Sips and Civility
November 29, 2016
On November 29, 2016 the Charleston Area League of Women Voters President Melinda Hamilton welcomed a diverse group of approximately 75 community leaders and concerned citizens to the Sips and Civility discussion. The purpose of the event was to engage in a CIVIL conversation about how we can Make Democracy Work in our communities. It was intended to be an opportunity to talk together and discuss ways to get immediately involved in making government work for its citizens.
Ms. Hamilton welcomed the group and reminded them that much can be accomplished when people work together. She stated that following the divisive presidential campaign many were concerned about how communities come together to move forward. This meeting is just one of many efforts to find opportunities for civil discussion and common ground.
League officer and meeting moderator Shayna Howell began by offering remarks on the criticality of “Truth Telling” and the growing concern about “Fake News” which became a particularly troublesome aspect of this most recent election. She spoke of the importance of relying on established and trustworthy news sources in order to be an informed citizen.
There were four questions placed before the group. Following small group discussions, various attendees offered comments and suggestions about those questions. Below are summary notes in the form of action items reflecting the thoughts and recommendations brought forward by some of those attending:
1. How do we get more people involved in the political process?
Some of the actions recommended by attendees:
a. Conduct candidate forums (the League) - schedule and conduct those forums. This is a special opportunity for the League to connect voters to candidates.
b. Bring a friend with you to vote. Often people are confined for various reasons and cannot get to their precinct to vote. Neighbors helping neighbors vote is a positive action.
c. Volunteer to serve at the polls. Often there simply are not enough volunteers to assist at the polls.
d. League Distribution of: a non-partisan informational brochure prior to elections that:
a. On Bond Issues and Other Initiatives outlines the pro’s and con’s and fiscal impact of each; and
b. On Candidates provides a grid to identify candidate positions on various subjects of voter concern. This is done by other League chapters with considerable success.
e. Become an effective advocate. Write letters (more effective than email) and call your public officials
Ms. Howell commented that there are a wide variety of resources to help citizens learn how to be effective advocates as well as introduce civics to children, for example Advocacy 101 or ICivics, both on the Internet.
2. Why don't more women hold political office? What can we do to prepare or encourage them?
Some of the actions recommended by attendees:
a. Encourage young people to run for office or become members of boards, councils and commissions.
b. Identify a point person in the League to track local and state council, board and commission openings and make that information known in advance to members. These are often entrance points.
c. Support qualified women who do run for office. A woman who previously ran for public office indicated that women need support when they run. They need both financial support and volunteer staff support.
d. Start early. It is important that young women are encouraged to start early, run for office in school, clubs and other associations.
An attendee noted that there is pushback against women in business as they attempt to gain more leadership positions. More from a recent article by Sheryl Sandberg. A similar dynamic is present in politics as there is a sense that women are often overly critical of female candidates and hold them to higher standards than their male counterparts.
Resources Mentioned:
Running Start’s “Elect Her” events, which are focused on helping women run for school government at their college.
Grace Runs for President is a children’s book that features a young girl running for school government
3. How do we advocate for a cleaner, more sustainable environment?
Ms. Howell introduced this question by commenting that, fortunately, environmental and conservation issues enjoy more bipartisan support in SC than in other states and that provides the opportunity to have a positive impact on policy. However, there is the inevitable push and pull between development and energy concerns and those who seek to protect our state’s natural resources and much more needs to be done.
An attendee offered the following action items:
a. Promote solar energy
b. Promote changes to the transportation system
c. Change the work environment so that more people can work from home
d. Spay for mosquitoes at night to protect bee populations
e. Promote expanded recycling
f. Promote the reduction in or elimination of plastic bags (like the City of Folly Beach and Isle of Palms have done)
Another attendee mentioned two important groups working on environmental issues in SC and recommended joining forces with them: the Coastal Conservation League and Conservation Voters of South Carolina.
Ms. Howell also recommended “Before the Flood” - a documentary distributed by the National Geographic Society on the high stakes of climate change.
4. How do we work together for a high standard of public education for all?
Some of the action recommendations were:
a. Engage public officials in the discussion
b. Understand how taxes impact education
c. Advocate to use public funds only to fund public schools; not private schools
d. Support Bright Start in Charleston County (for children with developmental delays or special needs)
e. Hire and pay for the best teachers and principals and place them where they are most needed
A former school board member recommended:
a. Hold Superintendent and Board responsible but also support them
b. Support better teacher pay
The group was asked about ways they knew to personally engage in the schools:
c. Contact a local school and ask how you can volunteer
d. Become a Reading Partner
e. Join the Literacy Society or Rotary Club
f. Become a Lunch Buddy
g. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister
An attendee stated the disparities in education in the three county area are “shocking.” The status of the education of Black children is an Emergency. She recommends:
a. Expand Pre-Kindergarten Education
b. Provide training for new mothers
c. Take the position “minimally adequate” that is in state law “out of the conversation” this is not good enough for South Carolina’s children.
d. Support the “overturn” or repeal of South Carolina’s Act 388
e. Ensure families receive wrap around service to support childhood development
f. Use the Meeting Street school as the model for local education
g. Oppose student vouchers.
Ms. Howell closed by thanking all who attended and participated. She committed to ensuring that a summary of the meeting and other information will soon be posted on the Charleston Area League of Women Voters’ website and there will be follow up and subsequent meetings to which all will be invited.