The Rhode Island
The newsletter of the
League of Women Voters of Rhode Island
One Richmond Square, Suite 220 A-W
Providence, RI 02906
oter
Fall 2016
INSIDE: Meet your Board/4 Candidates Forums Throughout the State/3 News from LWVUS Convention/7
Finally,The Ethics Commission Question
Goes to the Voters!
by Jane W. Koster
I
f voters in Rhode Island pass Question 2 in the November
election, power of the Rhode Island’s independent Ethics
Commission will be restored. Rhode Island voters will be
forgiven if they feel a sense of deja vu. “Didn’t we already
vote on an Ethics Commission?” they might ask.
In 1986 voters, ignoring strong opposition from powerful elected officials and others in places of power to reject
the resolution, voters went to the polls and passed the Ballot Resolution “Ethics in Government,” which came out of
the 1986 Constitutional Convention. This new Rhode Island
statute was acknowledged across our country as one of the
most important ethics reform of its time. As a result of the
new law, the independent RI Ethics Commission had the
power to prosecute RI lawmakers as well as all elected and
appointed officials, but that changed in 2009.
As John Marion, executive director of Common Cause
RI explained in the April 2013 issue of The Voter,
This decision meant, and
still means to this day, that
there is no ethics oversight
over Rhode Island’s General
Assembly against possible
misuse of their elected positions for their own personal
gain. Now seven years after
that decision, RI voters will be
asked again to vote to change
the constitution to restore the
power Rhode Island’s inde-
Finally continued page 6
LWV South County Honors Camilla Wiener
This issue arose in June 2009 when the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled in Irons v. Rhode Island Ethics Commission that legislators are immune from the Code of Ethics for
their “core legislative acts,” including voting and speaking
on bills. The Court said that the “speech in debate clause” of
the Rhode Island Constitution (Article VI, Section 5) trumps
the more recent Ethics Amendment (Article III, Section 8)
because the former was not amended to account for the latter.
The Court made this ruling despite the fact that the Ethics
Amendment reads, “All elected an appointed officials and
employees of state and local government, board, commissions and agencies shall be subject to the code of ethics.
Election 2016!
Leagues throughout the state are
holding candidates forums this
election season.Turn to page 3 for the
full schedule.
A
t a June 4, 2016, luncheon at the Westerly Public
Library, 50 friends feted Camilla Wiener, longtime South County League member, and mother of
League member Elizabeth Candas. In fifty plus years
of volunteering, Camilla has poll-run, worked on studies, “Know Your City” books, and voter registration
drives. Congratulations! Pictured here at the event are
(l-r): Joyce Stevos, Camilla Wiener, and Joanne Rizzo.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Making Democracy Work For All
O
n June 16, in the heat of summer, I crossed the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge driving west southwest toward our country’s capital to meet with some 800 other
League members from across the United States. I was looking forward to attending the League of Women Voters of the
United States 52nd National Convention.
The overall theme of Convention 2016— “Making
Democracy Work For All”—was a call by the League for
change and unity around “a winning plan to reclaim our democracy and protect the right to vote.” In conjunction with
extending our voice, delegates approved amendments to
Article III, Section 2 of League bylaws pertaining to Types
of League Membership. Voting membership is now open
to non-citizens and to individuals 16 years of age or older.
Delegates from 48 states, the District of Columbia and
the Virgin Islands participated in caucuses, workshops and
informational sessions on gerrymandering solutions, social
media training, immigration, criminal justice reform, voter
reform, gun safety, behavioral health and climate change.
These breakouts highlighted the enormous expansion of issues demanding attention from the League in the ever-changing face of our country and its, at times, fragile democracy.
Before attending national convention, League of Women Voters RI addressed and accepted all LWVUS positions
on issues among other business at the LWVRI biennial 2016
Council held in Jamestown in May.
In mid May, the LWVRI testified in partial support of
both Assembly Speaker Matiello’s and Senate President Paiva
Weed’s ethics bills. There was still the question and on-going
debate as to the “moratorium on the filing of ethics complaints
against declared candidates for elective offices” and where this
language should be placed. Those in support of the moratorium
were concerned that false claims would be made during election cycles. The League and members of the coalition in support of the felt the moratorium did not belong in the constituThe League of Women Voters of Rhode Island
One Richmond Square, Suite 220 A-W, Providence, RI 02906
www.lwvri.org 401-339-9766
Jane Koster, President
Patty MacLeish, Voter Editor
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works
to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public
policy through education and advocacy.
