Aug 24th Forum Helps Homeowners Earn Green Rebates
Join the League of Women Voters Climate Action Group for "Maximize Your Home's Potential: Leveraging IRA Benefits for a Greener Wisconsin," an event to help homeowners take full advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to save money and fight climate change.
Learn how to access up to $10,000 in rebates for home upgrades, including insulation, efficient heating systems, electric appliances, solar panels, and more, through programs like the Home Efficiency Rebate Program (HOMES) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program (HEAR). We'll provide essential tools and guides, like the IRA Incentive Calculator, to help you plan and execute your home improvements effectively. The event will conclude with a collaborative discussion on sharing this valuable information within our communities, ensuring everyone can contribute to a sustainable future. Register here. |
|
|
|
Dear League Members,
With the 2024 Election season upon us, LWVUS is offering a series of timely and informative webinars to help League members prepare for our heaviest season of election work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The series will include the following sessions:
- Election 2024: Action Calendar| Thursday, Aug. 15, 5pm
- Election 2024: In-Person Registration & GOTV Events| Thursday, Aug. 22, 5pm
- Election 2024: Media & Rapid Response Messaging| Tuesday, Aug. 27, 1pm
- Election 2024: Social Media & Branding| Thursday, Sept. 5, 1pm
- Election 2024: Issues with Debates & Candidate Forums| Thursday, Sept. 12, 1pm
- Election 2024: Direct Voter Contact| Thursday, Sept. 19, 5pm
- Election 2024: Preparing for Post-Election| Thursday, Oct. 3, 1pm
- Election 2024: Bystander Training & Voter Intimidation| Thursday, Oct. 10, 1pm
All League members are invited to attend these webinars live or watch the recordings. Slides and resource links will be made available following each webinar at lwv.org/2024ElectionWebinars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|  |
What is your plan for voting in the August 13 primary election?
Steps in a good plan:
1. Check your Registration and/or Register to Vote
2. Learn about your Early Voting Options
3. Explore your Day-Of Voting Options
4. Research Candidates and Ballot Measures: Learn where candidates running for office in your area stand on the issues. Check out Vote411.org, the League’s online voter guide. You can hear directly from the candidates before you cast your vote. 5. Share your Plan: Tell your friends and family about your plan and encourage them to make their own.
Then, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard! |
Circuit Court Ruling Protects Access to Absentee Voting
On July 29, the Defendants, including League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and Disability Rights Wisconsin, won the Oldenburg v. Wisconsin Elections Commission case in circuit court. They were represented by Law Forward. The Law Forward announcement stated that the case "sought to derail this secure, practical, and effective system by creating unneeded, burdensome, and unwarranted new requirements for those voters and others."
Thomas Oldenburg challenged the Wisconsin Elections Commission on the handling of absentee ballots requested via the MyVote website. He claimed these ballots need a duplicate request with the voter's original signature and sought to invalidate newly approved absentee ballot envelopes, alleging they violate state election laws and could lead to voter fraud.
Commenting on the ruling, Debra Cronmiller, LWVWI Executive Director, said, “Voters should feel confident in turning their absentee ballot." Read the full news release here. |  | Spread the Word!
Overview
Wisconsin voters will be asked two questions to amend (change) the constitution on their August ballot. These potential changes will impact both the process for distributing federal money, and who has the power to make those decisions. These large sweeping changes will impact a wide range of issues voters care about, from education to the environment to how quickly the government can respond to emergencies (like a public health crisis or a natural disaster).
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin knows that if these amendments are passed they will be harmful to the people of our state. We urge voters to VOTE NO on both questions.
Voters must be prepared to answer these questions in the August 13, 2024 election.
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
|
Participate in Wisconsin’s Civic Health Challenge!
Complete a challenge, build a habit, connect with others, and enter to win!
August is Civic Health Month! The nonpartisan Civic Health of Wisconsin Initiative is coordinating Wisconsin’s 2024 Civic Health Challenge, which is designed to help us become active contributors to the civic health of our communities. Daily challenges will focus on 4 themes: social connection, community connection, voting, and political engagement.
Sign up in one of two ways:
– Join us on Goosechase. Download the Goosechase app on your device and enter this join code: 8J5VP3. You will receive daily challenges through this online platform.
– Participate via email. Sign up using our online form. You will receive a daily email with the month’s challenges.
Whichever way you choose, you will receive a daily challenge representing a civic health habit you can implement in your life. At the end of the month, complete an evaluation and document the challenges you completed for a chance to win a gift certificate. Read more about the Civic Health Challenge here.
|  |
'Tis the season…
LWVUS Protest Safety Guidance
If you plan to participate in a political rally or protest march, know your rights and how to stay safe. If you decide to pull out your cell phone to record events, keep in mind that you have a 1st Amendment right to record law enforcement in public spaces, but only as long as you don't interfere -- and the police make that call.
Read more advice from the national League here. |
Disability Voting Rights Week: Sept. 9-13
Mark your calendar: Disability Voting Rights Week is a crucial initiative focused on building power within the disability community by ensuring people with disabilities are registered and ready to vote. People with disabilities are a significant voting bloc, and are a part of all political parties and demographics. Systemic barriers and voter suppression continue to prevent many disabled voters from accessing the ballot, and DVRW is also about continuing to fight to improve election accessibility and raise the visibility of our community as an important voting bloc. To volunteer for an event and learn more about empowering the disability vote, visit here. |  | Coffee for Our Cause, our League’s major fundraiser, has a new look!
We need 24 more dedicated League members to join the sales team.
We have a goal of recruiting 45 LWVMC members to sell coffee. We have 21 volunteers to date, so we need 24 more.
Our new vendor is East View Coffee Company, owned and founded by Jenny Ulbricht, daughter of long-time League member Kathy Ulbricht.
Kathy Ulbrecht and Mary Voelker are co-chairing this year’s sale.
The sales process will be entirely online. Sales team members are asked to sell/buy at least 9 bags of coffee. Jenny will describe each of the coffees and their origins at a tasting event in August that she will be hosting for the entire sales team. The agenda will include training on the new sales model. Coffee orders for three or more 12 oz. bags will ship from Jenny's store for free to a single address in mainland USA.
Sign up to be a Sales Team Member here.
This is going to be fun! Please email Mary Voelker at m.voelker@lwvmilwaukee.org with your questions. Thank you!
|  | |
LEAGUE CAFE FOR AUGUST
August 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Milwaukee Public Library East Branch Community Room
2320 N Cramer St., Milwaukee, WI 53211
Our August meeting will be a discussion of Senator Bernie Sanders’ book, “It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism”. Everyone is welcome to join us whether you have had a chance to read the book or not. | | Virtual Event Aug. 13, 1 pm CT
Bridging Divides to Prevent Election Season Violence
As hateful conspiracies accelerate going into the election season, this program will address election season violence. Speakers will showcase how they are bridging divides and how you can join them. The event is sponsored by Bedrock, a violence prevention organization that works with 57 partner organizations to create an America more conducive to safety and belonging for all. Event co-sponsors include The Carter Center, Common Ground USA, Interfaith America and Urban Rural Action. More information and registration here. | 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
| You have received this message from the mailing list of League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County. If you would prefer not to receive these emails in the future, go to the opt-out page and modify your privacy settings. You can also request to be removed from our database completely. | |