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December2017 Volume49 Issue7 Seefinalpagefortableofcontents
DINNERWITHOURLEGISLATIVELEADERSMonday,December11th,2017(5:00-7p.m.)Toaccommodateschedulingneedsofthelegislators,wehavechangedourtraditionalbreakfasttoadinneratourusualmonthlytimeandplace:
GoodSamaritanSocialCenter3011BuenaVidaCircle
LasCruces
Afterdinner,each legislatorwillhave theopportunity to talkaboutwhatheor shehopes toaccomplishintheupcominglegislativesessionandtocommentonsomeofthemajorissuestoberesolved.ThemeetingwillthenbeopentoquestionsbyLeaguemembersandtheirguests.Anyorallofthelegislatorsmayanswer.Thisisabusytime,butwehopeyouwillparticipateinlisteningtoourlegislators'concernsandpassingonourconcernstothem.
MESSAGEFROMTHEPRESIDENTIftherewereathemethisfallfortheLWVGLCIwouldsayitisLEAGUERSRISEUP.TheCitizenLobbyistTrainingonOctober21stthatweco-sponsoredwithCommonCause,theStateBoardMeetingNovember11,andtheDinnerwithaLeaderonthe13thallcenteredaroundthattheme.ManyofyouareexpertsatCitizenAdvocacyandIencourageyoutomentorthoseofuswhoarenewatit.Gotoourwebsitelwvglc.org/underCitizenAdvocacyforinformationabouttipsandresources.OnewordforJuliannaKoob,thepresenteratthedinneronthe13th:Powerful.IttrulywasoneofthebestpresentationsI’veattended.Hereareafewtake-aways.1)ThemajorityofsouthcentralNewMexicansbelievethatawoman’sdecisiontohaveanabortionshouldbebetweenher,herfamily,andherdoctor.2)NewMexicoisthreatenedeveryyearwithanti-
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abortionlegislation;wearesurroundedbystateswherewomenhavenoaccesstoabortionandthenumberisgrowing.3)Ifwearegoingtoprotectawoman’srighttoasafeandlegalabortion,wemustbewillingtotalktoourlegislatorsandothersaboutapersonalexperience(whetherourownorpeopleweknow).Markyourcalendars.Proclamations!!!!OnDecember4that1:00atCityHallandDecember12that9:00attheCountyGovernmentBuilding,2018willbeproclaimedtobeTHEYEAROFTHELEAGUEOFWOMENVOTERSOFGREATERLASCRUCES.Thiswillbethekickofftothe50thAnniversaryCelebration.Itwillbefabulousifwehaveouralmost90membersattendbothmeetings!!!Also,pleasetrytoattendtheDinnerwithaLegislatoronDecember11thfrom5-7pmatGoodSamaritan.Manyofthestatelegislatorsinourdistricthavecommittedtothiseventandit’simportantthatwerespondinkindwithagoodturnout.WehadtochangethedateandtimeduetoconflictswiththelegislatorsandwithGoodSamaritan.Ifyoudonotliketodriveinthedark,Iwillmakesureyouhavearide.Pleaseemailme.Iamwishingyouallmuchjoy,peace,andcompassionthisholidayseason.WarmRegards,KimSorensen,President
UPCOMINGEVENTSDecember4th 1:00p.m.CityHallProclamationPresentationDecember6th 10:00a.m.BoardMeetingBraniganLibraryBoardRoomDecember11th DinnerwiththeLegislature5:00-7:00p.m.GoodSamaritan'sDecember12th 9:00a.m.CountyGovernmentBuildingProclamationPresentation
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ACALLTOLEADERSHIP-CELEBRATINGOUR50thANNIVERSARYbyWinJacobsThe50thAnniversaryCommitteehasagreedthatlearningtoleadshouldbeoneofthehallmarksofLWVGLC’scelebrationofitshalf-centuryofcommunityservice.Accordingly,theCommitteeandBoardalikeareproposingfourforumtopicsinvitingthedevelopmentofnewleadership.
