Our Annual Meeting - Tuesday, May 19, 7:00 pm - via Zoom
Since we can't meet in person, let's join the Zoom age and have our annual meeting via video conference.  At our annual meeting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 19, we will elect officers for 2020-2021, approve the League's budget, and hear about some of the projects the board and committees have been working on in 2019-2020.

We will have a  presentation by our artist, Nancy Corbin, on The Tribute to the Grimke Sisters.  She was originally scheduled for our February meeting.  The torrential rain made us cancel that one.  Then Covid19 changed everything.  Finally on May 19th we will hear from Nancy!

We expect a 30 minute meeting and hope you will join us.

To join our annual meeting video conference, you may click on the following link on Tuesday evening, May 19 at 7:00 pm.  If you prefer to call in, the call in information is below, too. However, you won't be able to see the presentation. 
Join Zoom Meeting   https://wofford.zoom.us/j/97538988807 
Dial 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 975 3898 8807
For those of you who aren't familiar with Zoom, you join the video conference by clicking the link.  Your computer may want to download a piece of software to run, which is OK, but I believe you can watch from your web browser as well (I have never tried that myself.). Zoom will use your computer's camera and microphone so that you can participate.  You will see the faces of others participating in the meeting.  The host may mute your microphone just to cut down on background noise.  

100 for 100!!!
100 Years of the League of Women Voters - yes, 100 years of doing our part to make democracy work for everyone!

We are raising money to create our Tribute to the Grimke Sisters outdoor mural.   It is such an exciting project celebrating these abolitionists and suffragists. These were courageous women! Did you know they spent some summers in the Spartanburg area?  Learn more on our Centennial Celebration page.

We need your help to fund it. What if you gave $100 to commemorate 100 years of the LWV?
Too much? What about 100 quarters for 100 years of the LWV?
Not enough? How does $10 for each year of the League?
Whatever the amount, we would love to have 100% participation from our members.  As we are asking in the community to donate money, we need the members of LWVS to set the standard! Be proud of your support for The Tribute and our LWV. As always, your contributions support the Leagues voter education work!

Please mail your check made out  to:
League of Women Voters Education Fund (tax deductible)
or LWV Spartanburg County (not tax deductible)
To: Alice Claggett, Treasurer
      193 Briarcreek Road
      Spartanburg, SC 29301
OR
Go to our Centennial Celebration page and click on the Donate button to pay by credit card via PayPal.  

Thank you all!


VOTE411 Is Up and Working!
The LWV Voter's Guide, Vote411.org, will show you the candidates on your ballot - you just enter your street address to see what you will be voting on in the June 9 Primary.  Each candidate is asked to enter their general information and to give answers to questions supplied by the local Leagues.  In this way, you can compare the candidates as you decide which one to vote for.  Several Leagues in South Carolina enter this data.  For example, LWV Charleston enters the statewide US Senate races as well as their local races.  The US House of Representative races are done by different local Leagues.  Each League working on VOTE411 does their county and city races.  Our Spartanburg League has been working on VOTE411 since 2018.  Please do go to Vote411.org to see the races and candidates you will be voting on in the Primary. 

Absentee voting has started.  You can vote by mail now - call the Spartanburg County Registration and Elections Office at 864-596-2549 or request an application to vote by mail on SCvotes.org.  In person absentee voting started on Monday, May 11.

If you see a candidate that hasn't responded, reach out to them to ask why they did not want their information included in Vote411. For candidates that have completed their info, please connect with them to thank them for providing the information voters need to make an informed decision! If you get feedback that our Vote411 Team needs to hear, please email lwvspartanburg@gmail.com.


State League News
Here are some ways our State League has been active in making democracy work in the past few days:  

• Read the LWV State League op-ed in The State op-ed on May 7,  "It's time to give every South Carolina voter the chance to vote safely by mail"
• Watch Lynn Teague, our State LWV Lobbyist, in this interview on ETV's "This Week In South Carolina" on May 8.  Here's the link:  Lynn is in the last 8 or so minutes of the video.  
• You can read more about the great things local Leagues are doing across the state in this year's LWV SC Council Handbook.  If you have trouble with the link, go to the "For League Members" section of LWVSC.org, then click "Council 2020" and select "Council Handbook."  Leagues reported their activities for the year for the State Council meeting in May.

