LWVGB Observer Corps to report on
Greater Birmingham Government
and Public Affairs

Thurs., Nov. 20, 2008
6:30 p.m.
Homewood Library

At the November Membership Meeting, LWVGB members and guests will get insight on the happenings at the meetings of various Jefferson County boards and commissions that are monitored by the LWVGB Observer Corps. These observers are able to discuss much that newspapers do not cover.  The observers have insight gained from years of actually watching and listening as officials conduct the business of the people.

Hear the latest from those who regularly attend meetings of the city, county, water, personnel, and transit-related boards. For instance, you’ll hear more about:

• The county’s financial problems
• Changes that may occur with a new county commissioner
• The mayor’s latest plans for the city
• Reorganization of the Personnel Board
• A new director for the BJCTA
• The Mobility Matters Project for I-65/US 31
• New board members, bonds and a rate increase at the BWWB

New League members are especially invited to come and learn more about the observer program. The public is also welcomed to attend. For further information and questions, call 205 583-5000.

Read more about this and other current LWVGB activities in the

NOVEMBER 2008 ISSUE OF
THE VOTER
(Newsletter of the LWVGB)
NOW ONLINE

CALLING ALL MEMBERS TO
LWVGB VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Leaguers help make democracy work!

LWVGB is very busy in the Greater Birmingham community right now, and we are making a difference! We need the active participation of all Birmingham League members to keep up this good work.

Through the League's Education Fund, our members are very active in voter service - registering citizens to vote and educating them about the election process.

In other projects, strictly independent of our Education Fund work, we advocate for League positions, locally and, as necessary, in the state legislature. Of course, we are always strictly non-partisan in all of our activities.

Would you volunteer a small amount of time? We have several projects that require only a few hours and the schedule is flexible. Fit a few volunteer hours into your schedule. Please look at the 2008-2009 LWVGB Projects list. How can you help?

The League and the good work that we do is dependent on your service and your dedication to League principals. Remember, the League works because you contribute. Thank you for all that you have done in the past and in advance for accepting new volunteer opportunities!

    LWVGB Meetings & Events 
of Community Interest -- In Review
Views expressed by the speakers do not
necessarily reflect the views of the League.

Judicial Selection Forum
"Is Change Needed in How We Fill Our Courts?"

October 7, 2008
5:30 – 7:00 pm
The Cumberland School of Law:
Moot Court Room

This was a panel discussion moderated by former Governor Albert Brewer with the following distinguished speakers:

• Sue Bell Cobb, Chief Justice, Alabama Supreme Court
• Justice Harold See, Justice, Alabama Supreme Court, 
• Bill Clark of Redden Mills & Clark, LLP
• Demetrius C. Newton, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Alabama House of Representatives, and Representative for Jefferson County, 53rd Legislative District
• Ed Haden of Balch & Bingham, LLP

This community-wide event educated the community about the varying positions on the important topic of judicial selection.

Co-sponsors

• Birmingham Bar Assoc. Judicial Selection Forum & Civil Courts Procedures Committee
• League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham

Alabama Open Meetings Act

Felicia Mason, Executive Director of the Alabama Press Association (APA), was the featured speaker at the LWVGB membership meeting in March, 2008. Ms. Mason presented an overview of the Alabama Open Meetings Act (OMA), passed in 2005, and shared information on the work done to create this piece of legislation. The APA was central to this work, engaging members of local and state governmental bodies and school boards for input into and review of the proposed legislation.

The League of Women Voters of Alabama was also a staunch supporter of the proposed legislation. LWVAL testified on related issues before the House Judiciary Committee and recognized APA with a public service award for its work on OMA.

A copy of the OMA can be accessed online at www.ago.state.al.us/documents/open_meeting.pdf. Additional information about APA can be found at www.alabamapress.org .

 
Felicia Mason, Executive Director of APA addresses March meeting of LWVGB



AlaBar Preisent-Elect addresses judicial selection in Alabama
At the annual LWVGB Holiday Luncheon on December 1, 2007, Mark White, President-Elect of the Alabama Bar Association (AlaBar), spoke to League members on the critical need to reform judicial selection in Alabama. AlaBar advocates for merit selection of judges with retention by vote of the people. The state bar will advocate for legislation supporting this position in the 2008 General Session of the AL Legislature.