Membership in the League is open to any citizen of the United States. Noncitizens may become associate members. Annual dues of $50 for an individual
and $75 for a household include automatic membership in Local, State and
National Leagues. Membership forms are available at www.lwvri.org or call
401-434-6440. Please join us and help promote informed citizen involvement
in government.
The Rhode Island Voter is published four times a year: August, October, January and April. Periodic postage paid at Providence, R.I. and additional mailing
offices. ©2016 LWVRI
2
September 2016
by Jane W. Koster
tion. On June 14, the House and Senate Judiciary Committees
approved a substitute text, as the coalition had urged them to
do, removing the moratorium language from the RI Constitution on the condition it be placed within the body of the RI
Ethics Commission regulations.
This legislation— “The Joint Resolution To Approve and
Publish and Submit to the Electors A Proposition of Amendment
to the Constitution”— would finally appear on the ballot and RI
voters would have a choice on the ethics issue when they vote on
Question 2 on the November 8 ballot. Advocating for passage of
the amendment is now a priority and LWVRI is partnering with
Common Cause RI, Operation Clean Government and Clean RI
to educate voters on the importance of voting “Yes” on Question
2. We all need to work to ensure that the Ethics Commission has
full jurisdiction over our legislators.
Voting has and still is one of our many core Issues of
League. We supported the Secretary of State’s bills on online voter registration, new high tech voting machines and
e-poll books that passed in the General Assembly this session. All will be in place for the 2016 primaries and General
Election. We also supported on-line early voting.
Providing our governor with the line-item veto and
improvement in redistricting policies are among the issues
we continue to prioritize. Delegates at the 52nd LWVUS
National Convention in June passed a redistricting position
that emphasizes “maximum opportunity for public participation” and “responsibility for redistricting preferably
should be vested in an independent special commission.”
We have already met with partner organizations and Kimball W. Brace, President Election Data Services, Manassas,
Virginia, who is collecting election data for 2020 census.
I can report that Voter Service is in high gear. Local
leagues and MALs have an impressive line-up of nearly
thirty candidate forums for the primary and general elections
and voter registration dates during this election season. We
are partnering again this year to poll run for the Associated
Press and are planning with Johnson and Wales University on
events to encourage student civic engagement.
The LWVRI continues its 96-year journey as we work
to support our grassroots mission and its legacy. We are
front and center as we promote and help expand “Making
Democracy Work for All.” Please join us on this journey.
In League,
Jane W. Koster
The Rhode Island Voter
Local Leagues set Dates for Candidates’ Forums
A
cross Rhode Island local Leagues and members as large have
been working hard as they organize candidates’ forums for local municipalities and State House offices. Many of the events are
cosponsored with other organizations. As we go to press, these are
the events that will take place. Others are pending. Please check
our web page, www.lwvri.org, for further updates and any time
changes.
Wednesday, September 28, 6:30 p.m. RI State Senate Candidates for District 35, Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue,
Narragansett, sponsored by the LWV South County.
Wednesday, September 28, 8 p.m. RI State Representative Candidates for District 33, Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue,
Narragansett, sponsored by the LWV South County.
Thursday, September 29, 6:30 p.m. Westerly Town Council,
Westerly Town Hall, 45 Broad Street, Westerly, sponsored by the
LWV South County.
Tuesday, October 4, 6:30-8 p.m. Candidates for the Newport
City Council Ward 1, at the Martin Luther King Center, 20 Dr.
Marcus Wheatland Blvd., moderated by LWV Newport County.
Wednesday, October 5, 6 p.m. Candidates for RI State Senate
District 32, RI State Representative District 67, Barrington Town
Council, and Barrington School Committee; Barrington Town
Hall, 283 County Road, Barrington, sponsored by LWVRI Members at Large, East Bay, East Bay Newspapers, Full Channel and
East Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Thursday, October 6, 6:30 p.m. RI State Representative Candidates for District 38, Westerly Town Hall, 45 Broad Street, Westerly, sponsored by the LWV South County.
