June Edition

LWVNLM Calendar

June 6: Board of Directors meeting 9:00-10:30am

June 8: LWVNLM Annual meeting –Walloon Lake Winery, 5:30-7:00pm

June 14: ENR Committee meeting –Zoom, 2:00-3:00pm

June 16: Voter Services Committee –Zoom, 1:30-2:30pm

June 23-26: LWV National Convention

July 4: LWVNLM Parade Entry, 5:00-7:00pm

August 2: Primary Election

November 8: General Election

All members are welcome to attend any of the events listed! Email info@lwvnlm.org for links.

President Notes

Robin Jordan

While I’ve signed many a petition, this is the first time I’ve participated in a petition drive, soliciting qualified voters to sign the Promote the Vote 2022 petition. If the drive is successful, the November ballot will include a state constitutional amendment that will enshrine our voting rights. I would like to share what I’ve learned as I’ve asked people to sign the petitions.

• People are skeptical - there is so much misinformation and disinformation out there, people don’t know whom to believe. 

• There are too many petition drives happening at the same time. It’s overwhelming to have at least 13 different petition drives going on at the same time.  How do we distinguish our petitions from all those other? 

• Social interaction on political issues has now become a “full contact” sport. You need to be prepared to be polite, informed and armed with your nicest smile when someone declines to sign in a rude manner. 

• The name, “League of Women Voters” stands for something. I have found that when people hear we are one of the partners in this endeavor, they are almost always willing to listen. We are still a trusted organization in the public’s mind.  

• There are many good people out there working for positive change and you can count our League members among them. 

There are a number of League members who have petitions available for you to sign. We will have them at the Annual Meeting on June 8th. Make sure you stop by the table to sign the petition and make your voice heard. I want to thank team leaders Lisa Blanchard, Penny Crim, Eileen Mikus, Dibby Smith, and Susan VanDeventer and for stepping up in leadership positions for this drive. A special thank you to Martha Lancaster who has created numerous venues and events for signing both PTV2022 and RFFA petitions. They, along with our 24 LWVNLM member circulators, are making democracy work in real time.

We’ve had a busy year and the crystal ball shows that there is no let-up in sight. With your help, we can do great things. It might take a little more effort as we enter our third year dealing with the pandemic, but if we stay focused, encourage each other, and remember that we make a difference, the shared load becomes easier. Thank you for all you do  to empower voters and defend democracy. 

Promote The Vote 2022

The Promote the Vote 2022 campaign to amend the state constitution will: 

• Protect the fundamental right to vote.

• Ensure eligible voters can make their voice heard and every vote will be counted regardless of where we live, what we look like or what candidate or political party we support.

• Enhance the integrity and security of our elections by modernizing how we administer elections and make our elections more accessible and convenient

Our league has collected and submitted almost 700 signatures so far, bravo! Anyone can take a petition for family and friends to sign. If you want a petition, email robin.jordan.g@gmail.com for a petition and circulating information. 

Lots of Petitions Circulating!

Bridge Michigan is keeping track of the more than a dozen possible ballot issues that may go before Michigan voters. It’s important for voters to know what we are signing! The article "2022 Michigan petition drives tracker: What to know about election proposals" will be continually updated here:

Notice About Our Annual Convention

The League will be meeting in Denver, Colorado for the 55th National Convention June 25-27, 2022, under the banner of “Women Powered Democracy”.

This will be a hybrid convention with opportunities for both in person and virtual attendance. The convention is a biennial event that serves as LWVUS’s bylaws-prescribed business meeting as well as an opportunity for League members to gather for training and networking. The League’s program will be voted on at this time. The league program is the education and advocacy platform that we adopt every national convention to move our mission forward. The big topic this year is the proposed “Structural Transformation Plan.”

The LWVNLM is entitled to two voting delegates at this convention. The number of voting delegates is determined by the number of members in each League.  The delegates for our League are Penny Crim and Susan VanDeventer – they will be attending virtually. They have been attending pre-convention webinars and Zoom calls getting information on items to be voted on at the convention. Each delegate is not told how to vote, but rather given an education on what will be presented for a vote. 

After the convention, our delegates will be reporting back to the members our experiences and what the issues were and what was decided.  We thank the delegates for taking on this responsibility. 

Membership Update

Ethel Larsen

As of June 5th, we are 80 members strong.  Welcome new members!

Connie Doherty – Petoskey

Ally Goelz - Petoskey

Linda Rogers – Cheboygan

Vince Lumetta - Cheboygan

Connie Doherty - Petoskey

Anyone interested in joining the Membership Committee, contact me at larseneu@gmail.com,  231.342.2173.

If you have any corrections or changes to your contact information on the membership list, accessed in the member section of our webpage, please submit them to me. 

Annual Fundraiser Update

The primary way we fund our League is through our annual spring appeal drive. Our local League keeps $4.00 from each member's dues payment; the majority supports League state and national activities to defend democracy.

