Name: ___________________________________

Household Member Name: _________________

Address: _________________________________

City_____________________________________

State__________________

Zip ____________________

Phone: (H) ___________________

Phone: (W) ___________________

Email: ___________________________________

Individual ($50): ___________

Household ($25): ___________

Contribution: ______________

May 5 (Monday) - 5:00-6:30 p.m. - LWV Board Program Planning Meeting, home of Pat Kratz, 703 Homestead Cir., phone: 522-1151

May 6 (Tuesday) - 9:30 a.m., Election Procedures/Voter Turnout Committee at the home of Polly Evans, chair. All are welcome, and more information is available at 522-1383.

May 7 (Wednesday) - Reservations Deadline for Breakfast With A Leader, RSVP Vicki Simons 522-4813.

May 12 (Monday) - 1:00 p.m., City of Las Cruces Council Work Session, Presentation by Metropolitan Court Committee, City Council Chambers or Cable Channel 20.

May 14 (Wednesday) - 8:00-9:30 a.m. - Breakfast General Meeting in the Creative Arts Room of Good Samaritan Village’s Social Center, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. Topic: Innovations at the Bureau of Elections, Doña Ana County, Mario Jimenez, III, Doña Ana County Bureau of Elections. League members will hear updates about the improvement made in the processes of the Bureau of Elections, (e.g., split-shifts, training, facilitating work at the polls and much more. Join us to hear the "rest of the story."

May 15 (Thursday) - Noon - The VOTER Deadline for articles. Bonnie Burn (526-0013 or email burnb@comcast.net).

May 11 - Mother’s Day

May 17 - LWV New Mexico Council, 9:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church, Los Alamos, New Mexico

May 26 - Memorial Day

June 3 - Primary Election

June 13-17 - LWVUS Convention, Portland, Oregon

Welcome to another year of League activities! I am writing this before the Annual Meeting, in anticipation of the "end" of a great year (with many successes) and even more anticipation of the "start" of another busy, effective and influential year. With all the political activities of the coming year we will have more opportunities to influence "the system" than we may wish. We participate in the Vision 2040 process. We publish the Voters’ Guide. We conduct forums, distribute and collect voter surveys, register voters, study issues, raise funds and lobby elected officials.

Your voice and energy are needed and are critical to accomplishing the crowded agenda for the coming year. I encourage each of you reading this message to commit your own skills and talents to the work of the League in any way you can. Fun, challenging activities are going on every month. The League gets invited to speak on the radio, to attend citizenship ceremonies, to discuss issues with community leaders and to grill candidates. I hope everyone feels free to attend Board meetings and to call me or any of the other Board Members or Study Leaders to get involved and make a real difference in our community.

Thanks to all of you and especially to the 2007-2008 Board for making my first year as President so rewarding. Your energy and intelligence inspire and challenge me every day.

Thirty-nine members attended the 39th annual meeting of the Greater Las Cruces League, held on April 26 at 9 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church. William Little was appointed parliamentarian for the meeting. The 2007 Annual Meeting Minutes were accepted as written. The treasurer reported a year-end checking balance of $4,910.54. The Finance Chair, Marjorie Burr, reported that $5,395 had been raised during the 2008 Annual Fund Drive. Collection of $1 from members who needed Annual Meeting VOTERS raised the total to an even $5,400. Members and community supporters contributed over $2,000 each to the fund drive. The President gave an overview of the year.

A budget of $14,419 was adopted after approval of one amendment that increased the budget for the Who’s Who by $300 to cover distributing the publication more widely. The Nonpartisan Policy was adopted after revising it to include the updated LWVUS mission statement and to change a word that allows board members to be "election" officials but not "elected" officials. The proposed Bylaws changes were adopted after they were amended to include the new LWVUS mission, changes to Article II—Purpose and Policy and Article III, Sections 2 and 2.a related to Types of Membership.

The slate of officers proposed by the Nominating Committee was elected: For 2008-2010, Vicki Simons—Vice President; Nancy Phillips—Secretary, and Donna Tate—Director. Sue Liefeld, chair, and LaJune Smith, committee member, will serve on the 2008-2009 Nominating Committee.

