Early Voting and Final Breakfast Taco Discussion

Hi American Politics students! I hope the end of everyone’s semester is smooth sailing, especially now that you don’t have to worry about mandatory CEL events 🙂

I did want to remind y’all about all of the local elections going on right now. Although not all cities in Texas are holding elections, there are several cities that are and the early voting season started yesterday for local races and y’all should get out the vote! If you aren’t sure where you are registered to vote, check here: https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do.

If you are registered to vote in Williamson county, there are several school district races and even city council races depending on where you live. You can check if you are registered to vote in Williamson County as well as view your sample ballot here: https://apps.wilco.org/elections/default.aspx.

The closest polling place to campus is the Williamson County Inner Loop Annex, 301 SE Inner Loop, Georgetown. This polling place is open Days: Monday, April 22 – Saturday, April 27 Times: 08:00 AM – 06:00 PM and Days: Monday, April 29 – Tuesday, April 30 Times: 07:00 AM – 07:00 PM.

• Make sure that wherever you go vote, BRING YOUR ID! Your driver’s license or passport work perfectly but if you don’t have these, check this link for more valid IDs or what to do if you don’t have any of these valid IDs: https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id.html
• It is also a good idea to bring your voter registration card with you to the polls although you don’t have to and it does not count as ID!

Also, tomorrow at 9:30am Bishop’s will be the final breakfast taco discussion of the semester!

CEL~ Apr. 14-21

Monday, April 15

• Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau Board: April 15, 2019, at 8:30 AM at Georgetown Visitor Center, 103 W. 7th Street, Georgetown, TX.
• Georgetown Commission on Aging: April 15, 2019, at 6:00 PM at Public Safety Facility, 3500 DB Wood Rd Georgetown, TX 78633.
• ACC Hosted Panel about DACA: A panel discussion (featuring Austin City Council Member Greg Casar and other Austin community leaders) on the current state of affairs for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and DREAMers – both in Texas and nationally. 6:30-8:30 pm at 3401 Webberville Rd., ACC Eastview Campus Rm 8500. For more info, go here.
• Wilco Republican Leaders Monthly Meeting: From 6:30-9pm at Central Texas Harley Davidson (2801 N IH35, Round Rock). The guest will be newly-elected Williamson County (TX) Republican Party Chairman, Steve Armbruster, in his first speaking engagement since taking office. There will be a reception at 6:30, hosted by Judge Bill Gravell.

Tuesday, April 16

• Georgetown Arts and Culture Advisory Board: April 16, 2019, at 4:30 PM at Small conference room, 2nd floor, Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street.

Wednesday, April 17

• Northern Wilco Democrats Monthly Meeting: Guest speakers will be: Jaquita Wilson – Georgetown City Council District 7; Jennifer Wood – Candidate for GISD School Board, Place 3; Joe Reedholm – Georgetown City Council District 4. Located at the Uptown Social from 6-8pm.

Saturday, April 20

• Rescheduled District 3&4 Candidate Forum: The Georgetown Neighborhood Alliance is hosting election forums for the 2019 City of Georgetown City Council Election. The forum format is structured to provide residents an opportunity to ask their candidate important questions and each candidate time to share their perspective.  From 1-2:30 pm. Location TBD. FB Link
• Southwestern Georgetown Council Candidate Forum: The candidates that will be attending are as follows: Jaquita Wilson, City Council District 7 candidate; Brian Ortego, School Board Trustee Place 2 candidate; Andy Webb, School Board Trustee Place 3 incumbent; Jenny Wood, School Board Trustee Place 3 candidate. Sponsored by the Southeast Georgetown Community Council and Courageous Conversations from 9:30-11:30 AM at the boys and girls club (1200 W. 17th st, Georgetown)

CEL~ April 7-14

Sunday, Apr. 7

• Democratic Women of Williamson County Forum: DWOW will hold a forum for all of the May Municipal Candidates. The event will be from 4-6pm at the Georgetown Public Library (402 W. 8th St)

