December 9, 2025 News Update
Empower Voters, Defend Democracy
The League shall not support or oppose any political party or candidate. | December Lunch & Learn
December 10 , 2025
11:30 am - 1 pm |  | It’s been said that Civic Education is the bedrock of democracy. Given all of the political unrest these days, do you often wonder how K-12 schools are handling government and civics instruction in classrooms? And how might we support this challenge? Join us for the Dec. 10 Lunch and Learn to hear an update on current legislation and interviews with area teachers, plus a summary of significant LWV Voter Services Committee work that is now occurring in area schools. Kathie Tyser and Chris Haskell–both LWV members and retired educators/administrators in La Crosse–will facilitate the session, allowing some time for discussion about ideas for the future.
Speakers:
Chris Haskell
Chris Haskell was a public school teacher for 35 years. Those years were spent teaching high school English and ESL in elementary, middle and high school. She also served as the District ESL Coordinator for the La Crosse Public Schools.
Kathie Tyser
Kathie worked in various levels of public education for 36 years as a teacher and administrator, retiring in 2008 as Associate Superintendent for La Crosse Public Schools.
Registration will reserve lunch and provide a Zoom link for virtual attendance. The public is welcome to join us for lunch or at no cost to attend the 12:00 p.m. program only. A recording of the program will be posted on our website shortly after the live event.
Reservations for meals have closed, but if you wish to join us for the meeting only, there is no cost. If you have any difficulty with registration, please contact us at lwvlawi@gmail.com.
| UMRR Programs
Data Center Gold Rush
Tonight December 9, 2025 virtual
| Two Important Upcoming Webinars Discussing Water in and around Wisconsin
Join LWV UMRR to learn what threats data centers could pose to our water table, water quality, and the life we love in Wisconsin.
Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6pm CST for
Data Center Gold Rush: Diving Into Water Demands | UMRR Programs
From Fields to the Gulf
December 12, 2025 virtual
| Two Important Upcoming Webinars Discussing Water in and around Wisconsin
Join LWV UMRR to learn what threats data centers could pose to our water table, water quality, and the life we love in Wisconsin.
Thursday, Dec. 11 at 12pm CST for From Fields to the Gulf: How agriculture shapes the Mississippi River | Help Wanted
Vote411 is looking for volunteers. | LWV La Crosse Vote411 Team
Join our volunteer team! Vote411 (www.vote411,org) is committed to ensuring voters have the information they need to successfully participate in every election. LWV La Crosse publishes non-partisan voter information for La Crosse County for local elections such as country . city council, municipal and town boards, and school boards.
Vote411 volunteers commit a few hours in mid-February to personally email contact and invite about ten local candidates to participate in our local Vote411 election guide. Volunteers receive candidate contact information and messaging materials. Contact Deb Lutjen and Ina Felsheim if you would like more information or would like to join our team. Vote411@lwvlacrosse.org.
| January Book Club
January 26, 2026
6:30 - 8:00 PM
|  | Please note: There will be no December meeting.
Turning away from the privileged world of the "eminent Victorians," Gertrude Bell (1868—1926) explored, mapped, and excavated the world of the Arabs. Recruited by British intelligence during World War I, she played a crucial role in obtaining the loyalty of Arab leaders, and her connections and information provided the brains to match T. E. Lawrence's brawn. After the war, she played a major role in creating the modern Middle East and was, at the time, considered the most powerful woman in the British Empire.
In this masterful biography, Janet Wallach shows us the woman behind these achievements–a woman whose passion and defiant independence were at odds wit the confined and custom-bound England she left behind. Too long eclipsed by Lawrence, Gertrude Bell emerges at last in her own right as a vital player on the stage of modern history, and as a woman whose life was both a heartbreaking story and a grand adventure.
| Be Aware of Scammers
A Note from Leslie Wegener
|
Please be aware! If you have recently received messages from President Leslie Wegener with odd requests for gift cards or other suspicious asks, you are being scammed. The same thing is happening to other Leagues around Wisconsin and other parts of the country. DO NOT:
- Respond to the email.
- Follow any instructions in the message.
- Purchase gift cards or provide financial information.
Help keep our LWV community safe. When in doubt, always verify directly with League leaders before taking any action requested in emails. | Recap: Issues Briefing 2025
Recording Links Below | This year's Issues Briefing focused on the dysfunction occurring within each branch of our government.
Over 3 different sessions, participants learned the powers actually belonging to each branch and how we've arrived at our current Constitutional Crisis. Most importantly, our presenters addressed questions and concerns from attendees and left us with hope that there are actions we can take as advocates, voters, and activists to preserve our democracy and right this ship.
You can find the recordings for each session below.
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch & Wellness First Aid
Judicial Branch
| Know Your Candidates
April 2026 Election
Wisconsin Supreme Court |  | Interview with candidate Chris Taylor
Saturday, December 6, 2026
1:00 to 2:30 p.m. (recording available - Chris Taylor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJeU1WjBUSU)
Interview with candidate Maria Lazar
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Both events will be in the Harvey Hall Theater on the UW Stout campus, 721 Third Street East, Menomonie, WI 54751.
Candidate Chris Taylor is currently Judge of the WI Court of Appeals for District IV, based in Madison; and Maria Lazar is Judge of the WI Court of Appeals for District II, based in Waukesha. If other candidates emerge for the open position on the WI Supreme Court, we'll invite them to interview as well.
Event co-sponsors are the Menard Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovation at UW-Stout, Community Conversations of Northwest Wisconsin, and League of Women Voters-St. Croix Valley Chapter.
Both events will be livestreamed by Eye on Dunn County, an online community news website: Maria Lazar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGD4t6HuDEA
Questions are welcome at morlockjan@gmail.com.
| Make a Difference.
Let Your Voice Be Heard. | We The (Informed) People
News from WisEye,
one of our trusted sources. | WisconsinEye has been a vital, nonpartisan window into our state government, providing access to hearings, sessions, and public meetings. This essential service needs our support. Please consider donating to help keep WisconsinEye’s trusted government access available to everyone.
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Unite and Rise 8.5
League of Women Voters Wisconsin
| Run for Office - LWVWI is here to help!
Stepping up to run for office is one of the most powerful ways to shape the future of your community. Local leaders drive real change and our democracy is strongest when new voices and fresh perspectives show up. If you’ve ever thought “I wish things were different,” this is your chance to be that change. We’ve got the tools and resources to help you get started. Find the LWVWI Run for Office Toolkit HERE. |
Poll Workers Needed!
Contact Your Local Clerk
| Find your local clerk at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Become-PollWorker.
| Empower voters. Defend democracy.
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website: lwvlacrosse.org
email: lwvlawi@gmail.com
PO Box 363
La Crosse, WI 54601
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