FUND DEVELOPMENT - MONEY MATTERS

Thank You!

The LWVMC Board of Directors extends a huge thank you to all members and non-member donors who donated to the 2024 Spring Appeal in response to Nancy Maloney’s request in early May.  We raised $7,000 toward our $10,000 goal. 

 Here is how your donation will help us as we head into programming for the new fiscal year and the 2024 primary and general elections this fall. 

 Some of the ways your donations are used include:

·   Technology and software (Club Express, QuickBooks) costs

·   Paper, postage, mailing and printing costs

·   Rent, utilities, salary for part-time administrative staff, and other overhead costs. 

·   Posters, flyers, bookmarks, buttons, and other voter registration and GOTV materials

·   Social media ads to boost our reach

·   VOTE411.org

·   Tablets and hotspots for voter registration events

·   Meeting and outreach materials for Advocacy committees

 Your gifts, large and small, are always appreciated and help us carry out our work to empower voters and defend democracy. 

Fall Primary Election VOTE411.org Voter Guide is published

The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County launched its VOTE411.org  Voter Guide for the August 13 Primary Election.  We can find information about races for US Congress, US Senate, Wisconsin Senate, Wisconsin Assembly, District Attorney and constitutional amendment questions. In Milwaukee and Waukesha there are local races for the County Treasurer. 

On VOTE411, voters can learn more about the responsibilities of these offices and each candidate's values. Election administrators are already sending out absentee ballots and early voting begins later this month. Voting is the best way to improve your community. Nearly 25.4 million voters have found the information they needed thanks to VOTE411, many of whom are youth and first-time voters.  Voting should be fun and simple. VOTE411 gives voters the invaluable, nonpartisan information they need all in one place. So head on over and get out to vote on August 13!

Click here to go to VOTE411.org.

Help Recruit Poll Workers

Please spread the word about the need for poll workers – our election heroes! The toolkit below has material you can use to send information to your friends, neighborhood businesses, churches, health clubs – wherever civic-minded citizens hang out.

LWVWI 2024-25 Poll Worker Recruitment Toolkit

Vote NO: August 13 Federal Funds Constitutional Amendment Questions

The questions on voters’ ballots  

Question 1: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?”

Read more about what this question means  Ballotpedia Question 1

Question 2: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”

Read more about what this question means  Ballotpedia Question 2

What does a “Yes” or a “No” vote mean?

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to require legislative approval from both the senate and assembly before the governor can expend federal money appropriated to the state.

A "no" vote opposes this amendment, thereby allowing the governor to accept and allocate federal funds without seeking an approval vote from the state legislature.

Stance: The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin opposes these constitutional amendment questions and urges voters to VOTE NO on both questions.

And here’s a toolkit with more information about the amendments, social media posts and other deep dive information about these issues.

NO to Amendments Toolkit

SCOW Restores Ballot Drop Boxes

The ruling overturned a July 2022 decision from the court’s then-conservative majority that held ballot drop boxes were illegal in Wisconsin. Conservative justices in their 4-3 ruling at the time said state law did not permit drop boxes anywhere other than election clerk offices. . . Despite heavy scrutiny from Republicans, drop boxes were used widely in Wisconsin, including in conservative areas. In spring 2021, there were about 570 drop boxes in Wisconsin, according to court filings. Out of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, at least 66 had drop boxes as of spring 2021, PolitiFact Wisconsin noted.

Join This Event to Promote the

John Lewis Voting Rights Act

In honor of John Lewis on the third anniversary of his death the NAACP is sponsoring a meal, with the League providing voter registration and information services, in celebration of this civil rights icon while advocating for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

Following the meal, those who wish to will march to the Haymarket Square Free Speech Zone during the RNC where the NAACP, League and other partners will speak about John Lewis' legacy and the Act. 

Anyone can march with the group from the meal site 2375 N. Vel Phillips Dr. to the Free Speech Zone in Haymarket Square Park 1253 Old World 3rd Street created by the closure of MLK and Vel R. Phillips between McKinley Avenue and Vliet Street.

Event Information

Event:  John Lewis Voting Rights Act Meal and Voter Registration

Please sign up here if you can provide voter registration services: John Lewis Event

Community Partner:  NAACP, Souls to the Polls, and other organizations

Date:  July 17, 2024         

Meal Time  10:00AM to 3:00PM

Location:  Lot next to Pete's Fruit Market, 2375 N. Vel Phillips Dr.

March begins at 3:10PM at Pete’s Fruit Market, 2370 N Vel Phillips Dr. 

Speeches in the free speech zone are scheduled to begin @ 4:00PM

Coffee for Our Cause

It is the Coffee story to remember.  Long time League member Kathy Ulbricht wrote to Mary Sussman saying that her daughter has a coffee company and is interested in being a part of the League’s coffee fundraiser.  Her story, business model, and the taste of her coffee convinced us and LWVMC will be working with East View Coffee Company for this important fundraiser.  East View was founded and is owned by Jenny Ulbricht.  East View’s story is aligned with our values on gender equality, environmental action, and social justice, and these values are woven into everything they do.  Jenny roasts and sells coffee to cafes, grocery stores, online across the US, and to people who visit their tasting room. The tasting room is tip free – all eight of her employees are paid more than a living wage.

 East View partners with women-owned coffee farms, championing quality and providing opportunities for growth.  With smart packaging and carbon-neutral shipping, East View ensures that our love for coffee doesn’t come at the expense of our planet.   

Watch the weekly Update for new details as they become available.  Check out last week’s Update article here for some of the early details on the new process.  Please email Mary Voelker at m.voelker@lwvmilwaukee.org with questions, suggestions and/or offers to help!!

Suffs: the Musical!

Accessing Members-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, click on the button below.  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