Survey: Public Forum and Meeting Time

Our members survey indicated that the majority of members prefer Zoom meetings. This is helpful especially for those who live further away from Petoskey, allows for more members to attend our meetings and forum events, and enables us to obtain expert speakers for our public forums. We remain committed, however, to hold 4 in-person meetings each activity year in addition to our in-person public events.

The choice of meeting time was close between 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm, so it was decided to do a rank choice vote. For those of you who have not yet voted, there is still a window of time to give your input! VOTE HERE

Observer Corps

How are decisions made in your community? What decisions are being made? Are government officials following established rules of procedure, are they prepared and knowledgeable about the issues on the agenda? Our Observer Corps members attend local government meetings and keep us informed of pertinent issues that allows our members to act when necessary. Brief reports are generated about the meetings and are available to members and to the public. Read the reports here.  Thank you, Observer Corps members!

We are still looking for Observers in Boyne City, Boyne Falls and Cheboygan.  Some meetings are virtual, some are in-person, and time commitment is minimal. Several Observers buddy with someone and split the commitment. You can also observe at public libraries, school districts or townships.  If you want to join this effort, please contact Penny Crim at paigeacrim@charter.net

Firearm Safety Networking Group

At the LWVMI convention in May, a statewide Firearm Safety Networking Group was formed. Much needs to be done to reduce gun violence and now may be the time to press forward as the Michigan legislature has recently passed bills that provide background checks, safe storage laws, and extreme risk protection orders (ERPO or red flag laws).

Any LWVNLM member interested in this topic can be included in the Network. This could be informal attendance to learn about the issue and what local Leagues are doing, a member(s) could attend and send a report to the LWVNLM BOD about the meeting, or a member(s) could attend with the intention of starting a Committee within our League at some future point. If you are interested in attending, please send an email to firearmsafety@lwvwashtenaw.org

Upcoming Events

The calendar reflects the dates of our meetings and events, with some of the programming still in development. Our website calendar will be updated as each event is finalized. Our meetings and public forums continue to be held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, time TBD.

Aug 7: LWVNLM Board meeting. 9:00-10:30am, ZOOM

Sept 2: Water is Life Festival. 12:00pm, Petoskey waterfront

Sept 13: Public Forum: Money in Politics. ZOOM

Oct 2: LWVNLM Board meeting. 9:00-10:30am, ZOOM

Oct 11: Public Forum: Healthcare (topic TBD). ZOOM

Nov 6: LWVNLM Board meeting. 9:00-10:30am, ZOOM

Nov 8: In-person meeting. LTBB Tribal Center, time TBD

Dec 4: LWVNLM Board meeting. 9:00-10:30am, ZOOM

Dec 6: Holiday Gathering. 5:30-7:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center

View more details about each event below or on our Events Page.

LWVMI 2023 Convention Notes

The bi-annual League of Women Voters Michigan State Convention convened on May 19-21 and the LWVNLM had a full representation of 7 voting delegates participate in the proceedings. It was our first in-person convention and it was an excellent event!

During three plenary sessions delegates voted on the new slate of officers, the budget, and a new bylaw section that holds board members accountable to the mission and goals of the LWV.

A decision to support libraries and oppose book banning was approved after a lively discussion. Language was added to the LWVMI position that enables us to fight book banning and support librarians in our communities. 

We were honored to have Virginia Kase-Solomon, President of the LWVUS deliver the opening address. She spoke about the importance of the Leagues’ positions in the work that we do, and reminded us that being nonpartisan does not mean we are not political.

Each League nominates members who deserve recognition in four service categories to receive Belle Ringer awards. Our winners were: 

Susan Hannah - Advocacy 

Susan has been a League member for over 50 years and continues to be a leader and public representative in numerous local League activities.

Marcia Meyer - Membership

Marcia co-leads our robust Environment and Natural Resources group that has sponsored multiple public events that engage many LWVNLM member volunteers.

Jessica Shaw-Nolff - Financial Management 

Jessica's tech and organizational skills have made it easier for members to pay dues online and helped all BOD members have a clear understanding of our financial status.

Dibby Smith- Voter Service

Dibby's leadership skills have developed our active Voter Services team and brought an increased awareness of our League in our local area.

We attended workshops on gun violence, creating a League sub-unit on a college campus, the National Popular Vote movement, and other relevant topics. We will be bringing what we have learned back to the membership.

We also heard guest speaker Mark Brewer, an attorney specializing in voting rights during Saturday night’s dinner. (You may recall, Mark was a guest speaker for our public forum on redistricting at the local level in 2021.) The recent progress made in protecting voting rights in Michigan were highlighted  and he noted that the League is an essential part of the effort!  He also presented evidence that the threat to voting rights is still strong.

The closing breakfast speaker was first term Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou from the 75th  District in Lansing. She spoke about legislation passed and pending bills on gun safety, implementing Prop 2 and other issues pertinent to LWVMI positions. Everyone was heartened to learn of the forward progress in the legislature on issues we support. 

Being together was a heartwarming reminder that we are not alone in the work of protecting our democracy, and the friendships and connections made along the way provide encouragement, support and lighten the load.

Dark Money in Elections

Its widely accepted that dark money in our politics and elections is out of control and a threat to our representative democracy. So called “social welfare organizations” are formed and used for the sole purpose of soliciting and distributing political campaign money, all without disclosure.

How does dark money affect elections?

