Calhoun County Unit
By Sue Rosko
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Seven members of the Calhoun County Unit along with two of our volunteer college students took part in observing the Board of Canvassers. The students are reporting back with a summary of their experience and the security and accuracy of the elections. The clerks received notes of appreciation from the Unit. The Calhoun County clerk expressed her appreciation for the continued support of their efforts. The clerks and all election workers were also thanked in an article for the public. Information on all Calhoun County ballot issues were included in vote411.org. The March Quick Bites was held in Albion on March 21 with the Albion City Clerk sharing a review of the election work using the new voting laws.
“How do we know what to trust”. The Calhoun Unit is hosting and looking forward to this virtual presentation on Wednesday, April 24 from 7-8 pm. The event is open to the public and is shared by our college contacts. Presenting is Assistant Professor Sarah McGrew of the College of Education at University of Maryland. Sarah has focused her research on these issues. Summary of the presentation: Information floods our phones, tablets, and laptops and we increasingly rely on that information to learn about the world. Yet evidence suggests that many of us struggle to evaluate digital content, a problem that leaves us less prepared to make decisions—both personal and political—that are grounded in high-quality information. Luckily, there are stronger strategies for evaluating online information that we can teach and learn to use well. In this presentation, she will review how people typically evaluate online information, present powerful, effective evaluation strategies gleaned from research with professional fact checkers, and demonstrate those strategies in action. The zoom link is:
https://zoom.us/j/95512348144?pwd=aUx3MkpDSVVBUHZvcFUzL01TSUtNQT09
Meeting ID: 955 1234 8144
Passcode: 968358
Please join us and share the event with interested individuals.
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LWVUS Update
By Paula Manley
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April
Arab American Heritage Month
National Volunteer Month
14-20 National Volunteer Appreciation Week
16 DC Emancipation Day
22 Earth Day
What is DC Emancipation Day? In 1862 the DC Compensated Emancipation Act ended slavery in Washington DC. The Act freed 3100 individuals, reimbursed those who legally owned them and offered freed men and women money to emigrate.
LWVUS is advocating the support of the John R Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. League members recently received an Action Alert. If you have not yet contacted your members of Congress, it is not too late to do so.
Dr. Deborah Turner recorded her State of the League address in late January shortly before her unexpected death. She declared 2024 “The Year of the First-Time Voter.” Her speech may be viewed on the League of Women Voters YouTube Channel.
LWVUS and the LWV of New Hampshire have filed a federal lawsuit against AI robocalls which were made ahead of New Hampshire’s presidential primaries.
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LWVMI
By Denise Hartsough
Communication in an Election Year
Feeling a bit anxious about all types of communication during this highly charged election year? Your State League offers three presentations with strategies and tips.
The Civility Project. Detroit-area journalists Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson aim to help Americans build civility – in workplaces, political spheres, and any gathering of people from different origins and perspectives. Listen to their time-tested suggestions.
Conversations in an Election Year. Speaking with the media and speaking with individuals in your network of friends and family can pose challenges in a big election year. Reflect on the stakes of and learn tips for each type of conversation! Brought to you by your LWVMI Co-Presidents.
Using Media Literacy to Navigate AI. If you missed WMU Journalism Professor Sue Ellen Christian’s presentation at Founders Day, tune in! She will share tools and resources from media literacy to sharpen our ability to recognize and deal with mis- and dis-information generated by artificial intelligence.
To access the workshops, click on the links above. If you need the password for the LWV Only page at www.lwvmi.org, please ask Barb, Chris or me.
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Local Advocacy
By Denise Hartsough
LWVKA is ready to advocate at the local level! Our League may support or oppose actions of local public bodies, including the County Commission, city/township bodies, school and library boards. We may take a stance for or against a proposal or decision based on League positions at any level—local, state or national.
Any LWVKA member or committee may fill out a support-oppose form, indicating what you would like the board to consider supporting or opposing. The newly formed LWVKA Advocacy Committee will review the form and make a recommendation to the LWVKA Board. Actions could include letters or public statements by LWVKA or action alerts to League members.
