Guest Message from Connie Mitchell, President, LWV Dearborn-Dearborn Heights

It requires individuals who show up, speak up, and step up. Active members attend meetings, volunteer for initiatives, share ideas, and take responsibility for moving work forward. Their engagement creates momentum, and that momentum is what sustains progress.

Being active also strengthens the organization itself. When members participate fully, they contribute diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences. This leads to better decision-making and more innovative solutions. An engaged membership fosters collaboration and accountability—people rely on one another, support one another, and hold each other to a shared standard of excellence. In contrast, when participation is low, the burden falls on a few individuals, often leading to burnout and stagnation.

Beyond strengthening the organization, active involvement benefits the individual. It builds leadership skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Members who engage deeply learn how to organize, communicate effectively, and navigate challenges. They become problem-solvers and advocates, not just observers. Active participation also creates meaningful connections and relationships, turning organizations into communities where people feel valued and empowered.

Perhaps most importantly, being an active member reflects a commitment to something greater than oneself. It demonstrates a willingness to invest time and energy in causes that matter. In organizations focused on democracy, justice, or community well-being, this level of engagement is essential. Change does not happen because people care quietly—it happens because people act.

In a world where it is easy to remain on the sidelines, choosing to be an active member is a powerful decision. It says, “I am not just here to watch—I am here to contribute.” And when enough individuals make that choice, organizations do more than exist—they thrive, lead, and create lasting change.

Democracy and Justice for All,

Connie R. Mitchell, President, LWVDDH

LWVNLM Upcoming Events

• Friday, April 10th, 4:30-6:30pm: LWVNLM Meet & Mingle at Elder Piper, 923 Baxter Street, Petoskey

• Monday, April 27th, 5:30-6:30pm: LWVNLM Unite & Rise at the Petoskey District Library. All members are invited to attend. We will be providing information about our upcoming community information tables. Come, get some training on working a table and sign up for a date that you can help!

• Monday, May 4th, 9:00-10:30am, ZOOM: LWVNLM Board of Directors Meeting. Board of Director meetings are typically held on 1st Monday of the month at 9 am. All members are welcome to attend.

• Wednesday, May 13th, 5:30-6:30pm: Public Forum – Climate-Driven Migration and It’s Effects in Northern Michigan at the Petoskey Public Library and on ZOOM. All members are encouraged to attend. Register at LWVNLM.org

• Wednesday, June 10th, 5:00-7:30pm: LWVNLM Annual Members Meeting at Walloon Lake Windery Pavillion. SAVE THE DATE!

  Reach out to info@lwvnlm.org for information about joining a committee or questions about upcoming events.

Climate-Driven Migration and It’s Effects in Northern Michigan

Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Petoskey District Library and ZOOM

Many people have already made the move from states effected more by heat and storms to our communities. How will climate migration effect Northern Michigan?

Scott Drinkall, PhD candidate in public policy at George Mason University and a policy researcher focused on climate change, migration and governance will discuss how environmental change shapes decisions about whether, and how, people move and to help us understand:

• Whether Michigan could be considered a “climate refuge” and what that might mean in practice.

• How climate-driven migration might affect Northern Michigan, including housing, infrastructure, and farmland.

• How climate pressures shape decisions to move—or stay—drawing on U.S. and Pacific Island examples.

• Key policy challenges for communities experiencing population change.

Hosted by the Environmental and Natural Resources Committee.

The Nomitating Committee will present a slate of offices for election at the Annual Meeting in June. Suggestions of names of members are needed for these leadership positions:

• Secretary (two year term)

• At-Large Board Members (two year term)

• Members of the Nominating Committee (one year term).        

If you are interested in being a candidate or want to recommend a member whom may be interested contact one of the following Nominating Committee members TODAY! 
Rose Fitzgerald : rosefitzgerald183@gmail.com
Connie Vorencamp: connievkamp@gmail.com
Peggy Swenor: pswenor@gmail.com

We encourage individuals with varying life, work and volunteer experiences to apply. We seek a diverse group of individuals who have a passion for the League of Women Voters and our important work. Join us in helping to move the LWVNLM forward!

With a very crucial voting period approaching this year, LWVNLM needs to be a presence in our communities, offering information about voting and promoting the importance of voting.

