October 2005

League of Women Voters Arlington, Massachusetts www.lwva.com October 2005

Calendar

October 2 to October 25 LWVM Annual Phonothon. Details below. Saturday Civil Liberties Public Dialogue (rescheduled) at Boston Municipal Building, 10/8 10 am to 3 pm Jamaica Plain. The LWVA is a co-sponsor. See page 5 for details. Monday Board Meeting at Carolyn Parsons’ home, 23 Brewster Rd. All members 10/17 7 pm welcome. Saturday LWVM Fall Conference, Burlington Marriott. See pages 8-9 for details. 10/22 9:30 am to 3 pm Registration deadline is October 12. Monday 10/24 3:30 to 5:30 pm United Nations Day program, State House, Boston. See last page for details. Friday Deadline for articles for the November-December Bulletin. Send to Carolyn 10/28 5 pm Parsons, [email protected] .

Help the League This Month — Contribute to the Phonothon!

When a League member calls you this month, please contribute to the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts.

10% of your contribution goes directly to the LWVA.

If you’ve already contributed (before October 7), the LWVA gets 10%, and you won’t be called.

Carolyn Parsons: President [email protected] Kim Haase: Bulletin Editor [email protected] Helen Budd: Membership [email protected] Margaret Reiners: Bulletin Mailing [email protected] October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 2

President’s Message

Hello to all,

What a wonderful day it was for Town Day! A number of people registered to vote, signed a petition to have an independent commission created to determine district lines, gathered League literature, or signed up to be on the League’s mailing list.

It was a day for greeting old friends and making new ones. The gentleman who keeps my home painted was reminded that he had left something undone. He also signed the petition.

Thanks to Joan Martin, Clare and George Gordon, Phyllis Maddox, Judy Petrie, Jean Potter, Lynn Taber, Gwenyth Hooper, Kim Haase, Pat Lieberson, and Meredith Zona for their help in making Town Day run smoothly. (I sincerely hope that I have not forgotten to thank someone.)

—Carolyn Parsons

LWVA LEADERSHIP 2005—2006 Correction Carolyn Parsons, President 781-646-9309 The member list that was enclosed in the Jean Potter, Organization VP 781-643-5571 Meredith Zona, Organization VP 781-648-2753 September Bulletin contained an incorrect Patricia Muldoon, Action VP 781-648-1019 email address for Lynn Taber. Her email Patricia Lieberson, Local Action VP 781-646-1987 Kathleen Colwell, Treasurer 781-646-4522 address is [email protected]. Elizabeth Thompson, Secretary 781-646-5942 Joan Martin, Voter Service Director 781-646-0752 We apologize for the error. Judy Petrie, Candidates Night 781-643-1753 Angela Olszewski, Finance Director 781-648-8649 Clarice Gordon, Publicity Director 781-648-0004 Katharine Fennelly, Voters’ Guide 781-648-1794 Helen Budd, Membership Director 781-646-2779 Kim Haase, Bulletin Editor 781-643-3429 Margaret Reiners, Bulletin Mailing 781-646-9611 Janice Bakey, Email Coordinator 781-643-4345 Phyllis Maddox, Webmistress 781-646-4362

The BULLETIN is published monthly except during the sum- mer and December by the League of Women Voters of Arlington, PO Box 461, Arlington, MA 02476. October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 3

Scenes From Town Day 2005 Photos by Clare Gordon

Judy Petrie and Clare Gordon at the League’s Town Day booth on the morning of September 24.

League members spent the day registering voters, dis- tributing voter information, and collecting signatures for the Fair Districts initiative petition endorsed by the LWVM.

The League’s poster on Election Day secrecy sleeves was a highlight of our voter information efforts.

Carolyn Parsons and Lynn Taber helped voters find their precincts. October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 4

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CIVIL LIBERTIES / HOMELAND SECURITY

A LOCAL VOICES PUBLIC DIALOGUE OCTOBER 8

By Patti Muldoon

Are you concerned about how to protect our civil liberties while making our community safe? If so, you are invited to speak your mind in a public dialogue on Saturday, October 8. A consor- tium of eastern Massachusetts local League of Women Voter chapters invites the public to a fa- cilitated Local Voices conversation from 10 am to 3 pm at the Boston Municipal Building, Curtis Hall, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain. John Cohen, Homeland Security Policy Advisor of the Executive Office of Public Safety, and Russell Chernin of the American Civil Liberties Union will present their differing viewpoints.

