 Ramsey County Library co-sponsors a number of events with community organizations with some funding from the Minnesota Arts Board through the Legacy Amendment. Many presentations are videotaped but are not all on the same website – see Ramsey County Library Website, Ramsey County Library YouTube Video and NineNorth Cable. Upcoming events can be found at Ramsey County Library Events. Tuesday with a Scholar, cosponsored with Osher Life Long Leaning Institute, is a weekly program in which Twin Cities experts present a wide variety of topics. Some recommendations follow...
The Ask Series was co-sponsored by Do Good Roseville. Some recommendations from the series: Ask an Indigenous Person Ask a LGBTQIA Person Ask a Muslim Woman Part-2  The LWV Upper Mississippi River Region Inter-League Organization is a member of the Mississippi River Network (MRN), a coalition of 57 non-profits and businesses with a goal of protecting the land, water and people of the Mississippi River. MRN is dedicated in supporting their River Citizen community in being actively anti-racist and creating an inclusive, safe, and equitable Mississippi River for all. MRN’s Anti-Racism Hub , added to monthly, includes many resources related to environmental justice. Some recommendations:
Unequal Impact: The Deep Links between Racism and Climate Change – article How a climate plan in Minneapolis fostered racial divisions – article Why Every Environmentalist Should Be Anti-Racist – article Do you have an article, podcast or video you would like to share with members? Email your suggestions to lwvabc@gmail.com.
0 Comments
Helping people register to vote is a primary mission of the League of Women Voters. LWV ABC is fortunate to have two new leaders stepping forward to help us build our work in this area as we come out of pandemic-mode.
munity service, like National Honor Society and Key Club, and working with them to find ways to reach students in their schools who will be eligible to vote in the next election. Julie’s shown that this will be an effective way to reach students. By working with a student at Coon Rapids High School, she was able to identify that there would be an opportunity to register students when the graduating seniors came in to pick up their caps and gowns. In two hours they reached 54 seniors to either register on their phones using the posted QR code, or complete a paper form. This is a fantastic success! Voter Registration – Get out into the Community and help register voters! LWV-ABC has a new vice-chair for voter registration—Cindy Wetzell (under the Voter Services Committee chaired by Linda Rodgers). What follows is a preview of what volunteering for voter registration might look like going forward. Thanks to Cindy for this submission to the LWV ABC Newsletter and Blog!  Photo from Sept 2019 LWV ABC Voter Because the next national election is 18 months away, we have a terrific opportunity to build on our current voter registration outreach before the next huge voter registration push in 2022. This year, in our county, there are currently only three elections on the calendar in November—all for school board seats. However, that shouldn’t stop us from building our network of contacts now in all of the cities that we serve. Our goal is to interact with more of our citizens through community events, church programs, festivals, art fairs and even concerts. And there are likely dozens more ways we can be a presence in the community to register residents to vote.
That’s where you all come in. We need to share our ideas and our energy. Because not only do we need to find places to go to register voters, we also need to actually go and do that work—to staff a table; to hand out flyers; to help people fill-out their forms either on paper or online; to answer their questions about registering. To help you do that, we will be providing voter registration training later this month. In conjunction with the Minneapolis voter registration coordinator we have put together a training focused on our communities. That training (on Zoom) is scheduled for Saturday, June 12th from 10:30-11:45. The training is less than 90 minutes and will answer all the questions you have about voter registration. The invitation to the training was sent to your email on June 5 through Signup Genius. We are currently working to request tables at several community events that are occurring over the summer. An email with the Signup Genius link will be sent periodically as more events are available to us. If you know of a festival, an art fair, or a community celebration that might be a good opportunity for voter registration, either find out about the possibility of having a table there or forward the information to me and I can check with the organizer. Sometimes, we can staff a table with another organization such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions, or another non-profit. I just ask that you keep me in the loop (registervoteslwvabc@gmail.com) so that we can keep track of all the events we participate in. When you volunteer to staff a table we will provide you with all of the materials you will need. Usually, there