Your Monthly
---VOTER---
May 2023
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The year 2023 is shaping up to be a very busy one for the League of Women Voters of the Greater Grand Rapids Area!
During the month of April, we held the final event in our virtual speaker series, Voices on Vital Topics. I would like to thank the LWVGGRA Fundraising and Events Committee for organizing these great educational events. Also, a special thank you to our community partners and attendees that made these events possible. We are hoping to make this series an annual event during the Winter months as a way to stay connected. We welcome your suggestions for future speakers.
In case you haven’t heard, there is A LOT happening in Lansing. We have seen the passage of important gun legislation, the introduction of National Popular Vote legislation, and much work on the implementation of Proposal 2 that was passed by Michiganders in 2022. The LWVMI Advocacy Committee closely monitors legislation in Lansing and provides updates to LWV members. You can track bills that are relevant to LWV here. Information regarding the implementation of components of Proposal 2 can be found below in this edition of The Voter.
As a reminder, the League of Women Voters of Michigan will be holding the biennial LWVMI State Convention at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing during the weekend of May 19-21. This event is a great opportunity to meet League members from all over the state. If you have not attended a LWV convention previously, I highly recommend you consider attending this year’s event. It is sure to be a fabulous weekend packed full of both fun and educational opportunites.
In League,
Courtney Winell
Chair, LWVGGRA
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Cultural Bloom Festival
LWVGGRA will be providing voter registration to the East Kentwood Community during the Cultural Bloom Festival on Saturday, May 6 from 6:00-9:00 pm. If you are interested in joining the voter registration efforts at this event, please contact Joan Long (jlml1119@yahoo.com) for additional information.
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Socialize, Learn, & Shop for a Cause
LWVGGRA invites you to a boutique shopping experience at WAR Chest Boutique on Thursday, May 10 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Women at Risk (WAR) is a Michigan based, nonprofit charitable organization, established to create circles of protection around those at risk. Through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects and partnerships, they provide safe places to heal from abuse, trafficking, exploitation, and more. Their passion is to empower survivors to live and work with dignity and hope. Their WAR Chest Boutique sells handcrafted items made by at-risk and rescued men and women from around the world to support their work, while educating shoppers about the risks the vulnerable face in our world. We invite you to join us on May 10 to shop with a purpose at the WAR Chest Boutique!
Our evening will begin with a presentaion about the organization, followed by an opportunuty to shop handcrafted unique items in their in house boutique -- just in time for Mother’s Day! Coffee, wine, and light snacks will be provided. We hope you will join us for this fun event! Feel free to bring a friend (or two).
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Lady Legends Grand Rapids Walking Tour
Please join the League of Women Voters of the Greater Grand Rapids Area on Wednesday, September 6, at 6:30 pm, as we learn about women’s history in Grand Rapids. Local guide Caroline Cook of Grand Rapids Running Tours will lead us on a women’s history-themed walking tour of downtown. (No, we won’t be running!) We will meet in the lobby of the JW Marriott and finish up there with cocktails. The tour covers about 2 miles and takes approximately 90 minutes.
The cost of the tour will be $15 per person, payable at the beginning of the tour. The cost does not include cocktails.
You can get more information on Caroline’s tours at grandrapidsrunningtours.com. She calls our tour the “Lady Legends” tour:
“The number of organizations or causes that were founded or inspired by a woman or a group of women in Grand Rapids' history, recent and long, is staggering. Most of these institutions continue to operate today and have touched the lives of countless citizens through the years. We visit abundant, noteworthy sights that originated with women. You’ll be impressed!”
Please contact Karen Legault (dklegault@att.net) with any questions and to RSVP.
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Citizen's Guide Now Available
The Citizen’s Guide to State Government for the 102nd Legislature is now available. It is available on the Legislature’s website. You can also get printed copies from your local legislator.
CitizensGuide.pdf (mi.gov)
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Promote the Vote
Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed Proposal 2 in November 2022. Its passage enhances the security of our elections and protects the right of every eligible Michigander to vote. The provisions of Prop 2 have been added to the Michigan Constitution and are now in effect. The provisions include Early Voting, Permanent Mail Voter List, Voter Identification, Absentee Voting Improvements, Military and Overseas Ballots, Election Integrity, Charitable Contributions, and Fundamental Right to Vote. Read more about those provisions here.
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Advocacy & Current Projects
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GoVote Poster Contest: Winners Selected & Open House at GRAM
The first annual GoVote Poster Contest winners have been selected! We are grateful to Brett Colley, Professor of Studio Art at Grand Valley State University; Artist Georgia Tardy; and LWV members Kristin Brace and Laurel Horman for selecting the winners using our rubric. We were pleased with the number and variety of entries. Many thanks as well to the network of high school art teachers that helped spread the word and encouraged their students to participate.
