Making Democracy Work
Clyde's of Gallery Place Restaurant in the Piedmont Room upstairs 707 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
The meal will be a buffet brunch.
Registration is due Friday, April 28th. Click Here for registration form.
A. Elect officers and directors for a two year term and a Nominating Committee for a one year term
B. Adopt an Annual Budget
C. In odd-numbered years delegates consider and adopt a two-year Program, and in even-numbered years consider Program development.
D. In Odd number years we award the Madeline Naumann prize.
E. We may also hold a fundraiser at the convention.
F. Conduct any other pertinent LWVNCA business.
LWVNCA Convention Guest Speaker Mark Graber graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dartmouth College (BA, 1978). He earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Columbia University Law School (JD, 1981), and advanced degrees from Yale University (MA, Philosophy, 1986; PhD, Political Science, 1988). He was Asst. Professor, University of Texas, Austin, 1988-1993. From 1993-2007 Mark was a professor in Dept. of Government and Politics, University of Maryland, College Park. In 2002 he simultaneously became an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore. In 2004 the law school appointed him Professor of Government and Law, then appointed him in 2015 the Jacob A. France Professor of Constitutionalism. In 2016 he was elevated to University System of Maryland Regents Professor. There have been only seven Regents Professors in the history of the University of Maryland System; Mark is the only one at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the system's professional school campus. He is a prolific writer and speaker; his 24 page, single spaced resume is overwhelming documentation of his fertile mind. Dr. Graber has a long association with the League of Women Voters of Maryland through his pivotal leadership in many of our annual Constitution Day programs at the law school co-sponsored by LWVMD and the University of Maryland School of Law. At our convention we will have a table display of Mark's recent, pertinent, non-textbook books from top academic publisher Oxford University Press, "New Introduction to American Constitutionalism" and the paperback, "The Oxford Handbook of the U.S. Constitution." You are welcome to browse. Mark can sign books you buy. [Note: OUP is giving 30% discount, so $17.50 and $35. respectively.] A few non-OUP publications written by Mark on League-like subjects may be on display: Cambridge ("Dred Scott and the Problem of Constitutionalism"), Princeton ("Rethinking Abortion"), and California ("Transforming Free Speech"). The last two are out-of-print probably, but not the Dred Scott book.
Chair: Joyce Starks (LWVPGC - Maryland) Members: Barbara Sherrill (LWVAR - Virginia) Barbara Yeomans (LWVDC - District of Columbia)
These positions are for a two year term: Below is the presented slate. Nominations will be taken from the floor at the Annual Convention.
For President: Kathy McGuire (LWVMC)
For Secretary: Nancy Soreng (LWVMC)
For Director: Joan Zawacki (LWVLC)
For Director Sarah Matthews (LWVFR)
Nominating Committee Members serve a one year term.
Wendy Frieman - (LWVFC) Chair for Nominating Committee Chair
Member: Geraldine Whitley (LWVDC)
Member: Deborah Mitchell (LWVPGC)
Each League will have a designated location on the auction tables. Bidding starts at ½ the item's value and increases by a minimum of $5 increments. Bidding is open during the Breakfast, stops during the Speech, and concludes after 10 minute Break before Business Meeting. Highest bidders are announced at end of Business Meeting.
Before departing the convention, winners pay check or cash to LWVNCA Treasurer Nancy Bliss. Profits are split with 50% to LWVNCA and the other 50% shared equally by participating Leagues . Leagues will receive their payment checks in the mail a few days after the event. Entry deadline: April 15, 2017. . To enter, each League President needs to email a description of their League's donated item and its dollar value to Auction Chair Andrea Gruhl at andreagruhl@aol.com using the message header, "LWVNCA Silent Auction donated item from [acronym for your League]."
Click Here for details.
Six Local Leagues conducted Program Planning for interest in possible studies and forums for the next two-year period. The Program Planning survey results:
Forums:
Action: Metro Funding (3)
Based on these results, the LWVNCA Board recommends the following:
1. Training for LWVNCA members on Board How To's (e.g. Advocacy, Board management, MLD)
2. Educational forum on Metro Funding Update and Regional Transportation follow up
3. Study Charter Schools and/vs. Public Schools only if someone will chair the committee
NOTE: In response to Program Planning suggestions for 2017-2019 above, we report that LWVNCA has joined a coalition on Metro and will present a speaker on the Electoral College.
Metro Funding + A Metro Finance Committee was formed and is co-chaired by Nancy Soreng, LWVMD and Edith Holmes Snyder, LWVFC. The committee has been gathering information and recommended that the LWVNCA Board sign on to the Coalition for Smarter Growth's "Fund It/Fix It Principles". At the March 2017 meeting, the LWVNCA Board approved the inclusion of the LWVNCA as a supporter of the Coalition for Smarter Growth's Principles for "Fund It/Fix it" which are: advocate for a dedicated funding source for Metro; near term budget solutions; and frequent and reliable service. By approving our inclusion, all member Leagues need to make this an Action priority.
Electoral College speaker, Dr. Mark Graber of the University of Maryland School of Law, was selected to present at the May 2017 Annual Convention.
Non-Recommended:
1. Training + Civic Responsibility
2. Forums