President’s Message:
Follow the Call to Action
Quite a bit has happened since my last column: record droughts, record heat, January 6 hearings, the Jaylon Walker tragedy, celebration of our nation’s birthday, not to mention the of overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court.
Four of us represented our Kent League at the National LWVUS convention at the end of June. Unfortunately, we attended virtually, not in Denver, but we were still able to fully participate and learn. The day after the convention began, the Supreme Court decision was announced. Deborah Ann Turner, LWVUS president, had to pivot on her keynote address to condemn this new threat to our civil liberties and loss of our bodily autonomy. Following that day’s plenary session, many convention delegates joined so many other people who marched in Denver in opposition to the Dobbs decision.
Virginia Kase Solomon, CEO of the national League, again emphasized in her address that we must continue to stand on the side of justice and democracy. Regardless that our work is often regarded as partisan or too controversial, we follow the moral call to action. This is our time to stand for what our positions support. John Adams said, “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” Today, we answer the call to “make democracy work.”
Hot topics and planned actions from the convention include D.C. statehood, passing the Equal Rights Amendment (still!), immigration reform, and the big goal: elimination of the electoral college. There is quite a bit more to share, which will occur throughout our program year.
My heart goes out to Jaylon Walker’s family and friends. There aren’t sufficient words to express the depth of our sorrow for this inexcusable murder. Nor are there words to express the horror of what happened to the 10-year-old child in Ohio who had to travel to Indiana for an abortion. To have the validity of her situation even questioned, much less denied by powerful men, is inexcusable.
If you missed the July All Member Meeting, you missed an outstanding example of a consensus discussion about the proposed revision to our Parks and Recreation position. This discussion was masterfully moderated by Renee Ruchotzke with support from her study team: Beth Buchanan, Chris Craycroft, Joanne Dowdy, Jenn Mapes, Susan Paul, Jane Preston Rose, George Rose and Ann Ward. Thank you to all who participated.
Finally, I want to make you aware of the Sojourner Truth Project in Akron. A beautiful park, including a statue, is being created to honor this amazing woman. Many groups are contributing to this effort, including the Kent League. If you are interested in making a personal donation, please go to Truthstatue.org.
Watch for details about our Fall Kick-Off meeting. We have a dynamic speaker coming whom many of you may know, Jack Amrhein. He is a retired teacher from Kent City Schools and will provide the historical perspective on elections, voting and culture. Enjoy the rest of summer. Be safe in your travels. Did you vote on August 2? That’s how democracy works.
In League and Unity,
Debbie
|
|
2022-2023 League of Women Voters of Kent dues were due July 1, 2022. Dues may be paid by check, payable to LWV Kent and mailed to Gail Pytel, Treasurer, 4578 Creekside Drive, Kent, OH 44240 or on-line at Membership | MyLO (lwv.org). LWV Kent is a 501(c)(3); membership dues and contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Dues are: $60 for individual members. $90 for two household members; $5 for students. LWV Kent also has a "pay what you can" option. Read more at the Membership page.
|
|
August AMM focuses on educational priorities, controversies and how leaders are leading |
|
Dear Kent League Members,
I would like to extend a warm invitation to our next All Member Meeting on Monday, August 15, at 7 p.m. at Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water Street, Kent, where members of the Education Committee discuss educational priorities. The League has an important role to play in our children’s future, and the committee needs your valuable insight as we continue to review the findings of our committee work. Please join us for this important discussion on the following issues:
-
House Bill 616, known variously as the “parental rights in education" bill and the "don't say gay" bill
- School funding and vouchers
- Media literacy
- State and local boards of education
We look forward to meeting with you, welcoming you and hearing your input. Together we will build tomorrow’s education system.
Sincerely,
Deborah Austin Sanders
|
|
Attending the Aug. 15 meeting? Please consider bringing nonperishable food items for Kent Social Services. A special request is for peanut butter and ramen noodles. Thank you, good people! |
|
ATTENTION, MEW MEMBERS!
New Member Orientation begins August 15 at 6 p.m.!
Join Membership Chair Sherry Rose for all you need to know about getting the most out of your LWV Kent membership. She also will answer any questions you may have. The All Member Meeting will follow at 7 p.m. at Kent Social Services, located at 1066 S. Water St., Kent, Ohio. Map
|
|
Volunteer voter-registration opportunities still available!
