In this Issue
Memories from The Hub
Voter Services Wants YOU!
Environment Sustainability Plans
Reproductive Justice Forum
Juneteenth, Legislations, and MORE! | | | | League-Wide News and Events |
Memories "From the Hub"
As I am writing my last “From the Hub,” it’s Memorial Day. My inbox is flooded with articles which recount historical accounts of the women and men who fought for their country’s preservation—even though in their place in time, they were not considered as eligible to benefit from the privileges of the United States of America: Women who could not vote; Native Americans forced from their lands; free African Americans who were the first to honor Civil War prisoners; Asian-American and Pacific Islanders who sacrificed alongside their fellow Americans.
These memorials give me more reasons for the League of Women Voters of Larimer County (LWVLC) to continue its significant efforts to “Make Democracy Work.” Seems like those efforts will never be finished.
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One act at a time. One on top of another one. We have so many ways to devote ourselves to Government and Reform, Social Policy, International Affairs, the Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice. We have Issues Teams, Voter Services Team, and the Support Teams, Committees, and Groups it takes for us to function.
Whether with your continuing commitment or an action when you can, you have a place in the LWVLC.
I would like to thank the dedicated Board Members of past, present, and upcoming Boards for their dedicated decisions to support your work in the LWVLC. Pat Burger will be ably serving as President and bringing her passion, vision, and energy to us.It’s been an honor to represent you as individuals and as the largest Local League in Colorado!
Jane Hamburger | | Voter Registration
Organizer Needed
Voter Registration is the heart of the League and of the Voter Service Team.
Many people have stepped up to help with voter registration as circulators and lead people, setting up their own events under the League umbrella at farmer’s markets, food banks, at high schools, at senior centers, at Front Range College, at festivals, and at the Larimer County Jail and Work Release/Community Corrections.
The voter registration organizer ensures everyone is trained and has supplies and also sets up and covers some registration events.
Linda Thomas has been the voter registration organizer since 2017 but will step down as of January 2025.
| | | Here is what the Voter Registration Organizer entails:
For More Details, please click on this link:
Voter Registration Organizer Needed
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June 10 7 - 8:30 pm
Civil Liberties Team and
Reproductive Justice Task Force
Public Forum
Foothills Unitarian Church, FC, or via Zoom
Register to receive Zoom link | | | The League of Women Voters of Larimer County’s Civil Liberties Team in collaboration with the Reproductive Justice Task Force of Foothills Unitarian Church will present a General Public Forum on the state of reproductive freedom, rights, and justice in Colorado and more.
Please join us for this important discussion and learn how you can engage in action in the future. Questions? Contact Jane Everham via email or phone: 970-222-9709.
Register on the Calendar page to receive the Zoom link for the meeting. This meeting is open to the public, so please share this information when you invite your friends and neighbors to join in the conversation.
Events | | It’s not too late!
DONATE NOW
Women’s Equality Day Silent Auction!
We are looking for fun, experience-based packages to offer at the silent auction.
Teams, individuals, and other groups are all encouraged to participate!
This year’s silent auction will move to an on-line format so that both event attendees and other members of the community can participate!
Click on the....
WED Virtual Silent Auction Donation Form | | | LWVLC Raises Future Leaders
Mountain View High School Junior Illyana Collins is the winner of the high school “Thompson Kids Can Change the World” 2024 grant competition.
Over the last year, Illya made the decision to help educate and empower high school women about their bodies, so that they can be a generation of understanding and change. Illyana used grant money to execute a Women’s Wellness Retreat in the Thompson School District. She wanted to focus on mental health, self-care, self-defense, and overcoming difficult situations.
About a month before the event, a member of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County spoke during her AP U.S. History Class.
| | | The presentation made her realize what a great resource this organization is for young women. Illyana reached out to Carol Gertsch about having a table at the retreat.
We are in good hands with our Future Leaders!
Pictured: LWVLC members Pat Horner, Carol Gertsch, and Trisha Sellers with grant award winning student Illyana Collins. Photographer: Cindy Linafelter | |
Juneteenth Celebrations
Emancipation Day – commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. A blend of the words June and nineteenth, it marks June 19, 1865, the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, proclaiming that the enslaved African Americans there were free.
It became a federal holiday in 2021 and events marking the holiday sprung up around the country, including in Larimer County!
| | | Fort Collins - Saturday, June 15 from 9:00 am- 2:00 pm at the Foothills Mall.
Music, food, dancing, and community organization tables will fill the inner courtyard. The League’s table will promote membership and civic engagement. Volunteers are needed for shifts of 1 ½ hours; contact Linda Mahan to join the fun. Check out the June 13-14-15 schedule which begins with a free concert.
Loveland - Saturday, June 22 noon- 4:00 pm at the Backyard Tap, 323 Railroad Ave.
BBQ, music by Earnest Washington and the Men of Funk, dancing and more. The League’s voter registration team will be on hand. Stop by to say hi and enjoy the celebration! A backyard BBQ with live music, food, dance and more. This is a family friendly event. Ernest Washington and the Men of Funk will provide live music and if you haven't heard them, now is your chance. They are fantastic!
| Legislative Victories
Make this Year a Winner
LARIMER CAPITOL WATCH
June 1, 2024
Bills passed in the Colorado General Assembly during the 2024 session will soon be taking effect across the state.
Notable among these, supported by the LWVCO, are:
| | | SB24-188: Public School Finance: Most significantly, this bill ended the application of the Budget Stabilization Factor in which the General Assembly borrowed approximately $10 Billion from Colorado public school funding to fund non-school bills since the 2008 recession. This brings Colorado education funding to a 1989 funding level when factoring in inflation.
