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info@LWVDenver.org
1980 Dahlia Street
Denver, CO 80220
303-321-7571

Date: 1/26/2023
Subject: LWV of Denver VOTER - February
From: League of Women Voters of Denver




The LWVD Newsletter
February 2023

February Briefing
Denver Preschool Program
Tuesday, February 21, 5:30 p.m.

Zoom Link
 

In 2006, LWVDenver endorsed a ballot issue to increase city sales taxes by 0.15% to create the Denver Preschool Program (DPP). It passed by a narrow margin; a reauthorization vote in 2014 passed by a slightly greater margin. League positions have always supported a quality and equitable public school system, pre-K-12. The proposal only seemed to make sense—an investment in quality care and education for Denver four-year-olds. DPP not only provides tuition credits for families, based on a sliding income scale, but also works with preschools to improve and ensure quality programming. 

On Tuesday, February 21, Elsa Holguín, president and CEO of Denver Preschool Program, will be the presenter at the LWVDenver briefing at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. She will present an update on the continuing development and success of the program.  DenverPreschoolProgram
Ms Holguín grew up in a small town in Chihuahua, Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was 17. She has a broad background of work as well as initiating local non-profits, primarily focused on children. She has her M.A. in Public Administration from UCDenver and B.S. in finance from Metro State University. She currently serves on the board of Tools of the Mind and on the Preschool Policy Leadership Committee. 

Denver residents have passed numbers of sales tax initiatives in the past decades to improve the city. As voters, our job doesn’t end at the ballot box. The Denver League is working to follow up on some of these programs to find out if they are meeting their intended purpose.  Members wishing to refresh their memories about the program can go to dpp.org to learn more. Please encourage families with children in Denver and organizations that work with families to tune in to our Zoom briefing.  No registration required.

Sally Augden


Conversation and Book Signing

with Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Saturday, February 18, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Montview Presbyterian Church

Kali Fajardo-AKalinstine is the nationally bestselling author of the novel Woman of Light (One World, 2022) and the widely acclaimed short story collection, Sabrina & Corina (One World, 2019). Her work has been nominated for the National Book Award, the PEN/Bingham Prize, the Clark Prize, the Story Prize, the Saroyan International Prize, and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. Fajardo-Anstine is the winner of a 2020 American Book Award and is the 2021 recipient of the Addison M. Metcalf Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She is also the 2022 - 2024 Endowed Chair in Creative Writing at Texas State University.

Kali is well known to the LWV Denver community as she served as our office manager while she was writing her first book. This isn't just a simple book signing -- Kali is an entertaining and engaging speaker.  You will walk away with a new understanding of Chicanos of indigenous descent. A reception will follow the presentation.

This is a fundraiser for the Denver League.  Tickets are $60 in advance, $70 at the door, and $25 for students.  Kali's books will be available for purchase and author signing thanks to West Side Books (3434 W. 32nd Ave.).  Please let friends and neighbors know about this exciting event!



Register Here


Save the Date

Our briefing on Tuesday, March 21 will be "Update: Reproductive Healthcare and Abortion Access in Colorado." So far, we have speakers from Cobalt and COLOR to update us on the current legislative proposals to better secure these rights in the state and to address the problems with the propagation of misinformation.  We will have more information the next VOTER, but put it in your calendar now!

Sue Stark



January Briefing Recap
What's Up with the Mayoral Election?

Kyle Harris from The Denverite gave an entertaining and informative look at the upcoming mayoral election in Denver.  Leaguers on the Zoom call gave back in the chat concerns that they would like Kyle and The Denverite to cover going forward.  Discussion ensued over ranked choice voting (RCV) and Patty Cordova followed up after the briefing with more information. Although LWVD passed a resolution in 2020 supporting RCV and many communities are turning to it as successful alternative to plurality voting, it has yet to get significant support from our clerk and recorder or city council.  We may see an article on this and other topics soon. 

From Kyle, "Thanks again for the chance to chat with you all! I hope it was as fruitful for the participants as it was for me. There will be many stories coming out of this chat!"  Still 20 candidates as we go to press (sufficient or write-in).


