June 1, 2020 Updates from LWVLA
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The LWVUS issued a statement addressing the police murder of George Floyd and expressing the League's commitment to racial justice. "
We must take action to deconstruct systemic racism everywhere. We honor George Floyd’s life by committing to deepening our anti-racism work throughout the League." You can read the entire statement
here
.
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LWVLA Annual Membership Drive
League Membership Runs from July 1 to June 30
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You can join League or renew your membership using one of the following methods:
- Go to the Join/Renew page on our website (here) and follow the prompts.
- Complete either the new member or renewal form and submit it.
- Pay your dues via the PayPal options located below the forms.
OR
- Mail a check made out to the League of Women Voters to:
League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area
P.O. Box 363
La Crosse, WI 54602-0363
- Along with your check, send us your name, address, phone number(s)--home and/or cell--and your email address. Renewing members, please let us know if any of your contact information has changed.
League Membership Dues are:
- Student Member: free
- First-Year Member: $35
- First-Year 2-Member Household: $70
- Member Renewal: $70
- 2-Member Household Renewal: $105
The League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area (LWVLA) annual membership dues of $70 are allocated as follows:
- $32 supports the LWV of the US;
- $30 supports the LWV of Wisconsin;
- $8 supports our local League.
Thank you for your additional support of the LWV of the La Crosse Area!
Your charitable donation will go directly to our Local League. Together we can ensure that our elections are free, fair and accessible, protect our environment, and reduce the influence of money in our elections.
You will find a link to DONATE
here.
If you have any questions, contact Kathy Mulliner (Membership Chair) at
[email protected]
788-9209. Please leave a message if no one answers.
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News & Events of Interest to Members
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La Crosse LWV Launches
Virtual Voter Registration Presentation for High Schools
One consequence of our nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the curtailing of our League's in-person voter registration activities. As a result, our Voter Services committee has been at work developing alternative avenues to engage and educate local voters.
A YouTube video (
here
) is the first of our local League's efforts to answer that call. The video offers a virtual presentation of the high school program that the Voter Services committee, in collaboration with the Driftless Voter Coalition (DVC), offered live until the shutdown in March.
Produced by League member Chris Haskell with Amy Dummer and Jim Jorstad from the DVC, it has been provided to Central and Logan High Schools in La Crosse, as well as Bangor, Melrose-Mindoro, West Salem, and Sparta high schools. League member Betty Kruck is also sharing it with interested high schools in Vernon County.
A special thank you for continuing the work of democracy in this challenging time to Chris Haskell, Amy Dummer, and especially Jim Jorstad, for his creative and technical expertise.
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VOTE411.org Wins Webby People's Voice Award
Best Government & Civil Innovation Website
This recognition is a testament to the important election information our organization provides to voters every cycle, and just this week VOTE411 surpassed one million users so far this year – and the primary season isn’t even over yet!
Thank you for League members' dedication to making VOTE411 an award-winning resource.
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2020 LWV of WI Virtual Annual Meeting
June 13, 2020
10:00am to 11:30am
Our local League will have nine delegates representing La Crosse at the state League's Annual Meeting. If you are interested in joining the meeting as an observer the Zoom link and further information is available
here
.
This year’s virtual Annual Meeting is designed to answer questions related to voting issues, present the annual Meg McLane Advocacy Aqard and Membership and Leadership Development Awards, share reports by board committees and issue coalitions, and give thanks to all members and friends of the League for their amazing work and support over the past year.
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Erin Forrest and Rebecca Kleefisch Advocate for Women in Leadership
Erin Forrest,
Emerge Wisconsin Executive Director who spoke at our XXX Lunch,
and Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch spoke at a virtual luncheon sponsored by WisPolitics.com. to promote their belief that electing more women to the state Legislature would help reduce the partisan divide that has recently gripped Wisconsin. You can view their entire presentation
here
.
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LWV of WI Reports "Widespread Confusion and Numerous Obstacles" in April Election
The LWVWI and Wisconsin Election Protection released a report based on responses from about 1000 Wisconsin voters documenting numerous problems voting in the April election. Major shortcomings included:
- The manner in which mail absentee ballots were requested, distributed, processed, completed and received....
- A critical lack of clear and consistent information for citizens on the absentee voting process....
- Restrictions and limits on early voting, sudden loss of poll workers and last minute consolidation of polling places, which created barriers for those needing to vote in person; and
- During in-person voting, a lack of social distancing, unsanitary polling locations, and barriers to curbside voting.
The full report can be read
here
.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Upcoming La Crosse Area League Events
Monday, 6/8/20
LWVLA Virtual Annual Meeting posted online.
Please watch for an email on Monday, 6/8, with a link to our virtual Annual Meeting, a voting survey for approval of our Annual Meeting business, and a link to the 2020 Annual Report.
Friday, 6/12/20
Your ballots will be due for our Virtual Annual Business Meeting.
8/26/20
Centennial Year Closing Event (TBD)
Upcoming Events of Interest to League Members
Tuesday, June 23
6-7 PM
Ethical Leadership During Crisis:Leadership in Higher Education
(a virtual webinar)
Dr. Jeff Rafn
President, Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College
Dr. Rafn will connect his experience as the leader of a successful, "team-based, customer-focused organization" to his thoughts on the "essence of ethical leadership."This webinar is free, but registration is necessary to receive the access code. More information and registration forms are
here
.
Mark Your Calendar with the 2020 Election Dates
8/11/20
Partisan Primary
11/3/20
General Election
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The League of Women Voters of the L aCrosse Area
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