League of Women Voters of Shelter Island
Minutes of Meeting
June 27, 2007

Board members in attendance: Ann Brunswick, Phyllis Gates, Betsy Jacobson, Cathy Kenny, Marilynn Pysher, Loren Reich, Janalyn Travis-Messer. Absent: Stephanie Zinger.

Non-Board members in attendance: Meddi Shaw, Carolyn Willberg.

Special guest: Ms. Lee Oliver, Activities Coordinator, Shelter Island Youth Center.

The business meeting was convened at 6:15 p.m. at the Heights Firehouse.

Annual Meeting: Ms. Jacobson reported she had received very good feedback on the annual meeting, held on June 2, 2007. Just one indication of its success was the on-the-spot membership check paid by Ms. Christine Houston who also submitted a $500 contribution to be used toward educational programs.

Approval of the Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on May 6, 2007, were unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Acting Treasurer Ms. Jacobson distributed the Income and Expenses for 2006/2007 and for July 2007/2008. Ending checkbook balances were $1006 and $2,126, respectively; the ending balance in the Educational Foundation at the end of the fiscal year 2007 was 0 and at July 2007 $520.

Letters Received: Ms. Jacobson has received several complimentary letters which applaud the work done by LWVSI, some of which she read.

One writer asked if the “Vote” lawn signs previously sold by the LWVSI were available. Ms. Jacobson determined they are indeed available at a cost of $220 for 25 signs, and indicated they could be ordered should any Board members wish to place them on their lawns.

Logo/Letterhead: Ms. Jacobson indicated the suggestion that the LWVSI consider a new logo and letterhead came out of Ms. Gates’ recently issued Membership Directory. Mr. Sam Lebowitz, whom Ms. Jacobson described as a very talented graphic designer, offered his services. A discussion of the proposed new logo ensued; it was rejected by a majority of the members in attendance. Ms. Jacobson, Ms. Gates and Ms. Reich will meet in the near future to reconsider ideas for the logo. In the interim, the attendees approved the procuring of new letterhead with only the LWV logo

At latere to the above discussion, Ms. Gates posed a question to the members about whether future editions of the Membership Directory should include profiles. The majority of the attendees felt they are informative and a good tool for recruitment, but that they should be more uniform in length.

Reminder of Non-Partisan Policy: Ms. Jacobson reminded the meeting attendees that members must be careful not to appear as having a political bias or an “agenda” in getting certain candidates elected. She affirmed that both she and Ms. Kenny, by virtue of their positions in the LWV (i.e., President and Chair of the Voter Services Committee), are precluded from attending fundraising events on the Island. In addition, meeting attendees must refrain from making judgemental comments about Town Board members. However, Ms. Jacobson did confirm that discussions about the issue of transparency in government are permitted and should be included on a future agenda.

Committee Reports
Membership: Ms. Gates reported that since the Annual Meeting on June 2, there have been 10 new members (two of which are contributing members), bringing the total current membership to 85.

Observer Corps: Ms. Gates also reported that the dissemination list for the Town Board Work Sessions is “growing by leaps and bounds.” There are now 143 recipients, including 69 LWVSI members, all five Town Board members (who receive them as a courtesy) and several Town Board candidates.

Annual dues solicitations will go to 62 non-members currently receiving the Work Session minutes. Ms. Travis-Messer asked the attendees if, in an effort to encourage non-members to join, we should indicate they will cease receiving the Work Session minutes after one year. It was agreed that that would be counter to the League’s mandate.

Ms. Pysher reminded attendees to be careful to avoid editorializing when writing Work Session minutes – this to maintain transparency and non-partisanship.

With regard to dues solicitations, Dr. Brunswick asked if we provide a self-addressed stamped envelope. This was not felt necessary by the majority of the attendees. Ms. Jacobson added she does not think not including a SASE keeps people from replying. What is important is the sort of information which is included in a solicitation. Misses Jacobson and Gates are working with Mr. Lebowitz in creating a response card of some sort. Ms. Gates added it might be beneficial to try solicitations by email, to which the other members agreed.

Newsletter: Ms. Jacobson indicated she hopes someone will agree to take the reins in handling this. Ms. Reich had indicated an interest in doing so and will speak further about it with Ms. Jacobson. It had been suggested that the LWVSI newsletter also include more excerpts from other Leagues. Ms. Travis-Messer posited it might be interesting to incorporate SBR (State Board Review) updates.

Membership Dues: Ms. Jacobson recommended keeping dues at $50/year for individuals and $70/year for families, which was agreed to. Ms. Gates suggested a junior or student membership; Ms. Travis-Messer indicated one already exists, at a cost of $25/year.

Transparency: There was a brief discussion of one of the items addressed at the Work Session of June 26 (Town’s receipt of a $140,000 check from an individual who specified it be used to purchase a specific backhoe – an item which was not on the meeting agenda, came too late to be videotaped for Channel 22 and which seemed to catch most people by surprise). Ms. Jacobson suggested the issue of transparency be addressed at a future meeting. Ms. Gates advised members of the NY State Committee on Open Government website (www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/openmeetlaw.htm) as a reference point for official meeting requirements on the state level (i.e., meeting minutes are required, meetings must be open to the public, executive session may not address issues pertaining to employment or litigation, etc.). Ms. Travis-Messer said this topic would make a great Letter to the Editor or Prose & Comments article.

