The Voter
League of Women Voters of the Midland Area
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IN THIS ISSUE
IN THE NEWS
Educational booklet for new voters
CALENDAR
Oct 14, 10 - 3
Senior Expo
Midland Mall

Oct 27, 7pm
Amending the Constitution
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library
Community Room

 Nov 3
City Council Election
Ward 4

Nov 5, 9:30am
Board of Directors
Library Conf Rm A

Nov 16, 2-4pm 

Planning Meeting

Library Conf Rm A

 

Nov 10, 2-4:30pm

Consensus Mtg for Constitutional Amendment Study

Strosacker Bldg

Room 107

 

Dec 2, 4pm

Board of Directors

Rosemar Wilson's

 

Dec 2, 6pm

Holiday Gathering

Rosemary Wilson's

see below
  

HOLIDAY  GATHERING
Mark your calendars for WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 6:00 PM. Once again Rosemary Wilson has graciously offered to host us at her home at 4113 Cruz Drive. Cost will remain at $6.00. What a bargain for a delightful evening!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President

VP Membership

VP Program

Secretary

Treasurer
Directors
Judy Donahue - Program
Terry Townley - Education
Cathy Heng - Print Media
Katherine Redwine - New Media
Carole Swinehart - Voter Service
Kim Steinke - Voter Service

CONNECTIONS
  
  
  
  
  
  

OCTOBER 2015
President's Letter

We kicked off our fall activities with the City Council candidates' forum on September 30 and the Town Hall on Redistricting on October 2. Senior Expo on October 14 comes next, followed by a presentation on October 27 and consensus meeting on November 10 regarding the National LWV Constitutional Amendment study. This study topic may sound a bit esoteric, both in content and reason for pursuing, but in reality it's very relevant and important, and at the level we're addressing it, not all that complicated. See below for more details.
 
Our second study this year, to update the National LWV position on Money in Politics, will take our attention in January. It's pretty clear why this topic is so important, as it has gained much significance since the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court in 2010.
 
If you want to learn more about these two important topics while contributing to the work of the League, join us in the study and consensus process. The background documents  are well prepared and manageable - we're not expected to become experts on the subjects, just well-enough informed to address the consensus questions so that the national LWV can develop positions.  
 
Planning! By the end of January we will have had a full and productive first half of our year. Now we must decide where our focus will be for February-June. We would like input from the membership on topics, programs, speakers, social activities that might interest you, so please join the Board on Monday, November 16, 2:00 - 4:00 pm in Library Conference Room A to share your ideas. Or if participating in the meeting isn't an option, you can send suggestions to me at suedonmc@aol.com or give me a call at 631-4180.

Membership Dues - if you haven't renewed, NOW is the time. Renewal Form
Senior Expo, Oct 14, 10-3, Midland Mall
We will be hosting a booth at this fall's Senior Expo sponsored by the Midland Daily News. Our focus for this year's event will be to continue the education efforts on Redistricting in Michigan. Seniors will have the opportunity to learn more about redistricting through displays and handouts. Watch for our ad in the Midland Daily News Senior Expo insert on Sunday, October 11.
 
Stop by and visit us!
Amending the Constitution Lecture
Tuesday October 27, 2015, 7pm
Community Room, Grace A. Dow Library
The Midland LWV is presenting a lecture on Amending the Constitution by Dr. Robert Lane, a faculty member at SVSU in the Political Science Department. The lecture will take place Tuesday October 27, 2015 from 7:00PM to 8:00pm in the Community Room at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. This is to help with our national study on Amending the Constitution. He will give some background and then focus on helping us to define the pros and cons regarding the circumstances that might allow or compel the League to endorse a constitutional amendment or an Article V Convention.
 
Refreshments will be served. Come, learn, participate and support our lecture.
 
The Consensus Meeting for the Constitutional Amendment study will be held Tuesday, November 10, 2:00 - 4:30 pm, Strosacker Building, 220 W. Main, Conference Room 107.

