May Newsletter – Fredericksburg Area League of Women Voters

May Newsletter

Fredericksburg Area League of Women Voters
ANNUAL MEETING | YEAR-END REPORTS | NEW BYLAWS
Published May 2nd 2025

UPDATED ANNUAL MEETING DETAILS

Dear League Members,

We are pleased to invite you to the League of Women Voters of Fredericksburg Area Annual Meeting. This is an important gathering where we’ll review our accomplishments, vote on key items, and discuss the future.

The meeting will take place in the Fredericksburg Public Library on the third floor in Room Three at 11am.
The details are below, please read them carefully.

Meeting Details
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025 Time: 11:00 AM Location: Room Three, Fredericksburg Branch, Central Rappahannock Regional Library – 1201 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Format: In-person and virtual via Zoom Refreshments will be served!

If you plan to attend in person OR by Zoom,
Please RSVP by Friday, May 2nd by clicking the button below

Zoom Meeting Details

If you’re unable to join in person, a Zoom option will be available.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87129177049?pwd=lKRdJjgk4hF1UuZYu2zDbbviRzqCAA.1
Meeting ID: 871 2917 7049
Passcode: 123912

RSVP HERE

Meeting Agenda
Secretary’s 2025 Final Report – VOTE Treasurer’s 2025 Final Report – VOTE Year-End Reports: – Voter Services – Ranked Choice Voting Presentation of 2025-2026 Budget – VOTE Nominations from the Floor Election – VOTE Review and Approval of the Bylaws Communications Report Questions Adjournment Refreshments

We hope you can join us for this annual gathering. It’s always wonderful to connect with our members in person!

Warm regards,

Cathie Braman
President, League of Women Voters of Fredericksburg Area

AMENDED BYLAWS TO BE VOTED ON

At the Annual Meeting, members will vote on proposed amendments to our League’s bylaws.

Complete text with highlighted changes:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17C6YFOzZ6yB3NxCIHKYTtG3pwxjFd-JF/view?usp=sharing

Voting will take place during the Annual Meeting on May 3\

Requires majority vote for adoption Please review the proposed bylaws prior to the meeting.

LINK TO BYLAWS

UPDATED REPORTS

TREASURER’S REPORT 2024-2025
This has been a year of change in the way we are to become a member of the LWV and pay our dues. Becoming a member and paying dues are to be done via a portal (link is on our website) that is at the LWV national site. (If you must pay by check that needs to come to me and made out to LWV and I then need to send it in.) Dues are distributed three ways: to national, to state league and then to the local league. Previously we paid national and state dues once a year.Because of the way payment of dues were handled in the past (I’ve written extensively on this in past newsletters) we end the year/start off the 2025-2026 year with a beginning balance of $114.84. Working with that figure and estimates as to funds we’ll bring in below is a Draft Budget. This is very rudimentary. We need to get through this next year, find out exactly how much we’ll still need to pay National and State and must do fund raising.

APRIL SECRETARY’S REPORT
Minutes of the April 14, 2025 LWVFRA General Meeting on Zoom Present: Cathie Braman, Debbie Combest, Sue Botts, Theo Blackwell, Gayle Terry, Brenda Hooper, Nancy Reuter, Karen Griffin, and Leslie Raterman The meeting was brought to order by the president, Cathie Braman. Agenda: By Laws: Karen presented the By Laws committee report. She led the discussion and no changes were made. Nominating Report: Karen and Millissa Gary presented the nominating committee’s report which includes new officers: Robert Choplin, vice president; Debbie Combest, treasurer; Theo Blackwell, Communications Director; and Robert Choplin, Voter Services Director. Election of these officers/directors will be done at the annual meeting May 3. Cathie indicated she is unable to continue as president and very much needs someone to step up as president. Karen noted that the president can appoint directors, as needed. Secretary’s report for March meeting: read aloud. Two corrections were made. Treasurer: Our league owes the national league $944 which will be paid immediately. At the present time, there are no funds to pay for yearly expenses such as insurance, website, and Zoom access. Discussion followed about whether to maintain the use of a US Post Office box at a cost of $200/year. This issue will be considered at a later date. Voter Services: Sue summarized voter registration efforts at James Monroe High School the previous week. Thirteen new registrations were completed. Federal judiciary study: Cathie announced that the report will be presented at the state conference in June. Our league’s answers to the consensus questions which we worked on March 29 were submitted. State LWV-VA Conference June 13-l5: LWVFRA delegates will be Debbie Combest, Theo Blackwell, and Nancy Reuter. LWVFRA Annual meeting: will be at 10 a..m. May 3 in a conference room at the University of Mary Washington. More details about the location and parking will be sent out to members by email. Refreshments will be served following the meeting. All members are strongly encouraged to be present to show support for our new officers. Adjournment at 6:45 p.m. Next meeting will be the annual meeting. Respectfully submitted, Sue Botts, secretary

