Committees

We volunteer to join committees that mirror our interests

Voter Services.  Education.  Membership.  Natural Resources.  Special Events.  Government & Health.  Housing.  Past Events.

Voter Services

The Voter Services committee, chaired by Anne Marshall, second right, meeting for a post-election evaluation. Clockwise from left: Judi Roth, Julia Kayser, Gladys Remler, Glorian Berk, Estelle Gellman, Mireille Lister, Anne Marshall, Carol Mellor and Arlene Hinkemeyer (taking photo).

Do you enjoy being at the heart of political events? Volunteers on this committee lead the membership in encouraging citizens to register, to vote and to participate in government and politics. Activities include sponsoring candidates meetings, debates and interviews; conducting voter registration drives; providing information about voting to the public; and getting out the vote on Election Day. Click here for more information about the Voter Services Committee

Committee Chair: Anne Marshall. Call 631) 537.3257 or e-mail: voterservices@lwvhamptons.org

We Provide Public Forums with Elected Officials

Moderated by LWVH Voter Services chair Anne Marshall, the January 2012 LWVH Members Meeting gave the public a chance to hear the Town Supervisors of (left to right) East Hampton and Southampton discuss goals and achievements.

Education

The Education Committee reaches out to young people, in and outside of school, to introduce the pleasure as well as the importance of youthful participation in government. Our "Speaking to Students" program has brought every level of legislator into Southampton, East Hampton and Hampton Bays high schools.

In 2009, the Education Committee, joined by League member volunteers, first offered a workshop titled "Running and Winning." This program for female high school seniors brings them together them with female public officials. The goal is to prepare them to consider public service in a leadership capacity. Each year since has been more successful than the last.
Students and teachers from six high schools pose onstage at the Southampton Cultural Center at the end of 2012's "Running & Winning" program

This committee also presents http://vote18.org/, a program whose objective is to energize young Americans to be involved citizens by registering them to vote and encouraging them to exercise this right. Additionally, the committee oversees selection of candidates for the annual Betty Desch Award scholarship and sponsors students from the area to attend the Students Inside Albany event.

Committee Chair: Terri Levin Davgin (329-3217)or "Education@lwvhamptons.org

Membership

If you like to meet new people and welcome back friends, join the Membership Committee. It provides a presence at general meetings, debates and community and special events. This committee is also responsible for recruiting new members, and spreading the word about what the League stands for. The committee organizes events throughout the year, including a Winter Blahs luncheon to warm and cheer those who remain in the Hamptons during the winter months. Committee Chair is open at present. Contact Glorian Berk at co-president@lwvhamptons.org for information.

WINTER BLAHS LUNCHEON Our annual "Winter Blahs" luncheon is always a purely social occasion, and members, non-members and guests are welcome. All smiles, Julia Kayser,(standing, third photo) organized the League's 2012 successful Beat the Winter Blahs luncheon on February 15 at Bobby Van's. Also shown: Susan Wilson, Barbara Jordan, Ann Sandford and two friends, Judy Samuelson, Gladys Remler and a friend.

Natural Resources

The Natural Resources Committee supports League positions on environmental issues at all levels, including state and national, while concentrating on specific local issues such as drinking water quality, particularly groundwater monitoring issues. The committee encourages local entities to enact green-friendly legislation, such as banning plastic bags. It cooperates with other natural resource preservation groups. Meetings take place in open spaces such as the South Fork Natural History Museum (shown below).


Committee Chair: Susan Wilson ((283-6549) or "naturalresources@lwvhamptons.org"

This committee offers tips for living green on a schedule with The Voter
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A statement from the Tompkins County League to the DEC regarding the practice of hydrofracking

Although the Hamptons are not directly impacted by the practice, one of our interests is monitoring and preserving the quality of drinking water. So members may be interested in the LWV Tompkins County (NY) response to the DEC request for comments on the revised environmental impact statement. One League's response on 'fracking' ___________________________________________________________

Special Events

The Special Events committee does much more than plan fundraising activities. It also seeks to raise LWVH's visibility in our communities by providing a diverse range of enjoyable activities open to members and non- members. For example, our annual Autumn Luncheon and Fundraiser combines getting together with new and old friends, local officials and prospective members with the opportunity to have fun and raise money through a Chinese auction.
The Special Events committee, chaired by Gladys Remler, second left, and Ursula Lynch (absent), plan the year's special events and fundraisers, including a June rose garden luncheon at the home of Joy Cordery, left.