1. Any state race that becomes a partisan flash point, it quickly draws vast sums from national entities, essentially “nationalizing” an election and drowning out state or local messages and issues during that election. It also influences the politician’s priorities if elected.

2. More and more election money is coming from secret sources. That secrecy enables a variety of improper/unethical activities. These unknown sources fund election misinformation which is undermining the voters’ trust in our elections. It intentionally creates partisan contempt, which has led to community division and gridlock in Washington.

3. Dark money is coming from foreign sources which influence our elections.  Because of the secrecy, it’s impossible to detect and stop illegal foreign money from influencing our elections.

4. Through dark money, a handful of the ultra-wealthy, big corporations and foreign entities have a significant influence over elections, public policy, and the judiciary, to the detriment of American citizens.

Currently, Michigan is one of only 2 states that does not require financial disclosure, however that will change in 2024 with the passage of Proposal 1 last year.  Disclosure is only part of the solution. Campaign finance reform is needed. Read what Michigan Attorney General Nessel says about dark money in Michigan politics.

LWVNLM member Susan Beckett has joined the LWVMI state-wide networking group on Dark Money in Politics. She has also affiliated with a national coalition working on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to permit campaign finance regulation. Susan will lead a public forum on September  13th on the perils and solutions to unregulated campaign finance.

If you want to learn more about how dark money influences American elections and public policy, click here for reports from the Brennan Center.

Welcome New Members

Susan Burt, Keith Butkovich, Dean Graham, Nancy Graham, Janee Handelsman, Alexis Kaczynski, Mary Keedy, Mary Olmstead, Anna Young, John Young

As a member, you have access to the “members page” on our website. Email info@lwvnlm.org for the passcode. All members receive LWVNLM newsletters and the quarterly LWVNLM Northern Voter via email. If you do not get these, please email info@lwvnlm.org for assistance.

Member Appreciation

Susan Beckett

I was raised in suburban New Jersey, 20 miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel. I worked with a group of Midwesterners at an overnight camp the summer after my junior year of high school, and decided then that I wanted to live in that part of the country where people are so nice! My sojourn began at the University of Michigan. I stayed in Ann Arbor and had careers in technical writing and computer programming before transitioning into substitute teaching elementary and special education while I raised my own children. In 2010 I founded and published a street newspaper that gives housing insecure people a voice and an economic opportunity as self-employed entrepreneurs. In 2020, spurred by the pandemic, my husband and I bought a house in Charlevoix and, after winnowing our amassed 30-year collections from our Ann Arbor home, retired and moved up north in the winter of 2021.

My political involvement has included 30+ years as a volunteer lobbyist with “Results”, working to eliminate the worst aspects of poverty domestically and abroad; canvassing for numerous politicians; voter registration drives; collecting signatures on petitions for redistricting reform with Voters Not Politicians and Proposal 2 voter protection with the LWVNLM; and lobbying for campaign finance reform for the past 11 years. I joined the Washtenaw County League of Women Voters during my last years in Ann Arbor and was delighted to join the LWVNLM chapter up here when I moved.

My hobbies include playing pickleball, gardening, hiking, skiing and reading. Some would say civic engagement is another hobby of mine, but I look at it as a privilege and responsibility. As astronaut Rusty Schweickart said when he looked down on earth from space, “We’re not passengers on Spaceship Earth, we’re the crew. We aren’t residents on this planet, we’re citizens. In both cases, the difference is responsibility.” Thanks for being part of the crew!

News From LWVMI

Legislative Advocacy

The Legislature has been busy, which means our LWVMI advocacy representatives have been busy! As you know, the LWVMI advocates through written and verbal testimony on bills we support and those we oppose.  While a few other issues have come up, the bills to fund and implement proposal 2 have taken center stage. Click here to read the legislative synopsis from the LWVMI.

Please use THIS EASY BUTTON to send a letter to your local representatives to ask that they support bills to implement Prop 2!

Committee Chairs and Meeting Times

Observer Corp Chair: Penny Crim, paigecrim@charter.net. Meet as needed.

Health Care Committee Chairs: Patty Fralick, plfralick@gmail.com and Eileen Mikus, eileen.mikus@gmail.com. Meet 1st Thursday of the month, 10:00am.

Environment & Natural Resources Committee Chairs: Marcia Meyer, marciakmeyer@gmail.com and Ann Scott, alscott2050@gmail.com. Meet 2nd Tuesday of the month, 2:00pm.

Equal Rights Advocacy Chair: Jessica Shaw-Nolff, jnolff6@gmail.com. Meet 3rd Thursday of the month, time varies. Check events page.

Membership Committee Chair: Mary Netzky (lead), mary.netzky@gmail.com. Meet 2nd Monday of the month, 3:30

Voter Services Committee Chair: Dibby Smith, dibbys@aol.com. Meet 2nd Friday of the month, 10:00am

LWVNLM Board of Directors

President: Robin Jordan, 2022-2024

First Vice President: Lisa Blanchard, 2023-2025

Vice President: Eileen Mikus, 2023-2025

Secretary: Penny Crim, 2022-2024

Treasurer: Jessica Shaw-Nolff, 2023-2025

Directors:

Katie Parker, 2023-2025

Carole Shane, 2023-2025

Marcia Meyer, 2023-2025

Ann Scott, 2022-2024

Dibby Smith, 2023-2025

Susan VanDeventer, 2022-2024

LWVNLM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

The League of Women Voters Northern Lower Michigan is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in principle and in practice.  There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization.  Diversity, equity and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy. 

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