The Voter - League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri
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The Voter
ANNUAL MEETING MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK
We will hold our LWVSWMO 2021 Annual Meeting
virtually on Monday, May 24, at 6:30 pm. According to CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
our bylaws, all members should receive meeting We need help covering topics relating to local
materials at least 30 days prior to the meeting. government, civic engagement, and public services.
Would the League be able to help us with this weekly
The documents to be voted on at Annual Meeting are: program?” asked Arlen Diamond, General Manager of
Proposed Slate of Nominations for Officers and KSMU, Springfield’s fledgling public radio station, in
Directors; Proposed Budget; Proposed Program 1981. So began a now 40-year partnership between the
Revision; Proposed Bylaws Revisions. NPR station and the LWVSWMO! In that time, League
volunteers have recorded more than 2050 episodes for
The slate of nominees is being submitted from the the Making Democracy Work program, airing every
Nominating Committee, and the other items have been Monday morning at 9:45am during the local segment of
reviewed by the Board. All have been recommended to the national program Morning Edition. The only
the membership, so a simple majority will be required to interruption was a six-month hiatus in 2020 during the
adopt all these items. coronavirus pandemic, as the station was closed to
outside guests. The program resumed in the fall of 2020,
There is only one change being proposed to our current thanks to the ability to record interviews via Zoom.
Program of policy positions. Within the category of
“Justice,” we recommend adding a position on Racial The program was first titled “Issues of the ’80’s” and
and Criminal Justice, based on the LWVUS Resolution then “Issues of the ’90’s.” As 2000 neared, the name
on Racial Justice passed at the 2020 National changed to the current “Making Democracy Work.” The
Convention. League radio committee members select their own
topics, guests, and questions for the 6-minute interview
This policy change is presented as a Request for program. The goal of the program is to help citizens
Concurrence with the League of Women Voters of understand the role and services of government, what it
Arizona. By concurring with their study and position, we means to be an engaged citizen, and how other
can adopt this position without conducting a study in our organizations help fill a void not provided by public
own League. The two documents referring to this service.
program change are: PowerPoint – Arizona CJ
Concurrence Feb. 2021 and Word document – Topics range widely and have included Ozark
Concurrence Request. Greenways’ 30 years of service, one-stop-shop investing
in Springfield’s historic neighborhoods, reducing
The Missouri League is considering adoption of this new poverty and increasing educational attainment,
position at the state convention May 15, but our local Watershed Committee and improvements at Fellows
League board strongly believes that we in Southwest Lake, legal literacy, experience of election judges, next
Missouri should have this statement in writing as part of steps in Medicaid expansion, city government structure,
our Program. federal relief for healthcare, and library services. Tune
in Monday mornings at 9:45 or on the web at
Please mark your calendar now for the Monday, May 24, https://www.ksmu.org/programs/making-democracy-
2021, 6:30 p.m. Annual Meeting. This will be a most work.
enjoyable and festive evening, and we hope you’ll plan
to attend. We are fairly certain we are the only League in the
country who can boast this longevity with a weekly
radio program. Other Leagues have had a monthly
program, or a quarterly feature, or a program that ran for
2 May 2021
a few years, but no others have hosted a WEEKLY
program for 40 years! Our League is very grateful for
this continued, and historic, partnership with KSMU and
appreciates the opportunity to highlight guests and topics
covering local politics, civic issues, city/county updates,
nonprofit resources, and programs and organizations that
enhance the quality of life for our citizens and
community! In addition, we recognize and appreciate
the role of KSMU and public broadcasting in our
community and are happy to be a part of their
programming!
LET’S DONATE $400 (OR
MORE!) IN HONOR OF 40TH
ANNIVERSARY!
Have you been a Making Democracy Work host in the
past? Have you listened to this program over the years?
Have you learned something new by listening to this
program?
If so, let’s celebrate this remarkable 40-year milestone
by making a donation to KSMU in honor of this
partnership with our League! Can we raise at least $400
in honor of 40 years?! Let’s do this!
This donation to KSMU will allow the League to be a
Day Sponsor in honor of the Making Democracy Work
program and the 40-year partnership will be announced
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 May 2021
throughout the day. The deadline for donations is
Friday, May 21 and the final amount will be announced
at the Annual Meeting on May 24th.
