League of Women Voters - St. Croix Valley

Newsletter
2025-04-15, 2025-04-01, 2025-03-15, 2025-03-01 | WI

Coffee with the League
2025-04-09 14:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | WI
Seeking LWVSCV fellowship? Two coffee sessions will be offered once again—one in St. Croix County and another in Polk County—in an effort to accommodate everyone. Fill yourself up with some tasty refreshments, surround yourself with some good people, and you’re bound to feel great by the time you leave! Here are the details:
DATE: TWednesday, April 9
TIME: 2:30-3:30
WHERE: Perkins
1040 Pearson Dr., Hudson (side “porch” room)
RSVPs HELPFUL, BUT NOT NECESSARY: Just helps the restaurant to know. Last minute attendees and guests are welcome!
Kay Brooks and Evanne Hunt
715-381-8879 or kaybrooks48@gmail.com

Forum on Immigration
2025-04-08 18:30 - 19:00 | Amery Community Center
The Amery Public Library and the League of Women Voters of St Croix Valley cordially invite you to an evening of information and community engagement focused on the immigration
process and potential changes under the new federal administration.
Immigration Attorney Marc Prokosch of Roseville, MN will be addressing many of these issues on April 8th at 6:30 PM at the Amery Community Center.
Marc founded Prokosch Law in 2019 after working at a previous immigration firm from 2003 to 2019. Marc regularly handles the most complex immigration cases, representing individuals throughout the immigration process, from application to appeal. To learn more visit: <https://www.prokoschlaw.com/our-team>
All League members are highly encouraged to attend this free event (and bring a friend!)
Marc Prokosch, Speaker
April 8, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Amery Community Center
608 Harriman Ave Amery, Wisconsin
Parking is free and accessible and snacks will be provided. Free will donations are welcome. For those unable to attend in person, a YouTube video will be available for later viewing.

LWVSCV Membership Wide Zoom Meeting- Judiciary Study
2025-04-07 18:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
Topic: LWVSCV Membership Wide Zoom Meeting- Judiciary Study
Time: Apr 7, 2025 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83721577515?pwd=[REDACTED]
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Meeting ID: 837 2157 7515
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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The LWVSCV will be holding a membership wide zoom event to form a consensus on the LWVUS proposal for a policy position on the Federal Judiciary. There will be a short presentation, summary and
an opportunity to ask questions.
The LWVUS requests all leagues nationally provide input by completing a survey by April 14, with the Policy position to be announced at the LWVUS 2025 Council in June 2025.
League positions serve as the foundation for League action and ensure that we are speaking with one voice on issues. Our action and advocacy is based on League positions. Studies, which are the basis of positions, make our actions possible. The ad hoc committee of Beth Wood, Celeste Koeberl and Aiden Tharp requests that all of our membership consider attending this zoom and participating in the experience of the creation of a National LWV Policy Position. The LWV would like to reach a nationwide consensus with the priority being 18 year term limits on the Supreme Court and requiring the Legislature to come up with Ethics legislation that includes a Code of Conduct.
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Prior to April 7, please watch the recording and read through the materials, though that is not necessary to participate in our league discussion. You can find all of that information at this link:
https://www.lwv.org/league-management/advocacy-litigation/2024-2025-federal-judiciary-study-process-committee-and

Hands Off! National Day of Action
2025-04-05 | WI
We are being called to defend and strengthen our democracy by participating in Days of Action and by organizing around the values and policies that have been the backbone of the league for 105 years. The LWV remains nonpartisan but that does not mean we should be silent in the face of these unprecedented attacks on our democracy. It is a very fine line and the LWVUS asks each league to strategize the best ways to show up in our local communities.
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The LWVUS is a partner organization in the April 5 Hands Off mass mobilization. The closest event for some members of our league will be at the MN Capitol in St. Paul. However there are many more communities organizing for April 5– follow this link to find more places and times to register and participate:
(Volunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · Hands Off on Mobilize
<https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/?tag_ids=26053>
(including River Falls, Eau Claire, Superior and Duluth).