Monday, April 8

• Georgetown City Council District 7 Candidate Forum: The Georgetown Neighborhood Alliance is hosting an election forum for the 2019 City of Georgetown City Council Election.  6:30-8pm at the community room in Georgetown Parks and Recreation Admin Building (1101 N College St)

Tuesday, April 9

• City Council Meeting: From 6-8pm at the Council and Court Building (510 W 9th st., Georgetown)

Wednesday, April 10

• Georgetown City Council District 4 Candidate Forum: The Georgetown Neighborhood Alliance is hosting an election forum for the 2019 City of Georgetown City Council Election. 6:30-8pm, location TBD. Check fb for location info:  https://www.facebook.com/events/389753348515985/?active_tab=discussion
• Georgetown ADA Advisory Board: The Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Council regarding accessibility and other issues of concern to persons with disabilities. From 6-7 pm at the Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd)

Thursday, April 11

• Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum: On Thursday, April 11 from 6-8pm, candidates for upcoming elections for City Council and GISD Board of Trustees will be speaking on business issues in Georgetown. This event will be at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce at 1 Chamber Way.
• Georgetown Animal Shelter Advisory Board Meeting: The Animal Shelter Advisory Board ensures the City of Georgetown Animal Shelter complies with all City and State laws governing its operation. From 6-7 pm at the Georgetown Animal Shelter (110 WL Walden Dr., Georgetown)
• Georgetown Parks and Recreation Board Meeting: This Board advises the City Council on the uses of parkland, parks, recreational facilities, improvements in programs and activities, and facilities to meet community recreation needs and interests. From 6-7 pm at the Parks and Administration Building (1101 N College St, Georgetown)

Friday, April 12

• Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Meeting: The mission of the Georgetown Convention & Visitors Bureau is to encourage the community’s economic success through promotion of Georgetown as a tourist destination, preserve & enhance the cultural heritage and unique character of the community, and attract conventions and group tours to maximize the financial impact of tourism on the community. From 8:30 am- 9:30 am at the convention and visitors bureau office (103 W 7th st)
• Georgetown Main St Advisory Board Meeting: The Main Street Advisory Board assists the Downtown Development Manager in a number of ways, including expanding the interest base and support group and fundraising for the Main Street Program or special projects through the Main Street Program. From 8:30 am- 9:30 am at the Georgetown City Hall (808 Martin Luther King Jr St)
• Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board Meeting: This Board advises and assists City Council in the development of a multi-modal transportation planning process in coordination with regional, state, county, and local transportation agencies. From 10-11 am at the Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd)

• Georgetown Utility System Advisory Board Meeting: The GUS Board makes recommendations to City Council regarding staff presentations related to capital improvement projects and priorities, utility services, resource supplies and other Council-assigned projects. From 2-3 pm at the Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Municipal Complex)

Community Engaged Learning Events Mar. 31- Apr. 7

Sunday, March 31

• Meet and Greet for Jaquita Wilson: From 4-6pm at 8620 Daisy Cutter Crossing, Georgetown, Jaquita Wilson (candidate for City Council District 7) will be hosting a meet and greet.

Monday, April 1

• Courageous Conversation Core Team Monthly Meeting: From 6-8pm at the Getsemani Community Ministry Center, 412 E. 19th St. To learn more about Courageous conversation and the core team, check out their website

Tuesday, April 2

• Georgetown Public Library Advisory Board: This Board makes recommendations regarding the development of the book collection, programming, and other services provided by the Georgetown Public Library. The meeting will be from 5:30-6:30 at the Georgetown Public Library (402 W. 8th St).
• Williamson County Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training: Interested in registering people to vote in Williamson County? If you are at least 18, a US citizen and a Texas Resident, get trained to become a VDR! The trainings are offered at 2 and 6 pm at 301 SE Inner Loop, Ste. 104 in Georgetown. Class size is limited so you must contact the training team either by email teamtraining@wilco.org or phone (512-943-1630) to reserve a seat no later than 12:00 pm on the day you wish to attend training. Classes are approximately 30 minutes. Due to the length of training, anyone arriving more than five minutes late may be asked to reschedule.

