Eden Area Highlights of July 2006-June 2007

Accomplishments of the League for the past fiscal year.

ACTION/ADVOCACY

ACTION/ADVOCACY

• Instrumental in sponsoring an Alameda County community forum on the importance of Sunshine Week activities, focusing on the California Public Records Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act. The purpose was to encourage more public awareness about open government.
• Wrote letters and newspaper articles on the Clean Money AB 583 which is the voluntary financing of campaigns through public rather than private dollars.
• Support of State Senator Kuehl's legislation to establish a single-payer health system in the state. If her bill becomes law, a state agency would be set up to administer and pay for health care for all Californians.
• Wrote letters to the Governor, legislative representatives and newspapers on Proposition 77--Redistricting urging the legislature and Governor to enact redistricting reform requiring an independent commission and open and fair standards for drawing district boundaries.
• Held a special educational forum on Proposition 76-- " Live within our Means", School funding, State spending constitutional amendment
• CA$H Support (campaign financing for Hayward City Council)+wrote a letter of support and presented it at a Hayward Council work session.

ADMINSTRATION

• Increased membership from 150 to 160, plus three supporting members who belong to other Leagues as well as LWVEA.
• Purchased a plaque to honor long-time member Helen Ketchum. Presented a book on women's history to the San Leandro Library in honor of Lenore Holle. Both members passed away in 2005.
• Submitted a $1000 mini-grant application to the LWVC to underwrite our Proposition 76 Forum which was approved.

COMMUNITY AND VOTERS SERVICES

• Televised/moderated Candidate Forums for Hayward City Council and Mayor, San Leandro City Council and Mayor, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, District 2 and 3, and State Senator and Assemblymember candidates
• Conducted 15 State and County Ballot Proposition Pros & Cons presentations.
• Provided translation services for a Hayward School Board Candidate Forum and ballot pros and cons for Hispanic community members

• Sponsored two forums on the State propositions and on the Death Penalty
• Serviced LWVEA affidavit boxes for voter registration at 75 businesses and agencies in the Eden Area.
• Distributed 3,500 Pros & Cons and 1,500 copies of the Easy Voter Guide.
• Registered several hundred voters at the Hayward Street Fair, San Lorenzo 60th Anniversary, All Saints Church Festival, Harmony Festival, grocery stores, and San Leandro Schools.
• Trained Chabot College students to make presentations on the importance of voting. They and League members went into high school classrooms to make presentations.
• Conducted annual legislative interview with Assemblyman Johan Klehs using LWVC guidelines.
• Co-sponsored with AAUW a Health Fair in February 2006
• Donated funds to LWVC Smart Voter to support this valuable voter education website.
• Conducted and monitored elections for a homeowner association and community groups.

MEMBER SERVICES

• Published 12 issues of the VOTER.
• Held an Annual Holiday Party, including a successful fundraising auction.
• Published a Member Directory.
• Held an orientation session and developed an orientation book for new members.
• Maintained a Website for up-to-date member information.
• Maintained an E-Mail Action Advocacy list of approximately 100 members.

PROGRAM

• Conducted the Annual Program Planning meeting to review and make recommendations on LWVUS, LWVBA and local positions.
• Program for Membership Meetings: Pros & Cons Forum and Prop 76 Forum-Oct 05; Candidate Forums-April/May06; Meet Your Elected Officials & Annual Meeting--June 06
• Held an LWVC Energy Consensus Forum in March to update the State League's energy position. The updated positions will assist local leagues in advocating on energy issues.

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