Read on to find the latest edition of the LWVGTA Voter Newsletter.
|  |
LWVGTA December 2024 Voter Article
From the Prez…
Submitted by CM Schlitt
We have, with gratitude, highlighted the work LWVGTA members have completed throughout 2024. If we could give you all a raise or year-end bonus we certainly would! Thank you for your time, talent and treasure!
And out work continues…
The Voter Service Committee is resting, deservedly so, until 2025 local elections require attention. We will be brainstorming plans in the new year.
Action Alerts have been issued by LWVMI this week during the Lame Duck session. If you have not received them, please go to lwvmi.org/take action button (on the upper right corner.)
The Advocacy Committee will be ramping up actions in several ways. The active Natural Resources Subcommittee (interested? Contact Chair Ann Swaney at aswaney@acegroup.cc) will continue their efforts to support the local septic ordinance even as the MI Legislature works through statewide bills in the Lame Duck session. For more information about the bills in the Lame Duck session go to BILL SEARCH.
The Unhoused Subcommittee is following the local ordinances affecting our local unhoused citizens. Interested, contact chair, Charlene Allen at taxlaw123@gmail.com.
Even though the national threat of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants is a federal issue, there are actions we can take at a local level that affect people in our service area. The following is a quote from Bridge online magazine:
Julie Powers, executive director of Immigration Law & Justice Michigan, told Bridge that after the election, her phones in her offices have been “ringing off the hook” with families concerned about deportation.”
“We’re recommending to all our clients, you need to carry documentation of driver’s license, where you live, that you have a job, copies of paperwork at all times, and you need to create a safety plan for your children,” Powers said.
The Leelanau County League, Advocacy Committee, is making this a priority. We can partner with them and jointly reach out to affected people in our counties. We need someone to chair this advocacy subcommittee and to partner with Leelanau advocacy committee. Please contact chairs, Peg Townsend (wakulat4@gmail.com) or Margaret Goeman (goemanma@gmail.com).
The National and State Leagues are studying and defining other advocacy actions in which LWVGTA members may participate.
LWVUS - At the LWVUS 2024 Convention, delegates voted to proceed with a study on the federal judiciary. It includes information and consensus on the LWVUS study on the Federal Judicial system (Constitutional Article III courts only). This is a fast-track study, to be completed in one year as opposed to the traditional 2-year process. The study's purpose includes, but is not limited to, addressing concerns and clarifying judicial accountability, transparency, independence, and ethics. If you have not participated in a national study consensus process and are interested, stay tuned for meeting dates in February/March. Read more at LWVUS.
LWVMI - 2025 brings the LWVMI Program Planning into focus. This is the opportunity to review the state’s positions and offer suggestions for updates or new studies. We will have more information about this process early next year.
We have been sharing information about the new membership process at the national level. The process begins 1 February 2025. We have a Zoom meeting scheduled for Monday, 13 January 2025 at 7:00pm. Look for the link on the lwvgta.org website calendar. Alice Schuman will lead the discussion. To read more about the Transformation process, Click Here.
So, you see, our work is never done! The League is needed now more than ever and so are you!
Enjoy the blessings of the season with those most important to you. Happy holidays!
Christina Schlitt, President
League of Women Voters of The Grand Traverse Area
|  | | JANUARY 13
League Join/Renew Process Update, 7pm Calling all LWVGTA Members. Join us for a webinar to learn more about the changes to the process for paying League dues. This will be more entertaining that it sounds! Starting February 1st, 2025, the National League will be sending emails to each League member introducing the Chapter Spot member portal. Don't be left out, attend the Zoom meeting and be informed. Read more detail about the process below.
February
Member Meeting Planning is underway for a February member meeting. Come hear an informative program, socialize, have some lunch, find your interest group, and celebrate League history. Watch for more details on the lwvgta.org calendar.
HOLIDAY GATHERING SUCCESS
Many thanks to the Holiday Gathering Committee and all the attendees that traveled through the snowy weather to make the occasion a success. The sandwiches, soup and shared dishes were delicious. Generations Ahead presented an interesting program detailing the work they do to help teen parents successfully juggle child rearing, complete educational requirements and build skills to lead fulfilling lives with a stable family environment. It was fun say hello to returning members and meet new members too.
