The League of Women Voters of Northeast Michigan – In Action!

Hope Shores Donations

At our Holiday Luncheon we collected over 200 items for the clients of Hope Shores Alliance! Thank you, thank you for your generous support!!

If you are not familiar, Hope Shores works with survivors of sexual and domestic violence. They provide safe housing for survivors and their children and, presently, there are many adults and children in the safe houses.

Hope Shores could urgently use your help during the next several weeks sorting through donations. If you have an hour or more to spare, please email Natalie at: nfrancis@hopeshores.org

Shout outs for the Holiday Luncheon: Katie Wolf for the donation idea, Sharon Rickardfor decorations and Kate Phillips for collecting money!! And delicious food provided by Blue Moon Café and Save Your Fork!! Thank you, Elaine and Kathy

September Lunch Bunch

LWV of Northeast Michigan Members Attend Alpena Library Support March

Women Who Shaped Alpena

On March 18, 2024 the LWV of Northeast Michigan co-sponsored a program with the Alpena County Library. The program was in celebration of March is Women’s Month, and was titled “Women Who Shaped Alpena.” League member Elaine Stenger began the program with an inspiring presentation on the beginnings of the League of Women Voters including a brief history of women’s suffrage, and the beginnings of our local league. Following Elaine’s presentation, Don LaBarre (Special Collections Librarian, Alpena County Library) led an interesting discussion on the women who had a profound early influence on Alpena.

The program was well attended: nearly 50 people attended in person and 10 via Zoom. The discussion was lively and interest was strong enough to allow the program to go past the designated ending time. If you were unable to attend, the program is available on YouTube (search under Women Who Shaped Alpena).

New Members’ Luncheon

On Wednesday, November 15, approximately twenty new and veteran members of the League of Women Voters of Northeast Michigan met in the Judi Stillion room of the Alpena County Library.

Lunch was catered by Chef Reid at Blue Moon Restaurant. Dottie Haase and Elaine Stenger provided dessert. Members enjoyed getting to know each other and learning of opportunities in the League. 2024 Will be an important election year…and the League is needed now more than ever!

August Lunch Bunch

Membership Meeting!

Our Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, June 20 at Pompeyos Restaurant in Alpena. Nineteen members (including new members Nancy Smith and Elie Bull) were in attendance, as were guest Nena Sork.  Ms. Sork, our guest speaker, is the Executive Director of Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health Authority. She discussed the challenges of working with indigent clients and those in acute crisis. There is an extreme shortage of pediatric psychiatric beds available in the state. There is also a shortage of mental health workers in the area.

Fortunately, there are excellent pediatric psychiatrists in the area, and Western Michigan is collaborating with ACC to offer BSW and MSW programs in Alpena to alleviate shortages in the future.

The budget was adopted, board members were elected, and our bylaws were updated.

A proposal for a local study was received from Mary Alice Comar. Mary Alice has suggested that our League begin a water study which would look at sewer and storm run-off, lake water and other local water issues. It has been approved by the board and the next step is to take the topic to the general membership. The board is working on a date for this meeting.

Nominating Committee Report 2023

Nominating Committee: Judi Stillion and Bob Kennedy, and Elaine Stenger, Board Member

Elected to a 2-year term:

President: Doris Feys

Secretary: Kathy Bower

Board Members: Dottie Haase, Kate Phillips, Elaine Stenger, Carol Lund

Returning for another year:

Vice President: Trina Borenstein

Treasurer: Jennifer Dutcher

Board members: Florence Stibitz, Beverly Bodem

2024 Nominating Committee: Judi Stillion, Cindy Morris, and Elaine Stenger, Board Member

On Wednesday, December 14th, the League of Women Voters of Northeast Michigan met for a membership dinner at Besser Museum. Thanks to Vernie Nethercut for providing the venue, and thanks also to Jen Dutcher and Kate Phillips for arranging the setting and the meal.

The meal was catered by Jen Dowling and was delicious. Close to thirty members and guests attended and enjoyed a humorous skit (encouraging active participation in the league) put on by Elaine Stenger, Kathy Bower, and Doris Feys.

The museum staff was friendly and helpful. The setting was delightful — the front room of the museum was surrounded by decorated trees –including our LWV tree decorated by June Perry. It was a lovely evening, and a joy to get together in person in December for the first time in three years.

January 20th Lunch Bunch/Movie Discussion

Join Northeast Michigan League of Women Voters for their “Lunch Bunch,” January 20, noon to 1:30, at the Nucleus Lounge, Center Building, Alpena.  Meet others, find easy conversation, and enjoy lunch (on own, off the menu). In honor of January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, post-lunch discussion will focus on the award-winning documentary “The Long Way Home.”   Among its many awards, the film won an Oscar in 1998 for its portrayal of Jewish refugees after World War II.  Based on archival footage, personal interviews, diaries, and letters, the film features the voices of Morgan Freeman, the film’s narrator, along with Edward Asner, Miriam Margolyes and Martin Landau.  Directed by Marvin Hier and Richard Trank. 

One reviewer called this a “shattering, powerful piece of work. And enlightening.  It has as its time frame the forgotten years between the Jews’ ‘liberaton’ by Allied Forces and the establishment of Israel.”  Other comments: “I learned a lot of history and think even more of President Truman than I did before. It is a tremendous statement of the human spirit and the triumph of Will over Circumstance!”  The New York Times notes that despite the stark circumstances, the film “manages to find images of hope, resilience, and gentle humanity. It’s  final words: ‘We’re going on.’”

The film is available on Kanopy through the George N Fletcher Alpena County Library.  See the library website for how to access Kanopy. 

Inside Justice: A 360 Look Inside Our Justice System

On October 4, 2022, the 26th Circuit Court Chief Judge Ed Black, Alpena County Probate Court Judge Alan Curtis, Montmorency Probate Court Judge Lora Greene, Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski, and Deputy Chief Defender Julie Miller shared their unique judicial perspectives and explained their roles and responsibility, sentencing decisions, and how they interact with each other.

If you missed the Inside Justice: A 360 Look Inside our Justice System panel presentation, here is the link to the recording of the panel presentation.

Inside Justice

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY

Tuesday, September 20, 2022 was National Voter Registration Day. LWV NeMI supported three places for voter registration: ACC, Downtown Alpena (by the 45th Parallel Book store), and at the Alpena County Library . Jessica Luther, MaryAnn Crawford, El aine Stenger, Kathy Bower, and Doris Feys all helped with the event.

Movie Discussion: “Primary”

LWVNE MI met on September 8, 2022 at Bob’s Bull Pen to watch “Primary”, a cinema verite feature that follows presidential hopefuls John F. Kennedy and Hubert H. Humphrey during the 1960 Wisconsin primary.

We thank this establishment for technical assistance, comfy seating, and yummy hotdogs and popcorn! This was such a delightful experience that we are planning another movie viewing in November. The top contender is “We Still Live Here: Âs Nutayuneân,” the amazing story of the return of the Wampanoag language – the first time a language with no Native speakers has been revived in this country. Keep an eye out for the next Newsletter for more information.

Annual Membership Meeting 2022