The winning GoVote Poster Contest entries will be displayed at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) from June 29th through July 29th in the student exhibition area along Monroe Center. A reception will be held on June 29th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm to recognize the winning students and their inspiring posters. More information about this event will be included in the June edition of The Voter.
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Professional Municipal Clerks Week
April 30 – May 6 has been proclaimed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as Professional Municipal Clerks Week in Michigan.
The League of Women Voters of the Greater Grand Rapids Area recognizes the important role that our Clerks play in supporting our democracy. They ensure that our local elections are free and fair and that the highest standards are upheld when doing so. So much work goes into every election. The general public typically sees the small snapshot of their efforts that occur on Election Day, but we know they spend countless hours preparing for every election.
To show our appreciation, LWVGGRA has contacted every Municipal Clerk in Kent County to express our appreciation for the work they put into each and every election.
You can read the full proclamation here: April 30 - May 6, 2023: Professional Municipal Clerks Week (michigan.gov)
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America’s First Ladies Luncheon
 On April 27, members of the League of Women Voters were invited by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation to attend the America’s First Ladies Luncheon at the JW Marriott.
During the luncheon, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation welcomed Edward Cox, Son-in-Law of President Richard Nixon, and First Lady Pat Nixon; Susan Ford Bales, Daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, and First Lady Betty Ford; and Patti Matson, Former Assistant Press Secretary to First Ladies Pat Nixon and Betty Ford, for a great panel discussion that was moderated by Rick Albin, Political Reporter for WOOD TV. These special guests spoke about the leadership, courage, and grace of First Ladies Pat Nixon and Betty Ford.
We would like to thank the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation for their generous invitation to attend this fabulous event.
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In keeping with our advocacy theme of children, we have a couple resources for you to explore this month related to keeping children safe.
Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda (michigan.gov)
Block children from adult themed sites and ads:
Michigan Children's Protection Registry : Home (protectmichild.com)
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High School Registration
Help register students at Wayland High School on May 4th! Contact Joan Long if you can help: jlml1119@yahoo.com.
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Meet League Member Kami Weninger!
 When did you join the LWV? How did you learn about our organization and why did you decide to join?
I joined in Spring of 2020 after attending the virtual Founders Day celebration from our Kalamazoo chapter. It included an update from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and introduced me to so many inspiring, passionate members. The League has many interesting areas to support beyond voter registration. I particularly find that the environment and state policy positions as well as women’s rights match my interests.
Karen Joseph was a wonderful LWV recruiter for our Grand Rapids chapter.
Could you share about your career and educational background? Did this influence you to volunteer with the League?
I lived and worked in San Diego for 20 years after graduating from SDSU with a business major. I was a CPA before going into industry as a Human Resources Manager.
I feel that I had many equal employment opportunities. A strong democracy needs to be supported so that future generations can also experience those opportunities.
Aside from your work with the League, how do you spend your time? Are you employed or an active volunteer in other organizations?
I met Karen Joseph while participating and volunteering with JDRF. I have two children with Type One Diabetes and have been involved with the organization for 21 years.
I also recently enjoyed supporting the passage of Prop. 3 for reproductive freedom.
Tell us more about yourself! Family, pets, hobbies, interests.
I do yoga regularly and hike, explore, and read.
What gives you hope?
The passage of Prop. 3 was very encouraging to me.
I also love to listen to the passionate voices of young adults. I hope they can keep us on a good course.
What is one silly fact about you?
I’m a “Honky Tonk Girl." I spent a large part of my early adulthood involved in the West Coast Swing and Two Step community including lessons, weekend conferences, country bars, and other venues.
Is there an elected official or organization that you would like to learn more about? Send your suggestions for future interviews to lwvggr@gmail.com.
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Grand Rapids Community Master Plan - Your Input Needed!
The second round of engagement for the City of Grand Rapids' Community Master Plan will include a public workshop from 5:00 to 8:30 pm on Thursday, May 18 at GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Ave NE. They will also be at this year's Neighborhood Summit (Saturday, May 20). Visit http://www.bridgetoourfuture.org for more updates.
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A gift of any size helps your local League provide programming and education to our members and the community we share. Please support our mission to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy by clicking this link to donate online or by mailing a check to the address below. Thank you for your support!
LWVGGRA
PO Box 174
6220 Belmont Ave NE
Belmont, MI 49306
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Current Board Members
Courtney Winell, Chair
Teri Chaplin, Vice Chair
Kristin Brace, Secretary
Carolyn Sturgis, Treasurer
Karen Joseph, Events & Fundraising Team Lead
Elianna Bootzin, 411 Team Lead
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Board meetings are held every first Monday at 7:00 PM via Zoom.
Invitations are sent to the full membership and all members are welcome.
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