DATES & DATA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WINNETKA-NORTHFIELD-KENILWORTH Website: http://www.lwv-wnk.org JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016 Presidents Letter The Year of the Voter The primary League of Women Voters function is to serve and inform the Voter. This is a year to do that on many levels! Our Voters Service Committee is already hard at work and all of us will need to help and support them. First, our tradition of holding a Candidates Forum is planned. The Committee has invited the 6 Candidates for Village Trustee in Winnetka to express their views and ideas for the Village in an open forum for all our citizens to consider. Voter Registration Dates are set. As a reminder, the League is always non-partisan and does not support candidates. However, members are free to do what they wish, in their own names (the exceptions are the President and the Voters Service Chair). We are looking forward to a busy year, with activities at the Library and other organizations in our Villages. See you there! Gwen Trindl, President LWVWNK Remember these Dates Put them on Your Calendar Join Us for an Informative Time JANUARY 20, 11:45, CONVERSATIONS, Happ Inn, Northfield JANUARY 25, 1:00, GREAT DECISIONS, Winnetka Library FEBRUARY 21, CANDIDATES FORUM, Winnetka Congregational Church
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WINNETKA-NORTHFIELD-KENILWORTH 2016 CALENDAR JANUARY 11 Board meeting, 9:15 meeting room, Winnetka Park District TBD Local issue committees meet to make changes to local positions 14 Voter Service- Last day to file a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate (5:00pm) 20 Conversations begins, Happ Inn Northfield(See details below) 25 Great Decisions begins(see details below) FEBRUARY 1 Board meeting, 9:15 meeting room, Winnetka Park District 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Great Decisions 10 Voter Registration Day, Winnetka Public Library, All Day 16 Voter Service- online mail and regular voter registration closes 17 Voter Service- Grace period registration and voting begins 17 Conversations, Happ Inn, Northfield 21 Candidates Forum, Winnetka Congregational Church 27 LWVIL Issues Briefing 29 Voter Service- Early voting begins MARCH 7 Board meeting 7:15 pm place TBD 7, 14 Great Decisions TBD Local issue committees changes to positions are due and need to be sent to members for May Annual Meeting 10 Voter Service- Last day to apply for a ballot by mail 14 Voter Service-Grace period registration and voting ends 14 Voter Service- Early voting ends 15 Voter Service Presidential Primary Election and Local Elections 16 Conversations, Happ Inn, Northfield TBD Women s History Month Luncheon 29 Wine or Cider and Cheese event, 4:00-5:30, to tour and learn about the New Direction of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library. APRIL 4 Board meeting 9:15 am, meeting room, Winnetka Park District 20 Conversations, Happ Inn Northfield MAY 9 TBD Annual Meeting, place TBD LWVCC Annual meeting JUNE 6 Old/New Board meeting place TBD TBD LWVUS Convention, Washington, DC
League of Women Voters Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth invites you to attend CONVERSATIONS 2016 Conversations is a monthly gathering of League members and their friends who enjoy a mid-day meal followed by stimulating conversation on a variety of important and evolving issues led by experts in the field. Wednesday, January 20, 11:45 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. The Happ Inn, 305 Happ Road, Northfield, Il Cost $25 per person, pay at the door Leader: Abe Scarr, Director at Illinois PIRG Topic: The Voting Rights Crisis in America Leader: Topic: Wednesday, February 17, 11:45 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Chief William Lustig, Police Chief of Northfield Crime on the North Shore in 2015 (Public Interest Research Group) RSVP BY JANUARY 13 to Diane Onixt, manuelo42@aol.com, (847-998-6693) or to Irvina Warren, shervina@comcast.com (847-446-70770 Leader: Topic: Wednesday, March 16, 11:45 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Lynn Gordon, Board President, Madonna Mission Refugees in the Chicago Area: Who are They, How are We Helping Them Leader: Wednesday, April 2, 11:45 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Corey Franklin, Board President, Madonna Mission Topic: Working at Cook county Hospital Each program is held at The Happ Inn, 305 Happ Road, Northfield, Il, Cost $25 per person, pay at the door R.S.V.P. Required by ONE WEEK PRIOR TO PROGRAM To Diane Onixt, manuelo42@aol.com, (847-998-6693) or Irvina Warren, shervina@comcast.com, (847-446-7077)
Great D isions It s that time of year again! Whether you are a Great Decisions addict and have been participating for years, or if you are new to this amazing way to learn the background and sort out options for dealing with the many international dilemmas of the day, you will be interested in this year s Great Decisions program. Sponsored by a partnership between the League of Women Voters Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth and the Winnetka- Northfield Public Library District, the program will run for eight weeks beginning Monday, January 25, from 1:00-3:00 in the downstairs Community Room of the Winnetka branch library. Great D isions Topics January 25 - Mideast Allianc February 1 - Islamic State February 8 - The Kurds February 15 - Migration February 22 - The Koreas February 29 - United Nations March 7 - Climate Control March 14 - Cuba Since each topic stands alone, participants can miss some sessions but most people choose to come to them all. Briefing booklets from the Foreign Policy Association contain background articles on each topic and can be purchased for$20 by contacting LWV chair, Joan Fragen 847-446-0184 or Joanfragen@gmail.com. The Library will also have additional copies for circulation. Besides the briefing articles, each session begins with a short DVD introduction to the subject providing a Segway to the group s discussion. Participants are encouraged to bring relevant articles they find elsewhere as well. All members of the community are invited to join these informative and stimulating conversations. So come and bring your friends!!
