Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy |
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This LWVDDH News email is sent to LWVDDH members and supporters. For more information about any of the items or to share other public affair items for the newsletter, please contact us at info@lwvddh.org. |
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Dearborn City Council Passes Resolution to Provide Election Materials in Arabic
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From City of Dearborn News
For the first time ever, election ballots and other election related materials will be translated into Arabic.
A City Council resolution introduced by Council Member Mustapha Hammoud and supported by Council President Pro-Tem Erin Byrnes was adopted unanimously (7-0) on March 22.
The resolution also provides for translation into other languages if that language is spoken by 5% or more of Dearborn residents.
The City Clerk's office is expected to implement the measures in time for the August 2022 primary election.
More information is available on the League's website. |
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Dearborn City Charter Commission Continues Its Work
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The Commission has its own webpage at cityofdearborn.org/chartercommission and includes information about its nine commissioners, the meeting schedule, minutes of the meetings, and information about how to access live meetings through Zoom.
Meetings are generally held on Wednesdays at 6 pm. Upcoming meetings during April and May are set for: 4/19, 5/17, and 5/25.
Comments to the Commission can be sent via the Commission's email at chartercomm@ci.dearborn.mi.us or at the public comment portion of the Zoom meetings.
There is also a section on the League's website under GET INVOLVED devoted to the Charter Commission.
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The League of Women Voters of Michigan supports the Promote the Vote 2022 (PTV2022) Ballot proposal approved by the MI Board of Canvassers (BOC) on February 11, 2022. This proposal is a constitutional amendment that will go before the voters and is proactively intended to assure that we have a voting system that works for all of us. This proposal was developed based on conversations with voters and election officials. Promote the Vote 2022 gives voters more options by creating a right to in-person early voting for nine days before the election; ensures in-person and absentee voting remains accessible and secure by providing funding for postage, drop boxes and ballot tracking; ensures elections in Michigan are determined by the voters casting their ballot in elections, not by legislators. It will provide a robust absentee tracking system and provide for military and overseas voters to have their ballots counted if postmarked by election day and received within 6 days following the election. Promote the Vote 2022 is the only initiative that does all of these and more. PTV2022 is supported by a robust coalition of nonprofit organizations. [Taken from LWVMI League Links of February 2022] Stay tuned for more details - LWV members and supporters are needed to help gather over 400,000 signatures by July 11, 2022!! If you know now that you will be able to gather signatures, please let us know by contacting Pres. Jen Oliver at jaoliver313@gmail.com. LWVDDH members Karen Jones and Mary Jo Durivage will be helping to organize this effort. They plan on being available at the Biggby's at Military and Michigan Ave to work with volunteers who are picking up or turning in petitions. Stay tuned!! |
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A recording of the special program held on March 16 "Making Democracy Work Town Hall - Update on Voting Rights, Voting Bills and 3 Initiatives" is now available on the LWVDDH website. |
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A Candidate Forum was held on April 4 for the Special General Election to be held on May 3. The race is for the MI State House Representative for the 15th District.
Jeffrey D. Pepper is the Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate is Ginger L. Shearer.
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2022 Meeting Dates
2nd and 4th Thursdays through 9/30/22; 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 10/1-12/31/22
All meetings from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (unless otherwise noticed) 2 nd & 4th Thursdays
April 14 & 28, May 12 & 26, June 9 & 23, July 14 & 28, August 11 & 25, September 8 & 22, October 6 & 20, November 3 & 1, December 1 & 1
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The city of Dearborn will soon be working on budget issues. The following webinar may be of interest to residents. Rethinking Local Government Budgeting. This webinar, offered by MSU Extension Service, will teach participants the concept of fairness in budgeting and discuss how ideas of fairness impact their own budget process and decisions. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, April 13 from 2-3.
Program will be recorded for on-demand viewing, if you register. It is FREE.
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CIVICS EDUCATION AND MORE
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Dearborn Enrichment Class - Republicans and Democrats - What We Have in Common
Class will study the Platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties to identify where we share common ground. Class will also review examples of legislation that garnered bi-partisan support. Lastly, the class will study the major areas of disagreement and see if perhaps there may be some potential for cooperation.
The class will be one session on April 20 at Dearborn HS at 6:30-8:30 pm.
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Henry Ford College Civility in Democracy Day Conference
Friday, May 20, 9-5
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Henry Ford College will be hosting a Civility Conference on May 20, with Stephen Henderson and Nolan Finley.
The conference will be interactive and we will offer continuing education credits (CEUs) for participants who could use them. Also there will be a 3 credit hour special topics course for Summer 2022 that will be available for college credit. This conference will be part of this course, along with other scheduled meetings.