City Council Election, Nov 3

Ward 4 Candidate Forum
Diane Brown Wilhelm, Eugene Moore, and Sue McColliser at the Ward 4 Candidate Forum.
All five City Council seats are up for election on November 3. However, only the 4th Ward is being contested, with Eugene Moore challenging incumbent Diane Brown Wilhelm. Our League sponsored a forum for these two candidates on September 30 at the MCTV studio. The forum is being broadcast by co-sponsor MCTV on Charter 191 and ATT 99 on October 7 & 8 at noon and 11:30 pm; October 9 at 8:00 pm; and October 10 at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm. For the week of October 11 and later until the election, broadcast times can be found at the MCTV website
 
The Midland Daily News also reported on the forum giving details of the candidates' responses.
 
Although the other City Council ward positions are not contested, it's still important to show support for our elected representatives who are serving our community, and we encourage everyone to VOTE on November 3!
 
And thank-you to those who wrote the questions for the candidate forum: Fran Hamburg, Sue McCollister, Kim Steinke
Redistricting Town Hall
Our program on October 2 at the Senior Services Trailside Center was a great success. Kathy Ling gave an excellent presentation, demonstrating how our current redistricting process in Michigan, with the district lines
Redistricting Town Hall
Kathy Ling speaks about Redistricting in Michigan
being drawn by the l egislators in power, allows our elected officials to choose their voters. She described alternatives, some of which are being used in other states. The 62 attendees showed much interest in the subject, with a number of them signing up to receive more information and help educate voters about redistricting reform
      
Redistricting Town Hall

Sue McCollister, Kathy Ling, Trena Winans at the Redistricting Town Hall
Special Thanks go to Trena Winans at Senior Services for co-sponsoring the event with us.
 

 
Kathy Ling, LWV Mt. Pleasant
Kathy Ling, Mount Pleasant area LWV and a member of the state League Advocacy Committee
Radio Days are Coming . . .

Radio Days is the only annual fundraiser in which our League engages. Our budgeted goal is $2,000. The level of our success depends on early and complete planning.
 
Our very first task for this fundraiser is to identify local businesses that might buy ads or sponsor public service ads that will be broadcast on WMPX during Sunshine Week in March. Are you willing to help with this first task?  You do not need to contact any businesses at this point.  We are simply gathering a list of potential advertisers.
 
If your answer is, "Yes, I'd love to help," here are two ways you can participate in making our efforts successful this year:
 
1. Write down the names of local businesses that you believe might participate. Include the names of business owners and phone numbers, if you know them. E-mail that information to karsherwood@att.net ; OR mail it to LWV of the Midland Area, P. O. Box 1203, Midland, MI 48641; OR call Karen Sherwood at 832-3533.
 
2. Volunteer to attend a planning meeting in the next few weeks. Use the same three modes of notification offered in 1. above (e-mail, U.S.mail, or phone).   The actual date and time of the meeting will be set to accommodate the schedules of as many volunteers as possible.
 
Remember, the easiest jobs are offered first. Don't miss out on this opportunity!!

New Member - Diane Brown Wilhelm

Welcome, new member Diane Brown Wilhelm.

Diane is an elected member of City Council for Ward 4 and is the Legislative Director for the City of Midland. Prior to being elected to City Council, she served two terms on the Planning Commission for the City of Midland and chaired the last two yeas of her term.

Diane also works for Accenture in Midland, specializing in program/project management, implementation of multi-million dollar initiatives related to information technology (IT), mergers and acquisitions on a global level.

Diane has an MS from CMU and a BS from SVSU.

In her spare time, Diane enjoys scrapbooking, reading and traveling to destinations with an abundance of sun and warmth.
Membership Renewal
Please renew your membership 
individual $60 ~ family $90 ~ student $30
mail to: LWV - Midland Area
P.O. Box 1203
Midland, MI 48641-1203