Winter Edition

President Notes

We’ve completed our tasks for the 2022 election cycle, and what a season it was! Three important ballot proposals were passed, and a record high number of Michigan citizens voted, especially younger voters!

Because of your advocacy and hard work, local voters understood what was at stake and responded to the call to defend democracy. A heartfelt thank you to the more than 50% of our members who worked in some way to achieve this positive outcome. Whether you worked on the Promote the Vote 2022 petition drive, spoke in a public setting or spoke to someone one on one, you made a difference. Those of you who registered local voters, wrote postcards encouraging voters to the polls, you made a difference. Those of you organized candidate videos, local voter guides, our Vote 411 website, you made a difference. Election workers, election certification observers, recount observers, you upheld democracy and made a difference. Our election efforts helped moved the needle in Northern Michigan.

Just as important as the actual work was the way we showed up and supported each other. Members readily stepped up to fill slots for others who couldn’t make their commitment. Supplies were driven some distances over 3 counties to give others needed materials. Multiple members volunteered their homes as “drop-off” locations to make it easier for members to exchange banners, pick up VOTE411 signs, and other items. We showed up for each other.

Yes, the election cycle is over and we can rest, regroup, and focus on other projects and goals of interest to our members. But we’ll sit for just a spell. Disinformation campaigns seem to have become normalized. Voter suppression, election disruption, and local political divisions are endemic and our area is not immune to these efforts. The LWV will continue to educate and advocate for democracy and for the LWV positions that promote democratic principles and equity in all seasons.

Thank you for all that you do~ Robin Jordan

Upcoming Events

View From the Field

This November I had the opportunity—privilege really—to work as an election inspector for the City of Petoskey. The experience left me with a feeling of gratitude and reassurance about the integrity of our election process. As a voter of many years, I’d often wondered why it required four people to verify my identify, assign my ballot, and observe as my ballot was tabulated without error. It seemed slow and tedious from that side of the table. 

Now, having been on the other side of the table, I appreciate the extreme care and seriousness with which every voter and every ballot are accounted for during the voting process, especially after the polls are closed. Every aspect is verified, cross-checked, and tightly secured under bi-partisan observation. It makes for a long, yet very gratifying, day! Here’s a link to the procedure manual if you’re interested in learning more: Managing Your Precinct on Election Day 2022. 

It pained me to hear the boisterous and unfounded outcry of election fraud the past year, so I decided to learn firsthand how the integrity of our elections are assured. It’s impressive and, if you’re able, I encourage you to volunteer next year! I know I will.

Christine Gebhard LWVNLM member

Equal Rights Advocacy Committee

The LWV Northern Lower Michigan has a new Equal Rights Advocacy committee ready to begin exploring topics of equity, equality, gender issues, cultural oppression, and those issues that affect equal rights for all.   

You are invited to the first meeting of the committee, where member Ally Goelz will guide our discussion of introductions, personal topics of interest and meeting format. She will also discuss a project to inform PHS students of the contemporary timeline of women's rights. 

Do you have experience or expertise in a relevant topic, or have a passion for learning more about promoting equity and equal rights for all regardless of identity categories? Your input is valued as this committee gets off the ground!

The first meeting is Thursday 1/26 10am -11am via Zoom. 

If you are interested, please email info@lwvnlm.org. If you want to attend meetings but can't make this first one, please respond too, we will make sure you are on the list for minutes and next meeting info

Our League has an active Observer Corp. Members of this team literally observe various public, governmental meetings and report back to the League on any issues that may potentially be important to the League. Since we cover such a large part of lower Northern MI, we are often in need of new volunteers. This is an easy task and a good way to become involved if your time is limited. You can buddy up with a friend and divide up the meetings. We still need observers in the following areas. Please contact Penny Crim for information.

City of Cheboygan: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm

City of Charlevoix: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 6:00pm

Village of Pellston: 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00pm

Tuscarora Twp. (Indian River): 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm

Boyne City: 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 pm and 4th Tuesday at noon

Why join? Transparency and Accountability. These elements foster public trust and establish a system of openness, public participation, and collaboration. Transparency provides information for citizens about what their officials are doing on their behalf and for the benefit of their community. Transparency leads to accountability and strengthens our democracy and promotes effectiveness in government. Public engagement enhances local government's effectiveness and improves the quality of its decisions.

Member Appreciation

Connie Doherty

I am a retired commercial real estate appraiser who was fortunate enough to be born and raised in Petoskey. My childhood summers were spent walking about six blocks to catch a free bus bound for the Petoskey Bathing Beach, now known as the Petoskey State Park. My winters revolved around the Petoskey Winter Sports Park, sliding, skiing, and skating on the largest outdoor rink in Michigan. After graduating from Petoskey High School in the top half of the class, I attended North Central Michigan College. After many years of diligent study obtained her degree in finance from Michigan State University.

It was then time for me to throw out the apron and sturdy shoes from my waitressing career and embark on a new life as a real estate appraiser. After many years of classes and on the job training, I obtained the professional designation of MAI which, let’s be honest, is only impressive if you're another appraiser or a banker! But at the time I achieved that professional milestone, there were only about five other women in Michigan with that designation.