PUT YOUR INTERESTS & SKILLS TO WORK
Observer Corps - Observing is a fun way to learn more about the behind-the-scene happenings in the area. They are looking for an observer for the Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) Board meetings. Email Reba Leiding at leidingr@gmail.com to join.
Advocacy Committee - Advocating for issues in our area is a priority for the LWVGTA. Over time, we have researched and adopted five advocacy positions specific to the five county area that we support. These advocacy positions are affirmed each year at our annual members meeting and they are updated as new avenues are found that align with the National and State positions. We advocate for Environmental and Natural Resources policies as well as Education and County Government. We are currently researching the issue of homelessness in our area and have added an Advocacy Subcommittee for the Unhoused.
Contact Peg Townsend (wakulat4@gmail.com) to join this committee.
Voter Services Committee - Voter registration and education is central to League activities. We hold events to assist voter registration, voter education and encourage voter turnout. At election time we gather information for VOTE411, the League’s electronic voter guide with information on candidates and issues, and sponsor candidate forums. Get involved with the behind-the-scene experience of becoming a Board of Canvasser Observer. This is an active and engaging committee. Volunteer with Christina Schlitt at bcschlitt@aol.com .
Communications Committee - Do you like to write, edit or have experience with web-hosted email, social media or graphic applications? Join the communications team and let your creative side show. Email karensuebaker@hotmail.com to join.
MI LEAGUE ADVOCACY UPDATE
The MI LWV is closely watching a list of Bills for the Lame Duck session to pass and the Governor to sign. These include Statewide Mandatory Periodic Septic inspections, the National Popular Vote, Michigan Voting Rights Act, BRITE Act to bring reforms in integrity, transparency, and ethics, and significant gun safety legislation. Search the status of Bills HERE .
Take action! Contact your representatives for Michigan LWV supported legislation here Take Action!
|
 |
Support the work of LWVGTA with a donation. Click the button to donate by Credit Card or PayPal. You may also write a check to LWVGTA or LWVGTA Education Fund.
Please mail checks to:
LWVGTA
PO Box 671
Traverse City, MI 49685
For more information visit our Donation Page
|
| UPCOMING CHANGES FOR JOINING AND RENEWING MEMBERSHIPS
For Everyone
The national League of Women Voters is changing the process for paying dues, both for new members and renewing members. The changes will start February 1st, 2025. There are three things that members will notice most:
- Each member will be able to choose their own dues amount, with a minimum of $20 per member per year.
- There will be a "self-serve" option, so that members can enter and update their name, address, email, phone number, etc., when they pay their dues online. Members won’t need to remember a new password, instead the system will send a code to your email address each time you want to use the League dues paying portal. If you want to keep renewing by check, that will still be an option.
- When you join, you will receive an email asking for more information about you – your interests, your demographics, what you would like to see the League working on, etc. Current members will get an email in February asking these questions. These questions are all optional – the answers will help the League focus our work better, but you aren’t required to answer the questions in order to be a League member.
We are going to hold a zoom meeting on Monday January 13, 2025 at 7pm. This meeting will provide more information about the changes and be an opportunity for questions and answers. The zoom link can be found at our website, lwvgta.org, on the event calendar.
For Household Memberships
The software the League is going to use starting February 1st, 2025, relies on a unique email address for each member, including second members of a household. We don’t have unique email addresses for most of the second members in household memberships. Providing this second email address is optional, there will be a manual workaround, but it will be easier to renew if each person has a unique email address in the LWV system.
We will be sending emails to each household where we don’t have a second email address. Please send us that email address, if you can.
We know that there are many good reasons why households have not provided a separate email address: some couples share one email account so they don't have another email address to provide, others want to reduce the volume of email so they only provide one email address, others may have added a second household member simply as a way of adding more financial support to the League.
If you don't want to (or can't) provide a second email, here are some alternate options. Please call or email Alice Schuman (917-664-4358, schuman.alice@gmail.com) if you want to choose one of these workarounds:
- If you only have a shared email account, we can help you set up a separate email address that automatically forwards all emails to your shared account. It will exist so that there is a unique email address, but you won't need to remember to check it.
- If you want to hold down the number of emails you receive (and don't we all), you and your household member will always have the option to unsubscribe from either (or all of) the national, state or local email lists.
