Programs and Projects

• Natural Resources The Natural Resources Committee has been working on the issue of gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Focus included the general problem of pollution caused by drilling and mining for energy resources.
  • Tread Lightly on the Planet This February 27, 2012 program focused on the questions many of us have about ways we, as individuals and as members of a local community, can reduce our footprint on the planet. This includes thinking about what we buy and how we dispose of it, how to reduce our use of fossil fuels, and realistic ways to make use of renewable resources. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Tompkins County, and co-sponsored by the Ithaca Journal and Sustainable Tompkins. Forum held at the Women's Community Building in Ithaca.
    • Videos
      • Introduction Lynne Leopold
      • Lynne Leopold Deputy Mayor of the Village of Lansing, who helped create both the Tompkins County Recycling Center and the local Reuse Center
      • Dick Francke Resident of Ecovillage who has been a leader in sustainability issues at the Village
      • Dominic Frongillo Caroline Board member who has been very involved in sustainability issues both locally and internationally and has just returned from the UN Climate Talks in Durban S. Africa
      • Question and Answer Session
  • Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling
    • Revised Draft SGEIS on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. (September 2011)
      • http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/75370.html
    • LWV Tompkins County Comments on Draft SGEIS November 17, 2011
    • May 2, 2011 The Long Term Economics of Fracking in the Finger Lakes (Recording Available Below) Speakers: Susan Christopherson, Cornell; John Schwartz, Ithaca College; with Don Barber, town Supervisor for Caroline as respondent. The presentation was followed by an open question and answer period.Tompkins County Library, Borg-Warner Room, Ithaca, NY
      • Presentation Recordings
    • LWV-TC Statement on Hydrofracking to be presented at September 2010 US Environmental  Protection Agency hearing
      
      Call Kay Wagner at 539-3322 or e-mail cmw18@cornell.edu. Efforts include:
      • Our proposed resolution on Safe Drilling and Mining for Energy Resources was passed at national convention, June 2010.
      • Continue monitoring the plans and activities with regard to gas drilling and work being done to promote appropriate regulation. We:
        • Work with the State League to support their acitivites with regard to drilling
        • Monitor state legislation
        • Monitor EPA and other governmental groups involved in regulation of gas drilling
        • Learn more about widely varied activities of landowner groups
      • Explore viable alternatives, including realistic ways in which energy can be saved now, and long-range development of renewable, clean energy sources. Analyze economic issues faced by upstate New York.
    • Water—Let's Use This Precious Resource Wisely!
• Education
• LWVUS Study and Position Federal Role In Public Education http://www.lwv.org/member-resources/education-study
• Students in Albany Conference (SIA) is a conference sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc. The program is designed to increase high school students’ awareness of their responsibility in representative government and provide the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. See Youth page for more information.
• 2010 LWVTC Know Your Schools Booklet (large document)
• Tompkins County School Listing
  
• Local LWV Health Care Committee Tompkins County We will study the gradual implementation of the healthcare bill and any congressional modifications.
  • Dr. Barbara Klein's LWV-Arizona Health Care Reform Booklet
• LWV Voter Service needs committee members! We have many requests for assistance. Please send a note if you can help with one or more activities. Contacts: sel3@cornell.edu or sally.grubb@gmail.com

2012 Legislative Priorities for the LWV-NYS

2012 Legislative Agenda

• Election Reform
• Campaign Finance Reform
• Other Government Reform Positions
• Health Care
• Natural Resources

Impact on Issues LWVNYS Impact on Issues is a guide for League leaders on the LWVNYS public policy positions. Every two years, local Leagues participate in the LWVNYS program planning process by reviewing existing positions and making recommendations for the future. Member agreement on issues (consensus or concurrence) follows in depth study and is developed into the formal positions presented in this publication. These positions are the basis for action.) http://lwvny.org/advocacy/impact/impact.html

Impact on Issues National Includes the official statements of position for each program area, briefly traces significant past actions and achievements, and indicates links among positions. The LWVUS public policy positions reflect the 2010-2012 program adopted by the 2010 convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States; the "positions in brief" listed there summarize the official statements of position included in this guide. Updated following biennial convention. http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Essential_League_Resources&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=137&ContentID=15341

Additional League Positions To get information on additional League positions or read about the history of a League position, please visit our state website: http://www.lwvny.org, click on Advocacy Areas.