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MEMBERS MATTER NEWSLETTER
September 2025
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| | Dear~~first_name~~,
When was the last time you smelled burning rubber? You should be smelling it now—because the rubber is hitting the road. It’s time for all of us to step up and help prepare the next generation to lead our country. Young people are eager to participate in protecting our democracy, and the League is the perfect place for them to learn from seasoned advocates like you. They need mentors who know how to fight for justice, protect voting rights, and build strong community organizations.
We’re seeing more and more youth join the League, asking how they can engage on the issues that matter to them. This fall, we’ll be meeting thousands of students and young adults who are concerned about their future and looking for ways to take action.
Here’s where you come in:
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Ambassador Corps: Mentors needed! Share your experience with young leaders by emailing us at infoLWVMP@gmail.com
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Tolleson High School Commitment Day @ State Farm Stadium: 4,000 graduates and their parents are expected. It’s not too late to join us—see “Save the Date” for details.
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September National Voter Registration Day: Several shifts are available. Experience is not required —trained League members will show you the ropes. See “Save the Date” for details.
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October National Voter Education Week: In partnership with LWVUS, we’ll be hosting voter education tables at four Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics stores across Valley malls. Thousands of young people will see the League in action—we need members to help make it happen!
The rubber is hitting the road—you can smell it, you can feel it. Don’t get left behind. Help empower the next generation and get involved with your League today!
In League Service,
Kara Pelletier, President
LWV Metro Phoenix
| Save the Date
When you click on the calendar link, for the month of September, you will see...
[9 events]
Note that some of the events are for members only, requiring login.
Event Calendar
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Your Voice, Your Action, Your Democracy
Democracy doesn’t protect itself — it relies on each of us. At the League of Women Voters, our Voter Services team is at the heart of ensuring that every eligible voter in our community has the information and access they need to make their voices heard.
From registering voters at community events, to sharing nonpartisan guides, to helping neighbors find their polling place — every action protects democracy. It’s hands-on, energizing, and deeply impactful.This is your moment. Sign up today for Voter Services events and help make every vote count!
Volunteer Opportunities!
2nd Annual Tolleson Union High School Commitment Day
LWV MP has been invited to attend this major HS Senior Event on Sept 9 and 10! Join us at State Farm Stadium, 9 am –1 pm, with lunch included. The two-day event connects over 4,000 seniors and their parents with colleges, trade schools, the military, and employers. The League of Women Voters booth will be promoting our Youth Ambassador Corps Program, offering membership information, providing voter registration and education, and hosting games/prizes for attendees. Sign up HERE to volunteer for a shift at this exciting event.
National Voter Registration Day
On Tuesday, September 16, we will be registering voters at FOUR venues:
Scottsdale Public Library, 3839 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale. Two shifts: 10am to 1pm or 1pm to 4pm Sign up HERE
Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix. 10am to 2pm. Sign up HERE
South Mountain Community College Library, 7050 S 24th Street, Phoenix. 10am to 2pm. Sign up HERE Please come along to help even if you can’t make a full shift.
ASU West Campus, 4701 W Thunderbird, Glendale. 10am to 5 pm. Sign up HERE.
Deputy Registrars Needed for Naturalization Ceremony
The LWV Metro Phoenix is providing the Deputy Registrars for the Naturalization Ceremony on Friday, Sept 26, at the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse, 401 W Washington St, Phoenix. If you are a Deputy Registrar, please come. Two shifts: 9:15-11:15 am and 12:45-2:45 pm. Sign up HERE
NEW OPPORTUNITY ALERT
One of the League’s National Partners, LUSH Cosmetics, will be hosting Voter Outreach events in their stores during National Voter Education Week, Oct 4-12. Metro Phoenix will be tabling during that time. Volunteers are needed to celebrate this collaboration. Save the date - more details to follow.
To sign up for any of these events, go to our website, LWVMetroPhoenix.org and after logging in, go to the Event Calendar to volunteer.
Watch this space for more volunteer opportunities coming in October & November! | Youth Ambassador Corps Launching in September
LWV Metro Phoenix is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the Ambassador Corps!
This new program gives young people a real voice in shaping their communities and democracy—while building leadership skills, gaining hands-on experience, and making real change.