We plan to have tables of information at Farmers Markets and other community events. The information at the tables will encourage dialogue with interested parties and hopefully inspire them to vote and get others to vote. Sign up now to help, even if for just one community event! Our democracy is at risk! Let’s take actions now!

Join us on Monday, April 27th, 5:30-6:30pm at the Petoskey District Library. We will be providing information about our upcoming community information tables. Get some training on working a table and sign up for a date that you can help!

You don’t have to do everything. Just do one thing.

“We do solemnly swear that we will empower voters and defend our democracy. We will faithfully execute our civic responsibility as nonpartisan advocates. We do this fearlessly, reflectively, and collectively. We act from a place of hope and collective power. We affirm that we will work to provide democracy education and election administration support, restore and defend voting rights protection, abolish the Electoral College, protect democracy organizations, and fight for reproductive freedoms. We will not be deterred from these tasks. So, join us to protect life, liberty, freedom, and justice.” - lwv.org

Contact Marcia Meyer to learn more - marciakmeyer@gmail.com

Why did the LWV partner with No Kings?

Simple - it fits the League’s mission: Empowering voters and defending democracy through voter education and engagement, advocating for democracy, encouraging civic participation, and supporting local League leaders and members.  In solidarity with our partners, we stood up against hate and authoritarianism.

We had Joanne Schroeder, Charlevoix Area Hospital President present to our committee in January on Munson Healthcare's Vision and Gar Atchison, CEO of McLaren Northern Michigan present to our committee in March on McLaren's Vision for the future of healthcare in our area. Both presentations are available on our Health Care Committee’s page at LWVNLM.org/healthcare .

The Healthcare Committee meets the first Thursday of every month, 9:00 am via ZOOM. All are welcome!

Welcome New Members

Kenneth Allen, Rebecca Evans, Mary Johnson, Loral Kenewell, Rebeca Otto, Betsy Petersen and Tammy Tambellini-Unmlor

As a member, you have access to the “members page” on our website. Email info@lwvnlm.org for the passcode. All members receive our LWVNLM newsletters and the quarterly LWVNLM Northern Voter by email. If you have not been getting these, please email info@lwvnlm.org for assistance. We are 152 members strong!

Join the ONE-TIME TASK Team!

 The one-time task (OTT) team is designed to do a task as needed without joining a committee or attending meetings, or making a long commitment. Examples of tasks include distributing LWVNLM written materials, bringing food to an event, or serving on the annual meeting clean up crew, whatever a committee needs! To add your name to the list, please contact Mary Netzky, mary.netzky@gmail.com.

STAY INFORMED ON ALL LWVNLM ACTIVITIES

• Website - You’ll find links to our events calendar, committee meetings, our most recent public forum, legislative action alerts, and the members only page, to name a few. Check it out.

• YouTube Channel - This houses all of our recorded public forums. If you’re new to the League or have never visited the site, check out some of the topics we’ve covered over the last few years. It might give you an idea for a future public forum topic. Please click subscribe when you visit!

• Newsletters - We send a quarterly Northern Voter, and periodic interim newsletters to all members via email.

Once here, we both sought out volunteer activities, and for me, that started with a stint on the City of Petoskey Sign Committee and then on the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals.  I left those as I took on a Board position with the Friendship Centers of Emmet Country where I currently serve as vice-president.  My husband and I also took up curling, and I am now serving as president of the Petoskey Curling Club as well. In my spare time, I belong to two ukulele groups and am one of the mentors for the group here in Petoskey, the Petoskey Ukulele Players. I also work on adding to our collection of Native American art and baskets that my husband and I started on in 1982.

A couple of years ago, I became committed to doing more to help our community and  was drawn to and the League of Women Voters and their missions of enrolling voters, informing them on their rights and candidate positions, and insuring fair and safe elections.  I am currently a member of the Voter Registration Committee where I handle the lead on scheduling voter registration events.  I am also on the Environmental Committee. Additionally, I am serving as a board member. I have met so many amazing, intelligent and hard-working women in this group, and am so glad that I have joined. I encourage anyone who has a zeal for democracy to give consideration to joining us.

Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Postcard Campaign

We’re excited to share that the GOTV postcard campaign will once again be available to local Leagues in 2026—one of our most popular opportunities for member engagement! Local Leagues may choose to send postcards prior to the August Primary, the November General Election, or both. Grant funding of up to $1,000 will be available to help offset printing and postage costs.

