President's Column
By Aedín Clements
How will you mark Women’s History Month this year?
Perhaps we will make history. Many of the attendees at our Founders Day event, inspired by Regena Nelson’s great presentation, immediately signed up for involvement in voter education, Observer Corps, the Federal Judiciary Study, or other activities.
Dr. Nelson mentioned that NowKalamazoo is organizing field trips to public meetings. The next Town Hall Field Trip will be to a meeting of the Kalamazoo School Board on Thursday March 20th. For League members interested, but unsure about getting involved in our Observer Corps, this might be a good way of learning. This opportunity coincides with Sunshine Week with its emphasis on open government.
Another opportunity coming up during Women’s History Month is to read up on the Federal Judiciary in preparation for the April meeting, currently in the planning stages. Reading the policy papers is good preparation for that consensus meeting.
Make plans to attend the LWVMI 2025 Convention in Grand Rapids on May 16-18.
Let us know if you plan to attend. While voting delegate places are limited, all League members are welcome to register and attend. For complete information, watch your email for the monthly LWVMI League Links.
Have you written to your representative about the SAVE Act? See Denise Hartsough’s ‘Take Action’ article below.
While we are nonpartisan, we work hard on shaping public policy, and promoting informed civic participation. As always, watch for email from us, from the LWVMI, and if you have not already signed up for the LWV newsletter, find the sign-up form towards the bottom of the LWV website.
Thank you all for the enthusiasm, the critical thinking, and the ideas you bring to our work. Let’s make this Women’s History Month a month of activity towards the making of a better history!
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Calendar
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March 2025
Women’s History Month
NNN4 Light for Our Democracy
NN12 Federal Judiciary Study Meeting 6-8pm, (Judy Sivak)
16-22 Sunshine Week
NN18 Book Group, Kazoo Books, 6:30pm (social time 6-6:30)
NN24 LWVKA Board Meeting
NN25 Federal Judiciary Study Meeting 6-8pm, (Judy Sivak)
NNNNObserver Corps Meeting, 6:30, virtual (Regena Nelson)
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The Easiest Way to Renew Your Membership
By Jennifer Snyder
On February 1, LWVUS launched a national system for administering membership, which had been previously managed at the local level. This has prompted questions about how to renew right now, since the new system has not fully rolled out.
You can renew your membership any time by going to our local website lwvka.org and clicking on the blue JOIN/RENEW button on the home page. There is no need to go into the password-protected LWVKA members’ area.
From that blue JOIN/RENEW button, you’ll be automatically redirected to the LWVUS website, where you can sign in with the email we have on file for you, then provide your contact and credit card information to renew.
Some members have not yet received an email from LWVUS inviting them to access the new, national member portal. That’s because LWVUS is smoothing out a few bumps in the system. But if you want to check out the portal right now, you can! Just go to portal.lwv.org and sign in with the email we have on file for you—no password required. The member portal is another place you can renew your membership. You can also update your contact information any time.
One more thing…
With the new system, you won’t get any renewal reminders by mail! Instead, you’ll receive a series of 6 emails from LWVUS and from me before and after your membership expiration date. (To receive fewer emails, renew right away!)
Your combined membership in the local, state and national League automatically becomes inactive 60 days after your expiration date. We hope you won’t let that happen! Defending our democracy is more important than ever, and we need your help.
As always, please contact me if you have questions about your membership: jsyndergaardsnyder@gmail.com
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Federal Judiciary Study
Leagues throughout the nation are currently undertaking a Federal Judiciary Study. Our study is led Judy Sivak and Kathy Purnell, who have begun to convene a small group of League members. The work of this group will be followed with a meeting for LWVKA members on Tuesday, April 8 at 5:30pm, location still being confirmed.
Please watch for an email about this meeting.
Materials on the various aspects of the study are compiled by the LWV.
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E.V.E.N.T.S.
Barb Dircks
We welcome new members and always enjoy learning from the collaboration. Our February meeting began with conversation on developing new education materials needed to hand out at voter table registration events, in the hopes we can counter misinformation and lend further support to citizens' understanding of the current laws and voter rights. The group also discussed ways to increase outreach to diverse audiences. We will be generating a FAQ sheet that can be given away in both instances. Finally, we hope to alternate the social gatherings of You're Invited with informational in-person meetings. Aedín is in the process of finding a location and the first topic that was considered is How Social Media Affects Democracy. The next EVENTS meeting will be on March 15th at 9:30.
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You're Invited!
By Barb Dircks
Planning is underway to have an informal gathering at the Portage Public Library. Speakers that represent different viewpoints and represent a variety of age groups will be invited for their expertise and perspectives. It is hoped everyone will share and ask questions that continue conversations about the significant role social media has on voting and the voting population. Watch for the details in your e-mails.
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Action, Advocacy & Presentations
By Denise Hartsough
Take Action!
The League of Women Voters has issued a call to action—please take action! LWVUS has an action alert to protest the federal SAVE Act, which would require those registering or re-registering to vote to provide documentary proof of citizenship.
The contradictory and vague requirements would burden certain voters more than others, including married women who have changed their names, survivors of natural disasters, military voters, and adoptees.
The SAVE Act would also make it a crime for election officials who register anyone –even a citizen—without documentary proof of citizenship.
The SAVE Act would apply to federal elections. A measure to create similar requirements for state and local elections in Michigan has been introduced in the Michigan House, but is likely to become a ballot proposal. Watch for forthcoming information.