A broad diversity among facilitators and participants is being sought. A free lunch will be pro- vided to all participants who register by Oct. 3. To register, please call Dotty Burstein at (781) 729-7357 or email [email protected].

The League of Women Voters wishes to foster a public dialogue about the balance between civil liberties and homeland security through broad-based community conversations. Ten conversations have already been held across the country. This priority-setting discussion for the greater Boston area is in anticipation of the Senate debate about the sunset provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. The local leagues involved include Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brook- line, Waltham, Watertown, and Winchester.

In this post-September 11 world, it is important to understand the possibility for tension between our civil liberties and the security of our nation at the federal and local levels. This con- sortium of Leagues is thrilled to bring this conversation to the eastern Massachusetts region. It is important for our communities to have the opportunity to learn about and discuss these issues and understand the ways in which citizen voices can be heard. People want to talk about civil liberties and homeland security, and Local Voices provides them with an arena for this discussion. We invite broad public participation in these forums – diverse voices on this subject need to be heard. We hope to increase citizen understanding of how these issues are handled at the local level, and to encourage members of the public to learn how to interact with local government in regards to these topics. Through Local Voices , citizens of our community will be helping to shape the discussion of this topic both locally and nationally.

Curtis Hall is close to the Forest Hill Orange line stop and on the 59 Bus Route and has free parking. For directions, go to http://www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf/search.asp. To learn more about the results of other Local Voices public dialogues across the country, go to www.lwv.org.

The LWV mission is to encourage informed participation of citizens in government and to influence public policy.

Patti Muldoon, past Co -President of the LWV A, is the chair of the LWVMA Administration of Justice Committee. October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 6

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During October and most of November, more than a dozen LWVA volunteers will be helping to gather signatures on behalf of the Fair Districts Initiative Petition. The LWVM is one of many organizations sup- porting this campaign, whose end result we hope will be a constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering where it started, right here in Massachusetts.

What follows is the LWVM position on the proposed amendment. For more information, visit the campaign web site at http://www.massfairdistricts.org/.

In Support of S 12, the Independent Redistricting Commission Constitutional Amendment Testimony presented to the Joint Committee on Election Laws April 5, 2005

By Cathy Dowd, Redistricting Specialist League of Women Voters of Massachusetts

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts urges you to support the independent redistricting commission amendment (S 12).

In the early 1970’s the League undertook a major study of redistricting and concluded that Mas- sachusetts should adopt an independent appointed redistricting commission. This has been our consis- tent position since 1973.

Citizen participation in government is a key component of the League’s mission. When citizens actively participate in government, better decisions are made, and government is more accountable and transparent. This proposed redistricting reform would include citizens in the redistricting process, while maintaining an oversight component for the Legislature.

The League views redistricting reform as critical to achieving proper political representation of our communities and minority groups and to fostering healthy competition in legislative races. During the last seven years, Massachusetts has ranked 49th of the 50 states in terms of electoral competition. In past redistricting efforts, cities and towns have been broken up unnecessarily and minority voting rights have not been respected.

The voters have spoken on redistricting reform. On November 2, the non-binding “Fair Districts for Fair Elections” initiative passed in all 15 representative districts where it was on the ballot, with an average of 67% of the vote. The initiative called on state representatives to support an amendment to the Constitution that would create an independent redistricting commission, subject to strict guidelines for public participation, nonpartisanship, retaining the integrity of existing communities, and respecting the voting rights of minorities.

We have carefully studied the specifics of this amendment and believe it is well-designed. The proposed system is modeled very closely on those used successfully in Iowa and Arizona. The commission selection process will ensure both that the commission represents the diversity of the state of Mas- sachusetts and that it will have the expertise necessary to do the job.

That said, the new system does not put undue power in the hands of the commission. Its actions will be bound by strict, common-sense criteria for drawing districts, such as compactness and maintaining the integrity of town boundaries, but the criteria will not allow the consideration of party registration of voters or candidate address, which open the door to gerrymandering. The legislature will retain a strong role both by choosing many members of the commission and approving the final maps.

