As Election Day 2004 approaches, let me remind you to
pick up a League yard sign from Judy Smith (see page 2 for directions)
so you can place it in a prominent place in front of your house. Mine
sits right at the sidewalk, and can be read from either direction. I'm
proud to display this very attractive sign, both for its message and
its design. Thanks to Judy for her perseverance in realizing this
idea. The sign, which was available for the September 14 Primary
Election, says simply "Vote Tuesday", "For our
neighborhood..." and "DC League of Women Voters. It can be
used more than once and for more than one election year.
As the Presidential debates approach (the first, on
foreign policy, will take place September 30, the day before this
VOTER is mailed) let me remind you of some important DC elections and
urge you to vote for the sake of our city and our neighborhoods as
well as that of our country. If you are registered before October 4,
you may vote for DC Delegate to the House of Representatives; for two
at-large members of the DC Council; Wards 2, 4, 7, and 8 members of
the DC Council; Districts One and Two members of the Board of
Education; United States Representative (shadow) and ANC
Commissioners.
October Units (October 19-21) will arrange informal
meetings with candidates (School Board, ANC, or Councilmember
candidates) invited by individual Units. The Chevy Chase-Ingleside
Unit has already received acceptances from all seven School Board
candidates and its local ANC candidate for its Unit meeting to take
place at Ingleside on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 10 am, and all other Units
are invited to join that meeting. See page 3 for more details. Call
the League office (347-3020) or Joan Wilson, 2376264. no later than
Friday, October 15 to accept their invitation.
Continuing our focus on healthcare begun with the
Opening Fall Luncheon, I urge you to attend the healthcare forum on
October 29. As you can see by the agenda (see flyer insert), it is a
comprehensive forum with outstanding speakers. You can choose to
attend the whole day, or the morning or afternoon sessions.
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Plan to attend!!
Making Health Reform Happen
Friday, October 29, 2004
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cafritz Foundation Conference Center
George Washington University
Marvin Center
Buffet Luncheon - No Charge
(See flyer/ reservation form)
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HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE
OPENING LUNCH DRAWS A CROWD TO
HEAR GREGG PANE, MD
The DC League's Opening Luncheon on September 23, an
event co-sponsored by the DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA) and
DCLWV, attracted a record attendance of 140 to the Gallery of The
Apartments at Ingleside, including city leaders such as Council Chair
Linda Cropp, Councilmember Adrian Fenty, and others in health care
positions in government; for example, Gina Lagomarsino, senior policy
advisor to the City Administrator, and Cheryl Edwards, Chief of Staff,
DC Department of Health. Among representatives of community
organizations was Sharon Baskerville, Executive Director of DCPCA;
Rolando A. Andrewn, American Lung Association of the District of
Columbia; and Jerry Kasunic, director DC Long Term Care Ombudsman
Program (which is affiliated with AARP).
Deputy Mayor Herbert Tillery, who served as interim
Director of Health, introduced Orlene Grant of DCPCA, who introduced
guest speaker Gregg Pane, MD, incoming director of the Department of
Health (DoH). Mr. Tillery set an optimistic tone for what we might
expect from DoH as Dr. Pane takes the reins.
Dr. Pane said he wants the department to be a leader in
innovation, citing as examples more immunization of children and
reduction of infant mortality as well as fostering medical homes. He
said he has laid out five goals for DoH:
Improved care at the neighborhood level, which in
turn will require education to change behavior (so patients will go to
the nearby facility instead of the emergency room), and better health
literacy;
Quality, safe, and coordinated
care for children and the elderly in particular, which means high
standards of licensing and consistent care, among other essentials;
Community preparedness and the need to involve the
community a lot more with regional and federal efforts;
A safe and healthy environment,
including clean water ad a toxic-free environment for children;
Making government work, and being
a good custodian for the $1.5 billion budgeted for health care in DC.
Dr. Pane wants Department of Health to "be a model".
Goody Braun, Co-Chair, Health Committee; Goody Braun (723-2477) &
Rene Wallis (638-0252 w), Co-chairs
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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 2, 2004
Voter Guide: Beginning October 15, you can see where
the Council candidates and School Board candidates stand on the issues
by attending the Unit Meeting on Oct 21 (see p.3) or by visiting the
League's Elections 2004 website at WWW.LWVDC.ORG.
The questions were developed by the Voter Service and other League
committees with help from Madlyn Calbert, Frances Gemmill, Naomi
Glass, and Pat Hallman. The candidate contact team of Debby Hanrahan,
Laura Harris, Naomi Glass, Jane Varner Malhotra, Kathryn Ray, Kathy
Schmidt, Judy Smith, Geraldine Whitley, and Sheila Willet made sure
the candidates responded.
Candidate Forums: The Voter Services
Committee has busy with assisting other organizations with Candidate
Forums; registering people to vote several Saturdays at various metro
stations as well as various organizational meetings; giving
presentations on the importance of voting to several organizations in
the city. For instance, using demonstration ballots received from the
Board of Elections and Ethics, Geraldine Whitley and Sheila Willet
gave a demonstration on how to fill out a ballot and registered 12
young women to vote who are participants in a Catholic Charities young
woman rehabilitation center in the Southeast. On September 30 Elinor Hart
and Frances Gemmill will give a presentation to the evening student
body at Ballou High School.