Wednesday, April 3

• Local Election Forum: From 6:30-8:45 pm there will be a candidate forum at the Palace Theatre (810 S. Austin Ave). From 6:30-7:25 there will be a forum of school board candidates (Jennifer Wood, Andy Webb, Elizabeth McFarland, Brian Ortego, Scott Stribling). From 7:25-8:45 will be the forum for city council candidates (Michael Triggs, John Hesser, Joe Reedholm, Steve Fought, Jaquita Wilson, Tommy Gonzalez).  

Thursday, April 4

• City Council Coffee Talk: From 6-8pm, Georgetown Councilwoman Rachael Jonrowe will be hosting a “coffee talk” in the Red Poppy cafe (which is in the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W 8th st). If you live on campus (or live in some areas near campus), Jonrowe is your representative. On April 9th, the city council will be voting for changes to the Unified Development Code, specific to the role of HARC. She will discuss the details of the current proposal, how you can connect with the council, and how we can all work together to strengthen efforts to preserve Georgetown. This is a come-and-go event, so feel free to pop in at a time that works for you.  And if you have any other issues you wish to discuss, she’s open to talking about those too!
• Georgetown 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee: The purpose of this steering committee is to provide recommendations to  City Council and the joint work sessions with the Planning and Zoning Commission and act as ambassadors of the Plan, building consensus within the Community. The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm at City Hall (808 Martin Luther King Jr St.)

Friday, April 5

• Courageous Conversations Public Safety Team: 1:30 pm at Getsemani Community Center; currently discussing the school to prison pipeline in Georgetown and how to combat it. To learn more about Courageous conversation and the public safety team, check out their website

Sunday, April 7

• Democratic Women of Williamson County: From 4-6pm at the Georgetown Public Library, the DWOW will have a candidate forum with all of the May Municipal Candidates.

Calling Your Elected Officials +CEL Mar. 23-31

Calling Your Representatives

There are many decisions that government officials make all the time. In representing the constituents, it is important for officials to know how those constituents actually stand on issues. Many officials keep tally of the calls/emails/letters they receive regarding certain issues. Perhaps the most effective way of reaching your elected officials, apart from meeting them in person, is calling their offices. You can and should reach out to elected officials on all levels of government. Calling representatives on the federal level is incredibly important but remember that your local and state officials are listening and do a lot of important things that affect you too! Stay informed on what is happening on all levels of government and call all your officials to hold them accountable.  

To find out what number to call, head over to the get involved section of WordPress. Linked is Find My Representatives for the State and Federal level which has each Representative’s contact information. If their number is not listed, go to their website. I have also linked Georgetown City Council which has each council person’s contact.

Tips for calling your elected official:

• When you call, introduce yourself with your name and zip code- they may ask you for your address too to see if you’re a constituent!
• You will be speaking with an intern or a staff member so always remain respectful! Do not raise your voice, curse, personally attack etc. Not only is this the right thing to do but your concerns likely won’t be taken as seriously if you’re being rude.
• Keep it concise
• Stray away from reading off a script. Your own authentic words will come across to the staffer as more genuine than a script
• Lastly, try to stick to calling your representatives, not someone whose district you are not it!  

Check out this article for more detail! https://mondaybazaarblog.com/2017/09/06/how-to-call-your-senator/.

Tuesday, March 26

• Georgetown City Council Meeting: 6-8pm at City Council Chambers (101 E. 7th St., Georgetown, TX 78626).

Wednesday, March 27

• Georgetown General Government and Finance Advisory Board (GGAF): The purpose of the General Government and Finance Advisory Board is to review and analyze the general government and finance activities of the City. They will be meeting from 4:30-6pm at Georgetown City Hall (808 Martin Luther King Jr St., Georgetown 78626) in the Georgetown City Hall-Community Room (off of main lobby).

