|
April, 2020
And now, just a month after the last Voter Newsletter, our lives have changed completely:
-We are living in uncertain times,
-All programs and meetings have been cancelled until further notice,
-League board meetings and Voter Services meetings will happen via technology,
-Changes come from our State and Federal agencies,
-And, we may have further changes in how we vote.
What can we do ?
-Follow the guidelines set for us,
-Keep in touch with each other via text, email, phone calls,
-Practice random acts of kindness and gratefulness,
-Learn new things that bring us happiness,
-Practice controlled breathing,
-Get outside as much as you can but stay 6' away from others. Walk, hike, forest bathe, porch bathe,
-Practice the ancient art of writing letters to loved ones,
-Perhaps order groceries or needed items online (Meijer.com, Walmart.com and Fast Lane for Family Fare on 8t St. have delivery or pick up services, and although they are very busy, if you keep at it you can get your list delivered if you live nearby, or items can be picked up curbside. Patience is a factor for getting this service. Keep trying.)
Please stay tuned for changes in the following:
Plans for a 2020 celebration of the founding of LWVGTA 60 years ago are in the works!
AND...
2020 is the official 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in the United States. Lets celebrate!
If you would like to help plan these important celebrations, please contact Nancy Nordfjord (njnordfjord@gmail.com) or Anne Montgomery (annemontgomerytc@gmail.com). Join us!
We will also have elections in May as well as the Presidental Election in November of 2020. To get nonpartisan information on elections and candidates on the web, see Vote411.org. Watch for updated information on efforts to have all voters receive ballots by mail.
|
|
|
"The minimum, the very basic minimum of a citizen's duty is to cast a vote on election day. Even now, too few of us discharge this minimal duty. By such negligence, such indifference, such sheer laziness, we discard, unused, a gift of priviledge obtained for us at gigantic cost and sacrifice.
But our chief obligation is to cast a vote, this carries with it a further duty - to vote intelligently. And here we hit a snag. How are you supposed to vote intelligently?
To vote intelligently you must have an understanding of issues and the different points of view as to how they can best be handled. You must have some way of appraising and evaluating the men (?) who appeal for your suffrage to enable them to handle the issues. You must understand how things get done through political action. You must know, in general if not in particular, what kind of country you want to live in and how those issues will affect the main picture." Eleanor Roosevelt
Watch for the updated VOTE411.org!
|
|
ALL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
The 2020 Annual Program may be held via technology.
Watch for more information on the National Writers' Series "Evening with Elaine Weiss" who authored The Woman's Hour, The Great Fight to Win the Vote.
This will be held at the City Opera House on June 11, 2020. It is hoped that our crisis will end by then and that many League members and friends will be able to attend and wear white in appreciation for the suffragists and the 100th anniversary of Womens' Right to Vote.
Many thanks go out to the members of the program committee. Hopefully those programs will be held at at a later date.
|
|
|
To mark the 100th anniversary of women suffragists success, this newsletter is doing a series of articles about the founding suffragists' ambitions and struggles to win womens' right to vote and other important issues occurring at the same time in the United States.
This installment begins the new Progressive Era for women's rights, from 1819 to 1925.
|
|
1819 to 1925
The Progressive Era begins. Women from all classes and backgrounds enter public life. Women's roles expand and result in an increasing politicalization of women. Consequently, the issue of woman suffrage becomes part of mainstream politics.
1892
Olympia Brown founds the Federal Suffrage Association to campaign for woman's suffrage.
Mary Dreier, Rhete Chilcle Dorr, Leonora O'Reilly and others form the Women's Trade Union League of New York, an organization of middle- and working-class women dedicated to unionization for working women and to woman suffrage.
1910
Washington State adopts woman suffrage.
The Women's Political Union organizes the first suffrage parade in New York City.
1911
The National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage (NAOWS) is organized. Led by Mrs. Arthur Dodge, its members included wealthy, influential women, some Catholic clergymen, distillers and brewers, urban political machines, Southern congressmen and corporate capitalists.
The elaborate California Suffrage Campaign succeeds by a small margin.
To be continued...
Source: The National Women's History Museum
|
|
|
|
Advocacy and Communications Webinar (Thursday, April 2 at 4pm ET). The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone's lives, but that doesn't mean that our work stops. Join LWVUS staff for a conversation around recommendations around policy, advocacy, grassroots engagement, and communications during this unprecedented time. Register hereThe monthly Technology and Communications Webinar (Thursday, April 9 at 4:30pm ET) will cover tools to provide Leagues with guidance that will help you navigate working remotely in these different times. In this session, we will introduce options for hosting virtual meetings, public events, and group work. We'll discuss best practices for doing League work remotely as well as other tips to make your League work the best it can be during this time. We'll hear from each other about what is working in the field and what elements we can help improve. Register here.Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Webinar (Thursday, April 16 at 7pm ET). This webinar will focus on gender identity. Register here.
|
|
|
Liz Messing's address for get well cards and messages is: 525 Cottage Arbor Lane, Willow Cottage #103, Traverse City, MI 49684
|
|
|
The League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League is strictly non-partisan, neither endorsing candidates nor supporting political parties. The League, in both its values and its practices, reaffirms its commitment to diversity.
LWVGTA would welcome donations. 2020 will be a busy year with federal, state and local elections. You can make tax deductible donations designated for the LWVGTA - Education Fund. These funds can only be used to provide nonpartisan civic information to help citizens understand and participate in government with the goal of building citizen participation in the democratic process at all government levels.
You can also make unrestricted donations to LWVGTA which could be used for our other important work.
Donations to special projects, especially to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the US ratification of women's right to vote or our 60th anniversary of the founding of our League are also welcome. Celebrations will be held this summer.
|
|
|
|
One way we make money is to collect Oleson's receipts. Please send your receipts to: Jan Warren,12055 S. Woodwinds Circle #15, Traverse City, MI 49684.
|
|
|
|
|
|
