THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

BULLETIN

Issue 5 March, 2013(Min. 6 issues per year) Editors: Barbara Thomas and Cliff Ammon,

Art Director: Margot Ammon. Bulletin E-mail: mammon1@nycap.rr.com Our website: www.lwvsaratoga.org Published by The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County, PO Box 1029, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

MARCH 2013

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.

The League of Women

Voters of Saratoga County,

in both its values and

practices, is committed

to inclusion and diversity.

This means:

There shall be no barriers to

participation in any activity of

the League on the basis of

economic position, gender, race,

creed, age, sexual orientation,

national origin

or disability.

We recognize that diverse

perspectives are important and

necessary for responsible

and representative

decision-making.

We believe inclusiveness

enhances the

organization’s ability

to respond more effectively to changing

conditions and needs.

We affirm our

commitment to

reflecting the diversity of

Saratoga County.

John & Abigail Adams in

A Marriage of Two Minds

Starring Bill Hickman & Rita Russell

Watch for your invitation to our

annual fundraiser and see page 7.

RSVP by March 15th.

See you there!

Thanks to the grant we have launched our

Project Informed Citizens.

See Project Informed Citizens on page 3.

Women’s Equality Agenda? See page 3.

Saturday,

March 23rd 9am The Gideon Putnam

Breakfast Buffet with

League of Women Voters

of Saratoga County (NY-639) Official address: LWV of Saratoga County

PO Box 1029. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

www.lwvsaratoga.org (518) 728-0237

Board of Directors

President

Patricia Nugent, Chair, Program and Public Relations

20 Secretariat Lane, Saratoga Springs—584-4255

1st Vice President

Ann Kril, Chair, Voter Services

60 Hillcrest Drive, Saratoga Springs—584-1436

2nd Vice President

Darnell Rohrbaugh, Chair, Youth Programs

6 Almeria Drive, Clifton Park—371-2588

Secretary

Donna Dardaris, Chair, Membership

64 Middle St. Ballston Spa—884-9070

Treasurer

Mary Lou Classen

4 Blue Spruce Lane, Ballston Lake—877-8874

Directors

Amy Durland, Co-Chair, Action & Issues

33 Lakewood Drive, Saratoga Springs—583-0646

Patricia Garrett, Chair, Special Events, Social Media

537 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs—584-4271

Louise Golub, Co-Chair, Action & Issues

10 Hathorn St., Saratoga Springs—584-7518

Barbara Murphy, Chair, Good Government

2 Granada Drive, Clifton Park—371-6534

Peter Neenan, Chair, Observer Corps

24 Secretariat Lane, Saratoga Springs—587-9698

Ann Sheppard

9 Kirby Road, Saratoga Springs—583-6318

Schedule of LWVSC Board Meetings

Ballston Area Community Center (BACC)

6:45-8:45pm

1st Tuesday of each month

September 4, October 2, November 13 (Election

Day is 1st Tuesday), December 4, January 8,

February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4.

League of Women Voters of New York State or

League of Women Voters of New York State

Education Foundation

62 Grand Street, Albany, NY 12207 465-4162 www.lwvny.org

Executive Director: Laura Bierman, laura@lwvny.org

Administrative Assistant: Mary Barthhelme mary@lwvny.org President: Sally Robinsonn, robintwins@gmail.com

League of Women Voters of the United States

1730 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4508

202-429-1965 www.lwv.org

From the President...

The Little Engine that Could

I’m tired. It could be my 60th birthday becom-

ing a distant memory as time marches on. But

I suspect it’s more that there are SO many

issues, so much to do in leading this incredi-

ble organization that I feel immobilized at

times as to where and how to begin.

I’ve been a member of our League since

the 1970’s. I remember (fondly) the days of just sitting home and

reading my Bulletin….maybe. Of attending (some) events –

mostly the “fun” ones. And of marveling at how much this or-

ganization got accomplished. I imagined they must have dozens

of people working on stuff – they didn’t need me. One day I said

that to Janice Burns – how lucky LWVSC was that so many peo-

ple were actively involved. She laughed wryly and said, “If you

only knew how few people are making all this stuff happen….”