Fulfilling a dream, I took time off from the dusty world of appraising and moved to Brazil, Thailand, and the Greek Isles to teach English. Several years later I moved back to Petoskey in order to help my mother and continued my appraising career until retiring on Ground Hog's Day 2022. Today you can find me on wooded trails hiking with my giant poodle Leroy, kayaking in Little Traverse Bay or cross-country skiing. I also spends time at her computer and has written four mystery novels and a travel memoir.

Throughout my life, I’ve joined very few organizations, preferring action to meetings. But I’ve has always had a very high regard for The League of Women Voters. I love every aspect of voting, elections and our democracy but has never been actively involved. However, after signing the Promote the Vote petition presented by a LWVNLM member, I knew absolutely that I had to throw off the comfortable cloak of bystander and join the women and men working to preserve our democracy. I took on the rewarding task of circulating the petition and made the easy decision to join the League of Women Voters.

Mary Netzky

We all have such different journeys, but mine has been particularly convoluted. My childhood ambition was to become an actor, so I took dance, voice, and piano lessons and became active in local theater and speech competitions. Though I had some talent, my life turned upside down at 19, when my father died suddenly of a heart attack. He had wanted me to attend Northwestern University, so I earned a degree in psychology there.

I met my husband a year after graduation, and he introduced me to country-western dancing. I was a quick study and in 1979, we offered the first country-western dance lessons in the Chicago area at The Country Music Inn with a great country-western house band. My dance training and public speaking skills coupled with my husband's entrepreneurial skills resulted in burgeoning classes, articles about our classes in the local news, an invitation to dance on the Grand Ole Opry by Bill Monroe, and providing entertainment and lessons to the staff at the ABC network holiday party in Chicago.

After the births of two daughters and the purchase of our home in Northern Illinois, we became rose gardeners, then Consulting Rosarians for The American Rose Society, taking turns as presidents of our local rose society. I eventually became the writer of our local society newsletter and contributor to its rose growing handbook.

Once again, my husband and I started a business, this time for rose gardening. This was my introduction into environmental concerns, as we implemented composting and explored organic fertilizers, pesticides, and disease control. I even wrote an article on a bio-organic pesticide for Japanese beetles, which was published in The American Rose magazine. At the same time, I began working on a second degree, in chemistry this time. It would take ten years, while raising our two daughters and working in the rose business.

As the girls were finishing high school, I decided to combine my teaching experience with my chemistry degree, culminating in a Master's in Teaching. I taught high school chemistry for five years and eventually returned to tutoring for private companies until starting my own tutoring service in 2012. My strength, it turns out, lies in working with students one-to-one.

I had always eschewed politics, but had become somewhat involved in community issues concerning school safety, local parks, and the branch library while our girls were in school. Following the 2016 election and our move to Michigan year-round, I became a news junkie, vowing not to be uninformed and uninvolved anymore. I joined a local lake association to advocate for lake issues. I volunteered at a local political party office, helping out in whatever way I could. I began to learn more about state environmental issues and joined the League of Women Voters after attending an environmental forum hosted by the LWV Leelanau County.

Since joining, I have become involved with both the environmental and membership committees, also helping out with voter services activities. I helped to collect signatures for the ballot initiative to expand and secure voting rights. Every day that I was out in public, I realized how each person CAN make a difference in our country and how many people are eager for change. Though none of the things I did were monumental, as an aggregate with others, they were successful. The League of Women Voters has provided me with wonderful opportunities to witness the power of information and community action, coupled with friendly, energetic members. I realized that we don't all have to be dynamic leaders to contribute to our country; it's just important that we all do a little something. As John Stuart Mill said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing."

Welcome New Members

Chattye Baker

Ginny and Daryl Davis

Cynthia Donahey

Dianna Heinzelman

Paula Herzog

Diane Lake

Ligita Lapins

Hugh Melling

Wendy Patton Leino

Dave Penniman

Danielle Schopp

Judi Silverman

Denise Simon

Nancy Simon

Tom VanDeventer

Paula Welmer

Linda Yaroch

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.

Committee Chairs and Meetings

Environment & Natural Resources: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 2-3pm ZOOM. Co-chairs Marcia Meyer & Ann Scott.

Equal Rights Advocacy: 4th Thursday of the month, 10-11am ZOOM. Chair Ally Goelz, email info@lwvnlm.org.

Membership: Chair Ethel Larsen.

Voter Services: 2nd Friday of the month, 10-11am ZOOM. Chair Dibby Smith.

Healthcare: 1st Thursday of the month, 10-11am ZOOM. Co-chairs Patty Fralick & Eileen Mikus.

LWVNLM Board of Directors

President: Robin Jordan, 2022-2024

Vice President: Eileen Mikus, 2021-2023

Secretary: Penny Crim, 2022-2024

Treasurer: Jessica Shaw-Nolff, 2021-2023

Directors:

Susan Hannah, 2021-2023

Marcia Meyer, 2021-2023

Ethel Larsen, 2021-2023

Ann Scott, 2022-2024

Dibby Smith, 2021-2023

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