Co-presidents Report:
Before the date of February 2, 2012 becomes a distant memory I would like to share several milestones that the LWVM reached on that date. The reason for doing so goes back to memories of last spring when before Ginny and I accepted the positions of Co-presidents we discussed what we wanted the League to be. Does that question sound familiar to some of you? For those who might have forgotten or are newer to our roster let me explain briefly that it was the question asked for our May Installation luncheon program. We wanted to know your thoughts of what your vision might be too.
Your voices expressed time honored traditions being maintained and actions of voter education and voter registration were to be utmost the goals. That became our challenge to marry new ideas with traditions.
We believe Membership is a key component. With every new member brings the possibilities of new ideas to the table. So on February 2, 2012 our once future voter Vanessa Giebink became our 37th League member. We are honored to have proudly registered her to vote as she turned 18 as well and look forward to the promise of what her membership will become. Later that same afternoon to add to our excitement Pat Schaller became our 38th member to join our League.
Next we believed we needed to become a 501( c)(3) tax exempt entity to not only maintain goals but to expand on our Voter Education and Voter Registration. It was time in the growth of this League to now do so. So formally on February 2, 2012 your Board took Minutes of the First Meeting of the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters Educational Project. We formally disbanded the 501( c)(3) Committee for the completion of that undertaking as we now await in good faith the Declaration from the IRS. Thank you to those committee members, Ginny Loomis, Rosemary Gary, Gracie Toval, Mina Stone in helping to take on this project. The new directors of the LWVMEP are Carmel Piquette and Ginny Loomis, Co-presidents, Anne Miranda, Vice-President, Gracie Toval, Treasurer and Mina Stone, Secretary. Their term of office ends on January 31st, 2013.
Another milestone was in the Board’s unanimous approval and acceptance of a new Committee called the Sponsored Membership Program with a mission to administer a partial monetary assistance for those needing a financial remedy towards the LWVM membership dues. Details on how it is funded will be discussed and voted on at the next general meeting.
Not bad for Ground Hog Day, 2012.
Carmel Piquette
