LWV Community

Information Center 412-261-4284

www.palwv.org/pittsburgh/

North Hills Unit 412-364-7329

Pittsburgh Central Unit

412-802-7266

South Hills Unit 412-561-5170

COUNTDOWN TO DIGITAL VOTER After this October 2010 issue, our VOTER newsletter will ONLY be available

• By email (call 412-261-4284 to make sure we have yours!) • Through our website from any PC, including at the library (Log on to www.palwv.org/pittsburgh - you can see it now!)

Page 10

KICKOFF POTLUCK DINNER September 23 at 6:30 p.m

Start off the League‘s year right! The fall kickoff will be a Covered Dish Dinner. Share stories, conversation, and your favorite recipes

with current and potential LWV members. Page 7

IRON-JAWED ANGELS

Screening of the hit HBO film. September 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library

Page 7

MARCELLUS SHALE PANEL DISCUSSION

Join us for the discussion as we partner with the United Jewish Federation the JCC in Squirrel Hill on October 11, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Page 7

Volume 17, No. 2 October 2010

September 2008

2 LWVGP VOTER

PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGES

A busy summer has come to an end. The 90th Birthday festivities are behind us. Ahead are more opportunities for involvement. Get informed on Marcellus Shale. Answer a ―help wanted‖. Join in a Naturalization ceremony or help welcome new members. Read a book

with the Book Group. Come to your Unit Meeting in October.

This issue of the VOTER newsletter that you‘ll find in your mailbox will be the last one! Next up: the email VOTER. We have been running parallel for a couple of months to get the bugs out. So be sure to contact us with any concerns. By now you know the reasons for the change – lower costs, immediacy, more colorful content, and quicker updates are just a few. Give us your suggestions to take full advantage of this new medium. (Should anyone have a need for a mailed hardcopy of the VOTER, see the signup form on p. 10. It will be available for an extra charge.)

A new column is coming with the next issue of the VOTER. ―Letters to the Editor‖ will give you a chance to sound off. Let us know what you like and don‘t like.

Give your ideas a voice. How do you see your League as it develops in the future? Click on (or type in) info@pgh.lwv.org and fire away!

Plan to attend your Unit meeting in October. At each Unit we‘ll be discussing social media including our email VOTER, email in general, and the League‘s presence on Facebook and Twitter. What the heck are these things and why do they matter? It‘s important to put our heads together and use these tools to reach members old and new. We especially would like to reach members in the demographics below mine – OK, I‘ll admit, WAY below! And we‘ll have some fun along the way.

Next push: let‘s complete an updated Membership Handbook. We have a couple of intrepid volunteers and we need a few more. Some other Leagues have graciously given us copies of their Handbooks to work from so we won‘t be reinventing the wheel. This is a really good project for new members especially. You‘ll be an expert in ―League-alese‖ in no time. Contact the office at 412-261-4284 and let Barb know of your interest.

Join in, sound off, make the League your own!

– Pam Saunders

Volume 17, No. 2 October 2010

Published monthly September-June except January by

League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh

425 Sixth Avenue #1490 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-261-4284

The League is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to encourage

the informed participation of citizens in government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy.

Co-President Arlene Levy

Co-President Pamela Saunders VOTER Editors Alison Huettner, Amy Raslevich

Email: info@pgh.lwv.org http://www.palwv.org/pittsburgh

To unsubscribe from The Voter, email the office with subject line

“Unsubscribe”. Hard copy subscriptions are available for $20 per year.

BOARD MEETINGS

Held at the Downtown office of LWVGP on the first Monday of the month. Meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Paragon café in the basement of the Koppers Building – from the rear on William Penn Place.

Meeting from 12:30-2:00 p.m. at the LWVGP office at 425 Sixth Avenue in the Regional Enterprise Tower, Suite 1490. You must sign in at the desk.

