Tour Woodstock's Artist Cemetary Aug. 24

From artist Renee Englander to AAUW, please invite AAUW members and friends to:

Framed by the Hills
A Celebration of the Residents
in the Artists Cemetery

Sunday August 24, 2008 2 pm
Fletcher Gallery 40 Mill Hill Road


—a benefit to pay for a memorial stone at the Artists Cemetery for John Ernst,
his wife the poet Pearl Bond, and their daughter Della—

Poems and Musical Celebrations
by Ed Sanders, Mikhail Horowitz, Gilles Malkine and others
(including Brian Hollander performing a salute to John Herald)

There will be readings, performances and music at the Fletcher Gallery,
followed by a
Walking Tour through the Artists Cemetery
to pause and pay tribute to a number of its artists, poets, philosophs, musicians and other residents

$12 suggested donation

You may send a donation
to the Ernst/Bond Stone Fund to
Box 729 Woodstock, NY 12498
Make checks out to
The Committee for Woodstock’s Future

Bridge and Game Luncheon September 13

Image via Wikipedia Dear AAUW bridge and game players and friends,

Please do join us for lunch and games -- cards or checkers or Scrabble (your choice) -- on Saturday, September 13th at 12 noon.

This event is sponsored by Daughters of the American Revolution at the DAR house on the convergence of Green and Crown Street.

The donation we are requesting is $10 and please bring whatever you need to play the game of your choice.

Please call Louise Flood at 338-7002 for further information and reservation by September 5.

In advance, we thank you for your participation.
Louise Flood, Chair

Levers vs. Scanners: NY's Challenge

From Irene Miller:

Join the New York VOTERS who will be asking the state court for a ruling that "forcing us to vote on concealed, undetectably mutable optical scanners violates our constitutional right to a reliable, open, electoral process."

Our lever system is the only secure voting system left in America.

Here are two resources analyzing the voting machine issues.

1. To become informed about the lawsuit and how you can participate in saving our secure lever voting system, read

Re-Media Election Transparency Coalition: "Software-driven optical scanners and DRE voting systems have proven to be vulnerable to undetectable tampering. New York voters must fight to hold onto their theft-deterring lever voting system before they lose it. New York courts must defend our proud history of transparent, safeguarded, trustworthy elections and proclaim to the State's legislature and to the rest of the nation:" [Read more]

2. To see close up why we must preserve the only secure voting system left in America, see this documentary recounting what has happened in every other state with computer-counted votes:

STEALING AMERICA, Vote by Vote. Opening in NYC, August 1st through 7th --- a "must see" film. Watch an eight-minute trailer for STEALING AMERICA

Benefit Concert for Woodstock Meals on Wheels

Health Care Forum Planned for October 4th

Postponed until spring

What's Up With Health Care?
We haven't heard much about it during this election cycle, but we know that the number of uninsured people grows daily. We can expect it will grow even faster as families have to contend with their shrinking purchasing power.

On October 4th, the AAUW Kingston Branch is hosting a public policy forum to explore the dimensions of the problem and the two most cited health care proposals -- one government run, the other through the private sector.

So, hold the date! We hope you will join us. More details will follow.

Hear Jill Bolte Taylor Tell the Beginning of Her Story

Spend nineteen minutes watching this video. Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions -- motion, speech, self-awareness –- shut down one by one. An astonishing story.

Sorry, it doesn't seem to be loading. But you can watch it on TED here.

Improve, Don't Limit, Reproductive Health

Oppose Administration Regulations that Limit Family Planning Services

Take Action!

