Calhoun County Unit
By Sue Rosko
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The board and members of the Calhoun County Unit have busy sharing information related to the new voting rights and working on the elections. We had a very successful voter registration/information and volunteer recruitment table at Kellogg Community College’s Bruin Boost. Our graphic design intern developed posters and flyers to use with that event.
Two students have requested to do their volunteer hours with our Unit and the professor will be sharing Calhoun’s LWVKA volunteer opportunities each semester. Our intern is working with the President and with one of our new members who has a background in graphics and marketing to create materials related to voting, membership and dis-information.
We are in the midst of planning for the March 21 Quick Bites which will be at 5:30 at the Albion Public Library. An April 24 virtual presentation with Assistant Professor Sarah McGrew in the College of Education at University of Maryland from University of Maryland is being planned. Her focus is on dis-information and media resources. KCC will be assisting with technology for the 7 pm event. Watch emails and social media for details on these events.
Our nominating committee is hard at work to provide members with the privilege of taking part in leadership for the upcoming League year. With the challenging election months ahead, the League continues to be an important link for voter education and information for Calhoun County residents.
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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
7 — Anniversary of Bloody Sunday
State of the Union Address
8 — International Women’s Day
26 — Anniversary of SCOTUS Rucho arguments
What were the Rucho arguments? In 2016 LWVNC v. Rucho challenged the North Carolina 2016 redistricting plan. They said the plan was unconstitutional, partisan gerrymandering and a violation of the 1st and 14th Amendments. The case was consolidated into Common Cause v. Rucho. The US Supreme Court ruled partisan gerrymandering claims could not be properly heard in federal courts.
League members were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of LWVUS Board President Dr. Deborah Turner on January 28th. LWVUS board Vice President Sania Irwin is presently serving as President of the LWVUS Board until the Convention in June. A national search is underway for a CEO as Virgina Kase Solomon left February 8th.
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Legislative Updates
By Denise Hartsough
Many of the bills signed by Governor Whitmer last fall went into effect on February 13. One bill allows youth ages 16 to 17.5 to preregister to vote!
The State House is tied 54-54 until after the April special elections to fill 2 vacant House seats.
Little action is expected in the legislature until after those seats are filled.
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission was court-ordered to redraw State House and Senate districts in and around Detroit.
The MICRC is sending a new State House map to the court by March 1 and then will start working on a new map for the State Senate districts.
The legislature is considering expansion of the Freedom of Information Act to the Governor’s Office and State Legislature, which LWV of Michigan supports.
If you receive an action alert about this legislation, PLEASE TAKE ACTION!
Communication in
an Election Year
By Denise Hartsough
Save the date! LWV of Michigan is offering 3 virtual workshops this spring focused on communicating in an election year:
Friday, March 22, Noon—Civility Project
Monday, April 8, 7pm—Conversations in an Election Year
Thursday, April 24, 7pm—Using Media Literacy to Navigate the Promise and Perils of AI
If you missed Sue Ellen Christian’s presentation on media literacy at LWVKA’s Founders Day or would like to hear it again, you have that chance on April 24.
Watch for details and Zoom links in League Links and at lwvmi.org (click on Members and then LWV Only). If you need the password for the LWV Only page, please ask Chris, Barb or me.
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Book Group News
By Aedín Clements
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In March, the LWVKA Book Group will discuss Yellowface, by R. F. Huang. This novel is the Kalamazoo Reading Together book for 2024, so there are additional local opportunities to discuss the book and the issues it raises.
Our meeting is at Kazoo Books on Parkview, Tuesday March 19 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone who wishes to be added to the email list for reminders and more information may contact Aedín Clements.
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E.V.E.N.T.S. Committee
By Barb Dircks
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Advocacy Meeting
for all League members.
March 21, 7pm
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The committee continues to address questions and actions in many areas. For one, confusion and clarification around distinction between Observer Corps and Observers for Board of Canvassers is needed. Volunteers have different jobs and expectations. Observer Corps volunteers sit in on community governmental meetings; they are the eyes and ears, and the follow-up reports serve to educate the LWVKA Board about local issues. They also “put governmental bodies on notice that we care about their process and decisions, and expect them to function fairly, openly, and efficiently.”
