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In Memory of Inara Kurt
Written by Peggy Townsend
In May 2015, Inara Kurt received the League of Women Voters-GTA Outstanding Service Award. This dedicated, talented, passionate, gracious, and thoughtful woman continued to be outstanding in the years that followed. Sadly, Inara passed away suddenly November 14, 2017, tending her garden, a job she loved. This loss weighs heavily on her family, friends, and her fellow LWVGTA members.
Inara has been ever present in League activities, most especially as chairman and later co-chairman of the Voter Services committee. Her leadership and work in those roles has impacted the Grand Traverse Area community in a variety of ways. She championed and staffed voter registration drives and played an integral part in planning, organizing, and putting on successful candidate and issue forums. Whether it was registering new voters at Northwestern Michigan College or helping seniors in assisted living facilities find out how they could cast an absentee ballot, Inara was there. If it took multiple phone calls to secure a candidate’s presence at a forum, she did it. She learned quickly that persistence quite often pays off.
As a spokesperson for the Voter Services committee, she so clearly explained the League’s mission to encourage citizens to participate in the democratic process and to offer ways to become informed voters. When she was asked why she gave up so much of her time and talents to the Grand Traverse League, Inara said, “I get excited about educating voters so that they can make thoughtful choices. I like being an active part of that process.” Active and excited she was in promoting the best that democracy has to offer. Her friends in the League have been inspired by this very special woman, and we will do our best to emulate her excitement, her passion, and her dedication to those worthy goals. We will miss you, dear friend, “to the moon and back”.
Inara’s funeral will be at Immaculate Conception Church on November 20, 2017, at 11a.m. with visitation starting at 10a.m.
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Upcoming Events
HOLIDAY WREATH & GARLAND PICK-UP
Saturday, November 18, 9am-2pm
719 Munson Ave. Traverse City, MI 49686
(Swan Mailbox across from Schelde's)
SAVE THE DATE!
LWVGTA Annual Holiday Open House
Sunday, December 10, 1pm-4pm
Home of Brenda & Al Quick
542 Fifth St. Traverse City, MI 49684
Please join us for our annual League education fund fundraiser and celebration. Invitations are in the mail and guests are welcome!
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"Setting the Table for Civility"
As part of the League’s partnership with the National Institute for Civil Discourse, LWV members are invited to participate in "Setting the Table for Civility." It is an opportunity for individuals, as we gather with friends and family for the upcoming Thanksgiving and year-end holiday season, to take action to promote civility.
We'll be exploring three basic questions:
• What are you most thankful for about living in America?
• How do you feel about the deep divisions and incivility we see now in our country?
• What can we do to revive civility and respect and find more effective ways to listen to each other and work together?
Tools and materials are available to support conversations at family gatherings, within faith communities, on campuses, and on social media. This could be a great way to engage new members and to invite non-members to join the League in an activity that brings people together and helps us build more civil dialogue in communities.
Sincerely,
Chris Carson, LWVUS President
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'Line 5 Pipeline: An Avoidable Environmental Risk'
from the League of Women Voters of Michigan
The League of Women Voters of Michigan is one of 21 members of the Oil and Water Don't Mix Coalition that sent a letter to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality ("MDEQ") and the US Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps") on June 29, 2017 regarding Enbridge Oil Company’s joint application to the MDEQ and the Corps (No. 2RD-DFDK-Y35G) to install 22 anchor supports on the Line 5 pipelines in the Mackinac Straits. The Coalition members are Michigan organizations dedicated to the protection of Michigan’s water, natural resources, public trust in those resources, the environment, communities, and the health, safety and general welfare of citizens.
The Coalition organizations are requesting that MDEQ and the Corps take the following actions with regard to Enbridge’s joint application:
1. Reject as incomplete due to its overly narrow scope of review;
2. Require a comprehensive review of Line 5 in the Straits that includes an assessment of adverse environmental impacts, risks, and feasible and prudent alternatives;
3. Temporarily terminate the transport of crude oil in the Line 5 pipelines during this comprehensive review; and
4. Hold a formal public hearing given that Enbridge Line 5 occupies publicly owned waters and bottomlands and the threat of a catastrophic oil pipeline rupture to the Great Lakes are of tremendous controversy and have generated an extraordinary level of public engagement.
Read the entire letter here.
Other resources:
Under-the-Straits tour of Pipeline 5 (3 min. video)
Area businesses expressing concern (3 min. video)
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Oleson's Grocery Receipts: "We want 'em!"
The LWVGTA is still collecting receipts from Oleson's Grocery Store for fundraising through Oleson's Community Share Program. (We have raised $1,231.91 for our League to date!) Please continue to send receipts to League President Jan Warren at 12055 S Woodwinds Circle, #15 Traverse City, MI 49684.
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