President’s Notes

Welcome to 2025 when the work of the League will be just as important as ever.

Our role in educating voters and preserving democracy continues. We can remain non-partisan as an organization while criticizing racist, sexist, harmful and dangerous policies proposed by the incoming administration. Our national president, Dianna Wynn, said “Despite what political parties would have you believe, issues are not inherently partisan...Advocating for gender and racial equality is not partisan. Calling out attacks on democracy is not partisan. After all, our mission is to ‘defend democracy’. We cannot live up to our mission if we are unwilling to speak up and speak out.”

And our members DO speak up and speak out! The fellowship and commitment of our growing League locally, statewide and across the nation can bring us camaraderie and hope. Let’s remain engaged and involved. Join a committee. Participate in our book discussion. Attend a League forum on Zoom. Recruit a friend to become a member.

I’m energized and honored to be doing this meaningful work with you!

Take care and take action,

Lisa Blanchard

Microplastics and Health

Micro and nano plastics are extremely prevalent in our environment and the amount is rising. Worldwide, we now produce 350 million tons of plastic every year.

A flurry of recent research has confirmed that microplastics are in virtually everything we consume from bottled water to meat to plant-based foods. They enter our bodies as we inhale them, consume them and through our cosmetics and clothing. Researchers have found these plastics in our brains, bloodstream, body organs, and in the placenta and fetal tissue. Chemicals added to make plastics are also found in our bodies and it’s suggested that these too, are causing health problems.

The health effects may be broad and significant. Microplastics are being implicated in cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, neurological symptoms, inflammatory bowel disease, and oxidative stress. The chemicals in micro and nano plastics are accused of causing cancers, metabolic disorders, ADHD, and fertility issues.

The LWVNLM Environment and Health Committees are planning a public forum on this topic, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 – 6:30 pm at the Petoskey Public Library. John Meeker, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences and Senior Associate Dean for Research, University of Michigan, has agreed to provide us with a review of recent research on health and micro plastics and will be our featured speaker. The forum is supported by the Friends of the Library and will also be broadcast via Zoom.

A heartfelt thanks to all members who participated in our Voter-related activities in the recent election cycle! Volunteers are too numerous to mention individually, but we provided voter registration/information opportunities at local farmers’ markets, high schools, NCMC, and more. We gave presentations on the new Voting Rights from the 2022 ballot initiative. We sent 2000 Get Out the Vote postcards. We reached out to more than 350 candidates in races through our three counties inviting them to participate in the VOTE411 online voter guide. We produced a local insert to the State Voter Guide, and distributed over 2000 copies. We served as election inspectors and observed Board of Canvassers meetings. We were honored to support our democracy in this way!

Over the next few months we will be working on creating educational presentations for students on how the voting process works, the importance of voting, and the importance of being INFORMED voters, and where/how to find trustworthy information. We also plan to develop information for local legislative bodies on the mission and activities of the LWV. We also plan to tackle specific topics where we can contribute our knowledge about voting and the voting process, such as Ranked Choice Voting. Please join this remarkable group of women in this important effort!

2024 HOLIDAY PARTY

Over 60 members and friends of the LWVNLM enjoyed an evening of food, drink, holiday shopping and camaraderie at our 5th Annual Holiday Party. A BIG thank you to Crooked Tree Arts Center for again allowing us to use their beautifully decorated space and also to our dedicated and talented Membership committee!

“We are facing a species emergency. We can survive, but to do so will require a planned and deliberate migration of a kind humanity has never before undertaken. This is the biggest human crisis you’ve never heard of.”

Drought-hit regions bleeding those for whom a rural life has become untenable. Coastlines diminishing year on year. Wildfires and hurricanes leaving widening swaths of destruction. The culprit, most of us accept, is climate change, but not enough of us are confronting one of its biggest, and most present, consequences: a total reshaping of the earth’s human geography. As Gaia Vince points out early in Nomad Century , global migration has doubled in the past decade, on track to see literal billions displaced in the coming decades. What exactly is happening, Vince asks? And how will this new great migration reshape us all?

In this deeply-reported clarion call, Vince draws on a career of environmental reporting and over two years of travel to the front lines of climate migration across the globe, to tell us how the changes already in play will transform our food, our cities, our politics, and much more. Her findings are answers we all need, now more than ever. (from goodreads)

If you want to learn more about the book, this short piece from The Guardian will pique your interest!

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

A New Way to Renew Your Membership is Coming!

In February, all Leagues will transition to ChapterSpot, the new system for paying dues. In late 2025, you will pay your dues and update information directly in Chapter Spot.

What do you need to do now?

1. In February, look for a message from Chapter Spot along with reminders from LWVNLM. You will be asked to log on to ChapterSpot to “claim your membership.” This will connect your existing membership with the new system.

2. Then you will enter your email and receive a code. Once you enter the code, you will be logged in. No password is needed.

3. Most of us will renew memberships at the end of 2025. Well before that date, LWVNLM will send instructions on using ChapterSpot for membership renewal. 

Learn more:

Click here to view the NEW MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM FAQS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Lori O’Neill, Karen Donnelly, Julie Stoppel, Denise Drake

WE ARE 159 MEMBERS STRONG!

As a member, you have access to the “members page” on our website. Email info@lwvnlm.org for the passcode. All members receive our LWVNLM newsletters and the quarterly LWVNLM Northern Voter by email. If you have not been getting these, please email info@lwvnlm.org for assistance.

The Membership Committee is looking for new members.  If you like to party, we'd love to have you join us!  We have lots of one-time tasks in addition to longer-term planning for events such as the annual December Holiday Party, ongoing New Member Orientation and our June Annual Meeting.  Celebration, recruitment, support, recognition - we have something for everyone! Contact Mary Netzky, mary.netzky@gmail.com.

