Hello, Marie,

Thank you to everyone who attended Saturday's meeting, and to all of you who continue to support our work. Official minutes will take longer to bring you, but here are some brief notes on what we discussed.

• If committees can formulate their minutes as Google Docs and send us those links, we will add that information to our website.
• Yes, we have a website, in addition to a Facebook page. We will continue to build it as we grow and evolve, but there's a lot of information already there, including a calendar of upcoming events and meeting dates, so please visit and explore.
  • For example, you can find the minutes to our February 4 meeting here.
• Committee updates in brief:
  • Climate Change & Environment has chosen water issues for their first program and is making phone calls and meeting with the appropriate people to further that cause.
  • Equality & Justice has chosen immigration, and will be joined at their next meeting by Karen Price, the Chair of the Immigration Steering Committee of LWVMA.
  • Information/Media Literacy has already compiled a growing bibliography of resources and is discussing next steps.
  • Voter Services is holding their first forum, on how to run for local office! Click on the flyer above to see the Facebook event. Share with abandon! (And if you can't see the flyer, click on the link at the top of this email that says "Display images below.")
• Important committee changes: Community Outreach will focus on community service and outreach, and the new Welcoming Committee will focus on membership needs. Also, Reproductive Rights will expand and become the Healthcare Committee in response to our members' feedback. If you'd like to join these or any other committee, please let us know. We're always seeking members willing to step up as chairs as well.
  • Watch your inbox this week for a survey from the Welcoming Committee. We want to know how we can better meet your needs! 
• Speaking of healthcare, the LWV Amherst Health Care Committee will join us to make a presentation at next month's open meeting: "Improved Medicare for All Massachusetts." 
• Speaking of members stepping up, our marvelous Secretary, Colleen Stevens, has had to step down, so we're looking for another organizationally-gifted member to fill her shoes. Please email us with nominations.
•  And speaking of our next meeting, it is Saturday, April 1, at 3pm, venue TBD. No fooling!