The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The Montrose County chapter includes members from Montrose, Delta and Ouray counties.
1st Quarter, January through March 2021 |  | | Leadership Message
Hello, from your President, Jan Edwards. We are coming to the end of the first quarter of this “interesting” 2021, already. Spring is in the air, and we have not been hibernating at Montrose County LWV!
Our new and very active Program Committee started the year with a presentation of the Montrose County Vaccine Rollout in February. Member Sue Hansen, a Montrose County Commissioner, coordinated a great presentation with our Health Department and Dr. Dragna that provided much-needed information about the vaccines and the County’s efforts to get them distributed. What you might not know is that Sue followed up with the League to offer vaccines left at the end of the inoculation day to anyone who still needed them. Leaguers referred those they knew of to help them connect with the vaccine program.
In March, the Program Committee presented, along with the Center for Mental Health and the Montrose County Sheriff’s Department and Montrose Police Department, Behavioral Health and Law Enforcement: Responding Together. In April, another great presentation is planned, focusing on the issue of economical well-being of Colorado citizens entitled the Colorado Self-Sufficiency Standard. Recordings of these presentations and much more are available on our website at lwvmontrose.org.
I have to say, working hard and having come so far to have done the great job they have, the Committee, made up of Carol Howe, Susan Chandler-Reed, Caroline Evans, and Nancy Ball, is a group you should be very proud of. They have moved us into the big leagues of Zoom, pulling off a seamless WEBINAR, with panelists and attendees and Q&A, having come from a tech level of barely managing a meeting! They are unbelievable!
Looking to the future, we have had a busy Nominating Committee looking to fill the next Board and Committee leadership. I hope some of you are ready to take your place in leading our League and sharing your commitment and talents in serving our community. There is much to do, and we need fresh energy and ideas!
If you’ve checked the website and participated in our poll of members, you’ll know we are in the process of formally acknowledging the service we have provided in Delta and Ouray Counties, and the contributions of members from those counties, over the years. We have applied to the Colorado League for an expansion of our service area, and will have a new name when that is approved. We will keep you posted of these developments.
There has been a lot of work done, and much more to be accomplished. I hope that you are keeping up with us on social media, as well as at our website, where our newsletter, The Voter will now appear. Tanya Ishikawa, Patrice Schell and Carol Howe are and have been hard at work on maintaining the website and creating informative content, so do please log on to the site, and don’t forget to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We have so much to share with our members and friends, and love to hear from you, as well!
| | | | Upcoming Events
Join us April 8, 2021, at noon to view a webinar featuring Bruce Barnum from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP) who will discuss the self-sufficiency standard, with a focus on Montrose, Delta, and Ouray counties.
For more information about this event and others:
| | | Take Action
Action Alert From LWV Colorado: Support HB21-1103 Media Literacy Implementation
Join LWV Colorado Legislative Action Committee
United We Sit, Divided We Fail: TAKE ACTION
|  | Event Spotlight
“Great Decisions” Program 2021
The LWV Montrose has cosponsored the “Great Decisions” program with the Montrose Regional Library District for several years, and we are pleased to announce that this partnership will continue for 2021, via ZOOM.
Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. The 8 part program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book, watching the documentary film series, and meeting in a discussion group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. This program was developed by the Foreign Policy Association and more information can be found at https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/.
Meeting topics are:
March 25 - Global Supply Chains
April 1 - Persian Gulf Security
April 8 - Brexit and the EU
April 15 - The Arctic
April 22 - China in Africa
April 29 - The Two Koreas
May 6 - Role of the WHO
May 13 - End of Globalization?
The Montrose Library has “Great Decision” books for sale for $15 each, and there are three copies available for check-out.
Sara Rinne, Head of Adult Services, with the Montrose Regional Library District is coordinating this year’s program. If you are interested in participating, please contact Sara so she can add you to her mailing list for updates. Her contact information is: srinne@montroselibrary.org or call 970.964.2548. You can also stay tuned to our event and blog pages for more information.
| | |  | | Welcome New Member: Jan Rosenbaum
It was Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) that prompted Jan to join the League. Her husband, Dave, received a book for Christmas on this issue and after reading it she became a supporter. Jan has served as an election judge for 12 years, so voting is very important to her, and she felt she could be more effective in getting voters registered and in advocating for RCV as a League member.
Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania was the university from which Jan, her husband, and their three children graduated. Our newest member and her family became off and on again residents of Olathe, beginning in 1977 and moved there permanently in 1988 . They currently raise hogs, along with the help of their son, George, who farms.
Through the years, Jan and her husband have farmed and been teachers at Olathe High School, where Jan taught English; both are retired. Jan also worked in a dairy as a milker and was employed by the company that produced seed for Olathe Sweet sweet corn. For more than a bit of adventure, Jan and Dave moved to Peru in 1986 where they taught for two years, during the first time in the country’s history when there was a peaceful transfer of power!
Jan spends what free time she has quilting. | | | | Timely Information from Other LWV Chapters
News Literacy from LWV Larimer County
Promoting awareness of source bias and fact vs. opinion and additional articles, resources, and quizzes on NEWS LITERACY: read here
Media Literacy webinar convened 2/23/21 with Rep. Cutter, Rep. MacLachlan and LWV Larimer County: view here
| | |  | | Federal, State, County & Local Election News
It seems local elections offices are breathing a sigh of relief after the November federal elections. Information about upcoming local and municipal elections is unknown or unavailable. As information is released we will publish updates. To learn more, contact your county or city elections office.
Delta County
The only scheduled election this year is the Coordinated Election in November. Ballots will be mailed the week October 11, 2021 to all active registered voters. At this time we are only aware that the Delta County School District will be participating for District 1 and District 5 board members. It is still very early to know if any other entities plan to participate or if the State of Colorado will be participating.
Montrose County
Montrose City
Montrose City Council Vacancy
The City Council is accepting applications for a council seat vacancy following the announcement that Roy Anderson is stepping down on April 7.
Due to the potential for appointments to either the District 3 or At-Large seat, applications are being accepted from residents of all City Council districts. The deadline to apply for the vacant seat is Thursday, April 22, at 6 p.m.
Applicants are asked to fill out an application click here and submit a letter of interest to the council. The council will then interview potential candidates before holding a formal vote to appoint a new councilor. As set forth by the City Charter, the City Council will formally vote to appoint a replacement for the council’s District III later this spring.
For more information: https://www.cityofmontrose.org/301/City-Council
Ouray County
| | | Colorado Assembly Legislation Impacting Election and Voter Access
| Need to contact your Federal or State legislator? | | 2020 Officers & Board
Jan Edwards, President
Gretchen Nicholoff, VP/LWVCO liaison
Cyndi Holman, Secretary
Barb Krebs, Treasurer
Tanya Ishikawa, Webmaster
Patrice Schell, Communications
Carol Howe, Communications
Nancy Ball, at Large | | | |
NOTE TO MEMBERS AND READERS
You will have a better experience on the League website if you log in. If you need help logging in please review the steps here.
If you have trouble with an email address link, cut and paste into your email software such as Outlook or Gmail. | | Have news to share with LWV membership? The submission deadline for the 2nd quarter newsletter is June 15, 2021. Your submission may be subject to Board approval and edited for brevity.
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