LWVNM Board Minutes

September 20, 2025

11:00-3:00 p.m.

Santa Fe and via Zoom

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Hannah Burling, President

Barbara Calef, Second Vice President

Kathy Brook, Treasurer/LWVSNM Liaison

Judy Williams, Program

Janet Blair, Communications

Akkana Peck, Website

Meredith Machen, Special Projects, Women’s Issues, Immigration, Education

Karen Douglas, Nuclear Issues

Starlyn Brown, LWVCNM President

Debbie Helper, LWVSFC Liaison

Board Members Absent:

Edwina Jaramillo, Secretary

Jody Larson, Archives

Felicia Orth, LWVLA President

CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS

The meeting was convened by Hannah Burling at 11:03 a.m. A quorum was confirmed.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Barbara Calef moved and Judy Williams seconded to approve the agenda. Starlyn and Meredith moved to amend the motion to add a “No Kings 2 Rally” discussion, “Women’s Issues”, and “Immigration” to the agenda under “Action”. Judy accepted the amendment. The amended motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Draft Minutes of 07/19/2025 Meeting:

A motion, by Debbie and seconded by Meredith, to accept the minutes as amended carried unanimously. The following revisions to the minutes were made:

• Hannah to collect stories was removed from the action item for the Dede Feldman proposal.
• change “must register with the FCC” to “may need to register with the FCC” under Local League Reports
• Under Communications, Intern Update: change to “one of whom is a League member”, and remove X as platform for intern posting. Hannah noted we will not be posting to X but asked the accounts be kept open so they aren’t hijacked.

Draft Convention Minutes of 04/26/25 and 04/27/25 Meeting:

A motion, by Meredith and seconded by Barbara, to accept the minutes as amended carried unanimously. The following revision to the minutes was made: under Education Funds, the grant to print the Native American Voter Guide went to the state League rather than LWVNM ED Fund, so we will remove the rest of sentence after word “Leagues” on page 16.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Hannah reported she met with Conservation Voters New Mexico for a brainstorming session. She also spoke again with a group from Global Santa Fe, which works with the State Department to bring groups of leaders to the US to make connections and friends. There were two members of Parliaments (Bulgaria and Poland), two NGO leaders working with immigrant youth in Germany and refugees in Kurdistan, and the Director of Communications for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. They don’t have a grass-roots organized movement like the LWV.

LWVUS has a campaign called Unite & Rise. They are hoping to activate people across the country to reach a critical mass and effect change. The program sounds great, but as usual, communication has been ineffective. Hannah would like to get some of the suggestions from the Unite and Rise campaign out on Constant Contact and would really like help drafting messages. Starlyn noted that LWVUS has a one-page handout that they are encouraging the Leagues to have at tabling events. Action Item: the Board is asked to find a volunteer from the local Leagues who would lead the messaging effort for the state.

The League leaders of the Four Corners states are trying to get together to see how we might support each other with water policy and with sharing resources (e.g., photographs and graphics that are reflective of New Mexico). She expects to meet with them again in the next two to three weeks.

Conservation Voters of New Mexico asked us if we would be a partner and allow LWVNM to put our logo on their website. Unfortunately, their partners are described as supporters of their policies and their candidates. Action Item: Hannah will contact Conservation Voters of NM to inform that as long as they support candidates the LWVNM cannot have our logo on their website.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Kathy stated the Treasurer's report (attached) provides details on deposits and expenses since July 1st. By the end of August 31st, there was $24,564 in the bank. Also, since then one of the outstanding checks has cleared and there has been a dues payment through Chapter Spot.

Kathy also noted that when local Leagues send a check to the National League, it goes through bill.com and the information we receive is more limited; we know whose payments are included, but we don't have clear statements as to when that money will actually arrive, and experience has shown it doesn't arrive as quickly as the Stripe money does. She noted we get the most information about dues payments through Stripe and ChapterSpot.

Kathy filed the 990-N report with the IRS and also the Secretary of State report.

Ellen Stelling is helping with the LWVNM financial review.

A question was asked regarding membership. Hannah reported that as of January 15, 2025 there were 644 LWVNM members. LWVUS stated a nation-wide increase of 10,000 members is due to the current political climate, and not to launching ChapterSpot.