LWVGP VOTER 3

SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2010 CALENDAR

September 2010 – National Voter Registration Month

No Unit Meetings in September

Sept 17 LWVGP Non-Fiction Book Club – Squirrel Hill Library, 10:45 a.m. Deer Hunting with Jesus: Dispatches from

America’s Class War, by Joe Bageant.

Sept 17 Naturalization Ceremony.

Sept 20 Screening of Iron Jawed Angels sponsored by LWVGP – Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 6:30 p.m.

Sept 23 Kickoff potluck dinner - Eileen Olmstead’s home, 6:30 p.m.

October 2010

Oct 4 Board Meeting, lunch at Paragon’s 11:30 a.m., meeting in LWVGP office 12:30 p.m.

Oct 4 Last day to register to vote.

Oct 5 VOTER deadline, November issue.

Oct 7 Unit meeting – South Hills – 12:30 p.m. What’s On Your Mind? Facebook, Twitter and E-Mail.

Oct 8 Unit meeting – Pgh Central – 12:30 p.m. What’s On Your Mind? Facebook, Twitter and E-Mail.

Oct 11 Marcellus Shale Panel Discussion, Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Co-sponsored with

the United Jewish Federation.

Oct 14 PA Governor’s Conference for Women. - David L. Lawrence Convention Center - 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Breakfast

and lunch included, $135, or $250 for two.

Oct 15 LWVGP Non-Fiction Book Club – Squirrel Hill Library, 10:45 a.m. The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam, by Elizabeth Griswald.

Oct 15 Naturalization Ceremony.

Oct 20 Unit meeting – North Hills – 10:00 a.m. What’s On Your Mind? Facebook, Twitter and E-Mail.

Oct 29 Absentee ballots must be received by County Board of Elections.

November 2010

Nov 1 Board Meeting, lunch at Paragon’s 11:30 a.m., meeting in LWVGP office 12:30 p.m.

Nov 2 Election Day. Polls open 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Nov 2 VOTER deadline, December/January issue.

Nov 4 Good Government Award Event, Sheraton Station Square, Registration 5:45-6:15, Awards Presentation 6:15-

7:00, Cocktail Buffet & Reception 7:00-8:00.

Nov 11 Veteran’s Day – office closed.

Nov 11 Unit meeting – South Hills – 12:30 p.m. [Note change of date.]

Nov 12 Unit meeting – Pgh Central – 12:30 p.m.

Nov 17 Unit meeting – North Hills – 10:00 a.m.

Nov 19 LWVGP Non-Fiction Book Club – Squirrel Hill Library, 10:45 a.m. Book title to be announced.

Nov 19 Naturalization Ceremony.

Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day – office closed.

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WELCOME NEW LEAGUE MEMBERS!

North Hills: Pittsburgh Central:

Barbara Brock Jean Binstock Carey Harris

Audrey Clifton Dana Brown Kathleen McKenzie

South Hills: Jeanne Clark Terry Northcutt

Stacy A. Haas Claudia Detweiler Patricia Ulbrich

Janet Thorne Audrey Glickman Mariana Whitmer

BOOK CLUB

The Non Fiction Book Club will meet at the Squirrel Library at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, October 15.

We will be discussing The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam by Elizabeth Griswald.

Please join us for this most timely subject and in-depth look at a piece of history. If you don't have a chance to read the book, come anyway! Our discussions always range far and wide and the book is often just the jumping off point.

LWVGP VOTER 5

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Our Birthday Celebration went off without a hitch and we were blessed with a great crowd and beautiful weather. There are many people that we wish to thank for the success of our 90th anniversary celebration.

We thank our guest speakers who honored us with their presence and their messages. They are: Dr. Allyson Lowe, Chair of the Political Science Department of Carlow University; Pittsburgh City Council Member Natalia Rudiak; Allegheny Council Member Amanda Green Hawkins; Pennsylvania State Representative Chelsa Wagner; Kathleen McKenzie, Deputy County Manager; Kristen Baginski, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Mayor; La'Tasha Mayes, Director of New Voices Pittsburgh; Heather Arnet, Chief Executive Officer of Women and Girls Foundation; Celeste Taylor, Director of Regional Equity Monitoring Project; and Dr. Patricia Ulbrich, Project Director of In Sisterhood: The Women's Movement in Pittsburgh.

