The LWVD Newsletter
May 2026 |
We're delighted to welcome the Honorable Amber Faye McReynolds as our keynote speaker at this year's Annual Meeting on May 30.
As former Director of the Denver County Elections Division, McReynolds championed innovations like BallotTrak and risk-auditing procedures — giving voters the ability to track their ballot and verify results. Her work helped earn Colorado its reputation for the "Gold Standard" of election systems. She'll speak on effective and secure voting processes in today's challenging climate of voter suppression.
The morning begins with a continental breakfast — a chance to share conversation and friendship — followed by our speaker and then we'll tackle League business. This year we'll vote on:
- Proposed Bylaw changes (summary below; full document linked here)
- Program Updates - Recommended Action on Denver Program/Positions:
- Amended wording for Cable Television position
- Review/Update for the Standards on the Courts section of our Position on Justice
- Deletion of our local Health Position due to complete LWVUS position
- New study on Denver Water issues
- See full details here
- Our slate of Board candidates for the upcoming League year (see below)
- LWVD Proposed Budget
Always a highlight, we'll celebrate members with our awards for outstanding contributions — honoring outstanding work in the last year and longtime service. We'll close with member directions to the incoming Board and a door prize for those who stay to the end.
This year we also invite you to visit a memorial table honoring Mary A. Jefferson, our highly-admired Membership Chair, whose warmth, dedication, and commitment to the League touched so many of us.
Please register so that we can plan breakfast and seating. We look forward to seeing you there.
Please Register Here
Jeanette Scotland, Director of Organization
You Can Still Nominate Worthy Leaguers!
In preparation of our Annual Meeting on May 30, we continue to accept nominations for awards. We have the Shirley Weaver Suffragist Award to recognize lifetime achievement and outstanding contributions to the Denver League, the Mother Lode Award for above and beyond efforts put forth the past year, and the JEDI Award for contributions toward justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage all members to consider a nomination!
We will also recognize Honorary Members who have been League members for 50 years or more. If you have been a member for 50 years or know of a member who has, please let the office know.
Nomination Form
Award nominations are due to the office via email (info@lwvdenver.org) or mail by Friday, May 1, 2026.
Proposed Bylaws Changes
Our proposed changes are in Articles VI, VIII, IX, X, and XI. You can view the existing bylaws here and the full document here.
Art. VI, Board of Directors, Sec. 1: Add a sentence to ask that Director Co-Chairs be elected in alternate years.
Art. VIII, Conventions, Sec. 3 and title: Delete Sec. 3 referring to State Council Meetings, since these are no longer held. Also remove “and Council Meetings” from the title.
Art. IX, Nominations and Elections, Sec. 1 and 2: The proposed changes tighten up the language in Sec. 1, and specify that the chair of the Nominating Committee be elected at the Annual Meeting. Sec. 2 adds that there can be nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting.
Art. X, Program, Sec. 3,a: Change the word “consensus” to “concurrence.” A consensus follows a study and is not proposed as such. A concurrence, or agreement with another League’s position or a statement of position, may be proposed for adoption at the Annual Meeting.
Art. IX. Financial Administration, Sec. 2, Dues: Since LWVUS has changed the way dues are collected, wording needs to be changed to reflect that.
Slate of Board Nominations
The nominating committee has prepared a slate of nominations (see below), but we also wanted to alert all League members about the opportunities available to serve on the Board in three open positions. Because the nominating committee cannot know all the talents that members have, it is important for members to be willing to let us know what you can do for the League. This slate will be voted on at the Annual Meeting, but nominations can also be made from the floor at that meeting. If you are interested or want more information about these positions, please contact Bobbie Heisterkamp of the Nominating Committee or any member of the Board.
Nominated for a Two-Year Term:
Director of Organization: Janet Imhoff
Co-Director of Program & Advocacy: Susan Stark
Co-Director of Program & Advocacy: Sarah McCarthy
Director of Communications: Pearlanne Zelarney
Development Chair: Bobbie Heisterkamp
Member-at-Large: OPEN
Membership Chair: OPEN
Secretary: OPEN
Treasurer: Padma Rajendran
Members Continuing to the Second Year of their Terms:
Voter Editor: Pearlanne Zelarney
Voter Service Co-Chair: Lisa Haddox
Voter Service Co-Chair: Mariam Bouricius
| 
LWV Denver’s Premiere Fundraiser
OUR 2026 INDOOR BULB SALE WILL START IN MAY!
