The Art of Democracy
Thursday the 14th is the last day to buy a ticket for our 'Art of Democracy' fundraiser event. Join us on Saturday, September 16th from 3:00-5:00pm at the ArtCentre of Plano to enjoy food and wine, view local art by James Gilbreath, and listen to updates from Plano Mayor John Muns and Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney. Bid in a silent auction to win Rangers & Stars tickets, a wine tasting, and more.
Individual tickets are $35, and registration is required by September 14. Guests are welcome. If you are a member, please log in to the website before registering.
If you or your company or someone you know would like to be a sponsor, please consider donating at the $100, $250, or $500 level. Each level includes tickets and recognition. See the sponsorship options. Simply use the donate button at the top of www.lwvcollin.org and write 'sponsor' in the comment field at checkout. You may use PayPal or send a check to LWV-Collin County, PO Box 866592, Plano, TX 75086.
|  | President's Message
from Janet Imhoff |
Our new League year is starting off with a bang, and I’m so excited about our plans. Our Environmental Justice Program on August 22 was well attended, and the speakers from Downwinders at Risk and the Sierra Club were very interesting and informative. You can view the video here.
Our upcoming September event, The Art of Democracy fundraiser, will be a fun time with food and wine and reports from the mayors of Plano and Frisco. I hope you can be there on September 16 at the Art Center of Plano, 3-5 PM.
Register here.
We are activating our Observer Corps, in which League volunteers watch meetings of our local elected city councils and school boards. The observers will not speak but will report back to the League about important topics discussed or issues brought up by citizens. Be thinking about whether you might like to be a League observer.
Stay tuned, read our newsletters, and check out our website, www.lwvcollin.org, for activities you might be interested in.
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Prepare to be a Voter!
In October and November, all of us will vote on 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution and county bond propositions, and some areas of Collin County will have local elections. Early voting will take place from October 23 - November 3.
Voter Registration Events
We provide year-round voter registration at community events. Some upcoming events are:
- September 18 – Collin College, Wylie campus, 11am-1pm
- September 19 – Collin College, Frisco campus, 11am-1pm
- September 20 – Collin College, McKinney campus, 11am-1pm
- September 21 – Collin College, Plano campus, 11am-1pm
- October 14 – Plano International Festival, Haggard Park, 11am-5pm
- October 22 – Pride Frisco Festival, Toyota Stadium 1pm-5pm
- Monthly USCIS naturalization ceremonies
If you would like us to assist with your nonpartisan voter registration event, contact LWVCollin@gmail.com.
|  | North Texas Giving Day 9/1 - 9/21
North Texas Giving Day is this September! NTGD is an online community giving event that is hosted by Communities Foundation of Texas. If you donate via LWV-CC's NTGD page anytime before September 21, your donation will go further due to matching funds from the Communities Foundation of Texas.
You can also donate to LWV-CC anytime via the red "Donate" button at the top of www.lwvcollin.org or by clicking here Donate. |  | Observer Corps Needs Volunteers
In order to be effective in our community, we must understand how our local government works. League Observers are the eyes and ears of the League, and we help ensure the public is aware of the decisions that impact our lives. Also, League members learn about issues governmental bodies are discussing, if these affect our current program positions, or if we need a possible future study. We are also interested in the decision-making process—how the elected officials interact and respond to the issues.
These are the government entities we hope to monitor: the city councils and school boards of Plano, McKinney, Allen, Frisco, and the Collin County Commissioners Court. You can find meeting times and dates here. We will also post a simple form to briefly report about the meeting you observe, which you will return to the League. These reports will be sent to our advocacy chair and board, and the information pertaining to League priorities will be sent to our members.
Though attendance in person is preferred, meetings can be observed virtually. Agendas are available on each board’s website before they meet. A League observer is only there to observe and report back to the League, not to participate in the meeting. You should not express an opinion or speak for the League.
If you are interested in being a League Observer, please contact Jackie Fleschman at lwvcollin@gmail.com. Volunteers can commit as little or as much time to observing meetings as they would like. In the case of organizations that meet multiple times a month, duties can be split with other volunteers. We will also have a Zoom training session for Observers soon.
|  | Program Committee Needs Volunteers
As adopted by the members at our annual meeting, our 2023-24 Program will include a review and update to our current homelessness position. A committee will research the current state of homelessness in Collin County and how the community has responded to the need for short and long term shelter and the availability of affordable housing. We plan to hold a public forum on the current state of homelessness and the availability of affordable and accessible housing in Collin County. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Sharon Hirsch, Program VP.
| Lunch With The League
All are welcome at a buy-your-own social lunch with LWV-CC on Tuesday, September 19, 11:30-1:00, at Ellen's, 210 S Central Expy, Allen 75013. Please register so that we know how many seats to reserve. If you are a member, please log in to the website before registering.
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Book Club
All are invited to the League of Women Voters of Collin County Book Club on September 13 6:30-7:30 pm. We will meet on Zoom to discuss ''Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right" by Jane Mayer. We will share our thoughts on the book as well as various discussion questions. Please register in order to receive the Zoom link. If you are a member, log in on the website before registering.
| Empowering voters. Defending democracy.
www.lwvcollin.org | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan 501C3 organization. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate. We encourage informed and active participation in government, and we influence public policy through education and advocacy.
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