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Email: lwvsouthcentraltx@gmail.com
Phone: 361-772-3228
LWV of South Central Texas
PO Box 78
Hallettsville, TX 77964
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Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Date: 6/10/2022
Subject: South Central Texas League of Women Voters News
From: Janis Richardson




June News

Hello!

This is an exciting time for our League as we connections in the the five counties (Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales and Lavaca) in our South Central Texas area. We are discovering that there are more people than we imagined who are inspired by the League's mission of empowering voters and defending democracy and want to be connected. Yes, we are reminded every minute of what troubled times these are. What keeps me hopeful is the spirit of the people I meet through the League, and our shared commitment to a democracy where everyone has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate.
 
This newsletter is our first using a new software program that most Leagues in Texas and across the United States adopted in 2021. This new software - ClubExpress - is packed with tools that make managing our League easier and more economical. Through ClubExpress, we have a beautiful new website, and the mechanics needed for members to log in and manage their own member preferences and information. Now that we have ClubExpress and are moving through our learning curve, our goal is to keep in touch with a newsletter like this one about once a month.
 
We welcome your ideas, feedback and energy - so invite you to get in touch at any time!  Please text or call (361-772-3228) or email. I would love to hear from you!
 
In this blistering June, stay cool, stay connected, and stay hopeful!
 
Janis Richardson
President

What's Happening

June 13, 8:00 am
Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Day
 
This is our first adopt-a-highway clean-up since our South Central Texas League  joined 3,400 other participating organizations in the Texas Department of Transportation's Adopt-a-Highway Program. We're responsible for having at least 4 clean-ups a year on the 2-mile stretch of State Highway 90 just west of Schulenburg that we adopted.
 
On Monday, June 13, we're meeting at 8:00 am - early because of the heat - and will wrap up by 10:00, with an option for (iced) coffee afterwards at Tillie's in Schulenburg. We're meeting in the parking lot of the Fayette County Precinct 4 Road and Bridge facility at 1801 W Hwy 90 near the Schulenburg city limits. Participants are asked to wear long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants, closed-toed shoes, a hat, and sunglasses (if desired) and bring a reusable water bottle, as we will supply chilled water. We will provide instructions, a map, sunscreen, bug spray, reflective vests, and collection bags.

Are you wondering why we decided that picking up trash is part of what we do? Yes, it's not core to our mission, but it's another way for us to give back to our community, be more visible (look for our sign) and build connections among friends and members. 
 
For more information, contact our Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator, Jaci Elliott, at 713-823-1891.
 
June 14, 7:00 pm
Texas League Rural Caucus
 
Our South Central League, working with LWV of the Texas Hill Country, is connecting Leagues in rural area of Texas to form a Texas Rural Caucus. Our goal is to connect rural Leagues so we can share what we're learning about being a League in a rural community and ramp up work on issues that impact our rural areas.
 
We tested this idea by hosting a workshop at the 2022 LWV Texas Convention in Austin last April, where workshop participants voted unanimously for form the caucus. We held our first meeting in May - with League leaders from rural areas from all over Texas participating. 
 
Our next meeting is Tuesday, June 14 @ 7:00 pm. At this meeting we'll hear from Kathleen Stein, President of the LWV of St. Lawrence County in rural upstate New York and leader of the New York State Rural League Caucus about items on the agenda of the upcoming LWV US Convention that are of interest to rural Leagues - most specifically rural broadband. 
 
All are welcome to join this and future Rural Caucus Zoom meeting.
 
June 27, 7:00 pm
LWV South Central Texas Zoom Business Meeting
 
At this meeting, LWV South Central Texas members will vote on a proposed by-laws amendment and the Leadership team and budget for the coming year (2022-2023).  Members - look for an agenda and items we'll be voting on via a separate email, but please put this meeting on your calendar.  
 
July 19, 7:00 pm
LWV Book Group Zoom Meeting
 
Join us for the first meeting of our League Book Group. We'll meet by Zoom to discuss the New York Times bestseller, Hell and Other Destinations: A 21st Century Memoir by Madeleine K. Albright.
 
All are welcome to come and go with our Book Group as desired, joining in when there is time and interest in the book we're discussing. Check out this page on our League's website for the League Book Group information.
 
If you're a League member, join the Book Group Interest Area for updates on Book Group activities. You'll need to sign in as a member to join the interest group; if you don't remember your sign-in info, contact Janis for help.
 
At Your Convenience
Spotlight Screening: Suppressed & Sabotaged - Texas
 
We spotted this opportunity too late to give you enough advance notice, but the good news is that you can tune in to the recording and take this in at a time that is convenient for you.
 
Some members may remember our pre-pandemic MLK Day meeting when we watched the Suppressed documentary together. This is that documentary plus a discussion of voting suppression in Texas. This screening is presented in partnership with Progress Texas, Black Voters Matter, Common Cause Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, and MOVE Texas.
 
Here's the link.. You should allow about an hour to take in the documentary and the panel discussion.
 
Coming Up - Planning for:
  • Women's Equality Day (August 26)
  • National Voter Registration Day (September 20)
  • Voters Guide distribution & collecting candidate information for Vote411 for the November 2022 General Election
  • GOTV (get out the vote) for the November 2022 General Election - early voting (October 24-November 4) and election day (November 8)
 

League Action on Gun Safety

LWV Texas issued this press release and action alert recently in response to the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. 
 
In this press release, immediate LWVTX past-president Grace Chimene encouraged League members to tell our Senators that gun violence prevention is important to us, and that all lives, especially those of children, are just as important as the Second Amendment. She responded to the question that we may all be asking - what can be done in Texas to prevent such a traumatic event from occurring again?
 
Grace reminded us that the Texas Legislature won’t be in session again until January, but we should study the candidates who will be on the November Ballot and learn their positions on gun violence prevention. And right now, we can urge our senators to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act (HR 8) that the House of Representatives has already passed. 
 
You can easily contact our senators by going here - using the letter that is provided or customizing it as you choose.
 
LWVUS' position on Gun Policy. Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility and regulating the ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons. Support regulation of firearms for consumer safety.
 

Appreciations

THANKS to all who came to our May Social at the wonderful Blissful Folly Farm/Rohan Meadery in Fayette County! It was wonderful to finally be face to face and to see so many new people! Many thanks as well to Wendy Rohan and team for hosting us!

WELCOME to our new members, and many thanks to those who have renewed their memberships for another year! As we grow our League community, we grow our capacity to pursue our inspiring vision of a democracy where everyone has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Help us keep growing by inviting your friends to join in a League activity and get to know us!
 
And, a SPECIAL THANK YOU to Barbara Tieken, one of the original five members who helped start our League. Barbara is stepping off the Leadership Team and will be missed but certainly not forgotten! Barbara, we know where you are!



League of Women Voters of South Central Texas
PO Box 78, Hallettsville, TX 77964
361.772.3228
 
lwvsouthcentraltx.org
lwvsouthcentraltx@gmail.com

The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and tax exempt organization.
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law. Tax identification number: 
82-5336795