The League of Women Voters urges you all to support the independent redistricting commission amendment. October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 8

League of Women Voters of Massachusetts presents FALL CONFERENCE 2005 Empowering Voters A force for change

Saturday, October 22, 2005 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Burlington Marriott

Featured Speakers

Barbara Arnwine Gracia Hillman Morning keynote speaker Luncheon keynote speaker Executive Director Chair Lawyers’ Committee Election Assistance Commission for Civil Rights Under Law

Panelists

Bill Campbell President of the City Clerks Association of Massachusetts

Giovanna Negretti Director, ¿Oíste?, The Massachusetts Latino Political Organization

Jessy Tolkan Outreach Coordinator, United States Student Association, leader of The New Voter Project

Paul Watanabe, Ph.D. Professor, University of Massachusetts-Boston

Afternoon Workshops

Bringing Voting into the 21st Century with the Empowering Voters Project Fresh Ideas to Generate Interest in Your League and Increase Membership Universal Healthcare: The Possible Dream Justice Behind Closed Doors - What’s the Public Got to Do With It?

Registration deadline is October 12. Join the League the day of Fall Conference and get $10 off your membership fee! Registration fee is $25, which includes lunch. To register, use the form on the next page. October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 9

League of Women Voters of Massachusetts presents FALL CONFERENCE 2005

Empowering Voters A force for change

Saturday, October 22, 2005 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Burlington Marriott

Schedule Registration and coffee 9:00 a.m. Morning keynote address & panel discussion 9:30 a.m. Luncheon keynote speaker 12:00 p.m. Workshops 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

For directions: visit www.lwvma.org or call the Burlington Marriott at 781-229-6565

Registration Deadline: October 12, 2005 To register, use the form below or call LWVM at 617-523-2999 to make your reservations using a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express)

Fall Conference 2005 Registration Form Conference fee: $25 (includes lunch)

Join the League the day of Fall Conference and get $10 off your membership fee!

Name______Local League______Phone______Email______Names of others attending______

Payment by check or credit card accepted (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express)

Amount enclosed if paying by check $______make checks payable and send to: League of Women Voters of Massachusetts 133 Portland St. Boston, MA 02114

Name as appears on credit card______Amount for registration $______Donation for Empowering Voters Project $______Card number______Expiration date______

Contact the League with any questions: 617-523-2999 or email [email protected] October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 10

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Conference Focuses on the United Nations and Non-Governmental Organizations

By Clare Gordon

A conference of representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) was held at United Nations headquarters in New York City September 7-9, 2005. I was one of about twenty League of Women Voters representatives who joined our regular lobbyists for three exciting days networking with people from hundreds of organizations working toward a more effective United Nations and development goals around the world.

LWVUS was one of the original sponsors of an association of NGOs to support UN work. Our three lobbyists, Doris Schapira, Patricia Day, and Margery Cohen, serve on the Executive Committee of the NGO Association, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the UNICEF Working Group on Girls, among a host of activities. League representatives to the conference met with them over supper, and we can be very proud of their work on behalf of LWVUS.

Attending such a conference, I was exposed to a soup of acronyms and lingo. The term “civil society,” for example, was new to me. (See “Useful International Terminology,” below.) NGOs have advocated for a larger role in determining United Nations policy and working with UN agencies wherever they operate. This makes sense since organizations such as the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, Oxfam, and a host of church and reli- gious organizations have tremendous expertise on specific issues and in different areas of the (Continued on next page)

Useful International Terminology

Civil Society – All the private voluntary and social organizations, including businesses, that are the basis of a functioning society outside of government IMF – International Monetary Fund NGOs – Non-Governmental Organizations Microcredit – Small loans (often under $100) offered to people who usually could not get credit, to help them turn skills they have (preparing food, sewing, crafts) into fledgling businesses; often cooperative organizations provide help with business plans, support from peers, and a system of using debt repayment for loans to others MDGs – Millennium Development Goals of the UN The South – Countries of the Southern hemisphere that are generally extremely poor UNA-USA – United Nations Association of the United States of America UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund UNIFEM – United Nations Development Fund for Women WHO – World Health Organization WB – World Bank October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 12

UN Conference (Continued) world. Civil society needs to complement the relatively weak aspects of UN organization, the limited budget the UN itself has to meet tremendous challenges, and the fact that many of the national governments that make up the UN are fragile and non-democratic and have few resources. When the Millennium Development Goals were negotiated in 2000, the eighth goal recognized the intention that the UN partner with civil society to effectively promote critical development. (See “The Millennium Development Goals,” page 13.)

