Saint Paul at the LWVUS 56th Biennial Convention,  June 27 - 30, 2024 in Washington, DC

Article provided by Nona Beining, Secretary LWV Saint Paul

The LWVSP Board approved the motion to fund conference fees and travel expenses to allow 3 members of the LWVSP Board to attend the LWVUS Biennial Convention in June in Washington DC.

The Board approved this for Beatrice Owen, LWVSP President, Nona Beining, LWVSP Secretary, and Pam Mercier, Co-chair of Voter Services Committee. 

Delegates voted on the 2024 – 2026 Program, the 2024 – 2026 budget, the 2024 – 2026 LWVUS Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, and submitted bylaws amendments. Friday and Saturday are packed with speakers, training sessions, and area activities to fully engage in the League experience. See the detailed agenda here. 

Your LWVSP delegates attended the pre-Convention Lobby Day on the Hill and meet with our Saint Paul Congresswoman Betty McCollum and attended a reception and dinner on Saturday night showcasing local DC culture.

Watch a welcome from new president of LWV US Board Dianna Wynn

Excerpted remarks:

“In my Convention remarks to delegates on Sunday, I spoke about my vision for the next two years and the power of women to create a more perfect democracy. Amid a busy election season, our nation is facing existential threats to democracy. As we honor and reflect on our 104-year-old legacy as a trusted, nonpartisan voice that values grassroots action, we cannot face modern challenges without building a League that is bigger, bolder, and more powerful. 

Over 1,200 members from all 50 states, DC, and the Virgin Islands joined us for Convention this past June. We kicked off our new biennium with powerful remarks from our incoming CEO, Celina Stewart. In addition to impressive workshops and caucuses, attendees also heard inspiring words from our keynote speaker, Kim Teehee, the Cherokee Nation’s delegate to Congress. 

This is just a snapshot of our highlights from Convention: you can find our full debrief, including a day-by-day recap, on the League Management Site.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday Lobby Day

Your LWVSP crew explored the US Capitol and visited with Rep Betty McCollum. She appreciated our visit and loves the League! Our mission was to amplify the LWV position on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and ensure our legislature hears the support for this important bill directly from their constituents. We chatted with Rep McCollum briefly, and then she dashed to the floor to begin voting on the Defense Bill amendments. We talked for another 30 minutes with her aide Quinton Johnson and he had us escorted to the gallery to watch the voting live and in person. What a somber treat, to set in the gallery where our nation’s laws are debated and where the State of the Union is held. We also met with Sen Amy Klobuchar’s Policy Director, Stephen Spaulding. The Senator was unavailable, but we were very grateful to have the opportunity to spend time with her distinguished policy director. He gave us action items around the John Lewis Voting Rights Act as well as encouraged us to explore the Freedom to Vote Act, then impressed on us that Sen Klobuchar’s agenda also includes Artificial Intelligence and its ability to generate and perpetuate misinformation and disinformation.

The Convention Informational Sessions were spread throughout Friday Saturday and Sunday, fit in amongst the duties of voting on our bylaws, leadership, program, and resolutions. Topics included were in Sustainability and UN Goals for Sustainable Development, DEI, ranked choice voting, youth efforts, redistricting, fundraising, and website development.

Friday Bylaws and informational sessions

The morning started out strong with sessions on many topics. We had informational sessions in the morning, then after lunch in the ballroom with our delegation, we grouped into states and started the process of voting. Day 1 of voting included Bylaws recommendations. It was spirited discussion, with 1000 voices and Leagues from all over the country arguing their cases for/against various topics in our bylaws. By the end of the day we approved the bylaws that will carry us through the next two years. 

The state of Minnesota had great representation! Leagues from Saint Paul, Edina, Robbinsdale, Minneapolis, White Bear Lake and Roseville were around the table, as well as a few members from the MN board and leadership. After the voting was done for the day, we broke for a well-earned team regroup at hotel bar across the street and we got to know each other better. 

