Annual Meeting Registration CLOSES TODAY

Join us as we celebrate the past year and look forward to the future with a fabulous lunch, keynote speaker TR Edwards, staff council for Law Forward, who will talk about "Current Issues in Election Administration: Threats and Strategies", updates from local League leaders, and member voting, along with a chance to go home with fun prizes from our silent auction!

Like to greet people? Like to tidy up?

The Third Annual Silent Auction will take place during the Annual Meeting on the afternoon of Saturday, June 6. 

We are grateful for the many generous donations already received. If you are contributing an item, please be sure it is delivered to your selected drop-off location by this Saturday, May 30.  Kindly call ahead before dropping off your donation.

Most importantly, be sure to register for the Annual Meeting and plan time to browse, bid on, and enjoy the many wonderful auction items and experiences available.

If you have any questions, please email Lorna Grade at l.grade@lwvmilwaukee.org.  

AMERICA 250 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

 You are invited to attend a guided community discussion after viewing a segment from The American Revolution, a new Ken Burns PBS series. LWVOzWa members are co-facilitating the discussion. All are welcome. 

June 1, 2026, 6:30 - 7:30 PM 

Registration is required. Call or visit the library to register.

West Bend Community Library

630 Poplar St.

West Bend, WI  

262-335-5151 

June 10th 1:00pm Walk & Roll at the Vision Zero Summit with Dr. Karen Lemke: This Walk & Roll is part of the all-day Vision Zero Summit to promote safe streets for pedestrians, bikes and buses. Learn about “Native Milwaukee Lands”.

What will you do for the 2027 elections to protect our Democracy?

Consider volunteering with VOTE411. We need: 

1.   Community volunteers to gather candidate information for our 2027 Spring Voter Guide from your municipal clerk and/or school district. 

2.   Marketing professionals to research and arrange for advertising VOTE411 to increase its use in the community.  This can include print and digital, radio and TV, billboards, and flyers posted throughout the community.    

3.   Outreach volunteers to contact candidates who haven’t completed the voter guide questions.  These volunteers also find League members to contact the candidates in their voting district who haven’t responded to the invitation for the voter guide.

4.   League members with strong critical thinking skills to join the Questions Committee to create the questions posed to the candidates. 

Please contact Mary Voelker or Beth Lueck at voterguide@lwvmilwaukee.org   

Why Do I Work With Our LWV Reproductive Rights Committee?

By Pat McFarland

Women in Wisconsin and in our country are seriously hurt by abortion bans. This motivated me to use my storytelling to resist. Free and Just and Friends of Planned Parenthood will sponsor me again on Dobbs Day, June 24, to advocate for women in Washington DC.  Again, I will share my story with legislators, speaking for the women who did not survive their unsafe abortions.

My dangerous experience happened on April 1, 1970 in Mexico City. This clinic had no wait time, which allowed me the earliest chance to end a pregnancy after I discovered that my birth control had failed. I couldn’t stop bleeding after their botched procedure, was given 12 shots and then sent back to UW-Madison health care center. I am relieved that I could still have children and enjoy 5 grandchildren. 

Too many people have been hurt, and abortion bans continue to affect women’s health. Consider working with our Reproductive Rights team. Contact committee co-chair Gail Sklodowska at g.sklodowska@lwvmilwaukee.org.

Celebrate Pride Month with the League of Women Voters!

June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, honor the history of the movement for equality, and recommit ourselves to protecting civil rights, inclusion, and democracy for all.

VOLUNTEER AT PRIDEFEST — JUNE 4–6

The League of Women Voters Milwaukee County will host a booth at PrideFest at the Summerfest Grounds, and we need volunteers to help:

• Welcome and engage festival attendees
• Share voter education resources
• Promote civic participation
• Highlight the League’s mission and work 

Volunteer Sign Up

MARCH WITH THE LEAGUE IN THE MILWAUKEE PRIDE PARADE!

Join us as we march together in celebration of inclusion, equality, and democracy for all.

