The International Women’s Day Committee invites members of the La Crosse community and beyond to join in a celebration of International Women’s Day. The celebration will consist of panelists from Honduras, Jordan and Nigeria discussing how women are celebrated in their country as well as their experiences in both their home country and the U.S.. After the panelists speak, time will be set aside for questions from the audience.

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations, contact Miranda Panzer at 608.785.8016 or international@uwlax.edu.
Sponsoring organizations include the AAUW La Crosse, the League of Women Voters of La Crosse Area, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, the Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse, Viterbo University, and the International Women’s Group.

School Board Forum

March 8, 2023   5:30-7:30pm

Join Leaders Igniting Transformation Education Fund, League of Women Voters  of the La Crosse Area, and Cia Siab Inc on Wednesday, March 8th, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at Lincoln Middle School (510 S 9th St., La Crosse, WI 54601) for our in-person La Crosse School Board candidate forum!
Local elections have the ability to impact constituents in crucial ways. Public School Boards are no different. Directors have the power to influence and approve budgets, impact school policies, hire and fire superintendents, and more.

A LWV DANE COUNTY VIRTUAL JUDICIAL INTEGRITY FORUM
 The Honorable Louis Butler, Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, and Matt Rothschild, Executive Director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, will discuss campaign finance. Do campaign contributions affect judicial independence? Do such contributions create a public perception of judicial bias? Should judges decide cases involving their major campaign contributors? 

 

March 22, 2023  6:30 pm

The League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area will hold a Candidate Forum with Timothy Gaskell and Angela Palmer-Fisher, candidates for the office of Vernon County Circuit Court Judge.
The forum is expected to last approximately one hour. League members will serve as forum moderator and timekeeper. Each candidate will respond to questions submitted in writing by the audience.

Questions may also be submitted in advance
by emailing them to lwvlawi@gmail.com
by noon on Tuesday, March 21.

The March Book Club will again gather in the meeting room of RiverPlace Apartments, located at 1 RiverPlace Dr., La Crosse, which is adjacent to International Friendship Gardens. Participants should enter through the front entrance and press "18" on the entryway intercom. Parking is available in front of the building or in the International Friendship Gardens parking lot in back.
*Although registration for this in-person meeting will not be required, participants are encouraged to register if they wish to receive an event reminder as well as any potential updates to meeting information.

 

For more information contact:
Maureen Kinney
kinneymaureen6@gmail.com

March Book Club

The Wisconsin Supreme Court, sometimes referred to as SCOWI, is the state's highest court. It's responsible for determining if laws violate the Wisconsin Constitution. It also establishes and enforces rules and codes of conduct for Wisconsin attorneys, judges and the justices themselves.  
Why does this matter? The Wisconsin Supreme Court makes decisions that affect us all. Their rulings can decide: voting rights, reproductive rights, economic development, educational policy and more.  While the justices serve 10-year terms, the impact of their decisions can last for even longer.

The candidates on the ballot are Dan Kelly and Janet Protasiewicz. 

There are now eight candidates for school board members, running for four seats on the board. The four positions will be three for three year terms, and one for a one year term to fill the position vacated by the resignation of Rob Abraham before his term expired.
Why does this matter? The school board is the legislative body of a school district. The school board adopts the annual school district budget and a strategic plan that includes district goals, initiatives and projects. They are also responsible for policies regarding student learning, curriculum, instruction and assessment, parents and community, and personnel. Voters elect board members to represent their district for a three-year term in nonpartisan elections. There are no term limits.

The Wisconsin Circuit Courts are the main trial courts for civil cases (for example, divorce or custody cases) and criminal cases (for example, robbery). These courts are funded by state and county government.

Why does this matter? The Wisconsin Circuit Courts rulings impact many Wisconsinites. Their rulings decide family law disputes, civil rights, disability rights, voting rights, public safety and labor rights. Voters decide who sits on the bench.

What's a constitutional amendment? This is a change to the Wisconsin Constitution. The current Wisconsin Constitution has been amended over 100 times. Amendments are often referred by the legislature and then put on the ballot.
What will this amendment regarding bail do? The amendment would require a judge to consider a defendant’s potential risk to public safety, including his or her criminal history, when setting bail. Currently, cash bail is set only as a means to ensure the person appears in court.
What is the League's stance on this? The League opposes this amendment and urges voters to vote “no” on both questions. Our opposition is guided by LWVWI's Legislative Committee. We believe the ballot questions are ambiguous and misleading. Additionally, increased pretrial detention and denial of bail will:
1. violate rights of those who are innocent until proven guilty
2. increase costs for local jails, including rural areas
3. increase racial disparity in the justice system
4. adversely impact the less affluent
How will it appear on the ballot? Question 1 is about conditions of release before conviction. Question 2 is about cash bail before conviction.

On and after March 14,

Voters can visit MyVote.WI.Gov to see the full sample language on their ballot.