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Date: 3/10/2021
Subject: March 10, 2021 News Update
From: LWV of La Crosse



March 10, 2021 News Update


Upcoming League Events...
the who, what, where, when, and how to attend LWVLA events 
2021 Virtual Legislative Breakfast
Saturday, March 20
8:30 AM - 11 AM

 

Members of the LWV of the La Crosse Area and their guests are invited to attend our annual Legislative Breakfast, this year via Zoom. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit written questions for our representatives during the Zoom meeting.

The program will begin at 8:45 with brief announcements. State legislators Jill Billings, Steve Doyle, and Brad Pfaff will speak and answer questions from 9 to 10 AM. Congressman Ron Kind and Senator Tammy Baldwin, or their representatives, will speak and answer questions from 10 to 11 AM.


This event is free and open to LWVLA members and their guests. Registration is required.
Please note: Members will need to login to the website in order to be able to register. Password assistance will be available.
 
 


Speaking of Democracy
Join the Conversation
LWVLA Book Club

Monday, March 29
6:30 - 8:00 pm

ALL ARE WELCOME!

 
The Politics Industry:
How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy
by Katherine M. Gehl and Michael Porter
In "The Politics Industry," Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter take a radical new approach. They ingeniously apply the tools of business analysis-and Porter's distinctive Five Forces framework-to show how the political system functions just as every other competitive industry does, and how the duopoly has led to the devastating outcomes we see today. Using this competition lens, Gehl and Porter identify the most powerful lever for change-a strategy comprised of a clear set of choices in two key areas: how our elections work and how we make our laws.
Book Club is meeting virtually. Click below to register on website. Check on the website calendar for information about the April Book Club.
 
 


April Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, April 13
11:30 AM - 1 PM

 
Earth Day Recognition: Air, Land, and Water  
 

WI Green Fire leaders Nancy Turyk, Tom Bernthal, and John Robinson will present emerging issues as they relate to climate change, threats to wetlands and other lands and waters of southwestern WI, and more in-depth information on PFAS, a current hot topic in the La Crosse area.

 

Wisconsin Green Fire is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the conservation legacy of Wisconsin by promoting science-based management of Wisconsin's natural resources.

 
Members of the public are invited to this free virtual event.
The registration link is pending; check the calendar entry on our website soon.
 

2021 Spring Election

  Vote for Your City. Vote for Your Schools.
 
 
March 17 deadline for online and mail-in voter registration.

 


LWVLA members and community friends really stepped up--
and are stepping out this week!
 
Volunteers adopted all 50 regions on the south side of La Crosse
and will deliver Get-Out-the-Vote door hangers to 10,000 La Crosse residences.
Sring Door Hangers 1
Spring Door Hangers 2
Candidate Forums
 
...links to and recordings of local and state candidate forums

School Board Candidate Forum
 School District of La Crosse
sponsored by the LWVLA and the School District of La Crosse
 
March 18
6:30 - 8:00

Candidates
 Rob Abraham           Annie Baumann
   Kraig Brownell          Martha Linville
Gretchen Paquette    Brad Quarberg
 
You are invited
to submit possible questions.
Please send them by noon on March 17
Mayoral Candidate Forum
City of La Crosse
sponsored by LWVLA and partners
 
March 22
6:35 PM
 
 
Candidates
Vicki Markussen
Mitch Reynolds
 
You are invited
to submit possible questions.
Please send them by March 20
The March 18 School Board Forum 
will be live-streamed on the LWVLA YouTube channel.
 
 
The locations for the livestream of the March 22 Mayoral Forum are still pending.
Links for the live-streamed forums will be available on our website.


A One-Stop Source for Candidate Forums
 
Although many of us are feeling Zoom fatigue, we have gained at least one benefit this election season from living in a virtual world. As our activities moved online, we became more skilled with technology and gained confidence to host forums, debates, conversations, and town halls. As a result, voters have no shortage of opportunities to see and hear from candidates in the April 6 election.
 
Most of these events are easy to livestream online or view as a recording if you're not able to watch the live broadcast. Our League has been gathering local and state candidate events on our website, making it a convenient one-stop location.

Check our calendar for details and links to upcoming events with local and state candidates.  And click on the "Candidate Forum" button toward the top of our homepage to access recorded events.
 