Thursday, Mar. 28

• Interfaith Advocacy Day: Texas Impact will host an Interfaith Advocacy Day on Thursday, March 28 at the Texas State Capitol in the Legislative Conference Center (LCC) in room E2.002. Schedule: 10-12: Advocacy and Issue Training in the Capitol’s Legislative Conference Center, room E2.002 (bottom floor of the Capitol) 12-1: Grab lunch on your own at the Capitol Grill and return to the LCC for table conversations/questions. 1-3: Legislative Visits. 3-3:30: Debrief and Adjourn. To get a ticket and for more info, check out the Facebook!

Friday, March 29

• Williamson County Young Democrats: WCYD will be having a board game night from 6:30-9pm at 121 Monahans Dr., Georgetown 78628.

Saturday, March 30

• Beto for America Launch: Join Beto and fans from 9-11 PM for a rally in Austin to launch his campaign for president. For more info, check here.

Community Engaged Learning Events March 11-17

Monday, March 11

• March to the Capitol for Public Education: Join the Texas State Teachers Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association, and Texas-American Federation of Teachers in a Rally for Public Education. 12 pm- 2 pm at the Capitol (1100 Congres Ave). Link

Tuesday, March 12

• Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training: Interested in registering people to vote? If you are eighteen years old, a US citizen and a Texas resident, you are eligible to become a VDR! The elections office will conduct a class at 2 pm. All classes are conducted at the county offices in Georgetown located at 301 SE Inner Loop, Ste. 104 in Georgetown. Class size is limited so you must contact the training team either by email teamtraining@wilco.org or phone (512-943-1630) to reserve a seat no later than 12:00 pm on the day you wish to attend training. Classes are approximately 30 minutes. Due to the length of training, anyone arriving more than five minutes late may be asked to reschedule. For more info, click HERE.

• The War on Voting Rights: A Townhall Discussion- Join the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and Texas Rising for an interactive discussion at Studio 919 (919 Congress Ave., Austin 78701). The discussion will be about voting rights, making voting more accessible, fighting voter suppression and engaging more young people and people of color. The panel consists of: Rep. Rafael Anchía (MALC Chairman), Hon. Bruce Elfant (Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector), Michael Li (Senior Counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice’s Democracy Program) and Mimi Marziani (President of the Texas Civil Rights Project). Admission is free, but space is limited. RSVP is required. Link
• Georgetown City Council Meeting: 6-8 pm at City Council Chambers (101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown).

Wednesday, March 13

• Georgetown ADA Advisory Board Meeting: The Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Council regarding accessibility and other issues of concern to persons with disabilities. 6-7 pm at the Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd, Georgetown)
• Table Talk- Tax Reform: Join SU’s Project for Free Speech and Civil Discourse for dinner and a discussion on tax reform and tax cuts. 600 Degrees Pizza will be provided! Wednesday, March 13, 6-8 pm, Prothro 132. For more info, check out the FB.

Thursday, March 14

• Public Education with Rep. Dan Huberty: Join The Texas Tribune in person or on our live stream for a conversation with public education committee chair Rep. Dan Huberty, moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith. 7:30-9 am at Studio 919 at the Texas Tribune (919 Congress Ave., Sixth Floor, Austin 78701). Link
• Georgetown Animal Shelter Advisory Board Meeting: The Animal Shelter Advisory Board ensures the City of Georgetown Animal Shelter complies with all City and State laws governing its operation.  The Board shall make recommendations to the City Council regarding the Georgetown Animal Shelter and its operations. 6-7 pm at the Georgetown Animal Shelter (110 W.L. Walden Drive, Georgetown)
• Day of Action for Immigrant Families: Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance will be rallying and visiting legislators. The rally is at 10am and the visits start at 1. Make sure to register for the event. RSVP and find out more info HERE
• Georgetown Parks and Recreation Board Meeting: This Board advises the City Council on the uses of parkland, parks, recreational facilities, improvements in programs and activities, and facilities to meet community recreation needs and interests. 6-7 pm at the Parks Administration Building (1101 N. College St., Georgetown)

Civic Engagement Events~ March 3-10

**Want to visit the Texas Capitol? Career Services will be making a trek down on March 29 from 10:30 am- 3:30 pm. You MUST rsvp and must do so by March 22. For more information and to rsvp, go here

