National Voter Registration Day 2021: September 28

 

League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area will celebrate National Voter Registration Day on September 28th by hosting a voter registration event at the Park Rapids Public Library.  Our members will be available at an information table from  9:30 am to 5:30 pm. We can help you verify your voter registration information and make updates if necessary.  Then you will be already to vote in the next election. They can also help you apply for an absentee ballot.

If you don't have time to stop by and visit with our members in person, on your phone , tablet or home computer, please go to https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote/ .  You can verify your registration and check out all the other details of how to vote in Minnesota.

Still Need help?

Call us at 1-877-600-VOTE (8683) or contact your county election office.

See you at the library on Sept. 28th and remember as a citizen voting is your right and your responsibility: Stay informed. 

Join LWV PRA and Beagle and Wolf’s Current Events Book Club for a community discussion:

 

Minnesotans love to talk about the weather especially because it seems to swing from one extreme to the next very quickly. Within one month, especially in spring or fall, we can have summer-like-heat or winter-cold. It can rain buckets in an hour and wash away the road, or it can be hot, dry and dusty like this year.

“It seems to me that in the 1960s, June in Park Rapids meant sweatshirts and long pants in the morning, then shorts or swim suits by noon, but back to the sweatshirts by evening,” said Carolynne White, League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area (LWVPRA) member, who grew up in Park Rapids and retired here. “The night always cooled off for sleeping. I didn’t know anyone who had air conditioning, especially not in their cabins. We didn’t seem to need it. There was usually at least one week of constant rain or drizzle too. But this summer, the air conditioning is so welcome and I’m glad I have an irrigation system for my garden.”

The changing climate and what effects it has on our lives has now become a “hot” topic of discussion. LWVPRA and Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery invites all interested people to have a community conversation about these changes.

To focus the discussion it is suggested that people get together in smaller groups over the summer to view David Attenborough’s film titled A Life on Our Planet. It is on Netflix or the DVD may be available at the library. This beautiful film shows Attenborough’s personal memories of the places he has filmed over the last 70 years and the amazing changes he has seen on our planet. Invite family, friends, neighbors and have your own movie night.

If you are a reader you can get the book version at Beagle or the library. The book is called:  A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future.

Attenborough has worked with the BBC for close to 70 years. Many people associate him with beautifully-shot nature documentaries -  Our Planet, Planet, Earth II and Blue Planet II, etc. His films deal with the impact humankind is having on the planet.

The discussion about climate changes world wide and locally will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 with a hybrid meeting of the Current Events Book Club. After you have watched the film or read the book, send your RSVP to lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org for an in person session at the bookstore (so organizers can be sure to have enough space) or send you the Zoom link.

Link to the Trailer for A Life on Our Planet 

Annual Meeting was a success!

On June 16th, 2021 LWV Park Rapids held its Annual Meeting. This time in Heartland Park and even though the wind gave us a bit of worry at first.  We heard from Chris & Dan Wilde and Alan Kris about their Telsa cars. We also heard from the Novaks, the Hedeens and Beth Baker Knuttila who all own hybrid cars.  You can watch the entire program on You Tube:  https://youtu.be/m0BL2-HBW4k. 

After the presentation the LWVPRA elected officers and confirmed committee chairs as well as affirmed our policies on non-partisanship, diversity and conflict of interests.  Thank you to all who stepped forward to fill these important jobs that will take LWVPRA into our 2nd century of work in our community. 

June 16th at Heartland Park: Is an Electric Car or even a hybrid really a good idea for northern MN?

Program on Electric cars plus Annual Meeting:

 

 League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area (LWVPRA) invites everyone who helped celebrate the League’s Centennial (a year late) to a special program and annual meeting.

When the League was founded 101 years ago, its main mission was to educate voters on the major issues of the day. One of the “hottest topics” recently has been whether and how to support a change from gas-powered vehicles to all-electric vehicles. Almost everyone has seen articles and heard programs on the pros and cons of this change, but this is usually from a state or national viewpoint.

LWVPRA is inviting the public to

Heartland Park (Pavilion #3) at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 16

for an educational program on electric cars. Local electric car owners, Dan and Chris Wilde and Alan Kriz, will talk about their experiences with their electric cars.

The Wildes and Kriz considered owning electric vehicles because they have always been energy conscious and concerned about the environment.

“When we purchased our first BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) in 2015, there was not as much choice of affordable cars,” Dan Wilde said. “We found a Nissan Leaf dealer near our home (in California) that had a great sale on at the time. We test drove the car and liked it so we made our first purchase. For the Tesla, I did extensive reading on the internet about the car and also got to test drive our neighbor’s Tesla. Tesla was the only car at the time of our purchase that had a range greater than 300 miles. It also has a great nationwide supercharging system that makes long distance travel more convenient.”

After the presentation, the public can ask questions about the two Telas and 3 hybrid cars that will be in the parking area so the public can get an up close look at them.

The LWVPRA Annual Meeting will follow the car event. All are welcome to stay and learn more about the League. The agenda includes electing new officers, ratifying our nonpartisan and diversity policies as well as voting on the annual budget.