Currently we have links on our website to the following candidate events:
  • 3/11: WI Retired Educators Fireside Chat with State Superintendent Candidates
  • 3/11: A Conversation with Superintendent Candidates Deb Kerr & Jill Underly
  • 3/15: La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Forum
  • 3/16: UU La Crosse Mayoral Candidate Debate
  • 3/17: Criminal Justice Management Council Mayoral Forum
  • 3/18: LWVLA La Crosse School Board Candidate Forum
  • 3/22: LWVLA Mayoral Candidate Forum for the City of La Crosse
      ---and recordings of the following events
  • The La Crosse Independent & La Crosse Local La Crosse School Board Candidate Forum
  • The La Crosse Independent & La Crosse Local City of La Crosse Virtual Mayoral Debate
  • Virtual LGBTQ Mayoral Town Hall Live
The WI Retired Education Association surveyed both of the candidates for State Superintendent of Education. Their answers can be read using the links below.
 
 
 
 
What Do You Think?
 
...seeking your suggestions, questions, and opinions for the good of the League 
 
Seeking Your Input for the
2021-22 La Crosse League Program Schedule 
 
"In League, Program means the issues that we choose for concerted study, education and action at local, state and national levels. Program can include both education and action.

The Program Planning process is part of what makes the League a grassroots organization; each League member has the opportunity to influence the selection of issues where the local, state, and national League will focus time, talent and money."
 
Following are the LWVUS National Program Priorities. Please look them over and let us know if you have suggestions for related programs or presenters that we can sponsor at our local level. Also, please inform us of  local issues you would like us to consider as we plan next year's programs.
 
LWVUS National Program: 2020-2022
The National Program for the League of Women Voters of the United States
The work is managed by the League of Women Voters of the US Board of Directors and national staff.
 

CURRENT NATIONAL PRIORITIES 
 
CAMPAIGN FOR MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK®
  • Voting Rights (protecting the right to vote, opposing voter suppression and voter mobilization)
  • Improving Elections (election reform, increase voters’ access to the polls, expansion of early voting, online/automatic voter registration, advocacy for the National Popular Vote Compact)
  • Campaign Finance Reform/Money in Politics (limit SuperPACs and secret donors to protect representative democracy, voters’ right to know)
  • Redistricting (oppose partisan and racial gerrymandering that strips rights away from voters, promote fair districting)
  • National Popular Vote Compact (advocate for)

CONTINUED WORK ON URGENT ISSUES
 
  • Climate Change
  • Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
  • Health Care
  • Gun Safety
  • Immigration
  • Abolition of the Electoral College
Send your suggestions to President Mary Nugent through our website.
 
 
 
Take Action...
let your voice heard by elected officials and policy makers
infrastructure hearings
LWVWI and ASCE-WI are collaborating on this project to educate Wisconsin residents about ASCE's 2020 Infrastructure report card. Across Wisconsin, infrastructure grades range from D- to a B+, demonstrating a clear need to infrastructure improvements.

The four webinars will all include the 30-minute presentations by Carl Sutter and William Holahan. Carl Sutter, P.E., is the society director for the ASCE-WI and will provide an overview of the Infrastructure Report Card. William Holahan, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, will make a compelling case for why “now” is the right time to invest in sustainable infrastructure in Wisconsin.

Following the presentations will be a live Q&A session between the presenters and local stakeholders to allow for quadrant specific discussions.

After this series of introductory sessions across the state, LWVWI will host webinars on select infrastructure categories to serve as springboards for local advocacy for increased investment in sustainable infrastructure.
 
La Crosse is in the Northwest Quadrant. Our meeting will be on April 1, from 3 - 5 PM.
 
 
 
For Your Consideration...
local events, virtual events, viewing and reading suggestions that reflect the League's mission and priorities. Please send us your recommendations.
Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing To Be Silenced
 
We recommend the La Crosse AAUW's excellent series in recognition of Women's History Month. Throughout March, their website offers a daily story about a valiant woman or man who engaged in the struggle to bring voting rights to all citizens.

The stories were written by AAUW La Crosse members Jan Eriksen, Erica Koonmen, Betty Kruck and Pam Thiel, unless otherwise credited.
 

Details and a link to watch on the All Voting Is Local Facebook page.
 
Pardeep Kaleka is a survivor of the Oak Creek Shooting and a former Police Officer for the city of Milwaukee. The YouTube link below will give a brief overview of his organization, what they do, and how they are helping the community. On the behalf of the Asian Student Organization and the Office of Multicultural Student Services, thank you for your participation in this survey and your interest in this presentation.
 


Help us defend democracy and empower voters.

Contact Us:
website: lwvlacrosse.org
email: lwvlawi@gmail.com
PO Box 363
La Crosse, WI 54602