 |  |  | Gov. Evers Signs Fair Maps Legislation
With pro-democracy leaders, fair maps activists and state legislators looking on, Gov. Evers signed fair maps - the maps he submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court last month - into law on Feb. 19. These maps will be in place for the 2024 elections and give Wisconsin voters a real shot at electing an accountable, representative, and balanced legislature for the first time since the extreme partisan gerrymander was imposed in 2011.
As the Governor stated at the press conference before the signing, "Folks, it's a new day in Wisconsin...few have been as consequential as this one."
The Fair Maps Coalition (including the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin) urges members to celebrate this victory – and then begin the work of educating voters about their new districts. After the November election, the focus will be on getting legislation passed that will create an independent, nonpartisan redistricting process for Wisconsin.
Please send a thank-you email to Gov, Evers. |  |  | Latinx Voter Outreach Gets Local TV Coverage
LWVMC's Comité por el voto Latino/Latinx voter outreach team organized member volunteers to promote voting to shoppers at El Rey. The segment aired on Fox6 news on February 19. Many thanks to members Esperanza Gutierrez, Maria Torres, Diane Steigerwald, Maria Avila and team lead Eloisa Gomez for this successful event!
CLICK ON THE VIDEO IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW THE VIDEO ON THE FOX6 SITE. | No Shortcuts On The Proposed Line 5 Pipeline Reroute In Wisconsin
Local Leagues have been hard at work advocating for Wisconsinites and our natural resources against the dangers of the aging Enbridge Line 5 pipeline. The Sierra Club is offering another action for individuals: signing their petition to ask the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a full review of Enbridge Line 5's proposed reroute. Learn more about Sierra Club's concerns over the reroute, and sign the petition as a private individual with stakes in the protection of our beautiful state:
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PFAS: The Everyday, Everywhere Toxin
Mar 12, 2024 06:30 PM (Virtual)
News about PFAS is infiltrating our lives and – appropriately for "forever chemicals" – isn't going away. Contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, has been found in sites all over Wisconsin, stemming from any number of the many ways these substances are used.
To arm yourself for the fight to clean our waters and protect the health of Wisconsinites, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin invites you to join us in the first of two virtual webinars that delve into how PFAS get into our bodies, how to protect ourselves, and what is happening at the state and federal level to mitigate this issue.
REGISTER HERE
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Beth Neary, Co-President of Wisconsin Environmental Health Network
Meleesa Johnson, Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Green Fire | LWV Yard Signs and Bumper Magnets Available!
We are offering yard signs again this year. We have two kinds of signs:
- Vote From Home
- VOTE/VOTA (Vote on one side and Vota on the other)
Yard signs (18" x 24") are available on a first come first served basis. We also have metal stands. | | Bumper magnets pictured below. If you'd like any of these items,
please complete THIS FORM. We will contact you. | |
Sooner than you think!! Primary elections were held on Tuesday in many communities around the Metro Milwaukee area. Now we look forward to the April elections! Will you be ready?
· Do you know your polling place?
· Do you know what is on your ballot?
· Have you researched the candidates?
VOTE411.org is a one stop shop to find the answers to those questions. LWVMC invited all candidates to participate in the Voter Guide by answering questions of interest to their constituents. Answers to the League’s questions are published verbatim so voters see the candidate answers in their own words. We do not edit the responses.
Let’s spread the word about this great voting tool!!
You can help by writing emails about VOTE411.org to friends, neighbors, relatives, and colleagues prior the election. Follow this link for a sample script for your email. |  |
Proposed Constitutional Amendment?
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 - 6:00pm to 7:15pm
The proposed constitutional amendment on the April 2 ballot puts our elections at risk. Join us on Tuesday, February 27 at 6 p.m. to learn about the constitutional amendment questions that will be on your ballot on April 2 and why you should VOTE NO. Elections need to be fully funded. Speakers will discuss the constitutional amendments in Wisconsin and what we can expect next.
