League of Women Voters-Rye, Rye Brook & Port Chester

Debbie Reisner, President

ANNUAL MEETING & CLOSING PARTY

Friday June 14^th at 7:30

Join us for our Annual Meeting followed immediately by a relaxed celebration of an informed and active electorate. Spouses and friends are most welcome.

Agenda:

·       Attend to Business Promptly and Quickly*

·       Election of Officers and Directors

·       Student Inside Albany Scholarship Recipients

·       Pot Luck Wine and Hors d’oeuvres

*Only League members in good standing as of noon June 14 are eligible to vote

THE CELEBRATING IS FOR EVERYONE

Home of Debbie and Hunter Reisner

21 Norman Avenue, Rye, NY

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Our mission:

To encourage the informed and active participation of people in our

government, regardless of party affiliation and to increase understanding of policy issues that will impact our lives and our communities.

The fashion in which we interpret this directive and the model we have adopted to put those ideals into action makes us somewhat unique among Leagues in this nation.

Our program is particularly dedicated to voter education and civic engagement. We do not advocate. In other words, we are passionate about people understanding the issues and the candidates for whom they are being asked to vote. But we interpret non-partisan as meaning we do not pick sides. The board of our organization and indeed our membership consists of Democrats, Republicans, Progressives and Conservatives, Independence Party members and Independents. We can debate issues vigorously but when it comes to running this League, we check our views at the door and work together to illuminate the issues, to engage our youth and make sure candidates for public office have a fair and even playing field from which to present themselves and their views to the community.

When our League identifies issues of vital public concern but not well understood and in need of discussion, we seek out the most credible experts we can find from as broad an array of perspectives as possible to present and discuss. This year, both issue forums we sponsored were adopted as models and emulated by other Leagues across the state.

We are convinced that it is the inclusive nature of our approach that is enabling us to buck the national trend and grow steadily for the past five years. It infuses a sense of relevance and an excitement to the activities of our group. It certainly makes it fun.

It is the diversity of views, and perspectives and the stew made possible by contributions from a wide range of members that has created the relevant, exciting and vital organization that this little League of Women Voters – Rye, Rye Brook & Port Chester has become.

TOOLS FOR CHANGE 2012

Students Present 'Tools for Change' to Rye Town Board

by Luke Lavoie from The Daily Port Chester.Com 04/17/2012

PORT CHESTER, N.Y. – Twenty-three students from Rye Neck High School, Blind Brook High School in Rye Brook and Port Chester High School participating in Rye Town's "Tools for Change" program went in front of the Rye Town Board on Tuesday evening to present policy recommendations from the group's final project.

The voluntary program, in its third year, is a college level seminar course that allows students to form real world policy recommendations by employing research methods and analytics used by social scientists. The seminar is taught injunction by Duke University Professor William Tobin and Rye Neck High School Teacher Valerie Feit and funded by the Town of Rye and Building Community Bridges, a non-for-profit founded by Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin.

"It teaches students how to solve real world problems by giving them the tools and skills to attack it," Tobin said. "The most innovative, creative and practical solutions come out of inclusive and diverse groups like this." According to Tobin, this year's project about implementation strategies for social media in local government was created, designed and framed by the students. "The students led the seminar from day one," Tobin said.

The presentation delivered by select members of the 23 student groups recommended social media policy changes based on qualitative survey research compiled over the 2011-12 school year. Among the recommendations put forth by the students were the creation of a student led consultancy and webinars to acclimate residents to social media.

While many view social media as a recreational device, many of the students stressed the value a strong social media presence can have. "I want people to understand that you can use the Internet to help your community," Port Chester High School junior Kyle Thomas said.

After the presentation, students addressed comments and questions from members of the public and the Rye Town Board. Carvin thoroughly expressed his desire to follow through on the recommendations put forth by the students." It's fundamentally important that we execute on these recommendations," Carvin said.

Welcome from the League President