© 1999 - 2007 League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham and
League of Women Voters of the
United States
The Voter
August 2007
A Publication of the League
of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham.
Re-formatted here for web publication with index and links added. Web
Editor's navigational notes added in [bracketed italics].
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Get a "hardcopy" of this Voter for printing:
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INDEX
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MARK YOUR
CALENDAR!
Mayoral Candidates Forum Tuesday, September 18th
7:00 p.m. WorkPlay 500 23rd Street South Birmingham, AL [ map ] Audience must be seated by 6:30 p.m. LWVGB member volunteers needed! Submit a question for consideration to: election-questions@lwvgb.org Please volunteer to help! AND... MARK YOUR CALENDAR! LWVGB Membership Meeting Thursday, September 27th 6:00 p.m. at The Cantina at Pepper Place Martin Biscuit Building 2901 2nd Ave. South Birmingham, AL [ map ] |
Be a Part of the Plan -- A Note
from the President
| In the heat of
the Summer your new Board planned the coming year with enthusiasm and
bright ideas. It was refreshing to see such passion for our
organization and the interest of citizen involvement and
awareness. This will be a grand year to participate in
activities from voter service to the Birmingham mayoral forum to
Observer Corps to topic studies and more. An article on page
three of this Voter provides more detail on our Planning Meeting. |
 On
July 28th the LWVGB Board members met for an all day planning meeting.
In attendance were (L to R) Sarah McDonald, Nancy Ekberg, Cissy
Bennett, Virginia Randolph, Kaydee Erdreich-Bremen. Not pictured
Kathryn Kerchof
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| Under Ann Smith's leadership,
the Observer Corps has pushed to the
forefront this past year, resulting in an article in The
Birmingham News about how these volunteers are the eyes
and ears of citizens at government meetings. Our observers
alert us to issues for comment or advocacy. There are many
more meetings that could use observers. If you would like to
participate, please call our League phone number 583-5000 or email us
at admin@lwvgb.org.
We can give you an orientation and get you started right away. Thanks go to Nancy Ekberg and Betty Warnock for designing and publishing a new Member Brochure. I particularly am attracted to their true statement "The League strengthens and protects Democracy by involvement in civic activity". We can list numerous actions of our local League working at making a difference. Recently, in addition to the Observer Corps discussed above, the Citizens Advisory Board of Birmingham has requested a representative of our League. Yvonne Brakefield is serving and has been selected as Vice Chair of the group's study of the city elections. We have a forum for the candidates for Mayor, and we are partnering with a group of other local non-partisan civic groups. In June, I had the opportunity to attend the LWV Council meeting in Washington D.C. What a treat to be in a room with so many women and men who are passionate about our democracy and who think with facts before them! The National League is focusing this year’s advocacy on campaign finance reform, civil liberties, D.C. voting rights, election administration, ethics and lobbying reform, global climate change, and health care reform. Eleanor Holmes Norton spoke to us on D.C. voting rights with the history, the current status and the wish for citizens of Washington D.C. to be fully represented in Congress. LWV supports this effort. As is often the case, it was the conversation held with others that provided suggestions for us in our own League. This year will be an excellent opportunity for us to make a difference in the community through many projects. Each of us must make it an individual priority to join in, participate, and strengthen our democracy. I am look forward to working with each of you. -- Ginny |
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Birmingham Mayoral Candidates
Forum
If you would like to ask a question of the candidates, submit questions for consideration to election-questions@lwvgb.org by August 21st. When:
September 18, 2007
Time: 7:00 p.m. Audience must be seated by 6:30 p.m. Where: WorkPlay, 500 23rd Street South [ map ] |
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Action Alerts
The LWV sends us “Action Alerts” to help us respond to issues before Congress. We then forward them on to all the members with email addresses. If you do not wish to be on the receiving end of “Action Alerts”, please let us know. Send an email to admin@lwvgb.org and indicate in the email that you would like to be removed from receipt of action alerts. You may sign up with the national League to receive “action alerts” directly. This is available at www.lwv.org.
Committee to Review Birmingham's Mayor-Council Act
The Birmingham Citizen’s Advisory Board (CAB) has appointed a reform committee of representatives from community organizations to review the Birmingham Mayor-Council Act and make recommendations on how to improve operations of the city government.
Emanuel Ford, President of CAB is credited with the idea of reviewing the Mayor-Council Act. As reported by staff writer Joseph D. Bryant in the July 22nd edition of the The Birmingham News, Mr. Ford has become increasingly frustrated with the constant struggle between the Mayor’s office and the City Council. “It is obvious this Mayor-Council Act does not work,” Ford was quoted as saying. “The document is to serve the people, not the politicians.”