Reminder: All League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area programs are free and open to the public. Please direct any questions about LWVPRA activities, events or how to join LWVPRA (not for women only) by emailing lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow League activities, events at lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/.

Find out who started our local League of Women Voters

After planning for most of 2019 to celebrate the 19th Amendment’s centennial year, League of Women Voters Minnesota (LWVMN) created a traveling exhibit to recognize the organization’s mission and history over the past century. Then we all know what happened: Covid-19. The exhibit was cancelled.
   
Now finally from Sunday, May 23 through Saturday, May 29, the celebration can begin. The LWVMN Traveling Exhibit will be here in Park Rapids at The Armory Arts & Events Center, (201 Park Ave. So.). The show will also include a look at local League history and memorabilia.

The exhibit will be open to the public starting Sunday, May 23 with a play titled “The Suffragists plus One” at 2:30 p.m. This play has been performed several times over the last 13 years by members of LWV of the Park Rapids Area (LWVPRA). This may be the last chance to see it. The exhibit will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. each day except Wednesday, May 26. That day the public is invited to view the exhibit between 3 and 7 p.m. See the exhibits, pick up coupons or gift cards from local restaurants, and go out to eat.

A grand door prize will be given in a drawing May 29. Visitors can enter the drawing every day and do not need to be present to win. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Armory has a lift to accommodate those with mobility needs.

Exhibit visitors will discover that growing from the deep roots of the suffrage movement in the 19th century, Minnesota’s non-partisan League of Women Voters uses a statewide network of local chapters to encourage informed and active participation in government, register and empower voters, work to increase understanding of public policy issues, cultivate women leaders, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.

  Specifically, the goals of the 12-panel exhibit are:

• To recognize and celebrate a century of activism by LWV Minnesota
• To recall our history through a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion
• To activate visitors to educate themselves and to vote
• To remind visitors that democracy depends on their participation, and
• To empower visitors to act in defense of democracy

The local League’s goals of the exhibit are:

• To recognize and celebrate a century of activism by LWV Minnesota
• To recall our state and local history, and
• To remind visitors that democracy depends on their participation.
  

LWVPRA is a non-partisan volunteer organization, whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government and influence public policy through education and advocacy. All our programs are free and open to the public. Please direct any questions about LWVPRA activities, events or how to join LWVPRA (not for women only) by emailing lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow our activities, events on our website: lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/.

Park Rapids LWV Event – “2020 Census: Local Impact and Redistricting”

The Park Rapids League of Women Voters held a program via Zoom on April 21, 2021

Antonio Franklin, Economic Development Planner for Headwaters Regional Development Commission, was the guest speaker.  He provided an update on the 2020 Census outcome and a dive into the redistricting process and timeline.  With the state’s mandatory redrawing of all political districts affecting citizens, Franklin  shared steps that Hubbard County residents can take to encourage a more transparent process. 

Franklin’s primary work focuses on regional economic recovery and resiliency projects through the Headwaters Regional Development Commission.  He also provides support on economic development projects for communities and non-profits in the region.  He recently administered $3.1 million in COVID-19 business relief grants to small businesses in the region.

Follow up information provide by Antonio: 

Here are a few links to better understand how the pre-census data is determined.  

• https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-national-total.html
• https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/about/schedule.html
  
  

 The resources from the Antonio's presentation: 

Impact of Redistricting in Your Community Guide

• League of Women Voters - https://www.lwv.org/
• MN Sec. of State Office -  www.sos.state.mn.us
  
• Funders Committee for Civic Participation  https://funderscommittee.org/

Below are the SOS Office Redistricting Guide,  a Collaborative Redistricting Guide and link to the full video of the presentation. These guides are great resources take a deeper dive into the redistricting process.  

• Click here to watch the video tape 
• Click here to view the Antonio's powerpoint pdf 
• 2011 redistricting guide pdf 
• The Impact of Redistricting in YOUR Community

April 21st: at 4 pm : “ Update 2020 Census: Local Impact and Redistricting”

 

Local League of Women Voters will host program on “Update 2020 Census: Local Impact and Redistricting”
   

Last year Hubbard County’s Complete Count committee spent many hours helping with the 2020 Census count. This effort will affect everything from how much Hubbard County and school districts get from state and federal agencies for projects as well as our citizens’ representation in the Legislature and in Congress. The updated Census numbers also will affect how county commissioner districts are drawn.
    The Park Rapids League of Women Voters invites you to join them via Zoom at 4 p.m. Wednesday,  April 21 for a program titled “2020 Census: Local Impact and Redistricting.”

Antonio Franklin, economic development planner for Headwaters Regional Development Commission, will be guest speaker. He will provide an update on the 2020 Census outcome and dive into the redistricting process and timeline. With the state’s mandatory redrawing of all political districts affecting citizens, Franklin will share steps Hubbard County residents can take to encourage a more transparent process.

Franklin’s primary work focuses on regional economic recovery and resiliency projects through the Headwaters Regional Development Commission. He also provides support on economic development projects for communities and non-profits in the region. He recently administered $3.1 million in COVID-19 business relief grants to small businesses in the region.