- If your household member was added as a way of providing more financial support to the League, 1) thank you very much, and 2) the new dues process will be a "choose your own amount with a minimum of $20." You will be able to choose a higher amount you want to pay without having a second household member listed.
- We can plan to use a manual renewal process for the second household member when it is time for you to renew your League membership.
Thanks so much for your patience with our "software update growing pains" and your ongoing support of the League!
|  |  |
Best Wishes for a safe and peaceful Holiday Season from the LWVGTA.
The year may be winding down but our work goes on. As we move into the New Year, the League will continue to promote policies that empower voters, defend democracy, and advocate for a better nation.
If you would like to join the LWVGTA, or renew your membership, visit our website and visit the Join Us Menu.
|  | Advocacy Committee Report
December 2024
Submitted by Co-Chair, Margaret Goeman
C. Schlitt gave an update on legislation pending in our Statehouse and Senate: two of those of particular interest were onsite wastewater treatment systems (HB 4479, 4480 & SB 0299, 0300) and the Right to Read acts (HB 6034 & 6035). The septic bills appear to be stuck in committee, and the Right to Read bills have since been passed by the House and could be voted on by the Senate as early as next Friday, Dec. 20. The National League is conducting a study on ethics in judicial courts and that our League could possibly participate in this study. The Natural Resources & Environment Committee reported that progress is being made by the GT Board of Commissioners on a county septic ordinance but it has not been voted on as of yet. The Leelanau County League is forming an Advocacy Committee to advocate for the immigrants in Leelanau County and will keep the LWVGTA updated on resources for migrants in our area. The next Advocacy Committee meeting is scheduled for January 13 at 10:30.
A subcommittee of the Advocacy Committee was recently created, "Advocacy Subcommittee for the Unhoused." The first meeting was held on October 24th, with five members present. The next meeting is scheduled for January 6th.
The current focus of the subcommittee is researching and gathering information regarding the "homeless" of the Grand Traverse area. Because of the definite closing of the Pines encampment (by the authority of the police) over the next few months, there is considerable debate and concern as to how to address the fallout from the closing and its impact on the community and entities serving the homeless, such as Jubilee House and Safe Harbor. A coalition of stakeholders (including the City, County, Police, Safe Harbor, etc.) has been formed. Updates can be found on the City's website.
Any member desiring more information may contact Charlene Allen, chairperson, at taxlaw123@gmail.com.
Crawford County Unit Report
December 2024
Submitted by Chair, Marcia Koppa
The State of Michigan has added $6 million earlier this month to the previous $25 million for a municipal water supply line. The water line is being built so that residents with PFAS contaminated water can receive clean water from a well 4 miles south of Grayling. Four major areas will be connected to the MWS which will run north to Grayling, west to areas 1 and 2 south to areas 3 and 4 which includes Lake Margarethe. The total length of this pipeline will be approximately 100,000 feet or just short of 19 miles. To complete this job, federal money is necessary.
The Dept. of Defense has decided to tackle military PFAS contaminated areas with the first stage of remediating areas that are 3 times the EPA PFAS standard. As logical as this prioritization is for other military contaminated locations, this would not work for Grayling's. Bottled water and point of use filters have been used by complying residents so we do not have urgency to deal with. To construct a water line and bypass homes which do not have PFAS 3 times the EPA maximum contamination level (MCL), but to supply their neighbors does not make sense, fiscally or logically. A public opportunity to speak on this to the undersecretary of DoD and his staff was done so by LWV CCU member Marcia Koppa. We have yet to hear back from them.
M. Koppa reported to the Advocacy Committee meeting on the PFAS cleanup in Grayling. A letter has been written to inform federal legislators regarding the expense of the cleanup proposal. The letter is to urge the federal government to aid in the efforts to clean up the area. The cleanup will be exceedingly costly, and the state has contributed funds, but the federal government has not. The letter can be viewed by emailing thielrouston@gmail.com.
