Present:  Mimi Brennen, Natalie Fox, Lois Morris, Phyllis Gates, Yvonne Loinig, Mary Ita Dwyer, Sephanie Lebowitz, Cathy Kenny

 

•Mary Dwyer made a motion to adapt the minutes and Cathy seconded the motion.  A vote was taken and the minutes were approved as read.  Treasurer’s report was presented by Cathy, who reminded the Board that donations can be made to the League but checks for donations should be made to the LWVNYS Educational Foundation to qualify for tax exemptions via the LWV's 501C3 account.  Donated funds can be and are used to fund local efforts on Shelter Island.  

 

Current Income: $831.58

Expenses: $4483.97

Bank Balance: $1123.97

Current Educational Foundation Balance: $620.00

 

•Mimi Brennan was nominated by Phyllis, seconded by Natalie for the nominating committee. The appointment was approved in a unanimous vote.

 

•Motion was made by Mimi and seconded by Natalie to adopt the Hampton Non Partisan Policy as our Non Partisan Policy (attached).  The Board voted unanimously to approve the motion.

 

•There was a brief discussion about speaking for and giving directions on behalf of the LWVSI and its Board, leading to agreement that consensus should be sought prior to speaking for the League or its Board, and that any public statements or directives to its Board or members made on behalf of the League, must be run by the LWV board.

 

•Voter Services

 

Lois Morris, LWVSI's off-board Voter Services specialist, agreed to write an article for the Reporter on our Nonpartisan Policy position, possibly for the “Prose and Comments” column. 

 

Lois will try and recruit Mark Alessi D, thru Heather Reyliek and Jerry Lareau will arrange for Jim Staudenraus for a future debate to be moderated by the LWV. They are running for the NY State Assembly, 1^st District.

 The League will develop questions for the candidates. 

 

Noted:  October 11^th vote on library expansion. 

Voter registration drive at George’s again.  Date TBA.

 

Cathy will ask to reprint article in the Reporter on voting for 2^nd home owners that was published last year.

 

Programs

 

•Discussion followed about joining up with the Group for the East End for our water resources program with the goal of getting better enforcement of our Island water policy. Natural Resources Committee meeting is scheduled for noon at the Library on Monday August 25.

 

•Observer corps:  Need note takers for town Bd. Mtgs.  Natalie Fox volunteered to make calls and take over the scheduling of the observer corp.

 

•Fundraising:  Hilary King, who was unable to attend the meeting, has agreed step in for Mary Dwyer as the Board V.P. for Development. The Board determined under its nonpartisan policy that Mary’s involvement in the Democratic Party would compromise our nonpartisan position.  Mary will work as an off-board member for Development.  Hilary will be nominated officially at our Sept. mtg.  A fundraiser was proposed for October with voting as a possible theme, capitalizing on the recently-released movie, "Swing Vote."

 

•Yvonne volunteered to sell KYT booklets at her booth during the craft fair on Saturday with help from Lois, Phyllis, Mary, Natalie, Cathy. Cathy Kenny reported that she had sought unsuccessfully to confirm permission from Janalyn Travis-Messer, chairman of the SI Chamber of Commerce who is sponsoring the Craft Fair.  The LWVSI, therefore, cannot accept Yvonne Loinig's offer without paying the $75 booth fee which would severely hamper its fundraising efforts and will set up its table across the street with other non-paying vendors, as suggested.

 

•September 13^th, Saturday is the next meeting, probably in the library.  Everyone will be notified.

 

Minutes submitted by Stephanie Lebowitz

 

 

THE [LWVH] LWVSI NON-PARTISAN POLICY

(Adopted by the LWVSI Board—August 16, 2008)

 

Material to be omitted is bracketed.  New material appears in red.

 

“The League of Women Voters of [the Hamptons] Shelter Island is a non-partisan organization.  It does not support or oppose either candidates for public office or political parties.  It does encourage its members to actively participate as individuals in the political process.

 

The League may, after member study and agreement, take action on governmental measures and policies in the public interest.  If such measures and policies are identified with a particular elected official or party, the League’s concern is not be construed as support for that official or party.

 

The President and the Chair of the Voter Services Committee and any other board member whose position is deemed sensitive shall not run for or hold elective office or participate in any political campaign in any way. No board member shall chair or administer fund-raising for political campaigns, chair campaign events, contribute to or work in a significant way in the campaign of a candidate or a political party.  A board member upon declaring for an elective political office must resign from the board.  Reappointment to the board may be at the discretion of the board.  Board members may run for and serve in non-paid, non-partisan positions in the community.

 

A board member may not speak or in any way work against a League position.  As a result of their close identification with the League, board members and off-board portfolio chairs have a special responsibility to see that their activities do not create a partisan impression or compromise the non-partisanship of the League.  In all of the above certain exceptions may be left to the discretion of the board on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

[Re-adoption and Amendment History

Nov     1988    By-Laws committee Romola Kaplan, Orpha Zimmer

Jan       1991    Amended by Policy Committee: Abbott, Dudley, Harwell,Holmberg, Kaplan, Kooperstein.  Further amended by Board of Directors.

Oct       1993    Amended by Board of Directors

Sept     1994    No changes

Jul        1995    No changes

Aug      1996    Amended by Board of Directors

June     1997    Amended by Board of Directors

Sept     1999    Amended by Board of Directors

Aug      2000    Amended by Board of Directors

June     2001    Amended by Board of Directors

Aug      2003    Amended and Adopted by Board of Directors

June     2004    Amended and Adopted by Board of Directors]