News and Events

The League of Women Voters Needham Scholarship is awarded to a NHS graduate who has shown commitment to the LWVN mission to encourage informed and active participation in government; work to increase understanding of major public policy issues and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. This commitment may be shown through

• participation in an election-related program[s];

• participating in educating voters, and pre-voters, on issue[s] relating to government and/or candidates;

• voter registration efforts and get out the vote campaigns;

• participation/leadership in an established program which teaches the process of governing [such as, but not limited to, the YMCA Youth in Government Program, Model Congress, Student Council, Political/Environmental programs, etc.]

• other activities deemed appropriate to the LWVN mission by the selection committee

Congratulations to the following Scholarship Winners

2007 Elena Dormady

2008 Alissa Brill

2009 Ethan Bauer

2010 David Robinson

2011 Rachel Maremont

2012 Jordan Star

Click here for a link to a pamphlet about pesticide use on your lawn.

The Water Resources Committee has worked with the Needham Board of Health on promoting the importance of organic lawncare. Read more about organic lawncare.

For more information, contact the Needham Board of Health (BOH@town.needham.ma.us or call: 781-455-7523: FAX: 781-455-0892) or check these websites:

• http://www.EnvironmentalLeague.org - "Pesticides Update" to "Poisoning Ourselves: ..."
• http://www.greendecade.org - "Committees" to "Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides"
• http://www.ci.wellesley.ma.us - "Town Depts." to "Nat. Resources Comm." to "Pesticide Awareness Campaign"

View the 2011 Home Energy Tour flier

Click here for more details. If you want more information about individual houses on the Green Energy Tour, click here.

What is the role of the Federal government in Education? Too much?....Too little? The League of Women Voters of the United States is conducting a study of the Federal Government's Role in Education. The results of the study will shape LWVUS' education position and lobbying efforts.

Local Leagues throughout the United States are reviewing the same study materials and answering the same consensus questions.

Should there be a national curriculum? ...and national assessments for our students? Would a greater federal role lead to unfunded mandates? Would it ensure more equitable funding for all students?

The national Study Committee has put together background material which can be found at this website.

Our local Consensus Meeting was on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at the Needham Historical Society. We invited Don Gratz, Chair of the Dept. of Education at Curry College and former member of the Needham School Committee, and Susan Bonatiuto, Needham Public Schools Administrator, to serve as our experts as we deliberated together.

A Consensus Meeting is a unique LWV event open to LWV members.

A collaboration of Olin College, Needham League of Women Voters, and Green Needham, October 24, 2011

Massachusetts is a national leader in aggressively meeting multiple energy and environmental challenges. The Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 describes what Massachusetts will do by 2020 toward:

• reducing energy costs,
• creating energy independence,
• accelerating the development of a clean energy economy,
• addressing global climate change,
• mitigating the human health and financial impact of air pollution

Communities have a vital role to play in achieving these goals. Needham is already stepping up to the challenge, but where do we go from here? What can Needham be in 2020? This important Fall Forum is an opportunity to consider a shared vision and responsibility for our future.

Program:

• Conversation with David Cash and Anthony Brooks about the Massachusetts 2020 plan and the roles of the state and communities in achieving it.
• Break-out groups on "what's next," + to generate and discuss ideas on what Needham could be in 2020 and how we might get there.

Themes:
Water
Food
Transportation
Energy Sources and Choices
Development: the Built Environment
Energy Efficiency & Conservation

• The Green Economy: Opportunities & Skills
• Summary by discussion groups

The forum included: interested citizens; town leaders; students from Olin, Wellesley, and Babson Colleges; Needham students; representatives from businesses, houses of worship, and community groups; and legislators.

Information and resources will be maintained and updated at the Summit Resource Page

View the YouTube video: Needham Town Meeting - Making Your Voice Count

This half-hour program was developed by the Needham League of Women Voters and The Needham Channel in 2010. The show helps residents to better understand Needham's representative Town Meeting: what it does, how it works, and how to become a Town Meeting Member. Town Meeting is the legislative branch of our local government. One-third of this 240-member body is elected each year. If you want to know more, please tune in. The show features local officials as well as current and aspiring Town Meeting Members.

On October 19, 2009, Award-winning architect and urban planner Paul Lukez inspired us with ideas and examples of how suburbs can thrive in the 21st Century. An accompanying environmental fair with town planners and community groups displayed exciting plans for Needham, including bike paths, nature trails, and "smart growth" in Needham center.

For a copy of the event flyer, click here.

For more specifics about the event, click here.

Read a newspaper article about the LWV-Needham 2007 Fall Forum which focused on Global Warming.

In Needham buildable open space is rapidly disappearing. What can each of us do to keep our Town as green and livable as possible? We can plant street trees and take care of the trees already growing in our yards. Here are some of the benefits we derive from the trees growing around our homes. Keep Needham Green with Trees.

View a newspaper cartoon about the LWV-Needham and Understanding Town Finances.

Read a 2007 Needham Hometown Weekly article about how the League is helping to facilitate youth voting.