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Redistricting, Education Funding, Judicial Selection and Awards at Legislative Interviews 2008!

Legislative Interviews were held on Friday, February 15th, 2008 at Wyndham House, Bryn Mawr College. The League honored Elizabeth McLean with the 50 year member award.

Legislators (L-R) Mike Gerber, State Senator Connie Williams, Daylin Leach, Kathy Manderino, give State Award to Elizabeth McLean (in blue) for her extensive contributions to our community.

Above. The Question about funding for schools was debated and discussed with particular input from Anita Summers, LWV member and economist; Bonnie Kauffman, retired teacher and LWV LMN Steering Committee Legislative Action/Public Interest and several others. (Front row R-L: Mrs. Evoy; Gretchen VanDenbergh LWV LMN Steering Committee Voter Newsletter editor; Jacki Menard, treasurer LWV LMN; Anita Summers)

Above. The 50 Year Award goes to Elizabeth McLean (presented by Isobel O'Donnell). She and her husband are both members of LWV of LMN. They are responsible for the first conservation easement in Lower Merion. She was president of her garden club "The Planters," teaches at the Barnes Foudation, and is very involved in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, as well as lecturing on horticulture. She is a garden historian of 18th century and American Gardens and has co-authored a book on Peter Collinson, English botanist, to be published shortly by the American Philosophical Society. She maintains a five acre garden which includes many native plantings.

Elizabeth received a framed certificate from national LWV, a letter from LWV US, and a card from LWV of LMN with a reprinted image of two girls telling fortunes in the 1920s fair to benefit the League on the premises of Wyndham House. The image and caption were taken from LWV LMN newsclippings we have from the 1920s and was printed in the Evening Bulletin, a newspaper owned by Elizabeth McLean's family.

We also had a representative from Penn Environment there, Adam Garber. Adam is very connected to the green scene and LWV LMN is currently working with him on getting important issues out to our members and friends. Adam sat next to Elizabeth at the luncheon and needless to say, their table was bursting with ideas about energy conservation, renewal and getting the state to act on these important issues. Adam also alerted us to the fact that a mining operation is being considered near the Grand Canyon, so we will definitely be hearing more from him.

Above. Connie Williams at the right of photo leafs through the LWV LMN program notes which included pictures of the extensive distortion of gerrymandered districts. The legislators discussed redistricting with the audience. Rep. Kathy Manderino made an interesting point about the shape of districts, although we think of the irregular shaped districts as being problematic, she noted that a district could look like a comfortable rectangle and still be an issue as regards the rights of the voters to competitive district elections.

Above. L-R, State Senator Connie Williams, Representative Daylin Leach, Representative Kathy Manderino, Representative Mike Gerber, and Carol Snow, LWV LMN president, at head of table.

Press 2008