Action Item: Kathy will put together a count of membership and provide it to the Board.

Budget Report

Kathy presented the budget report for May through August 2025 with the year-to-date total. We have more than half of what we expected to receive from dues.

ACTION COMMITTEE

Hannah reported that the first meeting of the Action Committee is being set for the end of September, and provided a Redistricting update.

Redistricting Update

Fair Districts for New Mexico, the coalition founded by the state League, is funded currently by the Ed Fund and Thornburg. It convened the 2025 Redistricting Task Force, whose job was to review and, if needed, update the principles and recommendations from the 2020 Redistricting Task Force, which had been convened by New Mexico First. A secondary purpose was to educate legislators and the public about the principles and good policies for fair redistricting.

She noted it is important not to confuse the 2025 Redistricting Task Force with the Legislative Review Team. The 2025 Redistricting Task Force is not creating legislation. It is composed of Hannah, Kathleen Burke, Dick Mason, Cedric Page, Leonard Gorman, Heather Balas, and others.

Hannah stated the Legislative Review Team, led by State Senator Natalie Figueroa, is working on a joint resolution that would place the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) on the ballot. It is also drafting enabling legislation for the IRC. They will be meeting again soon to work on details of the selection process for an IRC. At this point, our sponsor, Senator Natalie Figueroa, plans to file in the 2026 session if the Governor will put the enabling legislation on her call.

Before the 2025 Redistricting Task Force's first meeting, two Democratic party legislators resigned due to the partisan mid-decade redistricting controversies in Texas and California. This was, at the very least, a complete misunderstanding because the principles and recommendations for fair redistricting have really nothing to do with what happened in Texas. As a result of recent events, the 2025 Redistricting Task Force shifted to holding educational webinars for the last two meetings.

The goal is a nonpartisan approach for the fairest possible redistricting, and to offer findings to any potential mapping entity in the state. They are not binding until they are adopted.

Medicaid Cut Impact Stories: Hannah discussed former Senator Dede Feldman’s proposal that the League collect stories for the healthcare subcommittee of the Action Committee. “Individual stories change minds.” However, Meredith noted we don't have stories because the impact of the cuts has not happened yet and won’t happen until 2026 and beyond. Also, the ACA Marketplace changes don’t occur until January 1, 2026. So, what is needed now is data, she and other Board members said. Additional discussion focused on whether the Action Committee has the expertise for conducting statistically sound surveys. Starlyn noted that in New Mexico in 2025, only 37.46% of the population have cell phones, 348,000 have landlines, and only 33% have email addresses. How would we even conduct a survey, she said, because we can't do this all electronically. Kathy also noted that we don't have the resources to do surveys. Stories can be used to illustrate the data, she said. The consensus of the Board is that the League will not collect the proposed stories.

LWVNM Liaison: Hannah reported our liaison, Alexis Juday Marshall, has resigned from the board of LWVUS.

Legislative Reception: Hannah indicated LWVNM is looking for a speaker for the January Legislative Reception and welcomes suggestions. The State Ethics Commission indicates that as long as LWVNM has not paid any lobbyist present, the reception complies with the current law on lobbying and reporting.

No Kings 2 Rally: Starlyn noted surprise at the latest email that came from Dianna Wynn, saying that the League is partnering or sponsoring the No Kings 2 protest in October, and asked whether LWVNM is participating. LWVCNM decided not to participate at the first rally because it was very pointed at the current president. Hannah stated the state League does not generally participate in rallies because it is, with few exceptions, entirely made up of local League members; the discussion should be at the local League level. We are political and have positions, and one of our positions is supporting and advocating for democracy; activism is not wrong. However, we may want to have our signs focus on the First Amendment, for example.

PROGRAM REPORT

LWVCO Position Church-State

Judy reported that the Colorado League has asked state Leagues to approve or concur with their position on the separation of church and state. Their goal is to go to the LWVUS Convention next year to ask for their concurrence with a show of support from other Leagues. We can adopt by concurrence or make a statement in support or against it. If it passes at the 2026 National Convention, it becomes a national position that we can always use. If LWVNM adopts it by concurrence, we can use the position immediately. The position reads:

“The League of Women Voters of Colorado stands for the separation of church and state and religious freedom founded upon individual conscience, free of social or political influence by any state or religious body; these fundamental civil rights are threatened by religious nationalism.  

