President’s Message

Well, Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, is upon us. It’s that famous time when Punxsutawney Phil and Buckeye Chuck come out of their holes in the ground to predict the end of winter. If they see their shadows, they return to their holes and that means six more weeks of cold weather. If there’s no shadow, then spring is around the corner. Personally, I would be happy with only six more weeks of winter, wouldn’t you?

I went to see the 5th Dimension last Friday night. Their first hit that comes to mind is “The Age of Aquarius.” I love the lyrics: “When the moon is in the seventh house, And Jupiter aligns with Mars, Then peace will guide the planets, And love will steer the stars.”

So, I looked up this age to see what it meant. Nobody really knows when it began or will begin, but here is a description from Wikipedia: “Aquarius is associated with electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealism, modernization, astrology, nervous disorders, rebellion, nonconformity, philanthropy, veracity, perseverance, humanity, and irresolution.” So, what do you think? Are we there?

Let’s see, in Columbus, we have had the house speaker election circus where 22 Republicans were censured for voting with 32 Democrats to elect Jason Stephens as Speaker. That’s Republicans being censured by the Ohio Republican Party for voting for a Republican. Hats off to both parties who decided to work together for Ohioans! And raspberries to the new Ohio Republican state party chair who said, “. . . we’re going to try to get back to business of defeating Democrats.” Forgive me, but I thought we elected representatives to serve Ohioans and govern. Perhaps this is why we have the most gerrymandered districts in the country and no progress is made on school funding, reasonable gun legislation, workers’ rights, women’s reproductive rights, etc. So, that might demonstrate some characteristics of Aquarius—nervous disorders, rebellion, nonconformity and irresolution. 

On the positive side, our very own Cuyahoga Valley National Park has been named the second-best national park in America, just behind Great Smokey Mountains National Park. We had 2,575,275 visitors in 2021. I would say Aquarian characteristics represented by our park might include freedom, humanitarianism, philanthropy, perseverance, and humanity, So, maybe this is the Age of Aquarius.

Back to whatever the age is.

If you missed Amy Eddings’ excellent documentary, “Ohio After Roe,” you can hear it on WKSU Ideastream, 89.7.

Please mark your calendars to be part of our Positions and Priorities discussion on Feb. 11, 9 a.m. at the Kent United Church of Christ. We will review League positions in Ohio, which are very important to our work.

Watch out for that groundhog, stay vigilant and be informed and enlightened.

In peace, unity and Aquarianism,

Debbie

Positions & Priorities planning meeting Feb. 11 lets you weigh in on state issues; April meeting focus on local issues

Join fellow LWV Kent members as we embark on the first of two Positions & Priorities planning meetings this year—on Saturday, Feb. 11, to discuss the positions of the League of Women Voters of Ohio for 2023 and on Monday, April 17, to discuss local positions and priorities for LWV Kent. To read the LWV Ohio positions, click here. To read the LWV Kent positions, click here.

The February meeting is scheduled to be held in Van Meter Hall at the Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St., Kent, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You can view a map here. It is important for all of our members to know where the League stands on issues not only as a state organization but also as a local organization. New members will find it helpful to learn more about our League and the state League by attending these meetings.

Here is how the process works at both meetings. First, we review the current positions. Then we decide whether we think the positions are still relevant, need updated or should be dropped. Next, we consider whether we want to take an official stand on any new issues. It is important to note, however, that any new positions must be preceded by the completion of a study before the position can be voted on and adopted.

At the state level, the results from meetings of Leagues across Ohio are finalized by the LWV Ohio board and approved at State Convention. At the local level, the LWV Kent board finalizes the results from its meeting in April and then places them on the agenda for the League's Annual Meeting in June, at which time the members vote on what the board has presented.

To learn even more about the positions-and-priorities process, check out these links:

• Introduction: What Is League Program?
• Origin and Purpose of the League
• TIMELINE
• POSITIONS: THE PROCESS
• Special Circumstances and Procedures
• Proposing a New Study
• Proposing an Update/Review

Is it real? Is it fake? Is it credible? Is it a lie? Is it fudging the truth? Is it a veiled attempt at gaslighting? How do you sort through it all? How should you respond?

Start by improving your news literacy skills. News literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news or information and to recognize the standards of fact-based journalism, to know what to trust, share and act on. The February AMM is the place to be if you want to be a more discerning reader and consumer of news in today's world. This is the second in a series called the "News Literacy Project" but you didn't need to attend the first session to participate on Feb. 27.

Presenter is Kent league member Jen Flaherty, who teaches media literacy at Kent Roosevelt High School. The AMM is Monday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., at Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent. Here is a map. The event is open to the public. Bring family and friends!

How do teachers respond to the intersection of race and education? Hear the thoughts of a panel of current and retired teachers of students in grades K-12 from the local area. KIFA (Kent InterFaith Alliance for Racial Reconciliation and Justice) will host this public event on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. 

The event will be available on Zoom and in person at Hobbs Hall, behind the Unitarian Universalist Church at 228 Gougler Ave., Kent. Free parking in city lot just north of the building. You can download the flyer here (thel ink in the flyer is not clickable).

Panelists include: Christie Bates and Susan Louis, teachers from Holden Elementary; retired middle school history teacher Joseph Shaw; and coach Curtis Black from Roosevelt High School.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86508860260

Questions? Contact Kent LWV member Christie Anderson.

Calling All Voter Advocates & Community Leaders!

There are major changes to Ohio's voting and election laws. Join us for this online training to equip yourself with the knowledge you need to ensure everyone in your community is ready and able to vote with ease and success.

