Voter
January & February, 2022
Serving the people of Canton, Garden City, Livonia, Northville City and Township, Plymouth City and Township, Redford Township, Sumpter Township, Belleville, Van Buren Township, Wayne and Westland, Michigan
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General Membership Meeting (VIRTUAL)
Sat., February 12 at 10 AM on Zoom
An email containing the Zoom link was sent out earlier this week. Contact Carrie Moon-Dupree at moondupree@comcast.net with any questions.
Make Democracy Work Presentation (HYBRID: in person AND virtual)
Wed., March 2 at 7 PM @ Belleville District Library AND on Zoom
See "Make Democracy Work Update" article below
Last Day to Submit Member Dues for Entry into Dues Raffle
Wed., June 1
See Maureen Hughes's article below
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Picture this: six women standing around in towels in the locker room after my exercise class. One woman announces, out of the blue, that her daughter worked in Detroit for the last election and there was fraud all around. You can hear murmurs of agreement after she drops this nugget of information.
I could not stand there and do nothing. I identified myself as a member of the League of Women Voters of Northwest Wayne County. I asked where her daughter worked; she didn’t know. I asked what type of fraud; she didn’t know. After a few more questions, I realized this was more misinformation than fact. In my nicest, least confrontational voice, I said that the League of Women Voters was there at the election sites as poll workers and observers. We were at the TCF Center* as nonpartisan observers and in the Detroit precincts. We did not see any fraud and 13 formal audits did not come up with any credible evidence of fraud. The League has been doing this for 102 years and we are experienced, nonpartisan, and there in the trenches. I may not have changed her mind, which I think was already made up, but the other women around us asked questions and seemed reassured that our elections indeed have integrity.
At our general membership Zoom meeting on February 12, we will be discussing misinformation and disinformation and how to spot reliable news sources. While we are also doing formal presentations in which this topic is covered, it is important and timely enough to deserve some extra clarification and highlighting. I know for my opinionated self, practicing “self-control” is the number-one skill I need to harness in this area.
The League is a trusted organization that speaks the truth backed up by well-researched facts. Let us use our voices to share the facts and not to spread bad information.
Did I expect that, wrapped in a towel in a locker room, I would have a voter education opportunity? No, but when the situation presented itself, I took it. Thank you to all who lift up their voices.
Carrie Moon-Dupree, President
*Editor's Note: This Detroit building (formerly known as Cobo Hall) is now called Huntington Place, but at the time of the election referenced in this article it was called TCF Center.
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Volunteers Needed
By Val Nelson
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It will be a busy year for voter service since we will have both midterm elections and new voting districts. Our League will conduct voter forums and distribute print voter guides. We will need help with large tasks (such as producing a voter forum) and small tasks (such as compiling and distributing voter guides).
With the uncertainty over whether we can have in-person events, we may be exploring new ways to provide voter information, such as hybrid forums or public viewings of recorded forums. Perhaps you have new ideas for making candidate forums more accessible to voters.
If you are interested in serving on the Voter Service Committee, please contact Valerie Nelson at vnelson@prodigy.net.
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Changes are Coming to the Dues Process
By Maureen Hughes
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Coming soon to an inbox near you, customized dues invoices will be sent via email. Members who do not have email access will continue to receive hard copy invoices via the US Postal Service. The new customized invoice design will indicate the exact amount due for each member. Payments can be made by check or PayPal (a PayPal link will be provided within the invoice).
Upon reviewing the NW Wayne County League bylaws, board members learned that the dues amount for the second person in a household must be half of the primary membership dues. Therefore, while primary member dues remain at $60, second-in-household member dues have been corrected from $25 to $30 for the 2022-23 fiscal year and going forward. Student dues remain unchanged at just $5.
Want to reduce your dues to zero? This year, members who pay their dues by June 1 (either via PayPal or postmarked by that date) will be entered into a random drawing for free dues. The winner’s name will be drawn at the Annual Meeting and that member will be reimbursed for their 2022-23 fiscal year dues!
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Make Democracy Work Update
By Carrie Moon-Dupree
The League of Women Voters of Northwest Wayne County received a $500 grant from the LWVMI Education Fund to do educational presentations on voting rights that we currently enjoy in Michigan. The committee members are Val Nelson, Susan Rowe, Toni Jones, Donna Gilkey-Lavin, and me. We also have several tech team members who are called on as needed.
On January 9, 2022, we held our first presentation in Canton at Geneva Presbyterian Church. While we were originally scheduled for an in-person presentation, we used Zoom due to rising COVID-19 concerns. Val Nelson and I presented the material provided to us by LWVMI and supplied the audience with digital handouts. Hard copies of the handouts were also available at the church. The Canton Township Clerk, Michael Siegrist, joined us for the question-and-answer session. The recorded video can be found here on our YouTube channel.
The next presentation is scheduled for March 2, 2022, at 7 pm at the Belleville District Library. This will be a hybrid presentation, held both in person and via Zoom. Donna Gilkey-Lavin and Susan Rowe will be the presenters. Click here to visit the library’s website and sign up.
The two previously-scheduled in-person presentations in Westland are still waiting to be rescheduled. These were planned for The Village of Westland and Our Saviour’s Manor, senior citizen buildings where COVID-19 concerns are limiting gatherings. Zoom doesn’t work particularly well in these settings. We will reschedule when we can.
The virtual presentation scheduled for February 2 in partnership with the Plymouth District Library was cancelled due to the weather (when the library is closed, their virtual events are also cancelled). This presentation will be rescheduled.
Even this early into our presentations, I am amazed at how many Michigan voters aren’t aware that laws they voted to enact in 2018 are under assault. There’s an old song that states, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” Through these presentations, we hope to let Michigan voters know what they’ve got before it’s gone.
