Did you know that in the absence of local journalism, there is increased government corruption, lower voter turnout, fewer people run for office, and false information spreads? Please join us for a discussion this Wednesday, September 21, at 7:00pm via Zoom, on the vital role that local journalism plays in preserving healthy democracies, building communities, and why not-for-profit community news centers may be the future of the industry. The panel will feature speakers from the Wednesday Journal and Growing Community Media including: Dan Haley, Editor and Publisher; Michael Romain, Editor and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Melissa Elsmo, Editor of Oak Park Eats and Donor Relations Manager. Sign up here for this event with our partner, the Forest Park Library. Registration deadline is this Wednesday, at 4:00pm.

Should Oak Park Village Trustees be elected using Ranked Choice Voting? That is the question our League in partnership with other local organizations are working to get on the April 2023 ballot as a binding referendum question. Would you like to join this group to work on citizen, League member, and Oak Park Trustee educational efforts? Then contact Peggy Kell. If you don't know anything about RCV,  go here to start learning. 

In cooperation with AAUW Naperville Area, NCJW of Chicago North Shore, and IL NOW, LWV Naperville is sponsoring Uncensored, a panel of experts talking about book banning and censorship in public and school libraries. This very timely free webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, from 7:00-8:30pm.

Our collective organizations are concerned about book banning and censorship in our public and school libraries, nationally and locally. The panel will help explain the issues and provide actions that we can take right now to protect our intellectual freedoms. This link will provide you with more information as well as an opportunity to register.

Whether in the courtroom or on the playing field, women have been serving as judges, regulators, and referees for 75 years and counting. Federal Judge Burnita Shelton Matthews, FDA Board Member Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey, NBA referee Violet Palmer, and NFL referee Sarah Thomas all were pioneers in their fields. LWV Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit, NJ, puts out this newsletter on the Feminist Four quarterly. Read more about the Feminist Four in the current issue here. Click on the pictures in the newsletter to find out more about each woman. 

LWV Lake Michigan Region have scheduled Zoom events that will be state- specific on the topics of Climate Change, PFAS, Invasive Species, and Coal Ash. These hour-long programs will educate members and the public about the issues impacting Lake Michigan in each of the four surrounding states. Each program is open to everyone, regardless of where you live. Dates and registration for the remaining two programs are as follows:

Thursday, September 22, 7:30pm CT, Illinois:  Register here

Thursday, September 29, 7:30pm, ET, Michigan: Register here

Programs will also be recorded, as were the previous two sessions on Indiana and Wisconsin.

There are still open volunteer slots for the Donut Fundraiser on Saturday, October 22. This is a no-brainer to raise League dollars without asking our members to contribute funds, just your time and work efforts.  

Check out the open time slots with this link and sign up on an open line. Don’t forget to enter your phone number and email address. Then hit Submit. You should receive a confirmation email. Training will be provided if you are unsure of a particular position. If you have any questions, please contact Joan Petertil. She'll be there bright and early!

Should the Constitution be interpreted according to its original meaning? Join Reform for Illinois for a virtual debate with Constitutional law experts John McGinnis and David Strauss this Friday, September 23, from 2:00-3:15pm for this virtual event. You can register for this free event here.

LWV Cook County September Newsletter

LWV Lake Michigan October 21-22 Annual Meeting Conference

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