• ElectoralIssuesof2018andBeyondwillfocusonissuessuchaso Redistricting&gerrymanderingo Voterinclusion&suppressiono Integrityofrepresentation
• SharingOurValleywillfocusonenvironmentalandqualityoflifeissuessuchaso Landuseo Planningandzoningo Equitableandsustainablewateruseo Affordablehousingo Transportation
• Educationwillfocusono Earlychildhoodeducationo Standards,measurementsandevaluationofoutcomeso Funding
• Healthwillfocusono Mental/behavioralissuesinDoñaAnaCountyo HealthSecurityPlanforNewMexico
Wonderfulideas!Weneedvolunteerstoimplementthem.Afewhavealreadysteppedforward:PeterOssorioonElectoralIssues,JaneAscheonEducation.SharingOurValleyissobroadthat,whileWinJacobsiswillingtoserveasover-allcoordinator,leadponiesforeachofthesegmentsareneeded.VickiSimonshasspearheadedHealthformanyyearsandsheiswillingtobeaconsultantbutnotanorganizer.TheembryonicplanofactionistoholdElectoralIssuesJanuary30atTempleBethEl,thenEducationinAugust,HealthinSeptember,andSharingOurValleyinNovember.Ifyouareinterestedinmakingdreamsbecomerealities,[email protected];wewillscheduleameetingearlyinJanuary.VOLUNTEERSWILLMAKETHISHAPPEN:noactionispossiblewithoutacommitmenttolead.
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WELCOMENEWOFFICERSTransitioningmid-termintoLWVGLCleadershiprolesareChristineSorgasVice-PresidentandWilliamLittleasTreasurer.(SharonShoemakerhasmovedfromLasCrucesandSteveLittswasservingasInterimtreasurer.)Christine,alwaysastrongadvocateforvoting,joinedLWVGLCafewyearsago.Shemovedto
LasCrucesin1998andisanenthusiasticcommunitymember.OriginallyfromDenver,aftercollegeChristinejoinedthePeaceCorpsandtaughtsciencetoelementaryschoolteachersinGhana,WestAfricafortwoyears.HerdegreesareinZoologyandMedicalTechnologyandMicrobiology.MarriedtoGillSorgin1972,theylivedinMcConeCounty,Montanafarmingandranchingfor21years.WilliamhasbeenaLeaguemembersincethemid-80’s–inAustinTX,Albuquerque,andhere.
HehasservedaslocalLeaguetreasurerinAustinandAlbuquerque,LaPalabraEditor,parliamentarianformanyLWV/GLCannualmeetings,qualityreviewerforLWV/GLCtreasurer,andinformalassistanttoChristinaLittleinhermanyLeagueroles.Thismeanshehasprovidedemergencyhelpwhenandwhereverneeded.William’sskillswithdetailandtechnologyhaveassistedmostrecentlyinupdatingthemembershiplistwithaneyetoaccuracyandourneedfortechnologyarchiving.CHANGESTOMEMBERSHIPDIRECTORYMembershipDirectorSueLashleyhasbeenworkingtoupdatethemembershiplist.NameshavebeenaddedtotheVOTERmailinglist.WilliamLittleisshapingthelistintoanaccurateelectronicmasterlist.Pleasewelcomethesememberstoandaddthemtoyourdirectory.MegannCretsinger(studentaffiliate)3849MondaleLoopLasCrucesNM880052146989612meganncakes@gmail.comDianeandJimHerendeen1895PalmCanyonDr.LasCrucesNM880118153472528jimdianelinc@sbcglobal.net
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EricaSurova5213NephiteCt.LasCruces.NM880125756463352and5756212079surova@nmsu.eduCORRECTIONPleasecorrecttheJosephCervantesentryinthedirectory.Theaddressshouldbe2610S.Espina,[email protected],witha“t”.
THEOBSERVERSPOSTOBSERVERSNEEDEDSubmittedbySusanSchmuggeMaryEllenKnappislookingforsomeonetoattendtheLasCrucesCityCouncilmeetingonDec.4.IfyouarewillingtodothispleasecontactMaryEllen,VickiSimonsorSusanSchmugge.TheLeagueislookingformoreObserversandwhensomeonecannotattendameetingtheywouldcallateammatetocoverforthem.Usually2peopleworkinateamandsharetheresponsibilities.Wehavejobdescriptions,instructionsforwritingyourreportsfortheVOTER,nametags--whatmorecouldyouwant?Andyou'llhaveagreattime!OBSERVERREPORTbySusanSchmuggeSouthCentralSolidWasteAuthorityRegularMeetingNov.16,2017Present:Solis,Rawson,Gandara,Dr.Garcia,McMahonAbsent:Miyagishima,Vasquez,PereaAftertheDirector'sAdministrative&FinancialreportstheAuthorityunanimouslyapproved4resolutions: Thefirst2werearenegotiatedJointPowersAgreementthatseparatesfiscalrolesbetweentheAuthority,CityofLasCruces,andDonaAnaCountyandallowstheAuthoritytoissuebondswithanyoneoftheother2agencies.Amongimmediatechangeswillbequarterlyinsteadofmonthlymeetings.ThenewagreementallowstheAuthoritytoexpanditsroleinourregion.TheCityofLasCruceswillstillprovidefinancialoversight,accountingandauditservices.Approvalofaccountingresolutionsfollowed.ThenextmeetingwillbeinJanuary,2018.
