My JURY DUTY
Entering the Federal courthouse after filling out a jury questionnaire weeks earlier, our group was directed to a waiting court room. There the Judge sits formidable high above the dais. The room is respectful with silence. Numerous smiling attorneys sit looking at us all like fish in a fish bowl. Questions begin and those in our group are excused. One for scheduled chemo treatments and one whose child’s first day of kindergartner was the following morning. The judge calls 15 random names, I’m number 15. More questions are asked when he announces that soon 9 jurors will be chosen for this civil case. When the 8th name was called I said to myself only one more name and I am so outta here. I was accepted for the case as juror number 9. We started the trial immediately. I sat there thinking why did they pick me, was it my age, my gender, my bandaged finger? I believe now it was the finger.
Nine people weeks later are no longer strangers. New friend Juror #8 turned 92 during this trial and male Juror #7 baked a delicious cake from scratch for her birthday. By the way this is Juror #8’s, eighth and final jury duty and yes she could have been excused but she would fight to be doing this duty. She is a spitfire. Not one of us since that first day has taken this job lightly. We listen but at times have struggled with eye closings and snores. Juror #5 actually did snore once but Juror #4 hit his chair, thankfully the judge did not notice. We are getting to know more of one another daily yet we have no clue as to how one feels about this actual case per the judges rules.
Now weary of living in a hotel room and eating from restaurant menus and that’s coming from one who says “it’s a good day when I don’t cook. Strange how fully captivated in this trial I’ve become. My mind is starting to form a direction after what seems like a flipping of back and forth depending on which attorney was speaking. We were told to just listen very close and you will figure it out and know. Now I would fight to remain on this case. From security guards to the judge you are made to feel and understand daily that we are revered for the job that we have been selected to accomplish. Yes someone in this case will probably be called the winner and one will lose. But this is what I have discovered so far by this process. That I have changed my mind about serving on a jury even with all the inconveniences, that I believe I’m wanted and that’s a feeling I had not felt for some time, plus that my brain still comprehends and is operational but most significantly of all I am so proud of ME for actually being a Juror.
Juror # 9, Carm Piquette
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
I look forward to seeing all of you at our first meeting in September. It is my privilege to be working with all of you.
Perhaps some of you will be bringing a guest. That would be so nice. Our meetings are open to the public. Most of all I want to thank my Co-President Carm Piquette for her wonderful guidance and skills. She is an asset to this organization. She has a wealth of experience that she brings to the table every time. She has become my friend as well as my colleague. To think a year ago I barely knew her. See what fringe benefits being a member of the League can bring to you. We have an excellent board as well. They have been working hard all summer so that we can get off to a good start. So please think of how you can help us make this year fruitful. Let’s continue to put the League of Women Voters of Mesquite on the map. And as the League motto says “Lets Make Democracy Work.”
Co-president, Ginny Loomis
Perhaps some of you will be bringing a guest. That would be so nice. Our meetings are open to the public. Most of all I want to thank my Co-President Carm Piquette for her wonderful guidance and skills. She is an asset to this organization. She has a wealth of experience that she brings to the table every time. She has become my friend as well as my colleague. To think a year ago I barely knew her. See what fringe benefits being a member of the League can bring to you. We have an excellent board as well. They have been working hard all summer so that we can get off to a good start. So please think of how you can help us make this year fruitful. Let’s continue to put the League of Women Voters of Mesquite on the map. And as the League motto says “Lets Make Democracy Work.”
Co-president, Ginny Loomis
Monday, August 1, 2011
CO-PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
For All Our Returning LWVM Members
Welcome back to our refurbished website. So what do you think? We now have the League State President Report and a Lobbyist Message here for a one stop convenience along with our own Presidents column. Hopefully now there will be less individual emails being sent out. Please take a stroll through the pages and give us your critique. Oh yes the History tab will be re-instated.
Big Thanks to Cindi Delaney for time spent training Annalee Camp, Mina Stone and Rosemary Gary on updating and maintaining the information on our website.
Take notice that the LWVM Facebook is going to be used more frequently to help keep on top of League news. It will be home for our League event pictures too. Mina Stone adds the remarks in the LWVM Facebook pages so those wanting to add a League appropriate news item please contact her. Take a look at our website calendar which is now updated.
As you can imagine during the hot days of summer we have had several “work sessions” to get a head start on our upcoming year. A collaborate accomplishment of a new Membership Tri-fold will shortly be presented. Please throw out all old tri-folds. Wait till you see our new business card for all members to personally pass out to prospective new members.
As you might all know by now we have secured a new Home at the Veterans Center located at 830 Hafen Lane starting with our first General Meeting on Saturday, September 10th. We signed a one year agreement so hopefully this becomes a great experience for us all.
