May 2025
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| | President's Message
from
Betsy Boggia | | | I am honored to have been asked to steward the LWVGT as President for the 2025 term and want to recognize and give a special thank you to President-Elect Linda Maccabe. As your President and President-Elect, we are both committed to guiding the LWVGT in the coming year as we collectively fulfill our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. As we gear up to do our work, the stakes now are so much higher that I have adopted a motto to guide me, and I share it with you: courage, commitment, and community.
Courage, because these are unprecedented and unpredictable times. As we have seen with the SAVE Act, our work sits squarely in the crosshairs of an administration that is seeking to undo voting rights. What we have taken for granted, our ability to educate and register voters, is now an act of resistance.
Commitment, because access to the ballot for all is the cornerstone of what we do and have done for over 100 years. Our commitment is unquestionable and unwavering, and some of you reading this have been doing this work for over 10, 20, even 50 years!
Community, because we will need to lean on each other now more than ever. Our trust and commitment to one another is what will see us through. We pledge our support to one another: person to person, neighbor to neighbor, group to group. This may mean stepping up in ways you have not in the past: making an extra effort; asking how you can help; checking in on each other; being mindful that each of us is impacted by current events in different ways, and some more than others. I have no doubt that this is a caring community, and we will treat each other gently, respectfully, and thoughtfully.
On April 17, 2025, the LWVUS declared a Constitutional Crisis in America and launched the Unite & Rise 8.5 initiative to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters between now and November 2026. LWVUS stated that “We know that our system of checks and balances, rule of law, and free and fair elections are under attack-so we cannot proceed with business as usual--we must fight back to save our democracy, we cannot afford to fail the generations to come.” The work of the LWVGT will support this initiative through our ongoing voter registration and education efforts, and support of our stated policy positions.
| One way to increase voter education (which is sorely needed) is through the work of the Observer Corps Committee. The Observer Corps monitors and reports on local government meetings such as school boards, the Tucson City Council, the Arizona Corporation Commission, and many more. It is vital that we understand and are up to date on the decisions being made at the local level that impact all of us. At a time when the press is under attack and confidence in the media is at an all-time low, the LWVGT can be a trusted source of information for our community. We will be highlighting this information more prominently in TWGT and our website, and I encourage members to get involved in this committee.
We are also going to have to get more engaged in fundraising for our League. Recent changes to the membership dues structure mean that less of those funds come directly to LWVGT. We have also seen the success of our Issues & Eggs fundraiser. This event continues to grow; it serves as an opportunity to support the League, as a way to educate people, and as a community builder. Last year we began sending out fundraising letters to members twice a year, a practice I will continue. Despite these successful efforts, we will need to explore grants and other fundraising opportunities. We will be forming a committee to spearhead these efforts, and if you are interested, please reach out to me.
Finally, it appears that large swaths of this country have forgotten what democracy is, what our constitution stands for, what due process is, and what "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all" actually means. We need to get back to basics with civic education, and Linda and I have already had conversations about how to get a copy of the US Constitution into everyone’s hands. We are also exploring hosting a “Lecture on Tap” series featuring local educators offering informal lectures on topical issues in a communal and fun setting. Stay tuned.
There is so much we can and will do together. Make no mistake--the work we do has never been more important! If you have friends or neighbors wondering what to do, or how to help, encourage them to join us!
I am so grateful for all of you and look forward to working together this year with courage and commitment and in community.
Thank you,
Betsy Boggia
President@lwvtucson.com
| | | LWVGT
Annual Meeting
April 25th, 2025 | Over 40 LWVGT members gathered for the 2025 Annual Meeting at the PCC Desert Vista Campus. Their Hospitality and Culinary Arts Programs provided breakfast pastries and lunch. We voted on new Board members, approved next year's budget, approved bylaws changes, socialized, celebrated awardees, and much more. | Lifetime Achievement Award
Joan Kaltsas | | Joan has been a League member for 49 years, and next year, she’ll receive her 50-year pin. Joan first joined the League when she and her husband John, who was also a League member, moved to Lake Bluff, Illinois in 1976. She went to a school board meeting because she was curious about the schools. It turns out, she was the only person there besides the board. One of the board members there told her she should join the League of Women Voters and observe the school board for them. And from that moment on, she said she was “sucked into the League.” Soon after, she found out about an open vacancy coming up on the Board, and she was asked to run by a League member. Joan easily won her school board race, and that began a long career serving others, both as an elected official and as a volunteer. She served on the school board for fifteen years, and after that, on the Zoning Board of Appeals, a position she got because of the recommendation of another League member.