The current statement of positions and proposed program for study were adopted as presented:

Delegates were identified for State Council, Cathy Mathews, and National Convention, Bonnie Burn. Members were encouraged to attend, as representation by one more delegate for each event is needed.

Directions to the Board included: increasing the distribution of Who’s Who more widely throughout the community; appointing a co-director for Voter Services; observing at the Metropolitan Planning Organization meetings in keeping with our Land Use position; emphasizing the "Greater" in the League’s name so that the League may be involved in many of the ongoing city and county initiatives (e.g., land use planning and Vision 2040). Finally, it was suggested that the League have one major forum, no specific topic suggested, during the year that would increase League visibility and educate members and others in the community.

A very impressive Historical Album assembled by Betty Pool and Committee was available for viewing

A presentation about Tax Increment Development Districts (TIDDs), was presented by Sharon Thomas, League member and City Counselor, and Bob Hearn, member of the Quality Growth Alliance.

As the national convention approaches (June 13-17), LWVUS notified local Leagues about the adoption of a budget and program and the election of board members. One budget item that affects local Leagues is the assessment of per member payment (PMP), the method used to meet the financial support for LWVUS from local Leagues. For the 2008 Convention an increase of $1.20 is proposed. If adopted, the new rate would be $28.00 for individual members and $14 for associates.

The calculation for total PMP for local Leagues is based on the census of members in the LWVUS membership database as of January 31 each year. As an example, the individual membership due for Greater Las Cruces is $50. Of that amount, $28 would be assessed by LWVUS. The State League also assesses PMP at the rate of $12 for individual members and $6 for associates. From a $50 dues payment, $10 remains at the local level after paying $28 to national and $12 to state, This leaves very little money to carry out local programming.

How did the per member payment system come about? Before April 1, 1972, local Leagues pledged to the national League an amount they thought they could afford. However, at the 1972 convention, which was chaired by President Lucy Wilson Benson, delegates amended Article IV, Section 2 of the LWVUS bylaws to read "Dues. Members who are enrolled in local Leagues shall pay annual dues to the local League. Each local League shall make a per-member payment directly to the LWVUS, the amount of such payment to be determined by national convention by a 3/5 majority of those present and voting . . . ."

Payment of PMP is neither optional nor subject to local amendment. In order to retain the right to vote at national convention, Leagues must have made full payment. Leagues may satisfy up to 50% of their PMP obligation by using education funds.

In 1972, the assessment was $4. As mentioned above, the proposed assessment is $28 for individual and one-half for associate members

We greatly appreciate the good response we’ve had from our members to our Annual Fund Drive (2007-2008). As you renew your dues for FY 2008-2009, please consider adding something extra for our programming and voter services activities. Remember only $10 remains in our treasury from your $50 dues renewal. The local League has few options for increasing its budget to meet inflation; therefore, fund raising from the community and members is an important way to meet our mission. If you wish your donation to be tax deductible, please make your donation check payable to LWV Education Fund.

Joan McClure-Post

4225 Senna Drive

Las Cruces 88011

Tel: 521-3171

Email: jmcclure@zianet.com

Marjorie Hudnell

2141 N. Solano Drive (#204)

Las Cruces 88001

Tel: 523-0202

Cathy Mathews and Marnie Leverett were invited to speak on the Morning Show on KSNM-AM, 570 on the dial, on Friday, March 28. Allan Riehl was the coordinator. He asked a lot of questions about our voter registration drives and our candidates’ forums before elections. We also talked about the Who's Who and some of our current studies. A caller came on line to ask a question about our metro court position.

This was a good opportunity to educate the public about some of the specific activities of the League .

for KRWG Spring Telethon, April 5-11.

To those who contributed generously.