Date/Time: February 20 @ noon

Register here

Bernice A. King, J.D., a global thought leader, strategist, solutionist, orator, peace advocate and CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia, will kick off Kent State University’s celebration of Black History Month by serving as the keynote speaker at the university’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which honors the life and legacy of her father. 

King continues to advance her parents’ legacy of nonviolent social change through policy, advocacy, research, education and training. Under her leadership, the King Center has implemented numerous initiatives reaching more than 500,000 people around the world. 

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will take place on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. This ticketed event is free and open to the public. Tickets will be available on Jan. 11, 2023. To redeem your ticket, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration website.

A significant number of the crowd at the Kent Jan. 6 Day of Remembrance event was made up of Kent League members. Member Al Barber recorded the remarks for us. We are sharing the event in photos and videos.

Crowd at First Christian Church in Kent for the Jan. 6 Day of Remembrance

League members Debbie Barber, president, Kim Sebaly and Fay Ann Sebaly

League members Bill Wilen, Kathy Wilen and Maxine McGregor

League members Debbie Barber, Al Barber, Jackie Peck, Bill Peck, Karen Carmany, Sue Hetrick, Doug Fuller

League members Fay Ann Sebaly and Christie Anderson

Day of Remembrance Speakers

Debbie Barber, president of the League of Women Voters of Kent

Facilitator and KIFA member Frank Hairston

First Christian Church pastor, the Rev. Amanda Moore

Renee Romine, president of the Portage County NAACP

John Kennedy, Portage County Democratic Party (Please note that the Portage County Republican Party was invited to speak.)

Dr. Geraldine Hayes Nelson, recent Portage County candidate

Nancy Warlop of Kent Interfaith Council (KIFA)

Jan. 6, 2023 Day of Remembrance Program, Part 1

A reflective nonpartisan event...the Jan. 6 Day of Remembrance took place in Kent, Ohio, at the First Christian Church. Community members from various local organizations came to together to say, "Never again!" to a violent attack on a national institution like the 2020 attack on the US Capitol. You will hear from local community icon Frank Hairston who led the remembrance, music from Kent Interfaith Council member Christie Anderson and Brad Bolton and remarks from Rev. Amanda Moore of the church, KIFA member Russ Buckbee, Portage County NAACP President Renee Romine and Debbie Barber, president of the League of Women Voters of Kent. 30 minutes

Jan. 6, 2023 Day of Remembrance Program, Part 2

The second part of the Jan. 6 Day of Remembrance. You will hear from Frank Hairston (also a Kent Interfaith Council member) who led the remembrance, John Kennedy of the Portage County Democratic Party, KIFA Chair Nancy Warlop, Dr. Geraldine Hayes Nelson and music from Christie Anderson and Brad Bolton. The Portage County Republican Party was invited to speak. 20 minutes

Candlight circle at the Kent Jan. 6 Day of Remembrance event at the First Christian Church. Speaker Rev. Amanda Moore.

Thanks to member Al Barber for the videos.



LWVK Book Club Meets Next on Feb. 1; selections

for March and April announced

The next LWV Kent Book Club meeting is set for Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome to join. Contact Jane Preston Rose for details about the meetings. Click here to email her. 

The selection for Feb. 1 is Lady Justice, Women, The Law, and The Battle to Save America by Dahlia Lithwick. The group will meet 1:30 p.m. at the home of Rhonda Richardson, 1411 River Edge Dr., Kent.

The selection for March 1 is South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry. Meeting time is 1:30 p.m., location to be announced.

The selection for April 5 is An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong. Meeting time is 1:30 p.m., location to be announced.

The Voter Service Committee needs your help! The folding chairs that we've been using for the booth and the table for voter registration are getting pretty worn out. We're wondering if anyone has any around that they aren't using and would like to donate. We're looking for the ones that fold into a bag that you can carry over your shoulder. We're hoping that someone might have one they're not using and donate it. Here's an example of what we're looking for. Email Stacy here.

In Case You Missed It...

Read the latest from the LWV Kent Observer Corps. Click here. Interested in an outreach activity that puts you in the rooms where it happens? Click here.

SAVE THE DATE...All events are free except where noted

Feb 1 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | LWV Kent Book Club | 

1411 River Edge Blvd., Kent | Click here to email for details. 

Feb 2 | Thursday | 5:30 p.m. | KSU Martin Luther King Jr Celebration | KSU Student Center Ballroom | Tickets and information here

Feb 7 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | Second in a Series: How do teachers respond to the intersection of race and education? | Kent Interfaith Alliance for Racial Reconciliation and Justice | Hobbs Hall, 228 Gougle Ave., Kent

Feb 11 | Saturday | 9 a.m. | Positions & Priorities (state positions) | Van Meter Hall, United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St., Kent

Feb 14 | Tuesday | 11 a.m. | LWV 103rd birthday pep rally (in person and livestreamed) | To register (recommended but not required), click here.

Feb 27 | Monday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting | Topic: News Literacy Project, Part 2 | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent

Mar 1 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | LWV Kent Book Club | 

Meeting time is 1:30 p.m. Meeting location to be announced. | Click here to email for details.

Mar 9 | Thursday | Day trip | LWV Ohio Statehouse Day | 

Time, details and registration to be announced | Save the date!

Mar 16 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting | Details to come | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent

Apr 5 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | LWV Kent Book Club | 

Meeting time is 1:30 p.m., location to be announced. | Click here to email for details.

Apr 17 | Monday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting | Positions & Priorities (state positions) | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent