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WI Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste: 2024 Report Card for Wisconsin's Infrastructure
Wisconsin has been a leader in hazardous waste minimization and management programs. The DNR Green Tier Program is a nonregulatory, voluntary program to support businesses, local governments and communities. Wisconsin generates 4.6 million tons of MSW, most of which is landfilled, and recycles more than the national average. Join ASCE-WI and LWVWI on February 6, 2025 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm to learn more about Hazardous Waste (B) & Solid Waste (B) management in Wisconsin.
REGISTER HERE
This is one webinar in a nine-part series looking at the state of all areas of infrastructure in Wisconsin. Learn about the whole series: the 2024 Report Card for Wisconsin's Infrastructure series page
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Please join us as the LWV celebrates our birthday🎁
Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 10:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Summit Place @ 6737 W Washington in West Allis
We're going to build on civic engagement and “where do we go from here?” in the spirit of "don't agonize...organize!"
|  | | Spring Primary Online Voter Guide Is Published
The 2025 Spring Primary Online Voter Guide was published last week to VOTE411.org for the February 18, 2025 primary election.
Go to www.Vote411.org and enter your address to get started. You will see the races that appear on your primary ballot and the candidates running for these offices. Candidates participate in our online voter guide by entering their campaign information and answering the League’s questions. All candidate responses to our questions are published verbatim from the candidates; we do not edit candidate responses.
Primary races in Milwaukee County:
· Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction.
· Aldermanic District 3 (City of Milwaukee)
· Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District.
Primary races in Waukesha County:
· Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction
· Hartland-Lakeside J3 School Board
· Referendum for Waterford Union High School District.
If your local candidates have not answered the League’s questions, please contact them and tell them you want to learn about where they stand on issues in our community. If you’d like to reach your candidates who haven’t answered the League’s questions and want more information about how to do that, please contact Anita Gulotta-Connelly at a.gulotta-connelly@lwvmilwaukee.org |  | |
Register for a Fun, Intergenerational GOTV Event
Thursday, February 27, 2025
12:00pm-2:00pm
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Student Union Ballroom
| Help Boost Voter Turnout with Postcards
Primary elections are low-turnout events, when typically around 20% of eligible voters will cast a ballot. You can help boost turnout by sending GOTV (get out the vote) postcards through our friends at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. If you are interested in participating, you can request postcards and addresses from them using this form. |  | | Improving Civic Health and Why It Matters
Don't miss this virtual webinar, sponsored by Wisconsin Leagues, and hosted by the LaCrosse Area League of Women Voters, with speaker Mary Beth Collins, Executive Director of the UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies!
Wednesday, February 12, 7-8:30 p.m.
This program will discuss key indicators of civic health, findings of the Second Civic Health of Wisconsin Report, and the most pressing challenges and most hopeful opportunities at hand for Wisconsin’s civic health. Participants will explore strategies for improvement of civic health locally and across Wisconsin and share about their own civic health experiences and insights.
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National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Committee
The June 2024 LWVUS Convention emphasized the direct election of the President, including the abolishment of the Electoral College by a Constitutional amendment. However, until that occurs, LWV’s first goal is to attain passage of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC).
Currently, the presidential election result turns on the votes of a handful of battleground states—Wisconsin being one of them. With the NPVIC, every vote in every state counts.
The Compact is an agreement between states to award all their electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the nationwide popular vote. The Compact will go into effect when states representing at least 270 electoral votes adopt the legislation. Currently, 17 states plus the District of Columbia, have adopted the Compact, representing 209 electoral votes. Only 61 more are needed—Wisconsin would add 10 votes if it is passed here.
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has formed a National Popular Vote Committee and is looking for League members from around the state to join their effort to work toward passage of the Compact in Wisconsin.
If you believe in one person, one vote and want to see Wisconsin join the Compact, your help is needed on the NPVIC Committee. For more information contact Lorna Grade at l.grade@lwvmilwaukee.org.
| From LWVWI:
Defending Democracy For All
We stand in solidarity with our immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities. Attacks on one of us is an attack on all of us. Wisconsin is stronger when our communities and families are brought together rather than divided. We are dedicated in our fight to empower voters and defend democracy for ALL.
What Can You Do?
Attend a Know Your Rights Training
Feb. 11 at 6:30 - ACLU Know Your Rights Virtual Training: Immigrants' Rights
Attend a Virtual Volunteer Session to support LGBTQ+ Rights
February 13 at 5:30 - Fair Wisconsin Virtual Volunteer Session
Review Know Your Rights Resources
Voces de la Frontera
ACLU Wisconsin
Review Resources to Support our LGBTQ+ Friends and Community Members
GSAFE
Human Rights Campaign
TRANSform the Vote
PFLAG
| Call For Nominations For LWVMC 2025-27 Board and Nominating Committee
Our League has just completed an amazing year where we registered 2,388 new voters and spoke to and educated nearly 11,500 people. In addition we were active on issues centered on Reproductive Rights and the Environment and Climate Change.
Our past and current Boards of Directors have built a strong and durable League that makes a significant difference in Milwaukee County and surrounding areas. Now is the time to bring your experiences and skills to the Board to carry forward the important work of the League.