Leona Payne, president of the Jones Valley Neighborhood Association, will serve as chairwoman of the CAB reform committee. Other committee members include Mayor Bernard Kincaid; Councilor William Bell; Anne Marie Adams, Jefferson County Circuit Clerk; Reverend Andra Sparks; Margie George, president of the Greater Birmingham Republican Women; Robbie Yarbrough, chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party; Jim Williams representing PARCA; Jay Rhodes, an attorney with Baddley and Mauro; and Yvonne Brakefield, member of the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham.
The primary function of the CAB is to serve as a liaison between community neighborhood associations and the City of Birmingham. Additional information about the CAB can be found at http://www.cpn.org/topics/community/birmingham.html
LWVGB Board Planning
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Thanks to Sarah
McDonald, the LWVGB Board met in a delightful setting on a hot day in
late July. Despite the heat or maybe inspired by the sizzle
the group was on a roll with so many good ideas. Since we had
more ideas than people, we felt that we had to prioritize the goals and
ideas, but there are plenty for all who want to contribute to
our community.
The following goal areas will receive the highest priority for action from the local chapter this next year:
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 Virginia Randolph, President of LWVGB |
We will also
participate in two important studies to reach consensus:
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Where Will You Participate?
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Observer Corps
- Jefferson County Commission -- once a month
- Birmingham City Council -- once a month but you may catch it on TV if you live in Birmingham
- Birmingham School Board
- Hoover School Board
Voter Service
- Register People to Vote
- Help at the Registrar’s Office the week of election
A Side
Note: We are receiving requests for
Voter
registration in anticipation of both the Birmingham Mayoral election on
October 9
and the upcoming Primary Election scheduled for February 5. Karen
Threlkeld registered people to
vote on July 14 at Avondale Park for a Young Adult Voting and Community
Activism workshop aimed at increasing political
awareness and involvement. Due to its success, the
group wants to include us again as the workshop is
offered in other areas of Birmingham
2007
Mayoral Forum on September 18th
- Timer
- Usher
- Set up and clean up
- Staff the LWVGB table
Studies
- Immigration
- Initiative and Referendum
Public
Relations
- Write Press Releases
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Ruffner Mountain Hike
| LWVGB members had an invigorating hike at Ruffner Mountain on Saturday morning, June 16. We walked the quarry trail and Yvonne Brakefield used her new digital camera to take a number of pictures of native flora. As we got closer to the quarry site, the soil became redder with hematite, Alabama's state mineral and a key ingredient in the making of pig iron. Ruffner has a number of trails with rest benches along the way and some great views of the Birmingham skyline. |  Leonette Slay and Ruth Wright enjoy a hike at Ruffner Mountain. |
| Consider checking out this nearby urban oasis when you want a hike but
don't want to tie up your day in driving to and from your destination.
I will explore the possibility of partnering with another League or
nonprofit organization with similar environmental goals and would like
to hear your ideas. – Leonette Slay |
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Registered to Vote in Chile? Vote or Face Fine
During
a recent vacation trip to northern Chile, I asked my American contact
and several Chileans about their rules for voting. According
to
them, Chileans who register to vote and who are within a certain
proximity to their voting place MUST vote in all elections.
To be
registered and not vote is to be subject to a fine equivalent to 200
dollars. If one is not registered at all, then no fine
results. Our American contact, a missionary who has been in Chile for 10 years, no longer votes in U.S. elections. His explanation was that the Chilean postal system is very problematic (which guidebooks also mention), and he could never get his absentee ballot back in time to meet U.S. deadlines.
-- Leonette Slay
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Report of the Alabama Water Agenda - Part 2
 Earlier
this year, the Alabama Rivers Alliance and Southern
Environmental Law Center released "Alabama Water Agenda:
Guiding the
Way to Healthy Waters". This is a very readable report which
can be
downloaded at
www.AlabamaWaterAgenda.com.
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Last month we discussed Alabama's abundant water resources and challenges faced by the state regarding these resources. This month we will summarize those threats and suggest possible policy initiatives or changes to current policies that will protect all aspects of our water's health.
A. Agency coordination and enhancement: Since Alabama has no one agency charged with oversight of health and abundance of our water resources, implementing executive and legislative requirements for inter-agency cooperation is key. The multiple agencies with some authority for water must have clear decision-making processes which require public participation, open dialogue with the public and other agencies, and accountability.
B. Enforcement: Agencies need sufficient authority and funding from the legislature to ensure adequate enforcement and enforcement personnel. In addition, Alabama needs a better way to apply state fines and fees towards water protection and restoration. The public also needs better access to information concerning environmental violations and resulting fines.