If you wish to donate through our League website, click UPCOMING DATES
here: 40th Anniversary Donation. Please designate
KSMU/LWV 40th Anniversary in the “In Honor-Name Neighborhood Cleanup
of Honored Person” section. Saturday, May 1, 2021, 8am-noon
If you prefer to write a check, please mark KSMU/LWV DEI Committee Meeting
40th in the memo line. Mail your check to: League of Monday, May 3, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Women Voters of Southwest Missouri, P.O. Box 3036,
Springfield, MO 65808-3036. Beautification Event
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 8am-2pm
Parking at College and Scenic
SUMMER SOUNDING BOARD
League unit meetings for this summer will be at Big John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement
Momma’s, 217 E Commercial Street. Meetings will Action Day
begin at 9:00, but members are encouraged to arrive Saturday, May 8, 2021
early if they would like to purchase coffee, scones,
quiche, etc. LWVMO Pre-Convention Caucuses
May 11-13, 2021
Save the following dates:
• Saturday, June 19 LWVMO State Board Meeting
• Saturday, July 17 Friday, May 14, 2021
• Saturday, August 21
LWVMO 65th State Convention - Virtual
We have some great presenters for environmental Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 9:30 am
sustainability and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)
and look forward to seeing everyone! Annual Meeting
Monday, May 24, 2021 at 6:30 pm
Should our community not be open to face-to-face
meetings by late June, we will send you Zoom links for Summer Sounding Board
members to attend virtually. Big Momma’s, 217 E Commercial St.
• Saturday, June 19, 2021, 9:00 am
LEAGUE STATEMENT Topic: “Criminal Injustice”
• Saturday, July 17, 2021
REGARDING SB 937 • Saturday, Aug 21, 2021, 9:00 am
On April 26 the LWVSWMO Board of Directors voted Topic: “Minorities in Business and
to add this statement to our website and our social media Economic Development in the
posts: Community.”
“The League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri Full Calendar of Events at:
condemns the actions of Missouri Senator Josh Hawley https://lwvswmo.org/events/
for his vote against U.S. Senate Bill 937, the COVID-19
Hate Crime Bill. His was the lone dissenting vote,
ignoring both the safety and the civil rights of his Asian-
American and Pacific Islander constituents.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 May 2021
the People Act was approved by the House, and if it is
LWVMO STATE CONVENTION passed by the Senate it will provide the greatest
protection for voters’ rights since the 1965 Voting
Rights Act.
On April 28, Madison Hever interviewed Joan Gentry
about the issue of fair voting maps and redistricting
efforts in Missouri. Joan detailed the work we’re doing
to educate area residents about creating district maps that
allow for fair representation in the Missouri legislature.
Of special emphasis was our participation in the
Mapping Project, which seeks input from citizens to
prevent gerrymandering when new voting district maps
Join us for the LWVMO 65th State Convention on are drawn after the census.
Zoom. LWVUS President Deborah Turner is the
featured speaker on Saturday, May 15th. The convention Thank you, Julie and Joan, for speaking for our League
begins at 9:00, and observers should register at this link. and sharing information about these two important
LWVSWMO will lead a caucus on Payday and Auto topics.
Title Loans on Thursday, May 13, 6:30 p.m. Show your
support for the work our members have put into this
study. Members Shelby Butler, Ann Elwell, and Kelley JOIN AN ACTION TEAM
Still Nichols will present this study on the need for
regulation of these loan agencies. You can join the Zoom Are you a new member looking for a way to become
meeting by clicking here or by entering. more involved? Have you been a member for a while but
The St. Louis League will lead a caucus on Alternative want to work on some new projects? Are you a long-
Voting Systems, Criminal Justice, and Funding for time member finding you have more time to help?
Public schools on Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 p.m. You can
join the Zoom meeting by clinking here. Check out our Action Teams:
• Voter Services
The Kansas City League will lead a caucus on Tax • Environment/Sustainability
Increment Financing on Wednesday, May 12, 6:30 p.m. • Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
You can join the Zoom meeting by clicking here. • Finance
• Membership
• Social Policy
THE LEAGUE’S ON T.V. • Elections
Last week our League’s work was featured in two • Making Democracy Work Radio Program
interviews that were broadcast on KRBK television
• Membership.
news.
If you’d like to help, please email:
Julie Steiger was interviewed by Heather Lewis on April lwvsouthwestmo@gmail.com. The Action Team chair
26. Julie shared information about the mission and work will be in touch soon. If you’d like more information
of the League. The interview helped to spotlight our about the action teams, check our website
support of and advocacy for HR 1, the For the People (lwvswmo.org) under the “Action and Advocacy” tab.