We Will Celebrate 100 years of the LWV all of February - take a look at all the activities to celebrate!

Sunday, February 2, 2020, 2:30-5:30 pm - Iron Jawed Angels screening
The Spartanburg League is a co-sponsor of a showing of Iron Jawed Angels, a film about the suffrage movement.  The film will be screened on Sunday, February 2, 2:30-5:30, in Daniel Recital Hall on the campus of Converse College. 

Thursday, February 6, 2020, 6:00 pm - Determined to Soar Art Exhibit
Painter Nancy Corbin will focus on the resilient and collaborative nature of women.  You will want to see these gorgeous paintings.  Nancy will speak at 6:00 about her work.  Converse College, Milliken Art Gallery.  Reception 6:30-8:00 pm

Thursday, February 13, 2020, 7:00 pm - Voices in American Art
Presented  by the Johnson Collection, at Wofford College: Dr. Evie Terrono, Professor of Art History, challenges her students to see the vital intersection between ideas of American exceptionalism, and understandings of race, gender and politics in material culture and fine art.  The presentation will be in the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts on the Wofford Campus.

Friday, February 14, 2020, 12-2:00 pm - Our Birthday - 100 Years!
On our 100th Birthday, we will get ourselves a cup of coffee or tea and toast the LWV - and ourselves!   Then we will act - writing postcards to our legislators telling them our state needs Fair Maps. Spill The Beans, 174 E. Main Street, Spartanburg (In the Aug Smith Building).

Monday, February 17, 2020, 7:00 pm - The Life of Viola Desmond
This lecture on the life of Canadian civil rights activist Viola Desmond is an event that may be of interest to League members and friends.  Join us as John Abercrombie presents a lecture on the life of Viola Desmond, who is the face on the Canadian $10 bill.  The presentation will be at 7 pm in the Hoechst-Celanese Room (downstairs) of the Spartanburg County Public Library.

February 20, 2020  - 7:00 pm - A Special Announcement
Yes, this is a change of day and time.  It is also the evening of the usual Art Walk which many of our League people enjoy.  We will say this - if you like the Art Walk, we think you are going to be very happy if you get over to the Library to the League gathering for the Big Announcement at 7 pm in the Barrett Room of the Spartanburg County Public Library. 

Ever wondered how people get into public office?

Ever thought about the importance of public service and the folks who serve?

Then join The League of Women Voters of Spartanburg County on Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 8:30-noon at Spartanburg Community College Downtown Campus (220 E. Kennedy Street, Spartanburg) to learn how to throw your hat in the ring for both appointed and elected public offices. This non-partisan workshop is open to the public. It's free, but please register so we can be fully prepared. Follow the EventBrite link here or on our Facebook events page @lwvspartanburg.

In the past two years, there have been at least 10 elected offices in Spartanburg that were filled without any opposition since only one candidate filed to run for each of those offices. Currently there are 25 vacancies on various appointed boards and commissions in the City of Spartanburg alone. “The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government,’ states League President Mary Ann Deku, “and this workshop will educate and inform the citizens on the steps to become engaged in local government.”

Sponsored by the Spartanburg Herald Journal, the event features experienced politicians and other experts to give the basics of gaining office and its importance to our community. Hope Blackley, District Director for Congressman William Timmons, is the keynote speaker while Kara Davis of USC Upstate’s Metropolitan Studies Institute; Alan Jenkins, Spartanburg Mayor Pro-Tem; Karen Mitchell, League President-elect; and Angela Viney, Commissioner of Public Works, will provide additional perspective and guidance on available appointed and elective offices, processes and campaigning insights.

Henry Laye will be the guest speaker at the League of Women Voters Spartanburg County at 7 pm, May 9, at the Spartanburg County Public Libraries Headquarters. Laye, Director of the Spartanburg County Office of Voter Registration and Elections, will speak about this year’s municipal election calendar, pending legislation regarding changes to voting machines, poll worker residency requirements, the need for poll workers and poll managers, and other voting and election matters. The program is free and open to the public.