General Election
2025-04-01 | WI
General election for statewide and local elections

Board Meeting
2025-03-18 16:00 - 17:00 | WI

Voter Services Community Conversation
2025-03-18 12:00 - 17:00 | WI
The LWVWI Voter Services Committee would like to invite any interested member to participate in our upcoming Voter Services Community Conversations. The purpose of this series is to create a space for League members interested in voter services to join together in conversation around a voter services topic each month.
These informal conversations will be held over Zoom. Each session will have one or more discussion leaders who are knowledgeable about the topic. Sessions will be held over the noon hour on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month. Each conversation will begin with 15 minutes of free form networking with the topic driven conversation to begin at 12:15pm.
Our next community conversation is on March 18, 2025 at 12pm and we will hear from Kristen Kern, LWVUS Federal Policy and Advocacy Manager, who will be discussing the implications of the SAVE Act on voter registration, women, and more.
If you have any ideas for topics to include or would like to host a session, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Delany Zimmer, LWVWI Voter Services Coordinator, at dzimmer@lwvwi.org
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81211795145?pwd=[REDACTED]

St Patrick's Day Parade
2025-03-17 16:30 - 18:00 | WI
League of Women Voters it time to be thinking green!
Let the Shenanigans Begin!
League of Women Voters let’s get together and celebrate the Luck of the Irish. The 48th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be at 5 pm this year in downtown New Richmond on March 17.
Meet in front of Warren Wood Law Office (152 W 2nd St) at 4:30 for signs to carry. Parade starts at 5. We’ll line up on West 3rd Street in front of McCabe’s Shamrock in the order of arrival. Keep an eye on the facebook page of McCabes Shamrock Club for more info and details.
We need 9 people to march in the parade! Deadline to sign up is March 13.

Responsible Gun Laws and Policies
2025-03-06 18:30 - 20:00 | WI
Responsible Gun Laws and Policies
Zoom Webinar – registration: https://www.lwvdanecounty.org/forums
This webinar will feature Terra Wiens of the Violence Policy Center, author of the Gun Deaths in Wisconsin and Nick Matuszewski of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Project who will discuss the incidence of gun violence in Wisconsin under the current laws. Aurielle Smith, Public Health Madison & Dane County Director of Policy, Planning & Evaluation Division will discuss how viewing gun violence as a public health threat influences what is seen as effective action to address the problem. Then, Lindsey Buscher of Moms Demand Action will cover what steps can be taken to help decrease the incidences of gun violence.

WI Supreme Court Elections: Judging Judicial Candidates webinar
2025-02-25 18:00 - 19:00 | WI
WI Supreme Court Elections: Judging Judicial Candidates webinar, 6:00 pm
https://isthmus.com/events/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-judging-judicial-candidate/
Join the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin for the second of our webinars about the spring Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The second virtual webinar is at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25th. The program “Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Judging Judicial Candidates” will provide voters with information about how citizens can assess candidates’ perspectives on and knowledge of the judging process of a Supreme Court justice.
Speakers include: Chad Oldfather from Marquette University Law School; Rob Yablon of the State Democracy Research Institute; Attorney Jeff Mandell of Law Forward,; and George Penn of United to Amend.

Voter Registration Visit
2025-02-25 11:00 - 13:00 | WI
Voter Services volunteers visit UW-River Falls

Cultural Conversation
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | WI
A presentation of the cultural and history of the St Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin.
This cultural event is offered by the Wilberg Memorial Library in Osceola, WI.
Thursday, February 20
6PM
Contact Wilberg Memorial Library for more details ((715) 294-2310)
https://www.osceolapubliclibrary.org/
This learning opportunity was shared with us by Carolyn Saunders.
Do you know of a fun and interesting event that you would like the membership to know about?
Whether a book, podcast, movie, or live event, feel free to contact me with your idea!~~ Kris <aksurbaugh@gmail.com>

Training: voter registration training session
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
LWV of Greater Chippewa Valley is oering a voter registration training session on Thursday, February 20 from 6:00pm-8:00pm, via Zoom. This session is open to our members and to the general public.
To register (required) for this free training; please follow these steps:
1. Click here: https://www.lwv-gcv.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=329843&item_id=2521618
2. Members of LWVGCV will log in. WE don’t have to follow the next directions.
3. Scroll down and follow the directions to register as a member or general public.
4. Enter your name and contact information and to answer three questions about any prior experience with voter registration assistance (no experience necessary).
5. After registering, you will receive an email confirming your registration and the Zoom link.
6. Handouts will be emailed to you a few days before the training; please print what you’ll need at the session.
For more information, please contact Lori Miller at lbmiller492@gmail.com

