The LWVD Newsletter
April 2025 | April Briefing
What Can We Do Now?
How to Stay Civically Engaged in Difficult Times
Tuesday, April 15, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
IN PERSON
Montview Blvd Presbyterian Church
At the LWVD Program Committee meeting last month, we switched gears from the usual briefing format of having presenters on a particular area of interest to a discussion format. After a successful Drinks & Dialogue on this same topic, we want to continue to address the plea all of us are voicing and hearing daily in reaction to the barrage of attacks on our democratic institutions and policies: “What can we do now?”
Our plan for the Tuesday, April 15 briefing is to bring together facilitators for a discussion to put forth responses to this question. We are in the process of inviting representatives from local advocacy and civil rights organizations to hear what approaches they are taking and to share among ourselves ideas for advocacy and action for Leaguers. So far, we have reached out to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Common Cause, the ACLU and several other progressive organizations to join us at this briefing.
Mariam Bouricius, Co-Chair of Voter Service, and I served as facilitators for a “dry run” of this approach last week. The Denver League was asked by a woman who wanted to bring together her friends and neighbors to hear about the SAVE Act and what actions they could take to counter that voter suppression proposal. We offered a list of “Ideas for Engaging Locally” which generated a lively discussion, and hopefully energy that the 30 attendees took from the meeting to act in their communities.
We now want to bring that same approach to our fellow League members. Please plan to attend this timely briefing on Tuesday, April 15 at 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Montview Presbyterian Church (1980 Dahlia) and interact with fellow Leaguers. This will be our last briefing of the League year and our goal is to energize us to stay active over the summer months until next fall’s Kickoff event.
To quote my mother Ruth Stark, who was active in the LWVD for over 50 years: “You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time.”
Susan Stark, Director of Program
| New Member Welcome
Tuesday, April 15
4:45 - 5:25 p.m.
Montview Blvd Presbyterian Church
Are you a new member or an existing member who would like more information about how the League works?
Please join us in person before the April Briefing for a short welcome and orientation. You will hear about the history of the League, our mission, and how you can be more active through our committees and task forces. You will also meet fellow Leaguers. All are welcome! | Still Time to be a Part of the National Consensus
The League of Women Voters prides itself on being a grass roots organization. We do voter education, but we also advocate for issues we have studied and come to consensus on. This year, we have had a LWVCO religious freedom study about which we should hear the results soon. Now we are in the middle of a national study on the Federal Judiciary. We have three opportunities to be a part of this consensus. If you are a League member, we hope you will attend one of the three meetings to discuss the issues from which we will send our results to LWVUS.
| Thursday, March 27 (Tonight!) |
In Person |
5:30 p.m. |
McCollum Room, Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church |
| Saturday, March 29 |
In Person |
10:00 a.m. |
Same location |
| Tuesday, April 1 |
By Zoom |
5:30 p.m. |
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86463055173 |
| Voter Service In Action
Circulator Training – Your Role in Empowering Voters
By participating in circulator training, you will become part of a dedicated team working to expand voter access in Colorado. As a trained circulator, you’ll play a key role in registering new voters, ensuring that more citizens are prepared to cast their ballots in upcoming elections.
New Dates for April!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our March Circulator Training sessions! If you missed them—or if you’re a returning circulator —we’ve added new April dates to get you ready for voter registration season. Sessions are by Zoom.
New Circulator Trainings (for those who haven't trained before):
📅 April 11 at 3:00 p.m.
📅 April 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Returning Circulator Refresher Trainings (for previously trained members):
📅 April 22 at 9:00 a.m.
📅 April 23 at 7:30 p.m.
These sessions will cover Colorado voter registration rules, circulator responsibilities, and tips for connecting with voters. Whether you're new or returning, your participation helps strengthen our democracy and empower more Coloradans to vote.
Ready to join in? To sign up, please use this Google doc. Let’s keep the momentum going—see you at training!
To learn more, please contact Mariam Bouricius at mttejeda@gmail.com.
Girl Scouts – Requesting Volunteers
National LWV established a partnership with the US Girl Scouts in 2024. Last fall, a troop came to several LWV Denver voter registration events with signs and stickers to hand out. We’re now in touch with local Girl Scout staff and are hoping to present some workshops for a variety of ages. The basic material for a “Promote the Vote Patch Program” has already been prepared. We need a lead volunteer plus several others to present the information and assist with any scout follow-up activities. Would you like to help? If yes, please contact Lisa Haddox at lisa.m.haddox@gmail.com.
Energizing Young Voters – Requesting Volunteers
 LWV New Jersey had developed a great program that several leagues across the country are using, including LWV Boulder, customizing it for Colorado. The program includes classroom modules, voter registration initiatives, opportunities of leadership development, and connections to other resources that further civic engagement among young people. The Voter Service Committee is looking for volunteers to implement this program in Denver. Please contact Lisa Haddox if you are interested at lisa.m.haddox@gmail.com.
Advocacy
We hope you were able to see the Letter to the Editor on March 15 from LWVD and the Voter Service Committee regarding the SAVE Act. If you missed it, here is the text of the letter.
| Plan To Attend the LWVD
Saturday, May 10, 8:45 - 11:30 a.m.
Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church
Join your fellow Leaguers at this year's Annual Meeting. We will begin with a light continental breakfast at 8:45 a.m. followed by our speaker (TBD) at 9:30 a.m. and then finally the business meeting, all to be finished before noon.