We want to thank others for special contributions that they made to our event. Renee Abrams and Associates created the idea for our party and helped us carry

it out. Jackie Dixon, Director of Government Relations for Giant Eagle, Inc. supplied our tasty cookies. Elsie Hillman provided the beautiful flower arrangements. Burt Lindstrom of Signs Plus was responsible for our large and attractive signs. Mariana Whitmer, Project Director for the University of Pittsburgh's Center for American Music, assisted us in selecting our background music for the party. Joan Markert, Director, Point Park University Costumes Department loaned us some hats, and the 3 Rivers 4 Barbershop Quartet entertained us with their lively, upbeat singing.

And we want to thank the League committee who spent many hours planning the celebration: Eileen Olmsted, Arlene Levy, Caryl Beal, Julie Croulius, and Pat Maxwell. What a memorable occasion!

Go to our Facebook page to see more pictures at http://www.facebook.com/

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SENATOR ROBERT CASEY’S (D-PA) POSITION ON

MARCELLUS SHALE NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION

The following is an email to the Senator from League member Evelyn Murrin, and Senator Casey’s response:

My dear Senator Casey,

I have just learned that you will hold a hearing in Pittsburgh on Monday re: questions surrounding drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

I am forwarding to you an email message sent to State Senator James Ferlo in regard to his call for a moratorium and my interest in whether it is worthy to consider a multi-state compact to govern Pennsylvania's natural gas resources.

I will appreciate your consideration of all suggestions. Respectfully, Evelyn L. Murrin Dear Mrs. Murrin: Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns about shale drilling in Pennsylvania. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.

When prices for natural gas and oil reached record highs in the summer of 2008, many called on the United States to increase its domestic energy production activities. Of the many sites across the country targeted for fossil fuel exploration, the Marcellus shale formation, which covers 34 million acres of land extending from New York through much of Pennsylvania and into Kentucky, has emerged as a potentially significant source of natural gas. This is a valuable resource to our Nation and major potential source revenue for the people of our state.

In contrast to a traditional natural gas well, the gas in the Marcellus shale is located in tiny pockets in sedimentary rock. Recovering these resources requires a technique known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." This involves injecting tens of thousands of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemical additives deep into the rock under extremely high pressure. The pressure breaks open the rock releasing trapped natural gas, which is then captured. Fracking often occurs near underground sources of drinking water and involves the use of chemicals, including salts that can release naturally occurring hazardous substances such as arsenic, mercury and other heavy metals into drinking water supplies. The protection of underground water sources is especially important to Pennsylvania, because it has the second highest number of private wells for drinking water in the nation.

My priority is to protect the health and safety of Pennsylvanians as we develop the Marcellus Shale. That is why I introduced legislation which would repeal an exemption to the Safe Drinking Water Act which permitted oil and gas companies to use hydraulic fracturing. In addition, the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act requires that the chemicals and additives used in hydraulic fracturing be reported to Environmental Protection Agency or appropriate state agencies for public disclosure. The FRAC Act further requires that companies disclose detailed information about chemical usage to medical professionals in the event of a medical emergency. My staff is also working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on these and other issues.

The FRAC Act was referred to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which I am not a member. Because the FRAC Act works to protect drinking water, it is critically important that this bill be reviewed by the Committee as soon as possible. However, information on when the Committee might review S. 1215 is currently unavailable.

I understand that many Pennsylvanian landowners have been approached by companies who would like to lease their land in order to drill into the Marcellus. While the federal government has no role to play in negotiations of this kind, I want to make sure that Pennsylvanians are aware of resources that can help them make the most informed decision

LWVGP VOTER 7

possible about entering into a contract. For example, Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Service has a number of publications that contain helpful information on this issue, including "Natural Gas Exploration: A Landowner's Guide to Leasing Land in Pennsylvania." This document can be found at the following web address:

http://naturalgaslease.pbwiki.com/Publications (click on the ―wiki‖ tab -ed)

As always, I appreciate your views, thoughts, and concerns as they assist me in understanding what is important to the people of Pennsylvania. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of importance to you.