The Advocacy Committee welcomes members who follow the activities of local public bodies. Members currently are Deb Freiman, Rick Freiman, Judy Sivak and Chair Denise Hartsough, VP for Program.
To obtain the support/oppose form or for more information, please email denise.hartsough@gmail.com.
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LWVKA Book Group
By Aedín Clements
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Our Book Group met on Tuesday, March 19th to discuss the R. F. Huang’s novel, Yellowface. It is fair to say that this was nobody’s favorite book of the year, but the discussion was lively. On Tuesday, May 21st, we will discuss Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning, by Liz Cheney. As always, mention the book group for a discount if you are ordering the book at Kazoo Books.
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E.V.E.N.T.S. Observer Corps News
By Barb Dircks
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Our Observer Corps continues its work, summarizing and reporting back on important issues, deliberations and decisions made by governmental bodies. If you are interested in volunteering, there is always a need and training will be provided. We understand the importance of establishing the fact that we care about government agencies and decisions being made. Secondly, educating voters depends upon the expectation that public forums function openly and fairly.
The E.V.E.N.T.S meeting is considering several directions for action. Members added thoughts to agenda items and will continue discussion at the April 13th, 10:30 a.m. meeting.
Current tabling supplies is one topic; we have new venues and locations and consequently will need to organize and divide supplies. The new tent and tablecloth have arrived, and we know they will be put to good use.
Secondly, election year opens up conversations around new inventive ways the League can connect with community. If there are members interested in offering input or exploring ways to partner with the surrounding Arts communities, perhaps during Art Hops, it will be a topic of discussion. Please reach out to barbdircks@gmail.com or text (269) 569 3509 to be included.
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You're Invited
By Barb Dircks
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Another chance to meet for fun and conversation is coming April 16th at 5:00. Plan to meet at the Marilyn J Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building in downtown Kalamazoo, 418 E. Walnut St. for what will turn out to be their final Taps on Tuesday, event. It will be an opportunity to say a personal "thanks" to members who have volunteered during National Volunteer Celebration week, as well! See you then! | |
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Climate Change Events
By Aedin Clements
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Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environmental Justice
We urge League Members to support the informative events in April and May, outlined here:
Climate Change: Impacts on the Lake Michigan Region
and Legal Update
An opportunity to learn from Elizabeth “Joy” Guscott-Mueller, President of the League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region, and David G. Mueller. Both speakers are attorneys with lots of insight into environmental law and the Lake Michigan Region. Please join us at WMU’s Lee Honors College on Wednesday, April 3rd at noon. This is free and open to the public.
Climate Conversations
The LWVKA is a co-sponsor with the People’s Church Green Sanctuary Committee in hosting a series of Climate Conversations. The March 24th Conversation featured Taylor Van Winkle, Kalamazoo County Climate Sustainability Coordinator. She outlined the steps being taken on climate action in Kalamazoo County, and we note that there will be many opportunities for public engagement, which we plan to publicize to enable League members to be involved.
The final Conversation will take place on Sunday, April 14th. The speaker will be Justin Gish, the City of Kalamazoo Sustainability Planner. Once again, it will be in Room 19, People’s Church at 12:30 p.m., preceded by light lunch and conversation.
Listening to Birds: Stories of Biodiversity Loss and
Conservation Solutions
Dr. Sharon Gill, Professor of Biological Sciences at
Western Michigan University.
May 14 at 7pm, Friendship Village, Kiva Room
In this presentation co-sponsored with Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones, Dr. Gill will discuss worldwide patterns of bird diversity, threats to birds, and lessons from bird extinctions. She will also discuss conservation strategies and steps to conserve birds. Like canaries in a coal mine, bird declines are warning us about the dangers facing the natural world, including humans. Let’s listen to them and take action!