Learn more about our speakers below:
Joan Schwarz is a member of the Dane County LWV, a retired civil law attorney and University Academic in Literature and Women’s Studies.
Michael Haas is the Madison City Attorney. He worked as a staff counsel and elections division administrator at the Government Accountability Board before becoming the interim administrator at the Wisconsin Elections Commission in 2016.
Read about Question 1 and register here. |  | Ballot Bulletin: Early and Absentee Voting in Wisconsin
One thing that Republicans and Democrats in Wisconsin can agree on is that voters should have options to vote - including early and absentee voting.
Early voting (also called in person absentee voting) begins two weeks before Election Day. While each municipality sets their own hours for early voting to meet the needs of their communities, every municipality offers some form of early voting. Find your local early voting opportunities.
Absentee ballots are sent 21 days before Spring Elections (Feb 20 and April 2 this year) and 47 days before Fall Elections (Aug 13 and Nov 5 this year) to voters with absentee ballot requests on file. Make an absentee ballot request on-line.
Our election officials diligently follow many steps to ensure early voting and absentee voting in Wisconsin is secure, making these viable options for voters in our state. Learn more about the steps they follow here. |  | | The Elections Research Center is partnering with the State Democracy Research Initiative to host the Election Matters 2024 event series, bringing together various experts to dissect the most important issues and ongoing developments in all things elections-related.
NEXT EVENT: Current Challenges to Election Administration
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Join us for an inspiring event on International Women's Day, where women from all walks of life will come together to focus on the critical issue of pay equity and inclusion. This symposium, a collaborative effort by leading women's organizations, including LWVMC, aims to empower women with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for themselves and others in the pursuit of fair and equitable compensation.
Keynote speaker Emilie Aries, author of "Negotiate Like a Boss", will share her insights on negotiation strategies and effective ways to address pay disparity challenges. Attendees will engage in hands-on workshops to gain practical tools and skills. Other speakers will address the importance of civic engagement in advocating for a more just society. The afternoon ends with a lively Happy Hour at St. Kate's (across from the Marcus Center).
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, this event is designed to empower women at all stages to take control of their financial futures.
|  | | Prepare yourself to help people register to vote! Learn how to register people to vote using MyVote.wi.gov. Learn what is acceptable photo ID for voting in Wisconsin and how to acquire it. Registration required.
March 18 Monday | 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Milwaukee Zen Center
2825 N Stowell Ave, Milwaukee
Questions regarding this announcement? Please email e.aelion@lwvmilwaukee.org
| FUND DEVELOPMENT
Can you share contact information?
Join us in 2024 as we expand our outreach for sharing GOTV information to non-members and to businesses and corporations. We ask for your:
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Contacts at businesses and corporations where you work as well as any Board affiliations.
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Contacts at businesses you engage with, e.g. your bank, coffee shop, grocery store, restaurants, etc.
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Contacts at the professional organizations you belong to.
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Contacts at a local Chamber of Commerce.
As a cultivation strategy, we expect that those organizations who see the value in our work will consider supporting LWVMC.
Please email the contact information and name of the organization to Mary Voelker at m.voelker@lwvmilwaukee.org.
Thank you!!
* * * | Committee Meeting
Please join us on Monday, March 4 at 2:00 p.m. for the Fund Development Committee meeting.
The Committee focuses on strategies for cultivation and stewardship. After potential donors (prospects) are identified, cultivation strategies generate interest in the organization, show prospects what the organization is about, and build relationships with potential donors. Stewardship strategies thank donors, let them know their gift made a difference, and maintain relationships with donors.
