Fall Kick-Off: Census 2020 and Its Local Impact
Monday, October 14, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Cannon Valley Friends Meetinghouse, 512 Washington St.
Mayor Rhonda Pownell will speak, along with a panel of local representatives from Northfield Public Schools, Community Action Center, Northfield Hospitals and Clinics, and Rice County.
The event is free and open to the public so bring a friend. Light refreshments will be served.
Voter Services:
Thanks to members Mary Steen, Mary S. Carlsen, Helene Haapala, Janet Petri, and Pat Johnson who helped register people at the St. Olaf and Carleton College campuses on Constitution Day (September 17th).
Books and Brews: August 10, 2019 1:00 – 2:30 pm Imminent Brewery, Northfield, MN
This was our second annual LWV-NCF Books and Brews Gathering. It was a well-attended event. Everyone enjoyed the conversation, book recommendations, and refreshments. Content Book Store co-sponsored the event and donated a gift certificate that was used for a raffle at the event.
You can find the recommended books reading list here.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/league-of-women-voters-northfield-cannon-falls/2019-books-brews-reading-list/10162399171980314/
Education and Letter-Writing:
We continue to have monthly information and letter-writing on the third Saturday of each month. Come to the Hideaway between 9:00 and 10:30 AM. This is an opportunity to discuss issues with other League members and friends; enjoy coffee, tea, scones, etc.; and to take time to write letters. Come and bring a friend.
In August, we wrote 28 invitations to Northfield and Rice County elected women officials, inviting them to the celebration at the statehouse on September 8.
In September, Janet Petri provided information on climate change. We had a wonderful discussion, and we wrote 33 letters and post cards.
The October topic is health care. Join us on October 19. Carol Spears will bring information about positions from both the MNLWV and LWVUS. Come share in conversation and write letters as well.
Our November meeting is November 16.
If you are interested in organizing a letter-writing session on a topic of interest to you, contact Pat Johnson at pjohnson2@udayton.edu
Northfield Reads 2019-20: A collaboration of Human Rights Commission, LWVNCF, Library, Carleton Humanities
For the 2019-20 year, Northfield Reads (NR) has agreed to depart from its usual focus on diversity and to collaborate with the City of Northfield to facilitate community discussions on the issue of climate change and what we, as a community, can do to develop a climate action vision to be more resilient regarding energy and its environmental impact.
Northfield Reads has decided to invite the community into three separate discussions: First to look at the issue through a work of fiction, next to consider it with a discussion of a nonfiction book, and then to talk about concrete ways we can, individually and as a community, address the concern in our own lives.
On November 12, 2019, NR will be holding a discussion of Barbara Kingsolver’s 2015 book Flight Behavior. Emily Mohr of St. Olaf and Nancy Schumacher of Carleton will speak about their research/knowledge of monarchs, milkweed, and climate change. (Northfield Public Library, 7:00-8:30pm) Additional discussions will be held in February and for April.
Currently League does not have a representative to the planning committee for Northfield Reads. If you would like to take on that role, either for this topic cycle or on an ongoing basis, please contact Corinne Smith, f.corinne.smith@gmail.com
News from the LWVMN:
The State Board has several exciting events coming up in the next month:
1. A free training October 12 with LWVMN board members Laurie Boche and Miriam Simmons for a morning of quick, informative workshops:
Leadership Series: How to Run a Meeting
Voter Service Series: Presidential Primary Toolkit
Centennial Series: Fundraising Fun
Coffee will be served at 8:45 AM, with the first workshop starting promptly at 9 AM. Registration is limited to 30 participants. The events is runs from 8:45 to 11:30 at the Fleming Field conference room, 1725 Henry Ave., South St. Paul.
To register to attend here is the link: https://www.lwvmn.org/league-calendar
Adrienne Falcon will be attending and is happy to drive you if you are interested in attending. Just let her know.
2. The League’s big gala event is in October. Part fund-raiser, part-celebration, it will be a night to remember built around the theme of firsts – recognizing women who were first in their accomplishments as the League enters the first days of their second century. For more information see: https://www.lwvmn.org/gala
The state is also working to promote education and mobilization around Census 2020 and has created a tool kit to support local leagues in their efforts. Here is a link to more information at the state level on the League’s census project: https://www.lwvmn.org/2020-census.
Our local event on the Census for our fall-kick off connects well with one of the themes of the state wide League this fall.
From the Board
We plan to send the newsletter 4-6 times each year. If you have thoughts about the newsletter or contributions you would like to offer, please contact Pat Johnson pjohnson2@udayton.edu
If you would like to become more involved in the League, we are looking for people to join the membership committee or the letter-writing group.
If you are interested in attending a Board Meeting, they are listed on the calendar https://lwvnorthfieldmn.org/league-events/upcoming/ . You can also contact Adrienne Falcon at adrienne.falcon1@gmail.com
If you have not yet paid your dues, please do so. The membership approved a small increase in dues; details, amounts, and a brand-new online payment portal are at https://lwvnorthfieldmn.org/become-a-member/
There will be an opportunity to pay dues at the Fall Kick-Off on October 14. You can also mail a check to LWV Treasurer, P.O. Box 527, Northfield MN