The NGO Conference has been an annual event for 58 years, but this year it preceded the World Summit at the UN September 14-16, 2005. Nearly 200 heads of state attended, the largest assembly of such leaders in history. The Summit had been scheduled to take stock of what has been accomplished in one third of the time designated for the accomplishment of the MDGs. Many NGOs were pushing for new commitments to the goals, especially by wealthier nations, and there were many national proposals to restructure the UN. Prior to the Summit gathering, intensive negotiations took place around the “outcome document” that leaders would sign. The inability to come to agreement on time meant that extended negotiations overlapped the NGO Conference. We were constantly reminded of the deadlock when planned meeting spaces were displaced by the international diplomats and UN officials daily reported little progress. As predicted, few changes in UN governance or new development commitments were agreed to by national governments. As a result, the efforts of NGOs toward better health, education, and development as well as their coordination with the UN are more important than ever.

The most recurrent theme of presenters and their critics was that local people must be involved in planning and executing successful projects, particularly including women’s and youth perspectives. The specific examples given were very informative. One tool to hold governments accountable is the use of better statistical monitoring. In fact, already hundreds of thousands of local NGOs work with the UN around the world, and international groups know that their first task is to help local people get involved and invested in projects so they will carry them forward after donors leave. Real progress toward the MDGs has been made in some countries in five years, but heartbreaking stagnation is too common.

In the last few decades there has been a huge change of attitudes regarding women. A UNIFEM brochure states, “Progress for women is progress for all.” The majority of speakers showed how development has accelerated when women as mothers and women as individuals with a future are a primary focus of programs. Microcredit to get women involved in business has been one successful front. Obstacles to education for girls are being confronted by working with families to make culturally sensitive decisions about the hours for school (often after girls get the family’s water or do chores the family depends on), the clothing worn, making sure the school is seen as an environment safe from sexual exploitation, working with parents to design the curriculum, and having female teachers as role models and to ensure safety.

I learned of the work of many impressive organizations at the conference. UN staff and agencies are open to new partnerships and actually dependent on NGOs to put progressive policies into effect. This conference is open to League members in September each year (and free), so consider going for the learning and/or the networking options. (Continued on next page) October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 13

UN Conference (Continued)

What can we do to support the UN and accomplishment of the MDGs? · Let the President and our congressional representation know we support working with the UN! · Oppose the Hyde Act, H.R. 2745, which unilaterally withholds U.S. assessed contributions, passed by the House and awaiting Senate Action. See the LWVUS national position on line. · Take into account whether other organizations you support are working toward the MDGs and have considered an explicit partnership with the UN — in the US as well as abroad. Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations on October 24!

The Millennium Development Goals

In September, 2000, 189 nations, including the United States, affirmed a set of international development goals in the United Nations Millennium Declaration. These have come to be known as the Millennium Development Goals. They reflect an understanding of the devastation caused by global poverty and health risks and aim for a world free of such misery. They are specific and achievable (by projecting improvements actually made during the 1990’s) with a target date of 2015. The UN has explicit indicators to monitor progress.

Many countries have made significant strides during the first third of the time to the 2015 target date despite major obstacles. However, if additional new funding is not made available, few if any of the Millennium Development Goals will be met.

