Virtual Annual Meeting

Yikes! We had planned to have the LWVSC Annual Meeting in June. It was to be a pot luck event, with Tisha Dalton singing suffrage songs to celebrate the League’s 100th Birthday. But then the novel corona virus struck. We hemmed and hawed. The board discussed it. LWVNY sent us guidance. Finally the steering committee decided.

We will hold a Virtual Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 28th at 7 pm, via Zoom (yes, we bought a zoom account for our League) to present the budget for 2020-21, to hear the nominating committee report, to present our local positions, and to field your questions. Then we’ll ask you to mail in the ballot (to be included in the next newsletter) so that you still get to vote – and so that the League can continue to function.

It won’t be the same, but when the danger is past we’ll get together in person – to celebrate our survival, and the League’s survival – and also to present the Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Kathy Biegay!

I’m impatient for the end of social distancing. I want to give some hugs to people I care about. I want to be with you – in person.

Barb Thomas

Meeting Amid a Pandemic

April 2, 2020

Last night the board of the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County met by Zoom. It was so good to see other peoples faces and their reactions when we spoke. In these dark days of novel coronavirus isolation it is so wonderful to see people with their spontaneous reactions and to laugh together.

There is a learning curve to using Zoom but we were able to make some decisions last night. First of all we decided that we would meet for our annual meeting through some sort of digital platform, probably Zoom. The main things that we will do at that meeting will be to elect our directors for next year and adopt a budget.

Whenever it safe to do it we will have a big party to celebrate the end of social isolation and present the Carrie Chapman cat award to Kathy Biegay. We are hoping we can do that in August. Just as we are hoping that our rescheduled famous person fundraiser with Kim Wafer Portraying Shirley Chisholm can I actually take place on July 18.

Stay tuned for more information about the virtual annual meeting.

Barb Thomas, Presidential Steering Committee

Crisis shows how vital women's work is

Crisis highlights women and vital roles in society

Letter to the Editor: Times Union
April 10, 2020

The end of Women's History Month and Equal Pay Day on March 31 was an opportunity to reflect on how the coronavirus affects women in untold ways. Women comprise the majority of health and social care workers and are now on the front lines in confronting the virus.

School closings significantly affect women because they make up 77 percent of teachers and because mothers head 84 percent of single-parent households. Frequently, women juggle caregiving schedules while patching together part-time jobs that garner lower wages and fewer benefits.

Women already make up the ranks of the lowest paying jobs; 70 percent of tipped restaurant workers are women. Many are cleaners, a benign-sounding job now made hazardous with higher risk of exposure. Many women have few or no resources to weather any crisis, especially the drastic loss of income from the coronavirus.

The current crisis demonstrates how women's work is vital to the functioning of our society, says PowherNY, which is committed to securing economic equality for all New York women. It's an opportunity to recognize how their work is woefully under-valued, under-appreciated and underpaid.

This crisis will end, but the need for paid sick leave, equal pay policies, access to affordable and quality child care, job training and closing the employment opportunity gap will remain. Planning, funding and legislation must address these issues.

Barbara Thomas, League of Women Voters of Saratoga County
Times Union: https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Crisis-highlights-women-and-vital-roles-in-society-15193451.php

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Crisis shows how vital women's work is

Letter to the Editor: Post Star
Mar 30, 2020

As Equal Pay Day approaches on March 31 and Women’s History Month ends, we offer the following on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting women locally:

Most health and social care workers are women. They are now on the front lines in confronting the virus.

School closings significantly affect women because they make up 77 percent of teachers and because mothers head 84 percent of single-parent households, says PowherNY, which is committed to securing economic equality for all New York women.

As they juggle schedules for caregiving responsibilities, women here in the 21st Congressional District earn 82.1 percent of what men earn, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. They frequently patch together part-time jobs that garner lower wages and fewer benefits.

Many women have few or no resources to weather any crisis, especially the drastic loss of income from the coronavirus.

Our current crisis demonstrates how women’s work is vital to the functioning of our society. It is an opportunity to recognize how their work is woefully undervalued, under-appreciated and underpaid.

In time, this crisis will end, but the need for paid sick leave, equal pay policies, access to affordable and quality child care, job training and closing the employment opportunity gap will continue. Future planning, funding and legislation should and must address these issues.

Barbara Thomas, League of Women Voters of Saratoga County

Post Star: https://poststar.com/opinion/letters/crisis-shows-how-vital-women-s-work-is/article_fe062e91-9bf1-57f4-ac84-035ce745994a.html

Time for Caring

This Is A Time For Caring For Each Other

How are you? This is a time for caring for each other. Personally, I have been in frequent contact with my family and friends to assure myself of their well-being. These conversations also bring the added benefit of knowing I am not alone.

The LWVSC is a group of neighbors who come together to make a better community. Each time I see a message from one of our members I am grateful for the information but also rejoice in the feeling of connectedness.

Combatting COVID-19 brings challenges and also opportunities to strengthen our relationships. We have been strong in our mission to strengthen democracy so let us now resolve to stay strong as we help each other. If you need anything, reach out by emailing me or another member of the steering committee. We will find assistance for you.

Linda Gush, On Behalf of Your BOD 3/18/20

COVID19: Cancellations of League Events

The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is concerned for the safety and well being of our members and community therefore we find it necessary to cancel or reschedule our upcoming events. As you are aware, this is an evolving situation and we will follow the advice from our Public Health agencies to contain the COVID 19 virus. Please check our website and social media for updates. Look for our emails for more information.

At this point, we are cancelling or rescheduling, when possible, the following events:
• Petticoats of Steel, 3/16
• Meetup: Lobbying-It's Not a Dirty Word, 3/18
• Going For It, 3/24
• Write the Vote, 3/29 (keep an eye out for a future date)
• Earth, Wind and Fires, 4/2 (keep an eye out for a future date)
• Meetup: Fighting Climate Change with Climate Justice, 4/15 (keep an eye out for a future date)
We have already been able to reschedule our Famous Person Fundraiser, with Kim Wafer portraying Shirley Chisholm, from March 14 to July 18, at The Inn at Saratoga.

Regarding Voter Registration, this will depend on the venue for the community event. If you have questions regarding voter registration please contact us.

We'll miss you during this time but stay in touch. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as well as our website. Stay well.

3/14/20