Arlington Event Calendar

Arlington Civic Federation is considering whether we can suggest improvements in Arlington’s Form of Government and electoral system. This fourth in our series of public presentations considers voting systems.

Presenters: Todd Donovan, Professor of Political Science, Western Washington University; Pedro Hernandez and Deb Otis, FairVote

There are many different voting systems. Arlington uses first-past-the-post primaries (or caucuses) followed by an FPTP general election, with office holders elected at-large. Most are familiar with election by districts. This presentation will address some of the voting systems that we may be less familiar with. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the major alternative voting systems? What is each system good at and what is it not so good at?

Are particular systems a better fit for communities with certain characteristics? Does size (geographic or population) matter? How about the degree of heterogeneity vs. homogeneity of the population? Arlington has a population of approximately 230,000 and is very compact, encompassing only 26 square miles. Should those characteristics influence what sort of voting models we should be considering? How should we factor in the degree and distribution of racial/ethnic diversity? Viewpoint diversity?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having partisan or nonpartisan elections? Do certain of the voting systems work better in either a partisan or nonpartisan context? When jurisdictions have moved to new election models, including RCV, what have been their motivations and expectations?

Are you ready to jump into homeownership, or start considering it, and don’t know where to start? Mortgage rates are at historic lows, and we can help start your journey. You no longer need a 20% down payment so homeownership may be within your grasp.

This introduction to homebuying and the mortgage process with Arlington Community FCU’s VP of Lending Katherine Magruder and Loan Officer Chantal George will help you feel prepared for buying your first home.

TO RECEIVE DPOR CERTIFICATION FOR THIS WEBINAR, YOU MUST BE ON-CAMERA WITH YOUR WEBCAM OR MOBILE DEVICE! Those who attend and are NOT on camera will not receive certification.

SPEAKER:

Barrie B. Bowers is an attorney with in-house experience for a major apartment real estate investment trust who understands the needs of property management and other real estate companies. She has extensive experience in a full range of property management issues, real estate transactions, outdoor advertising, and landlord-tenant and fair housing laws, including representing clients before the Virginia Real Estate and Fair Housing Boards.

Barrie provides in-house training on a broad range of property management legal issues and has expertise in negotiation of contracts with providers of voice, data and video including cable and telephone companies. For real estate clients, Barrie regularly handles sales, acquisition and other property transactions, ranging from easements to single asset purchases to portfolio transactions. Barrie’s diligent approach from the beginning to end of any project helps maintain a focus on the finish line, while anticipating and attending to the details of the project along the way.

This meeting will take place on the Zoom platform. Credentials will be sent within 24 hours of the start of the webinar.

SALT: A different kind of Toastmasters Club!

We seek individuals who are seasoned and aspiring communicators and leaders.

If you are someone who is seeking communication and leadership development opportunities, we invite you to join our Club.

Our June 2021 meeting is Saturday, June 19, 2021, 2-4 p.m. It will be online.

We’ll show you the how-to’s of communication and leadership, invite guest speakers who have excelled in the communication and leadership spectrums, and present best practices for being an effective and efficient communicator and leader in every other capacity of life.

Most importantly, SALT allows you the chance to build friendships and relationships with other seasoned and aspiring Toastmasters across D.C., Maryland and Virginia, so that we can work together effectively and have a lot of fun at the same time!

Please attend our next meeting so you can see why SALT is a different kind of Toastmasters Club!

If you have any further questions, please let me know.

Yours in Toastmastering…

Ralph

The best way to get your point across is to tell a story. Whether you need someone to support your organization, invest in your idea, or get excited about following your lead, refining your storytelling skills can help.

With Storymasters, you’ll learn storytelling tips and techniques using the Toastmasters Communication and Leadership Program and the Pathways Learning Experience. You’ll create a story brief to identify your key stakeholders, their needs, and your big idea; explore different mediums for telling your story and create multiple versions to gather feedback from others; and work on tone, style, and timing to better engage your audience.

Storymasters will help you craft a compelling narrative, inspire others to follow your lead, and connect with diverse audiences. Gain feedback from a diverse community and walk away with confidence in your ability to motivate people toward a vision and make meaningful change in the world through storytelling.

We look forward to seeing you…

If you have any questions, please let me know .

Ralph T. Jones, Jr., DTM, PDG, LD5
703-475-3208
[email protected]