The postcard template is expected to be ready by May 1, and, as in past years, Leagues will have the option to customize postcards with their local League logo. Leagues may also select the voter population they wish to target. Our Voter Access Network (VAN) Data Team, Susan Hannah and Cathy Marshall, will be available to assist with data requests.

Additional details on how to sign up and participate will be shared soon—stay tuned!

LWVMI Seeks to Protect Voters in Justice Department Lawsuit to Obtain Voter Rolls

In late October, the LWVMI filed a motion to intervene in the US vs. Benson lawsuit where the DOJ is demanding MI Secretary Benson release protected voter identification information to them.  Please read the press release for important details on this action.

Meet Our New Neighbors!

Congratulations to North Central Michigan, our Newest State Unit! On March 14 the state board approved the application for the new North Central Michigan State Unit. Previously known as the Crawford County Geo Unit of the Grand Traverse Area League, the Geo Unit members worked hard with new members from Crawford, Otsego, and Roscommon Counties to develop League activities in these rural counties. They’ve hosted workshops, presented on Know What You Sign, created a “They Represent You” brochure, held voter registration events, and done many other things on the way to putting together their application to LWVMI to become a State Unit. Welcome North Central Michigan State Unit!

National Advocacy & Legal Action

• How is the LWV responding to the SAVE Act?

• How is the LWV responding to funding cuts to healthcare and increased funding for ICE?

Throughout the first year of the 119th Congress, the League of Women Voters did advocacy work around legislation with significant implications for both our democracy and the people within it. This blog looks back at five of the most consequential legislative battles of 2025, as well as their implications for our country and the League’s 2026 advocacy work.

LEARN HOW THE LWV IS WORKING FOR YOU!

Voter Education Resources for the

2026 Election Cycle

Learn effective strategies for voter education work in the 2026 election cycle.

April 15, 2:00pm: The first webinar in the series will highlight tips and tricks for increasing voter awareness of League branded voter education resources and ensuring voters in your communities have the election information they need leading into the 2026 General Election. Learn why League branding is important when sharing these resources, where to find promotional tool kits and templates, best practices for scheduling election promotion in your state, and how to reach Spanish speaking voters in your promotional activities.

May 13 2:00pm: The next webinar in the series will focus on providing voters with candidate and ballot information in the League branded voter guides. Learn how to increase candidate participation in your voter guides, best practices for your own candidate pressure campaign, and how participating in voter guide activities can help grow your League capacity with new volunteers, members and partners.

Click here for more information and to register

Newly Passed Restrictive Voting Laws Affecting Midterms: What You Need to Know

April 30, 3:00pm: Join the LWVUS Advocacy team for a timely briefing on newly passed restrictive voting laws that will be in effect for the upcoming midterm elections. This webinar will provide an overview of key changes to voting access across the states, highlight major trends we are seeing nationwide, and explain what these laws could mean for voters and League advocacy. We will also share guidance and resources to help Leagues prepare to educate voters, respond to harmful policies, and protect access to the ballot in their communities. This webinar is intended for League members engaged in state and local advocacy, voter education, and election protection efforts, preparing voters for a changed voting landscape.

Click here for more information and to register

Committee Chairs and Meeting Times

Observer Corp Chair: Penny Crim, pennycrim04@gmail.com. Meet as needed.

Health Care Committee Chairs: Patty Fralick, plfralick@gmail.com, Jackie Mitchell jackiemitchell06@me.com Meet 1st Thursday of the month, 9:00am. Zoom

Environment & Natural Resources Committee Chairs: Marcia Meyer, marciakmeyer@gmail.com and Ann Scott, alscott2050@gmail.com. Meet 2nd Tuesday of the month, 4:00pm. ZOOM

Membership Committee Chair: Mary Netzky, mary.netzky@gmail.com, 2nd Monday of the month, 3:30pm. ZOOM

Voter Services Committee Co-chairs: Rose Fitzgerald, rosefitzgerald183@gmail.com. Meet 2nd Wednesday of the month, 10:00am. ZOOOM

Unite and Rise Committee: Chair: Marcia Meyer, marciakmeyer@gmail.com, 3rd Monday of each month, 3:30-4:30pm, ZOOM

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.