The Committee on Climate Changed, Biodiversity and Environmental Justice plans a series of articles for the Voter. This first one by Ruth Caputo outlines how planetary boundaries are indicators of the Earth’s health.
How Earth Is Doing Based on Planetary Boundaries
By Ruth Caputo
The concept of planetary boundaries to assess the overall health of Earth was introduced in 2009 based on research done at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. Nine areas of concern were identified and limits set based on data from the Holocene epoch (the last 11,700 years). As long as we stay inside a boundary, we have evidence that we will be OK for that boundary for the foreseeable future. Going beyond the boundary increases the uncertainty that Earth can accommodate the resulting changes. The processes associated with the boundaries interact, and the result of crossing multiple boundaries also increases the uncertainty.
The nine planetary boundaries are:
- Stratospheric ozone depletion
- Atmospheric aerosol loading
- Ocean acidification
- Biogeochemical flows
- Freshwater change
- Land-system change
- Biosphere integrity
- Climate change
- Novel entities
The less-obvious ones are:
- Novel entities refers to man-made substances introduced into the environment (e.g. plastics)
- Biogeochemical flows relates to the movement of N through agricultural and industrial processes and the movement of P into the oceans.
Definitions for all the boundaries are available on Wikipedia.
For each boundary, limits have been established. For instance, a CO2 concentration of less than 350 ppm is one of the limits set for climate change. Changes in biosphere integrity measured in extinctions per million species-years is one of the limits of biosphere integrity.
As of the latter part of 2023, we have crossed 6 of the 9 boundaries. To get a better understanding of Earth’s status, do a computer search on “graph planetary boundaries 2009 – 2023”, then select Planetary Boundaries (Stockholm Resilience Centre).
We need to reverse current trends as quickly as possible.
Please watch for emails, and also the LWVKA’s Facebook page for news and updates.
|  | Taylor Van Winkle describing describing the work being done to develop a climate plan for Kalamazoo County. | | |
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Primary Board of Canvassers Observation
By Chris Kuthe
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A dedicated group of LWVKA members, once again, have observed the Board of Canvassers certification process. Thank you to Aimee Bedard, Ruth Caputo, Madeline Cimini, Rochelle Habeck, Denise Hartsough, Terri MacDonald, Regena Nelson, Carol Pauly, Laura Wheeler, Sara Wick, and Ann Wright-Parsons for donating their time to this important piece of defending democracy. After the first election in Michigan that featured nine days of early voting, the Primary was certified successfully. This process will take place again in August and November. Watch for emails asking for volunteers if you are interested in participating. Being an observer involves watching a short training video and a few hours of your time. | |
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Voter Registration Events
Aimée Bedard
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In March we connected with potential voters during tabling events at Kalamazoo College’s Freedom Fair and the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Forum. The League plays an important role educating on how to register to vote as well as address issues. We play a crucial role as a sort of Help Desk for voters, connecting them to the right city and county resources. Our Tabling Events Calendar is starting to be fleshed out for this summer.
Hold the Date!!
Please hold the following dates on your calendar for
potential volunteering opportunities:
April 27 – Edison Neighborhood Social Fair
May 14 – Biodiversity Presentation at Friendship Village
June 8 – 2024 Kalamazoo Pride Event
July 29 – ADA Celebration
Keep an eye out for emails seeking volunteers for these events.
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Membership
By Jennifer Snyder
LWVKA welcomed three new members in February: Melissa Dipert of Portage, Kathy Purnell of Kalamazoo, and Jean Sheppard of Delton.
Please contact Membership Chair Jennifer Snyder, jsyndergaardsnyder@gmail.com, if your contact information has changed.
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League members took advantage of the chance to gather and share for the March 12th social happy hour. Members Aedín Clements, Chris Kuthe, Jeff and Barb Dircks, Deb and Rick Freiman, Aimée Bedard, Carol Meyer-Niedzwiecki, and Kay Anderson enjoyed the time together. | |
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Special Tributes
In Memory of Julia Costello
Jackie Wylie
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