League Observes Ballot Counting September
14: Four representatives of the DC League volunteered to observe the
work at the Board of Elections and Ethics (BoEE) on the evening of the
September 14th primary election. Those who responded to the Board's
request (a regular request to the DC League) were Anna Marsh, Suzanne
Campagna, and Ed Levin with his wife Margot Levin. The comments of the
observers will be forwarded to the BoEE.
Pick Up Your "VOTE" Sign: Have you picked up
your DC League yard sign from Judy Smith? If you didn't get around to
it before the Primary, do so now for the November 2 general election.
In red-on-white lettering, they send a timely message to remind people
to vote.
They were noted by a League as far away as Wisconsin,
whose representatives wrote to ask us to share them, which we were
happy to do. The signs measure 16" x 26" and are double
sided, with a wire frame that slips inside the sign and goes into the
ground.
They can be picked up at Judy Smith's house, 7628 17th
St. NW (one block off 16th St. at Jonquil, across and down from Lowell
School). Call ahead, if possible, but if you drop by and no one is
home, just go around to the back porch. If the dog is out, talk to
him, his name is Bandit, and he should be fine. Make sure to save your
sign. It can be used again in 2 years. — Elinor Hart (387-2966) & Judy Smith (882-3021),
Co- chairs
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UNITED NATIONS WEEK
Mark your calendars now for UN Day Week: October 1824,
2004. UNA-NCA (The United Nations Association of the National Capital
Area, in partnership with LWVUS and other organizations is planning a
week full of discussion, entertainment, advocacy, and information In
addition to celebrating the 59th anniversary of the United Nations,
this year's UN Week will focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The events being planned include:
- An opening ceremony at the Marie
Reed Marie Reed Community Learning Center
- A panel discussion at the Woodrow
Wilson Center on the role of the US in achieving the MDGs
- A display of the UN flags along
Freedom Plaza and Pennsylvania Avenue
- A series of panel discussions on
the MDGs and the role of the UN in Africa
- A Model UN Training Session at the
University of Maryland Baltimore Campus
- Debates at various University
Campuses
- A building experience with DC
Habitat for Humanity
- A gala reception at the French
Embassy and
- A closing ceremony at Carlos
Rosario International Center.
Look for more details online at www.unanca.org
or call
the UNA-NCA office at 202-518-0471.
BOOK DISCUSSION POSTPONED
The IR Committee meeting that was scheduled for
October 3 to discuss the book Paris 1919 at the home of
Susan and Firoze Rao was postponed. It will be re-scheduled
- keep reading the book and watch coming VOTERS for the
new date. — Susan Rao (636-1688) and Anne Porowski (364-0556) Co-chairs
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Units have been urged to invite candidates to their
October Unit Meeting. Call the Unit Chairs listed below to find the
location of the Meeting. Members of Northwest Day, Northwest Evening,
and Upper 16th Street are also expected to join Chevy Chase/Ingleside
on the 21st. Other Units are invited to attend also.
The Unit Chairs are:
Chevy Chase/Ingleside, Ruth Allen 362-8953, Joan Wilson 237-6264
Capitol Hill Evening, Betty Pierce 544-5547
Northwest Evening, Joan Domike 966-3865, Jean Hall 362-4526
Southwest, Leona Rumsey
863-7484, Gladys Weaver
554-3055
Upper 16th Street, Paula McKann
829-0656, Connie Tate 882-0387
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Gladys Herschel, a DC League member who was active in
the (former) Capitol Hill Unit, has informed us of the death of her
daughter, Marguerite (Peggy) Herschel, MD, associate professor of
pediatrics and medical director of the general care nursery of the
University of Chicago Children's Hospital. Dr. Herschel died on July
6, 2004, after a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 64. She
was a respected neonatologist and clinical researcher. Gladys writes:
"This will give you an idea of my life in the last few, years. I
am just beginning to carry on..." We extend our sympathy.
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MEMBERSHIP FORM TO JOIN OR RENEW: Questions concerning
League membership can be directed to the League office at 347-3020.
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Have you received your October NATIONAL VOTER? Page 9, The HILL Bulletin, contains several
stories of interest, for example:
DC Voting Rights: Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) held a hearing in the spring on four bills that would
provide the District of Columbia some measure of congressional voting representation. Rep.
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D DC) authored a bill, supported
by the League, granting full Senate and House representation by statute. Be sure to turn to page 9 of
the National Voter for the rest of the story, plus other news about
the League's legislative priorities. Civil liberties, Election Reform,
and Campaign Finance Reform are also discussed on page 9 as of current
interest.
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SUN |
MON |
TUES |
WED |
THURS |
FRI |
SAT |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 Voter registration deadline to
vote on Nov. 2 |
5 |
6 10:00 am LWVDC Board Mtg at
Cleveland Park Library |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 9:45-11:00 am, Voter
registration at naturalization ceremony for new US citizens
October DC Voter deadline |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 Unit meetings |
20 Unit meetings |
21 Unit meetings |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 8 am-3 pm, Making
Health Reform Happen |
30 |
31 |