This conference is for students AND the public. Remote option will hopefully be available. Tickets (excluding student and CEU fees) are $30.00 and include lunch.
Read here for more information on this wonderful sounding conference.
Watch a clip from "Spotlight Civility" with Stephen Henderson and Nolan Finley speaking with Chuck Stokes. Later in the program Tony Perry and Russell Kavalhuna share plans for Civility at Henry Ford College.
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NEWS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE |
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Office of the Auditor General confirms the success of Michigan's post-election audits
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Secretary Benson marks Sunshine Week with video series highlighting election transparency
MARCH 14, 2022
The first video explains that Michigan election results in major and close elections will often come many hours if not days after polls close because the state Legislature does not allow local election clerks to preprocess absentee ballots before Election Day.
Subsequent videos will debunk other misinformation and answer commonly asked questions about Michigan's elections. They will be released regularly to prepare voters for the 2022 elections. In coordination with community partners, many of the videos will also be released in additional languages.
The first video is available here now, and will be posted on the department's social media accounts. As the collection grows, it will be housed with the other election information and fact checks already available at Michigan.gov/elections.
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the League website now has a page for the 2022 Ballot Initiatives. It is located under the Advocacy menu item. Click here. |
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In observation of Women's History Month, the Dearborn Heights Community and Cultural Relations Commission recently honored three local women for their proven service and dedication to the city and community. Awards were given during a brunch ceremony on Saturday, March 19 at the Carl E. Stitt Post. Our own LWVDDH President was one of the three women honored . She received the 2021 Outstanding Service Award. Congratulations once again, Jen. |
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Rep. Dingell Opens Downriver Office Inside Woodhaven City Hall
Rep. Dingell Renews Call for Equal Rights Amendment Inclusion in Constitution
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POPULAR MEDIA/ PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTS/ LECTURES/WEBINARS/WEBSITES
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Be sure to check our website for articles about webinars and other virtual events. These are listed on the front page of the website. When a recording is available for these calendar events, a link will be posted to the original article which will now be located on the Calendar page - Past events. |
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A Snapshot of Michigan Ballot Initiatives
Tuesday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m.
Michigan's November ballot will include multiple proposals, both from petitions currently circulating and from others still being developed. Eric Lupher of the
Citizens Research Council of Michigan will review the current status of petitions already being circulated in Michigan, as well as the intended purposes of petitions still being developed. The event is a virtual one. Register here.
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Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability - The Working Group II Contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report assesses the impacts of climate change, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities at global and regional levels. It also reviews vulnerabilities and the capacities and limits of the natural world and human societies to adapt to climate change. Read here.
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I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times / Monica Guzman. |
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"Where Does American Democracy Go From Here? : Six experts discuss how worried we should be about its future" - A round table moderated by Charles Homans.
The New York Times Magazine, March 20, 2022
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Radical American Partisanship: Mapping Violent Hostility, Its Causes, and the Consequences for Democracy / Nathan P. Kalmoe and Lilliana Mason, May 2022.
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April 19/24 - National Volunteer Week
April 21 - LWVMI Advocacy meeting - open to all LWVMI members
April 22 - Earth Day
April 29 - Arbor Day
April 30 - LWVMI Spring Workshop - open to all LWVMI members
May 3 - General election to fill vacant seat left by former Rep. Hammoud
May 20 - Henry Ford College Civility in Democracy Day
June 16 - LWVDDH Annual Meeting
Check our website for more calendar events etc. |
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AMAZON SHOPPERS CAN HELP SUPPORT ED FUND |
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If you are an Amazon shopper, you can make a donation to our Education Fund . Go to AmazonSmile and look for the Education Fund League of Women Voters Dearborn-Dearborn Hts Education Fund. Thank you!
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The League of Women Voters Dearborn-Dearborn Heights is a member organization with affiliation with LWVUS and LWVMI. Membership dues run from July 1- June 30. Dues are $70.00 for individuals, $105.00 for households, and $10.00 for students . To join or renew online, please go to www.lwvddh.org and click "Join/Renew on main page. An application form can also be found and can be mailed to LWV, 120 N. Military, Dearborn MI 48124. Thank you.
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Jennifer Oliver, President
Karen M. Jones, Vice-President
Carolyn Buell, Treasurer
Geraldine Grunow, Secretary
Geri Biggs, Director
Betsy Cushman, Director, Voter Service Chair
Laura Dudgeon, Director
Marlyne Kilbey, Director, Allegria Village Liaison
Colleen Kurecka, Director
Erica Marra, Director
Jennifer Teller, Director, Assistant Treasurer
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League of Women Voters Dearborn/Dearborn Heights
120 N. Military · Dearborn, MI 48124
313-278-6476
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