The First Amendment of the US Constitution reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The League of Women Voters of Colorado believes that the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment are cornerstones of our democracy.”

A motion, by Barbara and seconded by Felicia, to concur with the Colorado state position on the separation of church and state, carried unanimously. Action Item: Judy will communicate the concurrence to Colorado.

COMMUNICATIONS

Intern Update

Janet reported that the Communications Committee meets once a month. Our intern, Blanca Ortiz, is busily posting on Facebook. Blanca and Janet meet on Wednesdays on the phone to review the postings, and Blanca is posting on Wednesdays and Saturdays. A lot of the postings and information have been provided by national and formatted for all of the different platforms. It is in English and in Spanish, and Blanca will be making use of the postings and building graphics around them. She's been following the analytics, and we are slowly but surely building followers and likes and we are apparently making an impression on the online world out there. However, we need to send a Constant Contact email encouraging our members to “like”, “follow”, and share the postings to ensure that we're getting as much saturation as we possibly can. The focus right now is to get everybody ready for Vote411, telling people that the League of Women Voters is the only one that asks candidates what they are thinking on the issues pertinent to each specific community. The Instagram account has been a little problematic; the username and/or password is not functional. Action Items: Janet will draft the Constant Contact email and provide to Hannah for sending to our members. Janet will advise Blanca to set up a new Instagram account.

Website

Akkana reported the PHP renaming seemed to go pretty smoothly; however, hosting LWVNM.org's email on a different server has stalled. Hannah and Akkana both set up accounts at Purely Mail for testing but weren't very impressed with their support. Akkana is also testing MXRoute.com, and has an email account working, but it was a very complicated process, and thinks it would be even more complicated for LWVNM. There are other companies on the list that will be tested.

GOVERNANCE

Board Handbook

Barbara noted that at the last meeting the Board recommended that the section on committees in the Handbook needed some work and the current version reflects those changes. A motion, by Felicia and seconded by Debbie, to approve the Board Handbook as presented, carried unanimously.

Policy and Convention Rules Revised

Barbara reported that after the convention she was asked to look at all of our policies and bring them to the Board. She explained her revision to the Convention Resolutions Policy to the Board. A motion, by Debbie and seconded by Felicia, to approve the revision to the convention resolution rules, carried unanimously.

Guidelines for Creating a Members-at-Large Unit (MALU) in NM

Barbara reported that the section on MALs units was revised to incorporate some of the LWVSNM language. A recommendation was made to include the definition of a Member-at-Large Unit in the LWVUS document: “a member-at-large unit, is a group of members at large of the state League who work collectively in a similar manner to a local League, but without the full administrative responsibilities of a local League.” A motion, by Felicia and seconded by Judy, to approve the revision to the rules was not voted on. There was much discussion whether and how a Member-at-Large Unit is sponsored by a local League, whether a Member-at-Large Unit can be geographically dispersed, whether LWVNM acts as their fiscal agent, etc. Action Item: Akkana will revise the Member-at-Large Unit section of the guidelines and Barbara will provide the revised Guidelines to the Board at the next meeting.

Report on Emergency Electronic Board Vote 09.02.2025

Hannah reported on an emergency electronic board vote of the Board on September 2^nd. A motion was made by Edwina Jaramillo, seconded by Judy Williams, to approve an additional question set to be included for the 2025 Vote411 Voter Guide. All 13 board members voted in favor of the motion.

ED FUND REPORT

LWVNM Ed Fund Strategic Plan

Hannah noted we have to have a strategic plan in order to secure funding from foundations. A strategic plan and a budget are integral to getting grants from people who don't know us, so we will be moving forward on a strategic plan.

Thornburg Meeting

Hannah reported that she met with Alan Oliver, who is our current point person at Thornburg.