APRIL SECRETARY’S REPORT

Minutes of the April 14, 2025 LWVFRA General Meeting on Zoom
Present: Cathie Braman, Debbie Combest, Sue Botts, Theo Blackwell, Gayle Terry, Brenda Hooper, Nancy Reuter, Karen Griffin, and Leslie Raterman

The meeting was brought to order by the president, Cathie Braman.

Agenda:

By Laws: Karen presented the By Laws committee report. She led the discussion and no changes were made.

Nominating Report: Karen and Millissa Gary presented the nominating committee’s report which includes new officers: Robert Choplin, vice president; Debbie Combest, treasurer; Theo Blackwell, Communications Director; and Robert Choplin, Voter Services Director.

Election of these officers/directors will be done at the annual meeting May 3. Cathie indicated she is unable to continue as president and very much needs someone to step up as president. Karen noted that the president can appoint directors, as needed.

Secretary’s report for March meeting: read aloud. Two corrections were made.

Treasurer: Our league owes the national league $944 which will be paid immediately. At the present time, there are no funds to pay for yearly expenses such as insurance, website, and Zoom access. Discussion followed about whether to maintain the use of a US Post Office box at a cost of $200/year. This issue will be considered at a later date.

Voter Services: Sue summarized voter registration efforts at James Monroe High School the previous week. Thirteen new registrations were completed.

Federal judiciary study: Cathie announced that the report will be presented at the state conference in June. Our league’s answers to the consensus questions which we worked on March 29 were submitted.

State LWV-VA Conference June 13-l5: LWVFRA delegates will be Debbie Combest, Theo Blackwell, and Nancy Reuter.

LWVFRA Annual meeting: will be at 10 a..m. May 3 in a conference room at the University of Mary Washington. More details about the location and parking will be sent out to members by email. Refreshments will be served following the meeting.

All members are strongly encouraged to be present to show support for our new officers.

Adjournment at 6:45 p.m. Next meeting will be the annual meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Sue Botts, secretary

REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE League Business Meeting Virtual April 14, 2025
Nominating Committee Report Chairman: Millisa L. Gary – Chairperson Karen F. Griffin – Co-Chairperson Per the LWVFRA Bylaws, election of Officers and Board of Directors (2) shall take place at the Annual Meeting. The following Officers and Directors shall be elected: VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER DIRECTOR OF VOTER SERVICES DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS The Nominating Committee Chair reached out to several members of the LWVFRA to discern interest in the positions to be filled. In addition, a Sign-up Genius survey was sent to each member as a second form of gauging interest. As a result of the information the Committee was able to obtain, the follow constitutes the recommendation of the Committee and slate of Officers and Directors for the 2025 election year. Vice President – Robert Choplin Treasurer – Debbie Combest Director of Voter Registration – Robert Choplin Director of Communications – Theodore Blackwell The Bylaws of the LWVFRA permit nominations to be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting, provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained. In addition, the election shall be by ballot, except that if there is only one nominee for an office, it shall be by voice vote. A majority vote shall constitute election. Signed, Millisa L. Gary April 14, 2025

REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

League Business Meeting
Virtual

April 14, 2025

Nominating Committee Report

Chairman: Millisa L. Gary – Chairperson
Karen F. Griffin – Co-Chairperson

Per the LWVFRA Bylaws, election of Officers and Board of Directors (2) shall take place at the Annual Meeting.

The following Officers and Directors shall be elected:

VICE PRESIDENT
TREASURER
DIRECTOR OF VOTER SERVICES
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Nominating Committee Chair reached out to several members of the LWVFRA to discern interest in the positions to be filled. In addition, a Sign-up Genius survey was sent to each member as a second form of gauging interest.

As a result of the information the Committee was able to obtain, the follow constitutes the recommendation of the Committee and slate of Officers and Directors for the 2025 election year.

