Community Services continued its work on all the League’s activities that extend to the greater Westport community. In the fall we presented the seventh grade civics program to twenty sections of seventh graders at the middle schools, and the high school civics program, The Power of One, to eleven American Government classes at Staples High School. We are currently organizing the first grade recycling program (now in its fourteenth year), and will present the Power of One to second semester American Government students shortly before the Annual Meeting.
     The League co-sponsored a community meeting entitled Spotlight on Bridgeport Schools: Why Should We Care? at the Westport Library. We heard from a panel of 3 speakers; Dr. John Ramos, Peter Hurst and Marilyn Ondrasik, and then had a lively question and answer period. Harold Levine moderated this well-attended event. As a follow-up to this meeting, and last year’s successful meeting about Bridgeport, the League also sponsored a Volunteer Fair on April 1 at the Center for Senior Activities. A short formal program was followed by the chance to get acquainted with almost twenty different organizations seeking volunteers for community work in Bridgeport focused on children and families.
     We also administer the League’s contribution to the Staples Tuition Grants Committee and organize our participation in the Memorial Day Parade.
Jane Fraser and Yvonne Senturia, Community Services Vice Presidents

   Voter Services reached out to the community in several ways to promote citizen education and participation in the electoral process. The 2006 Voters Guide was published in the Minuteman Newspaper, and was also made available at various locations in town.
   Voter Services held a local candidate forum for State Senator District 26 as well as State Representative Districts 133 and 136 in October 2006. The forum was held at Westport Town Hall, broadcast live on public access television and rebroadcast the following weekend. The PTA Council, the Y’s Men, the Y’s Women, and the Westport Woman’s Club co-sponsored this year’s forum.
   Voter Services helped arrange visits at Town Hall for a U.S. State Department visiting professor from the Chinese University of Hong Kong to learn about grass roots electoral campaigns in the United States.
   A Regional 4th Congressional Debate was co-sponsored with other Fairfield County Leagues and held at Wilton High School. Westport LWV also participated in a U.S. Senate Debate in Stamford in conjunction with the Business Council of Fairfield County.
   This year a successful new Get Out the Vote campaign was initiated, with over 60 establishments in town participating by having employees wear “Did You Vote Today?” stickers. As in past years, “I Voted, Did You?” stickers were distributed to voters exiting polling stations on Election Day. Once again the LWV banner was displayed on Main Street to remind and encourage people to vote.
   To cap off the year, the League’s annual High School voter registration drive took place in May at Staples High School and Greens Farms Academy, in conjunction with the Registrars of Voters.
Sally Galan and Jackie Gordon - Voter Services Vice Presidents

Program
     Study of Town Budget Process: The League completed its study of the budget process for the town budget and the education budget. Two consensus meetings were held in March. A position was drafted by the committee and will be voted on at the Annual Meeting in June.
     State Program Planning: The League reviewed several State Positions and recommended that the Water Resources Position and Housing Position be updated.
     Local Program Planning: The Local Program Planning meeting was held on April 25, 2007. There was consensus to focus League local efforts over the next year on taking action under existing positions, particularly as the positions relate to components of the new Town Plan of Conservation and Development.
     National Immigration Study: LWVUS has begun a two-year study of the implications of immigration at the local, state and federal level. Over the summer, the Westport League will begin its participation by reading background papers and reviewing other resources developed by the national study committee.
Advocacy
     Observer Corps: The Observer Corps continues to follow Town Commission, Board and Committee meetings. Thanks to all who have participated this year, and a special thanks to Peg Bishop, who is retiring after covering the Flood and Erosion Control Board for many years.
     Action Committee: This committee continues to follow up on issues of interest from the Observer Corps meetings. Action was taken on several issues, including Text Amendment 562, which would create intense housing coverage and density within the town, the Historic District Commission’s request to hire an administrative assistant, town funding of restoration and rehabilitation of the Emily McLaury House and a request from the Parks and Recreation Department to hire a Parks Planner.
     Environment Committee: In response to member interest, an Environment Committee was formed in late 2006. The current focus is Nonpoint Source Pollution—protecting Long Island Sound and other water bodies from polluted runoff— with an emphasis on educating the public about septic systems.
     Pie and Politics: Senator Judith Freedman and Representatives Joe Mioli and John Stripp attended this successful informal discussion, in which many topics of interest were addressed.
Pippa Bell Ader and Alison Rivard, Program/Advocacy Vice Presidents