 | | OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Jerrie Champlin
VP-ORGANIZATION
Connie Born
VP-PROGRAM
Daphne Spraitzar
VP-VOTERS SERVICE
Laraine Henchal
SECRETARY
Ada Conlan
TREASURER
Roxanna Deane
DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP
Gloria Suarez Sasser
DIRECTOR, PUBLICITY
Montana Rindahl
DIRECTOR, YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT
Vacant
CHAIR, NOMINATING
COMITTEE
Robin Engel
Interested in doing more
to empower voters
and defend democracy?
Board Members Needed!
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Calendar
WHAT: IDEA Forum Hosts
Survey Results Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, March 31, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: McKenna Center
New Braunfels, TX 78130
WHAT: Circle Arts Theatre Benefit Fundraiser
Clue On Stage
WHEN: Saturday, April 2, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Circle Arts Theatre
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Purchase tickets: Jan Estes 830-625-7004
WHAT: GOTV at New Braunfels Farmers Market
WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 9 a.m. - 1p.m.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
VDRS needed, contact Laraine Henchal, voterservices@lwvcomal.org
WHAT: GOTV at Das Rec
WHEN: mid-April, date and times TBD
New Braunfels, TX 78130
VDRS needed, contact Laraine Henchal, voterservices@lwvcomal.org
WHAT: A New Approach to Water Conservation
WHEN: Monday, April 18, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Zoom or Facebook Live
WHAT: Headwaters Earth Day Celebration
WHEN: Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Headwaters on the Comal
New Braunfels, TX 78130
VDRS needed, contact Laraine Henchal, voterservices@lwvcomal.org
| | | | Welcome New Members
Graciela Munoz
New Braunfels
Lisa Rupp
Spring Branch
Most people join the League
because they are asked.
Ask a friend! | | | | From The President
You may have read about the low voter turnout and the high number of rejected vote-by-mail applications and ballots during the primary elections. The League is continuing its pushback against the new election laws that led to this result with lawsuits and with our grassroots work to empower voters. We need to stay energized and focused on defending democracy and we need you, our members. Thanks to our member volunteers and community partners, we were able to reach more voters than in past midterm years during this primary election season and will continue our activities for the May elections and runoff, and the 2022 midterm elections in the fall. Volunteer and/or share ideas for additional community events/activities Contact Us.
Last year, the New Braunfels Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness (IDEA) Forum was established to examine racial, economic and social inequities, and citizen access issues; to promote citizen dialogue and cooperation, and to develop solutions for a lasting understanding of all groups within the community. The Forum sent out a survey to engage the community in an initial discussion about diversity. On March 31, 6:30 p.m. at the McKenna Center, the Forum is holding a public meeting to discuss the survey results and how they will inform the work of the group moving forward. We encourage all area residents to attend. The presentation of survey results will also be live-streamed. For more information, go to NB IDEA Forum.
April 8-10, six Comal Area delegates will join Leaguers from across Texas at the 2022 Biennial Convention in Austin. See more about how you can participate even if you are unable to attend on the LWV Texas Convention page. Please contact me, if you have any input to share with the delegates.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the April 2 Benefit and at our 2022 Annual Meeting, Wednesday, May 11!
Jerrie Champlin
|  | | |  | | SUPPORT TWO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
WITH EACH PURCHASE!
Saturday, April 2, the annual Circle Arts Theatre Benefit Performance for the LWV-Comal Area returns! All proceeds will help the League empower voters and defend democracy in the 2022 midterm elections, and your purchase supports community theatre while providing a fun evening out for you, your family, friends and neighbors.
This year, the play is Clue OnStage, a mix of the iconic board game and the cult classic movie which features Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard. It creates the perfect murder mystery that will keep you guessing all the way to the last second. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at Circle Arts Theatre, 124 Elizabeth Ave., New Braunfels, TX 78130, and is a family friendly comedy suitable for ages 13 and up.