If you have access to the Internet, I encourage you to visit my web site, http://casey.senate.gov. I invite you to use this online office as a comprehensive resource to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office or share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,

Bob Casey, United States Senator

LEAGUE KICKOFF PARTY

Don't miss the League Kickoff party to be held September 23 at 6:30 p.m. Bring a favorite dish to share to John and Eileen Olmsted's home at 1071 Beechwood Blvd. in Point Breeze. Our home is about a block off of Fifth Avenue on Beechwood and faces the back end of Mallon Park. Our telephone number is 412-404-2594.

Please RSVP by September 21 and let me know me know what dish you are planning to bring. You can also send me the information by e-mail to eileeno31@gmail.com.

We will welcome new members and honor our fifty-year members.

– Eileen Olmsted

SCREENING OF IRON-JAWED ANGELS

We invite you to come see the movie Iron Jawed Angels at 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 20 at the Mt. Lebanon We invite you to come see the movie Iron Jawed Angels at 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 20 at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 16 Castle Shannon Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15228-2252 ADMISSION FREE (Donations gratefully accepted)

Taking a fresh and contemporary look at a pivotal event in American history, Iron Jawed Angels, tells the true story of how defiant and brilliant young activists Alice Paul, and Lucy Burns were. Taking the women's suffrage movement by storm, these women took great risks in their personal lives and in their physical well-being to convince President Woodrow Wilson and Congress that the 19th Amendment should be passed. Because of their courage, American women acquired the right to vote.

The impressive cast is led by Hilary Swank as Alice Paul and Frances O'Connor as Lucy Burns.

Invite your friends to see this stirring story.

POLICY FORUM ON MARCELLUS SHALE

October 11 at 7:00 p.m., Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill Co-sponsored with the United Jewish Federation

The forum will feature a panel with a wide variety of views on the drilling of natural gas in this region. Contact Barb Grover by email at groverbd5@comcast.net or by phone at 412-521-9526 if you want to help plan this event.

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THE PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN

OCTOBER 14, 2010, 7:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER, PITTSBURGH

The Pennsylvania Governor‘s Conference for Women, to be held in Pittsburgh and co-hosted by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women in partnership with the LWVGP, today announced that American playwright Eve Ensler, astronaut Mae Jemison, author Kelly Corrigan and Citizens Financial Group CEO Ellen Alemany will be part of the 2010 keynote lineup.

The Seventh Annual Conference is set for Oct. 14, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The cost is $135 or $250 for two and includes breakfast and lunch.

―The Pennsylvania Governor‘s Conference for Women continues to be the state‘s premier leadership forum for women across the state,‖ said Governor Rendell. ―This year‘s theme – ‗Your Time is Now!‘ – captures the Conference‘s investment in the future of Pennsylvania by helping provide the opportunity for women to make positives changes in their own lives and communities.‖

Ensler is a playwright, performer and activist. She is the award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues, which has been published in 45 languages and performed in more than 130 countries. She is also the founder of V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls, which has raised $70 million and educated millions through art and

activism. Ensler's latest book, I Am An Emotional Creature, was released in February 2010. She will direct the film adaptation of her play, ―Necessary Targets,‖ in 2010.

Jemison launched into orbit aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992, as the world's first woman of color to go to space. The founder and president of two technology companies, she also founded and chairs The Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, which hosts an annual international science camp. Prior to joining NASA in 1987, Jemison worked in the fields of engineering and medicine. She was a general practitioner in Los Angeles with the INA/Ross Loos Medical Group. She also served as a Peace Corps medical officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa in 1980s.