Sunday, March 3

• Deadline to sign up for Trans Lobby Day at the TXLege: NASW Texas and Transgender Education Network of Texas invite you to participate in a Lobby Day on Thursday, March 7, 2019, in order to visit with elected representatives. The registration deadline is March 3!! Register HERE
• Block Walk for Jaquita Wilson: Come help the Jaquita Wilson campaign knock on doors to get Jaquita onto the Georgetown City Council. Can’t get there right at noon? No worries. Show up when you can. Snacks and water provided. 12-6 pm at 1813 S Main St. Click here for more info

Monday, March 4

• Texas Rally for Medicaid Expansion: From 10am-12pm, there will be a rally for Medicaid expansion at the Texas Capitol. For more info, go HERE.

Tuesday, March 5

• Georgetown District 5 Town Hall: From 6:30-7:30 pm at Berry Creek Country Club (30500 Berry Creek Dr., Georgetown).
• Georgetown Public Library Advisory Board: 5:30-6:30 pm at the Georgetown Library (402 W. 8th St., Georgetown). This Board makes recommendations regarding the development of the book collection, programming, and other services provided by the Georgetown Public Library.
• Williamson County Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training: The elections office will conduct a class at 2 pm and 6 pm. All classes are conducted at the county offices in Georgetown located at 301 SE Inner Loop, Ste. 104 in Georgetown. Class size is limited so you must contact the training team either by email teamtraining@wilco.org or phone (512-943-1630) to reserve a seat no later than 12:00 pm on the day you wish to attend training. Classes are approximately 30 minutes. Due to the length of training, anyone arriving more than five minutes late may be asked to reschedule. For more info, click HERE.

Wednesday, March 6

• Meet and Greet Jaquita Wilson: 6-8pm at 106 Parque CV, Georgetown. Jaquita is running for City Council in District 7.
• Georgetown Unified Development Code Amendment Open House: Please join for an open house to learn more about the proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC). Amendments include Certificate of Appropriateness process, parkland dedication, residential building materials, and public meeting notification requirements. The meeting will be open house style and the Planning Director will give a presentation at 4:15 PM and again at 5:15 PM. Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Georgetown Public Library, 2nd Floor
• General Government and Finance Advisory Board: The purpose of the General Government and Finance Advisory Board is to review and analyze the general government and finance activities of the City. Location: Georgetown City Hall-Community Room (808 Martin Luther King Jr Street, Georgetown, TX 78626). 4:30-6 pm.

Thursday, March 7

• Texas College Democrats Lobbying Day: Come join College Democrats from around the state in lobbying Texas legislators! More details on schedule TBD… follow details at FB page HERE
• Georgetown 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee: The purpose of this steering committee is to provide recommendations to  City Council and the joint work sessions with the Planning and Zoning Commission and act as ambassadors of the Plan, building consensus within the Community. 6pm at the Georgetown Public Library (402 W 8th, Georgetown)

Friday, March 8

• Georgetown Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Board Meeting: The mission of the Georgetown Convention & Visitors Bureau is to encourage the community’s economic success through promotion of Georgetown as a tourist destination, preserve & enhance the cultural heritage and unique character of the community, and attract conventions and group tours to maximize the financial impact of tourism on the community. 8:30-9:30 am at the Convention & Visitors Bureau Office (103 West 7th St., Georgetown)
• Georgetown Main Street Advisory Board Meeting: The Main Street Advisory Board assists the Downtown Development Manager in a number of ways, including expanding the interest base and support group and fundraising for the Main Street Program or special projects through the Main Street Program. 8:30-9:30 am at Georgetown City Hall (808 Martin Luther King Jr St, Georgetown)
• Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board Meeting: This Board advises and assists City Council in the development of a multi-modal transportation planning process in coordination with regional, state, county, and local transportation agencies. 10-11 am at the Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd, Georgetown)
• Georgetown Utility System Advisory Board Meeting: The GUS Board makes recommendations to City Council regarding staff presentations related to capital improvement projects and priorities, utility services, resource supplies, and other Council-assigned projects. 2-3 pm at the Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd, Georgetown)