C. Funding: Our current state programs that monitor and protect our waters are significantly underfunded. Since most state agencies get their annual budgets through the General Fund, we must talk with our legislators about increasing appropriations to state agencies responsible for our water resources. At the same time, agencies should aggressively apply for appropriate federal matching funds.
D. Instream flow: Alabama needs a watershed protection approach to develop a comprehensive statewide policy concerning instream flow. Such a policy must include the following components: statewide regulation of interbasin transfers, an improved permitting system for water withdrawals, programs to conserve water, a drought management plan, and better flow regimes for new and existing dams. Such a policy will also put Alabama in a better position to negotiate with other states regarding water flow.
E. Stormwater: Since stormwater is the leading cause of poor water quality in Alabama as well as flooding, controlling this threat is vital. Controls include improving permits for stormwater discharges, land use practices that encourage stormwater treatment and reduction, and developing state guidance for local ordinances.
F. Suburban sprawl: Unbridled growth affects waters but also our economy and quality of life. Land use policy, including the principles of sustainable design and development, can result in "smart growth". One way to encourage smart growth is to allow local governments more authority for zoning and development policies. At the same time, watershed-based planning often requires cooperation among multiple governments. One way to promote better planning and development is to provide economic incentives to minimize the negative impacts on Alabama waters from unsustainable development.
(This is summarized from The Alabama Water Agenda, published by the Alabama Rivers Alliance and Southern Environmental Law Center, Jan 07)
-- Leonette Slay
Environmental Chair
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Solid Waste and Mass Transit in Seattle
Leonette
Slay recently vacationed in Seattle where the city council is
considering aggressive solid waste management recommendations known as
the Zero Waste Strategy. The intent is to double the rate of
recycling and composting in Seattle by 2025. If the city
council
adopts the proposed changes, plastic foam takeout boxes and cups would
be completely banned, shoppers will initially have to pay a penny or
more per plastic bag, with the goal of eventually banning all plastic
bags in favor of biodegradable ones, and businesses will have to reduce
organic and construction waste. In the last 10 years, Seattle
has
reduced its trash output from 765,000 tons in 1995 to 438,000 tons in
2006. A side note: Leonnette also had the pleasant experience of using Seattle's bus system, which ran every 10-15 minutes on a Sunday, was almost full of passengers, and charged only $1.25 for nonrush hour, but since she was a visitor, the driver charged her $.50!
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Volunteers Needed!
Birmingham Mayoral Candidates Forum When: September
18, 2007
Time: 7:00 p.m. Audience must be seated by 6:30 p.m. Where: WorkPlay 500 23rd Street South [ map ] Sponsors: League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham, Catalyst, Rotaract, Alabama Black Journalists Association, Sixteenth Baptist Church, WorkPlay and WIAT/CBS 42 What: A forum with questions for the all major candidates for Mayor of Birmingham will be held and also televised on CBS 42. All candidates who qualify with the City Election Clerk by September 10th will be eligible to participate. Election: The General Election is October 9 and if a Run-off Election is needed it will be November 6.  Volunteers to help with this forum are needed. If you will be able to help usher, time questions, help with set up or clean up at the end, and/or staff the League table, please let us know by sending an email to admin@lwvgb.org, or calling 583.5000, and leaving a message including your name and telephone number. |
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September & October Chock-Full of Events
Please mark your
calendars: September
will feature two events for our members, the Birmingham Mayoral
Candidates Forum on September 18 at 7:00 and a member meeting at the
Cantina at Pepper Place on September 27 at 6:00. The member
meeting at the Cantina has been a popular event and so we are
continuing it. The Cantina meeting has been our traditional
member-bring-a-friend/future member. Plan to round up several
friends for an evening of socializing with others who care about the
community.In October we will begin our first study, Immigration. Sarah McDonald will lead us in a study begun by the National League but with some local information added. You may get a head start on the information by going to www.lwv.org and selecting Immigration Study. Download the information. There is a fair amount of excellent papers to read. You will want to read the Immigration 101 the Basics and then the Background Papers. As always our studies result in lively discussion and are an opportunity to engage in dialogue with other intelligent people focusing on the facts of the issue.