Well, now I know.

I declined board membership until I retired; I then declined

the presidency until it was clear that no one else felt ready to as-

sume it. So here I am, so proud of the organization and what we

are accomplishing…yet so tired. My inbox is FULL with ques-

tions and comments, and the issues that the LWV cares about –

that I care about – abound. If you watched the State of the Union,

you no doubt realized that so much of the President’s agenda is

OUR agenda. “Now is the time,” the President reminds us.

That’s true. Now IS the time. But we need all our members to

heed that call to action: Do you care about gun violence in

schools ? How about equal pay for equal work? Protecting vot-

ing rights? Campaign finance reform? GMO’s in your food?

Health effects of hydrofracking?

I write this plea not to make you feel guilty if you too are

just a Bulletin-reader for now; I‘ve been there too. I write this

because I believe we really COULD tip the scale in the right di-

rection if we all got a little more involved, if we all attended

more events, if we all donated when asked, if we all recruited

members. Many opportunities to assist are listed on page 5.

I thank heartily all those who comprise “the little engine

that could.” Their enthusiasm and commitment to League issues

is amazing – although they also confess to being tired. We are

ready to add a few more cars to this train of justice, equality, and

freedom – ALL BOARD? I think we can, I think we can...

Pat

Welcome New Members

Susan Abrams Kathleen Donahue Michelle Slone

3

3. Stop Sexual Harassment in all workplaces re-

gardless of the size of the workplace.

4. Allow for the Recovery of Attorneys' Fees in

Employment and Credit and Lending cases,

because over 75% of the employment and credit

and lending cases in this State are filed by

women, who currently have to pay their attor-

ney’s fees out of their settlement.

5. Strengthen Human Trafficking Laws by

strengthening the existing law to remove the

requirements that "coercion" be proven when

the victims are minors, increase penalties for

trafficking and create an affirmative defense in

prostitution prosecutions that the defendant's

participation was a result of having been a sex

trafficking victim.

6. End Family Status Discrimination by amend-

ing the current law to prohibit employers from

denying work or promotion to workers simply

because they have children.

7. Stop Source-of-Income

Discrimination by

amending the Human

Rights Law to prohibit

landlords from discrimi-

nating against tenants

based on lawful sources

of income (such as Section 8 vouchers).

8. Stop Housing Discrimination for Victims of

Domestic Violence.

9. Stop Pregnancy Discrimination by creating a

specific protection in the Human Rights Law

requiring employers to provide a reasonable ac-

commodation for pregnancy-related conditions.

10. Protect Victims of Domestic Violence by al-

lowing them to provide all required testimony by

video-conference instead of having to be in the

courtroom with their abuser.

By Barbara Thomas

In his 2013 State of the State Address, Governor

Cuomo announced a Women’s Equality Agenda to

break down barriers that perpetuate discrimination

and inequality based on gender. The next day (as the

pay equity specialist for LWVNY) I was thrilled to

be part of a group meeting with the governor and his

staff to figure out how to achieve those goals. It is so

exciting to know that the governor is committed to

getting this done.

LWVNY and LWV Saratoga, along with most of

the other local Leagues, have signed on as supporters

of the principles outlined in the Agenda, which are:

1. Protect a Woman's Freedom of Choice by en-

acting the Reproductive Health Act which will

protect the fundamental right of reproductive

freedom and a woman's right to make private

health care decisions.

2. Move towards Pay Equity by prohibiting em-

ployers from terminating or retaliating against

employees who share wage informtion, a practice

that enables wage disparities to persist undetected

and by increasing damages and eliminating loop-

holes that make it difficult to win a settlement

when a worker has not received equal pay for

equal work.

Project Informed Citizens continued from p.1

Project Informed Citizens will bring

unbiased digital recordings of educa-

tional events (including candidate fo-

rums) produced by the LWV Saratoga

to the general public in the Saratoga

County Region, allowing us to extend

our reach beyond those physically in

attendance at our events.

