President’s Message
Dear Kent League of Women Voters Members,
I hope you were able to join us for our Holiday Brunch on December 4. A big thank you to the brunch team, Janice Hutchison, Michelle Chapman, Chris Schjeldahl, Barb Tittle, Jen Kinney, Amie Cajka, Gail Pytel and others. Through your generosity, the League was able to donate three large boxes of food and $1,000 to Kent Social Services! Wow! That is certainly the holiday spirit.
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Our program speaker was Connie Schultz, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, and recipient of many other accolades. It was a wonderful program. One major takeaway is that we must stay vigilant, informed, and stand up against misinformation.
We talked briefly about our favorite holiday stories, which I want to share with you. These were part of my childhood and I always like to share them with others:
Little Match Girl – Hans Christian Andersen
Gift of the Magi – O. Henry
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Babushka – a Russian folk tale
The messages from these stories are to be thankful, charitable and keep love in your heart. Embrace selflessness, be generous and remember what is important.
The final newsletter of the year has great news about the fourth successful Voter Girl Project, an LWV Kent creation that has gone national, and what to look forward to in 2022. Plus you'll find some critical information from Fair Districts about next steps in our redstricting fight.
My wish to you this holiday season is that your holidays bring joy, gratitude, love and peace. Remember loved ones and don’t forget those who are less fortunate, those who face discrimination daily, and all who strive for justice in our world. Stay safe.
In League and unity,
Debbie
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PROTECT HONESTY IN EDUCATION
The Impact of Partisan Politics on Ohio Education
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 -- 7 pm ET
Hosted By REAL TALK
Partners: Ideastream Public Media,
Honesty For Ohio Education, Ohio Poverty Law Center, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Akron NAACP, The Freedom BLOC
Join us for an in-depth discussion about the importance of protecting Honesty in Education and the impact partisan politics is having on Ohio education at the Statehouse, State Board of Education(BOE) and local school districts.
The forum will examine how state leaders are weaponizing education, race and identity in an attempt to erode trust and confidence in Ohio public education.
Panelists will address three specific threats facing Honesty in Education in Ohio:
REGISTER HERE. Learn more about these issues HERE.
Opening Speaker
Laura Kohler, Former President, State Board of Education
Kayla Blake, SPEAK Coalition
Panelists
Tim Johnson,Ohio Poverty Law Center
Meryl Johnson, State BOE
Dr. Antoinette Miranda, State BOE
Michelle Newman, State BOE
Liz Kirby, Supt., Cleveland Heights-University Schools
Moderated By
Jenny Hamel, Ideastream Public Media
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REAL TALK is a collaboration amongst four Leagues of Women Voters in Northeast Ohio (Akron Area, Greater Cleveland, Hudson, Kent), in strong partnership with the Akron NAACP, The Freedom BLOC, Ideastream Public Media and WKSU.
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Missed the Holiday Brunch?
Links to opening presentation and recording of dialogue with speaker Connie Schultz
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More than 50 members and friends gathered online for the 2021 Virtual Holiday Brunch Dec. 4. We thank President Debbie Barber for her emcee talent. Our speaker was author and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Connie Schultz who dialogued with member Barb Hipsman Springer. To kick-off the event, VP Janice Hutchison and her intrepid committee, Chris Schjeldahl, Barb Tittle and Michelle Evanco Chapman, handed out the Yuletide to go brunch bags before the Annual Holiday Brunch at Home Savings Plaze in downtown Kent. They took in contributions of $1,000 and other items for Kent Social Services. Outstanding! They are busy keeping warm in the photo above.
Behind the scenes work to take your brunch orders and event sign ups was organized by Amie Cajka and Gail Pytel. Renee Ruchotke was our Zoom engineer with help from Debbie, Jane Preston Rose and Amie. Interested in helping with the next short-term event? Annual Meeting will be in June! Contact us at lwvkent@gmail.com to volunteer.
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Click on the image to view the opening presentation. Amie Cajka, slideshow curation; Renee Ruchotzke, video production; Audrey Kessler and Melanie Neff, graphics contributions. |
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Click on the image to view the featured dialogue between Connie Schultz and member Barb Hipsman Springer. Renee Ruchotzke, video production. |
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What made you proud about Fair Districts 2021?
December update from Fair Districts including link to OH Supreme Court oral arguments
In her Dec. 9 email, Mia Lewis with Fair Districts and Common Cause Ohio shared a follow up document with supporters at an online meeting. The document has links to the presentation slides, the meeting recording, and much more. In the document, you will also find a link to the Dec. 8 oral arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court. Above is the happy word cloud Fair Districts created about the redistricting process!
During the meeting, Collin Marozzi from ACLU of Ohio updated us on what happened at the Ohio Supreme Court yesterday during oral arguments in the lawsuits against the state legislative maps. Links to the Ohio Channel recording and to several news articles are linked in the follow up. Collin’s summary was both informative and hopeful! It's not known exactly when the court will rule but it is likely to be by early January.
Common Cause Executive Director Catherine Turcer, who is part of Fair Distrcts leadership, shared an analysis of the congressional map.
Please fill out the Fair Districts Questionnaire. Click the link and let FD know how you’ve been involved and your thoughts. Thank you!
A message from FD: We’re so, so grateful for everything you have done in the fight for fair maps. It’s been a long year and we all deserve a rest. So, while we do plan to continue to meet monthly, we’re going to meet in February. You can register at the link: Next Huddle: February 9 @ 6:00PM.
While we wait for the Ohio Supreme Court to issue its rulings, either way, there is more work ahead. If the court rules that the maps need to be redrawn, our efforts to show the importance (and components) of fair maps will be especially important. Once again we will be looking to you, our fair maps warriors and advocates! With sincere thanks for all you do – and very best wishes for happy holiday.
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4th Voter Girl Project at Camp Ledgewood a success! |
It was the largest program Girl Scouts of North East Ohio had offered in the past pandemic year. And it just happened to be the LWV Kent Voter Girl Project, a day of helping Girl Scouts earn civics badges that includes learning about voting. 115 girls spent time with us and went home with badges and a fun experience patch LWV Kent designed specially for the program. They exapnded their knowledge of the importance of voting and what it means to be an educated voter.
Many thanks to our amazing volunteers which includes members and friends: Barb Tittle, Jen Kinney, Leah McKeen, Alberta Bowman, Gail Pytel, Sara Ashley-Cook, Ann Ward, Lorraine McCarty, Ann Ward, Stacy Yaniglos, Debbie Barber, Jill Hazelton, Mariah McKeen, Rhonda Richardson, Barb Hipsman Springer, Terrie Nielsen, Erin Myrla, April Secura, Jane Preston Rose, George Rose, Sherry Rose and Amie Cajka. Thanks to our GSNEO staffers, Fallon Pulley and Catie Hewitt. Special thanks to the Portage County Board of Elections for allowing us to borrow voting carrels!
The 5th Voter Girl is set for Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 at Ledgewood. The kind of project you might be interested in? We are always looking for instructors as well as other assistance! Email us here.
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You’ll make our smiles W I D E by designating the League of Women Voters of Kent as your charity for Amazon Smiles. Before you start your holiday shopping, head to amazonsmile.org and register the League of Women Voters of Kent as your charity of choice. Many smiles and thanks!
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SAVE THE DATE...
Jan. 13, 2022 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | New Member Orientation | Online before All Member Meeting
Jan. 13, 2022 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Presentation | All Member Meeting | Online
Feb. 9, 2022 | Wednesday | 7 p.m. | Positions & Priorities | Online
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Connect with us by email . . . and |
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