The Future Fund Meets its Goal


Future Fund ThermometerSeveral years ago, Marge Fisch had a brainstorm and brought her idea to the League of Women Voters of Denver Board. To have the resources that the League needed each year to operate more securely, the Board would solicit donations towards a fund, called the Future Fund, similar to a fund the Colorado League had established, and leave the money in an interest-bearing account until it reached $100,000. (There was an emergency clause that the League might “borrow” up to 10% of the principal any year they had a budget deficit. However, the League never activated that clause.)

Many generous League members stepped up, including Marge, and the Future Fund grew to $91,000 a few years ago. In December of 2022, we had a restricted donation from Mary Lohre, an estate donation from Josephine Carpenter, and an estate donation from Vivian Dodds. The board voted to take some of the unrestricted new money and complete the Future Fund to a total of $100,000.

As Treasurer, I moved that we put the full amount into two Certificates of Deposit, and the motion was approved unanimously. With the recent rise in interest rates to 4% for CDs, and with the stock market fluctuating a great deal, the Board wanted to be prudent with the principal. In the future, during budget planning, the Board may take all of the interest earned out of the CDs and use it as operating income, or it may keep the interest in the CDs to continue growing.

We thank every member who contributed to the fund over the years. You have given the League a sustainable source of income should it ever be needed and a secure future.

Bobbie Heisterkamp, Treasurer

United Nations Climate Summit - COP27
View from Toni Larson, LWVDenver

 

Editor's Note:  When I included the summary on COP27 from Connie Sobon Sensor, one of the LVWUS delegates, I did not know that our own Toni Larson also attended.  This month we feature some highlights from her report.  You can read the full report here.

As the name indicates, UNFCCC-COP27 is the 27th gathering of people from around the world working on the dire issues related to climate change. More than 35,000 attended COP27, representing 198 countries. Whether these are official numbers I am not sure, but there certainly were a lot of people there!

The National League was allotted nine observers. Some of the nine attended the first week and others the second week. Some attended in person, some virtually.

The site for the conference depends on nations volunteering to host the conference. If no country volunteers, the default is Germany. This year the conference was held in Sharm el-Sheikh (Sharm), Egypt, the City of Peace, on the Sinai Peninsula. The town is at the southern tip of the peninsula where the Suez and Aquaba Gulfs of the Red Sea meet. Sharm is a new town with today’s town beginning in 1967. Funding for the development is primarily from Israel. It has been developed as a tourist destination (snorkeling and diving are preeminent) and as a conference center.  The 2023 conference (COP28) will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The overall theme of the conference was implementation. After years of “blah, blah, blahing,,” participants wanted action. Loss and damage was also a main topic. By this, the conference meant that a fund should be set up worth billions (or trillions) to help the most vulnerable countries contend with climate induced storms and damage. The voices and needs of the most climate vulnerable nations must be heard and climate justice must be delivered. Wealthier countries should contribute $100 billion per year to aid developing countries get back on their feet. The developing countries had little to do with contributing to climate-damage-created disasters and should be compensated for experienced damage. Loss and damage funds are to be used to help repair damage from storms and other factors. Funds also need to be invested in transitioning to alternative energy.

Here are some highlights of the major actions taken at the conference. Even in the face of geopolitical issues, the conference made some progress. Let’s see if the decisions are implemented.

  • Technology – A five -year work programme to promote energy solutions in developing countries
  • Mitigation – Mitigation work programme for governments to revisit and strengthen 2030 targets by the end of 2023. Phasedown of unabated coal power and phaseout of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, clean and just transitions to renewable energy
  • Global Stocktake – A mechanism to raise ambitions under the Paris Agreement. Global Stocktake or taking stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement evaluating progress made and adequate goals, “It will inform what everybody, every single day, everywhere in the world, needs to do, to avert the climate crisis.”
  • Twenty-five new collaborative actions
  • Globally clean energy supplies must double by 2030 for the world to limit global warming within set targets.