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OBSERVERREPORTbyMaryEllenKnappLasCruces,NMCityCouncil,November6,2017RegularMeetingMayorandallCouncilorswerepresentItemsofparticularinterestwere:ThepresidentoftheGreaterLasCrucesChamberofCommerceandtheownerofPicQuikconveniencestoreshaverequestedtheCouncilreconsiderthe2014MinimumWageordinance.TheunexpectedannouncementofaJanuary1,2018,cost-of-livingincreasecreatedgreatconcernwithinthebusinesscommunity.ThepresidentoftheChamberofCommerceandtheownerofPicQuikstoresaddressedtheCouncil,requestingreviewoftheordinancepriortotheswearing-inofnewlyelectedcouncilorsattheNovember20,2017,Councilmeeting.APPROVED-Authorizedsaleof201N.Mainproperty,formerlyknownastheCamunezBuilding,toLasCrucesCommunityPartners.AgreementwasamendedtogiveCouncilfinaldesignapprovalofeastandsouthfacades.(7ayes)APPROVED-AdopteddistributionofCity'sportionofproceedsfromsaleof201N.Mainproperty.LasCruces'50%shareofproceedsis$100,000,whichwillbeinvested50%toAffordableHousingTrustFundand50%toEconomicDevelopmentFund.(6ayes,1absent)APPROVED–AdoptedtheRenovateMainStreetincentiveProgram,whichmatches,dollar-for-dollar,privateinvestmentof$25,000forupgradingdowntownproperty.TotalprogramfundsavailableJanuarythroughDecember,2018,are$250,000.(7ayes)OBSERVERREPORTbyDavidNealMeetingattended:DemingCityCouncilDatesubmittedNovember14,2017RegularMeetingOnememberoffiveabsentAtthisCouncilmeetingtherewereregularitemsincludingProclamations,approvalofappointmentstovariousboardsandminutes’approvals.ItisnotedthatduringadiscussionofaproposedbondproposalCouncilmanDr.VictorCruzexpressedoppositiontosuch.However,whenamotionwasmadetoapprovethegeneralobligationbondquestion,Dr.Cruzvotedintheaffirmative.Infact,allvotesbythecouncilwereunanimous--nodissentingvotesonanyissue
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Inaddition,Councilapproveda150’towerproposedbyVerizon.Itwasnotdisclosed,however,whoownsthelandwherethetoweristobebuilt.Thecitymayverywellownthesite/propertyandmaybereceivingmonthlyfeesforthetower.Thiswasnotdisclosed.AsatallotherCouncilmeetings,theMayordeferredtotheCityClerkforexplanatoryremarksonallissues.
VOTERTableofContentsPage1DinnerWithOurLegislativeLeaders MessagefromthePresidentPage2UpcomingEventsPage3ProclamationPosterPage4ACalltoLeadership-
CelebratingOur50thAnniversaryPage5WelcomeNewOfficers ChangestoDirectoryPage6ObserversPostsPage8LWVGLCinformation TableofContentsNOTE:THEPROCLAMATIONPOSTERISATTACHEDADDITIONALLYASASEPARATEFILEFORTHOSEWHOWANTTOPRINTIT.
DECEMBER2017VOTERVolume49,Issue7TheLeagueofWomenVotersofGreaterLasCrucesP.O.Box8233LasCruces,NM88006-8322(575)524-VOTE(8683)www.lwvglc.orgPresident–KimSorensonVice-President,Events&Speakers–ChristineSorgSecretary–ConnieLeeTreasurer–WilliamLittleVoterServices–VickiSimonsandDaleYeoMembershipDirector–SueLashleyNominatingCommittee–JaneAscheEditor,VOTER–[email protected]