Binns Construction and Realty

Joseph B. Camunez, DDS

Doggy Dude Ranch and Cat Farm

Martha Duran

East Lohman Veterinary Clinc

Michael W. Lilley

Francisco Mario Ortiz

State National Bank

Zia Engineering & Environment

Consultants

STUDY GROUP NEWS BRIEFS

The Bureau of Elections has recently announced that it is actively seeking split-shift poll-workers for the June 3 Primaries. This is an issue that the EP/VT Committee has pursued for several years, and, although legally allowed, has never before been implemented to our knowledge. Split shifts are from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m.. Compensation for a split shift is $60 for the first shift and $65 for the second shift. Obviously, this is something that is a possibility for those of us whose schedules or energy levels make a 6:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. work-day prohibitive. We urge you to consider volunteering for either a full shift or a split shift.

In other news, the Voter Satisfaction Survey that was tested during the Sunland Park City election will be distributed at select locations during the June Primary Election. Please offer your assistance by volunteering to distribute surveys

to distribute Voter Satisfaction Surveys

at June Primary Election Polls

Contact: Polly Evans, 522-1383 for details.

Since the holidays and the Legislative Session, the study group had its first meeting for 2008 on Thursday, March 20. As at each meeting, the mission statement was reviewed. The Group decided to begin site visits to review the services in the county and also to get the directors’ input as to what they see the needs are.

Christina Little and Becky Beckett were able to meet with Sylvia Sierra, director of the Doña Ana County Health and Human Services, and a few of her staff. Needs as the County sees it and how the legislative process works with the Doña Ana County Behavioral Health Local Collaborative were discussed.

On Thursday, April 17, the Study Group met with the Southwest Counseling Center and toured its various facilities. More details in the next issue of The VOTER

As the League becomes more visible and takes on more responsibility as a political resource for the community, the impact on Voter Services is significant. Therefore, as Voter Services Director, I made the following recommendations to the Board, some of which have already been implemented, but welcome any comments, suggestions or ideas from all League members:

Co-Directors for Voter Services responsible for: candidates’ forums, legislative breakfast, assembling and proof reading the Voters’ Guide prior to publication and sharing support for other programs in Voter Services.

Chairpeople for each of the following:

The League of Women Voters believes that immigration policies should promote reunification of immediate families; meet the economic, business and employment needs of the United States; and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises. Provision should also be made for qualified persons to enter the U.S. on student visas. All persons should receive fair treatment under the law.

The League supports federal immigration law that provides an efficient, expeditious system (with minimal or no backlogs) for legal entry of immigrants into the U.S.

To complement these goals, the League supports federal policies to improve economies, education, job opportunities, and living conditions in nations with large emigrating populations.

In transition to a reformed system, the League supports provisions for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status.

The League supports federal payments to impacted communities to address the financial costs borne by states and local governments with large immigrant populations.

The League supports the following criteria for legal admission of persons to the United States:

The League supports due process for all persons, including the right to a fair hearing, right to counsel, right of appeal and right to humane treatment.

The League supports:

The League also supports programs allowing foreign workers to enter and leave the U.S. to meet seasonal or sporadic labor needs.

In achieving overall policy goals, the League supports a system for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status, including citizenship, by paying taxes, learning English, studying civics and meeting other relevant criteria. While policy reforms, including a path to legal status, remain unachieved, the League does not support deporting unauthorized immigrants who have no history of criminal activity.

Members of the Fair Representation Study Group came to Las Cruces to educate us about the work that has been done to-date. Three handouts were distributed: one on redistricting history, one on the scope and motivation for the study and a third on things to consider when redesigning an electoral district. Cheryl Haaker, the study group’s chair, went over the handouts briefly, then asked us to rank-order the electoral system criteria that had been chosen. The results were as follows:

1. promote voter participation;

2. promote accountability;

3. promote representativeness;

4. increase perceived legitimacy of results; and

5. consider the effect on political parties.

Judy Binder’s presentation acquainted our group with some of the different methods of redistricting used by other states. In the opinion of New Mexico Attorney General King, the constitution forbids any group but the legislature itself to do the redistricting. However, the legislature can authorize another group to perform this task. A Joint Memorial (SJM 23) was passed by the Senate in the last session. It requested that the NM Legislative Council appoint a committee to study the feasibility of creating an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission. The House took no action on it, so it died with the session.