are two volunteers per table. Eventually, we will have at least two (and preferably three) complete kits of materials available in different locations around the county. These kits will include voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, tablecloth, poster and easel, sanitizing tips, individually wrapped face masks, “I Will Vote” stickers, candy, pens and a 3-ring binder packed with information on voter registration. Please consider volunteering at one (or more!!) events to help register voters in our county! Remember, we will be having a voter registration training on Saturday, June 12th from 10:30-11:45. Watch your email for more information! A Conversation with Dave Durenberger and Lori Sturdevant featuring their book, "When Republicans Were Progressives" Join League of Women Voters ABC for this live, virtual conversation on Monday evening, June 14 at 6:30. The public is invited to attend by requesting a Zoom link via an email to lwvabc@gmail.com. The presenters will discuss the book they co-authored, "When Republicans Were Progressive." A planned in-person event in 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic, but participants will find the content of this virtual conversation timely, lively, and forward looking. A video recording of the event will be available later in the week at YouTube @ LWV Anoka Blaine Coon Rapids Area .We thank QCTV community television for making this live program and recording available. A Star Tribune book review commented that the book "...is a fascinating combination of Durenberger's firsthand account regarding three terms in the U.S. Senate, hundreds of anecdotes...a platform for positive change and a skimp yet alluring look into his personal life." Lori Sturdevant is a retired Star Tribune editorial writer and author of several books of Minnesota history.  Linda Rodgers was presented with Zilla Way Award at the April 12 LWV ABC Annual Meeting The Zilla Way Award was created by the LWV ABC board in 1996 to honor a local League member who has provided outstanding leadership in guiding our organization. It was named after current member, Ms. Zilla Way, for her more than 60-year participation in League and her role as LWV ABC mentor and advisor. It’s a tradition to present this award at our Annual Meeting. See photos of past recipients at this link on our website: https://my.lwv.org/minnesota/anoka-blaine-coon-rapids-area/about-us/zilla-way-award
 LWV ABC's Annual Meeting will take place on Monday, April 12. We will open the Zoom room at 6 and begin at 6:30 with a visit from Anoka County Commissioner Scott Schulte. All the documents and links you will need to participate in this meeting can be found in this blog, as well as under "Board Agendas" on the LWV ABC Member's Only page. It will be a good meeting ending promptly by 8:30. Attendance by our members is important, as this is where we will begin the process of setting our goals for the next year. See you at the Annual Meeting! LWV ABC President Gretchen Sabel 6pm Gather, sign in, social, welcome 6:30 Scott Schulte, Chair of Anoka County Board of Commissioners, remarks and discussion 7:00 President's Report – Gretchen Sabel - file follows
7:30 Treasurer Report - Wes Volkenant - file follows 7:35 Present budget for 2021-22 and vote – Geri Nelson - file follows
7:40 Membership Dues policy change and vote - Pat Kennedy Proposed Membership Dues Policy 2021 Individual Membership Dues shall be $60 per year. Additional family members residing in the same household shall pay $30 per year in dues. Dues for students enrolled either full-time or part-time in school shall be $10 per year. Flexible Membership Dues will be available to everyone to choose what they can pay, from $5 to $55. LWV ABC will supplement a Flexible Dues Membership payment in order to pay the per member payment (PMP) to LWVUS and LWVMN. The Flexible Dues Membership option will replace the previous scholarship program offered by LWV ABC. 7:45 Nominations Committee report and vote on slate - Mary Jo Truchon Nominating Committee Report Mary Jo Truchon, Chair, Submitted April 2, 2021 Candidates for Board Positions – Two year terms All incumbents have agreed to run for re-election President- Gretchen Sabel Secretary- Arlene Gillett Membership- Patricia Kennedy Candidates for Nominating Committee (Off- Board Positions- One year terms) Nominating Committee Chair- Mary Jo Truchon Nominating Committee Member- Glenda Meixell 7:50 Affirm local positions; introduce plan for local action agenda – Gretchen Sabel - file follows 
8:00 Affirm local Non-partisan policy – Geri Nelson - Click this link for Non-partisan policy 8:10 Proposed bylaws changes and vote – Pat Kennedy - See following "Summary of Changes" and "Proposed Bylaw Changes", Current bylaws are at this link.
8:20 Present Zilla Way Award to this year's outstanding local League member – Gretchen Sabel Click this link for a list of our valued past awardees 8:25 Wrap up and farewell, next steps (including State Convention in June) – Gretchen Sabel 8:30 End of meeting Full Committee Reports follow; these will be summarized by Gretchen Sabel in the President's Report.