He has held positions as executive director of the Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce, and Project Manager of the Lac Qui Parle County Economic Development Authority. He served previously on the Pennington County Census Committee. Currently, he serves on the BI-CAP Board representing Beltrami County.

This event is free and open to all to attend. Use this link at 4 p.m. April 21.

LWVPRA is inviting you to a Zoom Meeting: .
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85381035072?pwd=SkVMQVRVeXduYXlERWEwY1pBa1hzdz09

League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area  (LWVPRA) is a non-partisan volunteer organization, whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government and influence public policy through education and advocacy. All our programs are free and open to the public. Please direct any questions about LWVPRA activities, events or on how to join LWVPRA (not for women only) by emailing  lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow our activities, events on our website: lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/.

Education clause proposed for Minnesota Constitution:

Did you miss this zoom event:  But have a strong interest in Minnesota's educational system, here is a summary of the information plus links to read the article from the Enterprise or view a recording of the zoom meeting from March 24, 2021.  

The proposed amendment reads:  All children have a fundamental right to a quality public education that fully prepares them with the skills necessary for participation in the economy, our democracy, and society, as measured against uniform achievement standards set forth by the state. It is a paramount duty of the state to ensure quality public schools that fulfill this fundamental right

" Minnesotans may have the opportunity to vote on a proposed amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution making it a civil right that all children receive a quality public education.
In keeping with its tradition of bringing current topics to voters, the League of Women Voters of the Park Rapids Area hosted a presentation on the topic. The virtual event was held Wednesday, March 24, featuring former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari. They have been advancing the idea that Minnesota needs a constitutional amendment that will put “children first.”
Called the Page Amendment, it must be passed through majority vote in a statewide election. The next election when it may be considered is Nov. 11, 2022."  from Park Rapids Enterprise March 26, 2021."   

Kashkari explained, “These gaps are racial disparities, so the gaps between white students and children of color – black, Hispanic, Indigenous – but they’re also socioeconomic gaps. Low-income white children across Minnesota are badly trailing their middle-class and more well-to-do peers.” 

Justice Page stated that the educational system: “has systematically failed large groups of children in Minnesota. They’re children who, as a result of that failure, are diminished customers, diminished employees and diminished taxpayers and potentially more likely to be involved in our criminal justice system, in our social services system, and we think that we can do better.”

To read the full article written by: Shannon M. Geisen of the Park Rapids Enterprise, Mar. 26, 2021 you will need to go to the Enterprise website and search for Education clause proposed for Minnesota

To view the recorded Zoom meeting follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INeg80vaTEc

To read more about the proposed amendment follow this link: https://www.minneapolisfed.org/policy/education-achievement-gaps/why-a-constitutional-amendment

 To read more about the data behind this effort:  https://www.minneapolisfed.org/topic/k-12-education

 

 

 

 

 

Zoom Event: March 24th: Children First: A Community Conversation

Use the zoom link near the bottom of this post to register. You will be sent the zoom link when you register.

Most people think of League of Women Voters as being mainly concerned with voting rights, voting registration and candidate forums. Would you be surprised to read this passage from The Park Rapids Enterprise of March 6, 1935?

The League of Women Voters met Wednesday afternoon (March 6, 1935) with Mrs. E.V. Fuller having a very interesting meeting. Mr. Mevig, a guest speaker, spoke on House Bill No. 382 which pertains to funds for schools. Mr. Mevig urged all to vote against this bill and vote for the State bill instead.

In keeping with this tradition of bringing current topics to voters for their consideration while there is still time for voter input,
League of Women Voters of the Park Rapids Area (LWVPRA) is hosting, “Children First: A Community conversation about educating all of our children.’'

Two distinguished gentlemen, Justice Alan Page and Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari, have been advancing the idea that Minnesota needs an amendment to our constitution that will put “children first.” The amendment itself is short but if it is adopted by voters what would that mean for schools in this area? What would it mean for our children?

Over Zoom Justice Page and President Kashkari typically give a 10- to15-minute presentation on the amendment and then use the rest of the time for Q&A. The LWVPRA (a nonpartisan local group) will provide the moderator to ask questions from the audience which will be asked on the chat feature of Zoom.

This is an issue relevant to all residents. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, school board member or an employer in the area, the success of all of our children has an impact on our region. Pass this information along to others who have questions.

LWVPRA hopes to see you all at a meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 24.

Please use this link to register for the event: https://frbminneapolis.cvent.com/c/express/aef522b7-b521-461f-926c-6dde58ed54b6.

If you would like to read the full amendment and the rationale for it, please use this link https://www.minneapolisfed.org/policy/education-achievement-gaps/why-a-constitutional-amendment.

Any questions about this program should be directed to lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. You can check out our webpage at https://lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/ for more information about membership and our full nonpartisan policy.

Two Free Seminars on Redistricting

Announcing:  Paul Huffman, Redistricting Coordinator for League of Women Voters Minnesota will conduct two free seminars on redistricting. As I’m sure you know LWV is VERY concerned about redistricting this census cycle (well, probably every census cycle). The LWV effort is called People Powered Fair Maps. Use the link below to register for this event.

https://www.mobilize.us/plymouthareaindivisible/event/375224/