The distinction and descriptions will be updated and added to the website. The connection between Observer Corps work and advocacy was also discussed. As our League builds an Advocacy committee, the input will add to context of issues and opportunities. There will be a zoom Advocacy meeting for all League members on Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for more information.
The next E.V.E.N.T.S. meeting is scheduled for March 9th at 10:30.
Contact barbdircks@gmail.com for further information.
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You're Invited
By Barb Dircks
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The next gathering is planned for March 12th. The meet-up will be at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Health Building in downtown Kalamazoo, at 5:30. The culinary and brewing students enrolled in the current semester demonstrate their skills in this semester-long Taps on Tuesday event. Hope to see you there as we continue to share and learn from fellow volunteers. | |
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Climate Change & Biodiversity
By Aedín Clements
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Denise Keele presenting at Climate Conversations at People's Church in February. | |
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Our Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environmental Justice Committee has been busy!
The LWVKA is partnering with the Green Sanctuary Committee at People’s Church, who have organized a three-part series, Climate Conversations. The first event was on Sunday, February 18th, and featured Denise Keele, Executive Director of the Michigan Climate Action Network (and a member of the LWVKA). Denise discussed state legislation that relates to climate change.
These Conversations begin at 12:30, in Room 19, People’s Church, 1758 N. 10th Street, Kalamazoo. The other two Conversation will feature Taylor Van Winkle, Kalamazoo County Climate Sustainability Coordinator, on March 24th, and Justin Gish, City of Kalamazoo Sustainability Planner, on April 14th. Plan to arrive a little before 12:30 for a light lunch.
In coordination with WMU’s Climate Emergency: Spring into Action 2024, the League is hosting a speaking event at the Lee Honors College on Wednesday April 3rd.
The President of the League of Women Voters, Lake Michigan Region, Elizabeth “Joy” Guscott-Mueller, along with David Mueller, both attorneys with extensive experience in environmental issues, will present a seminar, “Climate Change: Impacts on the Lake Michigan Region and Legal Update”. Please share information on this event.
The Committee is also planning a talk on biodiversity. This is being planned for May, so keep an eye out for announcements.
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Public Accuracy Test for Voting Tabulators
By Chris Kuthe
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On February 1st, at 9:00am, throughout Kalamazoo County, the voting tabulators for the February 27th Primary Election were tested. There were eleven LWVKA members in attendance in nine of twenty clerks’ offices. The locations of observation were: Comstock, Texas Township, Parchment, Oshtemo, City of Kalamazoo, Schoolcraft, Portage, Kalamazoo County and Kalamazoo Township. We were warmly welcomed in all nine locations. We were the only observers in all but two of the offices. Many of us had questions for the clerks and they were all thoroughly answered. Some concerns were raised about internet service in some precincts for E-poll books and the speed of response from the Michigan Election Bureau, but no problems occurred with the tabulators in any of the locations. Thank you to Sara Wick, Holly Jensen, Aedin Clements, Kristine Pioch, Deb Freiman, Connie Ferguson, Judy Sivak, Aimee Bedard, Tanya Potter and Barb Dircks for volunteering for this critical piece of the League’s election protection strategy.
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Voter Registration Events
By Aimée Bedard
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We were excited to learn this week that Clerks’ Offices are ready to start pre-registering 16 year olds to vote after the February Presidential Primary. We will have pre-registration forms available at future Voter Registration Events. While we did not hold any voter registration events in February, we have a few League members to thank. Thank you to Kristen Beaver and Sarah Erdmann who registered 6 new voters at Gull Lake High School’s rescheduled MLK Jr. Service Day at the end of January. They also identified key contacts to partner with on future events. Thank you to Arlene Brisleu, Susan Creager, and Karen Applebey who shared their interest to volunteer for future Voter Registration Events at Founders’ Day!! | |
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Membership
By Jennifer Snyder
LWVKA is pleased to welcome new members
Diane Mackie and Miriam Holbrook, both of Marshall.
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Thanks to Sue Ellen Christian and all that joined us for Founders Day!
Pictured top right:
Founders Day speaker Sue Ellen Christian (center) with LWVKA co-presidents Barb Dircks and Chris Kuthe
Pictured bottom right:
Laura Wheeler, Denise Hartsough and Connie Ferguson at the Advocacy table at the Founders Day brunch.
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