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Date: 1/15/2021
Subject: LWV of Piedmont - The Voter 01/15/2021
From: League of Women Voters of Piedmont



Political Responsibility through Informed and
Active Participation

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.



Recap of January Event with Dr. George Rutherford!

Dr. George Rutherford, internationally renowned epidemiologist and Piedmont resident spoke at an on-line LWVP forum on January 13th.   Watchers were able to ask him questions about "COVID-19 Update:  Are We Any Closer to the End?" He shared his expertise about Covid-19's future path and stated that "pretty darn soon" the vaccination would be available for those ages 65 and over.  Currently in California, only three percent have been vaccinated, but Dr. Rutherford predicted that when 20% are vaccinated, Covid-19 cases will decrease.  He also predicted that proof of vaccination cards will become common and very important in the future.  For example, you can host a wedding in the Fall of 2021, if your guests show their vaccination cards.  He recommended wearing glasses or sunglasses when on an airplane to avoid transmission through your eyes. The talk was current and informative.  More than one hundred people attended the talk on Zoom and Youtube. You can watch a recording of the talk on the LWVP YouTube channel.


Join PADC for the 24th Annual MLK Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021

The Piedmont Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee (PADC) invites you to its 24th Annual MLK celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with workshops beginning at 1:30 p.m.  This year’s program, co-sponsored by PADC and the City of Piedmont, will feature stirring performances by traditional Native American flutist Vince Redhouse and Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company. Speakers will include Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Stanford Professor and King Institute Director Clayborne Carson; and filmmaker and World Trust Founder Shakti Butler.
 
New to the celebration this year are community education workshops! In partnership with local organizations, and PHS/MHS students and alums, PADC is co-sponsoring a series of engaging and participatory workshops. Everyone is invited to attend any or all of these discussions.  More information and registration here.

LWVP Coffee Hour on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

Join us Tuesday, January 19th, at 10:00 a.m. for an informal conversation about program planning. This is not our official Program Planning meeting, which will be held on February 1, 2021. Instead, this will be an informal discussion about the role of program planning in the League and a chance to discuss local issues. This is a great opportunity for new or prospective members to learn about the League and its grassroots approach. The Zoom room will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. You don't have to be a League member to join. Come for five minutes, the whole hour or anywhere in between. We hope to see you there!


Zoom Panel on Reimagining Public Safety: Can Surveillance Be a Fair & Effective Tool? 1/28/21

Join the Piedmont Racial Equity Campaign (PREC), Piedmont Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee (PADC) in a zoom-panel event co-sponsored by LWVP on January 28, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  The panel will discuss how surveillance impacts racial justice and public safety in Piedmont and our broader community.  Speakers include:
  • Jeremy Bowers, Chief of Police, Piedmont Police Department;
  • Matthew Guariglia, Policy Analyst, Electronic Frontier Foundation; 
  • Brian Hofer, Chair and Executive Director, Secure Justice; and 
  • Jennifer Jones, Technology & Civil Liberties Fellow, ACLU of Northern California
Register here.

LWVP Program Planning Meeting: Moved to February 1, 2021

Join LWV Piedmont on February 1, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. for its annual Program Planning Meeting where we discuss the issues we want our League and LWV California to focus on in the coming year.  Join the meeting here.


Alameda County Civil Grand Jury

You may not know about this, but each year a batch of twenty or so volunteers from all over Alameda County get chosen to be part of the Alameda County Civil Grand Jury. 
 
Their mission: investigate allegations of misconduct in local government, and bring what they find to the public. These people volunteer their time for limited compensation and this has been happening in every county in California for more than 150 years.
 
Civil Grand Juries can investigate any organization that receives public money, like city and county agencies, school districts, public transit agencies, jails, and hospitals. They can also investigate public officials and elected representatives.
 
To learn more about the civil grand jury and how you might be chosen as a juror please visit Alameda County’s Grand Jury website.


LWVP Upcoming Programs

Save the date for the following programs.  See our calendar for more information and join us on Zoom. 

  • March 2, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.: "Homelessness and COVID-19" with Dr. Margot Kushel, Director of UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations

  • May 6, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.: "Perspectives on Women's Issues" with Nancy O'Malley, Alameda County District Attorney

 

Next LWVP Board Meeting February 3, 2021 

The next Board Meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting will be virtual.  Please contact LWVPiedmont@gmail.com for details, or check our calendar.  All members are invited to attend.  


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The League of Women Voters of Piedmont is a tax-exempt organization under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Our federal tax ID is 94-6094831