Act. Julie provided details about HR 1 and our efforts to You’ll find a summary of each Action Group.
educate the community about this most important voting
rights legislation.
She provided information and details about the League’s
National Day of Action for HR1 on April 29. The For
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5 May 2021
VOTER REGISTRATION EVENTS DIVERSITY/EQUITY/INCLUSION
HELD DURING THE NATIONAL ACTION TEAM UPDATE
The DEI Committee will meet Monday, May 3, at 6 p.m.
DAY OF ACTION We will discuss the podcast “Getting Rid of Mandatory
Reaching marginalized voters in our community is an Minimums” (first aired November 3, 2020), which is
important goal of our League. As part of the April 29 part of the series Criminal Injustice by David A. Harris.
National Day of Action, we held two voter registration
events in rent-controlled apartments within the city of Discussion for the May meeting is relevant to the
Springfield. League’s first Summer Sounding Board, to be
hosted by the DEI Committee. This event is scheduled
At the Franciscan Villas, Jill Prewitt-Smull and Lanae for Saturday, June 19, 9 a.m., at Big Momma’s. The
Gillespie provided voter education materials and topic, “Criminal Injustice,” will be addressed by our
registered voters during the afternoon. Susan speaker, Jennifer LaPrade, Assistant Professor of
Cadwallader and Joan Gentry held a voter registration Criminology and Criminal Justice at Missouri State
and education event at the McClernon Villas. University.
Thank you, League members, for helping to ensure that The DEI Committee will also host a Summer Sounding
these voters have the knowledge and the ability to Board Saturday, August 21, 9 a.m., at Big Momma’s. A
exercise their right to vote. panel will discuss the topic “Minorities in Business and
Economic Development in the Community.” League
members wishing to participate in these events or ask
questions may contact Jill Smull (jpsmull@aol.com) or
Cynthia Erb (cynerb@gmail.com).
ENVIRONMENT /
SUSTAINABILITY ACTION
TEAM UPDATE
Our Sustainability Bingo game had two winners this past
month! Julie Steiger and Amy Shelburn-Zarins won gift
certificates to Big Momma’s, where we will hopefully
have our in-person summer unit meetings. It’s not too
late to complete those bingo cards, or just send Pam
Photo: League member Susan Cadwallader registers a Shaver your list of sustainable accomplishments.
community member at McClernon Villas.
Bingo Card Game
VOTER SERVICES ACTION
Five members of our League celebrated Earth Day by
TEAM UPDATE picking up trash along our adopted stretch of Sunshine
LET'S RAMP UP REGISTRATIONS! Street: Jane Earnhart, Julie Steiger, Lindsey
Keep an eagle eye open for opportunities to register and Wannenmacher, Cathy Primm, and Pam Shaver.
educate voters. Let's be proactive and continue the great
work we do as we register, educate, advocate, and
protect our voters and their right to participate in our
election system. Contact Joan Gentry with opportunities!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 May 2021
Welcome New Members who joined since March
2021.
Rebecca Kime from Springfield, MO
Julia Cottrell from Springfield, MO
Laura McCaskill from Springfield, MO
Holly Holladay from Springfield, MO
JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS
DAY OF ACTION
Finally, we have two more events with the Clean/Green
initiative with the City of Springfield in May:
• May 1, Weller Neighborhood Cleanup: 8 - noon.
Park at Turning Point Church, 1722 North National.
• May 8, Beautification Event: 8am-2pm. Parking at
College & Scenic.
RADIO PROGRAM
Have you listened recently to our weekly Making
Democracy Work program on KSMU radio? The League
hosts a weekly program, every Monday at 9:45am, on
KSMU 91.1FM. In case you missed the most recent
episodes, you can click here to browse through the
archives for topics you might want to listen to now:
Making Democracy Work.
April 5: Springfield Parks Experience Increased
Attendance During Pandemic
April 12: Coalition Watches Proposed Bills in Missouri
Legislature Related to Voter Rights
April 19: Funding Program Available to Qualified
Residents for Home Repairs
April 26: Annual Law Advocacy Day Celebration is On May 8, let’s make some Good Trouble! Voting
May 1st Rights Coalition partners will come together across
America to demand preservation and expansion of
voting rights. Our focus will be on HR1/S1 For the
People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement
Act, HR 51 Washington DC Admission Act, addressing
the Filibuster. Watch for details soon.
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