The LWVD Newsletter
April 2024 | April Briefing
An Update on the
Signs of Success
Tuesday, April 16, 5:30 p.m.
Zoom
The Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) is a unique social welfare program designed to be a model by which our city can make a positive impact on people living in poverty by providing unconditional cash payments to our unhoused neighbors. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Denver, a randomized control trial was set up in 2023 to measure the effectiveness of the project.
In April of last year, the LWVD invited Mark Donovan, the founder and director of the Denver Basic Income Project to present a briefing about this innovative program. His enthusiastic presentation led us to ask if he would return when adequate data had been collected to provide us with an update. We are pleased to bring back Mr. Donovan and Maria Sierra, DBIP’s Community Engagement Manager, to describe the promising results of the program.
In a recent article in The Denverite, Rebecca Tauber writes, “Unlike many government support programs, which come with strings attached, basic income takes the approach that people in need know how best to spend their money. It's something philanthropists and politicians across the country have been experimenting with in recent years, and Denver's program is one of the largest to study the effects of basic income.”
Please join us via zoom!
Sue Stark, Director of Program
| Briefing Recap - Universal Healthcare
The LWVDenver briefing on March 19, a viewing of the documentary “Healing US,” attracted more than 50 attendees, a record for our Zoom briefings. The documentary, about the need for and the possibility of universal health care in the United States, is a review of the economic rationale for a better system for insuring quality health care for all citizens and the recitation of very human stories of how our current health insurance system is failing Americans.
For those who viewed the film this week and would like to take action, sharing the film is a major plus, as is supporting the Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care (https://couniversalhealth.org/), the organization sponsoring it. Preparing the electorate for a future ballot issue is paramount. The goal is to realize a universal system in enough states that the Congress sees this as a viable effort for the entire country. The documentary is available on lwvdenver.org. “Healing US” can also be accessed on Amazon Prime and Vimeo.
Sally Augden | Coming Soon!
LWV Denver’s Premiere Fundraiser
OUR 2024 INDOOR BULBS SALE
This year’s sale will offer indoor bulbs only, primarily beautiful amaryllis! Peter, our longtime link to Dutch tulip bulb suppliers, has retired. We thank him for 30 years of service to the Denver League.
We’re continuing with the amaryllis bulb supplier Peter found for us years ago, and we’ll start our Indoor Bulbs Sale as soon as we have that grower’s list of varieties.
Watch for the Date and Support the League!
The League of Women Voters of Denver is critical to maintaining and strengthening Democracy in our city.
The League is valued and respected for its ongoing non-partisan work, public information and education, and highly effective action and advocacy. A grassroots nonprofit, whose support comes from members and the community, the League needs to remain strong and we need to be strong supporters.
Please join this fundraising effort!
Thank you!
Barb Mattison, Bulb Sale 2024 Chair
| Make Plans Now!
Saturday, May 18, 8:45 - 11:30 a.m.
Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church
Speaker: Sara Hazel, CEO of the Denver Public Schools Foundation
Our Annual Meeting will once again be in person this year. We will begin with a light continental breakfast at 8:45 a.m. followed by our speaker at 9:30 a.m. and then finally the business meeting, all to be finished before noon. We are still working on the agenda and it is possible the times will change slightly.
The business part of the meeting will follow our speaker, including approval of the 2024-25 budget and approval of the slate of officers. We will be sending the budget and slate of officers in an upcoming Thursday Update so that you have both 30 days before the meeting as prescribed in our bylaws.
Member input is always welcome and encouraged, but especially at Annual Meeting. The Board is open to new directions and ideas of interest to members and ways to increase our membership.
A highlight is always when we celebrate fellow Leaguers with awards. See the next article for more about the awards and a nomination form.
| Nominate a Leaguer Who Inspires You
In preparation of our Annual Meeting on May 18, we are excited to open up nominations for awards. We have the Shirley Weaver Suffragist Award to recognize lifetime achievement and outstanding contributions to the Denver League, the Marty Sloven Mother Lode Award for above and beyond efforts put forth the past year, and the JEDI Award for contributions toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage all members to consider a nomination! Find the form below and here.
Award nominations are due to Membership Chair Cassie Bishop via email at cassandrabish@gmail.com on Monday, April 22. | Voter Service Committee News
Spring Voter Registration Events
We have several events scheduled in April and May at high schools, colleges, and retirement communities, in addition to our continued voter registration at the Denver jails. If you are trained as a Circulator, we notify you of event dates and locations. Upcoming Circulator Training dates are April 3 at 1:30-3:00 p.m. or April 18 at 4:30-6:00 p.m. If you are interested in taking Circulator Training, please notify Anne Duncan at duncananned47@msn.com or 773.852.3197 (text preferred over call).
LWV Denver - Voter Registration QR Code
We developed a custom QR code that directs people to the Colorado Secretary of State’s website that is used to register to vote and check existing registration information. We can now identify how many people use our QR code to access the state site. This will be helpful for us to know as voter registration continues to evolve from a paper-based to an electronic system. And for those of us who love paper, I’m sure that will remain an option for years to come. Try this out to check your registration! Use your smartphone to take a photo of the QR code, then follow the link to the state website. Click on “Find my registration” under the “View or update my voter record” heading.
