• For an overview of LWVGB projects, goals and accomplishments, also see past issues of The Voter, LWVGB's newsletter.
• Visit this page to view the news archive for other years.
• See the LWVGB home page for the most recent news.
  

LWVGB Members Participate in LWVAL 2015 State League Convention

Members of the LWVGB were pleased to represent our League at the LWVAL Convention in Auburn, AL on May 2 and 3, 2015. Thank you to LWV of East Alabama and especially to LWVEA President Kristen De La Fuente for their warm and gracious hospitality on Friday evening, May 1, and throughout the weekend! LWVGB President Yvonne Brakefield, Vice-President Ida Tyree Hyche (delegate), Treasurer Michael O'Donnell, Director Jean Johnson (delegate), Director Joyce Lanning (also Director LWVAL Board), LWVAL Co-president Leonette Slay, and member O. L. Pete Johnson were present from Birmingham. Pete led the symposium "Crime and Punishment in Alabama: The Court System, The Prison System, and Alternatives to Incarceration." See the video and audio of the symposium here. LWVGB was honored to be recognized as the local League with the second highest increase in membership. We're growing and it's showing!

Picnicking in Railroad Park on a Beautiful Sunday Afternoon? What Fun!

Below is a map of the genereal area where we met. Check out the picnic photos here. Let's do it again soon!

LWVGB Hosts Public Transit Panel Discussion, Jan. 25, 2015

Many thanks to panelists Shirley Worthington (former director United Way Clastran, Chairman Black Belt Commission Transportation Committee), Ann Dawson-August (Executive Director BJCTA), and Nancy Ekberg (LWVGB Director Pubic Transportation Issues) for their excellent presentations today at LWVGB's Greater Birmingham public transit meeting at the Homewood Public Library. Those present were able to get questions answered and to recommend their own suggestions for improving the Greater Birmingham transit system. Thanks also to Mike D. Smith, traffic and transportation reporter for AL.com / The Birmingham News, and WIAT News 42 (WIAT.com), for covering this event. Pictured here (L-R) are Ann Smith (LWVGB Observer Corps Chair and logistics planner for this meeting), Leslie O'Neal (LWVGB member and public transit advocate), Yvonne Brakefield (LWVGB President), Shirley Worthington, Ruth Wright (long time public transit advocate and LWVGB member), Ann Dawson-August, and Nancy Ekberg.

UPDATE Jan. 26, 2015...

Transit needs leaders

Public transit needs a leader to take us forward in the Greater Birmingham area according to Shirley Worthington, public transit advocate, who spoke to a crowd who listened to a panel describe the past, present and future of public transit Sunday, January 25th.

The League of Women Voters sponsored the Sunday afternoon meeting at the Homewood Library.

Featured were Worthington, long time transit advocate who ran Clastran when it was under United Way; Ann Dawson-August, Executive Director of the BJCTA (MAX) and former Executive Director of the transit system in North Carolina;
and Nancy Ekberg, Chair of Public Transit for the League.

Worthington described the difficulty in Alabama where there is no state planning or funding for transit, and groups who want to keep things just as they are to benefit their agendas. But her main push was to find leaders who would actually lead the effort for transit, and not just talk about how important it is. She said most people recognize that transit is an economic engine but that in Alabama it is often a race issue, or focused only on the elderly and handicapped.

We need leaders and we have one, in Ann Dawson-August, ED of MAX. She has improved service since she took office, adding more routes, reliability and even Saturday service plus Friday and Saturday evening service! She has brought e-mail availability so riders can track their busses. She recognizes the economic tool it is and meets with businesses to form partnerships.

The recent decision by the World Games to bring them here in 2021 is an incentive to improve transit in order to accommodate all the world travelers who will come to watch.

Handouts on current plans and on Birmingham's transit history were available.

From the audience, Rev. Lawton Higgs said he was seeking a grant that would fund grassroots efforts in Alabama for transit. And August mentioned a nationwide effort to ask states to set aside a day in April to focus citizens' attention on the need for public transit.

We will bring more information as Higgs' and August's transit promotion dates approach.

News coverage
"Robust transit possible in Alabama, but cooperation, leadership and political will lacking, advocate" says by Michael J. Smith, @TrafficMike_BHM, traffic and transportation reporter for AL.com/The Birmingham News

We asked for your gift to the
League of Women Voters
of Greater Birmingham
on #GivingTuesday, December 2
but it's never too late!
*** GIVE TO LWVGB ***



Great gift idea!

Happy, Happy Holidays to you and yours
from the
League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham!

Thank you for voting, Greater Birmingham!
Election News & Results

• Jefferson County Election Night Reporting
• MyVoteAlabama.com
• Alabama 2014 General Election: Results for statewide and congressional races al.com
• Alabama & National Elections News, Results, and Politics
• Ballotpedia: Alabama's 2014 Elections

Election Calendar

• Oct. 20—Voter registration deadline for General Election.
• Oct. 30— Last day for voter to make application for an absentee ballot.
• Nov. 3—Last day to postmark or hand-deliver absentee ballots. Must be received by noon on election day (except UOCAVA - military and some other oversees voters)
• Nov. 4—General Election
• Nov. 11—Deadline for receiving absentee ballots from UOCAVA voters

Five proposed state constitutional amendments on every Alabama Ballot on November 4.

Questions on Election Day?