Everyone is welcome to walk with the League of Women Voters Milwaukee County!

PARADE DETAILS

Sunday, June 7, Parade Begins: 2:00 PM, Meet-Up Time: 1:00 PM

Meet-Up Location: 2nd Street & Scott Street
Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point Neighborhood

Bring your energy, your pride, and your commitment to civic participation as we celebrate together!

Parade Sign Up

Pride is a celebration — but it is also a reminder that democracy works best when every voice is heard, every person is respected, and every community is empowered to participate.

To stay informed about legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community and track advocacy efforts, visit Fair Wisconsin’s Bills to Watch page:
fairwisconsin.com/bills-to-watch

To identify and contact your state legislators and relevant committee members, use MyVote Wisconsin: myvote.wi.gov

Speaking up matters.

LGBTQ+ ... All Letters Matter!

The Speakers Bureau will need more speakers as we get close to election season. Is this a volunteer experience that might be for you? Do you have experience as a teacher? Have you spoken informally to small groups? Do you enjoy sharing information in front of a group? You can make a real difference as a speaker in our community.     

Please complete the Speaker Interest form or contact Heather Godley at SpeakersBureau@lwvmilwaukee.org for more information.         

The New York Times

Are We Losing our Democracy?

The New York Times Editorial Board published the index in the link below, initially in October and subsequently on May 13, of how democracy has eroded since the current administration took office. The index includes 12 different markers such as stifling dissent and speech, persecuting political opponents, bypassing the legislature. Here is the article from May 13:  Democracy Index

Don’t Speak Spanish?  You Can Still Help Immigrants

Court Accompaniment Training

Saturday, May 30, 10am-Noon

Voces de la Frontera Office, 733 W. Mitchell St.

Court Accompaniment means that a trained volunteer accompanies an immigrant to court. It’s an opportunity to witness and stand in solidarity with immigrants in a cruel and racist system that is more broadly attacking our civil rights and democracy.

Court accompaniment does not require Spanish. When you sign up, you will be notified of an appointment. You respond if you want to do that date in court. You meet at the Voces de la Frontera office, where you are given detailed instructions. You are only accompanying, you are not defending, speaking out, etc. Different courts or judges decide if you are allowed to enter with the client.  

To register for training, call Deisy Espana at 414.324.2449.

History Shows Us that Protests Matter

Why do protests matter?

Visible resistance is essential so the government and its supporters see the number of citizens who don’t agree with their actions. Nonviolent visible protest activity encourages those sitting on the sidelines to join in. Here is the link to the listing of ongoing weekly protests: Protest Rallies

No More Corruption Protest

Sunday, June 14 from 1:30 - 3:00

321 Wisconsin Ave. (sidewalk in front of Cutler Park / Library) Waukesha

Two Opportunities from Brookfield Resist!

United Against the Administration…and Their Enablers

Street Demonstration

Saturday, May 30, 10:30-Noon

Sign up for Exact Location

This administration abuses presidential power and, if left in office, will continue to promote and incite violence, engender hate, destroy alliances, and undermine our democracy.

Join us on the streets to proclaim to all who pass by that we will never stop resisting this administration, its regime, and its authoritarian takeover of our government until they're all out of office. To learn more and sign up click HERE .

Bridge Demonstration

Saturday, June 13, 10:00-2:00 (Signup for 1 hour or more time slots)

I 94 & Barker Road

Town of Brookfield

We are expecting high traffic flow - more that 12,000 views in 4 hours.

The event depends heavily on the number of sign ups. Please invite your friends to join you.

The registration form will give you an opportunity to vote for our next theme.

Set It and Forget It

Is Your Member Profile Up-to-Date?

The Member Portal of our website has resources (including a member directory) just for members. Please login to the website, click Member Resources in the top menu, go to your Member Profile and complete/update your Additional Member Data and Interests (found under Website Functions). Contact roster@lwvmilwaukee.org with questions. Thank you!