lwvminneapolis
Get Involved in Redistricting
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- Attend public meetings on draft maps. Hearings will be held from 5- 7pm on Wednesday, Feb 29 at the Webber Community Center (4400 Dupont Ave. N.), and from 5-7pm on Thursday, March 1 at the Hosmer Library (347 E. 36th St.)
- Go to the city’s website to learn about the redistricting process
- Create a map on Common Cause Minnesota’s website
- Submit questions by email to redistricting2012@minneapolis.gov
Making a Donation to LWV Minneapolis
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Would you like to make a donation to the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis? LWV Minneapolis is a 501c3 non-profit, therefore, your gift is tax-deductible.
Here are some ways you can donate:
- By Check: Make payable to League of Voters of Minneapolis, Inc.
- By Credit Card: Call the office manager, Sarah King, at (612) 333 – 6319.
- Stock: For instructions on how to donate, call the Treasurer, Don Hall (612 ) 823 – 5408, or the office manager, Sarah King (612) 333 – 6319.
- Endowment: Call the Minneapolis Foundation at (612 ) 672 – 3859, and ask for Mary Ellis Peterson
- Deferred Gift Annuity: To get the latest interest rates and gift instructions, call Mary Ellis Peterson at the Minneapolis Foundation at (612) 672 – 3859.
We are grateful for your generous consideration. Non-partisan voter information benefits everyone. Thank you!
-Donald Hall, LWV Minneapolis Treasurer
Creating a Culture of Civic Participation
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When most people think of civic participation, they think of voting (particularly during federal elections). During the last presidential election 62% of eligible voters visited the polls, a 40 year record, with Minnesota leading the nation with a turnout of 78%. Those are great numbers, but how many Minnesotans do you think go beyond casting a ballot every four years? Voting is merely one aspect of civic participation, which also includes developing a sense of political literacy and continuous participation on many levels.
Do you have a son or daughter, friend, partner, or coworker new to civic life or simply disengaged from the process? Maybe they only plan on voting in the general election this year? If so, I challenge you to create a culture of participation that encourages their civic involvement throughout this entire election cycle and beyond.
Ways to create a culture of participation:
- Ask them if there is a local issue they are concerned about. Is there something they want changed in their neighborhood? Did a change take place that they are not happy with? Suggest they write a letter to their City Council person.
- Help them to arrange to attend a Lobby Day at the state legislature. Numerous organizations across the political spectrum offer lobby days, and give the chance for citizens to learn about issues and then address their elected officials on those issues.
- Suggest a visit to the State Capitol. Guided tours are free and occur multiple days a week and visitors can watch floor sessions. Also, committee meetings and hearings are open to the public.
- Visit the Secretary of State’s website and request a voter registration form. Remind the person to fill it out.
- Remind them of Election Day Registration. Don’t let them use the fact that they are not already registered as an excuse not to vote. Minnesota has EDR and it has a huge impact on our voter turnout. Overall, in the 2008 presidential election, states with EDR averaged voter turnout 10 points higher than states without.*
- Additional ways to positively influence participation: encourage them to attend a caucus, attend or tune into a candidate debate, participate on an issue or candidate campaign, attend a protest, research or learn about how a bill becomes a law, write a letter to the editor, vote in off-year and primary elections, join a neighborhood organization, or become an election judge.
Remember to keep your conversations positive. Don’t necessarily challenge this person’s views if they do not want to debate. You want to create the impression that everyday people can engage in politics and that it is an sign of good citizenship. Hopefully, by engaging in a variety of activities during the 2012 election cycle a culture of participation can be created that may carry over to the next year.
*America Goes to the Polls 2008.
-Ruby Hocker, LWV Minneapolis Member
Not Worried about the Poor?
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“I am not worried about the poor.”
That quote was attributed to one of frontrunners in the 2012 Presidential race this morning.
He may not be worried but I am. And so are the folks who have lost a job, a house, and insurance.
We have created a safety net in this country, but over time we have chipped away at it. We listen to claims that we have a Food Stamp President, and shame the elderly who live on a fixed income, who desperately need nutrition assistance to increase the likelihood of staying in their home or having their medication functioning appropriately.
Who are we as a people if we do not reach out to those who need help in a time of crisis? It seems to me that we hear a lot more about how much money you need to be really rich, than how impossible it is to maintain you family of four on less than $22,000 a year.
What would happen if we reserved just a day of the” 24 hour news cycle” to focus on innovative ideas of how we can work together to lift our people out of poverty?
-Colleen Moriarty, LWV Minneapolis Member
Turning our Passion into Action
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One of the most important meetings for our membership is January program planning. Members bring forward their ideas for next year’s topics and forums for the entire group to consider. There is no hidden agenda, no decisions have been made in a back room and no one is kept from speaking. LWV Minneapolis members value our grassroots approach to decision-making. Voices are heard. The process is straightforward. Following the general presentations, small groups gathered for more discussion and to shape the issues for each topic.
As this is an election year, Voter Education and Voter Services will play a particularly important role. A committee has already begun planning voter registration events, speaker opportunities and issue education for the public and our membership. We will continue our work in opposition to Voter ID, exploring more ways to educate the public.
We are committed to continuing our Healthy Legacy forums. Over the past four years, we, in coalition have offered forums on what needs to be done to have clean air, clean water, fewer chemicals in food and other products, and on urban agriculture. As we look to next year, we will consider alternatives to lawn fertilizer and pesticides in our city as our focus.
Education in Minneapolis schools has historically been a strong concern of members. We will host school board candidate forums as a way to better understand teacher preparation programs and how they interface with school districts, the North-Side Achievement Zone, and other issues.
The program planning meeting was a success. Good ideas were heard. Refinement of our topics will follow, and more input will be sought.
As you read this, I hope that you are encouraged to join us in our efforts to have an informed and involved electorate. There are many opportunities to volunteer or simply attend out informational forums.
-Marylin Dean, LWV Minneapolis Member