We invite our friends to join us in letting the Secretary of HHA know our distress over the regulations the agency is preparing. Last week, the New York Times reported that the Bush administration was preparing regulations that would severely limit women's access to reproductive health and family planning services, including some of the most common forms of birth control. While current law does prohibit providers from using federal money to perform abortions, as well as prohibiting discrimination against employees who refuse to perform abortions, the possible new regulations would go many steps further. Proposed Changes Among the most startling of changes in the draft regulations proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services is language that would redefine abortion to include "any of the various procedures - including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action - that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation." Under this broad definition, many common forms of birth control, including birth control pills, IUDs, and emergency contraception would be falsely labeled as abortion. The possible proposed regulations would also permit health care providers to refuse to perform any service they deem morally objectionable. In addition, the proposed regulations would trump state laws that protect women's access to reproductive health care, including those requiring health insurance plans that provide drug benefits to include coverage of contraception; laws that require hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape survivors; and laws that require pharmacies to fill patients' valid medical prescriptions. The proposed regulations also could severely limit access to counseling, education, contraception, and preventive health care services for low-income and underinsured women and men-those who need it most. Our Position AAUW supports the right of every woman to safe, accessible, affordable, and comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services and believes that access to complete reproduction health information and services enhance women's reproductive choices. We urge the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the reproductive health and safety of all women and girls, rather than limit it. Take Action! Send a message to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt urging him to reconsider this attack on family planning. Simply click on the "Take Action" link in the upper right corner or copy and paste the following URL into your Internet browser. Then follow the instructions to send your message. http://capwiz.com/aauw/issues/alert/?alertid=11665371 For more information, please read AAUW's position paper on reproductive rights. Photo by littlemisskool

May the Tulips Bloom!

Ulster County Quadricentennial Tulip Bulb Planting Campaign

In 2009, New York State will celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s famous voyage up the river bearing his name and the influence of the Dutch on the Hudson Valley.

We are hoping to blanket the county with 100,000 red and yellow tulips in May 2009 by getting the bulbs to municipalities, schools, community and civic groups, historic sites, libraries, garden clubs and community beautification committees for public planting projects.

If you are a member of a group or organization that can plant bulbs in Ulster County, ask your group to plan a project. The Ulster County Legislature has agreed to supply the bulbs.

For more information contact:

Lisa Berger
Ulster County Tourism
t. 845.340.3567

Seventy-two Become New US Citizens

From Louise Flood:

Whew! just home from Ulster County's Naturalization Court. It's the first that it has been held here since 1992...a swift calculation of 16 years. Our people have had to trek to NYC.

Many years ago it was sponsored by the County Court and Daughters of the American Revolution.

We Daughters handed out flags and lapel pins today and were given "catbird" seats to witness the 72 newcomers sworn in. They came from 37 countries...Albania to Zaire.

Judge Peters gave an impressive address. So did Assemblymen Cahill and Lopez. That takes something for me to say, who never sits still for political addresses. They were both touching.

The Sheriffs provided refreshments and many photos were snapped. The Woodcrest Choir rendered the necessary patriotic tunes.

I think it's something every native born American should witness at least once in order to appreciate their birthright. It was a 2-hour sit that was so well worth it.
Louise

Photo by Brittney Bush

6/11/08: Go Green, Live Rich book discussion in Kingston

Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach
Wednesday, June 11, 7 PM
Barnes and Noble, Route 9W, Kingston

Join Holly Anne Shelowitz, Certified Nutrition Counselor, as she leads this lively discussion about what "going green" can mean for you, how to eat local food and what that means, support your community, be healthier, and save money at the same time. Go to Nourishing Wisdom to learn more.

6/10/08: John Burroughs lecture in Kingston

Tuesday, June 10, 7 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
50 Rondout Landing, Kingston

HRMM Lecture Series:
John Burroughs and the Hudson River
Dr. Stephen M. Mercier, Marist College English Dept.

Admission:

$5 (adults)
$4 (students & seniors)
free (museum members)

Urge the Assembly to support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill

Parks and Trails New York sent me this message today. As a former director of recycling for NYC I can tell you that the current bottle bill made a major impact on both the litter problem and recycling. I encourage you to support this update of the bill. Thanks, Ruth Wahtera

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill:

• Reduces waste

• Provides more money for the environment, including significant funding for parks and trails

Call or email your Assemblyperson today.

Calls or emails are needed to Assembly members in support of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A-8044-A/Sweeney). Let your Assemblyperson know that you support this expanded beverage container law and urge him or her to support it when it comes to the Assembly floor for a vote – possibly as early as Wednesday of this week.

If you’re not sure who your Assembly member is you can search by zip-code using this link - http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

If your Assembly member supports the Bigger Better Bottle Bill thank him or her for the support and urge them to remain committed to this important piece of legislation.

