SATURDAY, SUNDAY: May 3-4

LWV-VA Council in Charlottesville, VA
First Call to LWV VA Council 2008
The Fluvanna League has graciously agreed to host the LWV VA Council meeting on May 3rd and 4th in Charlottesville. Co-Presidents Meg Gore and Lydia Peale are delighted to host the Presidents and one other leader from each Local League.

SATURDAY, May 17

LWV-NCA Annual Meeting. Agenda: Registration is at 9:30. Seated, served Breakfast is at 9:45. We will have an outstanding Guest Speaker (TBA) plus Q&A and our Annual Business Meeting. Adjournment will be approximately 1:00 p.m. Cost: $35.

FRIDAY-TUESDAY, June 13 - June 17:

LWVUS Convention in Portland, OR

ALREADY THIS YEAR LEAGUE WAS ENGAGED IN:

Jan 3,

"Civic Engagement Among the 'Dot Net' Generation" Torill Floyd Scholars Panel

Kristin Goss led a panel discussion with three young women who shared the ways that their generation takes part in civic endeavors. All three were past recipients of the LWV Torill Floyd Memorial Scholarship for students who plan to pursue a career in public service. . . . . . . Kristin Goss, Moderator: Claire Reifsnyder, a 2005 graduate of Yorktown: Gwendolyn Nixon-Carter, a 2000 graduate of Yorktown: Lucia Gutierrez a 2007 graduate of Wakefield High School.

These panelists brought us up to date on their current educational pursuits or career and reinforced the notion we already learned from recent studies that youth today are engaged in civic activity. But the "DotNet Generation" prefers to see immediate results from their efforts. They are more motivated to "do" something...(continued)  Photos/more information!

Jan 9, 16 and 23:

2008 VA Legislative Women's Roundtable

Jan 22:

Local and National Program Planning

Jan 30:

League Lobby Day in Richmond

Feb 6, 17 and 27:

Legislative Women's Roundtable

Feb 13:

"Women as Officeholders"; LWVUS Women in Politics Series

Feb 14:

NCA Tour of Library of Congress

Feb 17:

ITVS-LWV Screening "Iron Ladies of Liberia"

Mar 5:

Legislative Women's Roundtable,

Mar 5:

Environmental General Meeting

We were extremely fortunate to have Dr. Lewis H. Ziska, Plant Physiologist, USDA Agriculture Research Service, who specializes in weed science, speak about the effects of "Climate Change". The title of his talk "Rising CO2, Warming and Plant Biology: from Mangoes to Morphine" in part concerned studies on plants. Attendees heard an interesting, informative, and sobering presentation. We learned that elevated CO2 levels help increase the growth of "weeds", including invasive species, but do not affect so much the growth of crop plants (food security.) Weed growth and heightened growth of invasive species affect forest composition and increase fire hazards. We learned that human health will be affected by plants that will make more pollen of greater strength and poisonous plants that will grow faster, bigger, and with more toxic poisons. For additional information please visit the three Web sites listed below.
USDA program
Climate and Farming
Northeast Climate
Holly Williams, Environment Committee Chair.

Mar 25:

"Women as Voters" in the LWVUS Women in Politics Series