Tyler / Smith The County VOTER Forum for Local Candidates Set Monday April 21, 7 pm You are invited to not FORUM: Candidates for April 21 -Judy Holmes, Chair attend the St. Patrick’s for Tyler City Council April– Candidates for four op- and TISD Trustees Day festival! May 2014 posed races for Tyler city and Tyler Public Library school offices will face off By now you should 201 South College April 21 at a League forum at have received your League of the Tyler Public Library. Panelists are LWV Presi- invitation to not Women These candidates invited Janice Caldwell dent Mary Claire Rowe, attend the St. Pat’s Voters to participate: Moderator Tyler Morning Tele- event. Mission Tyler Mayor : graph ’s Roy Maynard, and TJC’s Martin Heines, Joel Rando Kevin Dilley. Moderator is Janice Help LWV-Tyler/Smith The League Tyler City Council Place 4 : Caldwell, Lindale HS debate coach County find the pot of gold of Women Eleno Licea, Don Warren and TJC adjunct professor. at the end of the Voters is a The moderator will take ques- TISD Trustee Place 2: rainbow. Send your nonpartisan tions from the audience, selected Orenthia Mason, check today. Just organization by a League screening panel. that works to Cedrick Granberry respond quickly, Don’t miss this opportunity to promote TISD Trustee Place 4: and political Ross Strader, Barbara A. Smith learn more about those seeking to serve in municipal and school of- you will be helping to responsibility Make Democracy Work! through See Election Calendar page 7 fices. informed Saturday 61st LWV Annual Meeting Set for May 17 participation May 17 of all citizens aturday, May 17 League members have a great 11 am—2 pm in their opportunity for fellowship and good food and Lunch: As with last year, we S Cheng’s China Bistro government. atmosphere, as we meet to consider and approve order from the menu and re- 3300 Troup Hwy. The League plans for the next League year. ceive individual tickets with a does not 15% gratuity added. Please RSVP so that there is support or Business Meeting: adequate seating. oppose any • Elect a Board of Directors for 2014-2016 (see political party page 4) Please come promptly at or any • Adopt an operating budget for fiscal year 2015 11 am so that you can order your lunch candidate. It (see p. 5) before the meeting starts. publishes • Vote on retention of current positions on local factual issues: Public Library Services and Single Mem- PLEASE RSVP to: information ber Districts. [email protected] to help • Vote on status of Study on Transportation Or 903-526-3848 prepare citizens to April Member Policy Discussion to Focus on Veterans cast informed See pages 4-5 of How is Smith County caring for the needs and providing Monday votes. this VOTER for for essential services for the 18,000 veterans living here? Do April 28 The League we offer help with jobs, medical services, counseling, hous- information does take ing, and education? Do we have enough agencies and organi- 7 pm relating to the action on zations taking on these important tasks? Do we have too Genecov Room May 17 annual many? Are these efforts coordinated? 315 North Broadway selected business meeting: governmental These questions and their answers will be among those slate and issues that covered in the April 28 LWV-TSC discussion meeting at members 7:00 pm, in the Genecov Room at the Tyler Area Chamber of proposed have studied. Commerce. Lynne Spivey, an active volunteer in veterans' budgets issues here in Smith County, will convene a panel of top leaders to share a wide spectrum of activities and needs here. You will want to take part in this discussion! 1 The Tyler VOTER President’s Podium: Year’s End Doesn’t Mean Work Is Done LWV-Tyler This newsletter issue is the final one before making a donation to LWV-Tyler Diversity our next fiscal year begins June 1 . Time has flown or the tax-deductible LWV-TEF. Policy These funds are critical to maintain by this year. My first year as president has been The League of full of experiences and opportunities that I might our connections to the community: Women Voters of not have had otherwise. web site, post office box, newslet- Tyler/Smith During this year of learning more about the ter, telephone, and other services. County, in both its League, I still couldn’t find my way around with- Hope to see you all at the No- values and Agenda Lunch April 9, and make plans to attend the practices, affirms out those who are truly the backbone of this or- annual business meeting May 17. The April 28 pro- ganization. All our LWV members need to sit in its belief and gram on service to veterans is a timely look at how commitment to on a board meeting and experience the intense in- well we give