Background/Talking Points

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill reduces waste

• Since its inception, the current Bottle Bill, which requires a deposit on beer and soda containers, has been one of New York’s most successful waste reduction and recycling programs.

• In the years since the Bottle Bill was first enacted our drinking habits have changed dramatically.

• The Bigger Better Bottle Bill updates the existing law to include non-carbonated beverage containers, including bottled water, sports drinks and iced teas which now make up a significantly greater portion of the drink market and account for a greater percentage of the litter we find in our parks and on our roadsides.

• According to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, nearly 2.5 billion water bottles are sold every year in New York State alone.

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill provides financial benefits for the environment, including significant funding for parks and trails projects

• By redirecting the unclaimed nickel deposits from the beverage bottling companies to the state the bill provides a much needed source of additional revenue for the state’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

• The EPF is the primary source of funding for myriad environmental programs including municipal parks, trail projects, land acquisition, state land stewardship, and recycling programs.

• It is estimated that the unclaimed nickels, which the bottlers currently keep, could total between $100 and $200 million in additional funding for the EPF annually.

Passing the Bigger Better Bottle Bill will benefit all New Yorkers for years to come. Whether it results in reduced litter in our parks, on our beaches and roadsides, and/or increased funding for EPF programs, the Bigger Better Bottle Bill is win-win legislation.

Thank you for your support of parks and trail

Image by headcase

KINGSTON LIBRARY HOSTS: Joseph Cavano

From ViVi Hlavsa:

KINGSTON LIBRARY HOSTS:
Author Talk with Joseph Cavano

Tuesday June 10th, 2008
6:00-7:30 pm

Joseph Cavano, longtime Kingston resident, retired Kingston High School English teacher and sometime jazz musician, will read from his new collection of short stories Half-Past Nowhere and lead a discussion of writing and the relationship of music to the creative process.

Half-Past Nowhere is a collection of short stories that follows a young boy from "innocence to experience." as he comes of age in Upstate New York. Two stories in the collection, "Phineas Rising" and "Mountain Men" have been selected as finalists in the prestigious Glimmer Train Short Story Contest.

Mr. Cavano will use his own experiences as well as many from famous writers and musicians. He'll spend some time discussing the craft of writing (perspiration versus inspiration) and point out what some well-known writers thought about it and how they went about perfecting their craft. Mr. Cavano also encourages those who love to write to
discuss their own experiences. Questions from the floor are encouraged and often lead the author to an "off the cuff" discussion that may be the highpoint of the talk. Like playing jazz and writing itself, you never know where you are going until you get there.

Stone Ridge Library Sponsoring Author Trips

As part of a Famous Author Series, Stone Ridge Library and Marbletown Youth Commission announces their schedule. First trip is to the Mark Twain home in Hartford CT. It will be on June 28th. We will leave the Community Center in Stone Ridge @ 8:30. Tour at @ 11 and on the way home, stop at the Hometown Buffet for an early dinner (or late lunch) The cost of $40 includes the bus (mini coach) and tour. Buffet is pay your own for $8.05. Prior to the trip, on June 25th there will be a book discussion at the library on A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

The second trip planned is to the Emily Dickenson home in Amherst MA. on Aug. 16.

For information call Marbletown Youth Commission, 687-0800, or Stone Ridge Library, 687-7023

5/24/08: arts group forming in High Falls

High Falls Wonderland (HFW) is coming to a place near you! Visit our Web site to find out more about our opening Splash on 6/28.

This is an invitation for you to come play with us -- Richard Murphy, Eva Tenuto, Patty Curry, , ... -- at HFW, a creative playground. Our intention is to create a space for performance, art, workshops, and community. Aside from theatre, art, and education, we may look to explore line dancing, salsa sessions, roller skating, maybe hide & seek, a day of improv, or anything else you can imagine.

We are having our first organizational meeting on Saturday, May 24 at noon at HFW, 186 Mohonk Road, High Falls (at the Mohonk Arts building). If you have any questions or would like to be involved, but can't make the meeting, call Patty at 845-687-0797. At the meeting, we will be looking at how to involve the community (you!) in the creation of HFW with our first activity on 6/28 being a celebration that will be a dance party and sampling of performance.