Corrigan is an accomplished author and columnist. Her book The Middle Place, spent six months on The New York Times bestseller list and her columns have appeared in Glamour

and Good Housekeeping. She is now a contributor to O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine. Corrigan is also the founder of CircusOfCancer.org, a website dedicated to helping friends and family of cancer patients cope and learn how to help and support patients.

Alemany is chairman and chief executive officer of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and RBS Americas, the North and South American operations and subsidiaries of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc. Recognized by Forbes Magazine and U.S. Banker Magazine as one of the most powerful women in banking, Alemany is the first district representative on the Federal Advisory Council, directly consulting with and advising the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System. She is a member of the boards of directors of The Financial Services Roundtable and The Clearing House Payments Company.

This year, the conference will once again partner with Women For Hire to host a career fair for attendees. Led by Women For Hire CEO Tory Johnson, who is also workplace contributor on ABC's ―Good Morning America,‖ the career fair features resume critiquing and the ―Mentor Match‖ program, helping attendees to strengthen skills and advance in their careers.

The conference will feature dozens of experts leading seminars on the issues that matter most to women, such as professional development, business and entrepreneurship, health and work/life balance.

To register or learn more about the seventh annual Pennsylvania Governor‘s Conference for Women, visit www.pagovernorsconferenceforwomen.org. General admission for the day-long event increases after Sept 10.

– Nancy Naragon

LWVGP VOTER 9

MOCK ELECTIONS PROJECT REPORT

High schools, teachers and students across the county will be preparing to be part of the first-ever Allegheny County-wide Mock Elections by holding Mock Elections in their schools in October.

This is a crucial part of the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh's Mock Elections project, under the auspices of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Schools will also have the opportunity to have their students vote electronically, using a computer program designed by high school students who won our Mock Elections Voting Design Challenge this past spring. The winning students, from Winchester Thurston Upper School, have been volunteering their time over the summer to perfect their computer software, under the guidance of computer science experts from CMU and Pitt.

Beginning in September, League members will be helping individual schools plan and implement their Mock Elections, speaking in classrooms and helping organize candidates forums in high schools. VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED!

To volunteer to help with your local high school (or a nearby high school) please contact Heather Harr, studentvoices@earthlink.net, or 412-421-0661.

– Heather Harr

Help Wanted

Naturalization Project Accompany an experienced League member to a naturalization ceremony to give newly created citizens information on voting. It‘s inspiring!

If interested in any of these roles, please contact Barb Simpson at the office: info@pgh.lwv.org or 412.261.4284

Photographers

Attend and document events for The Voter newsletter and publicity.

Historian

Write a history of our local League to preserve memories and experiences and learn about the League at the same time. Interview long-time members of our local League. Catalog projects old and new. The history will be presented to the membership and preserved for future League members to enjoy. There is no specific deadline for this project, and it may be accomplished in sections. Therefore, more than one

historian could be needed.

Legislative Interviewer

Contact the candidates! Call Judy Donahue for more info at 412.373-8697.

MEMBER HANDBOOK

Develop handbook for old and new members alike. We need willing volunteers to help. It‘s a great way to

learn how our local League works.

Database Management

Skilled Access user to consult in taking our existing Access database to the next level.

MENTORS

Contact a new member, welcome them and invite them to one book club or unit meeting.

TV PRODUCER The League may qualify to have a representative that can become a PCTV Community Producer. It's $52 for a year's enrollment ($36 for 6 months) that we hope the volunteer would donate, and he/she would have to take both the free orientation and producer's prep workshops to become a producer. After becoming a producer, he/she may then submit programs for air, including debates, for example. See the website for more information about becoming a PCTV Community producer:

www.pctv21.org

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VOTER GOES DIGITAL

Our local LWV newsletter, the VOTER, will be ceasing publication after the October issue – but will immediately COME BACK in its new email and online form! Help us get the VOTER to you. Give us your email address at info@pgh.lwv.org or call 412-261-4284.