IT S AN ELECTION YEAR MARCH 15 IS YOUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE League of Women Voters Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth invites you to THE CANDIDATES FORUM 2016 with Candidates for Trustee of the Winnetka Village Council SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2:00 P.M. WINNETKA CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Sponsored and hosted by the League of Women Voters of Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth, the Forum is non-partisan and the League does not support any particular candidate. The Forum will be moderated by a member of a League other than Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth. The candidates will be given two questions in advance to answer during the Forum. They will then have an opportunity to answer questions from the audience. They will each be allotted two minutes to present their views at the beginning of the Forum, and another two minutes at the end. The League hopes to have the forum videotaped and will present it on the League website and will also feature it on the League s Facebook page.
Calling All Voter Registrars & LWV Members On Wednesday, February 10, our League will have a Voter Registration table at the Winnetka Branch library during a high activity day there. Voter registrars and people interested in meeting and telling visitors about League and its activities will have a great opportunity to represent and serve LWV by interacting with the public. We will provide both hard copy and online voter registration instructions. We will also have handouts that tell about LWV-WNK and our programs. To volunteer for any time during the day or evening, please contact Joan Fragen, liason, 847-446-0184, Joanfragen@gmail.com, or Ann Sharp, Voter Service Chair, 847-446-1069, sharpab2828@gmail.com. LWV-WNK NEEDS YOUR HELP IN MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK VOLUNTEER TO BE A LEAGUE OBSERVER OBSERVE OUR LOCAL BOARDS PARK DISTRICT, SCHOOL, LIBRARY, VILLAGE For information contact Gwen Trindl, jtrindlent@gmail.com Two Public Open Houses on Stormwater Alternatives Thursday, January 21, 6-8 pm and Saturday, January 23, 10:00am-12 noon It will be at the Washburne School Gym and will focus on the village consultants Strand Associates study of Stormwater Alternatives for Western and Southwestern Winnetka.
New Analysis Shows Irresponsible State Budgeting Harming Women Women gathered at The Center of Hope in Rockford to unveil a new analysis from the Responsible Budget Coalition that shows the failure of state policymakers to choose revenue is having a disproportionate impact on women. This is due to the fact that women make far less than men for the very same work and caregiving responsibilities are far more likely to fall on their shoulders. Vision 20/20 Education is an investment in our children s future, our state s future, and our nation s future. In November 2012, the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) initiated a vision ing process in partnership with the Illinois Principals Association (IPA), the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), the Superintendents Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity (SCSDD), and the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS) to unite the education community and to develop a longrange blueprint for improving public education in Illinois. Suffragist Memorial The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) has agreed to become a partner with the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association (TPSMA) in creating a memorial that celebrates the fight for women s suffrage and its relevance today. This decision is particularly timely in light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 2020. League of Women Voters of Illinois For more information about the following articles go to www.lwvil.org 10 Ways the League of Women Voters Has Helped Improve Our Country By: Renee Davidson 02/04/2015 This year, the League of Women Voters celebrates its 95th anniversary. Founded by suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt on February 14, 1920 just six months prior to passage of the 19th Amendment the League was charged with finish[ing] the fight to ensure that every eligible voter has free and fair access to the polls. Ever since, the League has been at the forefront of efforts to empower citizens to play an active role in our democracy. In honor of 95 years of Making Democracy Work, here are 10 ways the League has helped strengthen our democracy and ensure equality throughout the past century. 1. The Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921, a groundbreaking law providing federal funding for maternity and child care, was the League s first major success. 2, Following World War II, the League helped lead the effort to establish the United Nations. 3. In 1952, the League joined NBC and Life magazine in sponsoring the first-ever televised U.S. presidential debate. We served as the official presidential debate sponsor from 1976-1984. Today, Leagues across the country continue to sponsor candidate debates at the state and local levels. 