League of Women Voters of Oak Park & River Forest Newsletter September 2021 Volume 7 Issue 3 |
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Dear Friends,
The Fall Kick-off, Democracy SOS: The Fight for Voters Rights was informative, interesting, and sobering. Rebecca Glenberg, with the ACLU of Illinois, and Jay Young and Tyler St. Clair, with Common Cause, discussed January 6, restrictive voting legislation, court cases on voting law, gerrymandering, election audits, and the big lie. If you are worried about voter suppression and the threat to democracy, nothing was said to change your mind. You’re a Leaguer so we know you care and hope you’ll find additional ways to express your outrage – join a phone bank, share facts, write post cards, send letters to the editor, and please, under no circumstance give sham recounts gravitas by calling them audits; confusion is a feature not a bug in the big lie. From
LWV IL President Allyson Haut:
“We must be outraged. We must be insistent. Leaguers know the power of grassroots activation. Let's use it right now. Today. Each one of us.”
The US Senate is working hard to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, the latest version of voter rights protection. We start fresh. We call and we activate.
Please call our senators and tell them three things:
- It is imperative that the Freedom to Vote Act pass.
- It is imperative that we achieve filibuster reform.
- Thank you for your work to represent us.
Also this week, the board of directors of LWV US voted unanimously to support filibuster reform, and as necessary, elimination of the filibuster, although the immediate League direction remains on voting rights legislation.
In very good news, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed one of the nation’s most ambitious state level clean energy plans into law. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act puts Illinois on track for a carbon-free power sector by 2045 and 100% clean energy by 2050, making Illinois the first Midwest state to require a carbon-free future. For more detail, read What’s In Illinois’ Massive Green Energy Bill? | WBEZ Chicago.
Speaking of the environment, don’t forget to register for the Thursday, October 7, environmental meeting to hear from LWV IL’s Environmental Issue Specialists on the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act as well as climate actions plans and the ever growing need to eliminate plastic. Register below.
Doughnuts, who doesn’t like doughnuts!?! To make this a successful fundraiser we are still in need of volunteers. You can join in the fun to help make and sell the doughnuts, and of course, buy some delicious doughnuts while you are there! Sign-up below.
Happy Fall ya’all,
Jane and Joan
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Mark your calendars for this Thursday, October 7, to join a briefing from the Illinois League’s environmental and climate issues specialists. Laura Davis, from the Palatine League, and Bill Koehl, from Central Kane, will provide an overview of legislation just signed Springfield, especially the Clean Energy Jobs Act. They’ll address other environmental concerns such as eliminating plastics and will discuss national efforts on stemming climate change. There will be time for questions. Register here.
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On Monday, October 4, from 7:00-8:30pm, the League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region will present a free program on PFAs (Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances, or forever chemicals) and how they affect our health. Register here for this free virtual program. Read more about this topic here.
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Great Decisions Continues |
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This week in Great Decisions the discussion will be about Brexit:Taking Stock and Looking Ahead. Meet this Wednesday, October 6, at the River Forest Library from 1:00-2:30pm. The complete schedule of dates and topics is on our website. You can always pick up program materials at the Library.
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Observer Training Opportunity |
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The League’s trained Observer Corps are a respected part of the community— they work to keep local governments accountable and community members informed. LWV IL will be holding a training session on Wednesday, October 6, at 7:00pm via Zoom. Our League has been woefully short of observers the past two years, even when municipal meetings could have been observed online. Would you be available to observe one meeting a month of a local governmental unit? Easiest way to contribute to our League's mission. This training session will help prepare you for being a observer. You need to register for the training here.
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Please sign up to volunteer for our first fundraiser of the year on Saturday, October 23, making and selling donuts at the Oak Park Farmers Market at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake Street. There are important openings for volunteers with time slots starting at 4:00am till 1:00pm. These are three hour shifts and we will be partnering with the Kiwanis Club to work on that day. Slots still open are donut fryer, cashier, donut server, and a clean-up shift. Donuts are made in the church basement and everyone is required to wear a mask when working inside. This is a no brainer to raise funds for our League by just asking members to contribute their time to work a shift. With Covid restricting our fundraising efforts for the past two years, this is one easy way to add to our funds. You may use this link to sign up in an open slot not already taken by a Kiwanis volunteer. Read more about the Pilgrim Donut Committee rules here. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Joan Petertil. Thanks in advance for signing up!
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Just a reminder that the memorial service for past member Mary Ellen Matthies is this Saturday, October 9, starting at 11:00 am
Le Jardin Room
Cantigny Park
1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton
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