Tuesday, October 11, 6:30-8 p.m. Candidates for the At-Large
Newport City Council, City Council Chambers, Newport City
Hall 43 Broadway, moderated by LWV Newport County.
Thursday, October 13, 7 p.m. Candidates for RI State Senate
District 10, RI State Representative District 67, RI State Representative District 68, and Warren Town Council; Warren Town
Hall, 514 Main Street, Warren, sponsored by LWVRI Members
at Large, East Bay, East Bay Newspapers, Full Channel and East
Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Tuesday, October 18, 6:30-8 p.m. Candidates for the Newport
T
School Committee in the Pell School Cafetorium, 36 Dexter St.,
Newport, moderated by LWV Newport County.
Thursday, October 20, 5:30 p.m. Candidates for RI State Senate District 32, State Representative District 63, East Providence City Council
Wards 2, 3, and 4, and East Providence School Committee at Large,
Weaver Library, 41 Grove Avenue, East Providence, sponsored by
LWVRI Members at Large, East Bay and East Bay Newspapers.
Wednesday, October 26, 6:30 p.m. RI State Senate Candidates
for District 37, Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett, sponsored by the LWV South County.
Wednesday, October 26, 8 p.m. RI State Representative Candidates for District 35, Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue,
Narragansett, sponsored by the LWV South County.
Tuesday, November 1, 6:30 p.m. Narragansett School Committee Candidates, Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett, sponsored by the LWV South County.
Tuesday, November 1, 8 p.m. Narragansett Town Council Candidates, Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett,
sponsored by the LWV South County.
Join Us! Become Part of
Making Democracy Work
Membership in the League is $50; two
members of the same household may join for $75. To
join please send a check and this form to LWVRI, One
Richmond Square, Suite 220 A-W, Providence, RI
02906, and help Democracy Work! Or, join on line at
www.lwvri.org.
Name______________________________________________
Address____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________
Phone _____________________________________________
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
he LWVRI cannot survive without the support of its members and friends. This fiscal year to date, the generosity of
members and friends of the League added $2,340 to the operating budget of the LWVRI and $680 to the LWVRI Education Foundation, for a total of $3,020. Donations to the LWVRI will be used to fund League activities such as keeping the state
office running and supporting our lobbying efforts at the State House. Donations to the LWVRI Education Foundation will be
used to support activities such as candidates’ forums. The list includes all gifts received between April 30-September 1, 2016 (gifts
received before April 20 were published in the spring edition of The Voter.) Send your contribution to LWVRI, One Richmond
Square, Suite A-W, Providence, RI 02906. If you feel your name should be here and it is not, or if it is listed incorrectly, please contact Rosemary Forbes-Woodside, LWVRI Treasurer, 23 Skysail Ct., Jamestown, RI 02835 or e-mail [email protected].
Donors to the LWVRI
Donors to the LWVRI Education Foundation
Trudy Cox, Cranston, RI
Nancy Burroughs, LWV South County
Judy Dorian, LWV Providence
Roseann Bootz, LWV Providence
Elizabeth Head, LWV Providence
Joan C. Prescott, LWV Bristol
Elizabeth Ward O’Shea, Newport
Cornelia Lanon, LWV Providence
Marilyn Malina, Kingston
Kathleen Ward, Newport
Harriet Wrenn, LWV Providence
The Rhode Island Voter
September 2016
3
Meet Your Board!
The Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island oversees the programs of the
League in Rhode Island. Members are elected each year and serve staggered terms. Please let them know
your concerns and ideas for the League and consider joining the board yourself!
Jane W. Koster, President
LWV Newport County, 449 West Reach Dr., Jamestown,
RI 02835, 401-339-2351; [email protected]
Jane is serving her second term as LWVRI president. She is also on the LWV Newport County
Board of Directors and has served as treasurer for
both the LWV Newport County and the LWVRI..
She has been a resident of Rhode Island since 1970 and resides in
Jamestown with husband Richard, also a member of the League.
With degrees in Political Science, History and Early Childhood
Education, she was an educator in the East Greenwich Public
School System. She also sits on the Boards of the East Bay Community Action Program, the Humane Society of Jamestown and
the RISD Museum Docent Association Council.