By 2015, all UN member states pledged to: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger · Reduce by half the proportion of people who live on less than one dollar a day. · Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. 2. Achieve universal primary education · Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling. 3. Promote gender equality and empower women · Eliminate the gender discrepancy in primary and secondary education by increasing opportunities for girls to attend school preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015. 4. Reduce child mortality · Reduce by two-thirds the percentage of children who die before age five. 5. Improve maternal health · Reduce by three-quarters the percentage of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth. 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases · Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. · Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria. (Continued on next page) October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 14

The Millennium Development Goals (Continued)

7. Ensure environmental sustainability · Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources. Sustainable development means reducing hunger and poverty in environmentally sound ways, by: meeting basic human needs, expanding economic opportunities, protecting and enhancing the environment, and promoting democratic participation. · Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drink- ing water. · Achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020. 8. Develop a global partnership for development · Reform the trading system (i.e., the World Trade Organization) and the financial system (e.g., private capital flows and international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund) so that poor countries can more easily sell their products to developed countries at fair prices and obtain the financial resources needed to create stable, growing economies that lift people out of poverty. · Focus special attention on how to help the poorest countries mobilize the resources needed to reduce hunger and poverty and become self-reliant. · Focus special attention on how landlocked and small island developing countries can promote economic development and poverty reduction. · Make an all-out effort to resolve the problem of unpayable debt for the world’s poorest countries. · Develop decent and productive work for youth. · Provide access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries. · Make available the benefits of new technologies.

We Want YOU!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON:

§ LWVM Board § Membership & Training Committee § Citizen Education Committee § Development § Public Relations § Affordable Housing Study § Fiscal Policy Study

OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE AN ASSET IN THESE AREAS,

contact Robin Rich at the LWVM office with recommendations or questions: 617-523-2999 or [email protected].

October 2005 League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA Page 15

Just a reminder that the League’s fiscal year began April 1. Members, please send your dues for the current year if you have not yet done so.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ARLINGTON Membership Application/Renewal Form

**Fiscal Year runs from April 1 to March 31** Name ______Precinct ______Date ______Address ______Zip ______Occupation ______Telephone ______Email ______

____ Basic Membership Dues………………….….…… $50 ____ 2nd member in household or renewal after Jan 1… $23 ____ Student (full-time) ……………………………….. $20 ____ Contribution to help the LWV in Arlington, add $_____ TOTAL ENCLOSED $_____

If you are unable to pay the basic dues, please contact Kathleen Colwell at 781 -646-4522

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: League of Women Voters of Arlington MAIL TO: Helen Budd, 1 Watermill Place, Unit 416, Arlington, MA 02476 *********************************************************************************** Please check areas of interest and activity even if you can’t be actively involved THIS year.

SPECIAL LEAGUE ACTIVITIES FOLLOW ISSUES, KEEP LEAGUE __Join the Board. Position: AND COMMUNITY INFORMED __Action: phone calls__ letters__ __Congress/Presidency/Election Process __Bulletin: mailing__ soliciting ads___ __Discrimination/Equal Employment/Civil Rights __Membership __Education/Child Care __Nominating Committee __Environment/Recycling __Publicity Writer __Health Care __Voter Service: Rides to the polls__ __Justice/Courts/Prisons __ Candidates Night __Land Use __ Voters’ Guide __Taxation/Budgets/Deficits __Attend State League’s Phonathon __Transportation/Urban Policy __Be a discussion leader at local meetings __Voting Rights __Fundraising activities __Welfare Policies/Basic Human Needs __Offer meeting refreshments __Women’s Issues __Post fliers and deliver brochures __Zoning/Community Development/Land Use __Host a meeting in my home

OBSERVE AT SKILLS LEAGUE COULD DRAW ON TOWN BOARD MEETINGS* __Computer database __Fundraising __Selectmen (Mondays) __Graphic design __Writing articles __Redevelopment Board (Mondays) __Desktop publishing __Other __School Committee (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) __Web site maintenance __Conservation Commission (1st & 3rd Thurs.) __Membership development __Housing Authority __Moderating meetings

BEST TIME TO CALL YOU: *Some of these can be seen on cable TV (for phone tree reminders) Call before ______o’clock

United Nations Day Ceremony

Monday, October 24, 2005 3:30 - 5:30 pm Great Hall, Massachusetts State House

"Child Health & Survival: The Millennium Development Goals and the Most Vulnerable" Keynote Speaker Marylou Sudders Massachusetts UN Day Chair appointed by Governor Romney President and CEO, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Program includes a multicultural presentation "Nations of the World Festival: Through the Eyes of Children"

Music & Refreshments Free and Open to the Public

League of Women Voters of Arlington Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Post Office Box 461 Paid Arlington, MA 02476 Permit No. 8891

October 2005