August 24, 2020 Update from LWVLA |
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Reminder:
Join Us This Wednesday, August 26
Our Centennial Celebration Finale
The League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area celebrates the conclusion of its Centennial Year, commemorating 100 years since the US Congress passed the 19th Amendment.
11:45 AM
La Crosse City Hall
In front of the blue-baby egg sculpture (SE Side)
Please join LWVLA members with La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat and Monica Kruse, La Crosse County Board Chair, for a proclamation recognizing the 100 years since Congress passed the 19th Amendment providing women full suffrage rights.
Bring bells, horns or whistles as well as masks.
12:00 PM
Several area churches, synagogues and mosques will ring their facilities’ bells to commemorate the centennial of both the amendment and the League of Women Voters. This bell ringing reenacts the original celebration of the ratification of the 19th in August, 1920, as reported by the Madison Capital Times. Local Leagues across the state are planning similar bell ringing on August 26 at noon in their communities.
Celebrate and Stock Up on GOTV Materials
Drive-up Event
3:30 to 5:00 PM
111South 17th Street
Stop by Chris Haskell's house on Wednesday to say hi and pick up supplies for the election. There will also be cookies and lemonade!
How better to mark 100 years of the 19th Amendment than to get your free GOTV gear for the November Election? New window clings, yard signs, vote absentee attachments, and more!
Definitely want your stuff, but can’t make it on Wednesday?
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La Crosse Area League News |
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Celebrating the 19th Amendment, a Letter to the Editor
by Mary Nugent, LWVLA President
La Crosse Tribune, August 23, 2020
100 years ago bells rang and women celebrated the hard-fought ratification of the 19th Amendment. Since the founding of this country, women have fought for the right to be equally represented in their governance. Finally, in 1920, after decades of suffragist protests and marches, of being beaten and jailed, of being ridiculed and spat upon, women were granted the right to vote.
We know now that the 19th was just a start to the struggle for equality. Immediately after passage, some states enacted barriers to the vote such as poll taxes, literacy tests and knowledge quizzes. Asian, Native American and Black women had to demand additional law changes in order to be able practice their right to suffrage. For some, this took another 45 years, until passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act in 1965. Still today, the fight for equal pay, representation and social parity continues.
But for now, let’s celebrate the positive changes that the 19th Amendment fostered. American women can now own property, have credit, choose a career, and be heard in courts, all impossible in 1920.
Celebrate the passage of the 19th Amendment at noon on August 26, with the League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area as we ring bells, toot horns and shout hurrah throughout our community. Take a moment to remember those remarkable suffragists who fought long and hard to make their voices heard. And on November 3, make your voice ring out and vote.
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Mary also appeared last week in a story broadcast on WKBT, News 8000, to commemorate the ratification of the 19th Amendment. She tells the story of Ada James's request to her father which resulted in Wisconsin's being the first state to officially ratify. View here.
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The LWVLA 2020-21 Program Year Begins!
Please Join Our Virtual Lunch & Learns
Our Program and Communications committee will be sending an invitation soon to register for our September Virtual Lunch & Learn program. Through Zoom, League members and the public can attend LWVLA programs and will be able to ask questions via Chat following the speakers' presentations. Our programs will also be available as a recording on our website following the program.
Tuesday, September 15
11:30 AM - ! PM
Ginny Dankmeyer, La Crosse County Clerk.
Ginny will speak about voting expectations in November, lessons learned from the April election and the August primary election, and more.
Tuesday, October 13
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Diana DiazGranados, Public Health Advocate
Co-Creator, Creating a Healthier Multicultural Community Project
Promoting Better Understanding of Racial Understanding and Justice in our Communities
In preparation for Ms. DiazGranados's talk, the Program Committee is suggesting two books our members might want to read beforehand. First is “Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race” by Debbie Irving. If you have read it, a second suggestion is “So You Want To Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo. The committee felt that reading one or both of the books, if possible, in preparation for the meeting would help to further our self-education and stimulate further discussion.
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Teri Lerke, La Crosse City Clerk, is asking for volunteers to help with organizing mail-in ballots. This would require either inserting the correct ballots into envelopes prior to mailing or organizing the mail-in ballots after they are received. Work space is social distanced. Masks are required. If you can help, even for an hour or two, please send your name and contact information: phone and email, to: [email protected] with the subject line: volunteer for LAX. Thank you!
