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President’s Message Welcome to the unstable month of March—lions, lambs and all that.   My husband, granddaughter and I just returned from a quick, long weekend in New York City. Because we had planned to park the car and take Uber everywhere, in preparation I decided that I should download the Uber app—not just leave that up to my husband Al. So, I did the download.

Debbie Barber

There are two things you should know about me. First, although I can sort of function with technology, I am rapidly losing my edge. Second, I have absolutely no sense of direction—none. Getting out of my driveway is sometimes challenging.   Well, after I downloaded the Uber app, I discovered that instead of getting the app to call an Uber, I actually had the app to become an Uber driver! They were so happy to welcome me and were awaiting my credentials to get me started driving. I learned all about the benefits of driving for Uber and how rewarding it would be.   After seven Ubers in two days, navigating the streets of New York, I cannot tell you how happy I am to not have to be an Uber driver.   I don’t think English was the first language for a single one of our drivers. That made me wonder if they were making ends meet during the pandemic and if they were even earning minimum wage. One driver told us that he typically worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days every week. That doesn’t leave much time for life.   Naturally, my next thought was if they immigrated, what was that like for them? Do they feel welcome in our country? Which then led to wondering about whether they can/do vote. Which naturally made me think about the backward steps our country is taking to again disenfranchise our citizens by suppressing the vote.   Keep an eye on our own state and what is happening with redistricting (gerrymandering) as we await official census data. There are some pretty complicated rules and timelines guiding how fair maps will be drawn in Ohio. Regarding election policy actions, there are several recommendations to improve voter access, such as more locations for early voting, more drop-box locations, online registration for absentee ballots, and prepaid postage on mail-in ballots. At the federal level, H.R.1/S.1, a voting rights and ethics bill known as the For the People Act passed the House on Wednesday. If passed by the Senate, this law would ban gerrymandering and create uniform national rules for elections. The Supreme Court is currently hearing cases that could gut the current Voting Rights Act. The state of Georgia is moving to reinstate some of their archaic voting laws.   This is no time to relax. Keep yourself informed about what is happening that impacts League principles and positions on how we are making democracy work for everyone. One resource to monitor for Ohio is Fair Districts Ohio. Consider joining the Fair Districts speakers’ bureau to help educate Ohioans about this initiative. And, contact your representatives and let them know how important fair maps and voter access are to you. Just a reminder: Be sure and complete the Arming School Personnel (ASP) and Land Use surveys. Deadlines are fast approaching and links can be found in this newsletter. Thanks to those who have completed the surveys and the survey evaluations. We have had comments about the ASP survey design and are looking at the process. Remember, our ASP consensus meeting is March 18. In closing, I just want to warn you: Beware the Ides of March. If you need a ride somewhere, you probably want to ask someone else. In League and Unity, Debbie

Arming School Personnel surveys due March 17; online consensus meeting March 18

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an effort by the League of Women Voters of Ohio to establish a position on arming school personnel. The study covers the risk of harm to students, school personnel, and communities; mishandling of firearms; training; cost; accountability; and liability. Having a position will allow Leagues to speak on the many facets of the issue at both the state and local levels. The committee has been gathering opinions from members via a series of surveys. The fifth and final survey will be sent Sunday, March 14. Complete the first four sets of surveys here. Complete all five sets of surveys on our website.

Arming School Personnel Consensus Meeting

Calling all LWVK members! Join us for the Arming School Personnel Consensus Meeting on March 18 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The consensus meeting takes the place of our usual All Member Meeting this month. There is no new member orientation in March.

Consensus participation is for members only. Members will be checked in before the Zoom meeting begins.

Join Zoom Meeting! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89314795472?pwd=emcvTjZMOWVLbVZwZXNpekUxamM4dz09 Meeting ID: 893 1479 5472 Passcode: 515685 One tap mobile +13126266799,,89314795472#,,,,*515685# US (Chicago) +16465588656,,89314795472#,,,,*515685# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 893 1479 5472 Passcode: 515685 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kSM8DSiFU We'll be sending out the Zoom link again before the meeting, including the hour before the session starts.