Scenes from the successful LWVH Luncheon/Fundraiser of October 2011 at Trumpets on the Bay

LWVH Voter Services chair Anne Marshall(left) shared a table with Southampton Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer; Sundy's grandfather,Arma Andon; Mr. Andon's guest, Marian Phillips; and Southampton Town Councilman Christopher Nuzzi.

Special Events co-chairs Ursula Lynch (left) and Gladys Remler, greet arrivals.
Left to right, LWVH members Arlene Makl, Jane Lapple, Town/Village Justice Andrea Schiavoni, Grania Brolin and Ann Reisman view Chinese auction.

To help raise funds for League activities, Special Events Co-Chairs Gladys Remler, left, and Ursula Lynch headed the 2011 LWVH booth at the Westhampton Beach Rotary Club's Flea Market, selling attic treasures and disseminating voting material.

Committee Co-Chairs: Ursula Lynch (288-4721) and Gladys Remler (288-9021) or "specialevents@lwvhamptons.org

Government & Health

This joint committee addresses national, state and local issues being considered for legislative action. We've folded the Health committee into Government because health care reform is closely entwined with legislation-- all the more so in a climate of strong (and clashing) opinions of the role of federal government. The League's core principles in health care reform are to reduce costs for families and business; guarantee patients' choice regarding plans and doctors; and ensure quality, affordable coverage for all Americans. Committee members speak to local Citizens Advisory Committees on issues and lobby our representatives. It is also active in efforts to reform New York State Government. Chair: Naomi Epstein 324-9371 or government@lwvhamptons.org

Background Reading from LWVNY

The following material explains the origin and rationale for the 2009-2010 Consolidation Study Use this link for the third of three articles on consolidation

Link to Consolidation Study Justification on LWVNY website

Why Undertake the Study

Lundine Commission Report

Housing

This committee raised funding for, and created, a video titled Trouble in Paradise: the Affordable Housing Crisis on the South Fork You may view the video online if you have Apple's free Quick Time Player, and a high-speed connection to the Internet If you do not have Quick Time loaded on your PC, click here to download it. A pamphlet on this subject may be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format or viewed on a Web page __________________________________________________________

Past Events

LWVH's annual Autumn Luncheon & Auction was held at the historic Inn At Quogue in 2010. The 47 attendees included 89-year-old Former Westhampton Beach Village Mayor Arma E. "Ham" Andon plus Southampton Town elected officials Chris Nuzzi, Sundy Schermeyer and Anna Throne-Holst. Due primarily to auction items graciously donated by Quogue and Westhampton Beach merchants, the LWVH raised over $1,000. It was a wonderful afternoon with good food, good talk and laughs. The alcove with the fireplace was just right for our Chinese auction," said one member. A few guests joined the League because they were so comfortable with us. Other committee events have included a house and garden tours, a luncheon to honor elected women officials in Southampton and East Hampton Towns and Trivia Challenges.

Photo at left: NYS Assembly candidates Richard Blumenthal (R) on left, and Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr. (Indep.) debated many state and local issues.

Photo at right: NYS Senate candidates Jennifer Maertz (D), seated, and Senator Kenneth LaValle (R), at podium disagreed about many issues.

Asking the candidates a wide range of questions from press and public at the LWVH State Senate and Assembly candidates debate: Southampton Press editor Joe Shaw (right) and Sag Harbor Express editor Bryan Boyhan.

At the LWVH "Greening of the South Fork: One Year Later" forum on October 5, 2009, LWV Natural Resources Committee member Glorian Berk introduced the panelists, who reported on greening accomplishments since the last forum in April 2008. Participating were Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman; Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley,(photo at left); Sagaponack Village Mayor Donald Louchheim; East Hampton Village Mayor Paul Rickenbach, Jr.; and Southampton Town Councilmember Nancy Graboski

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: May 17, 2012 13:41 PDT.

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