Warren Slocum joins world election commission Warren Slocum joins world election commission (March 14, 2001)

San Mateo County's energetic election chief will be sharing his high-tech election expertise with the world as a member of Election Resource and Review Commission recently established by the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers.

The new commission aims to bring the huge amount of election experience of its members to groups and governments who need it. Members will offer expert testimony to Congressional and state hearings on election reform.

The outspoken Mr. Slocum not only produces some of the fastest election results in California, he has served on California's internet Voting Teask Force, and helped the League of Women Voters develop its SmartVoter, one of the most popular voter-education sites on the Web.

In 1997, Mr. Slocum even observed elections in Albania as a member of the U.S. Election Observation Team.

Fundraising record

As last year's booming economy raised incomes, it also raised charitable donations.

The Peninsula Community Foundation set a new national record for the most gifts received by a community foundation in a fiscal year. The 36-year old foundation received $229 million in gifts, breaking the $200 million mark for the first time. It awarded grants of $65 million to local charities.

The foundation, based in San Mateo, manages $440 million in 535 charitable funds set up by individuals, corporations, and family foundations. These funds support causes ranging from families, health and education, to the environment, arts and culture, and promoting philanthropy.

Conversation hour

International students and spouses of students at Stanford University need volunteers to help them practice their English. Volunteers will converse with them in English for one hour a week. For more information, call the Office of the Community Committee for International Students at Stanford at 326-5252.