Jill Kassis, First Vice-President & Membership Chair
LWV Newport County, 126 Storm King Drive, Portsmouth, RI
02871, 619-0377, (cell) 924-0854; jhkassis@
gmail.com
Jill’s career has been in international education and
development with executive roles in several international nonprofit organizations working in developing
countries around the world with funding from US
and international development agencies. In recent
time she has consulted for colleges and universities on special projects and to assist in building institutional partnerships and international student recruitment. She also has served on several nonprofit
boards including the Newport Council for International Visitors. Over
the last four years, Jill has been a founding partner of Leadership
Matters, a program of public/social sector development for Rhode Island, jointly sponsored by the Pell Center for International Relations
and Public Policy at Salve Regina University, and the Public Sector
Consortium, a Cambridge, Mass., nonprofit. Jill
is also a member of the LWV Newport County.
Susan Wells, Second Vice-President
LWV Newport County, 229 Gibbs Ave, Newport, RI 02840, 846-9537 or 378-7595 (cell);
[email protected]
Susan’s career was in education, working at
schools in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in secondary education, mostly in admissions and college placement at
independent schools. Now retired, she is involved with various nonprofit and civic organizations. Susan is also president of the Newport
County League
Susan Escherich, Secretary & Advocacy CoChair
LWV Member at Large
133 Terrace Ave., Riverside, RI 02915, 4334896; [email protected]
Susan retired from working for the National Register of Historic Places at the National Park Service
4
September 2016
in Washington, D.C., in 2005. She and her husband moved to Rhode
Island to be near grandchildren in 2006. Susan has worked with other
League members to present candidates’ forums in East Providence,
Barrington, Warren and Bristol each election cycle. This year there
are seven. She is a also a member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and she has been studying both American and Japanese flower
arranging, as well as enjoying gardening, reading and travelling.
Rosemary Forbes Woodside, Treasurer
LWV Newport County, 23 Skysail Ct, Jamestown, RI 02835; 4239202; forbes.wood- [email protected]
Rosemary Forbes-Woodside works as an
electronics engineer at the Naval Undersea
Warfare Center in Newport and has lived in
Jamestown since 1991. In the 1990s, she was
a founder and chairwoman of the Conanicut
Concerned Citizens. The group asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to declare Conanicut Island a Sole Source
Aquifer, as a means to protect the local water supply. Among her
other activities, Rosemary volunteers with the Humane Society of
Jamestown and the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association.
She is on the board of the Taxpayers’ Association of Jamestown
and is also a board member of the League of Women Voters of
Rhode Island.
Janet Caroll, Member of the Board, Public Relations
LWV West Bay, 47 Tallman Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910;401467-5436; [email protected]
Janet (Bruckshaw) Carroll was born and raised
in Rhode Island and attended Warwick Public Schools. She received a BS and Master’s
in ED. She was a teacher and educational administrator and retired from the Rhode Island
Department of Education. She served as a Title
I distinguished educator with the U. S. Department of Education. She enjoys public radio and
television, has eclectic taste in food and music
and loves plays and musicals.
Christine Davidson, Member of the Board
LWV South County, 3 Boiling Spring Avenue Westerly RI 02891;
(401) 315-5280; [email protected]
Christine was born in Woonsocket R.I. She graduated from Cumberland High School in 1964, St. Benedict College in 1968 with
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and began a teaching career in Central Falls.
Chris received a Master’s Degree in Education from
Rhode Island College in 1976. She became an Elementary School Administrator working in Exeter/
West Greenwich and Cumberland before accepting
a position in Westerly as Principal of State Street
School. Chris received her C.A.G.S. in Instructional
The Rhode Island Voter
Technology from Rhode Island College in 1998. She is currently is
retired and lives in Westerly with Larry, her husband of 46 years.
She is on the Board of Directors for the Supper Table and she volunteers her time with St. Vincent de Paul. She enjoys golfing, grandchildren and the League of Women Voters.
