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Date: 12/18/2024
Subject: The Voter December 2024
From: League of Women Voters of McLean County


December 2024
Calendar of Events             
 
Have You Renewed?
Membership Renewal Deadline Fast Approaching
By Beth Porter
 
Your League membership renewal can be done now. The deadline is December 31, 2024, and we are asking all members to renew before the end of the year. Please use the lwvmclean.org website to log in and renew your member account.

Be sure to also fill out the interest survey and make any needed updates to your League profile. The answers you provide will greatly help the League leadership understand your interests and plan informative programs. Thank you!
Mis/Disinformation Results From the General Election
by Faith Russell

Our McLean County chapter made valuable use of the resources created by the LWVIL Task Force on Mis/Disinformation. We assured that accurate information was promoted to directly counter election mis/disinformation. And we contributed to the following statewide accomplishments:

• Mis/disinformation program videos were viewed on the LWVIL YouTube 1,077 times
• Over 4,000 visits to the Webpage since June, consistently the most visited page.
• Programs were presented to LWV and community groups 25 times in September and October.
• Interviews were conducted with the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, WBEZ, WCIU, and the Homewood Flossmoor Chronicle to name a few. An Op Ed was posted in the Sun Times.
• The Task Force was mentioned as a trusted source of information in the Illinois Attorney General Guide on election misinformation. 
• The election tool kit graphics was viewed 275 times in the three weeks preceding the election.
• Partnerships were established with Common Cause, Illinois Library Association, and the Chicago Library System.
• Facts Illinois was launched in partnership with VerbAi, a "one stop shop for fact checking."

Going forward, the Mis/Disinformation Task Force will be folded into the LWVIL communications committee. We can be proud of our connection to this work.
Preparing For LWV of Illinois Convention
Provide Input to League Positions  
by Laurie Wollrab

We are planning a February 6 full membership meeting from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Bloomington Public Library, Community Room to receive your input for state and local Program Issues and Advocacy planning. The meeting will be in preparation for the June LWVIL 2025 convention and to develop our Program Pillars list for the coming year. You can register and add the meeting to your calendar on the event page.  

In June, our local league convention delegates will have the opportunity to vote on LWVIL 2025-2027 Program Pillars in a way that reflects our local league’s wishes. We will also vote on our own local league Program Pillars at our Annual Membership meeting on June 12 (more details later).

The required local league action consists of two parts.
 
League Members Pen Holiday Messages to Seniors
League members, Peggy Swerdlik (left) and Carol Odekirk (right) along with Cathy Pratt wrote holiday messages to seniors in care facilities at the McLean County Museum of History on December 3.  
The McLean County Museum of History used archival photos and created postcards to be sent to seniors in care facilities. 
President Biden, Publish the ERA!

In case you missed it, the LWV is calling on President Biden to direct the US Archivist to publish the ERA and enshrine gender equality in our Constitution. 

The League is making it easy for you to send him a message asking him to do so before his term expires. Click on the button to take action now. 

Send Message Now

Please pass this on to non-LWV members by directing them to https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/. We have no time to waste!
League Members Needed
Study on Federal Judiciary
by Faith Russell
 
McLean County League members are needed to connect our chapter with the LWVUS in a study of the Federal Judiciary. Process, timeline, materials, and other resources have been developed by LWVUS and will be available to us.

The purpose of this study is to develop a LWV position on the Federal Judiciary as an essential component of US democracy.
The study will include, but is not limited to addressing concerns and clarifying judicial accountability, transparency, independence, and ethics. The focus will include the Supreme Court as well as the other Article III federal courts.

Our local work will involve educating members on the study outcomes prior to a member consensus meeting in which we weigh in on a possible League position.

For more information or to express interest, contact Faith Russell at info@lwvmclean.org
Get Your League T-Shirt
 
LWV of McLean County T-shirts are still available for your holiday giving to others, or for yourself! 
 
For $20 a shirt, you get a great way to raise our visibility and show your League pride. 
 
You can order today using our website's brand new storefront. On the storefront home page you'll see shirt sizes available, and be able to start your order. Click on the button below to get started.
 
 
If you need help learning how to make storefront purchases, watch this short video tutorial. For additional help send an email to info@lwvmclean.org.
Welcome to Our Newest Members!
By Beth Porter
 
Three new members joined in November. Welcome Wendy Anderson, Pearle Jeffries, and Cynthia Ruszkowski.
New Members Orientation
by Beth Porter
 
A new member orientation meeting will be offered every other month in 2025. Orientation meetings are focused on informing new and prospective League members about the League's history, structure, and ways to get involved; however, all members are welcome to attend and can invite a friend. The sessions will be one hour or less.

Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive St., Bloomington, IL 61701
Conference Room, 2nd Floor
 
 
Upcoming Dates/Times
● Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
● Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
● Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Holiday Jingle & Mingle Open House Fun
League members and guests alike enjoyed our 2024 Jingle & Mingle Holiday Open House on December 5 at Vera & Buck Floral Studio. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the planning and provided the yummy food!
 
Click below to visit our photo album for more photos.  
 
The League's Top Achievements in 2024
As we wrap up the year, LWVUS president Dianna Wynn reflects on some our greatest successes of 2024. It's been quite a year! 
 
The Voter and News Blast will resume in January. 

League of Women Voters of McLean County

P.O. Box 932, Normal, IL 61761

Email: info@lwvmclean.org

Web: lwvmclean.org
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Email: info@lwvmclean.org

League of Women Voters of McLean County 

PO Box 932 

Normal, IL 61761