SB24-216: Standards for Decisions Regarding Library Resources: This bill, commonly known as the Freedom to Read bill concerns purchasing, displaying, and recall/reconsideration challenges to all materials and facilities available in Colorado public libraries. It establishes a detailed process for challenges aimed at preventing discrimination in library policies. Library workers and volunteers are also protected against harassment and disciplinary actions related to adhering to this law.
HB24-1311: Family Affordability Tax Credits: Tax credits available to families with children are defined here with the funding for these tax credits paid out of funds collected beyond that allowed by the Tabor restrictions.
HB24-1313: Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities: This bill requires designated communities to develop a transit corridor and then determine a housing density along this corridor that would help meet housing needs in the community. HB24-1007: Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits: The bill prohibits local governments from enacting or enforcing residential occupancy limits unless those limits are tied to a minimum square footage per person requirement that is necessary to regulate safety, health, and welfare.
HB24-1152: Accessory Dwelling Units: Guidelines for the building of Accessory Dwelling units are described and funding to help with their development is included.The LAC monitored HB24 1448 but did not formally support the bill. Although it included many beneficial provisions, future funding sources for it were not guaranteed.HB24-1448: New Public School Finance Formula: This bill provides more funds for districts serving students with greater needs, districts with low property wealth, and districts that are small or rural. Governor Polis is currently reviewing legislation and signing bills into law or vetoing some, so keep checking for the latest information.
Latest Legislative Info
The LWVCO Legislative Wrap up presented by the League’s Advocacy Team will be zoomed on June 12, 2024, from 7 to 8 p.m. Be sure to register on the League calendar to hear the inside story about what went on during this year’s session.
Events
| Honor a Father
with a donation to our
Endowment Fund
Honor a father or inspiring mentor in your life with a gift to the Endowment Fund of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County.
Your tax-deductible contribution will serve your local League for generations to come. And during the month of June, the League will match donations to the Endowment Fund up to $5,000!
| | | Simply click the Donate button below. Select the Endowment Fund option to make your donation by credit card or check.
Want other League members to know about your honoree? Just add a note when you make your donation. With your permission, we will include your notes of appreciation in the July League Lines.
| | Environmental Sustainability Team (formerly EAT)
and the Earth Need YOU
The Environmental Sustainability Team is looking to build its group email list to anyone interested in joining in on our local actions for Larimer County’s Climate Crisis.
We have reorganized to have each meeting be both educational on environmental issues, as well as actionable in the areas of interests.
Those interest groups are:
Oil, Gas, and Air Quality
Water Quality and Use
Pollinator Habitat
Recycling, Producer Responsibility, and Waste Management
Environmental Justice | | | Our year-long Position Study for Oil and Gas Developments received unanimous member approval at the recent LWVCO Annual Meeting. Thank you! We are now much better equipped to use the noted legislative laws to advocate effectively on every one of our interests listed above. They all connect to Environmental Impact.
Upcoming Events
June 1 10:00 am - 1 pm
FOCO EcoFest and Native Plant Swap
300 LaPorte in Fort Collins
Our Team will represent the LWVLC. With lots of help, we grew 3300 native plants to give away, so you don’t have to bring anything to “swap.”
June 19 10:00-11:30 am via Zoom
Team Meeting
Roxanne of Single-Use-Plastics will be the educational piece. Join us. Register on the web.
Send Jane Hamburger an email if you want to be added to the address list.
Events Jane Hamburger
| | June 3 7 - 9:30 -11:30 AM via Zoom
Great Decisions
NATO's Future
Chapter 5, in the 2024 Great Decisions book.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia?
| | | A Zoom invitation will be sent to all previous participants.
If you are new to GD, and wish to participate, contact Annette DeMartine at ademartine@prolynx.com. For more information about Great Decisions, please contact Karen Heckman.
Upcoming meetings are always announced in the League Lines, and you can find us on the LWVLC website.
Great Decisions meetings are held on the first Monday of each month from February to June and October to December.
Annette DeMartine Karen Heckman Great Decisions | | June 8 9:30 -11:30 AM
Voter Services Team Meeting
In Person Meeting – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
2000 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525
As we prepare for a busy election season, Voter Services needs you!
Please consider joining us for our regular monthly meeting, or at one of the following meetings to learn more about how you can help empower voters in the upcoming fall election. | | | Ballot Issues Pamphlet and Presentation Meeting
June 20th, evening meeting via Zoom
This meeting is to start getting organized for ballot issues pamphlets and presentations. If you’d like to learn more about the work that goes into helping inform voters about the issues on their ballots, please join us!
Candidate Forum Volunteer Training
July 20. Save the Date!
Voter Services will have a training for Forum volunteers on July 20th. More details in the July LL. The positions of Greeter, Timer, Question Sorter, and Moderator will be covered. Contact Judy Weaver for more information.
| June 19 5 - 7:30 pm
South Larimer Discussion Group
Annual Potluck Picnic
Loveland’s North Park, Shelter #3
Please join us! We will celebrate what we accomplished and bring ideas for next year’s SLDG sessions starting in September.
Please bring a dish to share, your own table service, and ideas for South Larimer Discussion.
| | | This event is open to members - old and new - and anyone else who is interested in knowing more about the South Larimer Discussion Group and the League. Shelter #3 is just north of Lake Loveland. Turn into the entrance to North Park off Taft at North Lake Park Road next to the Thompson Valley Emergency Medical Services. The parking lot will be on your right.
SLDG will not meet in July or August.
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