Pam Ancheta, Member of the Board
LWV South County
345 Mulberry Drive, South Kingstown, RI 02879; 401-575-7583;
[email protected]
Pam moved to Rhode Island in 2000 and has been
involved in community service in South Kingstown. In 2004, she campaigned for a School
Committee seat. Running for office introduced
her to the work of the local LWV chapter and in
2006 she became a member and later served as
president until 2015. Pam now serves as Voter
Services Committee Chair of the LWV South
County. Pam is also a Director on the LWVRI Education Fund Board.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Emerson College, Boston, Mass., and has worked in television and video production and
works as a writer for media services
Patty MacLeish, Communications Chair
LWV Newport County, 31 Walnut St., Newport,
02840, 846-7542; [email protected]
Patty has been a League member since 1982 and
on the state board since 2008. She chairs the communications committee and serves on the LWV
Web Transition team. She also a member of the
board of the LWV Newport County and has served as president of
the League in Cooperstown, N.Y., and editor of the LWV New York
State’s Voter. She moved to Rhode Island in 1999 with her husband,
Bruce, and works as a freelance editor and publisher of magazines
and journals for not for profit organizations.
Marian Styles-McClintock, Member of the Board
LWV Providence, 33 Leo St., Providence, RI
02904; 351-1332; [email protected]
Marian relocated to Providence in 2002. Marian has worked with the National Office of
the YWCA in New York City and the General
Board of Global Ministries/United Methodist Church also of New
York City. She has had assignments in cities throughout the United
States including Little Rock, Ark., when Bill Clinton was governor, and had the opportunity to meet him and work with special
projects which he supported. She has published her first book, But
Isn’t This What We’re S’posed To Do. A book about the commitment and service of unsung African American Women’s faith and
love in their communities. At one point, she was a League member
in White Plains, N.Y.
Derry Riding, Advocacy Co-Chair
LWV Bristol, 16 Sea Breeze Lane, Bristol, RI
02809; 222-3949; [email protected]
Before her retirement, Derwent Jean Riding (Derry)
was a principal planner in the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program. Derry became involved
with the League in Bristol with the encouragement, support and
mentoring of Margaret Koster, mother-in-law of LWVRI’s president Jane Koster. Derry was an original member of the Land Use
Commission, (known as the Weygand Commission) appointed
as a member of the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island to
represent the public. Derry is past president and a member of the
board of the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society.
“Stay in the Know” on the Issues
T
here’s lots going on at the State House, but you can look
to the League to stay up to date. We’ve worked out a way
for you to stay in the know about politics and understanding the
issues, while still saving some time for the rest of your life. It’s
simple.
Begin by liking us on Facebook. We try to post two to four
times a week linking you to articles on important issues and the
latest postings on our blog. “Like” us and you’ll receive regular
automatic updates, or you can just visit, www.facebook.com/
lwvrhodeisland to view our postings. If you like what we post,
remember to share the post with friends.
Next, visit our blog, “LWVRI in Action (lwvriaction.
blogspot.com)” where we post the latest information on pending legislation. The blog will also link you directly to the RI
Legislature’s web page where you can follow a bill or connect
with your representatives. You can sign up to receive alerts as
we post them.
Finally, check your e-mails from the LWVRI (and forward
them to friends). The LWVRI is sending weekly e-mails to
members about what is coming up each week in the Legislature.
The Rhode Island Voter
The Action Alert will give you a brief description of all the important upcoming hearings and votes with links to the LWVRI
in Action blog where you will find details of the legislation and
handy links to committee members e-mails. Share the e-mail
with others who may be interested in the topic. If you are not
getting messages from us, please make sure we have your e-mail
address. You can sign up on our website, as well—look for the
button on the left side of the page. If we do have your address, but
are not receiving e-mail updates, check your junk e-mails for a
message from the “LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS RHODE
ISLAND and then add us to your contact lists. If you have problems, e-mail Patty MacLeish, at [email protected].
It’s easy to keep track of the issues that are nearest and dearest
to you.
September 2016
5
Finally! continued from page 1
pendent Ethics Commission once had.
The League of Women Voters has lobbied and advocated for reinstatement of
General Assembly oversight for the past seven years. The League supported Senate Bill
2060 sponsored by Senator Edward O’Neill,
I-Lincoln and House Bill 7577, sponsored
by Representative Michael Marcello, D –
Scituate, who has fought on this issue for
many years. These bills were held for further
study and never given a vote. By mid-May
2016 good government groups saw little
action from the General Assembly that Ethics reform would be addressed during the
2016 legislative session. LWVRI promised
we would be back in 2017 promoting open
and clean, honest government and hoping all
citizens would join in the challenge.