STAY INFORMED ON ALL LWVNLM ACTIVITIES

• Website - You’ll find links to our events calendar, committee meetings, our most recent public forum, legislative action alerts, and the members only page, to name a few. Check it out.

• YouTube Channel - This houses all of our recorded public forums. If you’re new to the League or have never visited the site, check out some of the topics we’ve covered over the last few years. It might give you an idea for a future public forum topic. Please click subscribe when you visit!

• Newsletters - We send a quarterly Northern Voter, and periodic interim newsletters to all members via email.

I was hooked on politics after that: majored in poli sci at MSU, canvassed for McGovern in East Detroit,  then went on a 17-year hiatus when I had our 3 boys. During that time, I taught government as an adjunct at North Central Michigan College for several years, and then began teaching 7th grade social studies at Petoskey Middle School once my kids were older. I loved teaching and my goal was for kids to develop an appreciation for diverse cultures, religions and peoples. I had the best colleagues and together we put on cultural days where we sampled African and Asian cuisine, brought in ethnic storytellers and dancers, took field trips where we visited a Buddhist temple and ate Ethiopian food in Detroit and the Dennos museum in Traverse City whose docents put on fabulous immersive cultural days for us.

But the thing I think I’m most proud of is when my teaching partner and I started a Michigan Youth in Government (YIG) chapter at the middle school and later at the high school. YIG is a hands-on program where students write bills and then participate in a mock legislature on the floor of our state capitol. We attended 2-day conferences in Lansing for middle school students, and 5-day conferences for PHS students. (We also put on mock presidential elections at the middle school which probably couldn’t be done today.) Even though I’ve been retired for 12 years, YIG is still going strong at PMS and PHS.

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in August by gathering together with our three sons, daughters-in-law and 3 grandchildren. Tom and I enjoy spending time with our family and traveling to historical locations.

Jimmy Carter’s passing brought back memories of seeing him in-person on the eve of his election in 1976. We have visited his boyhood home in Plains twice - even staying in an inn renovated by Jimmy and Rosalynn! We recently visited the Carter Center in Atlanta and donated our last vehicle to Habitat to Humanity. I mention all of this because we aspire to a life that reflects our values just as the Carters’ did.

Involvement in the LWV was a no-brainer. I remember my parents watching the presidential debates that were moderated by the LWV and being so impressed with those women! After being heavily involved in party politics over the years, I became disenchanted with the harsh partisan aspect of it. I have come to believe the most important thing we can do as citizens is to vote and I’m so proud to be part of this organization and working with such talented, dedicated women and men.

*note from the BOD - Sue is a founding member of the LWVNLM, helping with the years long planning and organizing to establish our local League.

LWVMI Bi-Annual Convention 2025

The LWVMI will hold its 2025 Convention in Grand Rapids over the weekend of May 16-18. Seven LWVNLM members went to the 2023 convention and it was really fun! We learned a lot about the League and were inspired by the people we met! Any member is welcome to attend as a voting or nonvoting delegate. Speak to any BOD member if interested.

Planning is underway and League members will receive information soon about upcoming dates for submitting suggested bylaw changes, program, costs and events. Watch the January League Links for helpful information that will make member participation meaningful.

What’s in a name?

Why do we keep the name League of WOMEN voters when we have men in the League? After all, don’t we represent all voters? Learn why the League decided to remain the League of WOMEN Voters

Did you know the League has public policy positions on issues covering the environment, equal rights, housing, libraries, reproductive rights, dark money in politics, education, school safety, to name a few? There are positions at the National, State and Local levels. Check out this link to the core document, Impact on Issues, to review some of the League positions.

The LWV is hosting a webinar, League Policy Positions and How You Can Use Them, Thursday January 16th, 3-4pm. Register here and find out how you can advocate at the local level for issues that are important to you.

LWV President Dianna Wynn reflecting on the election:

We are proud of the League's work this election to empower voters and protect voting rights. However, we are deeply concerned for the future of women in the United States — as well as LGBTQIA+, Black, brown, and immigrant communities. We have reason to be concerned considering Mr. Trump’s past actions in office, promises made, and the tinge of sexism and racism throughout the campaign. 

The League is an expert in nonpartisanship with over a century of experience in pro-democracy work. Navigating through a hyper-partisan political environment in a nonpartisan manner can be confusing to some. Despite what political parties may have you believe, issues are not inherently partisan. Of course, political parties take partisan positions on issues. But that does not alter the League’s nonpartisan approach.  

Advocating for gender and racial equity is not partisan. Calling out attacks on democracy is not partisan. After all, our mission is to “defend democracy.” We cannot live up to our mission if we are unwilling to speak up and speak out. 

Observer Corp Chair: Penny Crim, paigecrim@charter.net. Meet as needed.

Health Care Committee Chairs: Patty Fralick, plfralick@gmail.com, Jackie Mitchell jackiemitchell06@me.com Meet 1st Thursday of the month, 9:00am.

Environment & Natural Resources Committee Chairs: Marcia Meyer, marciakmeyer@gmail.com and Ann Scott, alscott2050@gmail.com. Meet 2nd Tuesday of the month, 2:00pm.

Equal Rights Advocacy Chair: Jessica Shaw-Nolff, jnolff6@gmail.com. Date and time varies. Check events page.

Membership Committee Chair: Mary Netzky, mary.netzky@gmail.com, 2nd Monday of the month, 3:30pm

Voter Services Committee Co-chairs: Dibby Smith, dibbys@aol.com, Shelli Duff, Sduff8991@gmail.com. Meet 2nd Wednesday of the month, 10:00am

LWVNLM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

The League of Women Voters Northern Lower Michigan is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in principle and in practice.  There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization.  Diversity, equity and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.