the harford coUntY

VOTER

The Newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Harford County, Maryland info@harford.lwvmd.org www.harford.lwvmd.org September, 2013 eileen coffee, president Karen heppen, editor ________________________________________________________________________________

calendar
monday, september 16 4:30 pm lwv harford board meeting Slavie Bank, Bel Air

presidents message
Dear Harford Leaguers and Friends, 93 years ago something momentous occurred. Tennessee joined the states that had already ratified the 19th amendment, and women were granted the Constitutional right to vote. The League of Women Voters continues to work to preserve the work of those who came before us. It is up to us to stay informed and renew our efforts to encourage our fellow citizens to participate in keeping our democracy strong. Join us at the League of Women Voters of Maryland at the Constitution Day program at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law in Baltimore on Sept. 17, or attend the LWVMD fall workshops in Columbia on Sept. 28. Our LWV Harford film series, presented with the Political Awareness Association of Harford Community College, addresses current issues, with an open discussion afterwards. The 201314 schedule will be announced soon. Best of all, you can participate in encouraging fellow citizens to be informed, be registered, and vote in the spring primaries and fall general elections. I look forward to seeing you at these and other League events!

All are welcome!

tuesday, september 17 4:00 pm constitution day program University of Maryland Carey School of Law (See page 3 for more information) saturday, september 28 9:30 am lwvmd fall workshops Wilde Lake Interfaith Center Columbia, MD (See page 4 for more information) saturday, october 26 11:00 am boordy winetasting tour (See page 5 for more information)

OUR MISSION
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

lwv-harford board of directors

Eileen Coffee, President Stephanie Hallock, Vice President Elaine Boram, Secretary Karen Heppen, Treasurer Directors Peg Hill Morita Bruce Sandy Tracy Theresa Freligh

Eileen
__________________________________________ DO YOU WANT TO REACH US?

Email us at: membership@harford.lwvmd.org info@harford.lwvmd.org

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS: MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK PROTECTING AND ENGAGING VOTERS
Rooted in the movement that secured the right to vote for women, the League has worked to foster civic engagement and enhance access to the vote since we were founded in 1920. Over time our work has evolved from efforts to gain and foster womens suffrage to ensuring that all eligible voters particularly those from traditionally underrepresented or underserved communities, including first-time voters, non-college youth, new citizens, minorities, the elderly and lowincome Americans have the opportunity and the information to exercise their right to vote. Through national programs and state-based volunteer activists the League uses public education, advocacy, grassroots organizing and legal strategies to engage, support and protect voters. Our work falls into the five categories below: Voting Rights We seek to protect and expand voting rights through proactive reforms, ensuring existing pro-voter laws are being followed and challenging voter suppression tactics that limit the ability of voters to exercise this basic right. The League opposes voter photo ID laws, advocates against barriers to the voter registration process, works to prevent last-minute Election Day barriers, and helps voters get what they need to vote. Improving Elections We work to improve how elections operate at all levels and support proactive reforms to keep our nations elections free, fair and accessible. We seek to modernize registration and voting processes, streamline the administration of elections and promote transparent and accountable redistricting. Registering Voters League volunteers hold thousands of voter registration drives across the country each year and encourage all citizens to vote. We concentrate our registration drives at locations that reach large numbers of unregistered voters, including high schools and community colleges, sporting events, naturalization ceremonies and more. Educating Voters We work to educate voters about candidates running for elected office and the state-specific rules governing the election process. In efforts to foster civic engagement, League members host hundreds of candidate debates and forums across the country each year and prepare straightforward voter guides on candidates and ballot issues. We equip millions of voters with critical information about the election process in each state, including information on voter registration forms and deadlines, polling place locations and ID requirements, through both print materials and VOTE411.org, our online one-stop elections information hub. DC Voting Rights We advocate for the rights of citizens of the District of Columbia to be afforded the same rights of self-government and full voting representation in Congress as are all other citizens of the United States. From the LWVUS website

membership coUpon leagUe of women voters of harford coUntY Dues paid now cover membership through June 30, 2014

Name(s)_________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________________ Cell____________________________________________ Principal household member $45.00

Address___________________________________ City, State Zip_______________________________ Email_______________________________________ Please make check payable to League of WomenVoters of Harford County and mail c/o: LWVHarford, P.O. Box 291, Bel Air, MD 21014-9998 Questions? Email membership@harford.lwvmd.org

Additional household members @ $22.50 = $_____ Contribution Total $_____ $_____

seventh annUal

constitUtion daY program

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Program 4:00 p.m. Reception 5:00 p.m. Ceremonial Court Room, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
500 w. baltimore st., baltimore, md 21201
come meet and hear lwvUs president elisabeth macnamara on the constitution day panel and then join her at dinner at gertrudes restaurant at the baltimore museum of art.

Presented By
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FRANCIS KING CAREY SCHOOL OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND , BALTIMORE

T H E S U P R E M E C O U RT I N T R A N S I T I O N : N E W R U L I N G S O N A F F I R M AT I V E A C T I O N , THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND SAME SEX MARIAGE

moderator: maxwell stearns, J.d. - professor of law and marbury research professor, University of maryland carey school of law panelists: phoebe haddon, J.d. - dean, University of maryland carey school of law Jana singer, J.d. - professor, University of maryland carey school of law elisabeth macnamara, J. d. - president, league of women voters of the U.s.

dinner after the reception at gertrUdesrestaUrant at the baltimore mUseUm of art - $33.00 per person
mail your check made out to lwvmd to: lwvmd, 111 cathedral street, ste.201, annapolis, md 21401 or pay at the door. (You must have a reservation.)

RSVP by september 12 for your seating, parking and dinner reservation. Email your name, email address, phone and local League to andreagruhl@aol.com
please indicate if you need to reserve a parking space for your car. ($7.00 for two hours. carpooling encouraged) Questions? 301.596.5460
directions and parking:
from route i-95 (north or south) take route 395 (downtown baltimore). exit onto martin luther King, Jr. blvd., staying in right lane. at fourth traffic light, turn right onto baltimore st; pass law school on left side of street. turn left at second traffic light onto n. paca st.; turn right into entrance for baltimore grande garage, which is across street from east side of law school. parking building is for Umb hospital patients/staff and law school faculty, but constitution day attendees who reserved a space will be accommodated.

LW V M D FA L L WORKSHOPS
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, Columbia, MD 10431 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia, MD 21044 -2331 410-730-7920 Registration fee: $25 (Includes morning coffee/breakfast breads, lunch, materials) 9:30 10:00 Check In 10:00 10:15 Welcome & Announcements 10:20 12:00 Workshops: (Choose One) 1. Getting Your Message Out: A Panel on Public Relations Using Traditional and Social Media 2. Preparing for the 2014 Elections: Voters Guides and Candidate Forums 12:00 1:30 Lunch and Speaker (TBA): Maryland Agriculture: Its Importance and Challenges
directions:
from the north: take rt. 29 south to columbia town center exit (little patuxent pkwy). bear right onto gov. warfield pkwy. take 2nd right onto twin rivers rd. at first light turn left onto trumpeter rd. interfaith center will be on your right. from the south: take rt. 29 north to broken land pkwy. follow it west through 3 traffic lights to twin rivers rd and turn left onto it. follow twin rivers rd to 2nd light and turn left onto trumpeter rd. the interfaith center will be on your right.

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FALL WORKSHOPS REGISTRATION FORM

(deadline for registration september 23, 2013)

name _____________________________________________________________________ leagUe ___________________________________________________________________ workshop choice: ___________workshop #1. ____________workshop #2.

phone ________________________ email_______________________________________ amount enclosed ___________ mail to:lwvmd, 111 cathedral street, suite 201, annapolis, md 21401 or call: 410-269-0232 or email: lwvmd@verizon.net

L EAGUE

OF

W OMEN V OTERS

OF

M ARYLAND

BOORDY WINETASTING TOUR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER

26

Join us at 11:00 am at the BOORDY VINEYARDS

12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD 21082
Tour the vineyard and historic stone winery, then sample wines in the Boordy tasting room

Lunch to follow at

McFAULS IRON HORSE TAVERN

2260 Cromwell Bridge Road, Parkville, MD 21234
A buffet of wraps, salads, beverages and desserts will be served
Please note: Because we must pre-order lunches, we cannot accommodate anyone who has not pre-registered.Final date for registration is October 21.

Name(s)________________________________________________________________ Phone___________________________________ Email____________________________________ Choose ONE from the following wrap options: _____Turkey _____Roast beef

_____Vegetarian

Mail your check for $50 per person made out to LWVMD to: LWVMD, 111 Cathedral St., Ste. 201, Annapolis, MD 21401