Land use survey due March 15; consensus update April 6

The League of Women Voters of Northern Portage County and the League of Women Voters of Kent have spent close to three years updating our land use positions with the goal being a combined position for Portage County. The consensus meeting on our new, combined land use position is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. online. Information on how to attend the Zoom meeting will be provided in upcoming communications. This consensus process will result in a “position” that will enable the two Portage County Leagues to take unified action locally. The Land Use Committee (including members from both Leagues) has compiled the information into a single survey that will: Acquaint (or reacquaint) members with the issues originally presented in the Land Use Study from Spring 2019 Prepare members for the Consensus Meeting on April 6 Guide the formation of the consensus questions for the April 6 meeting Complete the survey here or on our website. We will be sending the Zoom link in upcoming communications. There will be a New Member Orientation at 6 p.m. before the consensus.

Book Club dives into spring reading list The League of Women Voters of Kent Book Club meets via Zoom the first Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome to join. Email Jane Preston Rose to receive the Zoom link or for answers to your questions.  Future selections . . . April 7 - Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas   May 5 - The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson   June 2 and July 7 - A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Here's your chance to learn more about parks and recreation in Portage! Would you like to be a part of the team that will work on updating the Kent League’s position on Parks and Recreation? Now is your chance! This position was flagged for an update at our February 6 Positions and Priorities meeting.   Environmental Committee Chair Renee Ruchotzke (ruh-HUT-skee) is convening a new subcommittee to look at the following: Accessibility of Parks and Recreation facilities to the least well-served in our community Accessibility of Parks and Recreation facilities on public transportation Continued funding from local levies   Email Renee, or call/text 330-554-0828 by March 25 if you are interested in working on this topic and (bonus!) getting to know other League members who are passionate about parks!

Missed LWV Ohio Statehouse Day? No problem! You can view the PowerPoint presentation, download the printed materials and participate in advocacy by clicking here.

March 23 free, public online event with LWVO and REAL TALK about the Fair Schools Funding Plan REAL TALK, in partnership with the League of Women Voters Ohio, the Ohio Education Association, the Ohio Federation of Teachers and the Ohio PTA will be hosting a panel of experts to discuss equitable public school funding on Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. Learn how the Fair School Funding Plan will provide an equitable, comprehensive, transparent funding model that will change the face of public education for 600-plus school districts and 1.7 million students across Ohio. Moderated by John Patterson, former state representative (D-Jefferson). To register, click here. The event is free and open to the public.

Voting calendar for May 4 primary election ready to share Here is a voting calendar to share far and wide with Portage County voters. Click on the image at left to download a pdf of the calendar with active links. Then send it to your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram as a reminder of the upcoming primary election. Click here to download a jpg/photo file so you can post on your social media.

Free & open to public REAL TALK program on health equity set for April 7, 14; Kent League hosts REAL TALK is a multi-League (Hudson, Akron Area, Kent and Greater Cleveland) diversity, equity and inclusion program designed to fully examine, dissect and dismantle systemic and institutional discrimination and oppression based on race, sexual orientation and gender identity, mental and physical ability, socioeconomic status, gender and age. The online events are free and open to the public.   The next topic will be hosted by our Kent League, under the direction of board member Sally Saltzman, who chairs the LWV Kent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and committee member FayAnn Sebaly. The two-night program is titled “RACISM Is a Public Health Crisis: Impacts on Health, Healthcare Access, and Quality of Care.”   April 7, 7 p.m. - Focus is on the impacts of racism on the health and health care of communities of color. Meet the unwavering state, county and city leaders who forcefully name racism as a public health crisis and are actively combating and dismantling the systems, infrastructures and belief systems that perpetuate it.   April 14, 7 p.m. - Focus is on racism's impact and direct correlation to chronic health issues such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, women's health, infant mortality, malnutrition and toxic stressors—and the impact that racism and discrimination have on access to quality health care.   To register and see speakers, click here. To see these segments after the scheduled dates and earlier ones on voting rights access and education, go to the REAL TALK website.