Community Engaged Learning Feb. 24- Mar. 3

Georgetown City Council 101

• Georgetown city council members serve three-year terms with council districts having staggering election dates. If you live on Southwestern’s campus, your city councilwoman is Rachael Jonrowe who is not up for election until next year.
• There are three city council races occurring in Georgetown this upcoming May. District 3,4 and 7 are all contested races. Want to find out what district you live in? Check out the property information lookup at this link: https://maps.georgetown.org/council-district-maps/.
• Boards and Commissions: The City Council is committed to appointing highly qualified and dedicated individuals to the Georgetown Advisory Boards and Commissions as they provide recommendations to City Council. The Boards and Commissions application process takes place from the first of November through the first week in January each year, with membership appointments beginning the first of March. To see all the boards and commissions, check out this link: https://government.georgetown.org/category/boards-commissions/

Monday, Feb. 25

• Georgetown Village Public Improvement District Meeting: The monthly meeting is at 6 pm at the West Side Service Center (5501 Williams Dr.)

Tuesday, Feb. 26

• City Council Meeting: The monthly meeting is from 6-8 pm at City Council chambers (101 E. 7th St., Georgetown, TX)

Wednesday, Feb. 27

• Austin Avenue bridges open house meeting: The City of Georgetown Public Works Department will hold an open house meeting for public input on the Austin Avenue bridges rehabilitation project. The focus of the meeting is to get public input on options for railing designs on the bridges. The open house meeting is 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 27 in the Hewlett Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St. For more information, check out the FB page https://www.facebook.com/events/2318240391755771/.

Thursday, Feb. 28

• Historic and Architectural Review Commission (HARC): This board makes recommendations to City Council on the designation of historic sites or districts, acts and assists the City Council in formulating design guidelines and other supplemental materials relevant to the historic preservation or design review, and approves or denies Certificates of Design Compliance.  Their monthly meeting is at City Council Chamber (101 E 7th St., Georgetown) at 6 pm
  
  

Community Engaged Learning Feb.11- Feb.16

Mon. Feb 11

• Georgetown Historic and Architectural Review Commission: 6 pm at Historic Lights and Waterworks (406 W 8th, Georgetown, 78626). This board makes recommendations to City Council on the designation of historic sites or districts, acts and assists the City Council in formulating design guidelines and other supplemental materials relevant to the historic preservation or design review, and approves or denies Certificates of Design Compliance.  

Tuesday, Feb 12

• Williamson County Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training: Want to be able to register people to vote? Come to this training at 2 pm to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar! Please contact Williamson County elections department either by email (teamtraining@wilco.org) or by telephone (Holly Justice 512-943-1629 or Jessica Ham 512-943-1690) to reserve your spot in one of the training classes no later than noon the day of. Once your request is received, they will either send an email or call you confirming your reserved spot for training. All training classes will be offered at the Elections Department located at 301 SE Inner Loop Georgetown, TX 78626.

• Georgetown City Council Meeting: 6-8 pm at City Council Chambers (101 E 7th Street, Georgetown 78626)

• Film Screening- Bring It to The Table (Free Food!): Southwestern’s Project for Free Speech and Civil Discourse is hosting a film screening of Julie Winokur’s documentary film, “Bring It To The Table”. This film explores political intolerance, hyperpartisanship, and the need for dialogue across political boundaries through a series of interviews conducted by the director.  For more information about the film, click here: https://bringit2thetable.org/ Sandwiches from Thundercloud Subs, drinks, and desserts will be provided! Vegan and gluten-free options will be available!

Wednesday, Feb 13

• Georgetown ADA Advisory Board Meeting: 6-7 pm at Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd, Georgetown 78626). The Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Council regarding accessibility and other issues of concern to persons with disabilities.