As of June 5th, 14 members and 9 friends have made a donation to this year’s campaign. We have some way to go to reach our goal of $3000. Please consider a donation of any amount to fund our website, Zoom fees, printing and supplies that help our League be a visible and effective presence in the community.

No amount is too small! Send your donation to LWVNLM PO Box 175 Petoskey, MI 49770 or pay online with VENMO or PayPal using the QR links below.

THANK YOU

Poll Workers Needed

Susan VanDeventer

In the last election cycle, approximately 12 LWVNLM members took training to be poll workers and 10 were able to work election in various townships and cities in all 3 counties. If you served before, you will need retraining every 2 years. If you are considering working the polls, please attend one of the brief training sessions. 

Upcoming training sessions

• June 27 Monday- 9:00 a.m. – West Traverse Township Hall

• July 19 Tuesday- 10:00 a.m. – Emmet County Fairgrounds

• July 20 Wednesday- 6:00 p.m. – Littlefield Township Hall

It is crucial that LWV members fill these poll worker roles.  It’s been predicted that the 2022 election is a test run for the 2024 cycle. Read what’s in store - we are needed now more than ever. 

Please email me at susan.vandeventer@gmail.com to sign up for training.

Not sure what a poll worker does? Read on!

What is a Poll Worker?

Next to casting a ballot yourself, serving as a poll worker is the most important thing you can do to help our democracy thrive. Poll workers play a crucial role in ensuring the strength and integrity of the voting process. They are the lifeblood of America’s election system and they help secure our rights as U.S. citizens.

Eligible voters should not be turned away from the polls or be prevented from voting because of long, slow-moving lines or confusing rules. That is why we are calling on you to support your community by becoming a poll worker. In doing so, you will:

• Serve inside a polling place, checking in voters, answering their questions, setting up and testing voting machines, issuing ballots, and other tasks.

• Be a resource for voters who encounter problems – from registration issues to voter ID questions to language barriers.

• Attend training held by election officials to learn the rules and mechanics of the voting process.

• Get paid for your work and, in some cases, get paid for the time you spend in training sessions.

As a poll worker during the early voting period or on Election Day, there are different roles you may fill. While your responsibilities will vary by jurisdiction and position, there are certain aspects of working at the polls that you can count on:

• Before Election Day, you will be trained by election staff in the county or municipality in which you’re working. They will give you an overview of election rules, your responsibilities, and common situations that you may encounter at the polls. This training may take place either in-person or online, and will likely last a few hours.

• Poll workers help prepare their polling place for Election Day. You may be asked to report early on Election Day to assist in setting up the location before voters arrive.

• During your shift, you will interact with voters. You may be in charge of greeting voters, ensuring orderly lines, checking in voters to receive their ballot, or helping voters who request assistance.

• When the polls close, anyone in line at the closing time will be permitted to cast their vote. As a poll worker, you must remain at the polling location during your shift. Some jurisdictions allow poll workers to work part of the day, but many require them to remain for the entire day.

• After the polls close, you may be asked to help with cleaning up the polling place or securing and transferring voting materials to local election officials. Some poll workers may deliver ballots to a designated location.

• After that, you are free to leave and enjoy watching the results unfold, with the knowledge that you played an integral part in making the election possible.

Help make voting possible in your community and sign up today!

Observer Corps Update

Penny Crim

Our Observer Corps is a structured group of members who have volunteered to attend government meetings, take notes, and report on the issues being addressed at those meetings. Observers learn more about local government and how it functions and help to promote open, transparent, and accountable government. The commitment is minimal, and the service valuable. We are currently looking for Observers for the cities of Petoskey, Boyne City and Charlevoix. You can also observe in the township where you live.  Email me at paigeacrim@charter.net to learn more.  

Observers submit reports that are publicly available on our website. Read what's happening in your local government here!

The 4th of July Parade!

We had a very successful Petoskey July 4th parade entry last year – 50 plus LWVNLM members in white suffragist costume holding our LWVNLM banner.

Many parade watchers stood and clapped as we went by! We’re repeating our entry this year, with the addition of cars for those who would prefer to ride the route.  All members and their children/ family/ friends are welcome to join!

Email susan.vandeventer@gmail.com to sign on to the parade roster and for parade details. We are aiming for 60 people this year!

LWVNLM Board of Directors

President: Robin Jordan 

Vice President: Sue VanDeventer

Secretary: Penny Crim 

Treasurer: Jessica Shaw-Nolff

Directors:

Susan Hannah

Ethel Larsen

Marcis Meyer

Ann Scott

Dibby Smith

Committee Chairs

Environment and Natural Resources: Marcia Meyer & Ann Scott

Membership: Ethel Larsen

Health Care: Patty Fralick & Eileen Mikus