The meeting will be via Zoom and all LWVMC members are welcome. The links to Zoom and the agenda will be in next week’s Update. Or email Mary Voelker at m.voelker@lwvmilwaukee.org | Rave Reviews for
What the Constitution Means to Me"
The Milwaukee Repertory theater recently added a week of performances to the play's run through March 17. Tickets are still available. See it - help support LWVMC. The play has received rave reviews from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Shepherd Express. |
Volunteer to Help
with High School
Voter Registration | | | We are looking for volunteers to help us register and welcome high school students as new voters. Join us and work alongside student helpers to facilitate student voter registration and distribution of voter information.
Volunteer sign-up for high school registrations differs from volunteer sign-ups for other events. All high school volunteers are required to take the online high school training (Voter Registration in Milwaukee and Waukesha Area High Schools2.pdf). At the end of the training, there is a place to join our call list. Once on the call list, you will receive notices about upcoming registrations and how to sign up for them.
If you have taken the high school training, watch for emails about new registration events. Questions? Contact Judy Winn (j.winn@lwvmilwaukee.org | Election Observers Needed on April 2
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin (LWVWI) is recruiting volunteers across the state to observe the Spring Election on April 2. Election observers help ensure a fair election by watching for signs of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation, and by monitoring the way Wisconsin's election laws and procedures are being applied. Even if you only have a couple hours to spare on Election Day, you can still sign up to be an election observer. Learn more and sign up to volunteer today!
Volunteers will receive online training, a reporting form, a polling place assignment with flexible shifts, and an Election Day hotline number for questions or for reporting a problem. Questions? Contact LWVWI Voter Education Manager Eileen Newcomer at enewcomer@lwvwi.org or at (608)256-0827. Please share this opportunity with anyone who might be willing to be part of this vital program. |  | Growing Resistance: Untold Stories of Milwaukee’s Community Guardians
Brooks Stevens Gallery at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
273 E. Erie St., Milwaukee, M-Sat 10-5
Now through March 2
Growing Resistance: Untold Stories of Milwaukee’s Community Guardians showcases everyday voices of resistance and resilience around environmental injustice from some of Milwaukee’s most historically underrepresented neighborhoods.
Check out the WUWM broadcast to learn more about the exhibit. | Speaking Truth to the Myths We Live by
Tuesdays in March: March 5, 12, 19 & 26, 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Register Here for Virtual or In-Person attendance
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, 1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
Sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee |
We've Got to Try: Beto O'Rourke at Milwaukee Public Library
Friday, Feb 23, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. | Centennial Hall, 733 N 8th St. | |
Join Beto O'Rourke for a candid talk about protecting our sacred right to vote and what it will take to save our democracy at this critical moment of truth in connection with his new book: "We’ve Got to Try: How the Fight for Voting Rights Makes Everything Else Possible". As a former Texas congressman and founder of the voting rights and voter registration organization Powered By People, Beto is uniquely qualified to explain both the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead as we approach the most consequential elections of our time. Free. Register here.
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Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue
February 28, 6-8 p.m.
Congregation Shalom, 7630 N Santa Monica Blvd, Milwaukee
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. | The History of Black Milwaukee presented by John Gurda
There have been Black Milwaukeeans for as long as there’s been a Milwaukee. African Americans were here when the future metropolis was just a fur-trading post, and they grew with the city during its rise as a hotbed of abolitionist activity, an industrial powerhouse, and a haven for immigrants. The Milwaukee Public Library hosts John Gurda, a Milwaukee-born writer and historian, for a talk on the history of Black Milwaukee.
Saturday, March 2, 3:30-5 p.m.
Washington Park Branch | Accessing Member-Only Website Portal
The LWVMC website has information and resources that are available only to LWVMC members. To access the membership directory or members-only resources and volunteer opportunities, log in by following these instructions. Contact Mary Ellen Spicuzza at me.spicuzza@lwvmilwaukee.org with any questions. | Support Local Democracy. Support Your League.
Your support is critical to help our nonpartisan grassroots organization reach voters play a critical role in democracy. It would not be possible to empower voters and defend democracy without your support.
Thank you! LWVMC
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