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Voter Helpline Volunteers
The LWV Dane County, through its participation in the Dane County Voter ID Coalition, maintains a free helpline that voters throughout the state can call for assistance with voting questions including information about the absentee voting witness requirement. The Helpline number (608-285-2141) is advertised throughout the state, and many people from outside of Dane County call for assistance. While most calls can be answered by Dane County volunteers, some cannot. These include people seeking rides to vote, assisting folks to obtain an ID while at local DMVs, and those needing help applying for absentee ballots and getting a witness signature. The Dane County League would like to identify local volunteers from around the state who could occasionally provide on-site assistance to voters living in the same region. Volunteers interested in helping should contact Marian Matthews ([email protected]).
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Purge List Text Outreach Volunteers
LWVWI is working with our Wisconsin Voting Rights Coalition partners to coordinate a statewide nonpartisan effort to ensure every voter on the purge list is contacted. We are in need of volunteers who are knowledgeable about the voter registration process (review it here) and absentee voting process (review it here) willing to text voters. This is a great opportunity to connect with voters from the safety of your home.
This opportunity is for people who are comfortable with using apps on cell phones. We will provide training on how to use the app. Once you’re trained, the volunteer schedule is very flexible. If you’d like to volunteer for this opportunity, please sign up here.
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LWVWI Wants to Hear about Voters' Experiences on 8/11
LWVWI has created a voter experience survey for the 8/11 primary election where voters can report issues they experienced while voting. The information they collect will help guide the work of the Wisconsin Election Protection Coalition to improve the next election.
Could you help spread the word and encourage voters to fill it out? We'd like to hear from as many voters as possible. Click on the poster to access the survey, and then please share it with others.
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Tell Congress to Protect the Census
A bipartisan group of 48 senators have called for an extension of the 2020 Census to ensure an accurate count. The effort, led by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), shifts the issue to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). We urge you to contact your senators. The House has already signed off on an extension. Ask them to retain the extended deadline of October 31, 2020, and maintain the Census funding proposed in the HEROES Act, to ensure a full count.
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For Your Consideration... |
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In this new section of our newsletter we will recommend local events, virtual events, and reading suggestions that we feel reflect our League mission and priorities. Please send us your recommendations, and we will share them with our readers. |
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“Racism and the Coulee Region: A Community Dialogue Series"
The Franciscan Spirituality Center is hosting a series of Zoom dialogues with local activists, speakers, and artists to explore issues related to race and racism. The next speakers in the series are Denise Christy Moss and Darrell Ferguson on Tuesday, August 25, from 1-3 PM. Pre-registration is required by noon on August 24. More information and the link to register are located here.
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NPR, On Point: 100 Years Later: The Complicated Story of Women's Suffrage
The August 18 broadcast looks back at the last century of women voting. The program notes include several links to a number of related articles and programs from major media. Listen and view here.
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Discover the Silent City: Votes for Women
Join LCHS at Historic Oak Grove Cemetery for guided cemetery tours on Saturday, 9/12. Actors will portray characters from La Crosse's past. Our theme this year is the Women's Suffrage Movement in La Crosse. A limited number of tickets are left. Read more and purchase tickets here.
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A Conversation About Ethical Leadership in Today's Environment with Russ Feingold
Former Senator Feingold recently accepted the position of President of the American Constitution Society. On Wednesday, 9/2, he will provide an update on his work with the Society and with the Campaign for Nature in addition to his thoughts on ethical leadership. Read more and register for this free event here.
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Support the USPS
BUY STAMPS!
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Inspired by historic photographs, the 19th Amendment: Women Vote stamp art features a stylized illustration of suffragists marching in a parade. Their clothes and banners bear the official colors of the National Women's Party.
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CS Monitor: "Beyond the Vote: 100 Years of Women’s Leadership
One hundred years have passed since the United States legally affirmed women’s right to suffrage. But the fight for equality continues – especially when it comes to female leadership. In this series, the CSMonitor reporters look beyond voting rights to where women in the U.S. and other countries are challenging the remaining cultural, political, economic, and educational barriers. Read more here.
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View the WI Historical Museum's Suffrage Exhibit
In August we honor the Wisconsin women who worked tirelessly to obtain the vote. The Wisconsin Society has put together a page with stories, images, and artifacts from our suffrage to commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment. These collections just scratch the surface of the history of the suffrage movement in Wisconsin. Please take an opportunity to explore these resources by viewing the exhibit here.
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PBS Trailblazers: A Century of Extraordinary Women
PBS has launched a slate of multiplatform content this summer to honor those who fought for women's suffrage in the U.S. PBS is also commemorating the feminist movement throughout the 20th century and the stories of modern women who continue to transform modern history. Visit here to stream more than a dozen PBS productions about trailblazing women from the past century.
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The League of Women Voters of the L aCrosse Area
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