FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK
April 2025
A BIG Congratulations to our local league leaders: Ann Fabisak-Payne and Nancy Gurney. The LWV-Ohio will be presenting awards at their state convention coming up in May. Ann Fabisak-Payne has been nominated for the Elizabeth J. Hauser Lifetime Achievement Award and Nancy Gurney has been nominated for the Harriet Taylor Upton Voter Outreach Award. We are so proud of these ladies and the work that they do in furtherance of voters’ rights and strengthening democracy. We wish them both well as they are both so deserving of these
awards.
We are moving forward with our summer internship program through the efforts of Ann Fabisak-Payne and Bonnie Bishop. Interviews will be held in the near future and we hope to repeat the resounding success of last year’s internship by Anna Voster. The program is intended to reach out to and encourage young people to register and to vote, as well as to provide an opportunity for a young person to be exposed to all aspects of the League of Women Voters of Toledo-Lucas County’s activities in hopes of developing a future leader and member of the League.
Our Hot Button Issue Panel Discussion will take place on April 10, 2025. The topic will be: Energy-Coal-Electric-Solar and how it is being impacted by the current administration. Our monthly Board Meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2025 and our general membership meeting will be held on April 21, 2025 with Part 2 of Abolishing the Electoral College. Please refer to our website calendar for times and locations.
Plans are underway for our Annual Meeting to be held June 9, 2025. Please watch the calendar for specifics. This is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow Leaguers. Food will be provided and a good time had by all!
Unfortunately, the news on the state and national level is not good. Voting rights are being attacked at all levels. Ohio Senate Bill 153 would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, would also impact petition circulation, and dramatically increase provisional balloting. For specifics, please review the bill itself. On the national scene, in addition to a questionably legal executive order by the current administration which would mandate states to require proof of citizenship itizenship, we are awaiting the vote in the House of Representatives on the SAVE Act which was highlighted in last month’s letter from the presidents. But as has often been said, this is a marathon, not a sprint. It took a long time and much blood, sweat and tears for women to get the vote and we will defeat these attacks on voting rights and protect our democracy!
Rosemarie Barciz, Co-President
Bonnie Bishop, Co-President