Kathy Campbell then talked about alternative methods of representation and voting. This information was relevant to the questions 3 and 4 of the presentation. It became clear to the members present that the study may have two parts: (1) redistricting and (2) vote counting.

An urgent issue for redistricting is the availability of funding from the federal government. The study group mentioned that funding for the census was cut back. Perhaps this is an area on which the League should take immediate action.

We want to thank all those who participated: Johnnie Aldrich and Sue Liefeld for accepting recorder responsibilities and Vicki Simons for hosting the State League members who traveled to Las Cruces.

The study group has conducted unit meetings for the Santa Fe County, Los Alamos County, and Greater Las Cruces Leagues. After each unit, the presentation, handouts, and discussion questions are improved and refined. In April, the group will be holding units in the Albuquerque area. The scope of the Fair Representation Study is so broad, encompassing:

- redistricting;

- who is responsible for redistricting,

Therefore, the goal of this first series of unit meetings is to get the sense of what parts of the study the membership considers important to pursue and which to work on first. At the same time, the study group seeks to have a position in place in order to lobby the 2009 Legislature, the last long session before the decennial Census of the United States, which is then followed by redistricting.

The opinions of the first series of units have been strongly in favor of continuing to study and educate the membership and the public on alternative systems of representation and the different types of voting that accompany them. There has been real excitement when these topics are discussed. However, the members in Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Las Cruces recognize that this is a long-term project, and the immediate focus of the study group for the next year should be working for a better system of redistricting with less control by parties having a conflict of interest in the results.

Each different unit meeting has brought in new thoughts and concerns. By the time of the Annual Meeting and the LWVNM Council meeting, the Albuquerque responses will be integrated and the Study Group will have a full report. This will be used to develop consensus questions that will be presented in another series of units in the fall.

Meeting at the Branigan Library, the Board of Directors:

Someone asked at the January meeting on recycling how to buy recycled. Here are some suggestions from The Green Book by Rogers and Kostigen (2007).

- Use the library or buy recycled books.

- Give secondhand clothing a chance.

- Ask for re-refined motor oil the next time you change the oil in your car.

- When it’s time for you to buy new tires, consider retreads.

- Think about buying a refurbished computer.

South Central Solid Waste Authority Board Meetings - March 20 and April 17, 2008 - Marnie Leverett, Cliff Pelton, and Marjorie Burr Observers

The South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) is a private company whose board of directors is made up of City Councilors, County Commissioners, the City Manager and the County Manager. League observers attended board meetings on March 20 and April 17.

At its board meetings, SCSWA receives financial reports. Although tonnage of waste received at the transfer station, the major source of income for the SCSWA, was down about 12 percent from last year in February, the tonnage was up for March, an expected seasonally cyclic increase. An auditor’s report presented at the March meeting showed the Authority to be in a healthy state. At the April meeting it was stated that $5.3 million in operations income has been moved to a capital funding account. Fuel to operate the trucks running between the transfer station and the Corralitos landfill accounts for about 80 percent of the operating budget.

Director Patrick Peck also reported on equipment problems and an OSHA inspection after the November 2007 fatal accident at the transfer station, resulting in two safety infractions and a fine of $25,000. The New Mexico Spaceport has asked for 700 bales of tires to use in its construction phase.

At the March board meeting Director Peck reported on a recent fact-finding trip to northern California to visit recycling operations there. He said his intent is to form a task force of the various governments, educational institutions and federal government installations in Doña Ana County with the goal of cooperation in recycling efforts to generate larger volumes of recyclable materials.

The first meeting of this task force took place after the April 17 board meeting, with representatives from the City of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico State University, White Sands Missile Range, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Gadsden Independent School District, Las Cruces Public Schools and an independent hauler participating. After a presentation by Jill Holbert of the New Mexico Environment Department, which will be reported next month in Talking Trash, the participants spoke in general terms about their willingness to cooperate. All agreed that recycling must be convenient and easy if it is to succeed. It is likely that the regional recycling effort will begin with paper and cardboard, which is the largest volume of recyclable materials and for which there is a ready market. At the next meeting on May 15, each participant will present his/her agency’s number of employees, amount of waste, recycling activities, etc., after which plans for cooperation will be explored

Joint Work Session of Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners and Las Cruces City Council - April 15, 2008 - Marjorie Burr, Nancy Phillips, Bonnie Burn, Observers

All Councilors and Commissioners were present at the beginning of the meeting.