Thursday, Feb. 14

• Texas Tribune- Meet the New Republicans in the TX House: From 7:30-9 am at on the Sixth Floor of 919 Congress Ave, Austin 7870. For more information and tickets, check out the FB link
• Georgetown Animal Shelter Advisory Board Meeting: 6-7 pm at the Georgetown Animal Shelter (110 W.L. Walden Drive Georgetown, Texas 78626). The Animal Shelter Advisory Board ensures the City of Georgetown Animal Shelter complies with all City and State laws governing its operation in addition to making recommendations to the City Council.
• Georgetown Parks and Rec Meeting: 6-7 pm at Parks and Recreation Building (1101 N. College St. Georgetown, TX 78626). This Board advises the City Council on the uses of parkland, parks, recreational facilities, improvements in programs and activities, and facilities to meet community recreation needs and interests.  

Saturday, Feb. 16

Williamson County Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training: Want to be able to register people to vote? Come to this training at 10 pm to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar! Please contact Williamson County elections department either by email (teamtraining@wilco.org) or by telephone (Holly Justice 512-943-1629 or Jessica Ham 512-943-1690) to reserve your spot in one of the training classes no later than noon the day of. Once your request is received, they will either send an email or call you confirming your reserved spot for training. All training classes will be offered at the Elections Department located at 301 SE Inner Loop Georgetown, TX 78626.

Voter Registration 101 & Events for Feb. 4- Feb. 10

Voter Registration 101

This blog post is dedicated to thoroughly breaking down voter registration in Texas. Even though it is a lot of information, hopefully, this will answer any current or future questions about voter registration. To start off, I will identify important key players in the process:

• Tx SOS: The Texas Secretary of State (SOS) is appointed by the Governor, with confirmation by the Senate. The Secretary serves as Chief Election Officer for Texas, assisting county election officials and ensuring the uniform application and interpretation of election laws throughout Texas.
• County Elections offices: County elections officers are in charge of processing voter registration application and issuing voter registration cards.
• VDR: Volunteer Deputy Registrars are entrusted with the responsibility of officially registering voters in the State of Texas. They are appointed by county voter registrars and charged with helping increase voter registration in the state.

Williamson County is providing several extra VDR trainings this semester which I’ve been listing in my posts. Y’all should definitely take advantage of them! You’ll be able to register people in Wilco for 2 years! Check out this link for the qualifications of being a VDR.

Where can I register to vote? Voting in Texas is done county by county and you must get registered to vote in the county you reside in. If you live in more than one county, you may choose which one you want to be registered in. So, for college students (who are going to college in a different county from their home), this means that you can either be registered in your home county or here, in Williamson County. You MUST vote in person or via mail-in ballot for wherever you are registered. For example, if you’re registered to vote in Austin (Travis County), you cannot vote on a full ballot in Williamson County. This means that if you’re registered to vote outside of Williamson County, during the school year you have 3 options for voting:

1) go home and vote in your county

2) get a mail-in ballot or

3) change your registration to vote in Williamson County.

**Important note, if you move you must be sure to update your voter registration card! If you move within your county, you can update your info here https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager. If you move counties, you must get registered to vote in that county and make sure to fill out “change of Address, name or other information.”

How do I get registered? In Texas, you must get registered by a VDR from your county OR you can print out a pdf of the application and mail it or drop it off at your county elections office. If you want to get registered outside of Williamson, check out this link: https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrapp/index.asp. If you want to be registered in Williamson, check out this link: https://www.wilco.org/Departments/Elections/Voter-Registration/Register-to-Vote.

** Another Important note: you CANNOT get registered to vote online in Texas. Over the past midterms, there were several people who registered to vote on vote.org and they were denied voting registration cards. So, make sure you follow the processes laid out above.

When should I get registered? As long as you are 17 and 10 months old, you can get registered to vote whenever. However, if you are planning on voting in an upcoming election, you have to be registered 30 days before you can actually vote. If 30 days before the election is on the weekend or a holiday, the application is considered timely if submitted before the or on the next election day.

Am I already registered to vote? Check if you’re registered (it is illegal to be registered in two counties!!) and if you are eligible to vote (https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/).