Our first gallery opening will be a solo show of Paul Wemp's work this fall.

Any suggestions for performance and gallery shows will be greatly appreciated. If you know people who might like to be involved, let Patty know or have them give her a call.

HFW, 845-687-4161

Ab-Only: Where Do We Go From Here?

Last week, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, conducted the first-ever hearing on the effectiveness of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. It took 12 years of conservative congressional leadership and $1.5 billion before we finally achieved some public accountability for these failed programs.

Advocates for Youth had a concise summary of the hearing.

Ab-Only: Where Do We Go From Here?: The hearing produced a litany of rejection of abstinence-only programs from mainstream, science-based public health organizations. The American Academy of Pediatrics testified that the abstinence-only approach was not only ineffective, but could cause real harm to young people. The Institute of Medicine stated that continued support for these programs does not "comport with the evidence" and no reason existed to hamstring federal interventions by placing them in the abstinence-only straight-jacket. The American Public Health Association also rejected abstinence-only programs and cited the significance of 17 states rejecting abstinence-only dollars in the face of the enormous need for public health resources at the state level....

"Fortunately, Dr. John Santelli from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health (and a former high-ranking CDC official in the field of teen pregnancy prevention) summed it all up by explaining that abstinence has a legitimate role within comprehensive sex education which also includes birth control and condoms. However, abstinence-only programs that exclude information about birth control and condoms, have no place at the center of federal sex education policy.

I'm glad that NY is one of the seventeen states that have rejected federal funds for abstinence-only education. But, I hate having my tax money go to support it in other states.

So where do we go from here?

The time has come for the Democrats to correct course and stop government funding of ineffective abstinence-only programs. With the teen birth rate on the rise, with one in four teen girls contracting an STD, with 55 young people getting HIV every single day, how can congressional leaders continue to ignore the public health consensus about science-based programs?"

Enjoy Romeo and Juliet at the Glimmerglass Opera with Us

August 24, Sunday: Glimmerglass

Bellini's I Capuletti i Montecchi (Romeo & Juliet)

Bellini's I Capuletti i Montecchi: Two warring families, a tragic love affair: the tale of Romeo and Juliet cries out for the expressive power of the operatic voice, thrillingly exploited here by a master vocal composer. This elegant production imparts an ethereal vision of enduring love -- and transcendent death. New production. Sung in Italian with English titles.

Best seats: $119, Balcony $103.

Leaving at 8 AM, Kingston. Picnic optional. Returning around 7 PM

*****

Make your on-line trip reservations for any or all of Kingston AAUW's great trips

on this RESERVATION FORM
Questions? Leave Garnette Arledge a message at 845-704-2120 or send her an email at kaauw12401@gmail.com. She will get back to you. To read the small print, go here

Hear Yo-Yo Ma wth Us at Tanglewood

August 3, Sunday: Tanglewood & YoYo Ma

The many-faceted career of cellist Yo-Yo Ma reflects his continual search for new ways to communicate with audiences and to find connections that stimulate the imagination. Yo-Yo Ma performs Lalo's Cello Concerto. The concert also features Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnole and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances.

Bus, tip and shed tickets $69 (Seated toward the rear of the shed, you may want binoculars).

Leaving at 11 AM from Kingston. Bring picnic. Performance at 2:30 PM. Returning about 6 PM

*****

Make your on-line trip reservations for any or all of Kingston AAUW's great trips

on this RESERVATION FORM
Questions? Leave Garnette Arledge a message at 845-704-2120 or send her an email at kaauw12401@gmail.com. She will get back to you. To read the small print, go here

See Twelfth Night at Boscobel with Us

July 24, Thursday evening: Boscobel, Garrison

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival's Twelfth Night

Don't miss Shakespeare’s gender-bending comic adventure where men are women and women are men, leading to hilarious antics. Egos and comic mishaps abound, but in the end true love wins. Directed by John Christain Plummer. The HV Players were hilarious last year.