Sign up now to help!
|
|
Aug. 23 KSU Kickoff Student-Welcoming Event |
|
Click here to volunteer to register voters at Kent State University's student-welcoming event, Kent Connections, on Tuesday, Aug. 23, between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the city green near the esplanade arch. Here is a map of the event location. Parking is located at at the Fashion Museum and on South Willow Street.
When you arrive at the site, you'll check in with staff from the Kent State University Student Success Program at 3 p.m. Volunteers may assist attendees with registering to vote, changing their address, and checking their registration status. Volunteers also can answer voting-related questions and provide voter information and resources.
In the case of inclement weather, this event will be canceled. If you need a tutorial or refresher about voter registration and voter assistance, you can download this PowerPoint presentation here or contact Stacy at 330-697-5723 or send her an email here.
|
|
More voter-registration opportunities that could use your help . . . |
|
Kent Farmers' Market,
2nd and 4th Saturdays
Voter registration at the Kent Farmers’ Market must be done outside the entrance to the market. We recommend one of two options: You can carry a tote bag that contains a clipboard and voter-registration forms and information and talk with people as they enter. Or, you can set up a small table and a sandwich-board-type sign to let people know they can register to vote or update their address at the table. To volunteer, click here. Review the available slots (only one slot per day) and choose the one that works best for you. Feel free to find another person to join if you wish. We will contact you prior to your scheduled date to get the necessary supplies to you.
|
|
Art in the Park in Kent,
Sept. 10 and 11
Register voters, update voter registrations, share voting information. Time slots are two hours long. The schedule is designed to always have two people at the booth with one person rotating out each hour and another person joining. This is a fun, shady location with lots of art, food and music. To volunteer, click here.
|
|
Fall Kickoff Meeting Sept. 15 at new Hobbs Hall; speaker
will share the good and not-so-good information
about the evolution of elections
|
All members are encouraged to attend the annual Fall Kickoff Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Kent to get the new program year off to a great start, hear the latest about upcoming events, meet new members and catch up with current members. The event is set for Thursday, Sept. 15, starting with a potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. The event is free. The location is the new Hobbs Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, 228 Gougler Ave., Kent.
Members have the option of bringing a dinner item or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided. Please bring your own reusable or recyclable place setting. We may have LWV Kent mess kits on sale!
|
|
Following a welcome and announcements, President Debbie Barber will introduce our speaker: educator and Kent City Councilman Jack Amrhein. His talk, “Controversial Presidential Elections: Been Happening for Years,” will illustrate that conflict is not new when it comes to electing presidents.
Amrhein is a graduate of Kent State University with a degree in social studies and a minor in secondary education. He received his master’s degree in instruction in 2003 from Marygrove College. Amrhein worked as a social studies teacher in the Kent City Schools for 32 years. He has served on Kent City Council and the Kent Board of Health since 2008. Amrhein has served on the board of trustees of the Kent Historical Society for the past 28 years, the last nine as president of the board.
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the event, click here.
|
|
|
Book Club digs deep into the history
of eating! Sounds delish . . .
|
|
The next Book Club meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 1:30 p.m. A Zoom option will be available for those who would prefer not to meet in person. All are welcome to join. Contact Jane Preston Rose for details about the meetings. Click here to email her. The selection for September is The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan.
|
|
|
|
Sally Dean
Madeline DiFilippo
Carol & Leon Pillsbury
Deanna Pillsbury
Janet Stallone
|
|
Honoring Sojourner Truth and her tireless
advocacy for women's rights
|
|
As the location of the 1851 Ohio Women’s Rights Convention, Akron plays an extraordinary role in the fight for voting rights for all women. It was here that Sojourner Truth made her memorable speech known by the title of “Ain’t I a Woman” even though the orator never spoke those actual words. In honor of Sojourner Truth, and in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, a committee of local Summit County women are raising funds to commission local artist Woodrow Nash to create a statue. This statue will serve as an ongoing opportunity to educate the public on the progress made over the last 100 years and honor the fight for voting rights for all women—especially many women of color who were excluded from voting until the 1960s.
The League of Women Voters of Kent has made a $250 donation to the creation of the Sojourner Truth statue. Members can make personal donations through the Akron Community Foundation here.
To learn more about the project, watch this video.
|
|
SAVE THE DATE...All events are free except where noted
Aug 15 | Monday | 6 p.m. | New Member Orientation | In Person | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent
Aug 15 | Monday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting | In Person | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent
Sept 15 | Thursday |6:30 p.m. | Fall Kickoff Dinner | In Person | Hobbs Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church, 228 Gougler Ave., Kent
|
|
Connect with us by email . . . and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