If you know someone 16–29 who’s interested in government, political science, or passionate about issues like college costs, health care, criminal justice, the environment, or voting rights - connect them to us. The Ambassador Corps at LWVMP will channel their energy into an effective program with tangible results.
We’ll provide the structure, mentorship, community service opportunities, and leadership training. They’ll bring the passion. Together, we’ll prepare the next generation to lead—and protect our democracy. Check out our new marketing material below and share with a young person in your life! | We are excited to share a few important membership updates with you!
🔹 Stay Connected
If you haven’t already, be sure to join both MP and AZ Outreach Circle as a supporter. This helps us stay better connected and keep you informed on events, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy efforts.
🔹 Name Badges
Are you missing your League name badge? You can request one here. Wearing your badge at events makes it easier for community members and fellow League members to connect with you.
🔹 Community Teams
With the cooler weather approaching, our Community Teams will be starting soon! Keep watch for more updates on opportunities to engage in grassroots democracy and connect with your community.
🔹 Update Your Interests
Please take a moment to update your member profile on LWVMetroPhoenix.org. Listing your interests in your profile helps us match you with opportunities that best fit your passions and skills.
Thank you for being such an important part of LWVMP. Together, we’re continuing to make democracy work! | We need your help - Defend Democracy: Be the Eyes and Ears of Your Community!
The MP Observer Corps needs you - all members are encouraged to join the Observer Corps. Join our vital team of volunteers who attend local government meetings. By acting as our eyes and ears, you'll help ensure transparency and accountability, reporting on decisions that shape our community. These nonpartisan reports empower everyone to make informed voting decisions.
Just a few hours a month can make a huge difference. No experience is needed; we provide training, and it's a fantastic way to learn about issues directly affecting you.
Ready to get involved? Email AdvocacyLWVMP@gmail.com to learn more and chat with an Observer Corps Team member!
ICYMI on LWV US: Did you see the recent actions and statements - check them out:
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Invest in Democracy: Support the League
At the League of Women Voters, we know democracy doesn’t defend itself—it takes people, passion, and resources. Every voter registration table, candidate forum, youth program, and advocacy effort is powered by members and supporters like you.
This year, LWV Metro Phoenix is expanding our reach like never before. We’re mentoring the next generation through the new Ambassador Corps, engaging thousands of students at community events, and showing up in force for National Voter Registration Day and National Voter Education Week. These efforts matter—and they depend on your support.
When you give to the League, you’re making a direct investment in protecting voting rights, empowering young leaders, and ensuring every voice is heard at the ballot box.
Here’s how you can help today:
Make a one-time or monthly donation online.
Ask your employer about matching gifts.
Honor a friend or loved one with a gift in their name.
Together, we can keep democracy strong in Metro Phoenix and beyond. Thank you for standing with us.
LWV Metro Phoenix Please Donate
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League Advocacy Begins at Home
2026 will be a pivotal year in Arizona's political landscape, and we must prepare now. Your passion, your voice and your dedication can create real change. Volunteer for advocacy projects and support the League's efforts to protect democracy!
Complete this form LWVAZ Advocacy Volunteer Opportunities 2025-2026 to get involved in projects that interest you. We can't do it without you!
No experience? No problem! Whether you're new to advocacy or want to enhance your skills, our targeted education and training sessions are designed to support you every step of the way. Learn how to analyze legislation, understand issue-based advocacy, navigate VOTE411, and more.
New events are posted each month at lwvaz.org. Visit the site regularly and sign up for training that will prepare you to be a strong voice for the League's positions at the Capitol and in your community.
Defend Democracy. Every action counts. When we all step up, we make a difference. | |
 Fight Against Voter Suppression of Long Term Arizona Voters!
Thousands of Arizona citizens (83,000 in Maricopa County alone) are currently at risk of losing their ability to fully exercise their voting rights in future elections due to legal issues at the state level, where they have been assigned a Documented Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) status – limiting them to receiving Federal only ballots.
LWVAZ has partnered with One Arizona to take action on this issue by notifying Arizona voters on the DPOC list about their current status and urging them to check their registration status prior to the next election. We need YOUR help with this critical outreach, which will be done through phone banking efforts beginning later in September.
