About the League of Women Voters

MILES RAPOPORT, PRESIDENT OF COMMON CAUSE
A Democracy, If You Can Keep It!*
Monday, May 5, 2014
The Pond House
*The story goes that Benjamin Franklin was emerging from a constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787 when a woman yelled to him, “Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
“A Republic, madam, if you can keep it,” Franklin famously answered. In his talk, “A democracy if you can keep it,” Mr. Rapoport explored what must be done to keep the Republic.

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Nan Streeter is presented a certificate in recognition of her 50 years of involvement with LWV. LWVGH President Carole Mulready presented the award on behalf of LWV-US.

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Michael Freimuth, CRDA Exec. Director, was introduced by League member and past president Sandy Fry.

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Membership Chair Libby Swietek, Deb Polun and Mary Andrews spend a few minutes catching up at the dinner meeting.

2012 LWVGH Annual Meeting: Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor was the guest speaker at the 2012 LWVGH Annual Meeting. Mr. Pryor was thanked by League Chair Carole

The League was well represented at Celebrate West Hartford in June. We registered voters and shared information on the League of Women Voters! During the summer the LWVGH makes plans for voters service for the fall. Stay tuned to keep track of volunteer opportunities!

The 2012 Election Season started early for the League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford (LWVGH) and Simsbury Republican Women (SRWC) held a Republican candidate forum for the 5th Congressional District. This co-sponsored Forum was held on March 8, 2012, in Eno Memorial Hall, Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury at 7:00 pm, to give citizens an opportunity to get to know the candidates. A live audience was present and Simsbury Community TV taped the forum for additional broadcast .

Candidates Mike Clark, Lisa Wilson-Foley and Andrew Roraback (l to r) participated and are shown in the accompanying photo. (All Republican candidates were invited to participate.)

The format for the evening consisted of questions prepared by LWVGH and written questions from the audience. The moderator was Carole Mulready, Chair of LWVGH. She was assisted by LWV timers Mary Everett, Deb Polun and Libby Swietek. Question screeners were Karen Licht, Kathleen Keegan and Marlene Wenograd. Questions covered domestic and foreign affairs.

January 7, 2012 (Saturday) 9 AM
Legislative breakfast, League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford
Trinity Episcopal Church (corner of Farmington Avenue and Sigourney St. in Hartford). Join us for a lively discussion with our state representatives and senators.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford participated actively in the League of Women Voters-CT Fall Conference "Back in Business: Workforce Development For CT's Economic Future", held at the UCONN School of Social Work in West Hartford. Shown with Speaker Mike Meotti, VP for the Board of Regents for Higher Education in CT, (2nd from right) are:(lf to rt) Carole Mulready, LWVGH, President; Karen Rosen, Former LWVGH president and Faculty in the Community College system; Dr. Salome Raheim, Dean of the UCONN School of Social Work and co-sponsor of the event; and Sandy Fry, LWVGH former president LWVGH.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford held its annual Wine and Cheese on Sunday, December 6 to congratulate and thank elected officials from Hartford and West Hartford. The reception at the lovely and inviting home of League member Ilze Krisst proved to be an afternoon of lively conversation complimented by many tasty tidbits prepared by members. Many thanks to our hostess Ilze Krisst and to Mary Andrews, chief organizer and Doris Hedrick, chief helper.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford and WHC-TV of West Hartford hosted a debate among the candidates vying for the seat for the United States First Congressional District. The debate was held in the auditorium of West Hartford Town Hall on October 18, 2010. The candidates, Ann Brickley, Republican; Christopher Hutchinson, Socialist Action; Ken Krayeske, Green Party; and John Larson, Democrat, engaged in a lively debate covering a variety of issues including taxes and budget, health care, foreign policy and education. The live debate before more than 300 hundred people employed the cumulative time format to allow the candidates to express their views without a rigid time limit for each response. LWVGH member Nan Streeter, a former mayor of West Hartford, served as moderator. Timers for the candidates were League members Margot Callahan, Mary Everett, and Carolyn Malon from the LWVGH and Kathleen Carroll from the Windsor Area League which is also part of the 1ST Congressional District .

The candidates provided the audience and viewers with a lively debate. Candidate differences were emphasized throughout, as were the areas of agreement in the course of the debate. West Hartford Community Access TV taped the debate and made copies available to all other access outlets in the First District. In addition, CT-N taped the debate to show on its station as a public service for the voters in the 1st Congressional District.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford was pleased to be able to offer candidates the opportunity to reach the voting public during 2010 election. We are very fortunate to be able to collaborate with WHC-TV to bring a valuable voter service to the public.

Photo: Candidates and League organizers gathered for photos after the debate. From left to right: Chris Hutchinson(SA), Ken Krayeske(G), Ann Brickley (R), Carole Mulready, Chair of LWVGH, Congressman John Larson(D), and Nan Streeter, LWVGH and former mayor of West Hartford.

BOOK DISCUSSION:
The West Hartford Library and the League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford are sponsoring a discussion of H alf the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning husband-and-wife journalists Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The book—a series of essays and anecdotes that work together—forms an argument in two parts. The first part argues that the oppression of women in (mostly) developing countries is a devastating and under-recognized injustice that’s the equivalent of slavery, and that demands a moral and political movement as focused and principled as the campaign against slavery to bring it to an end. The second discusses practical ways to create this movement and effect the change that’s needed.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford in cooperation with CT-N (CT government network) and Trinity College moderated a debate between Ann Brickley and Mark Zydanowicz, candidates in the Republican Primary for the 1st Congressional District of CT. The candidates responded to questions on campaign finance, the federal budget, domestic versus foreign spending, and climate change to name a few. The moderator was Carole Mulready and timers were Kiki Eglinton and Elisa McCarthy. CT-N will show the debate several times before the primary.

The League also moderated a debate between two Democrats vying for the 19th Assembly District, Brian Becker and Terry Schmitt. Their debate can be viewed by going to www.whctv.org and scrolling down to 19th Assembly heading on the right side. It is part of the live streaming service of West Hartford Community Television. Leta Marks moderated the debate with Mary Andrews and Kathy Wilson acting as timers.

League Annual Meeting

was held on Tuesday, May 25, 6 PM -- 2010 Annual Report

We had a fabulously designed booth by member Pat George in American red, white and blue. A new voter is signed up

League members “womaned” the booth over the course of the weekend of June 13 and 14. We offered information on voting, the New Britain-Hartford Busway, and current Connecticut health issues. A number of new voters were registered, too.

We passed out balloons to passersby, particularly children like the boy pictured.

We offered the public an opportunity to write questions that might be posed to local officials in the fall election. About 20 questions were submitted, including one from a very interested third grader.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford will once again publish a Voters Guide for West Hartford and cooperate with WHC-TV to hold the debates for the candidates running for Town Council and Board of Education. Voter Service in additional communities is being considered.

2009 Annual Meeting

League members enjoyed the 2009 Annual Meeting at the Elizabeth Park Pond House. Deputy Speaker of the State House, Demetrios Giannaros gave an interesting talk on The State of The Economy, and the Effect of the Economy on Women.

Rob Durbin, Steve Adler, Eddie Perez and David McCluskey attended LWVGH celebration of elected officials

Newly elected WH Town Councilor Judy Casperson with LWV members and friends

Rep.Jonathan Harris with LWV members and host Ilze Krisst

League Annual Meeting

2009 Annual Meeting