The League of Women Voters of the Acton Area, which includes Acton, Boxborough, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, and Stow, held its Fall Member Meeting on the evening of September 12. Two speakers from Town staff spoke to the thirty or so members gathered at the Acton Public Safety building. Director of Health and Family Services Penelope Funaiole gave a presentation on opioid overdoses and Narcan administration, and Police Clinician Beth Van Emburgh explained her role in the department and the ways having a social worker in the police department can make a significant difference. One attendee spoke to Van Emburgh during a break to say that their neighbor, who has occasional episodes of psychosis, used to be extremely afraid of the police when they were called; since Van Emburgh’s arrival, the person is relaxed and chatty with the first responders.
At the meeting, three breakout groups met to brainstorm ideas for the coming year. The Voter Engagement group discussed opportunities for candidate forums, spreading information on ballot questions, and candidate and Town Meeting information for the spring election season. The Town Meeting committee is hard at work planning community engagement based on last year’s in-depth study, as well as identifying speakers on various options for town government structure. In the Marge Kennedy Social Justice group, ideas blossomed on how to use money bequeathed by social justice activist and preschool educator Marge Kennedy. Ideas included fundraisers, panel discussions on legislative action and on immigrants’ experience, training volunteer English teachers, community suppers, and beyond.
National Voter Registration Day was September 17 and the local League partnered with several local organizations to run voter registration drives at libraries in Acton, Boxborough, Hudson, and Maynard.
About the League
According to their website, the League of Women Voters of the Acton Area is a non-partisan, grassroots organization in Massachusetts that supports and opposes issues, but not candidates or political parties. Their charter is to protect voters, educate and engage voters, reform money in politics and defend the environment. The League is open to women and men over the age of 16 who want to make democracy work.