Training and a script will be provided to LWVAZ volunteers participating in the phone banking efforts.
The first two Zoom training sessions on the phone banking software, Scale to Win, will be held:
Build community while helping ensure that all voters are able to fully participate in future elections! | Join a LWV AZ Public Policy Positions Study Team
At the 2025 LWVAZ Biennial Convention, members reviewed our Public Policy Positions and set priorities for the years ahead. The work ahead now requires your participation.
Approved Studies & Reviews:
New Study on Housing – developing a state position on housing.
Medical Aid in Dying – study launched in 2023, still in progress.
Ongoing Reviews – Election Systems (last updated 2017), Legislative & Congressional Redistricting (2005), and Initiative & Referendum (1970s).
Study teams are how we develop or update League positions. Each team (minimum three members and a chair) conducts research, ensures statewide representation, and brings recommendations forward for adoption by members. Teams may recommend revised or new positions for adoption through concurrence (verbatim adoption of another League’s position), consensus (member agreement after study and discussion).
This is the work that defines our advocacy and allows us to Speak with One Voice on the issues we care about most.
👉Click here to volunteer: Public Policy Study Volunteer Sign Up
Your voice and participation will shape the League’s ability to advocate effectively across Arizona. | |
📚 Stay Informed!
Read Featured Articles & Statements at www.lwvaz.org
LWVAZ Statement: Access to the Ballot should be equal for all Arizona voters and not undermined by counties.
The League of Women Voters of Arizona welcomes Attorney General Kris Mayes’ August 18, 2025 opinion (I25-007), which makes clear that county recorders cannot cancel or downgrade voter registrations based solely on missing documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) in legacy records. Counties that choose to ignore this ruling are doing a disservice to voters, exposing themselves to costly litigation, and undermining confidence in the fairness of Arizona’s elections. Ultimately, individuals who have been voting lawfully for years are being pushed out of the system because of unauthorized local practices.
Read full article here. Join us to call voters impacted by the DPOC status. Updated 9-4-2025
LWVAZ and Naturalization Ceremonies
On August 29, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new policy guidance stating that only state or local election officials may provide voter registration services at the end of administrative naturalization ceremonies held at USCIS facilities. In Arizona, voter registration at naturalization ceremonies is managed by county elections departments, not by the League. Our role is to recruit and support volunteers who serve as trained deputy registrars in partnership with counties.
Volunteers must use county-issued identification (not League materials), follow county rules, and protect registrants’ privacy. Maricopa County and others rely on League members to help staff ceremonies, and training through your county elections office is required before serving.
Learn more about how the process works in Arizona — including volunteer opportunities and additional ways Leagues can support new citizens — by reading the complete article.
Redistricting in the News - How is Arizona Impacted?
Redistricting is once again making national headlines—reshaping maps, and the balance of voter representation in real time. Across the country, several states are creating or attempting to change maps outside of the normal once-a-decade cycle that follows the census. So why is redistricting dominating the news now? These developments underscore the urgency of ensuring fair maps and highlight why the League of Women Voters of Arizona must frame its work within this broader context. Read full article here.
|  | LWV METRO PHOENIX BOARD OF DIRECTORS | LWV Metro Phoenix Board of Directors
Officers
President: Kara Pelletier
President Elect:
Secretary: Gretchen Bolerjack
Treasurer, Finance and Development Committee Chair: Barbara Cricket Mitchell
Board of Directors
Advocacy Committee Chair: Mark Giles
Communications Committee Chair: Connie Cornelius
League Representative to State Board: Gitelle Seer
Membership Committee Chair: Emra Muslim
Nominations Committee Chair: Suzanne Miller
Voter Services Chair: Dawn Reeths
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Democracy needs more than believers—it needs doers. You are already a valued member of the League; now, take the next step. Stand up. Speak out. Take action. Let’s “make good trouble” together and keep our democracy strong.
Share your thoughts with us—this is how change happens. You may email me at InfoLWVMP@gmail.com
In League Service,
Kara Pelletier, President Please Donate
LWV Metro Phoenix
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LWV Metro Phoenix, 3219 E Camelback Road, #187, Phoenix, AZ 86018
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved | |