June 2020: At our Annual Meeting June 19, 2020, we voted to maintain our Non-Partisanship Policy as is, and approved the 2020-2021 Budget as proposed. It was noted that we have a deficit of income vs. expenses and will need to draw down our small bank account unless we receive more sponsorships.
September/October/November 2020: Victorian Fair was cancelled due to the pandemic, but the Steering Committee worked on voter registration and voter information, especially about absentee voting and early voting, for the fall elections. We contacted the senior living facilities and helped distribute forms and information to them. We contacted Joanne Perperian, Election Administrator for Melrose, offered volunteer assistance where needed, and worked with her to create a press release with comprehensive voter information that was published in newspapers and posted on our website.
Our league co-sponsored a virtual Candidate Forum for the 5th Congressional district race between Katherine Clark and Caroline Colarusso with several regional leagues. Held on October 13, 2020, with a virtual format, it was filmed and available for streaming live and on our cable station, MMTV.
After the successful election held during the pandemic, we did send a letter to the newpapers recognizing and appreciating the efforts of Ms. Perperian and her office. Despite the many logistical complications due to pandemic restrictions, the November election had a record turnout, and was processed smoothly and timely.
The annual Candlelight Vigil and Walk for Melrose Alliance Against Violence was virtual this year, but we sponsored a team for independent participants and our team was able to continue its tradition of supporting the organization.
January/February/March 2021: The Annual Martin Luther Kind celebration was virtual this year, too, and we had to cancel our annual Meeting with the Mayor again, but we did manage to send off our long-time members and activists, Sally and George Stubbs in February, in coordination with a few of the other organizations in which they were active. Before they relocated to their retirement home in North Caroline, we worked with Zero Waste Melrose and Sally’s book club friends to recognize them with a drawing of their Melrose home, a Commendation from the City, and a virtual send-off with members and the Mayor. It was one of a few virtual send-off celebrations with the Stubbs, and we were happy be part of the community that acknowledged and thanked them for all their efforts and generosity here before they moved.
Finally, Susan Baron and MaryBeth McAteer Margolis worked to update our application and process for our Joan Moore Scholarship, and to distribute it as best we could under the restrictions this year, but we did not receive any applicants and the scholarship was not awarded this year. Upon discussion in the Steering Committee, it is thought that we should simplify the application to require less financial information, and to disseminate it through more and different channels to be sure we find applicants that can use the funds.
June 2021: Anne DeSouza Ward registered our League with VOTE411.org, a website run by the national league for voter information, and she is willing to coordinate our efforts to maintain an online voter information resource through that site for the local elections this November. Heather Doyle applied for a grant from the state league to fund the VOTE411 project.
Annual Meeting will be conducted remotely June 15, 2020.