And, you can always log on to our website at http://www.palwv.org/pittsburgh/ where the latest VOTER and archives will be posted, usually by the fourth Wednesday of the month.

Look for the ***LWVGP - Board Bulletin*** to be in your email on the Wednesday after the Board meeting, usually the first Wednesday of the month.

You can expect ***LWVGP – Month‘s Voter*** in your mailbox by the second Wednesday of the month. On subsequent Wednesdays, any new and breaking information will come your way via a ***LWVGP – Blast*** as needed. On the last Wednesday of the month the VOTER (along with any information updated by the ―Blasts‖) will be finalized and archived on our website. This is the version that hard copy subscribers will receive, and will be mailed on the last Wednesday of the month. Should you require a hard copy mailed to you, please sign up below and include your payment of $20 per year to cover costs.

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Please sign me up for a printed copy of the Voter. I understand that it will be mailed to me at month end when the online Voter is finalized. My payment of $20 for one year is enclosed, made payable to “League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh”.

Name:______________________________________________________________________________

Street Address: _______________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip:________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for subscribing. If at any time you wish to begin receiving the email version of the Voter, the balance of your payment will be refunded. Notify the office of your email address at 412-261-4284 or at info@pgh.lwv.org

Mail to: League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, 425 Sixth Avenue #1490, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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GREAT NEWS!

At LWVUS Convention 2010, we adopted two new studies:

Federal Role In Education, chaired by Carol Walton

Privatization (any shift of activities or functions from the state to the private sector), chaired by Sue Broughton.

This is the most fun and rewarding part of League work. Please phone or email Carol or, Sue at the League office (412-261-4284, or info@pgh.lwv.org) to join the committee that interests you.

LWVGP VOTER 11

GOOD GOVERNMENT AWARD EVENT 2010 November 4 at 6:00 p.m.

The Good Government Award Event is coming up and some of the most impressive awardees yet will be in attendance. It‘s the ultimate ―feel good‖ function where we recognize those individuals and groups who have really made a difference right here in our community – and often with little recognition or fanfare.

Needed are volunteers to send letters to an existing list of past contributors and follow up with phone calls to get additional financial backing for this, our organization's major annual fundraising event. Contact Nancy Naragon by e-mail at nancynaragon@msn.com or by phone at 412-366-2446.

OUR MISSION The League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, a nonpartisan political organization,

encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government,

works to increase understanding of major public policy issues,

and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

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PETE DONATI AND SONS

FLORIST-GREENHOUSE

34 DONATI ROAD 412-835-4420

PITTSBURGH, PA 15241 OR

412-563-3534

HARRY A. READSHAW STATE REPRESENTATIVE

36TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Room 122 Irvis Office Building P.O. Box 202036

Harrisburg PA 17120-2036 (717) 783-0411

Fax: (717) 705-2007

1917 Brownsville Road Pittsburgh PA 15210

(412) 881-4208 Fax: (412) 886-2077

E-mail: hreadsha@pahouse.net

LWVGP VOTER 13

DAVID K. LEVDANSKY MEMBER, 39

TH DISTRICT

MAJORITY CHAIRMAN, FINANCE COMMITTEE PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ROOM 127 IRVIS OFFICE BUILDING 122 SECOND AVENUE HARRISBURG, PA 17120-2039 ELIZABETH, PA 15037 PHONE: (717) 783-1020 PHONE: (412) 384-2258 FAX: (717) 783-1193 FAX: (412) 382-2023 E-MAIL: dlevdans@pahouse.net www.pahouse.com.levdansky

14 LWVGP VOTER

PITTSBURGHGIVES – REVISED AND IMPROVED On October 13, the Pittsburgh Foundation will again hold their ―match day‖ now renamed ―Day of Giving‖ using a considerably improved process. Here are some of the changes:

A marathon, not a sprint: There will be a 24-hour period to make a gift, and all gifts made in that period will receive a prorated share of the available matching funds. (We don‘t yet know the start time for the 24 hours.) The problem of many people trying to get into the site at the same time should be eliminated, and everyone who wants to participate should be able to do so. (Chances are, the larger nonprofits will get the lion‘s share of the matching funds, but our League should be able to get something significant if several of us contribute.)

