FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK
MAY-JUNE 2024
Today, I write this as the garage sale is in full swing outside. We’re having a steady stream of customers, getting more Citizen Not Politician (CNP) signatures, distributing TRYs and, hopefully, making a bit of money for the League. So many Leaguers pitched-in to sort and price all the amazing stuff, which many of you and your friends donated, and are working the sale now. It’s been a jam-packed week, we’re very tired, but we’re almost finished. I think we’re adding to the League’s treasury, and it’s been good PR.
Speaking of the CNP petition, we’re almost finished collecting signatures. The campaign wants petitions turned in by the end of this month, except for a few events planned in early June. We’ll be at the Old West End Festival on June 1 with a table at the “Happeningest House at the Fest,” 2439 Scottwood, to register voters and get the last of our signatures. It’s a great opportunity to visit the festival and participate in the events at the Happeningest House – music, food, drink and all around fun, not to mention meeting voters, registering others and promoting the CNP amendment. So, volunteer! We’ll be there all day and into the night and will need to work in shifts.
You’ve all received the Annual Meeting information by now, so I hope you are making plans to come on June 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Quenched and Tempered Brewing Co., 1210 Jackson St., Toledo. You may remember this venue as the location of our very successful new member orientation; we’re looking forward to the same kind of open, easy and fun experience we had then.
The Annual Meeting is the culmination of the current fiscal year and the beginning of the next. We will be electing a new slate of officers and board members, voting on the advocacy program and approving the budget. All three of these documents are available on the members’ side of the website for you to read and be ready to vote on and/or discuss, as you see necessary.
Another reason to attend the Annual Meeting is to meet our new intern, Anna Voster. She is a rising senior at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, working toward a BA in Democracy and Justice Studies. She will be spending the summer with us, helping all our committees with all of our projects and learning about the League and Toledo (not to mention Ohio politics). We hope you will give her a big Toledo League welcome and learn more about her, as well.
This is my last letter to you as president, because a somewhat new team will be elected at the Annual Meeting. For my part, it has been a busy, informative and sometimes excruciating year. We’ve accomplished a lot, but there is so much more to do. With your continued help, input and
support, our League will continue its non-partisan mission of defending democracy through voter registration, participation and education.
--Ann Fabiszak Payne, LWV-TLC President