July 2025 Commentator

League Officers 2025-2026

Co-Presidents: Amy Ipp, Robin Weiss

Treasurer: Debra Schein

Secretary: Laurie Babij

Membership: Amy Ipp, Andy Babij

Voter Service: Judith Friedman, Joan Balash

Social Media Coordinators and Youth Leaders: Shona Kumar, Vignatha Daggala

Webmaster: Harsh Raju

CALENDAR

July 16, 2025, Voter Registration at Inglemoor, 1:00 PM

July 16, 2025, Program Planning Meeting , 7:00 PM at the Community Center

July 17, 2025, Voter Registration at Care One, 2 PM

July 27, 2025- NCJW Back-to-School Store Voter Registration, Temple Beth Shalom, 9 AM-3:30 PM

August 7, 2025, Voter Registration at Sunrise Senior Living, 2:15 PM

PRESIDENTS’  MESSAGE

Although it is approaching the middle of the summer, we still have several activities planned. See the calendar above for voter registration events at local senior facilities. Our program planning meeting is this Wednesday, July 16^th at 7 PM at the Community Center. Please come with your ideas for programs for next year, as we will be planning programs for our monthly meetings.

On June 18^th, we held our annual meeting at Akasaka Hibachi and Sushi Restaurant. Despite the loud background noise, we managed to approve the budget, vote for a new slate of officers and review the year’s activities (and enjoy the delicious food). The slate of officers Is as follows: Amy Ipp and Robin Weiss will continue as Co-presidents; Laurie Babij will continue as Secretary, Debra Schein will continue as Treasurer, Andy Babij will continue as Membership Chair with Amy Ipp and Judith Friedman will remain as Voter Service Chair joined by Joan Balash. Harsh Raju has kindly agreed to be our new webmaster. We still need help with fundraising. Other than participating in the LWVNJ fundraising drive, we have not conducted any of our own fundraising activities. We need your help and creative ideas to raise additional funds. We cannot survive on dues alone. Again, let us know if you want to help.

Once again, we are participating in the National Council of Jewish Women’s Back 2 School Store. To be held on July 27^th, this event will provide the opportunity for 1,000 children to “shop” for school supplies, books and clothing to start the new school year. They will be assigned personal shoppers and get to choose from a vast variety of donated items. We will have a table there to register voters (parents) and provide voter information. Please let us know if you can help out at this event which will be held at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston. We especially need Spanish and French speakers.

Membership

There are presently 58 members. Approximately 41 members will get their renewals through their email prior to their due date of September 1, 2025. Since membership renewal notices will be sent via email from LWVUS, be sure to check that they are not delivered to your SPAM folders. Membership renewals notices will be sent out by LWVUS one year from when you last joined or renewed your membership. Suggested dues are $70.

Voter Service

See Presidents’ Message for information on planned voter service activities. We will be adding more events as the election gets closer, including National Voter Registration Day in September.

 From our Sister Leagues

On the anniversary of the passing of civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis, communities across the nation are coming together in nonviolent collective action to challenge injustice and corruption, and to remind politicians that the power lies with the people. LWVUS is proud to be a national partner for this year’s John Lewis “Good Trouble” Day of Action next Thursday, July 17. This day of national mobilization will honor the legacy of Representative John Lewis and renew our commitment to strengthening voting rights and defending our democracy. The Morris Area League has informed us that “There will be a rally the lawn in front of Morris Township Town Hall with a choir, musicians, and speakers from the local faith community, civic organizations, and civil rights organizations. All ages are invited to attend. Bring empowering signs or step up to our youth-led sign-making table.”