Ms. Travis-Messer also suggested the LWVSI cover School Board meetings, to which other members agreed. The problem is finding volunteers to attend these meetings and take/disseminate notes. She suggested putting a standard line on all Observer Corps emails calling for volunteers, to which the other members were amenable. Ms. Pysher recommended contacting Mr. Peter Munson, who already attends School Board meetings. Ms. Jacobson suggested she do so. The latter also indicated there was an important School Board meeting taking place on Monday, July 2 (election of the Board’s President). Ms. Pysher offered to attend and report.

Know Your Town: Ms. Reich reported she had made some progress in updating this publication – Police Chief Read had reviewed/corrected the section on the Town Police and various individuals who had contributed text to the previous edition were contacted and submitted their updates. She plans to have a very rough draft by the next meeting and will request suggestions from the other members on how to improve/update it.

Welcome Baskets: Ms. Zinger was not present to provide an update.

Speaker from Plum Island: Ms. Reich indicated the Public Affairs Officer at Plum Island has agreed to address a LWVSI-sponsored forum in September. The date of September 29 was chosen. Ms. Jacobson will check on the availability of the Center Firehouse as a possible venue.

Forum on Energy Conservation: Ms. Limarzi was not present to provide an update.

Voter Services: Ms. Kenny distributed drafts of the following documents on which she requested suggestions:

- “Proposal for LWVSI Policy on Candidate Forums” - Ms. Kenny indicated the State League recommends we have such policy in place. The insertion of a section on write-in candidates was deemed a very good idea. The final version will be brought to the next meeting for approval;
- “Proposed Format for 2007 Candidates’ Debates” - Ms. Jacobson has met with the Shelter Island Association who have agreed to work with the LWVSI on the forum. There was a discussion on how many forums to have, and it was decided to have two: one with the Town Supervisor candidates (one hour duration), to be followed by the Highway Department candidates (one hour duration), and a second forum (duration to be determined) with the Tax Assessor candidates, to be followed by the Town Board candidates. At latere to this there was a brief discussion regarding the Tax Assessors; Ms. Jacobson stated she would write either a Letter to the Editor or a Prose & Comments article about the issue. The members agreed to have Ms. Jacobson act as forum moderator, but the latter indicated other names should be brought forward for consideration. There was some discussion on format (red card versus other methods) and Ms. Jacobson indicated a consensus last year that forum attendees/the electing public would like to see more dialogue between the candidates. Ms. Jacobson indicated tapes of previously held forums may be available from Mr. Art Barnett – she will see about the possibility of borrowing them.
- “LWVSI Fair Campaign Pledge”
- “LWVSI Proposed Biographical Data Request for Candidates”

Ms. Kenny requested volunteers to man a voter registration table at the local IGA supermarket. The dates August 18 and September 22 were selected and several members agreed to lend assistance.

Ms. Jacobson reminded Ms. Kenny to submit a letter to the owner of the IGA, Mr. George Walsh, requesting permission.

Ms. Jacobson and Ms. Kenny will continue to meet with local associations (The Menantic Association, the Ram Island Association, etc.) in an effort to encourage voter registration.

Youth Council/COMPASS: Dr. Brunswick presented meeting attendees with a proposal to formulate a LWVSI Youth Committee, to include Ms. Myra Peskowitz, Ms. Stephanie Zinger and Dr. Brunswick herself. The proposal included several activities under consideration, including a “Youth Speak to Adults” forum, apprenticeship program with local communities, and an entrepreneurship program, among others.

Dr. Brunswick then introduced Ms. Lee Oliver, Youth Center Activities Coordinator, who provided attendees with her background and vision for the Youth Center and ideas for encouraging inter-generational activities. A newcomer to the Island, Ms. Oliver expressed the desire to receive the names of contacts in the community who might be willing to assist her with her mission. Ms. Oliver was invited to assess her needs and the extent to which the LWVSI can help her with her mandate and revert.

Ms. Jacobson had the attendees vote on forming the Youth Committee, which was approved.

Mock Election: Ms. Travis-Messer did not have any updates on this initiative – she hopes to contact the Superintendent and other school officials over the course of the summer, when things quiet down.

Next Meeting: The next meeting of the LWVSI will be on Tuesday, August 14, at 6:00 p.m. (venue to be determined).

County League: Ms. Jacobson asked members to consider volunteering to act as an interface with the County League. The matter will be addressed again at a future meeting.

Communities That Care Program: Ms. Pysher recently met an individual from Albany representing this initiative which seeks to encourage entire communities to become involved in a comprehensive drug and alcohol prevention program. A survey/archival information are sought to identify the real risk factors in a given community, to be followed by a program designed specifically to go after those risk factors. Ms. Pysher, along with Mr. Alan Krauss and Dr. Brunswick, is meeting with the school’s Superintendent on June 29 to discuss this (N.B. it was noted at a later date that the June 29 meeting had been postponed to July 3 and that Mr. Krauss would not be in attendance due to travel off-Island).


The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Loren S. Reich

 

Prepared by Adam Gaus
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Updated June 10, 2008