Membership Profile: Kaydee Erdreich-Bremen
| Kaydee Erdreich-Bremen was born and raised in Birmingham. A graduate of Shades Valley High School and Mary Washington College, Kaydee has had a varied career in government service. Her life has taken her to Virginia, Georgia and California. She has one daughter, and she decided years ago to make Birmingham her home. She has held positions with the Small Business Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Head Start, and Health and Human Services. Her experience as a tax auditor at the IRS at the age of 23 showed her early in her career the importance of understanding |  Kaydee
Erdreich-Breman
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| the "details of government". She has had a life-long interest in politics and government. She is particularly interested in the “systems of government”. She was drawn to join the League over 25 years ago because of studies the League had conducted. She had discovered on the job that thorough and sometimes tedious study of a process is the only way that one gains insight into the workings of government. It is no surprise to anyone that Kaydee is a big fan of the League's Observer Corps. She presently observes the transit advisory committee. When Kaydee is not studying the intricacies of government, she loves to vacation in Maine. In addition, she is an avid swimmer, and she helps with the swim team at the Lakeshore Foundation. She also sits on the board of the Birmingham Historical Society and is a member of Temple Emanu-El. If you would like to join Kaydee in the Observer Corps she would love to talk to you. You may contact her at admin@lwvgb.org. | |
Your Membership Dues
Dear Members,
It is that time of year again! Your dues are due for your League Membership. You will receive a letter from us that will include our elected officials’ information called Your Government at Your Fingertips, as well as a new member brochure for you to give to a friend. The mailing will also include a self-addressed envelope, which we hope you will use to send in your dues. As you may know, when you join the Greater Birmingham League, you are automatically a member of the Alabama State League and the National League.
We need your continued membership and support to work for:
- A commission manager form of government in Jefferson County
- Adequate funding for childhood education including education before 1st grade.
- Adequate funding for our justice system including community based alternatives to incarceration, family court and juvenile justice system
- Safeguards for our waterways and the environment.
- An equitable tax system
- Campaign finance reform, including restrictions on lobbying, more transparency in funding and an end to PAC to PAC transfers
- A constitutional convention to Alabama to allow the citizens to write a new constitution
Thank you!
-- Nancy Ekberg
Membership Chair
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League Language
(Taken from the LWV New Member Book)
Consensus: The process for reaching member agreement on selected issues that members have studied. Can also refer to the agreement itself.
Local Item: A topic concerning local government, chosen by members for study and action.
Nonpartisan: Describes the League’s policy of neither supporting nor opposing political parties or candidates.
Voter Service: The highly visible year-round service of registering voters and giving factual information to voters on candidates and issues.
Judicial Selection Forum
League members are invited to The Judicial Selection Forum sponsored the Women Lawyers on Sept. 13. Our LWVAL President Mary Lynn Bates is moderating as a member of the Women Lawyers Section Executive Board. The event will be held at Burr and Forman 420 North 20th Street at 5:00 the Panel will include Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, former Chief Justice Gorman Houston, Judge Kelli Wise and Representative Jeff McLaughlin.
LWVGB Board of
Directors 2007-2008
League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham
P. O. Box 530522
Mountain Brook, AL 35253
admin@lwvgb.org
205 583-5000
President
(2007-2009)
Virginia "Ginny" Randolph
First Vice President (2007-2009)
Nancy Ekberg
Secretary (2006-2008)
Cissy Bennett
Treasurer (2006-2008)
Sarah McDonald
DIRECTORS:
Transit
Kaydee Erdreich-Breman
Virginia "Ginny" Randolph
First Vice President (2007-2009)
Nancy Ekberg
Secretary (2006-2008)
Cissy Bennett
Treasurer (2006-2008)
Sarah McDonald
DIRECTORS:
Transit
Kaydee Erdreich-Breman
Editor, The Voter
Kathryn
Kerchof
Observer Corps - Jefferson Co.
Beverly Nelson
Health
Paulette
Rowe
Environment
Leonette
Slay
OFF-BOARD
Technical
Director
Jean Johnson
Observer
Corps - Water Works
Ann Smith
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Betty
Warnock, Chair
Yvonne Brakefield
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LWVGB Calendar of Events
Tuesday,
September 4thBoard Meeting
Samford University
Chapman Burns Hall
[ #41 on this
Samford map
]
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday,
September 13thJudicial Selection Forum
Burr and Forman
420 North 20th Street
Birmingham, AL
[ map ] [ more information ]
5:00 p.m.
Tuesday,
September 18thBirmingham Mayoral Candidates Forum
WorkPlay
500 23rd St. South
Birmingham, AL
(Broadcast on CBS 42)
[ map ] [ more information ]
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday,
September 27Membership Meeting
The Cantina at Pepper Place
Martin Biscuit Building
2901 2nd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL
[ map ] [ more information ]
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday,
October 2nd
Board Meeting
Samford University
Chapman Burns Hall
[ #41 on this
Samford map
]
6:00
- 7:00 p.m.
Thursday,
October 25th
Member Meeting –
Immigration Study
Homewood Library 101
1721 Oxmoor Road
[ map] [ more information ]
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday,
December 1stMember Holiday Luncheon
The Club
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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