LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SC oter Post Office Box 8453 • Columbia, SC 29202 • Phone & Fax: (803) 251-2726 Website: www.lwvsc.org Volume 60, Issue 4 Spring 2011 LLWVSCWVSC invitesinvites youyou toto celebratecelebrate thethe LeagueLeague ofof SouthSouth CarolinaCarolina atat itsits 30th30th BiennialBiennial ConventionConvention EMPOWERED FOR ACTION: Staying True to Our Mission for 60 Years In 2011, the LWVSC observes the 60th leaders to take part in the training and preparation of Convention materials. anniversary of our official recognition by networking opportunities that Convention Convention details, including each the national League. We hope you will offers. Non-members are welcome to attend day’s schedule and reports (Nominating attend LWVSC Convention for an all or part of Convention as observers. Committee, Bylaws, Budget and Program exciting weekend of celebration, learning, You won’t want to miss any of the of Study and Action) can be obtained by growing and connecting. All Convention great workshops and other convention calling 803.251.2726 or at events will take place at the Quality Inn activities but let’s face it: There’s a lot of http://lwvsc.org/whatsnew.html. Hotel, 2390 Broad St., Sumter, on sitting during any convention. Take some Saturday May 14, and Sunday May 15. time to stretch your legs at Sumter’s BIENNIAL CONVENTION: continued on page 3 Sumter is a special place in South wonderful Swan Lake Iris Gardens, a Carolina’s PeeDee region. short ride from the hotel. This blackwater Join us and help chart the League’s future lake is home to thousands of blooming Highlights: in South Carolina – And enjoy a spring irises in the spring and several species of • 30th Biennial Convention ................. 1 weekend with Leaguers from across the state. waterfowl, including magnificent swans. • President’s Perspectives ....................... 2 Our host, LWV of Sumter County, is It is free to the public so build in some planning an outstanding experience for us. time to visit there. • Biennial Convention Registration ...... 3 We offer fun events, top-notch speakers, Before and after the convention, enjoy • Legislative Advocacy Day .................. 4 instructive workshops, caucus discussions of a scenic drive through the PeeDee’s • Lobbying for the Environment........... 5 hot topics, exciting items for sale in our agricultural countryside. Stop at the • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice ...... 6 wares market, and networking opportunities Bishopville garden where master topiary • ABC Recycling Bill............................ 6 for everyone. In addition to voting on our artist Pearl Fryar maintains acres of • Drawing the Lines ............................ 7 issues for emphasis and studies, delegates intricate topiary, and McLeod Farms near • School Vouchers ................................. 8 also pass our budget, elect the board, pass McBee for local produce. • State Budget Update ......................... 8 resolutions, and give advice to the new board. • Can S.C. Learn from Japan?............ 9 Any South Carolina LWV member is Convention Materials • O’Connor Award .............................. 9 welcome to attend. This is a great A registration form is in this issue. • S.C. Voting Machines...................... 10 opportunity for experienced and emerging Please register by May 4 to allow for • Important League Dates.................. 11 Website: www.lwvsc.org Join the League today! ★★★ President’s Perspectives: Rosa Parks would rise to greatness. Collections at the University of South Sometimes a transformative experience Carolina and used in updating the state triggers great leadership – like League’s Proud Heritage, initially Eisenhower’s being picked to lead the published in 1976. The League’s story in allied forces, or Parks’ refusal to move to South Carolina is replete with examples the back of the bus one more time. Often of strong, resolute, passionate leaders who it’s a realization that confronting a refused to back down or compromise on challenge can’t wait for someone else – the League’s democratic principles. They pick us, not the other way around. At Convention we will honor two But it takes courage to lead in the face of League leaders with Spirit of Democracy strong resistance. awards. Sarah Leverette broke historic Former South Carolina Chief Justice ground by graduating from USC School Ernest A. Finney, Jr., a Spirit of of Law in 1943, when women had few Democracy honoree at the 2011 LWVSC career opportunities in the field of law. Barbara Zia Convention, embodies that courageous Over several decades she has engaged in President, LWVSC leadership. On graduation from SC State leadership roles in the League and in College’s School of Law in 1954, Justice women’s