Welcome Back!
It seems as though summer is flying by, but we are already preparing for the 2019-2020 Program year.
This year, we are concentrating on Issues - subjects that we have Positions on. (Check League website for Position statements.)
- Census 2020
- Climate Change
- League History
- Advocacy
- New Voting laws
Elections coming up in 2020
- Presidential Primary - March 10
- State Primary - August 4
- General Election - November 3
The LWV of the Midland Area will be conducting candidate forums for local races and other informational activities related to elections in 2020.
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Welcome, New Members
Rebecca (Becky) Carlson of Midland
Deborah and Sue Lasley of Essexville
have recently joined.
Welcome Rebecca, Deborah and Sue
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Kickoff! Program
Tues, Sept 24, 7pm 
Creative 360
Census 2020 will be the featured topic at the Kickoff! Program. Chloe Updegraff, Regional Census Hub Coordinator, Great Lakes Bay Region, will tell us why the census is important, what is being done to reach undercounted populations, and how we can help.
And there is a lot at stake in our community and as a State, both financially as well as our crucial representation in Washington DC and Lansing.
Join us at 7pm for fellowship and refreshments followed by Chloe's presentation.
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Civil Rights and Racism Forum
Thursday, August 15, 6pm
Grace A. Dow Library Auditorium.
Although this is not a League sponsored program, it has important implications for the League's
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals.
An article in the Midland Daily News announced this community forum on Civil Rights and Racism. The article goes on to define Racism and give some background. The public is invited. It is being organized by Dr. Stephanie Baiyasi, Assistant Professor of Biology at Delta College, and Dr. Ziggy Kozicki, Associate Professor of Health Services Administration at University of Detroit Mercy.
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The MI Secretary of State is seeking public comment about the Citizen's Redistricting Commission. Go to this link to make your statement. This is the time for you to participate.
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Proposal 3 - Now What?
The
LWV-MI Voter Service Committee is consulting with
the Secretary of State Bureau of Elections, the ACLU, and others who share the desire to spread the word about changes in Voting. Stay tuned for information or links to documents helping you understand the changes.
As a matter of fact, the ACLU of Michigan has released a web page with answers: Know Your Rights: Voting. The page starts with some videos, and lower down uses a Q&A format. So don't be afraid to scroll down!
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Supreme Court Declines to Set a Standard to Rein in Partisan Gerrymandering
Supreme Court decision in Rucho v League of Women Voters of North Carolina was handed down June 27.
This decision adversely affected the
LWVMI lawsuit that was making its way through the courts.
LWVMI President Judy Karanjeff released this statement:
"Today's U.S. Supreme Court decision is disappointing and will allow those who rigged Michigan's elections based on partisanship off the hook in federal courts. However, with the new independent redistricting proposal in Michigan that the majority of voters supported in 2018, we look forward to a new system being used in 2021 to draw districts for the next decade. The League is very proud of the work done by our League members, expert witnesses and our lawyers in our case and the unanimous victory we had in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The information we discovered about the extent of gerrymandering done in Michigan shows the abuse of power in the process. We look forward to educating voters on the importance of applying for the new redistricting commission. The League of Women Voters shined a light on how egregious the gerrymanders in our congressional and legislative districts are and we will continue fighting until every vote counts."
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Lawsuit filed to block Redistricting Commission
See this article in the
Detroit News. The lawsuit will take some time to make its way through the courts. The
LWVMI will keep us updated.
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Voter Suppression
New data reveal that counties with a history of voter discrimination have continued purging people from the rolls at elevated rates.
Article released 1 Oct 2019 by the
Brennan Center for Justice.
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Women Who Made History
People needed to help transcribe
Suffragist papers - diaries, letters, fliers, etc. Don't be shy, if you can read cursive, you have skills that are needed.
See here.
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Watch this space!
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We are currently working on a completely different web experience. You should see the new web page by the end of August. It will replace the current web page, and no change in address will be necessary.
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Sep 24, 7pm - Kickoff! at Creative 360. Featuring a talk about Census 2020.
Oct 9 - Fall Senior Expo, Midland Mall. Look for sign up opportunities in Sept.
Oct 16, 7pm - America's Renewable Energy Boom. Co-sponsored by and held at Chippewa Nature Center
Dec 5, 11:45am - Holiday Luncheon. Details to follow.
Jan 14, 2pm - The LWVMI VP for Advocacy will talk to us about advocacy priorities from the state League. Creative 360.
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Board Members
The board meets the First Thursday of each month at Creative360, 9:30-11:30. No meeting in June or July. All members are welcome.
VP Membership - Carol McPherson
VP Program - Judy Donahue
Director, Voter Service - Sue McCollister
Director, Natural Resources - Carole Swinehart
Director, Natural Resources - Sandy Collinson
Director, Sandy Haughton
Director, Webpage - Julie Schmidt
Director, Print Media - Cathy Heng
Director, New Media - Katherine Redwine
Director, Sharron Such
Director, Terry Townley
Director, Kathryn (Kathy) Miller
Director, Cindy LeVasseur
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| LWV-Bay County (geographical unit of LWV Midland Area) |
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When you visit our sponsors, please identify yourself as a LWV Member
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The LWV of the Midland Area can always make good use of donations.
You can make unrestricted donations to the LWV of the Midland Area. These are not tax deductible.
You can make tax deductible donations to the LWV - Education Fund. These funds are used for educational activities.
You can also donate to special projects such as the Voters Guide or 100th Anniversary celebration.
Checks should be made out to LWV - Midland Area or LWV - Education Fund. Send to Karen Sherwood, Treasurer
6005 Millbrook, Midland, 48640
Thank-you.
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