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Date: 6/16/2026
Subject: The Voter June 2026
From: League of Women Voters of McLean County


June 2026
Hope you’re enjoying the summer! I just got back from a family vacation with my wife, child, sisters, brothers in law, nieces and nephews. We had a great time.

You might be looking at the League calendar for June and wondering where the annual meeting went. Due to the timing of the National Convention and the availability of Board members, we could not find a time that worked in June, so we moved the meeting to July 16 at 6:00 pm at Bloomington Public Library. The formal agenda will begin at 6:15 pm.

At the last Board meeting on June 3, thanks to Beth Porter and Cathy Pratt’s careful review of the Bylaws, we implemented the proper motions to ensure that 2025-2026 officers and board members will remain in place until the annual meeting.

By the end of the month, we will share a member packet of documents to read before the meeting, so please keep an eye on your email. 

We look forward to seeing you there! You can register here.

Local League Members to the LWVUS Convention 

 
The LWVUS biennial Convention is June 25-28 in Columbus, OH. McLean County LWV (LWVMC) has three Delegates participating: Diana Cristy, Erin Hastings, and Faith Russell. LWVMC member Lucille Eckrich will also attend as an observer and is co-presenting with Athens OH LWV members at a breakout session on "Our Money System and the Democracy Crisis: The Case for a Study."

Interested LWVMC members can explore the 2026 Convention website to learn about the LWVUS proposed program for 2026-2028. A summary of convention information and outcomes will be provided in a future article.
Local Member to Co-Present at LWVUS Convention

Several proposals made by local and/or state Leagues did not make it into the LWVUS Program Committee's Proposed Program for 2026-2028. These proposals will come up as motions on the Convention floor.
 
On June 2nd, the LWV of New York state sponsored a webinar on four non-recommended proposals:
The 96-minute recording is available here. Local League member Lucille Eckrich will be co-presenting a breakout session at the Convention on the case for a LWV money study, a topic she has been studying and organizing on for a long time.
What’s All the Fuss About Data Centers?
July 8 Drinks & Dialogue
 
It seems the buzz words for the summer is data centers. You may have attended a listening session about them hosted by the City of Bloomington, or a Town of Normal or City of Bloomington Council meeting where moratoriums were enacted. Why the fuss? Who would data centers impact? How?
 
Join League members and guests for a lively discussion at Drinks and Dialogue on Wednesday, July 8.
 
Abby Scott and Michael Brown will speak on the topic and help enlighten us. Abby is a Bloomington City Council member representing Ward 9 and a Data Scientist/Model Architect with State Farm. She will have material for discussion around how Generative AI works and the difference between different AI models. Michael is the Executive Director of the Ecology Action Center. He will help us understand the implications of data centers to the environment, economy, and more.

We will convene at Gill Street Bar and Grill with social time from 5:30-6 p.m. and our discussion from 6-7. There is no cost to attend. Attendees are responsible for any food or beverages ordered from the restaurant’s menu.
 
Museum Volunteer Honored with Service Award
 
League member Carol Straka was honored recently with the Volunteer Service Award from the Illinois Association of Museums. Carol has volunteered more than 11,000 hours over the last 30 years to the McLean County Museum of History. She has worked with researchers and others in organizing collections at the museum’s library and archives. Notably she made the entire vertical file collection into a searchable online catalog. Read more about Carol’s honor here.
 
Congratulations Carol!
LWVIL Champions of Democracy Event
by Diana Hauman

After the previous day’s storms, Friday, June 12 was a beautiful summer morning as Phylis VerSteegh, Faith Russell and I left for the inaugural Champions of Democracy Brunch sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Illinois.
 
We anticipated the highlight of the morning, the presentation of the inaugural Champions of Democracy Award to retiring Senator Dick Durbin, as we drove to the lovely Cantigny Park in Wheaton.
 
Because of the previous day’s storms, Senator Durbin was still in D.C. We learned halfway to Wheaton that Senator Durbin would not attend. Since we were already on our way and had paid for our tickets, we decided to continue.
 
The program began with opening remarks by LWVIL President Becky Simon, followed by Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago Regimantas Jablonskas. Acknowledging Senator Durbin’s Lithuanian heritage, he praised the guest of honor for being a friend of his country, especially during the early 1990s when Lithuania regained its independence from the Soviets. 
 
Dr. Sania Irwin, incoming League of Women Voters of the US president, continued the program. She spoke about not only defending democracy but also emboldening democracy especially in these critical times. She was followed by Bill Foster, 11th District U.S. Congressman and a longtime friend and colleague of Senator Durbin. 
 
The Senator’s nephew accepted the LWVIL inaugural "Champion of Democracy" award for his uncle, and shared stories of their growing up and the foundation established by their family, influenced especially by their Lithuanian mother/grandmother.
 
Becky Simon closed the program with three thoughts: we need commitment, to be prepared, and to have grit. She also shared that Senator Durbin had told her recently that sometimes you don’t pick the time, the time picks you. 
 
Pictured l to r, Faith Russell, Phylis VerSteegh, Diana Hauman
Discover the League, Find Your Place
New Member Orientation ~ Next Session July 25
by Beth Porter, Membership Director

Curious about the League of Women Voters of McLean County—or ready to get more involved? Join us for a friendly, low-pressure New Member Orientation designed to help you feel confident, connected, and ready to participate. Whether you’re brand new, returning after some time away, or simply want a clearer picture of how the League works, this session is for you.

Click on the link below for more information or to register. Contact Beth Porter at membership@lwvmclean.org  with questions.
 

Next Steps for MCRPC Comprehensive Plan

 

The McLean County Regional Planning Commission (MCRPC) has announced next steps in developing the Comprehensive Plan 2045. The plan will guide how our community will look and feel for the next 20 years. 

Public participation is crucial in developing this plan. The MCRPC has set five public workshops through June and July. They are:

  • Thursday, June 25, from 5 pm – 6 pm at the Lexington Community Center; 

  • Tuesday, June 30th from 5 pm – 6 pm at the Living Well United Senior Center in Le Roy;

  • Friday, July 10th from 12 – 1 pm hosted virtually;

  • Wednesday, July 15th from 5 pm – 6 pm at the McLean County Farm Bureau; and

  • Monday, July 20th from 5 pm- 6 pm at the Bloomington Public Library.

There is still time to fill out the visioning survey. Deadline is July 31. You can access the survey here. There is more information about the plan at https://compplan-mcleangis.hub.arcgis.com/
LWV in the News

Read LWVUS public statements about our actions to defend democracy.
 
 
Read LWVIL published news and media coverage.
 
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Email: info@lwvmclean.org

League of Women Voters of McLean County 

PO Box 932 

Normal, IL 61761