professional organizations, Volumes have been written on Finney found it difficult to earn a living inspiring new generations of leaders to leadership – from what it means to how to from legal work, so supplemented his take up the fight for equal justice and cultivate great leaders. No one captures it salary by teaching school and waiting good government. Mary Ann Deku, better than Rosalynn Carter: “A leader tables. Ironically, he attended his first current LWV of Spartanburg County takes people where they want to go. A meeting of the SC Bar as a waiter. (At president, exemplifies the spirit of great leader takes people where they don’t that time, blacks were denied membership democracy that the award represents. As a necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” In in the state Bar.) In 1960, Justice Finney public school educator and a volunteer a democracy like ours – one committed to devoted himself to the full-time practice community activist, Mary has dedicated full access to the rights and responsibilities of law. He defended more than 6000 herself to engaging citizens in our of citizenship – great leaders guide us clients who were arrested for participating democracy – registering voters, teaching toward fulfilling that ideal. in sit-ins, freedom rides and civics classes, leading the local 2010 Great leadership combines inspiration, demonstrations. Because the legal system Census committee, ensuring that League vision, dedication, courage and in South Carolina protected segregation, observers are at every governmental body perspiration. This is true in any type he lost almost every case that went to meeting, and making the League a organization – governmental, corporate or trial, but won all but two on appeal. In presence wherever Spartanburg County non-profit like the League of Women 1994, the state legislature elected Ernest citizens gather. Voters. In his bestseller “Good to Great” Finney to the position of Chief Justice of The sustainability of any organization, Jim Collins identifies universal the State Supreme Court, making him the including the League, depends on its distinguishing leadership characteristics first African-American Chief Justice of ability to grow and to cultivate leaders. that can take organizations from being South Carolina since Reconstruction. For our Convention in May, we are “good enough” to superior. Collins’s In 2011 the League in South Carolina planning an interactive, solutions-oriented “Level 5” leaders possess professional commemorates the 60th year since our workshop devoted to membership and will, passion for the organization and to official recognition by LWVUS. Great leadership issues. I invite you to join the produce sustained results, and personal leaders have always stepped forward in conversation. During this season of local humility; they set up their successors for times of challenge. Betty Wiggins, whose League annual meetings and state even greater success; they are plow horses, story you will read about in this issue, convention, I hope you will step up to a not show horses. I would add that great was just such a state League leader. In leadership role, whether big or small. Our leaders model principled, ethical behavior celebration of our anniversary, LWVSC ability to maintain the vitality of the that inspires others. They “do right” even has launched the Past Presidents Oral League and continue our mission of civic when being pulled in another direction. Histories Project. Committee members engagement in our state and communities Leaders are made, not born. Collins Keller Barron, Betsy Oakman, Lucille for the next 60 years depends on it. thinks potential Level 5 leaders exist all Mould and Sej Harman are doing oral around us. It’s unlikely that anyone interviews of state League presidents realized that a young Abraham Lincoln, since 1976. These oral histories will be Susan B. Anthony, Dwight Eisenhower or archived in the Modern Political ★ 2 ★ Website: www.lwvsc.org Join the League today! BIENNIAL CONVENTION How to engage members and grow Sarah Leverette – One of South continued from page 1 – leaders – Strategies that work Carolina’s first women lawyers is League study and action priorities being honored for more than 50 Convention Venue A fair and impartial state judiciary years of inspiring leadership in the Educating children to be active League of Women Voters and for and Accommodations citizens – Civics in South Carolina her advocacy on behalf of a diverse All sessions will be held at the Sumter public schools and independent state judiciary. Quality Inn Hotel, conveniently located Proposed concurrences Mary Ann Deku – An exemplary and close to points of interest like Swan Transparency in managing state LWV of Spartanburg County Lake Iris Gardens, University of South revenue