Did you know that the LWV has the power to litigate on your behalf? When democracy itself is under threat, we have a responsibility to speak out — clearly and forcefully. Our nonpartisan commitment strengthens our voice, allowing us to advocate for fundamental rights and freedoms without being seen as beholden to any political agenda. Litigation empowers our fight for the issues that matter most to communities: protecting the right to vote, promoting fair and accessible elections, ending big-money corruption, and reinforcing the dignity that people across the country deserve.

In the courts, the League secured major legal victories, including blocking unlawful efforts to restrict voter registration. More efforts include the fight to stop the misuse of federal databases, opposing attempts to silence civic organizations and fighting back against new forms of voter intimidation, including legal action in cases involving artificial intelligence. Every case, every ruling and every injunction protects the voices of millions of voters.

Read more detail about the League's legal actions, LWVUS LEGAL CENTER  

Traverse Area District Library
2026 Civics & Democracy Programing at TADL.
In honor of the USA's 250th anniversary, the Library is offering a year of civics celebratory programing.
TADL Civics Programs
Community Resources - Community Resources Page

Feb 24, 2026 Voter Education Presentation at the Benzie Shores District Library in Frankfort, 11:00 am. The topic will be "Ways to get started with civic engagement"

Crawford County Unit (CCU) The LWV will have a new League soon, representing Crawford, Otsego and Roscommon counties. The Crawford County Unit's application to is with the LWVMI and should be considered in March. The name will be the LWV of North Central Michigan (LWV NCM). Meetings are the 3rd Monday at 10:00. Contact Christina Schlitt at crawford-county@lwvgta.org for meeting details. 

Voter Services Committee - Voter Services activities for 2026 are picking up steam! We had our first Voter Education/Registration table of the year at TADL on Tuesday this week. We will be there on the second Tuesday of each month 11am-1pm throughout 2026. Our goal is to average one voter information table per week until the election somewhere in our services area. We are actively talking to other possible venues, including high schools. Suggestions for places to set up our table are welcome.

We enjoyed an informative training session on January 30 on "how to work at a voter information/registration table" for 8 members of the voter service committee. We will be holding another training session soon. Please email Alice at voterservices@lwvgta.org to get on our list for the next training. There are a lot of voters out there who want more information about our elections, we need your help!

The Vote411.org team is starting to organize our work for this year to have complete candidate information available to voters. Three programs have been developed for library presentations. The topics are an overview of Michigan election processes, fact finding and civic engagement. They are being presented first at the Benzie Shores District Library in Frankfort in Jan-Feb; they will be presented again at the Traverse Main Library in March-Jun. See the lwvgta.org event calendar for details. These are designed to be presented at libraries throughout our services area. If you like public speaking, and want to be trained on these presentations, please speak up!
The voter services committee meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 10am-11am via zoom. See the lwvgta.org website event calendar for the zoom link or email voterservices@lwvgta.org. Please join us!

Advocacy Committee - The Advocacy Committee has had their Record Eagle Op Ed published in the Record Eagle, Public Libraries Are Essential to Democracy. The next piece will have an environmental focus. The committee is working on reviewing the LWVGTA Advocacy Program getting an update in 2026. This includes review and updating local advocacy positions. Margaret Goeman presented the "Know what you Sign" presentation at the TC Sunrise Rotary on February 4, and it is scheduled at the League general membership meeting on February 18.

The possibility of a new advocacy meeting was discussed, modeled on one from Illinois, called "Democracy Drop-In." People want to know how they can become more involved in current issues and this type of meeting provides some guidance on action. It would be a monthly meeting to examine and discuss a current issue and learn ways to take action on this issue. An current actionable item is the SAVE Act.

RE Forum - LWVGTA Public Libraries Essential to Democracy

Observer Committee - At a special meeting, the TCAPS Board voted 5-2 to accept $1.4M in state aid for school mental health and safety programs. Per the agreement with the State, TCAPS must agree to waive attorney-client privilege and agree to state investigations in the event of a mass-casualty event. This was after the district previously became part of a lawsuit opposing the State’s terms for the aid. (Note: a Bridge Michigan article reported that hundreds of school districts rejected the funding.)

The Crawford County Commission received a grant for housing and is working on further grants; the Opioid Steering Committee is applying for 3 grants. There will be 2 school millage elections in May. A public commenter condemned elections and the LWV.

Grand Traverse County BOC took initial steps toward a new jail, with 2 large planning committees being formed that will oversee facilities and technical planning, respectively; members include law enforcement, mental health and community advocates. BOC heard from United We Smile founders about the dental office’s closure, which affects area veterans. BOC passed a motion for county Administration and the Health Dept to explore options to continue UWS's mission. BOC also heard a report from the Housing and Homelessness Task Force. In its February study session, BOC heard from the county IT Director about AI, the dept's largely successful security measures, and employees' reluctance to take IT training.

Members: The role of local governments is important, especially in these times. Learn more about the Observer Corps at the membership meeting on Feb. 18 and how you can get involved.

Natural Resources and Environment - Nat’l Resources & Environment Committee Looks to the Future. advocate for the repeal of the Trump Administration’s orders to keep coal-fired power plants open beyond its scheduled closure, including Campbell in West Olive, MI, we decided to take up that cause. How much, and which, rate payers will pay for this additional cost is unknown, but could impact everyone in the Midwestern Regional Grid or Michigan rate payers alone (as it pertains to Campbell Plant).

The Homestead Resort sprays its incompletely-treated sewage within feet of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake shore. Some of the spray turns to mist that blows onto the Park grounds. Testing has determined that the effluent is unsafe for human exposure so the surrounding area has had to be posted with warning signs, and some ten acres are unavailable for public use. The LWVGTA is working to encourage EGLE to revise The Homestead groundwater discharge permit, so it doesn't impact adjacent areas. We will also work with the LWV Leelanau on any actions they may be taking on this issue.

Plastics - The committee is investigating plastic alternatives education to share with members.   Materials Managemnt Planning - The Tri-County Materials Management meetings are being monitored for news by committee members. ~Ann Swaney, Committee Co-Chair

Wise Words

It's all about finding the calm in the chaos. ~Donna Karan