Santa Cruz VOTER League of Women Voters® of Santa Cruz County February 2013 Volume 47, Number 5 Annual Valentine Luncheon In this Issue February Fundraiser Lunch…………………..1 and Silent Auction I & R Consensus Meeting, Part Two……….3 UCSC and Its Role in our Community: State Program Planning………………………..4 Opportunities and Challenges LWV of California Takes Action…………….4 President’s Message……………………………….4 Featured speaker UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal Sunday February 10 11:30 A.M.—2 P.M. The Hilton Scotts Valley 6001 La Madrona Drive Calendar Scotts Valley 95066 Open to the public. Sunday, February 10, 2013 11:30—2 P.M. Cost: $30 per person Valentine Luncheon & Silent Auction Includes admission Hilton Scotts Valley and buffet luncheon 6001 La Madrona Drive, Scotts Valley Prepaid reservations required by Tuesday, February 5, 2013 Send checks payable to LWVSCC to: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 1–3 P.M. Peggy Marketello, 117 Oak Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95065. LWVSCC Board Meeting Santa Cruz County Bank Our League looks forward to presenting George R. Blumenthal, 720 Front Street, Santa Cruz 10th Chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz, as the featured speaker at our annual Valentine luncheon and silent Thursday, February 28 auction fundraiser. Chancellor Blumenthal will update us on the 1--3 P.M. state of the University and share his vision for its future (for more I&R Consensus Meeting, Part Two Home of Sandy Warren details on the Chancellor’s talk, see our January 2013 VOTER). 150 Scenic Street, Santa Cruz Chancellor Blumenthal has spent much of his life gazing at the Tuesday, March 12, 2013 stars. He grew up in Milwaukee and earned a Bachelor of Science 1–3 P.M. degree at the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in physics LWVSCC Board Meeting Santa Cruz County Bank from UC San Diego. As an astrophysicist, Chancellor Blumenthal 720 Front Street, Santa Cruz has delved into the structure of the universe and the role dark matter played in its formation and evolution. In 1972, Blumenthal Thursday, March 14 began his academic career at UCSC teaching astrophysics. 1—3 P.M. Continued on Page 2 State Program Planning Home of Irene Thomas 159 Via Medici, Aptos 95003 Silent Auction Tips Continued from Page 1 Here’s more information about the During his tenure at UCSC, he co-authored two textbooks silent auction to be held at our and wrote many articles on astrophysics, in addition to February 10 Valentine luncheon. participating in research for NASA and the National Science Foundation and serving on many committees and councils This once-a-year silent auction event is a satisfying and fun way to for the University. raise funds for our local League. Your generosity helps us advocate Since taking up the reins at UCSC in July of 2006, for causes that support the League’s Chancellor Blumenthal continues to serve widely on positions, moderate candidates' governing boards in science, technology, and education. He forums, hold informational meetings, has dedicated his efforts at UCSC to increasing access to the and distribute information for voters University and fostering a diverse population on campus. He and the community. also found time to raise two children with his wife, Kelly We invite you to participate by Weisberg, a lawyer, sociologist, and professor of law at donating a new or gently used item Hastings College in San Francisco. to be auctioned off. At www.lwvscc.org/calendar you can We hope you will join us at the at the Hilton Hotel in Scotts download and print out a bid sheet Valley, 6001 La Madrona Drive, on February 10th to learn (one for each item donated) and fill it more about Santa Cruz County’s largest employer. You can out in advance, or just fill one out at also look forward to participating in our silent auction the auction. All you need is a name fundraiser, either by bidding on a choice item or bringing for the item, a brief description, and an estimated value (the starting bid one to donate (for more information about the auction, see is usually about half the estimated sidebar). The event is open to the public, so don’t forget to value). invite a friend to attend with you. You can also download a flyer for the event by clicking on the link on our calendar Wondering what to bring for the page at www.lwvscc.org. Your check for $30 per person silent auction? Here are a few ideas: includes admission and buffet lunch (see below for menu candy, homemade baked goods, gift details). Make the check payable to LWVSCC and mail it to certificates, books, art, jewelry, handcrafted items, music, plants, Peggy Marketello at 117 Oak Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95065. flowers, candles, silk scarves, We must receive your reservation by Tuesday, February 5, designer purses, knick-knacks, and 2013. If you have any questions, contact Peggy at 423-0782 gift baskets (wine, flavored vinegars, or [email protected] soaps, lotions). Annual Valentine Luncheon Don’t forget to bid for the perfect gift Buffet Menu for a loved one or a treat for yourself. You’ll enjoy browsing through the tables of handcrafted Italian Garden Pasta Salad items and treasures to be bid on. with Shaved Parmesan Classic Caesar Salad The League of Women Voters, a Panini on Focaccia to Include: nonpartisan political organization, Grilled Vegetable with encourages informed and active Sundried Tomato and Pesto Spread participation in government, works to Smoked Turkey and Provolone with increase understanding of major public Roasted Garlic Aioli policy issues, and influences public policy Chef’s Brownies through education and advocacy. Water and Iced Tea Service February 2013 League of Women Voters of Santa Cruz County, California Page 2 Membership in the League of Women Initiative and Referendum Study Voters is open to men and women of Consensus Meeting, Part Two voting age who are U.S. citizens. Others are welcome to join the League as Thursday, February 28, 2013 associate members. 1—3 P.M. 150 Scenic Street, Santa Cruz Send your check payable to League of Women Voters of Santa Cruz County or Join LWVSCC at 1:00 P.M., Thursday, February 28, at LWVSCC with this form to LWVSCC, Box Sandy Warren’s home, 150 Scenic Street, Santa Cruz, for 1745, Capitola, CA 95010-1745. our second and final meeting of the Initiative and Referendum study as we discuss and come to consensus ____$65 Individual annual membership on the remaining five study questions. We encourage all LWVSCC members to attend, even those who were ____$97.50 Two members in a household unable to attend the first meeting. At this meeting we will consider study questions six, ____$30.00 Student membership eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fourteen. Question six asks ____Contribution $_________________ us to evaluate the importance of various aspects of the Checks made out to LWVSCC are not tax development and qualification processes, including limits deductible. on length, simplification of wording, public support, funding, sunset clauses, and signature gathering. To make a tax-deductible donation, Question eleven considers what abilities the state write a separate check to LWV legislature should have to make changes to voter-enacted Education Fund. statutes and constitutional amendments. Question twelve concerns the application of several principals in Name determining who should have a voice in the process of ____________________________________ drafting and finalizing a ballot measure. In question Address thirteen we may add any changes not covered in the ____________________________________ questions. The final question asks if the initiative and referendum options should be retained in California’s City_______________State____ZIP_______ democratic governance. Telephone:___________________________ We encourage those who have not already done so to Email________________________________ review the study guide: Initiative and Referendum in California: A Legacy Lost? You can access the study guide and the complete list of consensus questions, which includes the League’s current position, at League of Women Voters www.ca.lwv.org.Click on the Initiative and Referendum of Santa Cruz County Study link at the top of the page, then scroll down to the PO Box 1745, Capitola, CA 95010 Study Materials section. If you have any questions, please (831)426-VOTE(8683) contact Sandy Warren at (831) 426-9389 or Editor: Pam Newbury [email protected] President: Jan Karwin Membership: Barbara Lewis [email protected]| http://lwvscc.org February 2013 League of Women Voters of Santa Cruz County, California Page 3 State Program Planning in March President’s Message Who decides what topics our state League will study, what positions Dear Fellow LWVSCC Members, need updating, and what new positions need to be considered? We are looking forward to You do!. You can review California an active February, but, League positions online. unfortunately, I will not be able to share with you our Lend your voice to our discussion of annual luncheon and silent State League positions on Thursday auction on February 10th. As March 14 from 1 to 3 P.M. at the I have previously mentioned, home of our LWVSCC president, I am looking forward to Irene Thomas, 159 Via Medici, traveling to Vietnam to visit Aptos. my son (a college administrator in Ho Chi LWV of California Takes Action Minh City) and his family. Learn more about the following Even though I regret not topics on the LWVC web page being able to attend, I urge ca.lwv.org: all of you to put the event on the top of your agenda. It's always fun, interesting, and a good LWVC responded with concerns chance to meet again with fellow members. I am excited that we regarding Governor Brown’s proposed budget and weighed in in have the good fortune to present UCSC Chancellor George favor of his proposal for a weighted Blumenthal as our distinguished guest.