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In this Issue:
- Message from Your Co-President
- Invitation - MLK Jr. ‘I Have a Dream’ Breakfast - Monday, January 15, 2024
- Sign up to Attend our Program Planning Session
- Voter Service Training Sessions
- 2013 - 2023 - A Decade of Impact Recap
- New Year's Resolution: Stand up to Bullying
- Download the League in ACTION app
Message from Your Co-President
Cheers to 2024! As a League, we can look back on 2023 with pride for the members we welcomed, the events we hosted, and the IMPACT we had on our community. In 2024, wear your League membership with pride! I tell everyone there’s no better “brain food” locally than being a League member. I mentioned this to a friend who lives in LaGrange and she finally has some slack in her schedule and needs some brain food - so guess what? She’s joining her local League! I am at least partially responsible for one new Leaguer! We all can be responsible for one! Please discuss the work of our League with your friends and neighbors and let’s grow our IMPACT even more in 2024.
We extend our thanks to Sue Coleman for hosting our Holiday potluck dinner at her home earlier this month. Joan and Mary Ann did a great job planning it and we appreciate everyone who came and shared their culinary skills and thanks to everyone who helped with the cleanup. It was a fun (and very affordable!) event and we all had a great time socializing. Our League is a great place to make new friends in our community.
Several members will be attending the MLK, Jr. I Have a Dream Breakfast on January 15th (see article below). I hope you will sign up to attend. I also urge you to consider renewing with a membership PLUS membership in 2024. We run a tight ship and a little extra money in our budget will help us do even more. Thanks to Nancy, Irene, Dianne, Gina, Mike, Barbara, Sue, Lynda, Dorothy, Susan, Barb, and Adrian for joining at the PLUS level this year.
Speaking of doing even more… all members are invited to attend our Program Planning Breakfast on Saturday, January 20th. We will set the agenda for the entire year at Program Planning Breakfast so please register to attend: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D48A4A72CA6F58-46996441-2024#/
Lastly, if you are a Village of Roselle resident, I encourage you to get up to speed about the March 19, 2024 Home Rule Referendum, The Village is having several information meetings to discuss the possibilities of this important topic:
- Coffee with the Board - Friday, January 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Village Hall
- State of the Village - Monday, January 8 Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall
- Roselle Chamber Business Community Update - Tuesday, January 16 at 5:30 pm at Itasca Bank & Trust Co., 1 E. Irving Park Road, Roselle. No cost to attend; reservations are required. Reserve your seat online.
- Referendum Community Forum - Thursday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall
In League, Barbara Hochstadt, Co-President
Invitation - MLK Jr. ‘I Have a Dream’ Breakfast - Monday, January 15, 2024
The LWVRB DEI Committee invites all members and friends to sign up to attend the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘I Have A Dream’ Breakfast. The event will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024, from 7:30 to 9:30 am at the Drury Lane Events located at 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. An exciting and inspiring program is scheduled for this event:
- Master of Ceremonies - Art Norman, retired NBC News Anchorman
- Virtual Remarks - Naomi King, widow of Rev. Alfred Daniel (A.D.) King & Sister-In-Law of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
- In-Person Keynote speaker - Bob Zellner, Freedom Rider and Social Justice Activist under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and member of The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
- Music from Rev. Darius Brooks, renowned gospel singer, along with local choirs
Individual tickets are $75/person. Over 800 tickets have already been sold and the event planning committee expects the event to be sold out (max 1,200 tickets) soon. So if you are interested in attending, please sign up at your earliest convenience.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, please visit dupagefoundation.org/MLKDay. If you do purchase tickets, please email Shefali Trivedi at lwvrbmail@gmail.com with the name(s) of attendees, as we are trying to arrange tables so that all League members can sit together. Many members from DuPage Leagues are planning to attend. We hope to see you there!
Sign up to Attend our Progam Planning Session!
This year’s Program Planning session will be held from 9:30 am to noon on Saturday, January 20 at Barb Hochstadt's house - 350 Lakeside Drive in Roselle. As we did last year, our Program Planning will be a potluck. Signup now to attend: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D48A4A72CA6F58-46996441-2024#/
Voter Service Training Sessions
LWVIL will hold training sessions for Voter Service Chairs (and all other interested members) in January. Please sign up for one or both! Sessions run between 90-120 minutes.
- Candidate Forum Training - Saturday, January 13th at 10:00 am review the basics of organizing a candidate forum, from inviting the candidates to the details the day of the event.
- Moderator Training - Saturday, January 20th at 10:00 am learn the League method for moderating forums. Once trained, you may elect to help other Leagues as an impartial moderator.
Registration links will be available soon.
2013- 2023 – A Decade of Impact Recap
As 2023 draws to a close, we reflect on our 10th Anniversary year with great pride. To honor the start of our chapter and recognize this milestone, we hosted a ‘Decade of Impact’ celebration in October. We looked back at our League’s many accomplishments, which made a big difference in our community. Everyone was reminded of and re-inspired by the vital role the League of Women Voters plays through our mission and work.
You can relive the experience and enjoy all the videos from the celebration event.
Mother Teresa said, "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." The love in giving from our volunteers was felt by all who attended our anniversary event. It takes many helping hands, hearts, and minds for any worthy endeavor. We express deep gratitude to the following individuals who helped make our 10th Anniversary event a HUGE SUCCESS!
- Event Co-Chairs - Joan Richards and Mike Murray
- League Members and individuals from our community – Julie Stock, Nancy Perry, Susan Wakefield Dal Porto, and Rich White
- Students from Lake Park High School – Himakshee Sublok and Jessica Minorczyk
- Board members – Mary Ann Lill-Clous, Diana Hoke, Roberta Borrino, Barbara Hochstadt, and Sue Coleman
On behalf of our entire board, I want to thank every person who has contributed to our League over the past 10 years. Here’s to more amazing work and impact in 2024!
- Shefali Trivedi, Fundraising & Events Director
New Year’s Resolution: Stand Up to Bullying
School bullying has driven dramatically over the past five years, according to the 2023 annual survey by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. According to the survey, the pandemic disruption caused students to regress in social skills, conflict resolution, and peer relationships. As a result, 40% of child and teen respondents said they were bullied on school campuses in the past year and 18% said they experienced cyberbullying.
In June 2023, Governor Pritzker approved an update to the state's anti-bullying law. The update shortens the window schools have to contact parents if their student is bullying, or is the target of bullying, from 10 days to 24 hours. A 24-hour notification change enables parents to intervene more quickly. The bill also creates a fund for cyber-safety education in schools.
In addition, federal help is available to combat bullying and help our children. StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on bullying, cyberbullying, and prevention. It shares terrific resources for parents, with a specific tab for kids that includes 14 videos for both younger kids and older kids. Last, it features a Get Help Now tab that provides immediate things to do to keep your child and others safe from bullying.
Lastly, you can sign up for a monthly e-newsletter with tips to help prevent bullying and cyberbullying.
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LWVIL will hold training sessions for voter service chairs (and all other interested members) in January. Please sign up for one or both! Sessions run between 90-120 minutes.
Moderator Training - Saturday, January 20th at 10:00 am - learn the League method for moderating forums. Once trained, you may elect to help other Leagues as an impartial moderator.
Our Mission: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Our Vision: We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate.
Our Value: We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government, to increase understanding of major policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. In our 100-year history, the League of Women Voters has never endorsed a political party or candidate for office. Membership in the League is open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnic group.
Thank you for supporting our work to defend democracy and empower voters and thanks for helping our local league GROW! Please share our newsletter with your friends.
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