Thornburg is not interested in redistricting right now. They are, however, offering us

a two-year grant in the amount of $110,000 for the Ed Fund. That's $55,000 a year to support election work, broken down to two parts: election integrity (through social media, videos, etc.) and election security (e.g., supporting the Secretary of State's work). The money could also be used for our operating expenses, because they support our work. There is the possibility that the 2026 Native American Voter Guide costs could be covered by the grant, but not the Vote411 Voter Guide. Since the Ed Fund essentially acts as the fiscal agent for the state League, we may also make grants to local Leagues for their election work (e.g., supporting teachers, civics, Spanish translation, etc.). The application deadline is October 10th. Action Items: Hannah, Judy, and Leslie Wallstrom (of Los Alamos) are writing the grant application with input from Felicia and Janet on costs. Hannah will discuss with Thornburg about producing the Native American Voter Guides since we can’t produce them without Vote411.

Kathleen Burke Current Invoices

Barbara requested that the invoices be made available to the Board. Kathy noted the invoices are not very useful in terms of understanding what has been done. It would be more useful for the treasurer to know what the activities are or what we think we've accomplished. A reminder: All invoices must be submitted within 30 days of the last day of work, or they will not be paid.

VOTER SERVICES

Starlyn reported in Edwina’s absence: to date local Leagues have each chaired one of the monthly Voter Services Committee meetings. Edwina’s report identified which Leagues were covering which counties, including those adopted by the local Leagues beyond their district. That still left Edwina with the responsibility of contacting over 400 candidates for LWVNM races. Stephanie and others from LWVSFC contacted approximately thirty candidates on Edwina’s list who did not have email addresses. Starlyn also noted that LWVCNM (with 8 counties) experienced an incredible amount of problems with Vote411 this time. Vote411 is absolutely not the best application out there, and it's just problematic every election for one reason or another, she said. In previous years the Voter Services Committee has expressed concerns to national.

We have also been coordinating with the Communications Committee on publicity for Vote411. While attending the Women's Safety Summit, Starlyn talked to women from various parts of the state, including some candidates, and was shocked to learn they had no idea about Vote411. We have a real problem in trying to cover all of the state despite the effort that's going into Vote411.

Janet noted that LWVUS started the Unite & Rise project but did not take on any responsibility for doing national publicity. They expect the local Leagues to do it. There's no real money to get out there and advertise the fact that Vote411 will be available. Last year we spent $7,000, and we got 97,000 contacts with potential voters, but that's a drop in the bucket. Unless national

does much more national advertising, or gives us funding, it will take years before anybody really knows about Vote411. Akkana noted that national League has also tied one hand behind our backs by changing the branding. Everybody knows the League of Women Voters Voter Guide, but it's not called Voter Guide; it's called Vote411. Action Items: Janet will locate LWVUS PSAs on Vote411 to be sent to local outlets by October 5^th. Hannah will send Janet the Navajo PSAs.

NUCLEAR ISSUES

Karen reported that we should be aware that the consent-based siting for a federal consolidated interim storage facility proceeds, and there are three potential sites that have expressed interest. Don Hancock of Southwest Research Institute reported at the Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee that Holtec is not going to pursue their site in southeast New Mexico.

LOCAL LEAGUE REPORTS

Central New Mexico: written report in meeting packet; no discussion.

Santa Fe County: written report in meeting packet; no discussion.

Los Alamos: written report in meeting packet; no discussion.

Southern New Mexico: written report in meeting packet; no discussion

ANNOUNCEMENTS, INITIATIVES, AND OTHER BUSINESS

Announcements: None

Next Board Meeting: Next board meeting will be held Saturday, November 15 and is scheduled for the Socorro Public Library for in-person attendance and on Zoom from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

La Palabra deadline is September 25^th at 5:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 2:04 p.m.

• Drafted by Edwina Jaramillo, 10/11/25
• Edited by Barbara Calef, 10/16/25

Treasurer’s Report, September 20, 2025

Kathy Brook, Treasurer

Balance as of September 13, 2025: $23,978.24

Deposits, September 1- September 13

Dues: $624.95

Donations (thru PayPal): $48.50

Outstanding checks

Mark Coomes, VOTE411 contractor, (chk 1219), $1,260

Other Information Form 990-N has been filed with the IRS and the annual report has been filed with the NM Secretary of State.

Dues payments come to LWVNM through Stripe and, if the member pays by check, through Bill.com. We receive limited documentation of the payments through Bill.com and in the case of a deposit of $1800.00 on July 17, 2025, I received none.

Financial Review

Ellen Stelling has done some work on the financial review and I will send her some materials she requested within the next day or two.