Leaving Kingston at 4 PM, ParknRide, New Paltz at 4:20 PM, Poughkeepsie, 4:50 PM. Performance at 7 PM. Returning around 11 PM. Bring a picnic and lawn chair for supper overlooking “best view along Hudson River” Total cost with bus ride and driver’s tip: $67

*****

Make your on-line trip reservations for any or all of Kingston AAUW's great trips

on this RESERVATION FORM
Questions? Leave Garnette Arledge a message at 845-704-2120 or send her an email at kaauw12401@gmail.com. She will get back to you. To read the small print, go here.

Visit Saratoga With Us on July 10th

July 10, Thursday: Saratoga and SPAC

Four Bagatelles – FIRST TIME EVER SEEN AT SPAC (Beethoven/Robbins), Afternoon of a Faun (Debussy/Robbins), Symphony in C (Bizet/Balanchine), Interplay (Gould/Robbins).

Pre-Performance Talk at 1:00 PM; performance at 2 PM

Optional picnic or lunch in Saratoga. Leaving at 9 AM Kingston Returning around 6:30 PM

Total cost with bus ride and driver's tip: $64

*****

Make your on-line trip reservations for any or all of Kingston AAUW's great trips

on this RESERVATION FORM
Questions? Leave Garnette Arledge a message at 845-704-2120 or send her an email at kaauw12401@gmail.com. She will get back to you. To read the small print, go here.

Trip to the Bronx Zoo or NY Botanical Gardens

June 21, Saturday: Bronx Zoo or New York Botanical Gardens

Choose between touring the Bronx Zoo, home to more than 4000 animal species, or the Botanical Gardens, home to 250 acres of grounds and 47 gardens! Lunch on your own.

Leaving at 8:30 AM Kingston, 9:10 AM ParknRide, New Paltz. Returning around 6 PM

Total with bus ride and driver's tip: Bronx Zoo (includes rides): Child (12 or under) $54, Senior or AAUW member $56, Adult $59

Botanical Gardens: Child (12 or under) $47, Senior or AAUW member $55; Adult $57

*****

Make your on-line trip reservations for any or all of Kingston AAUW's great trips

on this RESERVATION FORM
Questions? Leave Garnette Arledge a message at 845-704-2120 or send her an email at kaauw12401@gmail.com. She will get back to you. To read the small print, go here.

Building Bridges to Islam

From ViVi Hlavsa:

Elderhostel is offering this visit in cooperation with the Islamic Center, Boston and Worcester, MA. I know several people regretted they couldn't attend the AAUW-Elderhostel trip to the mosque on Long Island. Here's a second chance.

Join Elderhostel for the next program in our Building Bridges to Islam series in Massachusetts, hosted by the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland, Mass., and the Worcester Islamic Center in Worcester, Mass. Click here to learn more or enroll now for your choice of two dates in Wayland, Mass. or one in Worcester, Mass.

Program Highlights :

• Informative, interactive presentations by practicing Muslims, followed by question-and-answer sessions.
  

• Opportunity to observe prayer and worship and to enjoy a taste of traditional Middle Eastern cuisine.
  

• Learn about Islamic aesthetics as you take in an impressive display of Islamic art and architecture.
  

For more information or to register for this Day of Discovery program, Building Bridges to Islam, call (800) 454-5768 or click here for:
Wayland, Mass.
Worcester, Mass.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Safe Roads: Help us get a traffic light installed

From Doris Goldberg:

Where? The intersection of Route 28 and Hurley Mountain Road

Take Action

We urge you to support the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Route 28 and Hurley Mountain Road. The intersection has a history of fatalities, the most recent – AAUW member Richard Hlavsa in 2007. The speed and density of traffic on Route 28 has increased substantially over the past few years and will continue to grow with the development of Route 28 and Belleayre.

Without your intervention, this request will move very slowly. We understand that the process to install the last traffic light in Ulster County took twelve years to complete.

You can easily send an email to the appropriate legislators and the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation by completing your information here.

(This is a free service to help citizens speak out to their representatives.)

Pianos for Peace at St. Gregory's

From Janine Mower:

St. Gregory's is sponsoring Pianos for Peace at 3 pm, Sunday, May 4th.

Music by Puccini, Bizet, Bar Scott, Cyril Scott, Mozart, Lauridsen, and more.

