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