We’ll feature beautiful Holland, Jumbo Holland and Southern Hemisphere Amaryllis and luxurious Paperwhites!
Our Indoor Flowering Bulbs Sale is the premier fundraiser for our Denver League and we need to grow the number of Leaguers who participate in the sale!
Here are 3 ways to participate:
Buy bulbs for your home
Give bulbs to family and friends as holiday or other gifts
Bring a Bulb Sale Packet to your book club, hairdresser, or neighborhood association, etc.
Kudos to two of our past best sellers, Sally Audgen and Bobbie Heisterkamp. These members make use of all their contacts. Sally sells to her yoga class, her hairdresser, and gifts friends and family. Many times those receiving gifts become gift givers themselves. Bobbie sells to her investment club, her fellow Estes Park home owners and gifts members of her family who pick out exactly what they want. These members are outstanding examples of what we all should be doing--making the month of May a time we focus on selling these beautiful bulbs to everyone we associate with. If we all did this, the sale would be a huge success.
The Bulb Sale will Open in May!
You’ll be able to order online or with a paper order form.
Planting kits and gift bags will be available.
Support the League of Women Voters of Denver
Thank you!
Barb Mattison, Chair, Bulb Sale 2026, 303-322-4878
Marty Sloven, Bulb Sale Assistant
| 
Help Get Out the Vote (GOTV) and Fight Voter Suppression
Colorado has a long-standing reputation for secure, transparent, and professionally administered elections (See the LWVCO whitepaper here). LWVDenver can play a constructive role in reinforcing public understanding of how the system works and where voters can find reliable information.
Voter suppression comes in many forms and Denver voters are understandably worried about whether:
- The SAVE America Act will pass and make it harder to register and vote.
- The elections will be conducted fairly.
- There will be intimidation at polling centers or ballot drop boxes.
- Misinformation and/or timely confusion regarding election procedures will occur.
The Voter Service team would like to combat these concerns by building voter confidence, sharing factual information about voter registration and voting, and supporting safe and accessible participation in the 2026 election.
We hope to get our message out through:
- Our Voting is People Power webpage - see a preview below
- The LWVDenver Speakers Bureau
- Social media and cards to handout at events
- Personal stories about the importance of voting
Want to help? We need volunteers for our Speakers Bureau, personal stories about voting, and ideas of how to spread our message. Contact Lisa Haddox (lisa.m.haddox@gmail.com) or Pearlanne Zelarney (pzelarney@yahoo.com) if you are interested.
A sample from the Voting is People Power website:
Things to know and do to make your voice heard:
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Voting in Denver is Easy, Secure, Accurate
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Check Your Registration Status - Go Vote Colorado
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Vote Early and Deliver to Drop Box - Just Vote Colorado
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Encourage Others and Assist in Delivering Ballots
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Extra Credit - Be a Poll Worker!
| Voter Service in Action
SAVE THE DATE
Candidate Forum for Congressional District 1
6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 28
LWVDenver will host a candidate forum for US Congressional District 1, in the House of Representatives right before the ballots drop. This is the seat which is currently held by Diana DeGette. The forum will be held in the Miller Chapel at Montview Presbyterian Church, located at 1980 Dahlia Street. Look for more information on this event soon!
Speak Out Against Voter Suppression
We’re looking for volunteers who are interested in speaking to community groups about the integrity of 2026 elections. In addition to a Speakers Bureau, our Voting is People Power initiative includes a webpage, as well as printed material available for distribution at voter registration drives and other events. In the future, we’ll be putting together some social media posts, including videos highlighting personal stories of encouragement. If you’d like to volunteer as a community speaker (you will have a script and slides to work from), or if you have a suggestion for a community audience, please contact Voter Service Co-Chair Lisa Haddox at lisa.m.haddox@gmail.com.
