Conversations With Your Legislators: Feb 18th

The League of Women Voters Park Rapids  (LWVPR) will host 

Conversations With Your Legislators 

on Saturday, February 18th at 1 p.m to 2:30 p.m. 

at the Northwoods Bank Community Room. 

Senator Paul Utke and Representatives Steve Green and Matt Grossell (Districts 2B and 2A, respectively) will attend to hear your questions. A LWVPR moderator will ask the first six questions based on policy issues and then audience members will be invited to ask their own questions.

Please be prepared to be brief with your questions so as many can be asked as possible. 

Coffee and cookies will be provided.

League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area  (LWVPRA), a non-partisan volunteer organization, whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government and influence public policy through education and advocacy.  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 this website

Local League Members connected to the Women's Marches

from Leah P: Washington DC

The Women's Marches across the country last Saturday drew a lot of people. LWV US board voted to support the marches. This was following the tradition of how the League was formed nearly 100 years ago. We grew from the protests over getting the Right to Vote for Women.  The League now puts much of its efforts into education of the public on issues especially involving voting rights, procedures etc plus other issues that have been studied by League Members. 

LWV Park Rapids had several members that joined the Marches:  Below are some of the comments and pictures from last Saturday: 



 
From Leah P
What an amazing experience the Women's March on Washington was!  I was not able to find the League of Women Voters group.  I did get to McDonalds about 9:20; however the crowds were huge.  I couldn't even get  inside.  I looked for signs, but couldn't find any.  So, I went to the rally on my own.  It was huge!  It  far surpassed organizers expectations.  At the podium they mentioned they were planning for 200,000 but they estimated that 500,000 were there. The metro system was completely bogged down for a time because of the crowds.  Speakers were inspiring.  I saw Elizabeth Warren, Ashley Judd, Michael Moore, Gloria Steinem and many more.  Jesse Jackson and his entourage walked right past me.  That was thrilling to see him in person.  I was so glad I could go.
 

from Washington DC

Barbara S is in Arizona but wrote about how proud she was of her granddaughter:
My granddaughter marched in Duluth and snapped these pics.

from Barb S.

from Barb S.

Doris A.  I attended the St. Paul March with my two daughters, granddaughter and young grandson.   It was awesome!


Marching with Sue C.  supporting equal rights and justice for all, together we rise💕
I wore a sash honoring our fore-mothers, the suffragettes saying Respect and Justice with a peace sign. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say as there are so many concerns. Respect for our Earth and every living being, clean water and air.  Justice for fair treatment of all of us. I marched for the future of all of our children.   Beverly T— with Sue C at Lake Bemidji.

Coming Soon: Park Rapids Area Reads Together! / Teens Read Together!

Below is the Press Release from Park Rapids Area Library and partners: 

All area residents are invited to participate. 

The project is a partnership between the Park Rapids Area Library, Nemeth Art Center, The Friends of the Library, and the League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area.  

The book we have chosen, A Good Time For the Truth: Race in Minnesota, is a compilation of writing by Minnesota authors.


Multiple copies of the book will be purchased by the Park Rapids Area Friends of the Library, and will be available to borrow beginning Monday, January 23rd.

If you’d like to add your name to the list of borrowers, sign up at the library, or call 732-4966.   Please call to register even if you choose to purchase your own copy of the book, or borrow a friend’s. Knowing the number of participants will be helpful in planning follow up activities. 

We are in communication with the book’s editor and contributors, and are planning one or more author-led public forums. A writing workshop will be offered in conjunction with the event. If you’re part of an organization and/or book club interested in helping organize, host, or fund the event, contact Jodi at the library (732-4966).

Contributor, Shannon Gibney, has also authored See No Color, a novel for young adults. See No Color is the book we have chosen for “Teens Read Together!” a common reading experience for area

teens. The program will run concurrently with the Park Rapids Area Reads Together program.

Ms. Gibney has agreed to participate in the (A Good Time for the Truth) author forum Saturday, March 25th, and will also lead a book discussion centered on her YA novel, See No Color, Sunday, March 26th. 

Further related events including an additional author forum Saturday, April 8th featuring Heid Erdrich are dependent upon whether we receive requested grant funds.

More information and details will be released as available.

Meet Our League Member Joan Kimball

Joan has been a long time member of the Park Rapids League of Women Voters.  Joan was born in Valley City, N.D., but didn’t live there long being a “Depression era” baby born in 1931.  Her parents moved frequently during her early years, not really settling until Joan was in High School.  Moves were made in search of work, and took her to CA and Anoka in addition to many other places.  She settled finally and graduated from Fergus Falls High School.  She then attended the University of Minnesota in practical nursing.  She worked in that role, and then later went back for her RN degree from Mankato where she met her husband.  They were married in 1954 and had 5 daughters.
Joan worked in hospitals when first married, until her husband was drafted into World War II and sent to Germany.  She traveled to Germany to join him as it allowed him to work a “regular” job, 8 hour days with weekends off.   Their first daughter was born in Germany and maintains a dual citizenship.  She mostly stayed at home caring for her children, but was involved working as a nurse in a school, and then quickly became a volunteer working in the schools with Cystic Fibrosis children.  She also worked as a volunteer for a Dr. in Minneapolis holding “Teen Clinics” for young people.
Joan joined the League at the encouragement of Florence Heeden, but it wasn’t just Joan that joined.  Her husband had been a history and social studies teacher and was interested in what the League did and joined with her.
Join enjoys the lovely people she has met through League, and also appreciates the educational aspects of the monthly meetings.  She frequently shares her enthusiasm with League with others she meets at church or in her fitness workouts at the Fitness Center.
Both she and her husband were interested in preserving voting rights as well as maintaining the rights of people, including racial equality.

