© 1999 - 2006 League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham and
League of Women Voters of the United States

The Voter

January 2006

A Publication of the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham.
Re-formatted here for web publication with index and links added. Web Editor's navigational notes added in [bracketed italics].

INDEX








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Jessie Tehranchi
A Message from Jessie Dixon Tehranchi
February 12, 1949 – January 8, 2006

Jessie Tehranchi, LWV member and tireless activist for universal healthcare and public transportation, died January 8.  Jessie asked that this message be passed along to her friends.

We will miss our “wheelchaired warrior.” [Read Tributes to Jessie.]

Dear friends,

I want to thank my husband Jim for helping me through my many years of multiple sclerosis and the recent colon cancer. I want to thank my sons David and Michael for their tolerance and support through this ordeal.

I want to thank the people of Mountain Chapel for their loyal support through these difficult times. I also want to thank Mountain Chapel for their awareness of handicap accessibility issues in the restoration of the sanctuary and the upcoming plans to put a ramp to the podium for people with disabilities.

As most of you know, I have been involved in two issues for many years. I’ve been in the universal health care campaign through the Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) which advocates for an efficient, effective and equitable heath care system. I see universal health care as a justice issue since people who lose their jobs should not lose their health care.

Public transportation is another issue I’ve been passionate about for many years. For me the issue is that people should be able to get around town without driving a car. It’s good for the tourist industry, it’s good for the economy, and it’s good for the quality of life for all citizens of metro Birmingham.

And now I really want these things to continue. These movements are important, and I’ve been dedicated to them for so many years. I hope that the people here will understand their importance and carry them on.

In my final words, I would like to remind you to get a colonoscopy so you can avoid this horrible cancer that I’ve died from.

I have loved all of you.

Jessie Tehranchi


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Tributes to Jessie

The impact of Jessie Tehranchi’s passionate advocacy resonated throughout our community in the days shortly after her death. The following links from The Birmingham News online publication represent two of the many tributes paid to this amazing woman.

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LWVGB January Meeting

Legislatuve Study Consensus
Discussion leaders Sarah McDonald and Mary Lynn Bates

Thursday, January 26, 6:00 P.M.

Homewood Library
1721 Oxmoor Road

Read more about this important meeting!


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Legislative Study Consensus Begins Jan 26th

The first part of the LWVAL Legislative Study will be discussed and consensus reached (or not) in our monthly member meeting at the Homewood Library on Thursday, January 26 at 6:00 pm.

In preparation for this meeting, please read the following material at www.lwval.org/legstudy/members/  

  • Instructions for Members
  • Members’ Consensus Questions worksheet 
  • the briefing papers on 
    • Legislative Basics 
    • The Committee System and 
    • Legislative Support 

(If you need login assistance to access the material, contact Jean Johnson at jjohnson@brooknet.com or 870-3063.)  Members who receive a paper Voter received this information in a special mailing ahead of this newsletter.

Included in this material is the list of consensus questions and instructions.  The state League allows members to read and answer the questions without attending the discussion meetings; however, we strongly urge everyone who can attend to do so.  The discussion and debate aspects of consensus-taking is much more enriching and leads to a better result for the whole League.

Mary Lynn Bates and Sarah McDonald will lead the discussion.  Elsewhere in this issue are a few “teaser” questions to get you going.  The member(s) with the most correct answers will receive a WONDERFUL prize.

Let’s have a good representation of the Birmingham League at this meeting!

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Thanks to our Holiday Luncheon Speaker

The LWVGB Holiday Luncheon was highlighted by Dr. Jay M. McDonald’s informative and thought-provoking presentation on the challenges of designing life support systems for a manned mission to Mars. Dr. McDonald was part of a team of scientists who studied the spectrum of human concerns during long-distance space travel.  Thank you, Dr. McDonald, for sharing your insights with us.

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How Much Do You Know About the Alabama Legislature?

[Here are a few teaser questions about the structure and operation of the Alabama Legislature. Be sure to prepare for the Jan. 26th  Legislative Study Consensus discusion!]

Legislative Question 1
Where and what is the “Star Wars Room?”

Legislative Question 2
Where does Alabama rank in the number of women in state legislatures?

Legislative Question 3
How many bills may be introduced in a legislative session?

Legislative Question 4
When do legislative committees meet?

Legislative Question 5
What two kinds of support service for legislators are lacking in Alabama?

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Jefferson County Bills Proposed for this State Legislative Session

State Representative Jim Carns, R-Mountain Brook, has introduced a bill to the Legislature calling for a county manager in Jefferson County [HB324].   Carns, who is co-chair of the Jefferson County legislative delegation, told The Birmingham News, “I represent Jefferson and Shelby County as a state legislator.  I watch both county commissions work.  I see the benefits of the Shelby County manager versus the lack of those benefits for Jefferson County.”   Jeffco commissioners Collins and White have indicated their support for the bill because department heads would report to a professional manager rather than politicians.  Commissioners Buckelew, Smoot and commission president Langford do not support the bill.  These commissioners advocate department heads serving as the professional managers in their assigned area.  

Other legislation relating to Jefferson County being advertised for this session includes:
  • Providing for use of PVC pipe for sewer line construction 
  • Repealing a law that provides for the operation of bingo by qualified organizations
  • Authorizing the sheriff to hire a public information officer
  • Authorizing the Board of Registrars to furnish voter registration lists to certain office-holders, candidates, organizations and circulators of petitions and collect money from whoever receives the lists.

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Doris Powell Speaks to November LWVGB Meeting

Doris Powell made her first speaking appearance as Chair of the Birmingham-Jefferson Transit Authority at our November 17 membership meeting.  She updated us on her first two months on the job and outlined a few of her priorities for the next year.

