March 16, 2020 Updates from LWVLA
The League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area:
Our Response to Corona Virus 19  
Our membership’s health and well-being are of utmost concern in this election year. In response, to the current health crisis, the LWVLA is urging its members to heed CDC recommendations and warnings: frequent hand washing, avoiding contact with people who are ill, avoiding large crowds, staying home if ill or health compromised. As we continue our important mission of informing voters and defending democracy, we ask our membership to participate only as far as they are comfortable. Please monitor our website and Facebook for information on up-coming events. 
Events that have been canceled or postponed:

3/20: ERO Training with Teri Lehrke​
3/25: Onalaska Mayoral Forum
4/5: Climate Forum (will consider rescheduling in the fall.)
4/6: League Book Club
4/14: Earth Day Lunch & Learn
4/18: Legislative Breakfast
A special request to our members: Please assist the WEC by advocating for absentee voting in the April 7th election. Share the message below with at least 10 other people and ask them to do the same. Text message, email, or old-school phone tree...
Let's get the word out!
Wisconsin Elections Commission Urges Absentee Voting
Make plans now to vote absentee
for the April 7 
Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary.
Deadline to register by mail or online: 
Wednesday, March 18
According to state law, mailed voter registration forms must be postmarked no later than the third Wednesday before the election. Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. the same day. You can check your status and register to vote  here.

Deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you:
Thursday, April 2 by 5 PM
The WEC urges registered voters not to wait, due to possible delays in mail delivery. If you get an absentee ballot mailed to you, you can still decide to vote at the polls on Election Day if you haven’t returned it. Applications for absentee ballots can be found  here  or inquire at your municipal clerk's office. Municipal clerks' locations and contact information are  here .
Register in person in your municipal clerk's office: 
March 19 until Friday, April 3.
(Opening dates differ by municipality.)
Contact information and hours for all La Crosse County municipal clerks' offices are available  here .  
In-person Absentee Voting (Early Voting): 
March 16 or 23 until April 3.
(Opening dates differ by municipality.)  
You can vote an absentee ballot in your municipal clerk's office during specified days and hours. Voting hours and locations for La Crosse County municipal clerks' offices vary and are available  here .   

Additional information and links for the April 7 election can be found on our website here .
F air Maps Wisconsin

The fight to end gerrymandering in Wisconsin and throughout the US is a signature effort by the League of Women Voters at all levels this year. You can learn more about the "People Powered Fair Maps" program here .

The League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area is working to pass a citizen advisory referendum in Monroe and Trempealeau County. Thanks to La Crosse League members for joining with nonpartisan volunteers to educate voters about the nonpartisan redistricting process for Wisconsin. In total, nine counties will have the Fair Maps question on the April 7th ballot.  

La Crosse and Vernon County voters passed the Fair Maps referendum in 2019. However, our work is not done! Voters are invited to ask state legislative and statewide candidates, "If elected would you support a nonpartisan redistricting reform process like Iowa's plan?" 

Click on the "Vote Yes" image for up-to-date information via the Monroe County Fair Map FB page. Please "share" to help them spread the word.
Visit the League's New Vote411 Website

VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific candidate information and links for registration and other voter services.

Responses from candidates for local races will be published later this week.
Thanks to the members of LWVLA's Vote 411 committee for their efforts to provide valuable voter information for our local elections:
Deb Lutjen (Chair), Monta Clark, Nora Garland, Jade Johnson, Fred and Janet Kusch, Martha Linville, Mary Nugent, and Robin Schmidt.
Membership Booklet Request

The LWV of the La Crosse Area will be printing the annual membership booklet. Each member's name, address, phone number(s), e-mail address(es) and initial membership year will be printed. The Membership Booklet will be shared with League members and archived at Murphy Library Digital’s Collection (UW-L). If you prefer that some or all of your membership information not be printed, please email the League at lwvlawi@gmail.com or contact Kathy Mulliner (Membership Chair), 788-9209, kmulliner@prodigy.net . Please be specific as to what information you do not want printed.   
LWVWI 100th Birthday Video Features La Crosse League Members

LWVLA members Sheila Hilke, Nancy Hill, and Mary Nugent are featured in a 20-minute video:  The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin at 100; An Enduring Legacy of Grassroots Activism.  The LWVWI is celebrating its 100th birthday and hopes for the future. The video highlights the origins and impact of 100 years of state and local advocacy on Wisconsin public policy, voting rights, voter protections, and voter services. View the video on our website here .
Welcome to Our New Members
Jane Powell
Hello, and thank you to all who have been members of LWV! It is always good to see your involvement in the issues of the day.

I am 64 and recently retired from a rewarding career of 42 years in nursing. Mostly adult and most recently Gastroenterology, so I've finished out my work laughing at all the creative jokes patients have shared when coming in for care. It’s been great, but time to move on to lots of other interests.   
I grew up in Illinois. My dad once ran for county school superintendent (lost) but was passionate about his work in education. My stay-at-home mom raised five kids, and I was in the middle. I think the middle child is labeled the “negotiator,” and I think that is rather my nature. I like it when folks work together and get things done. 

I moved to Wisconsin when I was 28 because I had been here once to Oktoberfest, loved the river and scenery and then took care of a retired pharmacist, while working in Rockford, who had a heart attack here in La Crosse on vacation. He raved about the great care he received here. I was ready for a change so I looked the hospitals up in the phone book (1982) and ended up here. Shortly after, I met a great guy, Bill, got married and have lived here since. Bill and I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing and traveling. I volunteer with the Jail Ministry and St. Clare Mission. I recently felt the desire to assist with voting registration as to increase awareness and opportunity for all to participate in democracy. Voting is the privilege and responsibility at the heart of this and so I want to learn more and help out where I can. It’s my nature. Work together and get things done. I look forward to the opportunities with you all. 
Kathy Storlie
Kathy (Hanson) Storlie is a La Crosse native. After graduating from Central High School, she attended UW-Madison and received a BS in Elementary Education. She later earned her Masters in Education at UW-La Crosse

Kathy taught in the La Crosse School District for 31 years before retiring last June. She volunteers for the Alzheimers Association and co-facilitates a caregiver support group. Kathy is an active member of First Congregational Church. She works occasionally as a substitute teacher and just completed her first experience as a poll worker for the City of La Crosse. 

She and her husband John enjoy traveling and spending time with their three adult children and two grandchildren.
Can You Help Us?
Opportunities to Volunteer
Consider serving on the Board of Directors for the La Crosse Area League . Our Nomination Committee is beginning to work on recruiting members for next year's board. Members will approve the new board at the Annual Meeting on May 18. Email your interest to lwvlawi@gmail.com .
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation needs volunteers for the Region 1 2020 Wisconsin Civics Games at UW-La Crosse on April 24 . Morning shifts (9-12) or afternoon shifts (12-3) are available. If you are interested, you can sign up here .

As the regional date approaches, conference planners will hold a volunteer training conference call to walk you through the day's schedule and answer any questions you may have.
Read more about the games here . If you have any questions regarding the Games before that time, please contact Jordan Schelling at jordan.schelling@wnanews.com.
SAVE THE DATE!
Future La Crosse Area League 2020 Programs

5/18/20
LWVLA Annual Meeting

8/26/20
Centennial Year Closing Event

Mark Your Calendar with the 2020 Election Dates

4/7/20
Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary
 
8/11/20
Partisan Primary
 
11/3/20
General Election
The League of Women Voters of the L aCrosse Area
Visit our website: lwvlacrosse.org