Communications Committee
December 2024
Submitted by Chair, Karen Baker
The LWVGTA has added LinkedIn to our social media presence. The account creator is new member Lydia Henion. You can find our LinkedIn page by searching for League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area (under companies). The Communications committee is still looking for interested people to help with the Voter Newsletter. If you like to write, informative articles are always welcome. Volunteer if you like photography or videography or possess other technical skills.
|  | | Observer Committee
December 2024
Submitted by Chair, Reba Leiding
Nov. 26, 2024-Benzie Board of Commissioners-Regular Meeting- Nancy Cotcamp
EMS has 3 vacant positions. Friends of Betsie Lighthouse reported on an ongoing variance dispute with EGLE. GT Band of Ottawa and Chippewas are opening a new gaming facility in the county. The Board approved an agreement with Peninsula Fiber Networks for internet services to the Emergency Comm Tower, requested programming support from MDOT for the Frankfort Airport Authority, and approved a grant application to fund a natural gas line extension to 250 customers, among other grants. The county has received no proposals for available opioid funding.
Dec. 4, 2024-Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners-Regular Meeting-Reba Leiding
The Salary Review Ad Hoc Committee belatedly brought its findings and a proposal to eliminate per diems and increase salaries from $12,000 to $24K, with $25K for Vice-chair and $26K for Chair. (Since commissioners are forbidden from giving themselves raises during a term, they must pass a raise in December or wait 4 years.) A motion to keep salaries at status quo failed; the motion to accept the proposed raise and eliminate per diems also failed. Ultimately, BOC voted to eliminate per diems and raise salaries to $18K ($19K for Vice-chair and $20K. BOC also voted to form a standing committee to review elected officials and employees’ salaries/benefits. Discussions on the 2025 budget continued, including input from the district court. Final budget approval is set for the 12/18 meeting. BOC discussed the upcoming separation of Traverse City’s from the county’s IT, and agreed that separating will be costly for all concerned. The City’s insurer is forcing the move.
Dec. 11, 2024- Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners-Study Session-Reba Leiding
The agenda stated a public review legal and financial analysis of taking on bonds for airport expansion. However, Administration provided no information that could be discussed publicly and wanted to go immediately into closed session. After objections and some parliamentary wrangling, the BOC did go into closed session. No information has been released.
Dec. 10, 2024-Benzie County Board of Commissioners-Regular Meeting- Nancy Cotcamp
The Board provided letters of support to Cherry Capital Connection for a grant application for broadband expansion. The Board approved a $19,000 agreement for aerial photography used by equalization and central dispatch; and funded a GED program for the jail. The Board voted to increase their salaries by 3% for the next 3 years; per diems also were increased.
In other news, the Observer Corps has lost our observer for the Northwestern Michigan College Board. If anyone follows NMC news closely, or would like to do so for the LWVGTA Observer Corps, please contact Reba at leidingr@gmail.com
|  | | On Sunday, Dec 15 2024, the Record-Eagle published the Natural Resources & Environment Committee letter in support of Grand Traverse County-Wide Septic System Inspections. Members of the committee have also spoken regarding the urgency of the board passing a septic code for Grand Traverse County. Approximately 25,000 homes and businesses in the county use septic systems and many of these have not been inspected in a very long time. The County Commissioners have been formulating an ordinance with input from the County Health Department, but have not finalized the ordinance or voted to pass it. The Natural Resources Committee letter calls for a 500 ft. distance from a body of water. Since the writing of this letter, the Commission updated their version to a 300 ft. distance which is still supported. Write to your commissioner in support of the point of transfer county-wide septic inspections. Our clean waters depend on it.
Here is the letter as it appeared in the Record-Eagle, for your reference.
It is Time for a Grand Traverse County-Wide Septic System Inspections
Michigan, which rightfully boasts about its pure lakes and streams, is incredibly the only state without a requirement for inspection of home septic systems. Because our area relies on its freshwater for recreation, tourism, food, and drinking water, a proposed Grand Traverse County ordinance to inspect septic systems prior to transfer of property is a great step toward preserving our lakes, streams, and groundwater.
Failing septic systems can pose a serious threat to the quality and safety of groundwater and surface water due to elevated fecal coliform bacteria and nutrient levels (like nitrogen and phosphorus), resulting in degraded aquatic ecosystems. Around one-half of the county’s population uses septic systems, emphasizing the importance of their maintenance and proper functioning.
Studies at Michigan State University indicate that nearly every river in Michigan has been impacted by human waste from failing or substandard septic systems. The farther away a failing septic system is from a surface water the less likely the water will be impacted by contamination.
