Our June Newsletter had 52% of You Opening It.
Not bad but lets get more!
Critical Race Theory
"It's a debate between people who think children shouldn't be burdened with the past, and those who want kids to learn how the legacy of that past shapes American society today.
"It has galvanized those who worry applying that lens (CRT) will teach children to hate America or divide the nation by emphasizing our differences."
Source: TIme Magazine, July 5-12, 2021
Past Tense, Critical Race Theory (CRT) is the New Front in a Long-Running Fight Over How to Teach America's Story to the Next Generation, by Olivia Waxman
NationalAction Alerts - Our Action is Needed Now!
1. In the US Senate,encourage passage of:
A. Placing a Price on Carbon: Right now Congress is deciding what should be included in the budget reconciliation climate package, and from what the scientists tell us, we need all the tools in the toolbox, but especially a price on carbon.
So, we are trying to encourage thousands of people across the US to contact their senators as soon as possible with that message. Ask your senators to put a price on carbon in this year's budget reconciliation. Reconciliation means that adjustments to spending and revenue can be made by 51 Senate votes instead of the full 60 votes and can't be blocked by filibuster.
The Climate Control Lobby (CCL) has developed a tool to help email and call. All a person has to do is click this link: cclusa.org/senate.
From Lisa Del Buono, MD, State Liaison Coordinator, Mi,CCL
Health Action Team, co-lead, Climate Control Lobby
(This message came to us through Jane Watts and Jan Warren)
B. Continue to encourage the passage of the For the Peoples' Act, S1.
C. Continue to encourage ending the filibuster.
Editor's note: We can also call or email our senators through their websites:
https://www.peters.senate.gov
https://www.stabenow.senate.gov
2. In the House of Representatives, encourage passage of:
A. The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, HR4, and
B. Statehood for Washington, D.C. a state, HR51.
You can contact Jack Bergman at https://bergman.house.gov
Our July 22nd Social Event was a Smashing Success!
Held at the home of Jean Howard, more than 35 members were in attendance who mingled to renew friendships, get to know each other and exchange thoughts. The food was incredibly delicious and wine and softer beverages were available. It was wonderful to have so many new members in attendance. Brief reports were given by Anne Montgomery, 1st Vice President; Peg Townsend, Voter Services; Ingrid Brophy, Treasurer; Cheryl Naperala, Program Committee and Nancy Nordfjord, Membership.
Volunteer Section
1. More volunteers are needed for the program committee. The member can be responsible for a program or just assist in the process of choosing a program.
Please contact Cheryl Naperala at napperch@yahoo.com or 231-223-7903 to find our what you might be able to do to help out with our very successful programs.
2. Our Observer Corps, chaired by Donna Moore, aims to observe meetings of the County and City commissioners as well as other local governing entities. There are 14 volunteers and they welcome more.
Please contact Donna Moore at donnabmooreusa@gmail.com
3. Possible LWVGTA committees not yet formed: Membership
Membership Hospitality
Communications
Fund Raising
Youth/Student Outreach
Current Issues and Communications with Legislators
Diversity and Anti-Racism
Good Works in the Community
A committee could be as few as 2 people. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Anne Montgomery, annemontgomerytc@gmail.com
Potential Voting Rule Changes
"Whitmer won't sign Republican voter-suppression bills, but GOP has found one weird trick to enact them anyway.
"The Republican leader of the Michigan State Senate says the party will try to push through its proposed voting restrictions, using a unique loophole in state law, despite a near-certain veto by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
"Republicans have already introduced 39 voting bills in the State Senate and dozens more in the House, three of which have already passed. Whitmer has vowed to veto the proposed restrictions. Senate Republican Leader Mike Shirkey told local news outlet JTV earlier this month that Republicans don't have the votes to ovrerride the veto but would instead pursue a scheme to use the state's citizen initiative process to circumvent the veto.
"'You heard it here first, keep your eyes and ears open for the potential of a citizen initiative driven by the state party on some of these more important election laws that need to be considered,' Shirkey said.
"Michigan's unique 'adopt and amend' procedure allows the state legislature to adopt a citizen iniative and then pass it into law with a simple veto-proof majority. The scheme only requires about 340,000 signatures, or 8% of the total votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, meaning that Michigan's heavily gerrymandered Republican majority and less than 4% of the state's population can circumvent the governor's power without ever putting the question before the public."
Source: Salon.com LLC, July 15, 2012, "Michigan GOP plans 'shocking' scheme to ram through voting restrictions over Whitmer's veto" by Igor Derysh
Summer trip idea from Parade Magazine, July 18, 2021, article titled "See America Again"
Seneca Falls, New York, is where the first womens' national rights convention was held in 1848 and the house of Elizabeth Cady Stanton can be toured, as well as the Wesleyan Chapel where the convention was held.
The National Women's Hall of Fame is also in Seneca Falls in the rehabilitated 1844 building that held the Seneca Knitting Mill. Honored there are Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, Cherokee leader Wilma Mankiller, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Aretha Franklin and Michelle Obama.
Correction from June Voter Newsletter:
It was mistakenly written that a Forum Article from the Record Eagle was against the effort to stop gerrymandering. The author actually was encouraging fairness and transparency and for the voters to get involved at the local level.
Save Olesons Receipts
One way we raise money is to collect Olesons receipts. Please send your receipts to: Jan Warren, 600 Cottage View Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684.
The League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area
www.lwvgta.org
Facebook: Search for LWVGTA or League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area
Serving Antrim, Benzie, Crawford, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties
President: Unfilled
1st Vice President: Anne Montgomery 2nd Vice President: Linda Crandall Treasurer: Ingrid Brophy Secretary: Ann Swaney Directors:
Mary Beeker
Marcia Koppa
Donna Moore
Nancy Nordfjord
Cheryl Naperala
Peg Townsend
Consultants:
Barb Berry, Jane Watts, Mary Grover and Jan Warren
Committees:
Observer Corps - Donna Moore
Programs - Cheryl Naperala
Membership - Nancy Nordfjord
Publicity - Linda Crandall
Voter Services - Peg Townsend
Webmaster - Mary Beeker
Facebook - Robin Stott
Twitter - Kathy Tuckerman
Instagram -
Unit leaders:
Benzie -
Crawford County - Marcia Koppa
Nominating Committee:
Linda Crandall and Jane Watts
If you have content for this newsletter please contact Nancy Nordfjord at: njnordfjord@gmail.com.
LWVGTA Membership renewal for the fiscal year of 2021-2022 (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022) begins in May. To pay dues by Paypal or print a membership application go to: https://www.lwvgta.org/join.html.
