LWVUS New open logo only  League of Women Voters  of Berrien and Cass  Counties Newsletter

    October              2016
Presidents Newsletter

This month is much about upcoming events. But first, a big thank you to Rick Compton, CEO of Riverwood Center Berrien Mental Health Authority, and Director of Service, Gayle Hackworth, PhD, for th eir exceptional presentation at our September 23 luncheon. 

Forums are now scheduled for two nights: October 10 and October 13. 

The Monday, October 10 event consists of the following: Cass County 43rd Circuit Judge candidates Mark Herman and Scott Teter will share their views on a number of topics at 6:30 p.m. Their participation will be followed at 7:30 by Michigan House District 59 candidates Carol Higgins (D) and Aaron Miller (R) offering their thoughts on issues important to all of us.

The venue is Southwestern Michigan College Conference Center, 58900 Cherry Grove Rd., Dowagiac. We've been advised to enter via Daley Rd.

The Thursday, October 13 event features Kim LaSata (R) and Marletta Seats (D) vying for Michigan House District 79 representation. AND, we learned just today, October 1, that both Dean Hill (D) and Dave Pagel (R), vying for Michigan House 78th District, will indeed participate on October 13. The venue is the Berrien RESA (Regional Education Service Agency) Conference Center at 711 St.Joseph Ave., Berrien Springs, at 7:00.

Next up is the LWVLake Michigan Region annual conference and meeting in Porter, Indiana, Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15. The Craft & Art of Saving Lake Michigan will offer a great deal of pleasure and much valuble information on what we can do individually and collectively to protect the lake we love and enjoy. To register, go to lwvlmr.org. The cost is reasonable and worth every penny. All League members can attend.

See the next article by Donna Dutton, our Membership Chair, on two more October events.

And please, as soon as you receive your dues-renewal letter this month, take the time right away to get your payment to LWVBCC.
Thank you - and I hope to see many of you at these events.


Chris

Water Treatment Facility Tour 

Water Treatment Facility Tour  Wednesday, October 19  - open document below and be sure to register!! - and League Luncheon,  Thursday, October 20

Marcy Hamilton is a Senior Planner with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission.   She works with communities and non-profits to facilitate land use planning, advance sustainable development, foster collaboration, increase citizen participation, develop grants and implement projects around the Southwest Michigan region. 

Marcy serves on the St. Joseph River Watershed Council and is a board member for the Partnership for MEANDRS (Meeting the Ecological and Agricultural Needs of the Dowagiac River System). She also established the Two Rivers Coalition and continues to advise this successful watershed organization to improve and protect the Paw Paw and Black River Watersheds. She is the co-chair of the Southwest Michigan Water Resources Council and serves on Michigan's Water Cabinet to develop Michigan's new State Water Strategy, "Sustaining Michigan Water Heritage, A Strategy for the Next Generation."

Previously, Marcy was the project director for the Dowagiac River Watershed Project with the Cass County Conservation District.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Ohio Northern University and a Master of Environmental Science Degree from Miami University, Ohio.

Water Treatment Facility Tour


Important Date Updates 


The October League Luncheon will be Thursday, October 20, at Coach's, a change from our usual Wednesday schedule.

Book Club, Monday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. at the home of Marilyn Klawiter, 11809 N. Redbud Trail, Buchanan. Call to confirm. 269 471-1393



Environmental News

As the 2016 Presidential Election approaches, the LWV has an all-hands-on-deck approach to getting voters registered and to the polls to vote. Along with this effort, we members also need to be doing all that we can in a nonpartisan effort to support and get candidates elected who will work to protect our environment for generations to come. As we witnessed in the recent Presidential debates, Climate Change is a critical issue in our future and the LWV has taken a strong stance in this fight. We've seen the reports from Flint and other areas across Michigan that our water is in critical need of protection by all of us. The North Dakota First Nations people are taking the lead in bringing the fight to the forefront as they work to hold off the proposed pipeline that will endanger their water. Because we are surrounded by the Great Lakes, all of us must be ever vigilant and do what we can where we can to ensure that our representatives are working to protect this great resource for all of us.

I hope you will join LWVBCC for  our next luncheon at Coach's on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20 at noon when my friend Marcy Hamilton, Senior Planner with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, will present a program on the Importance of Maintaining Septic Systems and the impact on our watersheds along with other important programs at the SWMPC.

In the meantime, please pay attention to the candidates running for the various local, state and federal offices and know their positions and how they will work to protect the air and water that we need daily.

Bette

 

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LWVBCC: Contact Us

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Calendar
September 20th (Tue) Regular Board meeting at  1:00 p.m.
LWVBCC
Board of Directors
Chris Zilke President
John Ripley Treasurer
Karen Ristau Secretary
Dutton/Stepanek Membership
Bette Pierman Environment
Liz Ennis Health & Social Serv.
Marilyn Klawiter At Large

Webmaster Mike McCaffrey
Board Meeting/Minutes

Board Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of most months.  Members are encouraged to attend.  The next meeting is October, 18 (Tue) at 1:00 pm at the Lakewood Estates Community Center, 8000 Warren Woods Rd, Three Oaks.

We apologize for being so far behind in making Minutes available.  Minutes will be updated and made current     in the October newsletter.

Minutes are posted after they are approved by the Board. 


January, 15, 2016
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Interested in joining the League?  Go to our website or contact our Membership Chair Donna Dutton