Events for Feb. 4- Feb. 10

Feb. 5

• Liberation Not Incarceration Advocacy Day 2019: Texas Advocates for Justice and Grassroots Leadership join forces to rally against incarceration and deportation outside the Capitol. 9:30 am- 3pm at the Texas Capitol. Sign up and find out more here

• Georgetown Public Library Advisory Board: 5:30- 6:30 pm at the Georgetown Public Library (402 W. 8th Street Georgetown, Texas 78626). This Board makes recommendations regarding the development of the book collection, programming, and other services provided by the Georgetown Public Library.
• Williamson County Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training: Want to be able to register people to vote? Come to this training at 2 pm or 6 pm to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar! Please contact Williamson County elections department either by email (teamtraining@wilco.org) or by telephone (Holly Justice 512-943-1629 or Jessica Ham 512-943-1690) to reserve your spot in one of the training classes no later than noon the day of. Once your request is received, they will either send an email or call you confirming your reserved spot for training. All training classes will be offered at the Elections Department located at 301 SE Inner Loop Georgetown, TX 78626.
• Georgetown Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting: 6 pm at City council Chambers (101 E. 7th Street Georgetown Texas 78626). The Planning and Zoning Commission is an appointed seven-member body assigned the task of reviewing various types of development related applications and providing recommendations on such to the Georgetown City Council.

Feb. 6

• Georgetown Main Street Advisory Board Committee Meeting: 4:30 pm at Georgetown City Hall (113 E. 8th St Georgetown, Texas 78626). The Main Street Advisory Board assists the Downtown Development Manager in a number of ways, including expanding the interest base and support group and fundraising for the Main Street Program or special projects through the Main Street Program.This board identifies and utilizes local, state, federal and private sources including grants and contributions.  

Feb. 7

• Georgetown 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee Meeting: 6 pm at the Georgetown Public Library (402 W. 8th Street Georgetown, Texas 78626). The purpose of this steering committee is to provide recommendations to  City Council and the joint work sessions with the Planning and Zoning Commission and act as ambassadors of the Plan, building consensus within the Community.
• No Kill Day at the Capitol: Hosted by Texas Pets Alive and Austin Pets Alive, the public is invited to come out and show support for no-kill laws. Celebrate progress made and the legislators who’ve supported animal rights. 11am-12:30 pm at the Texas Capitol. To learn more, go here.

Feb. 8

• Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Meeting: 8:30- 9:30 am at Convention & Visitors Bureau Office (103 West 7th Street, Georgetown Texas 78626). The mission of the Georgetown Convention & Visitors Bureau is to encourage the community’s economic success through the promotion of Georgetown as a tourist destination, preserve & enhance the cultural heritage and unique character of the community, and attract conventions and group tours to maximize the financial impact of tourism on the community.
• Georgetown Main Street Advisory Board Meeting: 8:30- 9:30 am at Georgetown City Council (113 E. 8th St., Georgetown, Texas 78626). The Main Street Advisory Board assists the Downtown Development Manager in a number of ways, including expanding the interest base and support group and fundraising for the Main Street Program or special projects through the Main Street Program.
• Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board Meeting: 10-11 am at Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd, Georgetown, 78626). This Board advises and assists City Council in the development of a multi-modal transportation planning process in coordination with regional, state, county, and local transportation agencies.
• Georgetown Utility System Advisory Board Meeting: 2-3 pm at Georgetown Municipal Complex (300-1 Industrial Blvd, Georgetown, 78626). The GUS Board makes recommendations to City Council regarding staff presentations related to capital improvement projects and priorities, utility services, resource supplies, and other Council-assigned projects.

Feb. 10

Texas Freedom Network LGBT & TX Lege Info Session: starting at 12:45 at the Congregational Church of Austin on Sunday, the Texas Freedom Network will share what they expect for the LGBT community during this Texas Legislative Session. Feel free to park for free in the UT Co-op garage on the southwest corner of San Antonio St and 23rd St. The church where the meeting is being held is on the northeast corner of San Antonio and 23rd St. Parking is free until 2 pm.  https://www.facebook.com/events/277399396269413/