Birmingham Mayoral Candidates presented their views and vision before a full house

Official Election Results of the
Birmingham Mayoral Election
Oct. 9, 2007

On Tuesday evening, September 18, each of the ten candidates running for mayor of Birmingham told citizens why he or she should be elected mayor of the Magic City. It was standing room only as over 250 people watched the forum live at WorkPlay, a popular Southside nightspot. Each candidate was allowed one and one half minutes to give an opening statement. The candidates were then asked a series of questions on such issues as education, crime and economic development. Candidates could take up to  one minute to answer each of the questions.

It's a Thick Book

LWVGB members gathered at the Homewood Library on March 29, 2007 for a screening of the new documentary by Lewis Lehe, “It’s a Thick Book.”

Using wry humor and serious research, “It’s a Thick Book” traces the history of our voluminous 1901 Alabama State Constitution from its shady inception to its current tangle of almost 800 amendments.  If you missed our viewing, check the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform website at www.constitutionalreform.org for information on other screenings and how to order a copy of the DVD.

View the movie trailer. View It's a Thick Book (full movie - 48 min.)

Global Climate Change
February 22, 2007 [Note:  The LWV of the United States (LWVUS) states, "Global climate change is one of the most serious threats to the environment, health and economy of our nation." and "The League believes that now is the time to act on global climate change." Read the full statement of the LWV of the United States on Global Warming. The LWV of Greater Birmingham supports the positions of the LWVUS.]   Dr. Joyce Lanning retired from UAB after a career in Health Care Organization and Policy in the School of Public Health. Although she says she stayed busy after retiring, she had no “primary cause” until she saw the movie, “An Inconvenient Truth”.

Dr. Lanning told us that this issue engaged both her head and her heart.  It began after being “blown away” by the movie. After visiting the internet site www.theclimateproject.org she signed up for a presenter training session in Nashville. These two-day training programs familiarize volunteers with the science of climate change, equip them with skills and materials for presenting the program and add them to the online community that updates lecturers with the latest information.

Dr. Lanning is aware that some people have strong feelings about Al Gore, so stipulated that the story is about the message, not the messenger.  The message is: Global Warming is Real.

Although the natural greenhouse effect has kept us comfortable for about 8,000 years, human activity is disrupting the natural systems that disperse heat back into space.  Because the Polar Regions serve as the earth’s air conditioners, a 5 degree increase in overall global temperature would equal a 12 degree increase at the poles.

In the United States, the per capita average carbon dioxide “footprint” per year is 20.2 metric tons.  The goal of The Climate Project is to help individuals achieve a carbon neutral life style. In addition to resources available at www.theclimateproject.org, Dr Lanning recommended a book written by David Gershon, “Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds--Be Part of the Global Warming Solution!” 


Shelby County Uses Professional Manager for Good Government
January 25, 2007 On Thursday, January 25, members of the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham and visitors heard first-hand about the advantages of a professional county manager form of government. Shelby County has operated under this system since 1993. Speaking to the League were Shelby County Commissioner Ted Crockett and Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock who explained the county's operations and division of responsibilities. They reported that the efficiencies of this type of government enabled Shelby County to eliminate the heavy debt with which it was burdened at one time.

The LWVGB believes that Jefferson County should hire a professional county manager. LWVGB's long-standing position on this issue states, in part,

"Administrative responsibility must be lodged in a single office accountable to the total electorate... (T)he League recommends the adoption of a county manager form of government for Jefferson County. Under this form, the commission is the legislative and policy-making body. It sets the course of county government, enacts laws and allocates funds to implement its policies. It appoints a professional manager to carry out its policies and administer county operations under its direction. The manager should be a qualified professional trained in public administration or possessing equivalent managerial credentials." 

Read the League's complete position on Jefferson County Government. 

John Archibald, writer for The Birmingham News, reported on this meeting in his Sunday column and reflected on the advantages that the county manager system could have for Jefferson County. Read "Big changes must begin with power" (The Birmingham News, January 28, 2007, page 13A).

• Inform you, the citizen, about public issues.
• Encourage your active participation in the democratic process.
• Advocate for legislation and public policy that supports the League Program.