However, May 2016 saw constant violations coming to light against good and Representatives of some of the members of Rhode Island Coalition For Ethics Rehonest government. Citizens recalled House form who will be working to get voters to vote YES! on Question 2 in November. They
Speaker Gordon Fox’s conviction of brib- are: Vimala Phongsavanh, Assistant Director Common Cause RI; Bill Felkner Coery, wire fraud, and filing a false tax return ordinator for Coalition for Legislative Ethics and Accountability Now; LWVRI
as more recent offenses saw sunlight with President Jane W. Koster; Jason Gramitt, Senior Attorney RI Ethics Commission;
Chairman Ray Gallison of the powerful H. Philip West, Jr. former president Common Cause RI; John Marion Executive Director Common Cause RI and Nancy Rhodes former president Common Cause RI.
House Finance Committee suddenly leaving
the State House under federal investigation.
It seemed corruption was a part of every day
with our good government partner organizations supported
conversation around the state. Legislative grants and elected
and saw passage of Senator Teresa Paiva Weed and Speaker
officials’ incomplete financial disclosure reports began to be
Nicholas Matiello’s matching Ethics bills.
questioned by the public and press and the vice-chair of House
For the RI Ethics Commission to have full oversight
Finance Committee, accused of living outside of his district,
over members of the General Assembly, given by the voters
was front page news.
in 1986 and taken away in 2009, the Rhode Island ConstituThen, with elections looming and many elected officials
tion must be changed. This can be accomplished by voting
up for re-election, the most powerful leaders in the Senate
Yes on Question 2 on November 8.
and House put forth matching bills that erased ‘incumbents
At the end of this summer, the LWVRI joined Rhode
exclusion from oversight’ and could finally give RI voters
Island Coalition For Ethics Reform to advocate for the
a voice on this Ethics issue. The LWVRI along with along
passage of Question 2. Other members of the coalition are
Common Cause RI, Operation Clean Government and the
FLIPYOUR BALLOT!!!
Coalition for Legislative Ethics and Accountability.
Phil West, author of Secrets and Scandals: Reforming
On November’s ballot voters throughout the state will
Rhode
Island 1986-2006, reminds us in his epic history of
decide on seven ballot issues. Candidates will appear
political reform in Rhode Island, “People who care about
on the front of the ballot. Ballot Resolution Question
public policy and civic order must join forces in a dedicated
2 will appear on the reverse side of this ballot. Sample
effort to make government good.”
ballots should be available
Certainly one of the ways to make government good
by the end of September.
is to exercise our privileged right to vote. The League of
So when you have finished
Women Voters began with this promise of educating and
voting for your choice of
empowering all citizens to have this right. Let’s use this
candidates for office, flip
right and urge others to do the same and vote Yes on Questhat ballot over and vote
tion 2 on November 8.
YES on Question 2.
6
September 2016
The Rhode Island Voter
LWVUS Convention 2016: Important Membership Change
A
t the 52nd convention of the League of Women Voter,
Chris Carson, was elected LWVUS president and LWVEF
chair. Chris, a former college lecturer in American history, has
been a member of the League since 1983. She served as LWVUS Campaign Finance Reform Task Force (2012-Present)
and was a member of the LWVUS Immigration Study Committee (2006-2008). She has served as an officer in local, regional and state Leagues in California. “For me,” says Chris,
“the League is ‘the’ grassroots organization. It educates and
trains citizens to get involved in their government at all levels.”
One of the most significant changes to come out of the convention was eligibility for membership in the League. Delegates
approved amendments to Article III, Section 2 of the bylaws
pertaining to “Types of Membership,” particularly the words,
“Citizens at least 18 years of age.” With the bylaws change voting members will not be “Persons at least 16 years of age.”