Voter Registration Visit
2025-02-19 11:00 - 13:00 | Chippewa Valley Technical College – River Falls Campus, 500 S Wasson Ln, River Falls, WI, 54022, United States
Voter Registration at
Chippewa Valley Tech College
11:00am-1pm

Board Meeting
2025-02-18 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-01-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom

Non-partisan primary election
2025-02-18 | WI
Non-partisan primary election (for statewide and local elections)

105th Birthday of LWV UW
2025-02-14 | WI

Webinar on Improving Civic Health and Why It Matters
2025-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 | WI
Webinar on Civic Health in WI, evening LWVSCV co-sponsor with LaCrosse
https://lwvlacrosse.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=484247&item_id=2497438

Voter Registration
2025-02-11 11:00 - 13:00 | Northwood Technical College, 1019 S Knowles Ave, New Richmond, WI, 54017, United States
Voter Registration event
Northwood Tech at 11:00am – 1:00pm

Choosing a WI Supreme Court Justice webinar
2025-02-06 18:30 - 20:00 | WI
Choosing a WI Supreme Court Justice webinar, sponsored by LWV Dane County

Wisconsin voters will elect a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice in April. Now is the time to review the issues to consider when choosing a justice. The LWV of Dane County is hosting a webinar examining the issues voters should consider.

Who makes a good WI Supreme Court Justice candidate?
How have campaign contributions—especially outside contributions—changed the nature of our Court?
What issues might the justices face in 2025, and what could that mean for fair maps, choice, and other social issues of interest to League members?

Zoom Webinar – registration: https://www.lwvdanecounty.org/forums/wi-supreme-court-election

Judicial Candidate Forum
2025-02-05 18:00 - 20:00 | WI
The Friday Memorial Library in New Richmond has planned a St Croix County Judicial Candidate Forum and the LWVSCV has offered our support and involvement.
We will have a presence at this event with voting information and materials regarding the upcoming Primary and April Election. This is a great opportunity for our membership to attend a forum and support Democracy in action.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025
from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
New Richmond Civic Center.
156 E 1st St, New Richmond, WI 54017
Come meet the candidates for Branch 2 St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge ahead of the primary election on February 18 and general election on April 1.
Candidates: Heather Amos, Jamie Johnson, Brian Smestad

LWVUS celebrates 105th Birthday
2025-02-01 | WI

WI Supreme Court Elections: Ethics and Money
2025-01-28 17:00 | Zoom

LWV SCV Book Study
2025-01-22 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
We are excited to announce that LWVSCV will be offering a book study on the text From Conict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems by Robert Fersh & Mariah Levison during the frst quarter of
2025. Kris Surbaugh will be hosting a zoom organizing meeting on January 22 at 5:00 pm.
“Coming together across differences to build trust, forge consensus, and solve problems often feels impossible in today’s divisive and hyper-polarized political environment – but the good news is, it doesn’t have to be!” Citizens League of Minnesota.
Two expert collaborative problem solves deliver an incisive, hands-on guide to de-escalating conflict and constructively engaging with those you disagree with to find better solutions to problems.
I feel that a sense of polarity has been popularized in order to limit our power. It is imperative to remember that we have more in common with our neighbors than what we are told, and that our differences are actually another component of diversity and an opportunity for growth. Conflict resolution and mediation is not new, but I feel this book is an easy guide to help the reader to celebrate conict, achieve sustainable solutions, and map out a process for creating coalitions to better our world.
If you are curious about joining the book study and wish to participate in planning our meetings then meet with Kris on zoom:
Wednesday, January 22 at 5PM
Here is the link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84288628198?pwd=[REDACTED]
🌞Kris Surbaugh contact info: aksurbaugh@gmail.com 715-566-1186 (text with preface ‘book study’)

Voter Services Community Conversation
2025-01-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The LWVWI Voter Services Committee would like to invite any interested member to participate in our upcoming Voter Services Community Conversations. The purpose of this series is to create a space for League members interested in voter services to join together in conversation around a voter services topic each month.
These informal conversations will be held over zoom. Each session will have one or more discussion leaders who are knowledgeable about the topic. Sessions will be held over the noon hour on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month. Each conversation will begin with 15 minutes of free form networking with the topic driven conversation to begin at 12:15pm.
Our next community conversation is on January 21, 2025 at 12pm and we will hear from some of our local League leaders on their success with Candidate Forum Alternatives.
Click to join the call
