What a delightful time we had at “SUFFS”- a musical describing the Suffragette movement to get the vote. The San Francisco League hosted a pre-show party which featured our LWVUS Executive Director, Celina Stewart and President, Diana Wynn. It was very emotional and the dozen of us attending wiped away a few tears.

I also got quite emotional attending the No Kings rally in Guerneville. Many residents show up every Friday at the Plaza to protest but this was so much larger and noisier and festive! Those of us remember many protests in the 60’s which helped move the needle on issues such as civil rights, women’s rights, ending the Vietnam War and funding AIDS. Let’s hope these protests also further our cause of equal justice for all. Our Guerneville crowd skewed older, but the younger generation was well represented.

As you are aware Prop 50 passed overwhelmingly to change our district lines. Although the League took no position on this measure, our next job will be to try to get all states to have an independent commission so this issue can be solved democratically. We will also start gearing up for the midterms starting in January. Lots of people will be needed to provide information, pros and cons, candidate forums and Vote411. Let us know how you want to help!

Lots of other opportunities and events listed in the rest of this newsletter. I hope to see you!

The Youth Outreach Committee began our fall presentations that were begun in earnest in September, and we wrapped up with a final visit to Analy High on Election Day, November 4^th.  In eight short weeks, our tireless Youth Outreach teams visited 30 Sonoma County classrooms, across 10 schools, presenting to a total of 741 students.  All tolled, we registered and pre-registered 514 future voters (8% of were already registered).  

Sonoma County’s new Registrar of Voters, Evelyn Mendez, and her team enthusiastically embraced our program this term, and participated in-class with us at Roseland Collegiate Prep and Analy High. They also provided us with some fantastic materials for our newly registered students, including A Guide to Voting in California published by the office of the SOS in both English and Spanish.  

Inspired by the Registrar’s focus on pre-registering students, ages 16-17, we are now looking at new ways to engage future voters by expanding our program to offer a session for Juniors highlighting pre-registration and the importance of voting, and a separate session for the Senior Class level focused on the mechanics of voting and how it works.  More to come as our committee develops these new offerings. 

On the Sonoma State campus, we visited three classrooms of students enrolled in SSU’s First-Year Learning Program. Addressing newly matriculating college freshmen, mostly already registered, we focused on introducing the League of Women Voters and providing voter education context with the goal of getting them ALL out to vote. 

Many thanks to everyone who supported our efforts on campus this semester, as school organizers, presenters and observers.  You can be very proud of your efforts.  We certainly could not do it without you.

We look forward to reinvigorating our registration efforts in the Spring and expanding our reach in Sonoma County schools. If you’re interested in learning more about Youth Outreach, join us at our November meeting Tuesday, November 18 at 1:30 pm.  LWVS Youth Outreach - Nov. 18

IRA Withdrawal Due?

Are you looking for a worthwhile organization for an end of year donation?  If so, please consider donating to the League.  We depend on donations to be able to complete all the work we do through the year.  Some of you may need to make end of year withdrawal from your IRA.  If you have the withdrawal sent directly to the League, you may be able to take the distribution tax free.  Consult with your financial adviser for more information.  Our local League is a non-profit 501 c 3 organization.

Our website provider, Club Express, is making some changes in the way you interact with our website, such as when you log-in, or when you look up someone in the member directory.  All these changes are to the look and feel of the screens only.  Functions remain the same, so you should still be able to do what you have done in the past, and since these changes are made with the intention of making interaction easier, you should be able to find what you are looking for more easily.  However, if you do have a question, you can contact Juanita Roland at communications@lwvsonoma.org

If you are a website administrator or coordinator, you will see more changes as you schedule events or send email.  And a Phase 2 and 3 update is planned for after the first of the year.

Our next fundraiser will be held from 6 to 8pm on January 6, 2026 at Rainbow Cattle Company in Guerneville. The event will offer a $5/plate dinner and a raffle, and 10% of the bar’s proceeds for the evening will be donated to the League. Since the tradition began in 2005, Giving Tuesday at Rainbow Cattle has raised over $1 million for local nonprofits, and this will be the first time LWV has been the beneficiary. Thanks to our President, Donna Roper, who is a fixture in the West County community, for nabbing this auspicious date to highlight LWV’s continuing commitment to defending democracy.

Besides attending the event with a large group of your friends, you can contribute to the success of the raffle by donating one or more items - perhaps from among your stash of unused, unwanted or ungifted gifts, unread books, unhung art, crafted works looking for a home, or anything else that can be displayed on a table and gain a bid. Contact Donna (president@lwvsonoma.org) or me (execvp@lwvsonoma.org) to arrange your donation or to ask questions about the event. Start talking it up among your friends; if you plan to imbibe, be sure to invite some who is willing serve as your designated driver.

The many changes from this current administration are beginning to be felt in the everyday lives of Sonoma County residents. As a result, we are focusing on topics that will help us understand the significance of these changes and what local governments and non-profit agencies can do to mitigate their negative impacts. In the coming months we will explore issues around  childcare, affordable housing, immigration and more. If there are topics that you would like to learn more about, please contact me at  program@lwvsonoma.org  In the meantime, here are two upcoming programs worth tuning in to.

The November meeting on the 17^th, What's Happening with Our Health Care?  should be an interesting one. Gaby Bernal, the executive director of Santa Rosa Community Health, will talk about the negative impact of Federal policies in providing health services to low-income individuals. How will the potential loss of the ACA subsidies affect these services and how will it affect our hospitals and emergency rooms and more? 

December we will just enjoy the holidays, no meeting. On January 26^th  our speaker will be    Mary Fricker, a league member and retired Press Democrat reporter. She is currently a freelance journalist specializing in business & finance.  She will tell the story of how the 21st century is creating huge fortunes for some and a widening income gap for many. What is the impact on our society and how can we fix it? Rising Income Inequality: Why it's Happening & How to Fix it

New ways to STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY!

We are happy to announce that new “nuggets” are here!  We call the quick, easy-read information on civics topics that are the heart of our program “nuggets”.  Our team has been hard at work creating four additional nuggets on civics topics to share.  Each will give the reader the essential information on the topic and why it matters in today’s world. Check out:

• Posse Comitatus
• Shadow Docket
• The Hatch Act
• Naturalization Process

Thank you Leona Judson, Debbie McKay, Rebecca Stanwyck, Jeannie Tofanelli and Karen Weeks, for bringing these new nuggets to life.  

YARD SIGNS – YARD SIGNS – GET YOUR YARD SIGN!!

Stand Up for Democracy yard signs are now available. These bilingual, colorful signs link to our Stand Up for Democracy civics education program of short, quick tidbits of information on the basics of The US Constitution and government.  $20 will put one in your front yard (which just about covers our costs and includes tax) and bring civics information to your neighborhood!  Contact Lynn Dooley at standup@lwvsonoma.org to get your yard sign.

And finally – we have a Stand Up for Democracy 20-minute presentation that can be presented at rotary clubs and other community organizations.  If you know of a group that would like us to present this civics education program focusing on the Constitution and how it relates to today, please contact Lynn Dooley at standup@lwvsonoma.org.

Treasurer’s Report: Too early for the October financial report. Linda Rosen reported that we received an anonymous $250 donation. Linda has also agreed to stay on until we find a new Treasurer.