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Redistricting Update
By Angela Ryan
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) met on December 28, 2021, and approved new maps for U.S. Congressional, State House, and State Senate districts. These maps were published on January 28, 2022. They are scheduled to take effect on March 28, 2022.
Several lawsuits have been filed challenging these maps. One is backed by the League of Women Voters of Michigan (LWVMI) and affiliated organizations. If the Michigan Supreme Court grants an injunction until they hear and decide on these lawsuits, the effective date will be delayed. A press release about the League’s lawsuit is posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
The MICRC continues to meet every other Thursday. The Commission is seeking “Lessons Learned” comments from the public assessing the job they did and the process itself. LWVMI will submit comments on behalf of the League. You are encouraged to submit comments as an individual, not as a League member. The comments will be compiled into a report prepared by a consultant. If you’d like to have a say, submit your comments in the public comment portal using the hashtag #Improve MICRC by February 11.
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Proposed Program 2022-2024
By Carrie Moon-Dupree
Every two years, during our biennial convention year, local Leagues are asked to review the national program(s) proposed by LWVUS and vote on whether we support them or not. We can also review any programs that a local League is championing for support. This information is passed on to the State League and then to the National League.
Members of the Program Planning Committee included Gwen Hooks, Carin Meyer, Jodi Flavell, Sandra Main-Niemesto, and me. We reviewed the national proposal and an additional brief on healthcare from a local League in New York.
The proposed national program is to continue the Campaign for Making Democracy Work by focusing on:
- Voting rights
- Improving elections
- Money in politics
- Redistricting
The Program Committee recommended to the board that we support this proposal. The board voted via email and overwhelmingly supported it. This will be presented to the general membership at our meeting on February 12.
On the issue of the stand-alone proposal from the local League in New York, the committee recommended that we not support this proposal at this time. While we agreed with all the healthcare recommendations they proposed, it was felt that, during the next two years, the League should concentrate on voting issues and working to save our democracy.
Thank you to the committee for your work on these matters.
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Secure MI Vote Petition
By Angela Ryan
Late last year, a group called Secure MI Vote started circulating a petition by the same name. It is purported to include provisions that will make voting more secure in Michigan. The 2020 election was one of the safest, most secure elections in our nation’s history. Yet, this group and some state legislators are intent on imposing conditions that could result in many citizens in Michigan being denied the right to vote.
Make no mistake. This petition looks just like the ones for ballot proposals. It isn’t. If about 340,000 signatures are collected, a total representing just 4% of those who voted in the last governor’s race, this petition will go directly to the legislature and be enacted into law. The governor will have no role in the process because this is being presented as a citizen-initiated law.
In 2018, 61% of Michigan voters supported a constitutional amendment that made voting more convenient. It included no-excuse absentee voting, which was a great benefit in 2020. This petition would undo some of the gains achieved by the 2018 amendment.
In December, an email went to NW Wayne County League members that provided two documents that explained more about this petition drive. In case you missed that email, the document linked here provides information that can be used in social media posts, letters to newspapers editors (to be signed as an individual, not a League member), or any other written format. The document linked here presents talking points to use when discussing this topic with friends, family members, and others you'd like to reach.
If you are approached to sign this petition, don’t do so. Share this information with others so they will also decline to sign the petition.
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Observer Corps Update
By Lena Packer
Our Observers have been busy monitoring various government entities. Two of our Observers have each written a short summary to describe their observations.
Plymouth Township Board of Trustees
Observed by Paula Bowman
An updated tree ordinance in Plymouth Township motivated many residents to attend a public hearing this past summer. Considering that most meetings are attended by very few people, it was refreshing to see the public engaged in their township government.
Plymouth Township Planning Commission
Observed by Jackie Peters
It has been interesting to see how the group works to make sure that any proposed developments fit into the Master Plan of the township. The commission holds public hearings on new projects that will affect surrounding properties and neighbors. All proposals are questioned and evaluated with input from commission members and residents. Their actions have been very open and transparent. The meetings are now recorded and available for viewing online by anyone, anytime.
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Voter Registration
By Mary Visos
On January 25 and 26, our League participated in the Schoolcraft School Daze Winter Festival. We were at the college from 10 am to 2 pm both days. Volunteers Elizabeth Poterala, Kathy Faitel, Karlene Steckowski and Mary Visos worked to register 16 new voters from eight communities.
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Welcome to our newest League member:
Charly Meyer,
Northville
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League of Women Voters of NW Wayne County
Board of Directors
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President: Carrie Moon-Dupree
VP Voter Service: Val Nelson
VP Development: Angela Ryan
Secretary: Deanna Master
Treasurer: Susan Rowe
Voter Editor: Eva Koelzer
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Directors:
Lois Baughman
Donna Gilkey-Lavin
Gwen Hooks
Maureen Hughes
Toni Jones
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Manny Lavin
Carin Meyer
Lena Packer
Jackie Peters
Mary Visos
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Advocacy: Carrie Moon-Dupree
Auction: Angela Ryan
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Lena Packer
Financial Review: Nancy White
Legislative Interviews: Susan Rowe
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Membership: Maureen Hughes
Nominating: Linda Curry
Observer Corps: Lena Packer
Redistricting: Angela Ryan
Scholarship: Angela Ryan
Voter Registration: Mary Visos
Voter Service: Val Nelson
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League of Women Voters of
NW Wayne County
PO Box 51502, Livonia, MI 48151
734-421-4420
Membership in the League is open to anyone age 16 & older. Dues: Student $5, Individual $60, Household $90 (effective fiscal year 2022-23). Join through our website or call 734-421-4420.
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
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