During her first weeks as Chair, Ms. Powell asked members of the board to ride public transit.  She wants to be certain everyone understands that public transit is about people, not buses.  She told LWVGB members that HOV lanes, light rail, park & ride lots and bus routes are parts of the master plan to improve transportation in the Greater Birmingham area.  Without an overall transit plan, neighborhoods are threatened with destruction to make way for highway construction.

In her new role, Ms. Powell’s key responsibility is the fiscal health of the Transit Authority.  Since there is no dedicated funding source, she must lobby each of nine participating municipalities for their support.  During her first two months on the job the Authority’s financial records were reconciled and opened to the public.  Ms. Powell told us that all bills would be paid beginning with fiscal year 2007.

Ms. Powell faces an ongoing challenge reviewing and updating the Transit Authority bylaws written in 1971 and the subsequent amendments.  She must research every amendment, verify that the municipalities approved it and that each was filed properly.  Bringing counties and municipalities together will remain at the top of her priorities.  The Authority lost $3 million in matching funds in September 2005 due to the lack of regional cooperation. 

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LWVUS Program Planning

In preparation for Convention 2006, Leagues are encouraged to participate in Program Planning*. According to the LWVUS publication, In League, “Program is the League’s ‘reason for being,’ the basis of both education and action efforts.”   Program - governmental issues chosen for study and action - is an essential element of League and, because it is so important, has traditionally originated with the membership through the program planning process.

It is important for Leagues to participate in this process.  Unfortunately, grassroots participation in this process has steadily declined over time. As a result, we are seeing program planning at the state and local level increasingly being replaced by program planning on the convention floor, which traditionally accounts for only 1.3 percent of the membership. In 2004, only 29 percent of local and state Leagues participated in LWVUS program planning, making it difficult for the LWVUS Board to determine the extent of interest on specific issues for study and action.

In order to open up the process, a LWVUS Program Planning discussion list is being made available for the first time to engage members in conversation about issues of national interest. To subscribe:

Members are also encouraged to review Impact on Issues, which includes information about existing League positions.

Suggestions for new program items may be submitted to LWVGB by e-mail at admin-lwvgb@lwval.org or in writing to LWVGB, 3451 Cliff Road South, 35205. Input must be received by Tuesday, January 31st.

[* LWVUS Program Planning information is available to LWV members and requires login. If you are a League member and need login assistance, contact Jean Johnson at jjohnson@brooknet.com or 870-3063.]

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Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform

PUBLIC INVITED TO TAKE A STAND
ON CAPITOL STEPS IN MONTGOMERY

Alabama citizens will take a stand on the Capitol steps in Montgomery on Wednesday, January 25th, to ask the Legislature to Let the People Vote for a Constitution Convention. The public is invited to participate in this historic Let The People Vote Rally.

Supporters of a Constitution Convention will present the Legislature with more than 60,000 signatures on thousands of petitions urging the Legislature to pass a bill to let the people vote for a Constitution Convention to re-write Alabama’s 1901 Constitution.

Students will begin reading the 1901 Constitution and over 700 amendments at 9:00 a.m. on the Capitol steps and at 11:15 a.m., ACCR representatives and citizens from throughout the state, will present the signed petitions to the Legislature.  The presentation will take place on the steps of the Capitol Building on Dexter Avenue.  Speakers will include the bill’s sponsors, Alabama House Speaker Pro Tem Demetrius Newton and Alabama Senator Ted Little, and others from around the state.

The leadership of many Alabama organizations supporting a constitutional convention will also be present: AEA Retirees, Alabama ARISE, Greater Birmingham Ministries, NCCJ, Chambers of Commerce, and other civic and non-profit organizations, to name a few.

Following the presentation of petitions and comments, supporters will gather in the Capitol Auditorium for an Organizing for Success meeting.  The public is invited to participate in all of the day’s events.

The Let the People Vote Rally is sponsored by Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR), a non-profit, grassroots organization that began five years ago. The late Bailey Thomson, former professor of journalism at the University of Alabama; former Governor, Albert Brewer; Auburn University’s Dr. Wayne Flynt; Former U.S. Congressman Jack Edwards; Samford President, Dr. Thomas Corts; and others founded ACCR to educate Alabamians on the need for a new Constitution. The 1901 Constitution currently restricts local decision making, economic and rural development, includes racial and discriminatory language, and exhibits general distrust of Alabama citizens. 

For more information, contact ACCR at 205-540-7501 or visit the ACCR website at www.constitutionalreform.org.

Additional resource materials can be found at:

http://www.lwvgb.org/Bill Summary.pdf
http://www.lwvgb.org/Final Bill.pdf

[Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read the above documents.
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader for free here.]


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About the Voter:

The LWVGB Voter is a publication of the League of Women Voter of Greater Birmingham.

Contact:
Beverly Nelson, Editor
Email: beenel@bellsouth.net

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wednesday,
January 25th
 Let the People Vote Rally
Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform
Capitol Steps, Montgomery
[more information]
 11:15 AM
Thursday,
January 26th
 LWVGB Monthly Membership
Alabama Legislative Study and Consensus – Part I
Homewood Library
1721 Oxmoor Road [map]
[more information]		 6:00 PM
Wednesday,
February 1st		 LWVGB Board of Directors Meeting
Unitarian Universalist Church
4300 Hampton Heights Drive [map]		 6:00 PM
Thursday,
February 23rd		 LWVGB Monthly Membership Meeting
Alabama Legislative Study and Consensus – Part II
Homewood Library
1721 Oxmoor Road [map]		 6:00 PM


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