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"The Voter" Newsletter
May, 2023
(To see all the news, you must click above on "Display images below")
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President's Notes
xxxApril has been a busy month for the LWVBCC. We hosted Katie Montoya from the Berrien County Housing Authority at the Bridgman Public Library (photo at left above.)
xxxHer presentation explained the county’s master plan and provided wonderful statistics to help us
understand the importance of looking at all the data when working to provide affordable housing for all Berrien citizens.
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xxxFrom April 21 to April 26 LWVBCC members visited four local high schools to register eligible students to vote – Brandywine Middle/High School in Niles, Niles High School, Bridgman High School and St. Joseph High School.
xxxWe were there over the lunch time and really enjoyed interacting with the students. We registered around 90 students! Each school was very pleased that we came and would like us to return for other registration days. Thank you to our volunteer members for organizing and coming out. More opportunities will be available in the fall
and next spring. The more volunteers we get the more schools we can visit.
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xxxThere are a few items in the news from LWVUS and LWVMI that you should take note of:
xxx1) LWVUS sent out an Action Alert notification about the Equal Rights Amendment asking us to contact our senators to urge them to vote for passage of the amendment,
xxx2) Have you ever wondered what is going on in Lansing at the state house? Did you know that you can watch Michigan House and Senate proceedings? Go to these sites and watch the legislature in action.https://www.house.mi.gov and https://www.senate.michigan.gov
xxx3) LWVMI copresidents urged local leaders to remind their memberships to take action when an Action Alert arrives in your inbox. Some members don’t get the notices (no one knows why) so be sure to check on the lwvmi.org website under the Action Alert button for important opportunities to support and promote the work of the League.
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xxxWhat’s coming up in May?
xxx1) LWVMI Annual Convention at the Kellogg Center in Lansing – May 18-21 – check lwvmi.org website for more information. All members are encouraged to attend,
xxx2) May 23- LWVBCC presents Marcy Hamilton, the Deputy Executive Director/Senior Planner, for the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission for a talk on the Berrien County watershed. This will be a luncheon meeting at the Berrien County Health Department community room on Napier Avenue. Watch your inbox for further information,
xxx3) LWVBCC Annual Dinner Meeting -– Thursday, June 22 -– at the Tower Hill Conference Center in Sawyer. Professor Ken James from Muskegon Community College will be speaking in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,
xxx4) LWVBCC will meet on June 5 at Christiana Zilke’s home in Bridgman. The new book is "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks. Read the write up below to catch up on our discussion of last month’s
book.xThank you for all you do.
In League, Faith Schoonxxxx
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"Read or Ban"? Books Luncheon
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xxxThe "Read or to Ban" event held at the Bridgman Public Library this past Wednesday was well attended -- of the 40 people who signed up, 39 arrived despite the somewhat crazy, windy snowstorm. Members of Library Boards
from Bridgman, Berrien Springs, and St. Joseph attended along with many of us from LWVBCC.
xxxThe BPL Librarian, Sarah Skinner, presented a wealth of information, starting with the fact that the Constitution guarantees the right to free speech and free expression. As relating to books and reading, these rights are being challenged by certain groups and individuals in schools and
libraries throughout the United States. Ms. Skinner cited several challenges that have come before the Supreme Court over the last decades - some of which have resulted in a taking away of certain rights to free speech. It seems challenges are surfacing daily. One of the most recent, just this past week, was an objection to the showing of the movie Ruby Bridges -- a true story -- to elementary school students.
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May Book Group
LWVBCC will meet on June 5 at Christiana Zilke’s home in Bridgman. The new book is "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks. Read the write up below to catch up on our discussion of last month’s book.
The LWVBCC Book Club met in the home of Marilyn Klawiter in April to discuss the book “Master Slave Husband Wife,” by Ilyon Woo. The book relates the true story of the daring escape by an enslaved couple in Georgia to freedom in the North. This book followed the Club’s selection in March of Jon Meecham’s book “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle”. Meecham examined Lincoln’s decision to prioritize “freedom”measures for the slave population above his own political ambitions for future relection in 1864. These back-to-back books provided lively and meaningful discussions illuminating the challenges of US slavery then, and the challenges of racism today.
Once every four-five weeks on Monday mornings, the Book Club meets to talk books and make friends on the way. Members of the Book Club bring similar and often different perspectives to our discussions, helping us to see things from new angles that we may never have considered before! If ever you considered joining a Book Club, join ours. So many benefits. So many opportunities to read and discuss really interesting books.
Our next meeting of the LVWBCC, Book Club will be held at the home of Chris Zilke, on June 5th at 10:00 am to discuss the book, “Horse“by Geraldine Brooks, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning-author. “Horse” is the story of confrontation of Black and White people over the course of present day and the 19th-century world of horse racing.…Brooks’ tedious research uncovered the reality that enslaved horse trainers had more authority and status on the racing turf than their counterparts working in the fields.
Please contact Chris at chris_zilke@yahoo.com to let her know that you plan to attend.
---Judy Sculley
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Environment Report
A newer strain of bird flu has resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of chickens in the United States and in other countries. Wild birds are now being affected to a greater degree than previously known -- or perhaps the resulting deaths of some wild birds has led to this realization.
xxxMany of us maintain bird feeders; and though we've seen no reports of wild bird deaths in Michigan, please report any unusual deaths you may see. Maintaining fresh suet and seeds is very important. A vaccine is being developed/tested which would be added to commercial feed for huge commercial feedlots.
xxxMeantime, if you have a source for local eggs, take advantage as the price of eggs at the supermarket is bound to increase even more.
xxxOn a happier note, there are, at this very moment, three turkeys under our feeders: two hens and a tom. Yea!!
----------Chris Zilke
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Calendar of Events
May 9
LWVBCC Board Mtg.
6:30 p.m.
May 17-21 State of MI
League Convention
Lansing, MI
May 23
Town Hall Luncheon
with Marcy Hamilton
June 5
Book Group
10:00 a,m,
Christiana Zilke's home
Please call Chris
if you will attend.
LWVBCC Annual Dinner Meeting
Thursday, June 22
Tower Hill
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LWVBCC
Board of Directors
Faith Schoon, President
Jane Raymond, Secretary
Merrily Smith, Corresp. Secy.
John Ripley, Treasurer &
Communications Coordinator
Audrey Lester
Mary Beth Mullenholz
Dorothy Parker
Charmae Sanders
Amy Scrima
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PLEASE
TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR AD IN THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS NEWSLETTER!
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Joe Jilek
Insurance Agent
(269) 695-2200
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The League as an organization does not support or oppose any political party, candidate for elected office, or any group that supports candidates. As individuals, though, but not as representatives of the League, members are encouraged to participate in political activity and to run for office. Our non-partisan policy does require two Board members--the President and the Voter Service Chair--to totally abstain from partisan political activity.
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