at Earth Day-Bay Day report, our community looks forward to our Voters Guide, and we need funds in order to continue to provide this service.  If you are interested in working on a fund drive, please call the League office at 993-7851, or call me at 985-9702.
 
See everyone on May 19th for our annual meeting!
 Lois Huff, President

The League and Earth Day-Bay Day

Earth Day -Bay Day was a great experience-- beautiful weather, lots of exhibits with ideas for creating a sustainable environment, and the feeling of a community interested in the common good.  Many people stopped by the League of Women Voters table to find out about us, to register to vote, and, especially, to compliment us on the Voters Guide.  There were comments of "I do not vote without it" to "thank you so much for doing this."
 
Thanks to our volunteer members who manned the table: Peg McPhail, her niece and newest member Michelle Guglielmino, Evy Coppola, and Carolyn Moon.                                        Peggy Duran

Proposed Program 2005-2006

1.  Develop a strategic plan for LWV-CC revitalization and expansion.
2.  Continue to monitor the current Bayfront Master Plan for compliance
      with the League’s Statement of Position.
3.  Study the City/County health and human services delivery system.
4.  Local Water Issues.

The first three items are suggested as refinements of and replacements for Items 1 through 3 voted on at the 2004 annual meeting.  We recommend that last year’s Item 4 be dropped.  Item 5 was completed in 2004 and action taken at the state and national levels.  The League will continue to study this subject as the need arises.

Correction:  The above proposed program was published in the April VOTER.  The following was inadvertently omitted from that published program: “There was a motion by Peg MacPhail [at the 2004 annual meeting] that we continue to work on the topic of electronic voting.  Linda Allen seconded this motion.  The motion carried.”  This item  is added to the items shown above as part of the proposed program.


Membership List as of 5/8/05.  If you have not paid your dues, you will have an opportunity at the Annual Meeting.
Chris Adler
Linda Allen
Jane Bachman
John and Myriam Bell
Winnie Benkendorfer
Susan G. Berndt
Linda Bridges
Jewell Rae Brownstein
Jean Carson
Robin Borglum Carter
Lois B. Chesney
Evy Coppola
Margaret DeVille
Peggy and  Jose Miguel Duran
Anita Holt Eisenhauer
Patricia M. Eisenhauer
Katharine Guerra
Michelle Guglielmino
Elia Gutierrez
Rene Haas and David Perry
Ed Hecht
Bill Hennings
Cecil M. (Hank) Henry and Jean E. Rice
Dorothy G. Himmel
Lois C. and Bob Huff
Patricia Jalufka
Joyce Hope Jarmon
 Laura Garza Jimenez
Kathy Juneau
Genie Lemley
Leon S. Loeb
Velma Luna-Budd
Crystal and Glenn Lyons
Margaret “Peg” MacPhail
Nelda Martinez
Patricia E. and Bruce Mattocks
Dorothy McCoy
Vera McGonigle
Mary C. Moore
Betty J. Noster
Jacqueline O’Keeffe
Emilie J. Olivares
Pat Parr
Janis W. Richardson
Carol A. and Mark Scott
Ann E. Smith
Mary Alice Steidley
Elizabeth P. Stewart
Amanda and Michael Stukenberg
Clarice and Philip Wallock
Marjorie “Ricky” Walraven
Jack J. Widder
Helen K. Wilk
Catherine “Kay” Wilson
Charles R. Zimmerman


Thank You, Diana!

Those of you who attended our April meeting had the pleasure of hearing Nueces County Clerk Diana Barrera.

Ms. Barrera was kind enough to fill in for County Judge Shamsie and shared important information about the status of HAVA compliance.  She skillfully reviewed the various election equipment options available as well as outlined the selection process.

Please join in extending a big red, white and blue “Thank you” to Diana Barrera for her dedication to implementing the Help America Vote Act in Nueces County.
Pat E. Mattocks, Program

Nominating Committee Report

The slate of officers proposed by the nominating committee was published in the April VOTER.  Briefly, those were:
President, Lois Huff;  Secretary, Margaret DeVille; Treasurer, Velma Luna-Budd; Vice-President of Program, Pat Mattocks; Vice President of Member Services, Linda Allen; Vice-President of Community Relations, Open; Directors:  Susan Berndt, Emilie Olivares, Elizabeth Stewart; Nominating Committee for 2006-7:  Ann Jaynes, Chair; Peggy Duran (one more member needed).


Calendar

May 19, 2005
60th Annual Meeting, Seaman’s Center, 11:30 a.m., $10, RSVP 853-9642 or 993-7851
June 16, 2005
David Seiler, Director of Operations, RTA
July 21, 2005
Sr. Officer Jessie Cervantez, CC Police Department
August 19, 2005
Scott Elliff, Citizens for Educational Excellence

Honor Our Past Presidents
Celebrate LWV-CC 60th Birthday, the National League’s 85th Birthday and Birthday of Women’s Voting Rights
at May Annual Meeting

We have a lot to celebrate this year. Our 60th annual meeting is a good time to start celebrating our 60th birthday!  The local League’s charter was issued October 17, 1945.  Groundwork was laid at an open meeting of local women at the home of Mrs. Sol Greene.  Mrs. William E. Brockhausen of San Antonio, a member of the state board, met with the group to explain the purposes and functions of the national organization.  The national League was established by members of the women’s suffrage movement February 14, 1920 and had been in existence for 25 years at the time of founding of the local League.  Most would credit Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, Lucretia Mott, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cody Stanton and Lucy Stone with the most influence in winning the vote for American women.  The 19th amendment giving women the vote was passed August 26, 1920 when the last state, Tennessee, voted for the amendment.

Please join us to honor our past presidents and their families.  RSVP to 853-9642 by Monday evening May 16.  Luncheon is $10 and well worth it.  You don’t want to miss this!



Legislative News
Now is the time for our members, our grassroots advocacy, to really kick into gear and come to the aid of our positions.  There are only three weeks left in the session.  It is ESSENTIAL that each of you individually, and each LOCAL LEAGUE officially contact our senators and representatives.  Budget issues, choice, recorded votes, and vouchers are important parts of our positions and we must let our elected representatives hear from us now. 
SB 1140 (Carona) SUPPORT is expected to pass the full Senate any day now, but recorded votes legislation is on life support in the House.  With only three weeks left in this legislative session, HB 3078 (Naishtat) SUPPORT is in danger of an untimely death without even a vote in the House Committee on State Affairs. Committee staff has told the League that they are not hearing from citizens.  There are no League members in the districts of Vice-Chair Sid Miller and Representatives Byron Cook and Jim Keffer, with only a few in Dan Gattis’ district.  Everyone, please contact them and request they urge Chairman Swinford to schedule a vote ASAP and urge them to vote for HB 3078.  Then get your friends, relatives, and neighbors to call.
SB 1: Funding for partial CHIP restoration was included in both the House and Senate budget bills.  Both bills include funding for dental and vision care, and a reduction in the cost of the premiums proposed by the Health and Human Services Commission. The Senate Finance Committee included mental health benefits and has a rider by Sen. Zaffirini that requires HHSC to come back to the legislature for additional funding before instituting an enrollment cap or waiting list during the interim. The House Appropriations Committee budget includes hospice care for dying children. Funding for 12-month eligibility and elimination of the assets test was included in SB 1, Article XI, also known as the “wish list.  Action: Ask the Budget Conference Committee (Rep. Vilma Luna-D, Vice-Chair, House Appropriations Committee , 512-463-0484, 512-462-8090) to:  support funding for full restoration of CHIP; support Sen. Zaffirini’s rider for the HHSC to ask the Legislature for additional funding for instituting an enrollment cap or waiting list if HHSC runs out of funds; and support funding for outreach by community based organizations. This information was taken from LWV-TX Legislative Newsletter 18.9.  Please make your views known to your elected officials.  To subscribe email lwvtexas@lwvtexas.org wth the subject heading “subscribe-LNL” or go to our web site www.lwv-cc.org and click on the link to Legislative Newsletter.

League of Women Voters-Corpus Christi is grateful to the following members and supporters for your contributions during the fiscal year 2004-5.  Your generous contributions support the day-to-day operations of the League and such community efforts as Voters Guide, Candidates Forum, voter registration and many more.  Thanks to:

Chris Adler
Jane Bachman
Helen C. Barron
Winnie H. Benkendorfer
Lois B. Cheney
Cheniere Energy
Citgo Refining
Margaret DeVille
Margaret DeVille in memoriam for
  Eunice Dunn
Peggy and Jose Miguel Duran
Pat M. Eisenhauer
Flint Hills Resources
Rene Haas and David Perry
Lois and Bob Huff
Leon Loeb-Landlord Resources
Crystal and Glenn Lyons
Nelda Martinez
Pat Parr
Nan Pillinger
Janis W. Richardson
Amanda and Michael Stukenberg
Valero Energy Foundation
Valero Refining
Clarice and Phil Wallock
Marjorie “Ricky” Walraven
Jack Widder

Need a graduation gift?  birthday?  Give a membership in the League.
Student $30, Individual $45, Household $65.

The Voter
The League of Women Voters
     of Corpus Christi
317 Peoples Street, Ste. 404
P. O. Box 8276
Corpus Christi, TX 78468
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 517
Corpus Christi,
Texas 78469



The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS is a non-partisan,political organization, that encourages the informed and active  participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.