Saturday Proposed National Program topics

The Program committee presented their recommendations for the coming 2 years. If we didn’t think we were a lively and opinionated group before, we surely did by the end of day two. In the end we approved the program, moved several discussions to the following day, and remarked several times on how invigorating it was to see Leagues bring several Youth Vote members to the Convention! Maine and Oregon were particularly well represented and were not shy about standing at the microphone and lobbying their positions in front of 1000 fellow Leaguers. It was great to see strong youth development happening throughout the organization. 

The evening party began with a rock band and a glass of wine. During dinner we were inspired by guest speaker Kimbery Teehee, Sr Vice President of Government Relations for the Cherokee Nation, as she shared her heritage and her passions as the first-ever senior policy advisor for Native American Affairs in the White House and as senior advisor to US House of Representatives Native American Caucus co-chair Rep Dale Kildee for 12 years. 

Sunday Extended Program topics and amendments, Budget, resolutions, and voting + directions to the new board. We were pretty exhausted at this point, I assure you. 

We were introduced to the new Nominating Committee and heard from our new LWVUS chairperson (name) and wrapped up the morning with more discussion, debate, and directions to the new Board. 

Saint Paul and the state of Minnesota was well-represented and we should be proud of our efforts in voter registration and activation. Our Program committee topics were shared via our YouTube channel to several different states and Leagues. 

Thank you to the LWVSP Board for providing the funds for this team of Leaguers to attend this important convention!

Nona, Judy, Jackie, Dianna Wynne, Beatrice, Val, Teresa, Pam

Pam, Val, Jackie, Celina Stewart, Nona, Beatrice, Judy, Teresa

Working at the Minnesota table!

The State Dept and a Latin America Delegation visits LWVSP in July

Article provided by Nona Beining, Secretary LWV Saint Paul

On July 12, fifteen members of a Latin American delegation met with LWV Saint Paul President Beatrice Owen, Secretary Nona Beining, and former President Amy Mino to discuss how LWV Saint Paul promotes citizen participation in government and the election process through public education, voter registration, sponsoring candidate forums, and facilitating discussion groups.

Global Minnesota, a nonprofit that works to facilitate U.S. Department of State Exchange Programs, worked with the US State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on this visit. We’re very proud to be asked to meet with this group as they travel across the US.  

Thank you to the following LWVSP members for answering the LWVSP phone this year. If you want to help next year, send us an email lwvstpaul@lwvmn.org

July 2024 - Julie July Borgerding

August 2024 - Joann Ellis

September 2024 - Chris Schnieders

October 2024 - Nona Beining

November 2024 - Christine Sarkes

December 2024 - Diane Power

January 2025 - Nona Beining

February 2025 - Amy Mino

March 2025 - Christine Sarkes

April 2025 - Charlotte Sebastian

May 2025 - Anne McKinsey

June 2025 - Bethany Whitehead

Our group met on June 12^th to review the book, to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States, by Daniel Immerwahr. Immerwahr writes about the United States colonies, territories,  and 800 bases outside of the U.S. mainland  including how they were acquired, governed, and exploited by our government.  The first part of the book, The Colonial Empire, discusses the expansion of the continental states and the second part, The Pointillist Empire discusses the acquisition of the territories and bases after World War 2. The territories at this time were Guam, Swan Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guantanamo Bay, The Philippines, Bikini Atoll, Saipan, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.

 Our group found this book to be quite interesting because it is about our country’s history that we never learned. We talked about how the territories were  acquired based on usable resources with little consideration for the people living there. They never had representation with the U.S. government. Puerto Ricans were used as guinea pigs in medical testing. Racism was used in making decisions. The U.S. had an opportunity to acquire Mexico but didn’t want it because of “too many dark people”. The Bikini Atoll was used for testing the atomic bomb so that the people who lived there had to leave their homes and move elsewhere. When we acquired Guam as a base, the entire culture was disrupted and their focus became the base for their livelihood. Alaskan natives from the Aleutian Islands were evacuated from their homes following Japanese bombing and were forced into internment camps where 10% of the population perished.