Youth Council
Our council includes students from Metropolitan State University and Denver School of the Arts High School. We hope to broaden our membership next year. We’ve completed an orientation and are following up with Circulator Training for the council members. After that, the Youth Council will help us with voter registration events at high schools. They have great ideas and the energy to engage their peers!
Lisa Haddox, Voter Service Chair |  | Save the Date
New Council Members Meet and Greet
Tuesday, April 30, 5:00 p.m.
The Pinnacle, 2990 E. 17th Ave.
Four years ago, we hosted our new City Council members in an informative meeting with some social time with hors d'oeuvres and drinks. It was a great way to meet these new leaders in our city in a more casual way and also a great opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of fellow Leaguers. We have scheduled a similar event in April for our six new council members. This is open to all Leaguers and their guests, and we particularly want to invite new members from the last year. Leaguer Cindy Sestrich, who keeps a close eye on City Council, will again introduce the Council Members and ask them some timely questions. Please put it on your calendar. | 
56th Biennial League of Women Voters
National Convention
Washington, DC and Online
June 27 – 30
League members are invited to register as delegates or observers to the 2024 National Convention. Delegates have full access to all convention events and the ability to submit motions, debate, and vote on plenary items. The Denver League is allowed four voting delegates and several Board members are considering going. However, any member can attend as a voting delegate. LWVD's budget allows $500 per delegate for those attending in person, which primarily covers registration. If we do not have four voting delegates attending in person, voting delegates may attend on-line. If you are interested, contact Fran at the office.
Members are also invited to attend virtually as a observers. This is a great way to see how the national League plans for the future. Observers have full access to all convention events and the ability to observe plenary where delegates will vote on the following:
- 2024 – 2026 Program
- 2024 – 2026 Budget
- 2024 – 2026 LWVUS Board of Directors and Nominating Committee
- Submitted bylaws amendments.
Virtual observers can attend for $125. You can register here. | 
Read Speak, Okinawa by Elizabeth Miki Brina and join us. A “hauntingly beautiful memoir about family and identity” (NPR) and a young woman’s journey to understanding her complicated parents—her mother an Okinawan war bride, her father a Vietnam veteran—and her own, fraught cultural heritage.
This is a great new way for Leaguers to engage. All are welcome!
RSVP
Cassandra Bishop, Membership Chair
| Welcome New Members
Audrey Diamontopoulos, zip code 80206, wadahr@icloud.com
Rocky Piro, zip code 80209, docroc93@gmail.com
Deborah Katz, zip code 80206, dkatz56@gmail.com
Katherine Schultz, zip code 80209, katherineschultz2015@gmail.com
Anna Sheffield, zip code 80218, sheffield.anna@gmail.com | VOTER Articles Welcome!
We welcome articles from all members. We usually publish the VOTER on the fourth Thursday, so the deadline to submit articles is the Friday before.
| VOTER |
Article Deadline |
Voter Publication Date |
| May |
Friday, April 19 |
Thursday, April 25 |
| Summer |
TBD |
TBD |
Please send your articles or ideas about articles to pzelarney@yahoo.com. | LWV Denver Units
A great place for meaningful conversations
APRIL SCHEDULE
Cheesman Unit
Meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m.
Next in-person meeting is April 23 at Bobbie Heisterkamp’s.
Leader: Bobbie Heisterkamp (303-333-6818)
Cherrington Unit
Meets in-person Thursdays following briefings at 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Next in-person meeting is April 18, at Marcia Verba’s.
Leaders: Peg Oldham (720-220-3988) and Andrea Mitchell
Highland/Woodbury Unit
In-Person Meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
Next meeting is April 17, at Sassafras Restaurant, 3927 W 32nd Ave.
Leader: Sally Augden (303-455-5800)
Observatory Unit
Meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 4:00 p.m.
Next meeting is April 23 in-person in the Small Community Room at Ross-University Hills Branch Library, 4310 E Amherst Ave.
Co-Leaders: Diane Young (303-886-3365) and Jeanette Scotland (303-479-4368) | Consider a Sustaining or Benefactor Membership
We appreciate all those who pay $60 to be a member. However, the LWV Denver can only keep $8 of that $60 and the rest goes to Per Member Payments to the LWVCO and LWVUS. For those who are able, think about paying a sustaining $125 membership that gives the LWV Denver $73 or a benefactor $300 membership that gives the LWV Denver $248 to use for our education activities, to support our office and to continue our voter service resources for the city of Denver. Thank you!
Bobbie Heisterkamp, Treasurer
| Please Renew Your Membership or
Become a Member Today
If you received this email VOTER and are not a member, please consider joining us. If it's time to renew your membership, consider doing it online.
Follow this link to join or renew at one of our membership levels and remember that it covers Denver, Colorado and National membership. Also, please consider renewing at the sustaining or benefactor membership level. Membership dues are tax deductible.
| Regular Individual Membership |
$60 |
| Sustaining membership (includes an additional donation) |
$125 |
| Benefactor membership (includes additional donation)
|
$300 |
Two regular members at the same address
|
$90 |
| Two sustaining members at the same address (includes an additional donation) |
$150 |
| Two benefactor members at the same address (includes an additional donation)
|
$450 |
Member needing assistance with paying dues
|
$5 |
| Part or full-time student |
$10 |
Members: Forward this VOTER and encourage your friends and neighbors to join! | | 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303-321-7571 | | | |