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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
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 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
  Whew. The people elected to office in November 2020 have now taken their places in government. This has been a very difficult and divisive election cycle. But we've made it through and are about to start on a new federal administration, divided state government in Minnesota and some new faces in our city and county offices. The value of the work done by LWV Following is from a message that LWV Minneapolis sent out to their members on Inauguration Day; we at ABC will borrow their stirring words... great reflections on the value of League and the work that we do! "One of the super powers of the League of Women Voters is that we are non-partisan AND we stand for truth, justice and fairness. We are proud to be a members of League. During the 2020 election we used our voices and volunteered time to help keep the election fair and safe and to make sure every vote was counted and that every voter trusted that their vote mattered. We joined our fellow League members in Minneapolis, in Minnesota and across the Nation to ensure that our Democracy, which is more fragile than we ever imagined, survived and will thrive as we move forward. Grassroots activism is a powerful force that makes significant change happen. Imbedded in LWV's mission is the commitment to educate, advocate and empower. Working together we will achieve great things." Challenges and truth-telling This IS a good time to pat ourselves on the back as Leaguer's for our work on this election, but there are still many troubling things that our democracy is facing. In the weeks after the election, we saw our President become increasingly strident in his claims that the election was 'rigged'. This message was echoed by many elected officials, lending credence to the claims and eventually fomenting the violence we saw at our nation's Capitol on January 6. Some of these echoes came from Minnesota, despite the fact that our election here was closely scrutinized at every step and the results were certified by local and state election boards. On January 14, LWV Minnesota, through action of the state Board, sent a letter to Minnesota legislative leaders that specifically called on the legislative leaders to:
LWV ABC Letter to the Editor:
"For more than 100 years, the League of Women Voters has diligently promoted good governance and fair voting. The need for our diligence and our voice has never been greater. We of the LWV of Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids Area call on our Legislative leaders to require that all MN State Representatives and Senators accept the outcome of the 2020 elections and fulfill their oath to the US and MN constitutions. We stand with one voice on the need to call for truth and accountability around our elections. LWV is a nonpartisan, good government organization. Being nonpartisan means we don’t support any specific party or candidate. Equally, it means we don’t abandon our positions or our principles of good government for any party. We will continue to work with all legislators to advance free and fair elections. And we will continue to hold accountable all legislators, regardless of party, who undermine the democracy for which we stand. Signed, Gretchen Sabel, President, LWV ABC" *Minutes from the special Board meeting can be reviewed on the LWV ABC members-only pages, under Board Agendas in the Jan 25 agenda on page 15." Anti-racism is the act of opposing racism/white supremacy in all forms - in our society, other people, and ourselves. It is about identifying the root causes of racism and putting an end to them. A critical part of anti-racism is self-education - educating yourself without placing the burden of your education on Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). In that spirit, we are asking you to educate yourself and share resources you found helpful or insightful to help others continue their antiracism self-education.  In January 2021, Twin Cities PBS launched Racism Unveiled, a multimedia, multiplatform storytelling project which will examine the impact of systemic racism on Black, Indigenous and communities of color in Minnesota, how racial inequities came to be, how they hold us back and what we can do about them. The two year project is “a platform for people of color to share the honest truth about their experiences in this state and to find a way forward together.”' Some Racism Unveiled recommendations: Explore a Racial Awakening in a Small Minnesota Town article and short video Tethered: How Race and Policing Binds Minneapolis to Louisville article Jim Crow of the North - 1 hour documentary on redlining in Minnesota  A blog to follow with good anti-racism resources is Real Talk: WOC and Allies.
Real Talk: WOC & Allies is the voices of women of color (WOC) and allies working against racism and oppression. Great blog to learn more about being antiracist. Some Real Talk: WOC & Allies recommendations:
______________________ More Articles The Perils of “People of Color” by E. Tammy Kim For Black Women in Media, a “Dream Job” Is a Myth by Kathleen Newman-Bremang White Millennials Are Products of a Failed Lesson in Colorblindness by Mychal Denzel Smith Submit your recommendations for articles, blogs, video, podcasts, etc. to lwvabc@gmail.com Write: RECOMMENDATION in caps in the subject line |
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