Conversation with Carrie Chapman Catt

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment with Carrie Chapman Catt re-enactor Linda McKenney, in conversation with League members Patricia Nugent and Stacey Lamodi. Catt was the president of the National Woman Suffrage Association, who devised the “winning strategy” for the national amendment, and also the founder of the League of Women Voters.

Video of Carrie Chapman Catt’s conversation with LWV Saratoga County members Patricia Nugent and Stacy Lamodi.

Black Women’s Equal Pay Day

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Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is August 13. But it is NOT a day to celebrate. It is the day in 2020 when the average black woman, working full time since January of 2019, finally catches up to the amount of money that the average white man, working full time, makes in one year.

That’s right! She has to work 20 months to make as much as a white man makes in 12 months. And the difference keeps piling up: it takes her 40 months to his 24 months of work for the same amount of money; 60 months for his 36 months of work. That’s systemic racism and sexism as it plays out in our society. No wonder 22.4 percent of black women have family incomes below the federal poverty line.

So what can we do about it? One big thing would be to recognize the skills required to be a caregiver, and pay those folks according to their real value to our society.

Why start with caregiving? Because for centuries women and slaves were just expected to take care of babies, children, the sick, and the elderly with no compensation at all. And now that caregiving has moved into the marketplace our society still is not in the habit of valuing those skills. In the long run we need to reevaluate jobs and their compensation on a gender and racially neutral scale.

Barb Thomas, August 10, 2020


Keep an Eye on Your Local Governments

August 5, 2020

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We have so many local governments in NYS. If you live in a town in Saratoga County you have a Town Council with a Supervisor. That supervisor also represents your Town as a member of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. And then you have a school district with a school board. And most likely you have a fire district, water district, sewer district and maybe even a park district. And every one of those districts has a board that meets periodically. Cities and villages have a more unified government, but they do have at least a council with a Mayor and a separate school district. And all those governments could benefit from watching! But it is sure hard for one person to watch all those local governments. That’s why the League encourages you to become an observer of ONE of your local governments.

Right now, in the time of COVID-19, it is easy to become an observer. That’s because many of these governments are making it possible for the public to attend meetings remotely. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors has arranged a phone line for the public to listen in on their meetings. This month it is 1-978-990-5145 and the access code is 1840389. So you can be doing the dishes or knitting and know what is happening. The City of Saratoga Springs has for years broadcast City Council meetings live. Use their website http://www.saratoga-springs.org/ to access the meetings. Or https://townofwilton.com/government/town-board/town-board-meeting-videos/. Or your own Town’s Council or your School District. Just by being “present” you improve the quality of your government.

Linda Gush coordinates our Observers, so contact her for more information on being an observer at president@lwvsaratoga.org and also let her know what government you will be observing.

by Barb Thomas, Steering Committee of the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County



Shirley Chisholm Spoke to Us!

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From the moment that Shirley Chisholm stepped through the patio doors at The Inn at Saratoga on July 18, she captivated her audience of League members and friends. Her press secretary (played by Lezlie Dana) had primed the audience with campaign signs, buttons and palm cards.

Using Shirley’s own words and speeches , Kim Wafer portrayed Shirley Chisholm as the feisty, politically savvy, feminist, black activist that she was. And she looked the part – down to the black and white jacket Shirley was often photographed wearing. Kim captured Shirley’s sense of humor and had the “crowd” laughing and cheering for “Chisholm for President.”

Listening to reprises of Shirley Chisholm’s speeches from her 1972 run for the Democratic Party nomination for President, we wished she’d been successful in the things she called for: getting big money out of politics; equal opportunity for all; quality, affordable childcare; not using our military to support dictators; investing in people’s needs. We couldn’t help “getting on the Chisholm Trail.”

Shirley Chisholm appeared at the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County’s Famous Person Fundraiser for a breakfast presentation at socially distanced tables separated by more than 6 feet. The event was planned by Carol Glansberg and her committee. Two baskets of Brooklyn and Chisholm themed items were won by Zoe Nousianien and Donna Dardaris.

For those who had planned to attend before the pandemic struck the event is now on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzoZlW2EoKc&feature=youtu.be

Celebrate suffrage by getting out and voting

Published in the Post Star July 16, 2020

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Letter to the editor: Celebrate suffrage by getting out and voting

News Bulletin: this is the 100th anniversary of ratification of the 19th Amendment!

The national press is consumed with coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated issues of public health and safety, as well as impacts to our economy; therefore, it is understandable that recognition of this momentous date has fallen off their and your radar screens.

It is notable that PBS has produced a two-part documentary on women’s 140-year battle to win the right to vote. As the official ratification of that constitutional amendment occurred on Aug. 26, 1920, there is adequate lead-time to research and publish appropriate articles, perhaps even your own editorials, to coincide with that historic date. This letter is to urge you to devote coverage to the importance of voting rights — everyone’s not only females’.

I wish to make you aware that 2020 is, also, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters. Although I am a member, I am not writing on the league’s behalf. It is a nonpartisan organization whose mission is empowering voters and defending democracy. They advocate for improvements to the election process, including measures that make registration simpler like the motor-voter bill and ways to make voting easier like early voting.

There is a well-known quote that goes: When you educate a woman, you educate a nation. In keeping with my theme: When women vote, women make a difference. Our region’s press needs to step up — promote voter registration, encourage people to go to the polls, to exercise their constitutional rights. Remember the pen is mightier than the sword. The ball is in your court.

Deanne Rehm, Bolton