Welcome new and returning members of the Whitewater Area League! We hope you enjoyed the summer and are keeping yourself safe against the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant. If you are not already vaccinated, we hope you schedule a shot soon and encourage others to do the same! Rising case numbers in Wisconsin and its uncertain impact in the months ahead will likely mean a return to virtual programming this fall.
The good news is that the League board has been busy planning a year of inspirational and educational programs and events aligned with our public policy positions. We look forward to hearing from Whitewater City Manager Cameron Clapper and WUSD Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty on the state of our city and schools on September 23. National Voter Registration Day, September 28, brings opportunities to share our expertise in voter education with creative outreach to eligible voters. Our October program will address voter suppression laws and how to convey the truth about our election processes. Our November program will consider climate change from a global and local perspective. By November 1, we hope to receive your nominations for this year's Making Democracy Work award .
Our team of board members has already demonstrated strong interest in and energy for elevating the League’s role in our community as educators and promoters of free and fair elections. We invite YOU, our members, to join us actively in the promotion of our democracy. Throughout the year ahead, we look forward to our members coalescing in advocacy for the protection of voting rights, civil rights, the environment, infrastructure, and desperately needed social programs.
"We" are Mary Beth Byrne and Ellen Penwell. We're both past presidents of the Whitewater Area League and are willing to serve as co-presidents until others feel prepared to assume leadership roles. We encourage your consideration of what YOU have to offer our League and we welcome any League member to attend board meetings for transparency and to demystify what it is board members do.