She credits the members of the Lake Bluff League for educating her about local politics and instilling in her the self-confidence that she could be successful in these positions. Soon she was serving on her local League’s board. Soon after that, she took her newborn daughter to a state League convention. That’s some real dedication! Later, she became President of Lake County’s Inter-League Organization (ILO). There were seven local Leagues in Lake County, Illinois at that time! That year, Joan went to the national convention, and she fought for keeping Inter-League Organizations, because there was an effort to end them.
She also remembers the debate over women’s reproductive rights within the League and the many members who left over that issue.
| | It was in Lake Bluff that Joan began to moderate candidate forums, which is something that, over time, she has become a real expert in. Joan and her husband John both chose careers in service to other people, John as a school administrator and Joan in counseling, helping people who have lived through trauma and addiction. Upon retirement, they moved to Tucson.
The League President of the ILO forwarded Joan's membership number to our League in Tucson. She got involved right away. She met Shirley Sandelands, a retired teacher also from Illinois. A few weeks later, Shirley, who was going to be the new state board President, asked Joan to be the state Board Secretary. She served in that role for a year, and served on the Nominating Committee for the state. She has also served on our local Tucson board.
One huge accomplishment that Joan achieved in the LWVGT was her effort to host a day long training for candidate forum events. Joan put together a terrific 140-page manual on candidate forums. Other League members from around the state attended and some non-League members as well. It was a huge success.
If you’ve spent time with Joan, you know that she has many great qualities that make her such an amazing League member. She is thoughtful, intelligent, and has a calm presence. She has a deep knowledge of the operations of the League and its principles, especially nonpartisanship.
Thank you, Joan, for your 49 years of service to the League and a lifetime of great achievement as a member.
Introduced by Kate Stewart | | | To say that the two recipients of the Leaguer of the Year Award were surprised would be an understatement!
|  | | Kathleen Aros
Leaguer of the Year for the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson 2025
Kathy joined the LWVGT in 2017, and served as LWVGT President from April 2020-April 2021. She soon found her passion and carefully organized a plan to establish the League's position on gun safety while attending the state convention in 2019. A study was proposed, a committee was formed under Kathy’s leadership, and LWVGT took the lead. The position was adopted and advocacy with the state legislature began.
Kathy is a navigator, a problem solver, and a visionary. She meets a challenge with research and knows how to organize. Today, the Gun Violence Prevention Subcommittee falls under Advocacy. Kathy’s passion for research, understanding the role guns play in our society, advocating for responsible gun ownership and safety, and tracking how it affects families and communities provides continued leadership for her team.
So who is Kathy Aros? She continues to serve on many committees throughout the LWVGT and is highly respected for the skills she brings. She is a voracious reader and participates in two LWVGT Book Clubs She is a musician, often playing the piano at our events. She is the wife of Richard, a loving mother, a grandmother, a wedding specialist, and a very special lady who enjoys laughter, her family, and shared friendships, She is someone who chooses to live life fully every single day.
Introduced by Nancy Norton
|  | Cheri Sprenger
Leaguer of the Year for the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson 2025
Cheri Sprenger has been an active and dedicated volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, leveraging her leadership and organizational skills to support civic engagement and voter education initiatives. When she volunteers for a project or event she gives it her all!
Key Contributions:
● Issues & Eggs Breakfast Forum (2023-2025): Successfully organized and managed this signature event for three years, bringing together community leaders, policymakers, and citizens to discuss critical local and national issues.
