REPORT FROM THE LWV’S ECONOMIC INEQUALITY STUDY GROUP

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Leaguers here’s a fact you might consider when asking who holds power, especially with all the anti-democratic legislation emerging out of the Legislature:

“Between 1979 and 20 12, average incomes for the top 1% in Wisconsin more than doubled, after being adjusted for inflation. In contrast the remaining 99% saw less than 2% growth. Put another way, $91 out of every $100 of income growth that occurred between 1979 and 2012 in WI wound up in the pockets of the top 1%.”
— Center on Wisconsin Strategy, UW Madison, Pulling Apart 2015: Focus on Wisconsin’s 1 Percent

After much reading and gathering of materials the Income Inequality Study group is beginning its discussion of what their written report will look like as well as the conclusions and recommendations to be drawn from their work.  

Most importantly the group is now also organizing the public education aspects of its work.  On Tuesday, November 17, the Public Education subcommittee has arranged for the LWV/ABC to co-host a new movie, Education, Inc. with the Bay Area Film Society at 7 PM StageNorth in Washburn.  The film examines the issues facing public schools around the country.  A panel of school teachers and administrators will comment on the film afterward.  They are also organizing a forum for Monday, January 11 featuring UW Madison Education professor, Julia Meade, a critic of the movement to privatize public education.  It will be held at the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center.

The Employment Issues Subcommittee is also approaching Northland College to partner on a forum this Spring on “Socially Just Entrepreneurship”.  The Safety Net Subcommittee is also looking at a spring date for a public education event on “Defending the Social Safety Net”.

The next Study Committee meeting dates will be at 5:30 pm at the Blue Wave Restaurant on Monday, December 7 and Thursday, January 7.  Any League or community member who wants to join the study group is welcome.  Please contact Linda Jorgenson at 373-2948, or Jan Penn at 274-2942.

 

Phoebe Kebec at Our Annual Membership Meeting

/ Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center/
 

"The role of tribes in addressing environmental issues in Northern Wisconsin" was the main topic for Philomena Kebec during the League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties Annual Membership meeting at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Wednesday evening.

Approximately 55 people attended the event, which covered topics like the foundations of Indian Law, treaties and the problems of environmental law.

The Ashland Daily Press featured an article about Phoebe's talk. Click here to access the article.

 

LWV/ABC Entry in Bayfield AppleFest Parade!

/ Bayfield Applefest Parade /

In celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, LWV/ABC members dressed up as Suffragettes for the Bayfield AppleFest Parade.

Lu Eckels, one of the founding members of LWV/ABC, was the grande dame of our entry.

We were honored to have Senator Janet Bewley, Representative Beth Meyers and Judge Gary Sherman join us in the march!

LWV/ABC Honored At Bayfield Applefest Opening Ceremonies

/ Bayfield Applefest Main Stage/

On Friday October 2, at the Opening Ceremony for Bayfield Applefest 2015, the League of Women Voters of Ashland & Bayfield Counties received a wonderful proclamation from Bayfield mayor Larry MacDonald.

The proclamation highlighted our Applefest parade entry celebrating the 95th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, and honored LWV/ABC for the work of the league in making democracy work here in Northern Wisconsin.

Lu Eckels, a founding member of LWV/ABC, accepted the award. She was accompanied by her daughter Dede Eckels and Madelaine Herder, LWV/ABC president.

How wonderful to carry on the tradition begun by women like Lu and others, who founded our local league so many years ago!

View a video of the presentation below.

LWV Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Electing the President

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Taken From LWV website By Maggie Bush

It may not even be Election Day 2015, but we all know that the battle for the White House in 2016 is already well underway. With presidential primaries just a few months away, the League has answers to voters' most frequently asked questions about the process of electing the president. We have once again teamed up with the Newspaper in Education Institute to produce Electing the President, a handy guide outlining all you need to know about the presidential election process. The guide will appear in newspapers nationwide as well as be shared with schools, community organizations and voters who need a helping hand as they navigate the election process. 

From helping navigate the complex nomination process to providing succinct tips for making sense of the daily barrage of campaign coverage and advertising, Electing the President serves as a go-to resource all the way up to Election Day. Check out our PDF guide here !

Celebrate 19th Amendment Anniversary — Join LWVABC Applefest Parade Entry

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In honor of the 95th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, we will be participating in the Bayfield Applefest Parade, which takes place on Sunday, October 4th at 2:00pm — judging is at 1:00pm sharp, before the parade.

We are going to be Suffragettes!! We will have an old car or two, and will dress the part. Men are welcome to join us in costume in the parade, as are kids and grandkids — the more the merrier! Lu Eckels, a founding member of LWVABC, will join us in the parade.

This year we will use our annual membership meeting on September 28th to plan our entry, discuss costumes, and create sashes to wear and posters to carry! Check out the photos below for inspiration! We will also learn the LWVABC song, shared with us by Lu!!

Please invite your friends and prospective new members! What a great way to inspire participation in our wonderful organization — as well as to remind ourselves of the fragility of our rights, including our right to vote!

Remember that if you have visitors that weekend, they are welcome to join us in the parade, and will probably have lots of fun!

Lu Eckels Honored for Lifetime of Service

/ Northland College Ponzio Center/

CELEBRATION IS SUNDAY

Lu Eckels, a former director of teacher education at Northland College, will be honored Sunday as the Northland College Alumni Office, colleagues and friends hold a celebration for her at the Ponzio Campus Center.

Eckels played a vital role in training many teachers that served this community and beyond. She has lived a life of giving back, having served on a number of educational boards and steering committees including the Lake Superior Association of Colleges and Universities and Wisconsin Public Radio. Eckels started the League of Women Voters in the region and is a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa-International Honorary Sorority of Woman Educators.

She recently turned 86, and Northland want to celebrate her work, her life, and the impact she had on improving education. As former Northland President Malcolm McLean once said, "Lu's contributions to Northland College are simply extraordinary; infinitely generous, and energetic contributions to the life of the college."

A catered lunch will be held in her honor from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The cost is $15 per person and RSVPs can go to alumni@northland.edu or by calling 715-682-1811.