With the funds from TheAlfred Z.

Solomon Charitable Trust we were able to order and

receive the camcorder, microphones, laptop and edit-

ing software that the grant covered in time to record

our January 24th forum, Keeping Our Children Safe

from Gun Violence in Schools. There is a Digital Library page on our website

www.lwvsaratoga.org where you will find links to

the various segments of the forum – and where, in the

future, you will find links to video recordings of

events yet to come.

AGRICULTURAL FORUM Saratoga Springs Public Library

Community Room—7pm

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE:

Tuesday, April 23rd

Local experts will present background

information in preparation for our

upcoming study.

4

On January 24th, an impressive panel

addressed the issue of gun control

and methods of keeping our children safe

in school.

Excerpts from forum remarks by Patricia Nugent:

Tonight, three of our LWV positions are inter-

secting: our support for public education, for health

care, and for gun control.

Since 1979, guns in America have snuffed out

the lives of over 119,000 children and teenagers.

That’s the equivalent of over 4,700 classrooms of 25

children each. Gone.

ABC News reported last July that among the

23 wealthiest countries 87% of all kids killed by

guns are American kids.

It’s fitting this week that we remember these

words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “Our lives

begin to end the day we become silent about things

that matter.” Tonight, we are not silent. This matters.

Many of us tried to avoid looking too closely at

the horror that was Newtown. But to illustrate how

much this matters and what’s at stake, I’m going to

read some excerpts from the testimony given by

Newtown Superintendent, Dr. Janet Robinson, on

Capitol Hill a few days ago. The terror must be

seared onto our brains so that we don’t become com-

placent as time goes by.

That morning was like every other morning…

until about 9:30, when a troubled young man carry-

ing two guns, one of them an AR-15 assault rifle,

shot out the glass window to bypass the buzz-in sys-

tem at the door. The shooter bypassed the first first-

grade room and began shooting in the second first-

grade room, killing the substitute teacher and all

but one child, who was clever enough to play dead

and didn’t even whimper...

What do I say now to the parents who want to

be assured that when they put their children on the

bus to school that they will come home? How do I

protect our students without creating fortresses?

How DO we do that? And kids are clearly not

the only victims of school violence; we especially

welcome and thank the school personnel and the first

responders who are with us tonight.

It would be wrong of us not to take action now.

Our kids are counting on us. To protect them. To

educate them. To love them enough to do what might

be unpopular with some. Tonight we’ll explore ways

to do that.

L to R, top: Aimee Allaud, LWVNYS Gun Safety Specialist; K. McMahon, NYS Trooper; Rosemary Armao, SUNY Journalism faculty; Karen Parlapianio, Director, NE Region PTA; L to R bottom: Dr James Kelleher, Four Winds; Kathleen Donahue, NYS United Teachers; Dr. L. Oliver Robinson, Superintendent of Shenendehowa School District. Host, Patricia Nugent, President LWV Saratoga; and Moderator,Susan Arbetter (Far right) WCNY Host/Producer

5

GET ACTIVE IN YOUR LEAGUE!

Some of the things you might do:

Greet people and get them to sign in at LWV

events.

Invite a friend to join you at a League event.

Be a timer at events that need them

Video tape League forums

Respond to LWV calls for action.

Distribute handouts at events.

Register Voters.

Stuff envelopes, prepare mailings.

Represent our LWV on the Board of Fair Campaign

Practices.

Help set out the chairs when we have an event at the

Library.

Thanks to Our Contributors

Thanks to our LWVSC Contributors

Donna Dardaris

Betty Gallagher

Ed & Barb Murphy

Lee Nelson

Claire Olds

John & A.C. Riley

The following made donations to the

LWV Education Fund:

Jane Bouchard

Lori Dawson

Mike & Ann Kril

Margo Olson

Pat & Joe Peck

Marian Potter

Darnell Rohrbaugh

A special Thank You to

Stewart’s Shops

for their continuing support.

Join the LWV videographers!