Know your Portage County Board of Elections; two are LWV Kent members A county of board of elections in Ohio has four members; two from the party that received the highest number of votes in the most recent gubernatorial election and then two from the party that received the next highest number of votes in the same election. Portage County BOE Chairperson is Denise L. Smith of Ravenna, retired from the Portage County Prosecutor's Office and a Democrat. Long-time BOE member Doria Daniels of Kent, a local activist who works in business management, is a Republican member. Amanda Suffecool is chairman and CEO of the Portage County Republican Party, an engineer and works in media. She is a member of LWV Kent. The newest BOE member is Randi Clites who has served in the Ohio House of Representatives for Portage County and is Ohio Bleeding Disorders Council State Policy Director. She is a Democrat and also a member of LWV Kent.

LWVK Observer Corps needs YOU Looking for an easy way to become more involved in the Kent League? Interested in our local governing bodies and what they are doing? If you said “Yes” or “Maybe” to these questions, then perhaps you would like to become an observer for the League of Women Voters of Kent’s Observer Corps.   What does an observer do? An observer routinely attends local governmental boards or committees (e.g., Portage County Commissioners, local city council) just to watch the proceedings.   Why do we do this? To encourage good government by monitoring compliance with open meeting laws by listening to discussions, observing decision-making, and reporting to the League for action, if appropriate. Action on issues is a separate LWV activity.   How will you know what to do? Observer training will be provided virtually before your first meeting as an Observer Corps member. What do you actually have to do?   You will . . . Attend LWVK Observer Corps training. Attend the governmental public meetings either virtually or in person. Observe compliance with Ohio sunshine laws (e.g., meeting notice given, minutes from previous meetings available, agenda available). Watch and listen. Do not speak or ask questions during the meeting. You are the eyes and ears of the League, not the voice. Authorization to speak for the League is limited to the board president or designee. Submit a report to the board through an online LWVK Meeting Observer form. This makes it easy to submit your report for publication on the LWVK website. Attend all meetings of those government bodies that meet more than once a month, or share this responsibility with one or more other observers.   You can learn more about the LWVK Observer Corps here. Sound interesting? Sound like you might want to become an observer? Questions? Want to volunteer? Contact Jill Hazelton and Jen Kinney here.

Voter Services Committee looking for new members Interested in helping plan voter registration, education and outreach initiatives? Join the LWVK Voter Services Committee monthly meeting to be on the ground floor of our voter services efforts. The committee meets the third Monday of every month, virtually, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. See below for the monthly meeting link (good for every meeting). Questions? Reach out to co-chairs Jen Kinney or Jill Hazelton. Upcoming meeting dates are March 15, April 19 and May 17. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81053038 289?pwd=dWlISVpHVjNLcmNacTVqNVdvMEs3Zz09 Meeting ID: 810 5303 8289 Passcode: 578886 Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 810 5303 8289 Passcode: 578886

Looking ahead: Dates to put on your calendar now! Here's a heads-up on League events for April through June: April 16-25 - League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland FUNdraiser scavenger hunt with a voting/democracy theme. All are welcome to participate. Download the flyer here. April 29 - Day of Action by Leagues across the United States to educate citizens about redistricting and the drawing of fair maps. Want to be part of the committee? Email LWV Kent President Debbie Barber here. For more information, click here. May 11-20 - League of Women Voters of Ohio Virtual State Convention. Caucuses are May 11-20, and plenary sessions are May 21-22. All members are welcome to attend. Details to come. Have something big or little to donate to the State Convention Silent Auction? Contact LWV Kent board member and LWVO Development Director Sherry Rose. June 5 - Virtual LWV Kent Annual Meeting. Details to come.

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