July 2024

Contents

Co-Presidents' Message

LAST DAY TO VOTE: Changes to Bylaws

In the News: Republican City Council Primary Dispute

Upcoming: Lynchburg Adult Recovery Court (formerly Drug Court) Graduation (8/7)

Upcoming: VAN Training from VCET (8/7)

Upcoming: Naturalization Ceremony at Poplar Forest (9/17)

Upcoming: Registration Events at Local Colleges (Days and Times TBD)

Reminder: The New Fiscal Year has Begun!

Virtual Tools: LWV-VA Fact Checker

Co-Presidents' Message

Greetings members and welcome to the new League year!

As you know, this election year is particularly important, with key races for President, federal offices, state offices, local offices, and Lynchburg City Council. Your support is crucial in our efforts to increase voter registration and voter participation, promote awareness of Vote411, and ensure that all elections this season are conducted freely and fairly. With upcoming League-sponsored voter registration events and activities at CVCC, Poplar Forest, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and Randolph College to name a few, there will be many opportunities for all LWVLY members to get engaged, advocate, motivate, mobilize, and activate! With so many important issues at stake and on the ballot this year, we cannot become complacent or just assume that someone else will do the work for us.

As we discussed at the Annual Meeting, we need all hands on deck for this important work, and that means YOU! If you have not yet renewed your membership for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, be sure to do so. Information can be found below. Thank you for your continued membership with LWVLY, and we look forward to your participation this election season!

Onward and upward,                                                                    

Bethanie Mickles, Esq. (Co-President)

LAST DAY TO VOTE: Proposed Bylaw Changes

As we shared in the last bulletin, the LWVLY Board has proposed a potential change to the LWVLY Bylaws to increase the flexibilty of our administrative structure. To read the revised Bylaws, please click here. Today is the last day to vote on whether to accept the revisions. Your ballot is available here.

In the News: Republican City Council Primary Dispute

Local and state LWV members have expressed concerns about the recent dispute between Republican City Council primary candidates Peter Alexander and Chris Faraldi (incumbent) and the City's next steps for ensuring fair and transparent electoral processes. Local and regional newsrooms have covered the dispute in detail, and we've assembled several radio, television, and news stories here to help ensure members are up to speed on the situation.

"Why the suit to void a council primary in Lynchburg matters across Virginia" by Dwayne Yancey (Cardinal News)

"Special meeting called to address City attorney email" by Mark Hand (News & Advance)

Audio interviews with Council Member Jeff Helgeson and Mayor Stephanie Reed (The Morningline, WLNI)

"Chaos erupts in Lynchburg City Council chambers following special meeting" by Kelsey Childress (WSET)

"Tensions boil over in Lynchburg City Council" (WSET, video)

Coverage of press conference by Andre Whitehead (Facebook)

Member Molly McClenon regularly attends City Council meetings and submits reports to members. However, we would love to have multiple member observers at City Council (and School Board!) meetings. If you are interested in observing, please contact a member of the LWVLY Board.

Upcoming: Lynchburg Adult Recovery Court (formerly Drug Court) Graduation

The newest completers of the Lynchburg Adult Recovery Court (formerly Drug Court) program will graduate on August 7 at 5:30pm in a ceremony at City Hall, Council Chambers. LWVLY members are invited (see the formal invitation here), and we would love to have several members in attendance. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Taylor Jones at tmjones@vacourts.gov or 434-455-2741. Please also let member Molly McClenon (m.mcclenon@comcast.net) know you plan to attend.

Upcoming: VAN Training from VCET

The Virginia Civic Engagement Table "strengthens and connects Virginia’s progressive nonprofit organizations and activists" and "believe[s] our Commonwealth works best when every voice is heard." As a result of this stance, VCET "strive[s] to engage underrepresented communities in the democratic process," including voter education and registration efforts. As you probably know, volunteers who work on voter registration events must completed training annually. While this training may be completed asynchronously online at any time through the Virginia Department of Elections, VCET will be providing a live online training opportunity through their Voter Access Network (VAN) program on August 7 at 4pm. If you are interested in attending the training, please sign up at this spreadsheet. A calendar invitation with a video link will be generate on August 5.

Upcoming: Naturalization Ceremony at Poplar Forest

A naturalization ceremony will take place at Poplar Forest on September 17 at 11am. LWVLY will be there to register newly naturalized citizens to vote, and we need volunteers to help staff this event! Please contact member Niro Rasanaygam (niro_r@hotmail.com) if you would like to participate.

Upcoming: Registration Events at Local Colleges

LWVLY is currently scheduling registration events at Central Virginia Community College, Randolph College, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and the University of Lynchburg. Dates and times are still TBD, but if you would like to help staff one of these events, please contact Muriel Mickles (murielmickles@gmail.com) and MJ Pearson (mjlp55@gmail.com).

Reminder: The New Fiscal Year has Begun!

Treasurer Sue Stengel reminds all members that annual dues were due by June 30. If you wish to remain a member for the 2024-2025 fiscal year (and we hope you do!), please pay your dues online at our website or, if you prefer, mail a check to PO Box 3042, Lynchburg, VA 24503.

Virtual Tool: LWV-VA Fact Checker to Combat Mis- and Disinformation

Tool: VerbaAI

The League of Women Voters of Virginia in partnership with VerbaAI, has established a fact-checking website which uses AI to find political statements and then check them against known and trusted sites. These include Snopes, PolitiFact, LeadStories, and Fact Check.org. League members are also active in locating and submitting questionable stories for review.

According to Virginia League President, Joan Porte, “The ubiquitous spread of election lies is a clear danger to our democracy. This is just a piece of the work that we do to protect voters, but it is vital.”

The website will be active through the November general election and beyond. According to Porte, “We have the dubious distinction of being one of two states with major elections every year. Unfortunately, false information shows no signs of stopping so we will remain vigilant."

Read the full info sheet from LWV-VA here.

Would you like to help register voters? If so, you must complete this free, short online training from the Virginia Department of Elections. This training expires annually on June 30. Update yours today!

Remember, to see photos from our recent events, be sure to visit the LWVLY Facebook page.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.