Vice President – Robert Choplin
Treasurer – Debbie Combest
Director of Voter Registration – Robert Choplin
Director of Communications – Theodore Blackwell

The Bylaws of the LWVFRA permit nominations to be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting, provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained. In addition, the election shall be by ballot, except that if there is only one nominee for an office, it shall be by voice vote. A majority vote shall constitute election.

Signed, Millisa L. Gary April 14, 2025

LWV Virginia Convention
June 13-15, 2025

2371 Carl D Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Fredericksburg Convention Center,

Theme: Women Elect and Be Elected

Cost:

Cost $165 per person – includes two breakfasts, lunch, break, Saturday night dinner.

Hotel:

The official hotel for the Convention is the Hilton Garden Inn: 1060 Hospitality Ln, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

The rate is $139 single, $149 double plus taxes. You can use this LINK to register

Or call hotel reservations directly at 540-548-8822, and mention group code LOWV25 or League of Women Voters.

Hotel reservations close at 5p May 20, 2025.

The hotel is about three hundred feet from the convention center and easily walkable. However, the Convention Center offers free parking. Therefore, if you need to drive between the two, you will have no problem finding parking at the Convention Center.

Please note before you register for Convention.

The Convention is open to all members of LWV Virginia – BUT unless you have been designated as a voting delegate by your president do not check the box saying you are a delegate. Check with your local president if you want to be a delegate. You are not a delegate unless designated by your local president.

If you pay $165, your Saturday dinner ticket IS included. However, we are selling tickets for dinner to people who are not coming to the convention. So, you may bring a guest to dinner and that would be $55 more. Do NOT pay the $55 if you do not have a guest and are paying $165 already.

There is an OPTIONAL Tour at the end of Convention of the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail. There is an additional $25 fee if you want to take this tour.

You must register for Convention AND book your hotel room if you need one. Registering for Convention does not give you a hotel room unless you contact the hotel.

Use this LINK to register for the Convention:
Convention Registration closes June 2, 2025

Working Agenda

June 13, 2025 – Hilton Garden Inn Fredericksburg

4- 7 PM – Registration and dining information – Hilton Garden Inn

Dinner Trolley

6:30 PM – Pick up at the Hilton Garden Inn

Drop offs at two locations featuring the following restaurants:

First Drop off Deutschland DowntownFahrenheit 132La Petite AubergeMellow MushroomRebellion Bourbon BarSendona TaphouseRistorante RenatoHarry’s Ale House
Second Drop off J Brians Tap RoomBello ManzoSammy T’s

8:30 PM – Return to Hilton Garden Inn

Diners make their own reservations: Restaurant information here.

June 14, 2025 – Fredericksburg Convention Center

8:00 – 11:00 AM – Registration  South Lobby

8:00 – 9:00 AM – Breakfast  Ballroom A and C

9:00 – Welcome Cathie Braman, LWV Fredericksburg Area,  President

Ballrooms DEF

Kerry B Devine, Mayor of Fredericksburg

9:30 AM 12:30 PM – Plenary Session

12:30 – 2:00 PM – Lunch  Room   B and C

Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Mary Washington University

2:15 – 3:15 PM – Choice of three breakouts

a. Dr. Rosalyn Cooperman, Mary Washington University Encouraging Reluctant Voters Room A

b. Michelle Moffit, Virginia Civic Engagement Center – Canvassing, Phone Banking – Reach People Where They Are Room F

c. UN and Worldwide Efforts to Encourage Women in Office Room E

3:15 – 3:30 PM – Break   Conference Center Lobby

3:30 – 4:30 P – Transformation Update for all members with Breakouts for Presidents, and Treasurers  Rooms 1 ,2

Tracy Adkison, LWV VA Board Liaison to LWV US

Jane Newell, Strategic Transformation Coordinator, LWV VA

5:00 – 5:30 PM – Resolutions Committee Meeting   – Room A

5:30 PM – Dinner Ballroom B and C

6:30 – 7:30 PM – Showing of the Movie “Black Rosie the Riveters” and presentation by Director and Producer, Gregory Cooke

June 15, 2025 – Fredericksburg Convention Center

8:00 – 9:00 AM – Breakfast with a presentation on Legacy Donations for local leagues. Ballrooms B and C

9:00 AM – Gloria Custalow, Mattaponi Tribe  Ballrooms DEF

9:30 – 12:00 PM – Plenary

Optional Tour – $25

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Civil Rights Tour of Fredericksburg – pick up at Hilton Garden Innhttps://civilrightstrail.com/attraction/the-city-of-fredericksburgs-civil-rights-trail/