Voter Registration
Circulators Rosie Hartman, Joanna Ortiz, and Sam Robinson registered voters at Regis University on April 7. Pictured are students Ella Weed, also a LWVDenver Youth Council member, and Ryan Yee. Both Ella and Ryan are members of the Pre-Law Society which hosted us on campus. Mascot Regi stopped by the table to encourage students to register and vote. On the high school front, Gabriela Rodriguez, who is with the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Community Engagement Team and a great partner for LWV, has developed a website with lots of great resources for high school deputy registrars/administrators/teachers.
Badge Workshops at the Girl Scout Dream Lab
Volunteers Annie Cannon, Robin McCarthy, Katie Brennan, and Sandra Vella presented two Badge Workshops on April 12 at the Girl Scout Dream Lab. The morning workshop, “Inside Government" for 4th and 5th graders, explained how to be an active citizen, how laws are made, and how to advocate for a person or cause. The afternoon workshop “Finding Common Ground”, for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, covered different decision-making processes, learning about debate, and how to compromise. The debate topic was led by LWVDenver Youth Council member Skylar Gold, who is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Lisa Haddox and Mariam Bouricius, Voter Service Co-Chairs | 
Denver Water will be present to answer your questions on what water restrictions to expect during the present drought and other strategies for conserving and managing water, including in the garden. Denver Water will also discuss the plans for the lead pipe replacement project throughout the city and give tips on how to prepare for when they come to your neighborhood.
Jeanette Scotland and Joan Friend, Membership Committee | 
National Convention is an opportunity you don’t want to miss! Imagine meeting more women who work hard on the same issues you care about from around the country? You get to network, attend caucuses on issues in which other Leagues have interest, and shop for League items.
Denver can send four delegates, either in person or virtually. The delegates vote on bylaws, budgets, members of the national board of directors, and national program. There are mandatory pre-convention trainings. Virtual delegates will be able to view, speak, and vote in plenary sessions.
Members can attend as observers too, either in person or virtually. While observers do not vote, they can view plenary sessions. Breakout sessions (caucuses) will not be available virtually.
The recommended national program campaign is called Women Defend Democracy: Democracy Under Siege. This campaign includes six key pillars for the next two years: Voting Rights, Election Protection, Redistricting Voting Rights, Individual Liberties, Immigration (Protecting the Rights of Immigrants proposed by LWV Washington), and the Presidency.
Also, you will vote on accepting other positions via concurrence:
- Religious Freedom - The League Women Voters of Colorado position for the separation of church and state and religious freedom founded upon religious pluralism and individual conscience, free of social or political influence by any religious body. These fundamental civil rights are threatened by religious nationalism.
- Privatization - Updating the 2012 LWVUS position on the privatization of essential services, including clarifying language, regulating for-profit and non-profit entities, ensuring public fiduciary responsibility, and restricting the privatization of health care.
Two delegate slots are still open for people wanting to represent Denver either in person or virtually. The Denver League can finance the registration fee in full for those members to attend in person ($600 each) or members who attend virtually ($150 each). Attendees must register by May 22, so plan now to visit Columbus, Ohio and perhaps stay at a nearby hotel. Please contact Jeanette Scotland at jscotland@gmail.com to register.
For more information go to the Convention website.
Jeanette Scotland, Director of Organization | Wondering How to be More Involved with League?
We appreciate all members' support through dues, but if you are looking for more, here are some suggestions:
- Read the monthly VOTER newsletter and Weekly Updates from LWVDenver (sent by email through ClubExpress). Previous emails can be found here.
- Attend Briefings (Leaguese for presentations to educate our members and the public with insights on timely issues) - monthly from September through May.
- Join a Unit (Leaguese for small discussion groups that discuss briefings and evaluate League program)
- Respond to Action Alerts sent by LWVD, LWVCO and LWVUS by contacting our elected leaders
- Join a LWVD Committee or join a LWVCO Task Force
| We Need Your Volunteer Hours!
These are important for getting grants at the local and national level. You can use the form to enter any hours you have spent on League activities.
