'Speed Date' at the League of Woman Voters 'Meet Your Public Officials' Fundraiser

Information submitted by League of Woman Voters of Alameda—

You might not be able to take any local officials home with you, but you can “speed date” some of them this year at “Meet Your Public Officials” (MYPO) at the Alameda Elks Lodge from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on April 23.

You can speed date government officials like Councilmember Lena Tam or School Board Trustee Mike McMahon—and find out how they are working for you, too—at the League of Women Voters of Alameda’s (LWVA’s)  Meet Your Public Officials reception and fundraiser.

All Alamedans—including children—are welcome to attend MYPO: find out how many of your representatives you can connect with in one hour for only $10/person: tickets are tax-deductible. 

Local restaurants will provide light appetizers; a no-host wine bar, raffle, and silent auction will be featured.

In the new MYPO speed-dating format, attendees will have easy access to several local officials who will be seated at tables from 6:00 to 7:15 pm. Alamedans can mingle informally or discuss issues with their elected representatives in quick succession by moving from table to table. 

Every elected official who represents Alameda, every appointed member of the City of Alameda’s boards and commissions, and many senior city staff members have been invited to attend.

MYPO will be in the wheelchair-accessible Rathskellar at the Alameda Elks Lodge—"the liveliest lodge in Elkdom" at 2255 Santa Clara Avenue, next to Alameda City Hall. The parking lot, elevator, and entrance to the Rathskellar are at the rear of the building.

“For over 30 years, the League has offered MYPO so that community members can get to know their elected and appointed officials and recognize their contributions to Alameda,” said MYPO Chair and LWVA board member Alice Wilson-Fried.

MYPO 2014’s unique silent auction items and raffle prizes will include: 

• A gourmet ice cream cake-making class for two adults with pastry chef Henry Awayan at Tucker’s Ice Cream—followed by a cake-eating party for eight.
• Gourmet dinners for six. 
• Fine wines, gift baskets, and a variety of gift certificates from local wineries, businesses, and restaurants—including services like golf lessons and beauty consultations. 

Proceeds from the auction, raffle, and ticket sales support the LWVA’s community education and voter service programs. The LWVA provides nonpartisan voter information and sponsors free community candidate forums, Pros and Cons panels on ballot measures, and public issues forums. Tax-deductible $10 MYPO tickets may be purchased at the event or in advance, either from LWVA members or by mailing a check to the LWVA at PO Box 1645, Alameda CA 94501.

The League of Women Voters of Alameda is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit and nonpartisan public policy educational organization (Federal Tax ID # 94-2650856, State ID# D-0973573). For 35 years, the LWVA has offered Alameda voter service and citizen education activities to increase citizen participation in our democracy, study community issues, and support positive public policy solutions. To learn about membership in the League of Women Voters of Alameda, which is open to all women and men, please call 510-869-4969.

For more information about Meet Your Public Officials 2014, please call the LWVA at 510-869-4969; visit the LWVA website (http://LWVAlameda.org/Public_Events.html). 

You may also contact Event Coordinator Alice Fried (510-593-9572; alicefried89@gmail.com) or LWVA Program Chair Ruth Dixon-Mueller (events@lwvalameda.org).