How many times have you attended a League

meeting, looked at the sparse audience and said to

yourself “If only we could save this and show it

later to folks who missed it.” Well, now we can.

As many of you know, the LWV Saratoga has

received a grant from the A Z Solomon foundation

which has enabled us to buy a camcorder and micro-

phones. This will let us record programs which we

can then post on our website and on YouTube for

viewing later by those who were unable to attend the

original session. We hosted a marvelous

forum in January on Gun Violence. And,

while we had a good attendance, it was

obvious the bone chilling weather kept

many people from attending. We have

been able to post the participants’ com-

ments online, and they are available for

others to see.

What we need now is to train a small group of

volunteers in how to use the camera to record future

events. The camera is small and easy to use. If we

had 6 to 10 people who knew how to operate it, we

would not overburden any one person. Email Fran-

cine Rodger (aerodger@aol.com) or call her (371-

8032) to join our group. Plans are being made for

two training sessions to be held this spring.

Participate in national studies.

Write an article for the Bulletin.

Join the Observer Corps

Call a list to encourage people to attend events.

Organize a League presence at a Farmer’s

Market, Community Day, etc.

Become a board member.

Chair or serve on a committee to monitor what is

happening in a specific area of League interest, such

as the environment, domestic violence, gun control.

What are you willing to do?

Email Donna at ddardar1@nycap.rr.com

or call her at 884-9070

and she’ll put you on a list.

6

7 Members Attend Lobby Day

We were pleased that 7 members were able to

attend Lobby Day February 5th. Especially since we

had to cancel our Legislative Breakfast due to date

conflicts. We pushed our agenda with Farley, Jor-

don, Marchione, and Tedisco. We dicussed Gun

Control, Fracking and the Environment, and

Women’s Equality, as well as other priorities.

Do you know a student who should apply?

For the second and last year, the League of

Women Voters of Saratoga County is offering the

Barbara K. Thomas Award of $1100 to be given to

a senior graduating from a public high school in

Saratoga County in 2013 and planning to attend a 2

or 4 year college in the fall of 2013.

The application is available on our website:

www.lwvsaratoga.org and must be completed and

returned along with letters of recommendation, by

March 22nd.

Barbara K. Thomas Award

In Honor of "One Woman Who Made A Difference"

We will meet at 1 PM on Tuesday,

March 12th at the Saratoga Springs

Library to review the Women’s Is-

sues positions. These positions are very much in the

news currently since the Governor’s State of the State

address.

In April, we will examine Natural Resources and

Health Care and we will finish up the State positions

in May, with our examination of State Finances.

All league members are invited to join us for in-

teresting conversation and camaraderie. If you have

questions, contact Francine Rodger (371-8032) or

aerodger@aol.com. Francine

Winning Classes visited by their Assembly members.

Assembly Member Tony Jordan, left, visited Mrs.

Barbagelata’s class at Shenendehowa’s Chango Ele-

mentary School and Mrs. Pattee’s class at Spa Chris-

tian Academy.

Assembly Member James Tedisco, right, visited

Mrs. Sinnenberg’s class at Burnt Hills – Ballston

Lake’s Stevens School and Mrs. Fahey’s class at

Shenendehowa’s Okte School.

Report on the January 16, 2013 meeting to

update LWV Saratoga positions on: Emergency

Services and on The IDA & SEDC

Fourteen members were present.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Terry Lowenthal, chair, presented, and thanked

the other members of her committee – Margot Am-

mon and Barbara Thomas. She distributed an update

of the fact sheet presented in 2000, a copy of the

original consensus questions and the answers the

2000 group had selected, and a proposed update of

the Emergency Services position. There was quite a

bit of discussion about the particulars of training and

funding for volunteer firefighters and emergency

medical personnel, but the consensus was that the

proposed update reflects our current position, with

minor changes to improve clarity and style.