Volunteer Hours Form
| League of Women Voters of Colorado Annual Meeting
Friday, May 15, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. – noon
Virtual and Free of Charge
Registration Required
On Friday, you can network and then listen to a special guest speaker Anna Laymon (Executive Director, WSNMF) speak on Update: Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation (WSNMF). This will be followed by a financial presentation and studies' updates.
On Saturday, there will be voting on the budget, studies, and members of the new state board of directors, recognitions and gratitude, and remarks from the incoming President.
Important Documents to review: 2026 Annual Meeting Agenda and the 2026 Annual Meeting Workbook (you must login to the LWVCO website to view them).
Denver has openings for 10 delegates. Please let Jeanette Scotland (jscotland@gmail.com) or the office (info@lwvdenver.org) know when you have registered.
Register Here
Jeanette Scotland, Director of Organization | Welcome New and Returning Members
Andrea Arreola, aarreo11@msudenver.edu, 80239
Sue Babcock, suebwhnp@gmail.com, 80211-1146
Mary Bliss, blissm016@gmail.com, 80238
Madden Clark, maddenclark004@outlook.com, 84108
LeeAnn Fleming, leeann.fleming@yahoo.com, 80206
Julia Gewolb, julia.gewolb@gmail.com, 80220
Roy Hutchison, royhut@comcast.net, 80210-2733
Colette Kuhfuss, colette.kuhfuss@gmail.com, 80220
Nicole Linden, nicole.linden@midfirst.com, 80211
Janet Mann, janmann2740@gmail.com, 80209
Joanie McCallie, joaniemccallie@gmail.com, 80237
Esther Pollitt, empollitt@gmail.com, 80206
Ella Weed, erw5280@gmail.com
Maddie Weiser, maddieweiser14@gmail.com, 80005
| LWV Denver Units
A great place for meaningful conversations
Units are small groups that meet after briefings to discuss the topic further and whatever else is on the minds of the attendees. This is a great way to be more involved in League and to make lasting relationships. All are welcome!
Cheesman Unit
Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month
Next Meeting: TBD
Leader: Bobbie Heisterkamp (303-333-6818)
Cherrington Unit
Meets on the third Thursday of the month
Next Meeting: Annual potluck on May 21 at noon at the home of Marty Sloven
Leader: Peg Oldham (720-220-3988)
Highland/Woodbury
Meets the third Wednesday of each month
Next Meeting: We plan to attend the Annual Meeting and then will reconvene in the Fall
Contact Sally Augden (303-455-5800) or Joan Friend (303-596-1022) for more details
Observatory
Next Meeting: Will attend the Annual Meeting and then reconvene in the Fall
Leader: Diane Young (303-886-3365)
| An Event with League Partner Cobalt
Remember the impressive League petition gathering contribution to Amendment 79? Remember Kiera Hatton Sena? She’s Political Director of COBALT Advocates and one of the lead statewide organizers of Amendment 79, Colorado’s Constitutional Right to Abortion.
On Thursday, April 30 at 6:00 p.m., she will speak about the next step in reproductive healthcare provision in a virtual statewide event “Universal Healthcare for Colorado NOW!”.
Kiera and Cobalt hope to rally the incredible team that enshrined protections in Amendment 79 so we can ensure access to reproductive healthcare in 2028.
RSVP to receive zoom link: https://forms.gle/QfBh26KYkYysRmqA7 | VOTER Articles Welcome!
We welcome articles from all members. We traditionally publish the VOTER on the fourth Thursday and the deadline to submit articles is the Friday before. There will be a Summer VOTER, usually sent in July and the next monthly VOTER will be in September.
Please send your articles or ideas about articles to pzelarney@yahoo.com. | When You Renew Your Membership
Consider a Donation at the Same Time
If it's time to renew your membership, you can easily do it online here:
Join or Renew Here
Please consider contributing to the Denver League when you renew. The whole process is quite simple.
Members, please consider forwarding this VOTER and encourage your friends and neighbors to join!
Join or Renew Here
| Rather Read the VOTER on Paper?
Click this link for a printable pdf version of the newsletter:
Printable LWVD VOTER | | 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303-321-7571 | | | |