● Candidate Forums (2024): Collaborated with fellow League members to plan and facilitate candidate forums, providing voters with direct access to candidates and informed discussions on key election topics.
● Event Planning & Fundraising Development: Applied extensive experience in event coordination and fundraising to support League initiatives, drawing from her background in corporate fundraising and work with Goodwill.
On a more personal level, Cheri loves to golf, work out and travel. Cheri’s expertise in event management and community engagement has been instrumental in advancing the League’s mission, strengthening voter education, and fostering civic participation in the Greater Tucson area.
Introduced by Linda Longlet
| | |
| Guest Speaker
Dr. Dolores Durán-Cerda, PhD
Dr. Dolores Durán–Cerda currently serves as the inaugural Vice Chancellor for Student Excellence and Community Engagement. For eight years, she proudly served as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Pima Community College. Dr. Durán–Cerda focuses on enhancing student success across the institution and promotes a culture of excellence and care while fostering collaboration and partnerships. | | | League of Women Voters of Arizona
Biennial Convention
May 17th & 18th 2025
Women Rise Up: Boldly Taking Action to Defend Democracy | | Please note May 4th is the deadline for registration.
Registration is required.
$275.00
To register, go to the LWVAZ webpage HERE.
Login with your LWVGT username and password. | | | Join us for the 2025 League of Women Voters of Arizona Biennial Convention, where we’ll Rise Up for Democracy with courage, perseverance, and bold action. As democracy faces mounting challenges, now is the time to unite, amplify our voices, and take concrete steps to protect our communities. This convention is more than just discussing issues; it’s about building strength in numbers and honoring the legacy of the suffragettes who paved the way. Together, we will draw from their courage to boldly defend democracy today, inspire courageous action, and make our voices loud in the fight for democracy’s future.
The 2025 LWVAZ Convention will convene on Saturday, May 17, at 9 am and will adjourn on Sunday, May 18, at 4:00 pm, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Arizona. The Convention will be entirely in person in Phoenix, Arizona. The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Phoenix has generously offered to act as local host and is organizing the local logistics and events in Phoenix. All League members are invited to attend, whether as a local league delegate or not.
Key program elements include:
- Plenary speakers addressing the pressing issues we face in Arizona and as a nation, and how we can take action.
- Panels designed to prepare us for the critical 2026 elections, including strategies for Get Out The Vote (GOTV) and tackling disinformation.
- Interactive breakout sessions where you’ll have the chance to collaborate on practical steps to advance our mission and organize local efforts to protect democracy.
You can find more information about the 2025 Convention HERE.
LWVGT delegates
1. Emily Bridson - state rep
2. Betsy Boggia
3. Linda Longlet
4. Gabby Koeppel
5. Lovely Ganthier - state rep
6. Sue DeArmond
7. Shelley Erickson
8. Grace Marie Theefeld
| Voter Services Committee
Candidate and Issue Forums Subcommittee
Moderator Training
May 31st, 2025 |  |
When: Saturday, May 31st, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Where: LWVGT Office Conference Room
How: Registration is limited to 12 participants and seats are filling up fast. Register HERE.
LWVGT members (especially members who have classroom, K-12 or university experience) are needed for important work ahead. The Candidate and Issue Forums Subcommittee is a vital part of Voter Services. Its mission is to deepen voters’ knowledge and information about candidates who represent them through forums leading up to elections. Committee members have served as moderators, question sorters, and time keepers. (Editor's note: I served a a time keeper several times last year and thoroughly enjoyed it!)
To participate, please sign up for Moderator Training. Included in the training will be how to be a Timer and a Question Sorter. This training is for any LWVGT member, but registration is limited to 12 participants.
To help orient you ahead of time, you can find a short version of How to Be a Moderator, located in the Members section on the LWVGT website in the Document Library under Voter Services/Candidate and Issue Forums.