This book was well-written, named names of leaders responsible, was readable and has much information.

Posted on YouTube, the recording of the May Learn with the League program featuring Katie Knutson, Chief of Staff in the Office of Cannabis Management. Cannabis was legalized in Minnesota on August 1, 2023. Katie Knutson discusses the law, the rollout, and what challenges the state has encountered during implementation.

LWV Upper Mississippi River Region ILO Annual Members Meeting 

6:00 – 7:00 pm, Monday, May 29, 2024 

Article provided by Nona Beining, Secretary LWV Saint Paul

Elected and State appointed Board Members as well as voting delegations from all Leagues in the member states of the Upper Mississippi River Region Inter League Organization of LWV (UMRR) met on Monday May 29, 2024 for the Annual Meeting. Member states in this ILO include Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. 

Nona Beining represented the Saint Paul, MN League. Minnesota was well-represented. 

We opened at 5:30 for social time among delegates and called the meeting  to order at 6pm. We held a brief but meaningful sharing moment  in memory of Lonnie McCauley, MN, who was Founder and Action Committee Chair of UMRR, and Deborah Ann Turner, IA (LWV US President). The business in front of the delegates was conducted quickly, and discussions were held on revisions to By-Laws and open Board positions. 

A Call to Serve

This ILO, as many of our local Leagues, is entirely run on the power of its volunteers. We know the challenges of filling our local League Board positions and committees, and the ILO is no different. The current President, Mary Ellen Miller, is exiting the board after her two year term and the Nominating Committee is working hard to try to fill her shoes as well as a few other open positions. Additionally, each state Board is asked to fill 3 board positions by July 1. Please consider reaching out to Nona Beining to find out how you can be part of this organization. 

LWV UMRR Program for Action 2024-25, as approved by the delegates

LWV UMRR is positioned as a multi-state Inter-League Organization focused on protecting and enhancing the Mississippi River. The Board and members of UMRR are active, engaged, and passionate. They are also involved in other organizations, giving the ILO a broad base of knowledge about what’s happening around us.

This program for action takes the work we've done together and points us toward our work for the future.

LWV UMRR will build on the affiliations LWV UMRR members have with other LWVs and other organizations focused on the Mississippi to seek opportunities to advocate for the river in a broad national context. 

LWV UMRR will support local Leagues’ educational projects including hosting the “Pure Sparkling Stream Water” Pop Art exhibit throughout our five-state region this coming year.

LWV UMRR will lead LWV in supporting federal legislation to protect the Mississippi River’s quality and quantity:

Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI)

Safeguarding our Mississippi River Together (SMRT)

2023 Farm Bill reauthorization

LWV UMRR will research and assess the possibility of an Upper Midwest Compact to protect the Mississippi from water diversion.

LWV UMRR will work with our member state Leagues and LWV US to build effective advocacy based on LWV positions, and partner with organizations actively working on these bills.

Go to: https://www.lwvumrr.org blog for more detail on upcoming activities

Watch this: LWV Saint Paul March 2024 Program: Advocating for the Upper Mississippi River 

You can now view the program recording from April, 23, 2024 on the LWVSP YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQkXpmh0FV4

"Learn about some parts of the Ramsey County Judicial system, specifically the Women's Community Group that meets at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul to help each other navigate the judicial system. We learned from some of the organizers - Judge Grewing, Judge Mitchell, and Judge Starr. They shared the story of lifting each other up in community."

This community group was featured in the Star Tribune on December 8, 2023.

Program Recording: "Where Does Your Child Go to School?" A Discussion about MN Charter Schools

27 Feb 2024 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

This panel discussion explored the public charter school system and provided context to some of the news about Minnesota charter schools in the past several months. The program was held online on Tuesday, February 27 and panel participants included: Jon Schroeder, a recent Senior Fellow with Education Evolving (EE); Carrie Bakken, one of the first teachers at the chartered Avalon School in St. Paul; and Tony Simmons, Executive Director at the High School for Recording Arts.

