| May Newsletter |
| Fredericksburg Area League of Women Voters NEW BYLAWS | ANNUAL MEETING SECRETARY’S REPORT | SURVEY Published May 31nd 2025 |
Dear League Members,
It was lovely to see all of those who could make it to our annual meeting on May 3rd. For anyone who was not able to attend, please see the Secretary’s report below for a detailed account of the meeting. Along with this is a link to our newly ratified bylaws.
We welcome everyone to please visit our redesigned website! (The address has not changed: fredericksburglwv.org). Some pages are still under construction, but please feel free to look around and see what is new. You will notice that we have a new section titled “Posts from Our League” where you can find messages and articles written by our own members. Our Secretary Sue Botts wrote a lovely piece that is up now about why she joined our league! If you have anything you would like to share or any comments about the website please feel free to email Communications Director Theodore Blackwell at lwvfra+theodoreblackwell@gmail.com.
Below you will find photos from our most recent high school registration events at Courtland and Riverbend High Schools attended by Director of Voter Services Robert Choplin and new member Edith Min. If you would like to hear more about these events or volunteer time helping register students, please email lwvfra+robertchoplin@gmail.com.
Finally, you will also find details for the LWV-VA 2025 Convention including registration information and the Agenda. This year’s convention is taking place here in Fredericksburg, the last day to register is JUNE 2ND. Please see the information below for instructions. We are looking for people to help volunteer at a greeting table at the convention on 6/13 evening for the FXBG League. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the form below (or this LINK) to let us know you are interested and to choose from options for a proposed dinner afterward. If you are planning on attending the convention, please complete the same form for a proposed lunch on 6/15 after the convention has concluded.
Thank you!
ANNUAL MEETING SECRETARY’S REPORT
MINUTES of the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FREDERICKSBURG AREA ANNUAL MEETING HELD AT THE RAPPAHANNOCK REGIONAL LIBRARY
May 3, 2025
Present in person: Cathie Braman, Sue Botts, Leslie Raterman, Gayle Terry, Brenda Hooper, Karen Griffin, Theodore Blackwell, Nancy Reuter, Rupert Farley, Tina Pruitt, and guest Maria Lopez.
President Cathie Braman called the meeting to order at 11 a.m. and welcomed members and our guest.
Minutes of the April 14 General meeting: one correction. Officers changed to candidates in paragraph 3. Minutes were approved.
Treasurer’s report: was presented online by Treasurer Debbie Combest. The current bank balance is $114.84.
For 2025: payment to the LWV-VA and LWV-US for 2024 dues will be $1400, plus $100 payments for 1) insurance and website hosting, and 2) Post office box fee. Discussion about how to raise funds for League activities followed. Suggestions included applying for grants at the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region. A committee to work on Funds Development was named: Leslie Raterman, Karen Griffin, and Theodore Blackwell.
Nominating Committee: Karen read the nominations. Theodore was nominated for Vice-President by Nancy, and nomination was seconded by Leslie. Karen moved that uncontested candidates be elected by acclamation. Passed. By acclamation Debbie Combest was elected Treasurer, Robert Choplin was elected Director of Voter Services, and Theodore Blackwell was elected as Communications Director. Gayle, appointed to the tellers committee, read the ballot report: Theodore was elected vice-president.
LWV-VA 2025 Convention: Seven members volunteered to be present to welcome the delegates to the convention on June 13 (4-7) p.m. Cathie will get questions about our League’s responsibilities for the convention answered when she meets with other League presidents.
Report on Ranked Choice Voting: Rupert has been in discussions with a Fredericksburg City Councilman about the possibility of the City Council approving Ranked Choice Voting for the 2027 mayoral and at-large council races. He is seeking the names of neighborhood associations in the city so he can meet with them to gain support for Rank Choice Voting in Fredericksburg. Rupert noted that the city does not need to purchase additional equipment for the RCV process to be used. Rupert will make a presentation about how Ranked Choice Voting at a general meeting in September.
Review and Approval of Bylaws: Rupert moved to ratify the Bylaws and accept the changes in the bylaws, as presented, and as discussed in a previous general meeting. The motion was seconded, followed by brief discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
Communications Report: Theodore shared a preview of the website redevelopment he has been working on. He has explored the possibility of a student chapter of the League of Women Voters at the University of Mary Washington and will continue discussions with university officials.
Leslie Raterman was commended by the group for her tireless efforts in promoting our League on our LWVFRA website.
Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m. Refreshments were served.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Botts, secretary
Voter Services
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, two breaks, 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: https://group.hiltongardeninn.com/fna3pk 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: https://secure.everyaction.com/GIqR4B4lFkKTVGOotV8u5g2 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 Downtown Fahrenheit 132 La Petite Auberge Mellow Mushroom Rebellion Bourbon Bar Sedona Taphouse Ristorante Renato Harry’s Ale House Second Drop off J Brians Tap Room Bello Manzo Sammy T’s 8:30 PM – Return to Hilton Garden Inn June 14, 2025 – Fredericksburg Convention Center 8:00 — 11:00 AM — Registration Conference Center Lobby 8:00 — 9:00 AM — Breakfast Ballroom B and C 9:00 — Welcome Cathie Fisher Braman, LWV Fredericksburg Area, President Ballrooms DEF Kerry B Devine, Mayor of Fredericksburg 9:30 AM 12:30 PM — Plenary Session 11:00 AM — Break Conference Center Lobby 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 Ballroom D b. Michelle Moffit, Virginia Civic Engagement Center — Canvassing, Phone Banking — Reach People Where They Are Ballroom E c. UN and Worldwide Efforts to Encourage Women in Office Ballroom F 3:15 — 3:30 PM — Break Conference Center Lobby 3:30 — 4:30 P — Transformation Update for all members Ballrooms B and C 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 1 5:30 PM — Dinner Ballroom B and C 6:30 — 7:30 PM – Showing of the Movie “Invisible Warriors: African American Women in WW II” 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 Inn https://civilrightstrail.com/attraction/the-city-of-fredericksburgs-civil-rights-trail/ |