The business part of the meeting will follow our speaker, including approval of the 2025-26 budget, amended bylaws and the slate of officers for the coming year. We will be sending the budget and slate of officers in an upcoming Thursday Weekly Update so that you have 30 days before the meeting as prescribed in our bylaws. The bylaws changes are in the next article
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 below for more about the awards and a nomination form. | Nominate Worthy Leaguers!
In preparation of our Annual Meeting on May 10, 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!
Nomination Form
Award nominations are due to Membership Chair Cassie Bishop via email at cassandrabish@gmail.com by Friday, April 18, 2025.
| Members Will be Amending Our By-Laws at Annual Meeting
As part of the Transformation Project by LWVUS, started in 2022, all local and state Leagues now must revise the membership article of their by-laws to be identical to those of the LWVUS. You can find the changes to the relevant Article III from our current Denver by-laws here. The parts that are to be deleted are crossed out and the new parts are written in bold lettering.
The significant changes are as follows:
- 16 year olds may join the League and be voting members
- Students are defined as part or full time at an accredited institution
- You can join any local League you want
While there are still lifetime memberships for those who have been members of the LWVUS for 50 years, we will no longer have household or sustaining memberships. If anyone has questions, please email me at jscotland@gmail.com.
Jeanette Scotland
Director of Organization | HANDS OFF, National Day of Protest
On Saturday, April 5, the League of Women Voters will join the Indivisible group, 50501 and other organizations for a nationwide day of protest. In Denver it will be held on the west steps of the Capitol (200 E. Colfax) at 12:00 p.m. Look for more information about joining with Leaguers to attend this protest in the next Weekly Update.
| Coming: Amaryllis and Paperwhite Bulb Sale 2025!
Our Amaryllis and Paperwhite Bulb Sale will begin May 1.
Watch the VOTER and Weekly Updates for more news.
Thank you to all of you who supported the League of Women Voters of Denver by selling and purchasing these amazing bulbs last year! Get ready to buy again and alert your friends and relatives!
Here are a few of the photos you shared of these beautiful winter-blooming amaryllis and paperwhites.
| On International Women’s Day the City and County Building
Went Purple
Photo courtesy of Tom Stewart
Initially at dusk, the city lights did not go on as a brief ceremony began. Zonta and League leaders described their organizations’ activities promoting gender equality. City Council Member Diana Romero Campbell spoke of her interest and work for gender equity over many years. Jeanette Scotland highlighted the Women To Watch program. The real drama occurred when Beth Hendrix started to speak for LWVCO and the Colorado Voters Rights Act when, presto, the purple lights came on! Purple is a key color for International Women's Day, symbolizing justice, dignity, and loyalty to the cause. As for the party? We renewed old acquaintances and everyone enjoyed the refreshments in the lovely and relaxing setting.
Jeanette Scotland
Zonta and League Member | Keep Track of Your Volunteer Hours!
Holley Murphy, LWVD member and LWVUS staff member, created a form that any member can use to record volunteer time. LWVUS needs this information and it is also important for us when applying for grants. Please use the form to enter any hours you spend at any cadence you'd like. Maybe once a month or after every event?
Volunteer Hours Form
| Board Highlights
Monday, March 10
- Welcomed Anais Salcido to our board as Co-Director of Program. We are so pleased to have three new members on our board, who will undoubtedly bring new perspectives.
- Coordinated meetings involving the new LWVCO study on Religious Freedom and the National consensus on the Federal Judiciary
- Heard the plan for the April 15 briefing: What Can We Do Now?
- Heard that Jackie Denning is posting away on social media
- Voter Service is looking at ways to energize young voters
- Sent a letter to the Editor of The Post opposing the SAVE act
- Began planning a New Member Orientation before the April 15 briefing
- Changed the date of the next board meeting to April 7
Marty Sloven, Secretary
| LWV Denver Units
A great place for meaningful conversations
Units are small groups who meet after briefings to discuss the topic further and whatever else is on the minds of the attendees.
April schedule:
Cheesman Unit
Meets in person on the fourth Tuesday of the month
Next in-person meeting: Tuesday, April 22, 9:30 a.m. at Bobbie’s House
Leader: Bobbie Heisterkamp (303-333-6818)
Cherrington Unit
Normally meets in person on the 3rd Thursday of the month
Next in-person meeting: Thursday, April 17, 1:00 p.m. at home of Marcia Verba
Leader: Peg Oldham (720-220-3988)
Highland/Woodbury Unit
Meets in person the third Wednesday of the month
Next in-person meeting: April 16 at 1:00 p.m. at Sassafras Restaurant, 3927 W 32nd Ave. (80212)
Leaders: Sally Augden (303-455-5800) and Joan Friend (303-596-1022)
Observatory Unit
Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month on Zoom or in person
Next Meeting: April 22, 4:00 p.m. at the Ross-University Hills Library
Leader: Diane Young (303-886-3365), dioyoung@comcast for Zoom link.
| 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 18 |
Thursday, April 24 |
| Summer |
TBD |
TBD |
Please send your articles or ideas about articles to pzelarney@yahoo.com. | Rather Read the VOTER on Paper?
Click this link for a printable pdf version of the newsletter:
Printable LWVD VOTER | | 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303-321-7571 | | | |