The mission of Citrcle Arts is to entertain, educate, and inspire our community through exceptional theatre arts. The theatre also offers K.I.D.s Klasses in Drama to encourage self-discovery and build self-confidence, while teaching the discipline of theatre to 2nd through 9th graders, and an Inner Circle Company for talented high school students who work together to bring the experience of live theatre to elementary and middle schools.
Tickets are $25 each. To purchase, call Jan Estes at 830-625-7004 (please leave a message to record your call if Jan is unavailable), contact any Comal Area Board member or to purchase online contact Circle Arts Theatre .
| | VOTER SERVICES
FEBRUARY 2022
In addition to distributing 2,000 printed Voter Guides and 2,500 election information handouts in the past two months, LWV-Comal Area reached over 200,000 area residents with digital advertising in local media and over 5,000 with social media posts and the website during February.
The LWV Texas reports that during this primary election period, 145,112 Texas voters compared candidates at VOTE411.org. According to LWVUS VOTE411 Manager Megan Brown, "this is a 30% increase over the primary period in 2018". We hope to have VOTE411 usage numbers for the Comal Area to report in the April newsletter.
(pictured: V-P for Voter Services Laraine Henchal distributing Voter Guides at Das Rec in New Braunfels)
| | |  | Join LWV-Comal Area for two Earth Day events in April. On Monday, April 18, Managing Director at Headwaters at the Comal Nancy Pappas will discuss "Headwaters...Where It Begins: A New Approach to Water Conservation" at 7 p.m online at Zoom ( ID: 860 9865 9369, passcode: 673106 or join meeting ) and Facebook Live @LWVComal. On Saturday, April 23, we will have a booth at Headwater's Fourth Annual Earth Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..
Headwaters at the Comal is the New Braunfels Utilities' legacy conservation project located at 333 E. Klingemann St. , New Braunfels, TX 78130. Learn more about this "true intersection of the story of water and history in Texas" and how it is a place "where people can learn, have fun, and experience history and nature" that is "strengthening the relationship between community and nature by showcasing the significance of the Comal Springs" at either event. Voter registration and nonpartisan election information for the May 7 elections and the May 24 runoff will be available at our Festival Booth. VDRs are needed. To volunteer contact Laraine Henchal, Contact Us-Voter Services.
| Reflections, Part 3, The Local League
by Connie Born, Vice-President for Organization
As a subsidiary of the Texas League, LWV-Comal Area is also a 501(c) 3 nonprofit political organization. In 1993, eight women including current members Gloria Suarez Sasser, Darlene Hicks and Jan Estes were interested in forming a local LWV and when an initial meeting was announced, 75 women attended. After completing the many requirements, the League of Women Voters-Comal Area (LWV-CA) was established later that year.
Every local LWV shares the mission, vision, values and nonpartisan policy of the national and state Leagues as well as a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity and inclusion are central to the organization's current and future success in engaging all households, communities and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy. The local, state and national Leagues of Women Voters never support or oppose any political party or candidate at any level of government. The nonpartisan policy defines the limits for members and board members. Non-Board members are encouraged to be active as individuals in government and the political party of their choice but they participate as private citizens and do not speak for the League.
Local Leagues are required to have a president, treasurer and secretary on their Boards of Directors. Other positions may be established to assist in meeting their goals. LWV-CA's Board of Directors includes a Vice-President for Voters Services, Vice-President for Program, Vice-President for Organization, Membership Director, Publicity Director and Youth Empowerment Director. Committees and working teams are set up as needed and have included a Voter Services Team and a Fundraising Committee. Each League's bylaws are legal documents that govern the internal management of the organization. Changes to the bylaws are submitted to the State League for approval before being voted on by the membership.
The League of Women Voters is a grassroots organization which you join as a member of the local League. You also become a member of the state and national Leagues and the current $60 individual and $90 household dues you pay are allocated to each level as follows:
LWVUS collects $32 per member and $16 for additional household members
LWVTexas collects $22 per member and $11 for additional household members
LWV-CA retains $6 for each member.
The national and state Leagues provide a voice for the local Leagues at the federal and state levels, the VOTE411.org platform, a variety of league management resources and guidance, and financial support in the form of grants and reimbursement for some expenses.
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