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Committees

If you wish to know more about these committees or attend a meeting, please contact the LWVBN Office: 716.884.3550 - lwvbn@lwvbn.org.

Charter Schools/Education

The Charter Schools/Education Committee has monitored and studied local charter schools for many years. Members have visited most of them, and continue to plan further "Go See" trips. The State League reached consensus on charter schools in 2006, and now we recognize that charter schools are an educational experiment, and therefore oppose increase in the number without measures to limit their negative financial impact on home school districts, and we support research to determine the factors that lead to success in charters, and proof of positive educational outcomes for all children prior to renewal. Our emphasis on charter schools continues, taking action when appropriate. We also follow concerns of educators about the No Child Left Behind law.

Meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of the month, 1:30 p.m. at the League Office.

Lake Erie Basin

Lake Erie Basin Committee is a multi-league group dedicated to the protection and restoration of Lake Erie and its watershed. LEBC serves 32 leagues and was organized in 1963.

The Lake Erie Basin covers 20,900 square miles and includes rivers, streams, and watershed lands of five states: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The Lake Erie Letter focuses on current issues such as concentrated animal feeding operations, Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Aquatic Invasive Species.

Lake Erie Basin Committee meets three times a year on the third Wednesday of the month in July, October and April at pre-announced sites in the basin.

Local Government

If you're interested in local government issues, please join our committee. We are active on these topics:

We are currently doing a study of possible mergers/consolidations of local governments in the Erie Niagara region.

We meet during the day on weekdays. Please call the League office at 884-3550 or e-mail lwvbn@lwvbn.org to find out when the next meeting will be.

Natural Resources

Want to study our environmental problems and then DO something about them? Join our proactive committee that encourages members to take part in solutions. We concentrate on:

Meetings are held the 2nd or 3rd Thursday of the month, 9-11 a.m. in the southtowns. Call League office at 884-3550 for details.

Reentry/Alternative Sentencing Study Group

Our initial goal is to examine services present in the community for inmates and exoffenders (and their children) from the local county jails. An upcoming event in May will be funded in part by the AAUW. We meet routinely the second Monday each month at Action for Mental Health, 1585 Kenmore Ave. at 3:15 p.m. and welcome all newcomers.

Regional Water Issues

Transportation

Expansion of Buffalo's light rail rapid transit system (Metro Rail) will have a direct impact on both the economy and the land-use policies of our whole WNY region. Join this committee to learn about all aspects of public transit. Help create significant citizen access and input as various agencies make major transportation policy decisions. Help ensure that WNY will enjoy a sustainable transportation system in the future which will reduce sprawl rather than facilitate sprawl.

Waterfront Development

The Waterfront Committee's charge is to be aware of the development of Buffalo's waterfront, including the Inner and Outer Harbor and frontage on the Niagara River. Following LWVBN waterfront guidelines the committee works to assume a proactive participation wherever and whenever it becomes apparent that our community of citizens needs to have its voice heard. We recently sponsored an all member meeting with guest speaker Julie O'Neill, Buffalo Riverkeeper director, who addressed projects, concerns and future activity on the waterfront.

Recent issues include:

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