This is an opportunity to participate, to be actively engaged, make a difference at the local level and, in turn, commit to strengthening our democracy nationwide. | Public Programs Committee
| | TRUTH AND DEMOCRACY
Mis-and disinformation are ever-evolving challenges to our democracy. Now, even the most outrageous falsehoods blow up quickly and are hard to tamp down. The consequences are devastating, and the rise of mis-and disinformation has touched many parts of our political sphere and how we orient ourselves within our democracy. Statement from the League of Women Voters of the United States
In 2024, the LWVGT presented a program on mis-and disinformation because of the unprecedented threat each posed to democracy. Below is a reminder of the differences between these terms as well as guidance to help you navigate the multitude of falsehoods, propaganda, and conspiracy theories we encounter almost daily.
Misinformation is information that is unintentionally false or misleading. Disinformation is false information that is deliberately designed to deceive those who encounter it. Both are dangerous when shared, as they misinform individuals about issues and work against our ability to sustain a common understanding of what’s true.
| | Resources to Support Media Literacy: Knowing Truth from Misinformation
Several nonprofits provide excellent tools for evaluating news sources and articles.
The LWV partners with the News Literacy Project, a nonprofit devoted exclusively to news literacy education and training for teachers and the public. Their tools include:
• Quiz: Is it Legit? Take this 2 minute quiz to test your news literacy!
• This infographic and a second infographic provide tips to help you identify bias in news sources and confirm that they are legitimate.
• Boost Your News IQ training videos are educational and sure to raise
awareness and provoke discussion when shared with family, friends, and students!
We’re living in a time where social media companies have slashed efforts to rein in misinformation on their platforms, and attacks on the work and reputation of academics tracking disinformation have chilled research. Please share these resources.
| | | How You Can Make an Impact
and Support
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
|
Honor and Support DEI by Exploring
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
and
Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Day-May 5th
May 2025
|
University of Arizona's Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Heritage (APIDA) Heritage Month events can be found HERE.
University of Arizona Libraries offers an array of resources celebrating APIDA Month HERE.
Tucson Chinese Cultural Center's AANHPI Heritage Month Festival & Market
When: Saturday, May 3, 2025 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Where: Tucson Mall 4500 N Oracle Rd
Find event details and RSVP for this free community event HERE.
Pima County Public Library has a curated list of books for AAPI HERE.
4th Annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Symposium
When: 8:00AM to 5:00PM, May 5, 2025
Where: University of Arizona Health Science Innovations Building
Find event details, directions, and register HERE.
Chelsea Curtis is a reporter at Arizona Luminaria, where she focuses on uncovering data and stories about Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) in Arizona. She recently launched a first-of-its-kind MMIP database. Read Chelsea's article and see the MMIP database HERE.
| | The Voter will be on hiatus for June, July, and August.
Thanks to all of The Voter readers!
Thanks to the dedicated and intrepid proofreaders!
Thanks to all of you who participate, volunteer, advocate, and believe in the LWVGT mission.
Enjoy your summer.
Sincerely,
Shelley K. Erickson
Editor | | | We (still) want to hear from you!
We want to include events and photos that occur over the summer in the September 2025 issue.
All committees and members are encouraged to submit articles and information to be published in The Voter. Photos of events are also welcome. However, be sure that LWVGT members allow their photo to be used. Please continue to send articles and photos via the links below, and note the 20th of the month is the deadline for all issues. However, exceptions can be made if your event happens late in the month. The editor may reach out to Committee Chairs requesting summaries and photos for events that occur late in the month.
| | Elected Officers
President 2025-2026: Betsy Boggia
President-Elect 2025-2026: Linda Maccabe
Secretary 2024-2026: Barb Colvin
Treasurer 2025-2027: Maureen Clark
Public Programs 2024-2026: Teresa M. Jenkins
Membership 2025-2027: Amanda Bruno-Smith
Communications 2025-2027: Haley Keller
Advocacy 2024-2026: Lovely Ganthier
Voter Services 2025-2027: OPEN | | Elected Directors
Bob DeLaney, 2024-2026
Linda M. Longlet, 2024-2026
Gabby Koeppel, 2025-2027 | | | Click HERE to find The Voter and other newsletters.
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Official Address
800 N Swan Suite 126
Tucson, AZ 85711
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