Happy Thursday! Here's this week's Update for League of Women Voters Milwaukee County (LWVMC) news, information and events. | |
Consider spending an hour or so meeting new and returning members while enjoying yourself at Estabrook Beer Garden (in Estabrook Park, 4600 N. Estabrook Pkwy, Milwaukee) on Thursday September 21 from 5:30-7:00. The Membership Committee is sponsoring periodic Meet and Greets - we wanted our first to be held outside while we still have warm weather and thought the Beer Garden would be a great location.
No formal program - just an opportunity to socialize and to find out about current activities.
Look for table decorations at one of the tables.
Rain Date: September 28 |
Call for Volunteers for High School Registrations
The High School Voter Education and Registration Program is looking for volunteers to help with high school registrations. Registration days in high schools are uplifting, celebratory events. Volunteers get to meet and support the students and congratulate them on becoming voters – a memorable experience.
If you are interested, review this refresher slideshow:
Voter Registration in Milwaukee and Waukesha Area High Schools
Then if you would like to be added to our call list, click the link on the last slide to open a Google Form. Fill it and you will automatically be added to the call list and notified about upcoming events. Membership in the League is not required.
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National Voter Registration Day Show
Nō Studios, ivotedconcerts.org and the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County are collaborating on a free National Voter Registration Show. Nō Studios is providing the venue, ivoteconcerts.org has paid for the musical talent and the League will be at the event to check registrations or to help people register. Please be sure to promote this to your community.
|  | | In addition to the Free National Voter Registration Event Show mentioned above Voter Services is planning a number of voter registration events on National Voter Registration Day, September 19, 2023.
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We will have a voter registration event at four libraries in Milwaukee County and one library in Waukesha County.
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We will have a voter registration event at UW Waukesha.
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We will have voter registration events at five MPS schools.
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We are supporting voter registration events at Gateway in Walworth County and Gateway in Racine County.
We need volunteers for some of these events:
If you are interested in training to qualify for the high schools, please contact Leigh Ann Tidey, la.tidey@lwvmilwaukee.org or Judy Winn, j.winn@lwvmilwaukee.org |  | Future Voters Fest | Wed. Sept. 20, 2023 | 4:30-6pm
La Plazita Parklet (16th & Forest Home Ave)
The League of Women Voters, along with with their co sponsors, Muskego Way Forward, UMOS’ Raices Youth Group, Safe & Sound, Milwaukee Christian Center’s Kosciuszko Youth Group, Boys and Girls Club and Cristo Rey High School Admission Office are working on the Future Voter’s Fest Scheduled for September 20 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.
In the interest of appealing to youth to better understand the voting process, and by extension their families, this event will provide hands-on, engaging activities to provide youth with the idea that voting is a key responsibility in supporting our democracy.
As plans are finalized we will be posting more information about this event, but if you want to have a fun and informative place for children to learn about voting you should put this on your calendar.
Please contact e.gomez@lwvmilwaukee.org if you have any questions or would like to contribute to the school supplies or giveaways.
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Ballot Bulletin: Strength in Decentralization
The latest topic of LWVWI’s Ballot Bulletin, a series highlighting election security, is about Wisconsin’s decentralized election administration, which spreads the decision-making power of our elections throughout the state.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) is the state agency responsible for election oversight. WEC supports local clerks by providing non-binding guidance and training, but elections are administered at the local level by about 1,850 municipal clerks. This system is different than in most other states. This decentralized model allows local election officials to tailor their election procedures to their community's specific needs, promoting efficiency and adaptability. Decentralization also acts as a defense against potential threats or interference in our elections and enhances transparency and accountability.
Read and share the Ballot Bulletin series.
Ballot Bulletins (clickable links):
|  | | The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County and the Whitefish Bay Public Library will co-host a Community Conversation on
Freedom to Read: How Librarians Fight Back Against Book Challenges and How the Law Protects Them.
Whitefish Bay Public Library
5420 N Marlborough Dr.
5:30-6pm socializing/light refreshments | 6-8pm program
In person registration limited to 80
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Inspiration
This mural by renowned artist Shepard Fairey, is located on Milwaukee Street, just south of Kilbourn Street on the west side of the street. | LWVMC’s 5th annual coffee sale is on! | | Start your day with a cup of delicious Colectivo coffee or cocoa from the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County. You can even enjoy your beverage from an LWV mug featuring Lady Liberty!
Your purchase of LWVMC's custom-labeled coffee and cocoa supports its work and mission to empower voters and defend democracy. Buy now for yourself and for holiday gifts for friends and family.
Find out more about the selections and order RIGHT HERE.
AAAH, COFFEE!!! |
Help LWVMC Social Media
Join our Social Media team as a "re-poster." This involves simply monitoring and re-posting content from several partner organizations on LWVMC's Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook pages. Social Media team members are ready and willing to train you. Interested? Contact p.creer@lwvmilwaukee.org for more information.
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The Results are In!