The COP27 was extended by two days; most delegates did not want to leave the conference without finishing its business.

The League has many positions to be used to address both international and environmental issues. While there is a national group working on climate change and also state groups, the League has not taken a leading role in addressing the issues. The time is now! There is no more time to hesitate.

Let us be clear. While the League works on many very important issues and aspects of society, there is none as important as climate change. The earth is on a fast downward spiral to destruction. Without a healthy environment supported by a healthy climate, all other areas, economy, jobs, education, equity, justice, cannot function.

 


Keep Informed on Local and National Issues
by Joining a LWV Denver Unit


As you all know, the League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a mission to register voters, provide concise nonpartisan voter education, and advocate for our local and national positions on such topics as voting rights, affordable housing, mental and physical healthcare accessibility, and free and fair elections.  Since the onset of COVID, our monthly informational briefings are offered to both members and the public online. Prior to the pandemic, smaller groups of members, called “Units,” met after each briefing in members’ homes or local public places to get to know one another personally and discuss in greater depth the most recent briefing topic. These smaller groups are still meeting and welcome newcomers.

If you are interested in joining a group of dynamic women and men who work towards League’s mission, consider visiting and then joining one of the four active Units, some of which have convenient Zoom meetings.

  • Cheesman (Central) meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 9:30AM on Zoom or in-person.  The leader is Bobbie Heisterkamp (303-333-6818, bdheistkmp@aol.com)
  • Cherrington (Northeast) meets on Thursday following briefings at 1:00 p.m. on Zoom or in-person.  The leader is Peg Oldham (720-220-3988, hamnpeg@msn.com)
  • Highland/Woodbury (Northwest) meets in-person on the 3rd Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., although this month they will meet on February 22.  The leader is Sally Augden (303-455-5800, saugden2@comcast.net)
  • Observatory (South-Central) meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom.  The Leader is Jeanette Scotland (303-479-4368, jscotland@gmail.com)

You can join a unit no matter where you live. Unit leaders would be happy to receive your calls or emails.  You could even attend several different Unit meetings before making a decision about which one to join.  If you join, you will meet interesting, often well-informed people who have worked in a variety of professions and/or have knowledge of Denver’s and our State’s legislative efforts and current challenges. Also, you may find a variety of ways to get involved in League activities.

I hope you will consider joining a Unit.  Feel free to contact me, Terry Cookro at 303-455-2405 or inforocks@gmail.com.  If you email me, please write in the subject line “LWV Questions” so I can easily see it and answer promptly.

Terry Cookro, Unit Organization Chair


Partners in Voting Rights

 
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and LWVDenver and LWVArapahoeDouglas joined together to walk in the MLKing, Jr. Marade on January 16 in Denver. 
 
Left to right:  Wanda Lenox, Anne Duncan, Jeanette Scotland, Maud Narol, Michelle Adams

Memories of Jan Burns


Jan Burns (11/10/1928 – 12/24/2022) was an active member of the League of Women Voters of Denver and a member of the Whiteman Unit. She joined the LWVD History Committee in 2016. As chair of that committee, I got to know Jan’s strong and buoyant personality. She informed us of many activities the League undertook in earlier eras, and Jan had determined opinions on how to organize the history book.

At the end of a year of work, drafts, revisions and careful editing, I submitted A Brief History of the League of Women Voters of Denver 1932 – 2017: 85 Years of Service, Education & Advocacy to Amazon Direct Publishing with funding from Kay Shomp’s family, who were delighted that the book was dedicated to Kay, another League of Women Voters pioneer.

Jan invited the whole committee to her home for a publication celebration. She had made each of us a purple/white/gold suffragette sash, and we wore the sashes while we had lunch and champagne on her patio. We all laughed and told stories about our experiences in the League. I shall never forget what a special occasion Jan created for us.

Bobbie Heisterkamp

Another Generous Bequest


We received word in December that the League had received another generous bequest from another dedicated Leaguer:  Vivian Dodds, one of my past mentors, who passed away in July. We received over $12,000 through a charitable trust that Vivian and her husband Joe established 25 years ago.

