LWV of Alameda Calendar of Events

Final Call to the 65th State Convention of the League of Women Voters of California - Attendance at convention is open to everyone; we encourage all members to attend.

This is the final call to Convention 2013 as required by the LWVC bylaws, Article X, Section 7. The LWVC Bylaws govern the composition and business of the convention. Our bylaws direct us (See Article X, Sec. 5) to:

- Elect officers, directors, and three members of the nominating committee for the 2013-2015 biennium (Article XII)
- Adopt a budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year (Article IX, Sec. 2)
- Adopt program for 2013-2015 (Article XIII)

10 am Friday, May 17, through 3 pm Sunday, May 19, 2013

With special pre-convention events on Thursday, May 16, 2013

Dolce Hayes Mansion, 200 Edenvale Avenue, San Jose 95136 (408-226-3200)

Registration and convention information are available at the LWVC's Convention blog.

The agenda is here.

The schedule of caucuses and workshops is here.

Carpool and room sharing info is here.

Click here for a Google Maps link to 200 Edenvale Avenue in San Jose.

2013 LWVA ANNUAL MEETING IS JUNE 22 at the GOLD COAST GRILL

All League of Women Voters of Alameda (LWVA) members are encouraged to attend our Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 22, at 11:30 am at the Gold Coast Grill.

The Gold Coast Grill is at 1901 Park Street (at Clement Avenue).

The luncheon begins at 11:30 am. City Attorney Janet Kern will speak on "Challenges to Implementing Sunshine and Fair Campaign Practices Efforts."

The LWVA Annual Meeting (business meeting) will begin at 12:45 pm.

If you do not receive your Annual Meeting Kit in the US Mail by May 20, please contact us right away.

You can view the 2013 Annual Meeting Packet here.

The LWVA Initiative and Referendum (I & R) Study Group will present its findings at a Consensus Meeting on Saturday, February 23, at Alameda Hospital from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm in Conference Room A.

All League members are encouraged to attend and participate in the deliberations on Initiative and Referendum reform.

Lunch can be "ordered in" or you can bring your own.

At the Consensus meeting our League will decide what study findings and position(s) to adopt and recommend for action at the LWVC statewide convention in San Jose May 17-19.

Please contact Felice Zensius (felicez@ymail.com) for more information on the study or the Consensus meeting.

"Water: California's Gold 2013" is the topic for Bay Area League Day on Saturday, February 2

Journalist and water expert Matt Weiser is the keynote speaker for "Water: California's Gold 2013" at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland from 9:00 am - 2:10 pm.

Attendees will learn about and discuss California water issues such as water system governance, conveyance, and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

First Unitarian Church of Oakland is at 685 14th Street (at Castro), a short walk from BART and bus service on nearby Broadway. Cost is $30 in advance ($15 without lunch) or $35 at the door ($20 without lunch).

Click here for more information and to register--including online registration

WHAT WILL 'OBAMACARE' MEAN FOR ALAMEDA RESIDENTS? BUSINESSES?

Are you ready for the new health care options that will be implemented this fall as part of Obamacare?

Find out more about the new Health Insurance Marketplace at a free and public forum:

WHEN: Thursday, February 28, 2013, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM

WHERE: Mastick Senior Center Social Hall at 1155 Santa Clara Avenue in Alameda.

The LWVA is pleased to offer this free panel discussion and public forum with:

- David Sayen, Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
- Deborah Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer, Alameda Hospital
- David Brown, Area President, San Francisco Branch, Gallagher Benefit
Services

The Mastick Senior Center is an accessible, ADA-compliant facility. Free parking is available: the parking lot entrance s on Santa Clara Avenue between Bay Street and St. Charles Street.

The Health Insurance Marketplace mandated by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Affordable Care Act") will be implemented later this year. This new way of purchasing health insurance will drastically change how we obtain and use health insurance.

You can also read more about the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace from the US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services here.

Additional information is available from the US government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at HealthCare.gov.

All League members are encouraged to attend our Annual Meeting on June 9th, 11:30 am at Asena Restaurant. If you have not yet received your Annual Meeting Kit your may download one here

May 24, 7-9 PM at Cardinal Point

Supervisor Wilma Chan will discuss "The State of Alameda County" at the League of Women Voters of Alameda's (LWVA's) next public forum May 24 at Cardinal Point, 2431 Mariner Square Drive from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

She will describe how state and federal decisions--such as budget cuts--affect Alameda County and the services it provides. She will also highlight current initiatives like the Human Impact Budget, the Adopt a School program, and Alameda County's Connecting Kids to Coverage program to enroll all eligible uninsured children to receive health care.

"Healthy kids make healthy communities," said Supervisor Chan. "When it comes to eligible children, we know that enrolling them in public programs can change their lives. Enrollment also brings...federal and state matching funds into our community health care system."

A discussion and question-and-answer session will follow Chan's presentation. The public is welcome at this LWVA program in the Cardinal Point residential community, a wheelchair-accessible facility overlooking the Oakland Estuary.

Wilma Chan represents the Third District on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. She previously served in the Assembly from 2000 - 2006.

For more information on this free public forum please visit http://alameda.ca.lwvnet.org/Public_Events.html or contact LWVA Program Chair Tracy Jensen (510-865-6350; tjalameda@gmail.com).

In the League's effort to inform and engage the citizens of Alameda in the political process, this "State of the..." series continues with a State of the County presentation by Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan on May 24 at Cardinal Point in Alameda.

State Senator Loni Hancock will offer a "State of the State" presentation on Thursday, June 7. Watch the site and your upcoming issues of the VOTER for details.

LWVC Leadership Council May 19-20 in Sacramento

Hop aboard those planes, trains and automobiles and head for the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza in Sacramento for State Leadership Council 2012 on May 19-20.

Leadership Council is important for the following reasons:

• You will meet leaders from across the state
• You will be updated on the work being done by your state board
• You will attend workshops on hot topics
• You will have many opportunities to network We need to make sure at least one person from our League plans to attend! All members may attend the plenary sessions but only official delegates (President or their designee) may vote. Workshops are open to members and non-members. Observing League process is a valuable educational experience for League future leaders and transparency is a core value of the League; our League board, committee chairs, and interested members are encouraged to attend. Watch future LWVC Leaders Updates, e-newsletters and the member's only website http://www.ca.lwv.org/lwvonly/ for more details.

• LWVUS Convention June 8-12, 2012 in DC If ever you wanted to find out what your fellow League members are doing all over the USA, here is your opportunity! Join in on the LWVUS 50th National Convention in Washington DC:

Imagine, Commit, Act! The Power of the Vote! June 8-12, 2012

We encourage all members to attend but especially those of you who want to really understand the grassroots nature of League. More details can be found at http://www.lwv.org.