Thank you to those who responded to the survey on VOTE411.org. While the results are not statistically significant given the small number of responses, they are interesting. We asked three questions:
1. How often do you use VOTE411.org before an election?
2. Did you contact your local candidate(s) if they did not answer the questions posed by our League and encourage them to respond?
3. Would you consider being more engaged with helping our League make VOTE411.org a bigger success?
In response to the first question, 40% use VOTE411.org often while 20% have never used it. Eighty percent (80%) have not contacted local candidates encouraging them to respond to our questions while 80% of respondents would be willing to be more engaged helping to make VOTE411.org a bigger success.
Reach out to the VOTE411.org team at voterguide@lwvmilwaukee.org with your ideas for engagement!!! Thanks again!!
Still needed:
If you are tech savvy and want to be more engaged, we continue to recruit for another tech position on the VOTE411 team. Please consider taking this on!! See the Volunteer page of the website for more information on this volunteer position in the Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities section.
Questions? Please contact Sarajane Kennedy at voterguide@lwvmilwaukeee.org
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Out in the Community
The Comité por el Voto Latino team was recently out at voter services events in the community reaching out to young people and by association their parents about the importance of voting. We have designed and incorporated age specific coloring pages and the use of a spinning wheel to attract young people to our table. The student spins the wheel and they are given a question to test their knowledge about voting. Participation results in a small gift.
Mitchell Street School
My thanks to Caren Cazares, Ms. Malacara, Principal and all the Team at Mitchell Street School for a peppy, enthusiastic and fun event. We talked with 45 parents and many children (estimating 120). We answered voter requirement questions from four people. Parents gratefully took the election dates flier and kids were excited about our new coloring page and future voter stickers. Our location helped the traffic. We were right across from the face painters!
Zablocki School
Our newest spin wheel came just in time for this event. It was very popular with the children and allowed us time to talk with their parents about the upcoming elections. We engaged with about 75 children and their parents. Our thanks to Ludys and the Zablocki School staff for inviting us to this event. Adelante!
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Are you interested in meeting with others who have a disability or who care for someone with a disability? Do you have concerns that affect the disabled community such as housing, financial rights and protections, voting rights, protective care, education, health care, and others?
Join us to put a voice to your concerns, provide mutual support, and discuss potential advocacy.
Tuesday September 26th, 2023
Summit Place, 6737 W. Washington St, West Allis
Conference Room 2212
1:00pm-3:00pm
No registration is required but if you would like more information, or just to make us aware of your attendance, please contact:
Laura Priebe at l.priebe@lwvmilwaukee.org.
| NEXT MEETING:
Friday, Sept. 22 - 10 am
Community Room, East Branch of the Milwaukee Public Library
Our September meeting will be a general discussion. Please - come one, come all! We will also decide together on our October book selection. | | | Please join us!
September 20th at 6 pm
The Natural Resources Committee will conclude its summer social meetings with a meeting September 20th at 6pm at the Petrifying Springs Biergarten in Kenosha. The biergarten is located at 5555 7th Street in Kenosha. See: https://www.petsbiergartenmenu.com/ .
This meeting is hosted by Joe Dubaniewicz and Ruth Shank.
Committee members and nonmembers and their guests are welcome! One does not need to be a member of the League or of the committee to attend.
An agenda will be sent out to committee members and anyone else who contacts Co-chair Ann Batiza at annwisc@gmail.com or 414-238-3903. |  |
2023 Cultures & Communities Festival Preview Night Party
Thursday, September 14th
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., program starts at 6:30 p.m.
Oriental Theatre, 2230 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee.
Join Milwaukee Film at The Oriental Theatre on Thurs. 9/14 at 6:00 PM for a Cultures & Communities Festival Preview Party. FREE soda and popcorn, along with a preview of the films, events, and special guests coming to the Festival.
The Cultures & Communities Festival, scheduled for October 5th - 12th, is an eight-day convergence of groundbreaking films, distinguished speakers, and public forums designed to amplify diverse cultural expressions and celebrate community, convening multicultural, intergenerational audiences across southeastern Wisconsin through engaging events and compelling public conversations. It offers a wide range of artistic and cultural experiences that promote collective expressions of joy, and provides access to curated social spaces and platforms that support inclusive artistic and cultural creativity. More info here.
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Amazing Faith Dinner Dialogue on September 27
September 27, 6-8 p.m.
Habitat for Humanity of Milwaukee
3726 N Booth St., Milwaukee, WI
Free, Register Here
People of all faiths and no faith, all spiritualities and theologies gather in small groups to share a meal and participate in a moderated discussion using a proven model, evoking deep exchanges about lived experiences and the role of faith and/or spirituality in their lives. Through exploration and dialogue, participants learn about the beliefs and traditions of others within an atmosphere of respect and understanding, and are empowered to stand as witnesses for tolerance and inclusion. You are invited to join the dialogue. Sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee. More information here. | League of Women Voters Milwaukee County | 6737 W Washington St, Milwaukee, WI | 414-273-8683 | Support Democracy. Support your League.
Your support is critical to help our nonpartisan grassroots organization reach voters and play a critical role in democracy. It would not be possible to empower voters and defend democracy without your support.
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