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!

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.