For that reason, the League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area (LWV-GTA) encourages the Board of Commissioners to adopt a septic system inspection ordinance that, upon property transfer, includes inspection of properties within at least 500 feet of a water body. The current draft ordinance, which only includes inspection of properties directly touching a lake or stream, is insufficient. An inspection program can flag potential failures and require correction, hopefully before contamination reaches a water resource.
While inspection of all septic systems on a regular basis is ideal, it is understandable that the county wants to ramp up its resources to perform and review all inspections by initially limiting the workload. Third parties will be certified to perform the inspections. Therefore, the county should have adequate resources to review inspections on all properties that are transferred within 500 feet of a water body without slowing down the transfer process.
The LWV-GTA commends the Grand Traverse Board of Commissioners for proactively addressing the concern of water contamination from septic systems and encourages Board members to adopt an ordinance that requires inspection of septic systems within at least 500 feet of a water body at the time a property is transferred.
Reach out to your County and Township representatives to encourage them to support this proposed ordinance. Benzie, Leelanau, Kalkaska, and parts of Antrim Counties already have septic system inspection requirements, as does Long Lake Township in Grand Traverse County. It is time Grand Traverse joined the rest of Northwest Michigan in protecting our water resources.
Ann Swaney, Chair of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee, League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area, retired librarian; Carrie Olmsted, Soil Scientist, retired from the Dept of Environment,Great Lakes, and Energy; and Dave Regalbuto, a retired consulting groundwater geologist with 35 years of experience assessing sources, movement, and impact of contaminated groundwater.
|  | |
Martha Griffiths - Women's Rights Champion
By Karen Baker
In February 1964, the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 was up for debate on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Up for a vote was President Lyndon Johnson’s signature legislation, now universally referred to as the “landmark” Civil Rights Act of 1964. This sweeping law would prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion in voting; access to public education, employment, and public accommodations; and in federally assisted programs, but nowhere was there mention of extending these protections on the basis of sex. A few legislators agreed to propose an amendment that added sex to the four original categories, but only in Title VII (equal employment opportunity). Many amendments to the Civil Rights Act were proposed and debated on for days, but when the sex amendment was offered by Rep. Howard W. Smith of Virginia, it was vocally derided and joked about, even after passionate speeches from supporting women. The laughter was silenced by Martha Griffiths, a representative from Detroit, Michigan when she rose and said "I presume that if there had been any necessity to point out that women were a second-class sex, the laughter would have proved it." Afterwards, it was said that “The House sat silent for 20 minutes. Not a single male lawyer arose to challenge the lady’s legal brief.” The amendment passed by a vote of 168 to 133, a major coup considering that, in 1964, there was still no widespread national women’s rights movement.
Martha Griffiths also sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment and successfully guided its passage through the House of Representatives in 1973, but did not get to see it published as an amendment. In her career as a U.S. Representative, Griffiths was the first woman to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means. She was also the first woman in history to be elected to the position of lieutenant governor and held the office in the state of Michigan from 1981 to 1983.
| League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area
Serving the people of Antrim, Benzie, Crawford, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties
PO Box 671, Traverse City, MI 49685
Voicemail: (231) 714- 9763
| LWVGTA Board
Directors: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
Officers:President - Christina Schlitt, Secretary - Karen Baker, Treasurer - Ingrid Brophy.
Board of Directors: (elected)
Advocacy Chair - Peg Townsend, Advocacy Co-Chair - Margaret Goeman, Crawford County Unit Lead - Marcia Koppa, Membership Committee - Laura Otwell, Natural Resources and Environment Chair - Ann Swaney, Observer Corps Chair - Reba Leiding, Voter Services Chair - unfilled, Library Chair - unfilled, At Large - Robbin Stott - Facebook, At Large - Nancy Nordfjord - Voter Newsletter Editor.
Appointed Directors: (non-voting, one year term)
Karen Baker - Communication
Consultants:
Linda Crandall, Mary Grover, Jane Watts, Jan Warren, Barb Berry
Nominating Committee: (one year term)
Charlene Krygier (Chair), Alice Schuman and Ann Swaney
| | If you wish to unsubscribe to the Voter Newsletter from LWVGTA, please reply to this message or send an email to info@lwvgta.org with "unsubscribe from Voter" in the subject. If you wish to receive fewer emails, or only emails on a specific topic, please reply to this message with more details about which messages you want to receive. | |