February Newsletter

Remember to RSVP by Tuesday, 2/4, for Lunch & Learn.

Happy 100th Birthday,

League of Women Voters!

On February 14, 2020, the League of Women Voters turns 100 years old. To celebrate, local and state Leagues around the country were asked to join in a nationwide day of action called "Women Power the Vote." Our League is recognizing this day a little early with our January 11 Lunch & Learn Birthday Celebration. We are also sending a letter to each of our state and national representatives thanking them for their service to our democracy as well as publishing a press release and letters to the editor in the Tribune.

For almost 97 years, our La Crosse League has registered voters, informed our community on the issues, advocated in the legislature, and in so doing, helped shape our country. I'm very proud of what our League has done, is doing, and will continue to do in our next 100 years. Thank you, League members and partners, and Happy Birthday!

February Lunch & Learn

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Lunch at 11:30, Program at 11:45

The Waterfront

The Banquet Room

(entrance from the north parking lot)

We'll celebrate the League's 100th birthday!

Come in period dress if you'd like,

and enjoy cupcakes from The Meringue Bakery for dessert.

The History of Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin

Theresa Kaminski

Emeritus Professor of History

This illustrated presentation traces the fight for women's voting rights in Wisconsin from statehood to the founding of the League of Women Voters in 1920. It highlights Wisconsin women Ada James, Olympia Brown, and Theodora Youmans, with cameo appearances by movement stalwarts Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

RSVP to reserve a lunch by 2/4 (cost $15).

Please remember that this year we are not accepting payment at the door on the day of the Lunch & Learn programs. We cannot receive reservations for lunch after the RSVP deadline. You will receive an email from LWVLA acknowledging receipt of your reservation. Unfortunately, prepaid lunches are nonrefundable.

Thanks!

You may respond and pay for your lunch via PayPal

here

by mailing a check for $15 to

LWV La Crosse Area

PO Box 363

La Crosse, WI 54602-0363

Please include special dietary considerations with your rsvp.

Election Season Is About to Begin!

Spring Primary Election: February 18

(In-person absentee (early) voting begins on Monday, 2/3.)

Local voters will be narrowing the number of candidates for the WI Supreme Court from 3 to 2, and City of Onalaska voters will narrow the number of candidates for mayor from 3 to 2.

Please display your "Everyone Vote" signs from February 3-18.

Our Voter Services Committee is asking that you put out your sign (if winter allows) on Monday, February 3, the start of early voting for many municipalities. Signs or laminated add-ons with each of the 2020 election dates for attaching to your sign will be available at the 2/11 Lunch & Learn, or you can contact Chris Haskell at [email protected].

Speaking of Democracy

Join the Conversation at LWV Book Club

Thursday, February 6, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Java Vino, 1505 Losey Blvd. S

ALL ARE WELCOME!

The room rental cost is $15 to be divided among participants.

At most only a couple of dollars per time--what a bargain!

Birth of a White Nation: The Invention of White People and Its Relevance Today

by Jacqueline Battalora

"...an exploration of a moment in time when 'white people,' as a separate and distinct group of humanity, were invented through legislation and the enactment of laws."

Source: Amazon.

Onalaska Mayoral Forum

February 6, 2020

7 - 8 PM

Onalaska Public Library

741 Oak Avenue South

Ellen Frantz, representing the League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area, will moderate a debate among the three candidates for the position of mayor of the City of Onalaska. The candidates are Terry Bauer, Jim Binash, and Kim Smith. Frantz will take written questions from members of the audience.

On February 18, voters will determine which two candidates will proceed to the April election for mayor. Background information on all three candidates can be found at Vote411.org

2019-20 Climate Crisis Series

The League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area and

The UW-La Crosse Environmental Studies Department

will sponsor a live broadcast from

LWV of Dane County.

Forum #3: The Promise of Ag Stewardship

Sunday, February 16, 2020, 1-3 PM

(Doors open at 12:45)

UW-La Crosse Student Union, RM3314

521 East Avenue N

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME!

Please join us for the third in our series of forums broadcast live from Dane County on the climate crisis. A panel of Wisconsin farmers will come together to share their experiences of sustainably managing crops, livestock and land while juggling government policies, incentives and farmland development pressures, amidst the ever-changing weather conditions climate change precipitates.

SPEAKERS:

George Crave, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese
Dick Cates, Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers
Kristen Kordet, Blue Moon Community Farm
Ralph Petersen, former NASA and NOAA scientist

For more information, visit here.

Listening Across the Political Divide

Join Us for Two Local Workshops on Civil Discourse

--facilitated by the nationally known, nonpartisan organization, Better Angels

As political differences are polarizing our communities, the LWVLA, Great Rivers United Way, English Lutheran Church, LeaderEthics Wisconsin, UWL Political Science & Policy Administration, Joe Heim, and Western Technical College are sponsoring an opportunity to learn how to speak civilly with each other. We may never change another person's mind, but we can understand where they are coming from, and we can remain friends. These skills are critical to communities the size of La Crosse and Onalaska.

You may attend both workshops. The 2/23 workshop is not a prerequisite for the 3/10 workshop. Both are free, thanks to the local sponsors, but please register for each that you will attend.


Depolarizing Within Sunday, February 23 2:30 to 5:30 PM English Lutheran Church 1509 King St. Much of today's polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often, we stereotype, dismiss, or ridicule fellow citizens who support the other political party, its leaders, and its policies. Register here.	Skills Training T uesday, March 10 2:30 to 5:00 PM Western Technical College Lunda Center, 319 7th St. N. At this workshop, you will: learn what it takes to have constructive, non-polarizing conversations; get a chance to practice these conversations; and be motivated to have these conversations with people in your social network. Register here .

Vote 411 Goes Live!

Members of our VOTE411 committee have received responses from all three City of Onalaska mayoral candidates in the February Spring Primary! You can see this year's Vote 411 responses for the February primary election here.

Invitations will be going out soon to local candidates running in the April 7 election. Please encourage any of them you know to take advantage of this opportunity to share their message with the over 40,000 Wisconsin voters that get their candidate information from our guide on VOTE411.org.

Welcome New League Members

Tom Krajewski

Born and raised in La Crosse, WI.
Served in USAF in Louisiana and Okinawa.
Undergraduate degree in education from UW - La Crosse.
Served as a legislative analyst for 8 years.
Worked in various state agencies and as Vice-President of two national organizations in Washington, D.C.
Worked with former Governor Martin Schreiber as we represented a wide variety of clients.
Now retired, married with one child and two grandchildren

Barb Schultz

I have always lived in La Crosse. I attended UWL and Winona State for degrees in Spanish, English, and Counseling. I taught in the La Crosse District for 46 years, 13 teaching Spanish and English, and 33 as a School Counselor at Longfellow Middle School. While teaching, I was very involved in the La Crosse Education Association leadership. My interests are music--as I am a member of Da Capo Concert Band--sewing, knitting, quilting, and taking care of my toy poodle.