The LWV Minnesota proposed the change arguing that
any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of
LWVUS should be eligible for membership as the current
requirement of minimum age serves no useful purpose especially as it excludes interested high school age students
from full participation in our local leagues. Further, a bylaws
requirement of citizenship in order to be a voting member
Ryan Connole, DelSesto Middle School, Providence; Michael Miele,
Captain Isaac Paine School in Foster, and Heidi Vazquez, Compass
School, Kingston were the winners of the 2016 Susan B. Wilson Award.
2016 Wilson Award Winners Announced
T
he LWV South County held a gathering at the State House
in June to honor the recipients of the 2016 Wilson Award.
First place winner was Heidi Vazquez a 3rd and 4th grade
teacher at the Compass School, in Kingston. She has worked
with students to show how government and citizens create
change. Michael Miele, the second place winner teaches at
the and Captain Isaac Paine School, in Foster. Wishing to find
solutions to bullying, he worked with his students to embrace
and accept others who are different. Ryan Connole, social
studies at DelSesto Middle School in Providence received the
honorable mention award. He led a group of students design
a project on raising awareness of homelessness. The class ultimately decided to advocate for the state of RI to dedicate an
official day of awareness to the issue of homelessness.
The Rhode Island Voter
may have made sense at one time, but what purpose this
now serves is unclear. Many interested potential members
are not yet citizens, however, they are studying to become
citizens. The purpose of LWV is to encourage informed and
active participation in government, and this should be so
for our immigrant communities. The literal interpretation of
LWV bylaws would mean that proof of citizenship should
be required for every member. The LWVUS agreed, noting that organizations must continue to evolve to reflect the
changes within society. Updating this section strengthens
our structure as an organization of inclusion and more accurately reflects our core values.
The delegates approved the changes. As League policy
requires “consistency” in the first three articles of the bylaws
of all Leagues should amend their own bylaws to reflect
those of LWVUS, each League board should review and
approve the language. Because this is a conforming amendment, it is not necessary to bring this issue to all members.
LWVRI Council 2016 Wrap-up
The LWVRI held its biennial Council on Thursday, May
5 at Jamestown Philomenian Library. The LWVRI Board
had called for the meeting to begin at 5:30 in an effort to
encourage great participation. Fifteen members, representing all the Leagues and Members-at-Large in the state were
in attendance.
LWVRI President Jane W. Koster called the meeting
to order at 6. Jane detailed the past year’s events meetings
and many government issues which she and other League
members were involved in. LWVRI again is partnering with
Common Cause RI to advocate for and support fair and effective redistricting and erase partisan gerrymandering.
Board member Derry Riding presented the proposed
2016 – 2017 budget and Membership Chair Jill Kassis reported that there are currently 134 League members in the
state.
Rosemary Forbes Woodside presented the Nominating
Committee Report. The nominations for Board of Directors to serve for a two-year term, 2016 through 2018 were:
Second Vice President, Susan Wells; Treasurer, Rosemary
Forbes-Woodside; Director, Pam Ancheta; Director, Marian Styles-McClintock; and Director – Christine Davidson.
There were no nominations from the floor, so nominations
were closed and the slate was accepted.
All current positions were adopted by the delegates.
The LWVRI Board will begin the planing process for
Convention 2016 soon. Please contact Jane W. Koster or
any other board member (see pages 4 and 5 for their names
and contact information) if you have any ideas for speakers
or any other matters regarding convention.
September 2016
7
The League of Women Voters of RI
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One Richmond Square Suite 220 A-W ,
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Coming Up—League Events
Please turn to page 3 for a listing of all the candidates
forums that will be held this fall.
Tuesday, September 27
National Voter Registration Day
Monday, October 3, 1 P.M.
The LWV Providence invites all League members and friends to a very special tea
and private tour of Blithewold in Bristol. Tickets are $40. More details are available at www.lwvri.org.
Tuesday, October 8. Registration Deadline for November
Election
Monday, October 17, 10 A.M.
LWVRI Board Meeting, Jamestown Library
Tuesday, November 8 Election Day
Monday, November 14, 10 A.M.
LWVRI Board Meeting, Weaver Library, East Providence
Monday, December 12, 10 A.M.
LWVRI Board Meeting, Jamestown Library
Monday, January 9, 10 A.M.
LWVRI Board Meeting, Weaver Library, East Providence
LWV New England Conference, April 9-11
Wells, Maine.