President's Notes
xxxHappy Spring! Even though I fear for their lives the daffodils are coming up and looking for some sunshine. Let’s hope they don’t have to shiver too much longer. This is a quiet election year but the LWVBCC is filling up its calendar with monthly programs and a spring high school Voter Registration. Drive. Some of our members helped register 21 new voters at Benton Harbor High School already. We will be publishing dates and times for volunteer sign up to register young voters in area high schools soon. Watch your inbox for the Voter Registration notice.
xxxIn March two programs were sponsored by LWVBCC:
xxx1) a Town Hall on climate change featuring the president of League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region – Elizabeth-Guscott Mueller and her husband David Mueller. Joy and David presented an overview of the water shed system that feeds Lake Michigan giving examples of how climate change effects the amount of rainfall, lake levels, erosion, and run off issues caused by agriculture and aging waste treatment systems, all of which effect living organisms that depend on clean water from the lake and its watershed For more information go to lwvlmr.org.
xxx2) a luncheon meeting was held at the Bridgman Public Library with speaker Sarah Skinner, library director. Her topic was the issue of recent calls for banning books. Forty people attended this timely talk.
xxxOur April topic for a Town Hall at the Bridgman Public Library is housing in Berrien County. The speaker is Katie Montoya, Assistant Director /Housing Coordinator of Berrien County – April 28 6PM. ..
xxxHere is a blurb I found with a link that takes you to a very handy document to know about for understanding and being in touch with our elected officials. Citizen's Guide to State Governmentn
"102nd Legislature, 2023-2024"
xx This popular biennial directory is now available online and in print. Here is link. Paper copies can usually be obtained through your state representative and senator,
xxxAlso be sure to check out the summary of recent legislative activities in the League Highlights section of League Links – LWVMI.org. The annual LWVMI State convention is coming up – May 19-21 in Lansing at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference
Center. Each local league can send one voting delegate. If you would like to go let me know – fschoon@mac.com. You can learn more about the convention on the LWVMI website.
xxxThanks for reading. Hope to see you April 18 at the Bridgman Public Library. Be sure to save June 29 for the LWVBCC Annual Dinner.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxIn League, Faith Schoon
xxxThe "To 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.
xxxWe have all read books that are now on one banned book list or another at one school or another. I personally feel any parent has the right to
prohibit his or her OWN student from reading whatever literature offends that parent. To try to prohibit all children from reading history or novels
that may present information, thoughts or ideas new to them is part of the learning process of life. May all of you Read On.
Chris Zilke
xxx