Contributing Artists: Jane Barsumian, piano / Cara Calabrese-Ward, piano / Hillary Hight Daw, soprano / Charles Dupree, piano / Kerry Henderson, bass/baritone / John Medeski, piano / Louis Otey, bass/baritone / Lynne Peck, flute / Bar Scott, singer/songwriter / Maria Todaro, mezzo-soprano

Proceeds from this concert will go to local and global peace and wellness efforts:

Recover New York Campaign (helping cover medical expenses of those recovering in the toxic aftermath of 9/11)

Carpenter’s Kids (providing education, books, uniforms, and one square meal per day for AIDS orphans in Dodoma, Africa)

Support Clean Elections

From Irene Miller:

AAUW-NYS asks for your help to pass a clean elections law in NYS.

So what is Clean Elections and how does it work?
Clean Elections is full and equal public funding of all qualified candidates who refuse private contributions and abide by spending limits. In keeping with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Buckley vs Valeo, which basically says money is equal to speech, Clean Elections is a voluntary system. Those who choose not to participate are free to opt out. If they opt out, they cannot have any public funds. As has been shown in states with Clean Elections, "Clean" candidates have a distinct advantage over privately funded candidates because they can say, "I am beholden only to voters."

Clean Election candidates qualify for public funding by demonstrating community support before the primary. They do this by collecting a certain number of $5 contributions from individuals in their own district. Once qualified, they do not have to raise another cent. They can spend all their campaign time communicating with voters. Clean Elections would cost New Yorkers about $3 each per election cycle. In return, the billions that now go to tax breaks and subsidies for big corporate contributors could be available for healthcare, education, the environment, fire and police departments, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

It is important to note that full public funding of campaigns with Clean Elections is very different from partial public funding of campaigns, which matches tax dollars to private contributions. Corporations, which are the biggest contributors, like partial public funding because our tax dollars permit them to give less and still retain their political influence. Polls show that people who know the difference between full and public funding overwhelmingly reject partial funding because it wastes tax dollars.

Clean Elections bills have been introduced in both the NY Senate and Assembly, but few New Yorkers know this because most media owners do not want Clean Elections. That means passing Clean Elections must be a statewide grass-roots effort. Although there is a great deal more to be done, I'm glad to say we are succeeding. As "we the people" get our message out across the state, more and more New Yorkers are demanding Clean Elections because they already know that big campaign contributors trump the people's will. Learning that Clean Elections would make it easy for politicians to put people first flames a strong will to pass it.

What can you do?
The task for any AAUW member who thinks Clean Elections is worth fighting for is to help formulate and carry out strategies to inform and engage the public so that our legislators know we consider its passage fundamental to restoring democracy and reaching our organization's goals.

But we do not need to reinvent the wheel. Other organizations that have been working on this for years could be a tremendous resource. There is a lot to do and it is often a lot of fun. A big part of the job is making sure New Yorkers all over the state know about Clean Elections and how it would restore the democratic process. Things to do include hosting house parties with a Clean Elections speaker, having your branch and other organizations you belong to host a Clean Elections presentation, passing resolutions, helping with phone trees, tabling at flea markets or fairs, gathering petitions, and writing letters to newspapers, the Governor, and your state Senator and Assembly member. Whatever your talent and expertise, it is welcome and needed.

Governor Paterson introduced the Clean Elections bill in the senate before becoming Governor and is a strong supporter as are quite a few others legislators. But, as you can imagine, not all legislators are eager to change the current system. Our message to them is two fold: 1) New Yorkers want this. 2) It has been very successful with legislators and citizens in other states. In Maine and Arizona, two states that enacted Clean Elections more than 10 years ago, legislators who opposed its passage now say they will never go back to the old system because it frees them from onerous begging for dollars and lets them spend all their campaign time communicating with voters.

Connecticut passed Clean Elections in 2005 and will have its first election cycle using it this coming November. Maine, Arizona, and Connecticut's Clean Elections laws and New York's bill cover campaigns for Governor, the Senate, Assembly, Attorney General, and Comptroller. North Carolina, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Vermont also have Clean Elections, but for lesser offices.

There also are bills in the U.S. Congress. The House bill is called Clean Elections and the Senate bill is called Fair Elections.

For more information, contact Irene Miller at 518 678-3516 or imiller1@hvc.rr.com.