• YOUR COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRARS OR
• AL SECRETARY OF STATE ELECTIONS DIVISION @ 1-800-274-8683 OR
• LWVGB @ 205 583-5000 OR
• LWVAL @ 205 871-8194

Alabama Registration and Election Information

• Are you registered to vote? Are you sure? Check!
• Download an Alabama Voter Registration Form for mailing (Also can be used to update your address or change of name.) See all locations where you can register in person. Register by Oct. 20.
• Can you vote absentee?
• Apply for an absentee ballot. Last day to apply Oct. 30. Return your ballot by Monday, Nov. 3.
• Find your polling place.
• What are the acceptable forms of Voter ID (ACCEPTABLE PHOTO ID is required to vote in 2014 with certain exceptions.)
• Follow the money! Online Campaign Finance System. Get contribution/financial reports for state and federal candidates and political action committees PACs).
• How to get former felon voting rights restored. Also, see this brochure from the Alabama ACLU.
• Know your voting rights as established by the Help America Vote (HAVA) Act of 2002.
• See sample ballots.
• Election Officials - Get contact information for your Board of Registrars, Circuit Clerk, Absentee Election Manager, and Probate Judge (Chief Election Officer of your county).

• Download the Alabama 2014 Voter Guide
• Download the Alabama Photo Voter ID Guide
• Visit the AL Secretary of State's websites here and here

Other Election Resources

• Your County Board of Registrars
• Your County Absentee Election Manager
• Your County Probate Judge (Chief Election Officer)
• AL Secretary of State - Elections Division - 1-800-274-8683
• Alabama Votes
• LWVAL 205 871-8194
• LWVGB 205 583-5000

Members and Guests enjoyed the LWVGB Annual Membership Mixer 2014!

... and brought many friends!

See all the photos!

Thank you, Alamerica Bank, for hosting this event!

Thursday, November 13, 2014
5 - 7 p.m.
2170 Highland Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35205

LWVGB membership is well worth your time and financial support.
• Here's just some of what we've accomplished recently.
• Here's how to join LWVGB or renew your membership.

LWVGB's Annual Membership Mixer was a blast! Many interested in making the Greater Birmingham community a better place to live, dropped by Alamerica Bank on Nov. 16. It was free and all were welcome, men and women, members and non-members. We enjoyed casual and stimulating conversation with our guests over a glass of wine and light hors d'oeuvres. See the photos!

We shared information about the work that we do with those interested in joining our nonprofit, nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham. We enjoyed meeting all and getting their ideas for making democracy work better for everyone in our community. Members were excited to share the League's work with their friends! Thanks again to Alamerica Bank for your very gracious hospitality!

If you would like to join the League or have questions, contact LWVGB Membership Chair Catrena Norris Carter at catrena.whoswhoblackal@gmail.com or (205) 266-0304.

LWVGB Members Help Citizens Register and Exercise Their Right to Vote

THANK YOU, LWVGB VOLUNTEERS!

We passed Alabama's voter registration deadline for the November 4, 2014 General Election on Monday, October 20, but during September and October, LWVGB pushed to register and educate as many voters as possible about the election process before that deadline. League members stepped up to register voters in Jefferson and Shelby Counties. The League’s voter registration activities were a fitting celebration of Constitution Day on September 17 and National Voter Registration Day on September 23. Watch this space for a full report on the League's voter registration effort to be published soon!

Speaking out for the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014

On Tuesday, September 23, 2014, LWVGB Celebrated National Voter Registration Day!

Thank you, Birmingham Firehouse Shelter Executive Director Anne Wright and all other staff for hosting LWVGB Voter Registration! We were glad to see so many residents and guests "celebrate democracy in America" by registering to vote on National Voter Registration Day, September 23, 2014! #CelebrateNVRD

LWVGB Celebrated U.S. Constitution Day by registering voters!

Our U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787. What better way to celebrate and show your patriotism than registering to vote on Constitution Day!? The Nov. 4th 2014 election was fast approaching! LWVGB was there for those who needed to register to vote or change name or address on their registration.


We got it done at Brown Mackie College (105 Vulcan Rd #100, Birmingham, AL 35209) and Jefferson State College,
Shelby Co. Campus (4600 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35242)! Over two days and five shifts, LWVGB volunteers registered (or updated) 38 and gave out several more forms to be filled out and submitted. Many thanks to Nancy Sales, Rita and Jim Winkates, Joan Burroughs, Judith Hand, Jean and Pete Johnson, Kaydee Erdeich-Breman, Sybil Breman, Ann Smith and Connie Arnwine for volunteering for this successful voter registration effort.

LWVGB Board
Orientation and Planning Meeting
was held
Saturday, July 12, 2014
9:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m.
Vestavia Public Library
Historical Room
1221 Montgomery Hwy
Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
-- map --



Members, thank you for attending the...
LWVGB Annual Business Meeting
Thursday, June 19, 2014
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Sweet Tea Restaurant
2205 3rd Avenue S.
Birmingham, AL 35233
See below for business approved by the membership at this meeting.

Following is the business approved by the membership of the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham for 2014-2015. Note that the LWVGB bylaws and budgets and personal contact information for the Board of Directors is accessible by members. If you are a LWVGB member and need access assistance, please contact Jean Johnson at jjohnson@lwvgb.org or at 205 870-3063.

• LWVGB 2014-2015 Program – Issue Positions, Studies, Issues for Emphasis. As recommended by the Board, the LWVGB membership re-adopted the 2013-2014 Program with no changes.
• LWVGB and LWVGB Ed Fund Budgets for 2014-2015
• LWVGB Bylaws for 2014-2015
• LWVGB Officers and Directors for 2014-2015 are listed below. To contact the LWVGB please use our webmail form. Members, click here for individual Board member contact information.