More matching funds: The amount available has been raised from $300,000 to $500,000. In addition, by switching credit card vendors, the foundation has reduced the credit card fee from 5% to 2.9%.

Improved technology: The site has been redesigned to make it easier to navigate and protect against the technical glitches experienced last year. You can see the site now at www.pittsburghgives.org and check it out before the Day of Giving (but remember that only gifts made during that 24-hour day are eligible for the match).

– Sue Broughton

NEWS FROM NATIONAL

90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT: In her August 26th address at the National Conference on Citizenship, President Elisabeth MacNamara reminded her audience that ―modern-day civic leaders‖ can learn a lot from the suffrage movement. Her advice included three important lessons from the experience of the suffragists. Her first lesson - ―seek to always attract new voices to your cause.‖ She noted that the suffrage movement sought to attract women of all ages and from all regions and that, when it was noticed that few young

women were attending suffrage meetings, the movement began mobilizing college-age women. MacNamara also noted that the movement sought, and succeeded in its efforts, to add male voices to the chorus supporting women‘s right to vote. Her second lesson was to ―think broadly—but act locally.‖ She pointed out that it was only when the movement organized local units knit together by a national message and a national/state/local structure that the movement achieved ―critical mass‖. And the movement used a two-pronged approach - working toward a constitutional amendment while also working for suffrage for women state by state. (The following states had granted women the right to vote prior to passage of the 19th amendment: Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, California, Michigan, Kansas, Oregon and Arizona- SDW) MacNamara‘s final lesson: ―victory is only the beginning.‖ As she reminded her audience, ―the adoption of the 19th Amendment marked the beginning, not the end, of the women's rights movement in this country. Suffragists did not pack up and go home after attaining the vote. In fact, many considered it a personal responsibility to take up the work of educating, empowering, and most importantly, turning out all the newly enfranchised women voters they had fought for.‖

She next highlighted for her audience the impact of women gaining the right to vote. ―Women have had a lasting political impact at the ballot box and in the halls of power. They have outnumbered men at the voting booth in every major election since 1964 and turned out in the largest percentage difference ever (60.4%, vs. 55.7% of men) during the 2008 election. Women have also made a lasting impact in public service, running and being elected to all levels of office and serving in a wide array of cabinet and other leadership positions. And, Sen. Hillary Clinton's competitive, yet ultimately unsuccessful, run for her party's 2008 presidential nomination eliminated questions about whether a woman could become Commander in Chief.‖

Of course, she couldn‘t talk about women‘s successes without reminding her audience of what still needs to be remedied for women to achieve true equality:

LWVGP VOTER 15

―* Women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar that men earn, maintaining an unfair balance in the workplace and, according to President Obama, adding undue stress on the U.S. economy.

* Only 15 Fortune 500 companies are run by women (although, Bloomberg reported in April that women who do reach CEO status tend to earn more than men).

* Women remain severely underrepresented in elected leadership, holding only about 17 percent of seats in both the House and Senate. These gaps grow disproportionately wider for women of color.‖

She concluded by reminding her audience of our civic responsibility. ―Active citizenship means voting in elections, participating in community improvement, and holding our leaders accountable. Suffragists, civil rights leaders, and many more struggled for decades so that we could have those rights. It is our job to exercise them.‖ ( This struck a real bell with me as, at our event in Mellon Square, when I was encouraging women (and men) to join us in the park to celebrate the 90th anniversary of women‘s right to vote, one woman said to me ―well, she didn‘t vote anyway!‖ President MacNamara‘s reminder of our civic responsibility is, unfortunately, still needed.)

A full copy of her full speech is available at: http://www.ncoc.net/index.php?tray=content&tid=top14&cid=103k92

-Sandra D. Williamson