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Email: lwvsouthcentraltx@gmail.com
Phone: 361-772-3228
LWV of South Central Texas
PO Box 78
Hallettsville, TX 77964
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Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Date: 1/11/2025
Subject: January 2025 League Update - Lots Going On!
From: Janis Richardson/LWV South Central Texas



January 2025 League News & Updates



League members and friends:  I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and the new year is off to a good start! After a much needed breather, I am sharing info on the very busy winter League calendar. 
 
Planning is well underway for our third annual Women Making History event on March 9, 2025, with January focused on inviting community members to nominate a woman for special recognition and high school students to compete for $500 and the opportunity to present their essay or poem at the event. We have extended the deadline for community nominations and student submissions to January 31, so there is still plenty of time to participate. You can help by nominating someone yourself and spreading the word to your friends and family.
 
We are gearing up for the TX legislature's 2025 session with the January 22 Zoom featuring Leadership Team member Belinda Pustka, sharing insights from her experience working for the legislature. And, we're beginning to build a team to go to Austin on February 24-25 for LWVTX's Lobby Days. If public policy and advocacy are your passions, please join us for the zoom and sign up for Lobby Days with the link in the calendar description below.
 
We're excited to have the opportunity to share a wonderful 35-minute documentary, For the Record, on February 2 at the Lyric Theater in Flatonia as part of our Local News & Democracy project. This documentary tells the story of the small town paper in Canadian, a town in the Texas panhandle, in a way that sheds light on the changing news environment for local papers and the essential role that local papers play in our rural communities. The panel discussion following the movie will feature area editors and publishers to help us make the connection between the movie and our local news scene. Don't miss what promises to be a fascinating afternoon!
 
We're looking forward to the Learning Journey of Houston's African-American History that Naomi Carrier, Founder of the Texas Center for African-American Living History, will be leading on February 5. Space is limited so sign up now to reserve your space!
 
And, we are now on the road with our monthly column in The Fayette County Record! If you haven't spotted the column or don't subscribe to this paper, you can read this and future columns on our website. Future columns will run on the second Friday of each month. Many thanks to the editorial team of League members who are sharing the load to make this column happen!
 
Plus, there is more going on - as you will see! Thank you for all the ways you support the League and our mission of defending democracy and empowering voters. Your membership, participation, financial support, and sharing information about us and our activities with your network are essential to our success!
 
Best wishes for 2025!
Janis Richardson, President

On the Calendar



Volunteer
Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup
Monday, January 13, 8 am to 10 am
Fayette County Precinct 4 Road and Bridge Facility
1801 W Hwy 90, just west of Schulenburg
 
Help clean up the 2 mile stretch of Highway 90 just west of Schulenburg that the League has adopted. We'll meet in the parking lot of the Fayette County Precinct 4 Road and Bridge facility at 1801 W Hwy 90 near the Schulenburg city limits. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. We will provide instructions, bags, reflective vests, sunscreen, bugspray, and water. Plan on staying for a fun post-clean-up debrief at Tillie's Coffee Shop in Schulenburg. 
 

Connect
League Book Group Discussion
Wednesday, January 15, 7:00 pm
via Zoom
 
This month's book is Tammy Duckworth's memoir, Every Day is a Gift (see our League Book Group page). We promise a good community, interesting discussion, and a judgement free zone even if you didn't get all the way through the book we're discussing.
 
Here's the Zoom link for the Book Group meeting:

Meeting ID: 876 0930 6851 Passcode: 790357
To connect via telephone:  +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Connect & Learn
A Behind the Scenes Look at the Texas Legislature
Wednesday, January 22, 7 pm
via Zoom
 
League member Belinda Pustka worked for Texas legislature in her past life, and has generously offered to give us a behind the scenes look via Zoom on Wednesay, January 22.The Texas Legislature meets for six months every other year - and this is the year! It will convene on January 14 and meet through June 2.
 
Why is it important for us to hear from Belinda with this "behind the scenes" perspective? While our state League leads advocacy at the state level, we will have opportunities to meet with TX Representatives and Senators during Lobby Days (Feb 24-25) and respond to action alerts with emails and letters. We need to learn how to be most effective with our outreach so that our voices are heard.
 
Here's the Zoom info for this opportunity.
 Meeting ID: 874 7408 5335
 Passcode: 058498 

Learn & Discuss
Screening of For the Record Documentary Film and Panel Discussion
Sunday, February 2, 3:00 pm
The Lyric Theater, 120 E South Main St in Flatonia
Free admission
 
We are hosting a screening of For the Record, a 30-minute documentary film that tells the story of publisher Laurie Ezzell Brown's efforts to keep her family owned weekly newspaper alive in Canadian, a small town about the size of Schulenburg in the Texas Panhandle. There will be a panel discussion following the movie. Our goal with this screening is to raise awareness about the importance of our small town newspapers and the challenges they are facing in this time of rapid change for the news industry.
 
Please plan to join us for the special presentation.

Learn
Houston's African-American History: A Learning Journey
Wednesday, February 5, 10 am to 2 pm
Beginning and ending at El Dorado Ballroom Parking Lot, 2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004
 
Naomi Carrier, Founder and CEO of the Texas Center for African American Living History, will be our guide on a Learning Journey of Houston's African-American History on Wednesday, February 5.

February is Black History Month, and this journey will help members of our League deepen their understanding of the complex relationship between African Americans and Europeans in Texas and grow their awareness of African Americans' contributions to Houston and South Central Texas over the years.

We will begin at the El Dorado Ballroom - meeting the parking lot there at 10:00 a.m. Journey highlights include a visit at Texas Southern Univesity, the Gregory Library in the 4th Ward, the Buffalo Soldier's Museum, and the Columbia Tapp Rail Trail. The $40/person cost includes admissions and lunch. Unless demand warrants a larger vehicle, we will have room for Naomi, the driver, and 13 League members and friends - with space provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
 

Join Our League's Lobby Days Team in Austin
League of Women Voters of Texas' Lobby Days
February 24-25, 2025
Austin, TX
 
Our state League hosts a two-day event for members of Texas' local Leagues each time the Texas Legislature is in session. Day one features a series of briefing presentations on priority issues and actions the Legislature is considerating, along with LWVTX's Making Democracy Work dinner. Day two is dedicated to visits with legislators at the capitol. 
 
We welcome all who would like to participate. Please indicate your interest in going to Lobby Days here. We will be in touch with more information as it becomes available.

Plan to Come & Bring Some Friends!
3rd Annual Women Making History Celebration
Sunday, March 9, 3 pm
Historic Casino Hall
254 N Jefferson St, La Grange
$20/person admission
 
Celebrate Women's History Month with Us! Join us for an uplifting afternoon as we continue our tradition of celebrating South Central Texas women whose courage, initiative, steadfastness, patience, heroism, and creativity are contributing to our community in ways that are too seldom recognized and appreciated.

Event Highlights:
Community Recognition: We'll honor and celebrate women nominated by our South Central Texas neighbors whose inspiring stories remind women of today and future generations that their voices and stories are a vital part of our collective history.

Student Writing Showcase: Experience powerful voices of tomorrow through our Celebrating Women's Heritage Student Writing Showcase, featuring compelling works from local high school students.
 
Admission is $20/person, purchased in advance or at the door. Thank you for considering making an addtional donation to support this event and our work to strengthen the traditional of voting and civic participation in South Central Texas!
 

League of Women Voters of South Central Texas
PO Box 78, Hallettsville, TX 77964

The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and tax exempt organization.
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law. Tax identification number: 
82-5336795