First item on the agenda was Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for Downtown Las Cruces. At issue are two items: the county’s participation, and if any, what percentage of the property tax and gross receipts tax (GRT) increase the county is willing to forego; and second, the governance of the district—an appointed board which will become one elected by the property owners or the City Council. City of Las Cruces (CLC) Director of Finance Mark Sutter presented information; discussion revealed that not all County Commissioners are agreeable to supporting the TIDD. Although City Councilors stated that the Downtown is a regional benefit which will raise the tax base in the long run, many County Commissioners stated that there were other needs for this money they would forego in the short run.

Next agenda item was the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley. The new director, veterinarian Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock was introduced. She gave a brief presentation about her goals, including that the county would become a "no-kill" county within five to seven years.

The agenda item, flood control, started with a presentation by CLC Public Works Director Mike Johnson presenting the City’s flood control projects which are funded by a two-mill property tax levy within the city which generates about $2.9 million per year. There is a state statute for a Metropolitan Flood Control Authority, but this has not been established. Citing the El Paso method of fund-raising, a surcharge on residents’ utility bills, Commissioner Karen Perez suggested that El Paso Electric Company could collect this fee county-wide.

Plans for quarterly joint work sessions were made, with the next session scheduled for this summer. The agenda might include water, rural transportation, Vision 2040, the court system, and regional recycling.

Las Cruces City Council - April 7, 2008

Again, the new bus system inadequacies were raised by the public: non compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and bus routes that leave the disabled and elderly without access. A suggestion that the city of Las Cruces apply for a grant to become a Centennial City during the 100 year celebration of New Mexico statehood was raised. Recycling and upgrade of Library computers were also brought to the attention of the Council.

Council members advised that information on the 911 call center now can be found on the City website. The need for a policy about vacant and dilapidated homes was mentioned. These issues are somewhat addressed by the Public Nuisance Code but enforcement is vague. Finally regular reports from various committees and boards need to be presented at City Council Meetings.

City Manager Moore reported that the Plaza design is in progress; ground has been broken for the new City Hall; the new Federal Court Building is ahead of schedule; progress is being made on plans for workforce housing in the downtown area. He also updated everyone on progress of swimming pool construction and announced the grand opening ceremony for Laabs Pool is scheduled for April 30.

In other action, the Council passed the ordinance that grants school crossing guards the authority to stop traffic, but they cannot make arrests of offenders who do not comply.

Newly elected officers of the Board of Regents are: Robert M. Gallagher, Chair, Bruce Curtis, Vice Chair, and M. Steven Anaya, Secretary/Treasurer.

A number of remodeling projects and agreements were approved including:

President Martin, who has a new title of chancellor, reported a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for work in the Middle East; $1.8 million from the Department of Homeland Security, and an initiative to potentially outsource the University Bookstore.

The Pete Domenici Legacy Project was defined: (1) housing the Senator’s papers ($800K); (2) a building on campus ($35M); (3) a Policy Institute ($15M endowment); and (4) a conference in August that will include an invitation to President George W. Bush ($600K).

Including non-tenure faculty among members of the Faculty Senate and allowing public input were other issues taken up by the Regents.

The next meeting is Friday, May 9, 2008, Las Cruces

Your sustained generous support of the League enables us to carry out our community service of voter education.

1st National Bank

Alta Vista Animal Clinic

Binns Construction & Realty

Joseph P. Camunez, DDS

Citizens Bank

Dolores Connor

Doggy Dude Ranch and Cat Farm

East Lohman Veterinary Clinic

Edward Jones Investments, Connie Lee, I.R.

Horizon Mechanical, Inc.

Lilley Law Offices

Francisco Mario Ortiz, Esq.

Jake Sims & Co.

State National Bank

Tate Associates

Wells Fargo Bank

Clinton F. Welsh, MD

Zia Engineering & Environmental Consultants