Local Advocacy
LWVKA can take a stand and advocate on issues handled by local governmental bodies, so long as the issue is one on which the League has a position. You can find LWVKA positions here, LWVMI positions here, and LWVUS positions here.
Is there a local issue that LWVKA should address? If yes, please use the Support/Oppose form to request action. The form is in the Members section of lwvka.org, which requires you to log in. If you have questions, please ask!
Mis- and Disinformation Presentations
Do you know groups interested in sharpening skills for dealing with mis- and disinformation?
League speakers can offer the LWVMI presentation to groups of any size. Presentations can be made in 20-30 minutes or 40-60 minutes.
Contact Denise Hartsough to schedule.
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LWVKA Observer Corps Training
By Regena Nelson
During Founder’s Day, many people expressed interest in observing governmental meetings. I’ve shared the Observer Corps guidelines with everyone who asked for more information to review before our Observer Corps meeting on Tuesday, March 25, at 6:30 pm. This meeting will be held virtually. Here’s the link!
https://wmich.webex.com/meet/regena.fails.nelson
At our March meeting, I will give a brief training session for anyone interested in starting to observe. Reid Williams from NowKalamazoo will also join us to discuss the next steps in developing our partnership. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to consider attending one of the NowKalamazoo field trips to experience the observation process with a supportive group.
I’m attending the Kalamazoo School Board meeting field trip on Thursday, March 20, at 7 p.m. You can register for upcoming field trips, including this one, using this link.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfl5mZ0thHv9H9OBRXyKFcWQhbAKSGNpVLebujn_gkDhlZoLw/viewform
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Founders Day
Celebration Lunch!
Maria Gagnon-Markucki
Our Founders Day Luncheon on Saturday, February 15 was a success! THANK YOU to all who helped with preparations and check-in and Committee Tables. Sixty-three attended; 15 were guests. Our very own Regena Nelson gave a wonderful presentation on Community Engagement—using examples from her own journey with the LWVKA to demonstrate how a person can get involved with different levels of commitment and provided a local example of how individuals came together as a group, collaborated with other local groups, and created real impact/change. Attendees were energized by Regena’s presentation and the wide range of League activities, spurring great interest and conversation at the Committee Tables.
SAVE THE DATE! Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for the evening of May 12. Please mark it on your calendar. Details to come!
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Enjoying good company at Founders Day | |
Founders Day Presentation -- Dr. Regena Nelson | |
Aimee and Connie representing Voter Education and Election Administration work | |
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New Members
By Jennifer Snyder
Since our last newsletter, we’ve been pleased to welcome Christine Kindy, Mary Lou Rohwer and Marvinetta Woodley-Penn of Kalamazoo, Donna Schonveld of Schoolcraft, and Cindy Woolner of Ceresco.
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Calhoun County Unit News
By Cathleen Knoll
Calhoun County unit seeks to focus this upcoming year on local issues that touch on LWV commitment to environmental protections, racial equality, access to voting and local environmental issues. We are committed to strengthening our ties to local community groups that share these interests, and sharing information snd where possible engaging in activities together. Newer members are invigorating our voter services. We will be conducting a zoom and in person meeting to assess members’ interests.
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LWVUS Update
By Paula Manley
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MARCH
Women’s History Month
Deaf History Month
National Foreign Language Month
NN7 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday
NN8 International Women’s Day
10-14 Civic Learning Week
NN26 Anniversary of SCOTUS Rucho arguments
NN31 International Transgender Day of Visibility
The 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday remembers the Selma to Montgomery, AL march to protest police brutality and racial basis in voting.
LWVNC V Rucho challenged North Carolina’s 2016 redistricting plan as unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering and a violation of the 1st and 14th Amendment. This case was consolidated with Common Cause v Rucho. The US Supreme Court ruled that the partisan gerrymandering claim was not properly heard in federal court.
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LWVKA Book Group
Aedín Clements
Our book for March is Solito, A Memoir, by Javier Zamora. This inspiring story of migration from El Salvador is the Kalamazoo READING TOGETHER selection for 2025. The Kalamazoo Public Library is holding a series of events around the book, culminating with an event with the author on March 15th. See the KPL page for information on these events.
Our meeting will be in Kazoo Books on Tuesday, March 25th, at 6:30 p.m. Lindy Rose will be our discussion leader.
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LWVKA Officers and Board Members | |
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Aedín Clements
Co-President
Christine Kuthe
Co-President
Maria Gagnon-Markucki
VP Organization
Denise Hartsough
VP Program
Tanya Potter
Treasurer
Deb Freiman
Secretary
LWVKA Directors—Elected
Jennifer Snyder
Director – Membership
Jules Isenberg-Wedel
Director – Vote411/Voter Guides
Lisa Fuller
Director at Large
Aimée Bedard
Voter Service Chair
Rick Freiman
Director
Shardae Jones-Chambers
Director at Large
Teresa Johnson
Director at Large
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LWVKA Directors—Appointed
Barbara Dircks
Past President
Kitty Knoll
Chair – Calhoun County Geographical Unit
Paula Manley
Geographical Unit Mentor
Terry Hluchyj
Vote411 – Voter Guides
MerriKay Oleen-Burkey
Website Liaison/ LWVMI Board Member
Education Fund Board Members
Rick Freiman
Chair
Jessica Reiser
Vice Chair
Barb Dircks
Secretary
Tanya Potter
Treasurer
Paula Aldridge
Director
Dennis Elmer
Director
Aedín Clements
Director (Ex officio)
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