As we speak we are doing paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) from our existing 501(c)(4) non-profit status. Forms are completed for registering us with the State of Nevada. Yes even our IRS tax forms have been completed by our Treasurer Gracie Toval who has a budget in place. Know that a Treasurers Report along with Minutes will be provided for all General Meetings for your viewing.
For those wanting more information on the Juvenile Justice project please contact Karen Beardsley or Mary Daigle. There seems to be a renewed interest in this area.
Lets all give a huge Thank You to all our members providing Voter Registration up at the Senior Center every Thursday from 11 am till 1 pm. All your diligent work is so appreciated. Great Job! Anyone wanting to become a registrar please contact Jeanette Kendrick.
So now it’s your turn. We are requesting that you think about what committee(s) interests you or that you might want to explore this upcoming season. We need you HELP. All our League Committees are in dire need of participation. Probably this month Ginny and I will be calling on you personally to help out.
Now on a personal level, lets all have a safe and wonderful summer filled with health, fun and love. Carm Piquette
** LWVM Board Meetings held at the Chamber of Commerce on SECOND Thursday before the Second Saturday of the month’s General Meeting at Noon.
All League Members Invited
Welcome back to our refurbished website. So what do you think? We now have the League State President Report and a Lobbyist Message here for a one stop convenience along with our own Presidents column. Hopefully now there will be less individual emails being sent out. Please take a stroll through the pages and give us your critique. Oh yes the History tab will be re-instated.
Big Thanks to Cindi Delaney for time spent training Annalee Camp, Mina Stone and Rosemary Gary on updating and maintaining the information on our website.
Take notice that the LWVM Facebook is going to be used more frequently to help keep on top of League news. It will be home for our League event pictures too. Mina Stone adds the remarks in the LWVM Facebook pages so those wanting to add a League appropriate news item please contact her. Take a look at our website calendar which is now updated.
As you can imagine during the hot days of summer we have had several “work sessions” to get a head start on our upcoming year. A collaborate accomplishment of a new Membership Tri-fold will shortly be presented. Please throw out all old tri-folds. Wait till you see our new business card for all members to personally pass out to prospective new members.
As you might all know by now we have secured a new Home at the Veterans Center located at 830 Hafen Lane starting with our first General Meeting on Saturday, September 10th. We signed a one year agreement so hopefully this becomes a great experience for us all.
As we speak we are doing paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) from our existing 501(c)(4) non-profit status. Forms are completed for registering us with the State of Nevada. Yes even our IRS tax forms have been completed by our Treasurer Gracie Toval who has a budget in place. Know that a Treasurers Report along with Minutes will be provided for all General Meetings for your viewing.
For those wanting more information on the Juvenile Justice project please contact Karen Beardsley or Mary Daigle. There seems to be a renewed interest in this area.
Lets all give a huge Thank You to all our members providing Voter Registration up at the Senior Center every Thursday from 11 am till 1 pm. All your diligent work is so appreciated. Great Job! Anyone wanting to become a registrar please contact Jeanette Kendrick.
So now it’s your turn. We are requesting that you think about what committee(s) interests you or that you might want to explore this upcoming season. We need you HELP. All our League Committees are in dire need of participation. Probably this month Ginny and I will be calling on you personally to help out.
Now on a personal level, lets all have a safe and wonderful summer filled with health, fun and love. Carm Piquette
** LWVM Board Meetings held at the Chamber of Commerce on SECOND Thursday before the Second Saturday of the month’s General Meeting at Noon.
All League Members Invited
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Get To Know Our New Presidents
Words can not explain enough the pleasure it is working with my new partner, Co-President Virgina “Ginny” Loomis is and how she has brought such enlightenment, wisdom and joy into my life. Having really just known each other for a brief time now we just “click” and what a adventure we both are going to bring to the new session of the League when we formally return in September. Yes we are stirring it up. I hope that intrigues you all.
With a board that includes our Vice-President, Anne Miranda, Gracie Toval our Treasurer along with Annalee Camp our Secretary and Mina Stone as our Correspondence Secretary let me say what a privilege it is to be surrounded by these exceptional women.
Finally to you the Members, know you are “Most Important” and that you are “Appreciated”. We are hoping to ask each and every one of you to be a part of our vision and to co-partner with us all throughout this upcoming term. May we bring you an environment where members are secure with sharing opinions, a sense of empowerment to explore, the pleasure of responsibility and the added opportunity to be a positive presence in our community. Let’s make it happen!
Carmel Piquette, Co-President, 2011-2012.
As you can see Carm has put into beautiful words our personal goals for the League. We bring to you, our Members, our heartfelt enthusiasm for the year. Hopefully we can live up to your expectations. We only want what is good for the League as citizens of this community. All of us will be helping to make the LWVM a recognized organization that will do it’s best to contribute to the good of Mesquite. Together only Great things can happen.
Ginny Loomis, Co-President, 2011-2012.
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