If we are the League of Women Voters, then we need to step up our voter registration volunteer efforts for the upcoming November election. There will be two ways for members to start registering anyone and everyone they know. 

First, Deputy Registrars can register citizens in person. If you are not a Deputy Registrar at this time, t0 become one, all you would have to do is take an hour online training course from the comfort of your home. Couldn't be easier! If this is the election season that you finally decide to become a Deputy Registrar, email Peggy Kell with your name, address, and email address so your name can be forwarded to the Cook County Clerk's Office. Take the training and then start registering citizens in person anywhere in Illinois this fall. 

Second, if for whatever reason you don't want to be a Deputy Registrar, you can still be an important part of our voter registration drive. All you have to do is attend any upcoming events/festivals and pass out palm cards about voter registration. Walk around the crowd, engage with people, and share voter registration information. Again, easy peasy!

So if you are interested in voter service, please check out the list here, double click in an empty square, and enter your name where you can work. More dates are being added daily, so keep checking the list! Contact Peggy Kell with any questions or dates of local events that we could do voter registration at.

Our Fall Kick-off event will be Tuesday, September 24 at the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park. Our topic will be Fake News: The Evolution of Alternative Facts and the Growing Threat of Mis/dis-information. Starting at 6:30pm, our guest speaker will be Michael A. Spikes, Ph.D, lecturer and director of Teach for Chicago Journalism in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He is a practitioner and scholar in the field of media literacy and news media literacy education. Mark your calendars and share this event information with your friends and neighbors!

The League of Women Voters of Illinois Mis/Dis Information Task Force is continuing their monthly presentation to increase awareness and knowledge of mis/dis information. An upcoming event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, at 7:00pm. "SCOTUS Punts on Social Media Censorship: What’s Next?"

is a free online event and you can register for it here.

Does the First Amendment allow U.S. government officials to intervene and prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms? The U.S. Supreme Court recently had an opportunity to rule on this question. Instead, they declined to issue decisions in two cases, punting them back to officials in Texas and Florida. Jill Wine-Banks, the distinguished attorney and MSNBC Legal Analyst, will also speak about the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent action on social media censorship.

This program will not be recorded for later viewing—so please join to watch it live.

Salt is a big problem for streams, lakes, and rivers in the Upper Mississippi Basin. Salt breaks down into sodium and chloride, which moves freely through soil and builds up in water bodies. Chloride pollution is a serious threat in the Upper Mississippi Basin - what can be done? On Thursday, August 15, LWV UMRR will host panelists from Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin talking about programs in these states in a Zoom event at 7:00pm. You can register here for this free event.

Once salt goes down on roads or sidewalks, it doesn't go away. Salt levels are rising in lakes, streams, and rivers in Illinois. Overuse of salt during the winter can damage our built and natural environments. We can protect our natural resources and reduce road salt without sacrificing safety. Working toward better practices is a multi-faceted endeavor. Programs like the Salt Smart Collaborative, a program of The Conservation Foundation, encourage the use of Salt Smart practices in winter maintenance operations. Salt Smart practices are the best practices for winter maintenance operations that reduce salt use and provide safe surfaces. Resources (like workshops and trainings, the Salt Smart Certified program, and targeted outreach materials) are made available through the Salt Smart Collaborative to transportation agencies, municipalities, park districts, and private contractors to encourage and support the adoption of the best practices for salt use. 

The August 15 panel discussion will help build our understanding on this important topic in water quality!  

Have you paid your League dues? Go online or download a paper copy and send it in ASAP!

LWV UMRR August Newsletter

LWV IL August Newsletter

LWV US August 8 Update

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