back to those who serve our country. diversity and terest and dedication of those who serve. Bring a friend to any of these to help expand our mem- pluralism, which Please consider serving on next year’s bership and circle of supporters. means that there board. Board members attend one meeting per Local elections are fast approaching, so plan to shall be no barriers month and may serve on committees such as mem- attend the candidate forum April 21. to participation in bership, voters service, public policy issues, fund Thanks to the board and the membership for any activity of the raising, public relations, or some special project. making such a difference. LWV-Tyler on the basis of gender, The slate still has openings. Mary Claire race, creed, age, Also, if you have not already done so, please sexual orientation, TSC Sees respond to the St. Patrick’s Day non-event by national origin, or disability. Organization & Membership News: Linda Sharp Organization VP The LWV-Tyler/ No- Board Appoints Two New Members—Welcome! Smith County Agenda The LWV-TSC board recently involvement with "The Great Deci- recognizes that recognized appointed Annah Wright and De- sions" program. On the board she diverse perspectives are by LWVUS Lunch Set trese Harkey to the 2013-14 Board will support Program VP Dee Brock important and for April 8 of Directors, to serve through end as Program Assistant. necessary for Linda Sharp of the fiscal year May 31. Both also Detrese Harkey is responsible and have agreed to be on the ballot to a recent first time representative serve another term in FY 2014-15. member of LWV, decision making. Annah Wright and husband but has jumped in LWV-Tyler/Smith Athena Greek Restaurant John joined the League in 2012. to assist in many Countysubscribes They have lived in areas. Harkey has to the belief that Sue Barham would brave diversity and Tyler since 1978 lived in Tyler since these cold temperatures pluralism are and are both re- 1999. She has a BS 1601 West SW Loop 323 fundamental to the heroic women who gave tired. Annah in business and is working on her values it upholds Members can sample tasty the suffrage movement worked for ETMC masters in social work from and that this Greek dishes at a new restau- before teaching Stephen F. Austin University. She inclusiveness rant, talk with friends, and dis- for TISD. She en- says that her League interests are enhances the cuss issues of the day. joys travel and fund raising and marketing, a real organization's Sound like a nice way to spent time this past summer with bonus for our organization. ability to respond spend your lunch time? more effectively to their son who lives in Germany. These two women promise to RSVP to changing [email protected] Anna also belongs to AAUW and is bring fresh insights and first-rate conditions and Or 903-283-0483 especially interested in the LWV's skills to LWV leadership. needs. LWV-Tyler/Smith LWV-Texas Convention These four dele- County affirms its gates will repre- commitment to Friday-Sunday sent LWV-TSC at reflecting the diversity of April 25-27 the LWV-Texas Austin Doubletree Americans in its Convention April board and 25-27,2014 Mary Claire Rowe Dee Brock Peggy Downing Detrese Harkey programs. 2 The Tyler VOTER Membership News: Meet New Members Community Relations Peggy Downing, Membership Director Yolanda Prince, VP Detrese Harkey with media relations, strategic Detrese Harkey planning, fund raising, and media- Taxi Cab Company of has lived in Tyler tion. She served as 2013 President Tyler Offers Voters Free Peggy Downing since 1999. She of the Tyler Area Chamber of Rides has a BS in business and is work- Commerce. ing on her masters in social work Jackson holds a BS degree Jamal Mohar, owner of the Taxi from Stephen F. Austin University. from UT Austin and a Masters Cab Company of Tyler, has Detrese from UT Tyler. She has served on agreed to provide transportation Worked for the Texas Board of Nursing Exam- to the DPS office to secure state- Threlkeld iners representing consumers, on approved photo IDs, to register, Insurance Kiwanis International, and Leader- and to the polls to vote. This service is offered to Company for ship Texas. people who do not have personal transportation to several Rubye Kendrick is a physical these facilities. years, she therapist specializing in geriatric This service revives a tradi- also attends medicine. She has been employed tion of the League from the College Hill by The Clair- 1950s, when the taxi company Baptist Church where she sings in mont Tyler of that period offered a similar the choir, is a youth sponsor, and Acceler- service for voting and paying teaches Sunday school, and works ated Care poll tax.