Recording link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfMSye_c2wU&t=91s

Morning Book Club Book Spotlight

Morning book club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m.

This bookclub meets at 10am at the Highland Park Library, 1974 Ford Parkway. The next book is A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them, by Timothy Eagan. 

Book Spotlight 

On February 14 the AM Book Club discussed Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, by Patrick Radden Keefe. This book tells the history of the Sackler family dynasty and the founders of Purdue Pharma. It focuses on their introduction of Oxycontin and how over seven million people became addicted to it, and thousands of people died from overdosing each year. 

Through marketing and sales representatives pushing this drug it became the pain drug of choice for doctors to prescribe. It was promised to be safe and effective and give 12-hour relief from pain, but in reality it didn’t last that long so that pain returned, and patients also went through withdrawal from the drug after about eight hours. They needed to take it more often than recommended and became addicted. It also led to heroin use (a similar opioid) when people could no longer get Oxycontin. All this while the family was living an opulent life style and blaming the victims instead of taking responsibility for the epidemic. Purdue Pharma knew the problems with the drug, but it was such a huge money maker they kept lying about it and pushing it onto doctors. After many years, Purdue was held accountable although the Sackler family was never punished until recently, when lawsuits were filed against the family members and their names were scrubbed from museums, colleges and other buildings named after the family. In 2023 a settlement was proposed that forces Purdue to restructure as a different company and the Sacklers must give up control. They would also have to pay $6 billion out of the more than $10 billion that the family earned from the sale of Oxycontin.

Our group talked about the family never admitting guilt and never showing remorse for their part in promoting this drug. They instead blamed the victims. The family led a lavish life of privilege and believed they weren’t responsible since they didn’t work at Purdue. They were finally shamed by public pressure and donations were no longer accepted from the Sackler family.

Sales reps went to poorer areas of the country where people did more manual labor and had more pain issues.   Doctors who they sold to thought people couldn’t get addicted to the drug based on what the pharmaceutical representatives told them. They thought this was a good drug to use for pain. They overprescribe pain medications that people don’t use, and sit in their medicine cabinets. 

The FDA needs to do more to protect consumers and stronger testing should be done.

The U.S. is only one of two countries that allow pharmaceutical ads. Cigarettes ads are no longer allowed.

For more information:

The Urge: Our History of Addiction, by Carl Erik Fisher

Painkiller – limited series drama on Netflix. About the Sackler family and the opioid epidemic

Sackler family - Wikipedia History of the Sackler family

Sackler Family: Where Are They Now, Who Went to Jail? (businessinsider.com) What happened to the Sackler Family in Real Life?

April’s book is In the Bright Sunshine: Young Hubert Humphrey and the Fight for Civil Rights, by Samuel  Freedman.

Thanks to Mary P for this informative write-up.

UMRR  Upper Mississippi River Region - Interleague organization

SPOTLIGHT

St. Cloud, Minnesota, is a city of 80,000 people that straddles the Mississippi and they are flipping the script on climate change!  Eight years ago, St, Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis set a goal for City operations to be carbon neutral by 2030, not including energy generated by the city's hydropower dam on the Mississippi. The city met the goal of carbon neutrality in 2020 - ten years ahead of plan. When taking into account the hydro facility, the city now produces three times as much energy as it uses as a municipality — saving about $1.5 million  from their annual budget.  The City's new goal is that by 2028 the entire St. Cloud community is carbon neutral for its electrical use, and by 2038 will be carbon neutral for electrical, building heat and transportation.

February 7, LWV UMRR will host a webinar featuring St. Cloud's Public Services Director, Tracy Hodel, beginning at 1pm.   Tracy will tell us about how the City Of St. Cloud has become a national and global leader in its sustainability work and the many positive community impacts resulting from these actions.   We will learn how a community has taken waste products and turned them into an enterprise that is leading the way to a clean energy future!

The LWV UMRR Blog post, "St Cloud's Circular Economy - Defining the Clean Energy Future", includes links to articles about the City's work and awards.  It's good reading!