4. McCarthyism and the witch hunt period of the 1950s inspired the League to help educate Americans on their individual rights and liberties as guaranteed by the Constitution. This work culminated when LWVUS President Percy Maxim Lee testified before Congress against Senator Joseph McCarthy s abuse of congressional investigative powers in 1955. 5. Between 1950 and 1970, the League increased its effectiveness in regard to both public education and advocacy, prompting Senator George Aiken to remark, Only 135,000 of them? I thought there were millions. 6. Throughout the 70s and 80s, passing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a top League priority at the national and state levels. The League organized the National Business Council (NBC) for ERA, the first formal structure to bring major business leaders into the fight for ratification. 7. In 1990s, the League was at the forefront of the fight to pass the National Voter Registration Act, better known as Motor Voter. We even have President Clinton s pen from the signing! 8. Following five years of campaigning, the League helped pass the McCain-Feingold bill, better known as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), in 2002. The legislation closed the most significant loopholes in campaign finance regulation at the time, making historic strides in helping protect our nation s elections from secret money. 9. In 2006, the League launched VOTE411.org, the go-to online resource for voter registration and elections-related information. In 2014, over 1.5 million people used VOTE411.org to find the election information they needed to vote. 10. In 2014, the League and our partners helped collect 8 million public comments encouraging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cut carbon pollution and fight climate change. We re still pushing ahead in 2015. The League is one of our country s oldest and strongest nonpartisan civic organizations. Ninety-five years after the League was founded, we continue to hold fast to the belief that our nation is at its strongest when citizens are engaged with our democracy, from voting rights and voter education to campaign finance reform and environmental defense. There will never be a true democracy, said Chapman Catt, until every responsible...adult in it, without regard to race, sex, color or creed has his or her own...voice in government.
From LWV President Elisabeth MacNamara The League Update January 7, 2016 Happy New Year! Well, 2015 is finally behind us. It was a year of great turmoil in our nation and in the world. It was a year in which, once again, we saw new voices emerging discussing new approaches to combatting age-old themes of justice and inequality. Looking forward, 2016 is a critical election year in which I hope Leagues everywhere are thinking about ways to work with these powerful new voices in your communities to connect these themes to the critical act of voting. The League of Women Voters is the only living legacy of the movement that got women in this country the right to vote. We are that legacy because our founders understood that in order to succeed in the long run, the energy of a movement must be translated into sustained civic engagement by those involved in the movement. Nearly one hundred years ago, the strategies and tactics that the National American Woman s Suffrage Association employed to achieve the vote were well adapted to the political process. Today, that political process remains largely unchanged while the ability of activists to organize across distance and time has evolved to be unrecognizable even to those of us who have lived through the change. That is the challenge facing the League and every other traditional political organization in this election. To effect real change through the political process every voice must be heard, not just through new media, but at the ballot box. Working together, we can and must meet this challenge. Together, we will register hundreds of thousands of new voters, starting with this spring s Youth Voter Registration Project, provide millions with nonpartisan information on candidates on VOTE411.org and through millions of printed and online voters guides, and host more debates and forums, as well as serve as poll workers, poll monitors and, in some cases, drivers helping voters get to the polls. For this election to be about real change, it must first be about traditional voter engagement and empowerment. Joining hands with our many partners, we will make a difference this year. In League, IN THE CURRENT ISSUE ON THE WEB (: MEMBERSHIP & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION FUND ELECTIONS VOTE411 Training Webinars (NEW) LWVEF Youth Voter Registration Project Kicking off Nationwide (NEW) Electing the President 2016 Supplement Now Available (NEW) EDUCATION FUND - KEY STRUCTURES OF DEMOCRACY Money in Politics Resources (REMINDER) ADVOCACY League Comments on HHS Regulations for ACA Navigators (NEW) Climate Agreement in Paris Puts People Before Polluters (NEW) COMMUNICATIONS Join @LWV on Twitter During the State of the Union! (NEW) CONVENTION 2016 Guide to LWVUS Program Planning 2016-21018 and the LWVUS Board Proposal for Making Democracy Work are Posted (UPDATED) 2016 National Convention: Making Democracy Work - For All (NEW) OTHER Opportunity to Attend UN Commission on the Status of Women Session - Space Limited (REMINDER) FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THE TOPICS PLEASE GO TO WWW.LWV.ORG AND CLICK ON OUR WORK