April 2010

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State Council to be held August 14, 2010 Focus for Council - LWV-HI Goals and Objectives (Sue Irvine) Legalized Gambling: A State or County Issue? (Sue Dursin) League of Women Voters of Hawaii Goals and Objectives Hawaii State Ethics Commission Courts Unwelcome Attention (Jean Aoki) Phoenix Rail System Cuts Back on Service (Honolulu News) (Pearl Johnson) Local Leader & League Member Recognized by Foundation Applauding LWV-US for Another Successful Convention National LWV Elects New President Agriculture Group Will Focus on Regulations LWV-Hawaii Proposed Budget 2010-2011 LWV of Honolulu Ed Fund Seeks Nominees (Robin Loomis) Mahalo Honolulu Contributors We're Cleaning Out Calendar

Applauding LWV-US for Another Successful Convention Reading about the June Convention of the LWV-US and following some of the pre-convention email discussion among leaguers from different states attempting to persuade each other to vote for various studies, pushing for certain convention rules, urging attendance at various caucuses, etc., I felt the excitement building up. I knew this was a convention not to miss, but physically I was unable to travel to Atlanta. By all accounts, this convention held on our 90th anniversary was a very productive, exhilarating and meaningful event. I've been to a few LWV-US conventions, and I am convinced that if we could afford to send about a half dozen young potential leaders to one of these conventions every few years, we would not lack for active leaders and members. The pulsating energy, excitement, and focused attention to each item up for debate and decision in that hall just capture and sweep you along. The debate is not confined to the plenary sessions. I remember when a resolution for an increase in our per-member-payment was turned down at one of our conventions. The Hawaii delegation had voted in favor of the raise, I believe. During the next break, people from different delegations started talking to each other, and agreed that we needed to take another vote, because the raise was necessary. So, in the next plenary session, someone who had voted in opposition asked to reconsider the vote taken earlier. The raise was passed followed by enthusiastic applause. The late-night caucuses led by well-informed members, the many enjoyable excursions, the wares market where ingenious products devised by the different Leagues are up for sale, the opportunity to meet with members from all over the country, the speeches by famous national leaders, are all there to instill pride in our organization. Above all, you begin to really understand the meaning of ours being a grassroots organization. Jean Aoki

April 2010

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