Vivian was a member of several units over the years. Patty Cordova remembers Vivian welcoming her in the mid-60s to the Ruth Underhill Unit, and since Patty was a teacher, encouraging her to join the Education Committee. More recently, she was a member of St. Vrain Unit. When I first stepped into leadership positions in League, one of the first people I would call for advice was Vivian. She worked in opposition to school segregation, even running for school board. She was Vice-President of Program and kept us all on track there, as well as representing us at National Convention. She was part of the Juvenile Justice Committee that developed our position on Juvenile Justice in 2000, that was also approved at the State level. She received the Suffragist Award for lifetime service to the Denver League in 1999. We miss her and thank her.

Marty Sloven

Board Member Highlight

Jeanette Scotland
Co-Chair, Voter Service


Editor’s Note:  This one of a series of articles highlighting Board members. We thought you’d like to know a little more about their backgrounds and what League means to them.  We’ve also asked them for recommendations on books, movies, or activities.

Jeanette ScotlandIt was the second Wednesday morning in November of 1970 when as very new resident in Boulder, I responded to a newspaper announcement of a meeting of the League of Women Voters. There I met the most intellectually stimulating and congenial group of women ever. It was the beginning of a 52-year love affair. 

In addition to League work, I am grandma to Dominic and Emmie, my priority in life.  Also, I teach Spanish to kindergarteners and preschoolers, which is great fun. As a psychotherapist I have a tiny private practice via telehealth. I am the professional facilitator for a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders parent support group for anyone who wants to join from anywhere on Zoom. While watching streaming, I like to knit or do hand sewing. Did I mention that I also am an active member of the Zonta Club of Denver and attend Cafecito?

As the child of missionaries, I was born in Caracas, Venezuela and lived there until I was six years old. Upon return to the US via a steamship from which I viewed the great Statue of Liberty, we moved around the northeast: NYC, Boston, and Bedford, NH. College was at The College of Wooster (Ohio) B.A. in History, UMass Amherst - Master of Arts in Teaching and in my forties The State University of NY at Albany for a Master’s in Social Welfare.

After grad school the first time, I married Tom Stewart and we moved to Champagne-Urbana Illinois where I got to teach for a year. It was fun work. We then moved to Boulder. That’s where I got deeply involved with the League and the Boulder community. From there we moved to Albany, NY where the sun rarely shone. I was determined to return to Colorado. Twenty-five years later I mostly retired from psychotherapy to fulfill my commitment to return to CO. I was a fairly new grandma and wanted to be close to them. And per usual, I joined the local League.

I do like to Facetime with siblings and friends back East, hike, knit, and re-learn Spanish. Reading is like eating: a basic life activity. I’d recommend A Man Called Ove, now the basis for A Man Called Otto movie.

End of the AmazonSmile Program


Since 2013, League members have been able to purchase from AmazonSmile and support League of Women Voters Denver. Amazon feels that after almost a decade, the program was spread too thin and has not created the impact they hoped.  As of February 20, 2023, they will end the program. You can continue to use AmazonSmile until that date and the League will still receive a portion of the purchase. We will then receive a one-time donation from Amazon equivalent to three months of what we earned in 2022.

Welcome New Members

Amy Hempe, amyhempe@hotmail.com
Patricia Horsch, pdhorsch@gmail.com
Pamela Portman, pam.r.portman@gmail.com
Martina Schulte
Mary Svoboda, msvob15706@icloud.com

 


Please Renew Your Membership or
Become a Member


If you received this email and are not a member, please consider joining us. If it's time to renew your membership, consider doing it on-line.

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 membership level. Membership dues are tax deductible. 

Regular Individual Membership   $60
Sustaining membership (includes an additional donation)  $125
Two regular members at the same address
 $90
Two sustaining members at the same address (includes an additional donation)  $150 
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!  

Consider a Sustaining 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 to use for our education activities, to support our office and to continue our voter service resources for the city of Denver.  Thank you!



www.LWVDenver.org
info@LWVDenver.org
1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303-321-7571