Passionate about and committed to the League’s mission - Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy? Committed to a League that values diversity, equity and inclusion to build a more equitable Milwaukee County? Experienced in leadership, fundraising or non-profit governance? We need your passion and skills! The Nominations Committee invites all LWVMC members to consider running for a leadership position. Applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives are encouraged to apply.
The 2025-27 open Board positions include:
4 Officer positions: President; 1st VP Organization; 3rd VP Voter Services; Secretary.
3 at-large Directors.
All of these positions are for a two-year term beginning 7/1/2025 and ending 6/30/2027
Chair of the Nominating Committee and two additional committee members. These are non-board positions and have a one-year term of office.
The Nominating Committee is accepting Nominations now through February 28 using this very Simple form. You can nominate yourself or someone else. If you nominate someone else be sure you have their permission.
To learn more about the positions and what they entail follow this link to the job description for each position.
If you are considering any of these positions you are also encouraged to read the LWVMC nonpartisan policy If you have questions about the nominating process or various positions, don’t hesitate to email: joanne.barndt@gmail.com
|  | | Be Part of Creating an Iconic Art Installation
Members of the Milwaukee County and Ozaukee/Washington leagues visited activist artist Niki Johnson’s studio to discuss collaborative opportunities. Niki, along with other community artists, is creating a large, four-piece art installation encouraging civic engagement. The story behind this effort is fascinating, and there are plans to show this work at the LWVWI Annual Convention this June.
Niki is inviting our members to assist in creating these iconic works of art. If you can punch holes in paper, your skills are welcome. If you are experienced with an X-ACTO knife, you have advanced skills! Contact Linda Reid at lindahreid@gmail.com for more information on volunteering your time. | Follow LWVWI Actions on Legislation
A new legislative session has just begun in Wisconsin, and the LWVWI Legislative Committee has kicked into high gear using League positions to bring our voices directly to legislators.
The different legislative portfolios include: Elections/Voting Rights/Election Reform; Redistricting; Court Integrity; Taxation; Natural Resources; Children and Families; Health Care; Mental Health; Equal Rights Amendment; Reproductive Rights; Education; Housing; Corrections/Juvenile Justice; Labor Law/Civil Rights/Workforce Issues; Anti-Discrimination (LGBTQ+).
If you want to follow the League's lobbying efforts this session, sign up for legislative action emails here, or contact asoluna@lwvwi.org to get involved with the Committee and a specific portfolio.
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Feb. 18th Primary Ballot: State Superintendent of Public Instruction
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction serves as the head of Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In this role, they oversee public schools and libraries, promote ways to improve schools, and evaluate the performance of schools.
The DPI is the state agency focused on education. The agency:
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Provides guidance and technical support to public schools.
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Reviews and approves library staff, school administrator, and educator training programs and licenses
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Ensures that school districts meet their responsibilities to student with disabilities as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
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Proposes a state education budget to the governor
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Distributes funding to public schools and libraries
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Administers the Wisconsin Education Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Why does this matter?
The state superintendent of public instruction’s decisions impact: school curriculum choices, education for children with disabilities, educator quality, public library resources, and educational opportunities for students across the state. As an elected official, the state superintendent of public instruction is held accountable by voters.
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| Job Satisfaction Among Election Administrators Continues to Sink, Survey Shows
The vast majority of America’s local election administrators would not encourage their children to do the same job, and a shrinking share of them say they would be proud to tell others about their work.
The findings come from a survey conducted every Federal election year by the Elections & Voting Information Center, an academic research group. While it contains small bright spots — election administrators largely find the job personally rewarding, for example — the number willing to encourage their children to follow in their footsteps has decreased by nearly half in the past two election cycles. In 2020, 41% said they would do so. In 2024, that number dropped to 22%.
Read the full exclusive story here.
| Where Do We Go From Here?
Saturday, March 1, 2025, 2-3:30 pm
Meet and Mingle begins at 1:30 pm
Please join the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County for Post–Election Reflections: Empowering Voters, Protecting Civil Rights and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) with Karen Nelson, DEI Consultant, Nelstar Enterprises LLC.
Summit Place
6737 W. Washington Street, West Allis, WI
Use the Visitor Parking Lot and Entrance· 1st Floor Conference Room
Free and open to the public
Light refreshments will be served. RSVP Suggested But Not Required |  | LWVWI Webinars About WI Supreme Court Elections
Webinar 1:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Ethics and Money, will provide voters with all the information they need for the next Wisconsin Supreme Court Election this spring.
View Recording Here
Webinar 2: February 25 at 6:00pm
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Judging Judicial Candidates will provide voters with information about how citizens can assess candidates’ perspectives on and knowledge of the judging process of a Supreme Court justice.
Speakers include: Chad Oldfather from Marquette University Law School; Rob Yablon of the State Democracy Research Institute and Attorney Jeff Mandell of Law Forward
Register here
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Accessing Members-Only Resources on the LWVMC Website
The website contains resources for members-only. Members must be logged in to see this information.
| 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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