 March is Women’s History Month and the Minnesota History Center opened both its Extraordinary Women exhibit and continues to highlight extraordinary Minnesota women in its online Votes For Women exhibit. Some history articles highlighting extraordinary Minnesota women:  LWV ABC’s April Book Club selection “Sisters in Hate” focuses on three women involved in the white nationalist movement. Some other resources related to white supremacy in the US:
Asian Enough Podcast Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong interview fellow Asian-Americans centered around the questions, "Am I Asian enough? Am I American enough?" A Conversation with Director Jon M. Chu - 2020 Code Switch Podcast Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby welcome guests to explore how issues of race and identity manifest in every corner of American culture, from music to poetry to sports. Who’s Black Enough for Reparations? – Feb 2021 Coffee with My Ma Podcast Canadian actress Kaniehtiio Horn records the stories of her mother Kahn-Tineta Horn, a 1960’s model and lifelong Mohawk rights activist - “inspiring, funny, emotional”. Episode 1 - Ma Takes On the Toronto Telegram MPR News with Angela Davis Podcast Conversations about life in Minnesota and how the state is changing. Renewed conversations about racial justice – January 18, 2021 Tamarindo Podcast Hosts Ana Sheila Victorino and Brenda Gonzalez bring a Latinx perspective to current events and culture. Reflecting on the term BIPOC, Race, and Identity – November 2020 Yo, is this Racist? Podcast Actress and musician Tawny Newsome, writer Andrew Ti, both professional comedians, and a weekly guest provide funny-yet-thoughtful responses to voicemails from people wondering whether a given situation is racist. (Note: Discussion on the nuances of racism are very informative but this podcast may not be for you if you find swearing offensive.) Anti-Mitten Twitter with Joey Clift – January 2021 Submit your recommendations for articles, blogs, video, podcasts, etc. to lwvabc@gmail.com Write: RECOMMENDATION in caps in the subject line Book and Film ClubBook and Film Club See our website calendar more information about upcoming books and film, including were to watch and the Zoom link for our discussion. Email reminders are only sent to members, but everyone is welcome to join us. March Film and Book Selections:  NOTE: March’s film selection Malcolm X is only available for free viewing by requesting a DVD from the library. April Film and Book Selections The book “Sisters in Hate” may have a short waiting list at the library so get your requests in now. The film “I am Not Your Negro” has multiple options for free streaming online.  LWV ABC holds our Annual Meeting in April of each year. Like almost everything else, our 2020 Annual Meeting was disrupted by Covid. But now, we are good at all this virtual stuff and will be Zooming our Annual Meeting in 2021. This will take place on April 12 at 6pm. The Annual Meeting is a time for LWV ABC members to review what we achieved in the preceding year, and to approve budget and officers and program for the coming year. We will also launch new initiatives in voter registration and other LWV work. And we are working on having a guest speaker - more on this as it develops!  LWV Annual Dues are also 'due' at the Annual Meeting. Members will be send a dues notice via US Post and can pay by mail or online. We will have more information on this in upcoming newsletters and emails - watch for the 'official' Annual Meeting email with the decision items that will be discussed at the Annual Meeting! NOTICE - MARCH 9 MEETING POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS. IT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED ONE WEEK LATER - MARCH 16. 6pm social, 6:30 program starts. Updated link at the end of this post.  March 8 and March 16, 6pm - Zoom Who’s ready for spring? We ALL are, right? LWV ABC has a two-part program planned for March. On Monday, March 8, we’ll look at pollinator gardens as an alternative for those bits of lawn that get maintained but not used. LWV ABC’s Linda Rodgers and Gretchen Sabel will share their successes at developing native plant gardens, and Laurie Schneider from the Pollinator Friendly Alliance will join us for discussion. We will light your interest in pollinators and talk about ideas for using bits of land for native plants. No matter where you live, you can build pollinator habitat in a space near you. On Tuesday, March 16, we will have Emily Johnson from the Anoka Conservation District with information on grants and programs to help build pollinator habitat. Pollinator habitat is part of the work that ACD does, and will be discussed in context of the new Comprehensive Plan that ACD has just completed. ACD’s work is much broader than pollinators, and has promise to green our county. Here's the Zoom link. We will begin with social/connecting time at 6 and programs starting at 6:30. ACD Comprehensive Plan and Grants for Pollinator HabitatTime: Mar 16, 2021 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting: https://qctv-org.zoom.us/j/87495357136?pwd=c3dPamVWWWRqTGlOOEg3STdSSTFjdz09 Phone Connection: 312.626.6799 Meeting ID: 874 9535 7136 Passcode: 378029 The program will be recorded and available for later viewing, too. See you on the Zoom! Go back to the LWV ABC website here. Here's a list of useful links that Laurie Schneider shared on March 8:
Links for League of Women Voters – March, 2021 Talk on Backyard Habitat HOW TO GUIDES ON HABITAT AND GARDENING Pollinator Friendly Alliance: pollinator lawn, plant lists. . https://www.pollinatorfriendly.org/habitat Plant suppliers and habitat services https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59fcf40ab1ffb6ee9911ad2a/t/5f9707fc2bdce055be16adb6/1603733501983/habitat_plants_services.pdf Videos and Webinars https://www.pollinatorfriendly.org/videos-and-talks Lawns to legumes habitat guide & cost share program https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l University of Minnesota: biodiverse backyard, gardens, biocontrols, plant lists, videos . . . https://ncipmhort.cfans.umn.edu/ Xerces Society: pollinator conservation and habitat resources https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/habitat-installation-guides How to install a pollinator lawn https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59fcf40ab1ffb6ee9911ad2a/t/5e21375a44b0d30f4c846b37/1579235214664/2020+pollinator+lawn+bulletin.pdf PLANT, TREE, SHRUB AND GRASSES LISTS Heather Holm, biologist/author, pollinator-plant guides: https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com Xerces plant list: https://xerces.org/publications/plant-lists Audubon plant database by zip code: https://www.audubon.org/native-plants Wild Ones St. Croix Savanna Resources: https://stcroixoaksavanna.wildones.org Plant, trees and shrubs for pollinators lists: https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com Minnesota wildflowers database by LCCMR: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info Missouri Botanical Garden https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx Native grasses list and book https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/native-grasses-book-now-available-free-online |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LWV Upper Mississippi River Region | LWV ABC Blog |