Join us for Saturday Event: Nov 19th

Art work from students at Pine Point: on display at library

Yes, we know it is snowing right now here in Park Rapids.  But our speaker says he is coming on Saturday. Our roads will be cleared.  This will be a great program, please come out and join us.

Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 1:30 PM at the NORTHWOODS BANK community room, 

Barry Babcock will present a talk on “The Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers”. 



Mr. Babcock learned these traditional native beliefs through his friendship with Larry Stillday, spiritual leader of Red Lake, who taught that all life is interconnected and interdependent. Mr. Babcock will offer a different perspective on wildlife through these traditional native beliefs. Mr. Babcock will also have along his book, Teachers in the Forest, Essays from the last wilderness in Mississippi Headwaters Country. 

For more information click here.  

Native American Heritage Month November 2016

The month of November was designated as Native American Heritage Month by President George H. W. Bush in 1990. 

Consult www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov to learn more about this designation and to connect to sites containing photographs, art, audio, exhibits and collections representing the many Native American tribes of the United States. 

Kitchigami Regional Public Library & League of Women Voters Park Rapids, along with Neegonee Bruner, Culture Teacher at Pine Point and 21st Century Coordinator, Mike Swan, Donette Larson, Indian Education Coordinator, Park Rapids Schools, and author/storyteller Barry Babcock, and artist Simon Zornes present the following activities: 
 
Friday, November 4, 2016 @ 10:30, preschool story hour with special guest, Anishinabe Native storyteller Mike Swan. (At the Park Rapids Public Library) Adults welcome, snack for the children. 

Saturday, November 5, 2016 @ 1:30, artist Simon Zornes will present some of his stone carvings. He will also talk about the lunar calendar and the 13 scales on the turtles back and the changing seasons. He will be bringing some of his native harvest for sale, wild rice, maple syrup and wild plum jelly. Program presented at the Park Rapids Public Library. 

Saturday, November 12, 2016 @ 1:30 Dancers Star Norcross and Teresita Bruner will perform Jingle Dance, Hoop Dance and Shawl Dance in the basement meeting room of the Public Library. Participants will learn more about the dances as well as hearing about the construction of the regalia. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 4:30 PM at the Park Rapids Public Library Community Room. Dream-catchers, a story by Audrey Osofsky, for story-time, snack, and make your own dream-catcher necklace.  No cost to participants. Must be 4th grade and older to make the necklace. Neegonee Bruner and students from Pine Point school will present and instruct in making the necklace. Adults welcome. 

Friday, November 18, 2016 at 10:30 at the Park Rapids Public Library, preschool story hour with Susan Bearden presenting a Native American Tale. 

Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 1:30 PM at the NORTHWOODS BANK community room, Barry Babcock will present a talk on “The Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers”. Mr. Babcock learned these traditional native beliefs through his friendship with Larry Stillday, spiritual leader of Red Lake, who taught that all life is interconnected and interdependent. Mr. Babcock will offer a different perspective on wildlife through these traditional native beliefs. Mr. Babcock will also have along his book, Teachers in the Forest, Essays from the last wilderness in Mississippi Headwaters Country. 

In addition, there will be bulletin board displays on Native American History as well as some current information. 
Book lists with readings on Native American History will be available for adults and children. 

Patrons will notice many of the usual signs throughout the library will be posted also in Ojibwe during this month.   Come see if you can read, pronounce some basic Ojibwe. 

Art work created by the children at Pine Point School will be on display on the bulletin board in the Children’s section of the library. (mid- November) 

Hope everyone can find a time to join us for a couple of the programs.  It will be an exciting month.  

Candidate forum for Hubbard County Commissioner District 4

On October 24, 2016 LWV Park Rapids with our partners Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, and Akeley Community Center,  hosted a candidate forum for Hubbard County Commissioners in District 4.  We had a great turn out and very good questions.  As always there were many more questions than we got a chance to ask.  We encourage everyone to call or email the candidates with your questions. 

Also thank you so much to The Music Shop on Main Street for lending us the extra microphones we needed for the forum.

Candidates in tonight’s forum are: 

 Challenger, Akeley Mark Peterson 651.343.5727


 Dan Stacey, Akeley (Incumbent) 218.252.9255 

Precincts in District 4 are: 
Cities of Akeley and Laporte
Townships of 

• Akeley, 
• Guthrie,
• Hart Lake, 
• Hendrickson, 
• Lakeport, 
• Mantrap,
• Steamboat River 
• Thorpe

The moderator for the forum was Florence Hedeen, member of LWVPRA

Link to youtube video of candidate forum here