IDA & SEDC

Amy Durland and Peter Neenan were co-chairs

and the committee for this update. They consulted

with the original co-chairs (Susan Burton and Debbie

Peck Kelleher) and presented a proposed update of

the position, which clarified the intent of the original

position. A few facts presented: Saratoga County

has given away approximately $20 million in tax

abatements, but received about $5 million in PILOTS

for a net cost of approximately $14 million. Cost per

job created is $5600. We discussed what a livable

wage is in NYS, and the Smart Growth Infrastructure

Act. There was consensus that we support the pro-

posed update as presented. Barbara Thomas

7

Thanks

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SARATOGA COUNTY—

presents… Breakfast Buffet at the Gideon &

“A Marriage of Two Minds”

A play by Martin P. Kelly

9am, Saturday, March 23, 2013

The Gideon Putnum Hotel

The play deals with John and Abigail Adams’ love for each other and their zeal

for liberty for our emerging nation!

Told through their letters exchanged over many years of separation

as John worked to stay focused on the war and peace.

YES! I WOULD LIKE TO MEET JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS

NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS______

___$50 per person (pp) Peacefield; __$75/pp Philadelphia; ___$100/pp White House.

I cannot attend, but would like to contribute $____________

TOTAL ENCLOSED: $__________

NAME ______________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________

CITY________________________________________________________________________

STATE_________ ZIP_____________ PHONE(daytime)______________________________

E-MAIL_______________________________________ Total enclosed__________________

Make check payable to LWVNYSEF. Tax deductible except for $25 fair value of the event/pp attending. Receipts will be provided at the door.

MAIL TO: Mary Lou Classen, 4 Blue Spruce Lane, Ballston Lake, NY 12019

THE LEAGUE OF

WOMEN VOTERS

OF SARATOGA COUNTY P.O. BOX 1029 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Saratoga Springs,NY

Permit No. 16

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

March 2013

Tues., March 12, Book Club, 1pm

SSPL, 1pm

March 15, RSVP for Fundraiser

Friday, March 22, Deadline for

B. K. Thomas Award See page 6

Sat.March 23, 9am.

Gideon Putnum Hotel

Breakfast &

A MARRIAGE OF TWO MINDS

With John and Abigail Adams

See page 7

Tues., April 23, Agriculture Fo-

rum, 7pm, SSPL, Community Rm.

Sat, June 8, Annual Meeting, 9am

Holiday Inn

CONTENTS Grant Award, Fundraiser …………………...1

From the President, New members..…….….2

Women’s Equality, Project

Informed Citizens.………………...……..….3

Report on gun forum ..……………….……..4

Be A Videographer, Contributors,

Get Active…………………………………..5

Take Me To Vote!, Book Club, Thomas

Award, Two positions………………………6

All about “The Marriage of Two Minds.…...7

JOIN US & MAKE A DIFFERENCE

YES! I Would like to join the League. 2012/13 dues enclosed.

(Note: The Bulletin is free with membership) $55. Individual $80 Family $25 Student

Please send more information I would like to subscribe to the BULLETIN, $15. enclosed

In addition, I would like to contribute $______________

Please send a gift membership to:

NAME _______________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________

CITY ________________________________________________________________________________

STATE ________ ZIP ____________ PHONE (home) ________________ (work) ___________________

E-MAIL ________________________________________________

ARE YOU INBOARD? TERESTED IN SERVING ON THE

The Nominating Committee seeks members who wish to be con-

sidered for positions on the Board of Directors of the LWV of

Saratoga County. Serving on the board is an experience to re-

member: rewarding, challenging, satisfying, demanding and fun.

You will be able to:

Build your leadership skills

Use your skills to make things happen for the League and for

your community

Help to set the direction for the LWV of Saratoga County

Share your League successes with other Leagues

Expand your commitment to the League

If this sound like an opportunity you or someone you know might

want to pursue, please contact any member of the Nominating

Committee: Susan Burton, Laura Chodos, Donna Dardaris, Amy

Durland, or Lori Dawson, Chair.

WANTED The Voter Service Committee is

looking for members willing to get training

to be a moderator. It will involve one session

of about 2 hours. We want to schedule the

training in April so please let us know by

March 20. Call Ann Kril: 584-1436.