May 2021 Newsletter

From the Board

Please Join the League Board for This Year’s LWVBC Virtual Annual Meeting on May 25, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

We will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the League of Women Voters of Brown County!

We are working on developing a great program for the meeting.

• Log in between 5:45-6:00 pm to watch a Power Point and socialize on Zoom
• We’ll honor this year’s Dorothy Stewart scholarship winner
• League Co-Vice President Pam Raider will present a look back on our local League
• We will recognize the winners of the League’s inaugural Essay Contest
• We will present information on the 2021 Fair Maps/Redistricting effort
• We will review highlights of the League’swork for 2020-2021
• We will take a short break andZoomon to the LWVBC Annual Business Meeting

Register in advance for the LWVBC 2021 Annual Meeting, May 25, 2021, 6:00 pm:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMucOqupzsuHtFr_x5m_VQmmnPozdnrBCeS 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you have questions or comments, contact Shari Frank, Presidentshari.r.frank@gmail.com

949-235-2171 cell; or Laurie Teal, Co-Vice President,teal.family@icloud.com 317-506-5283 cell.

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Just a Note….

Shari Frank, LWVBC President

Speak up and Speak Out.  These words are like a mantra that drives me to say something whenever I see or hear biased remarks.  Anytime someone starts with “the ….insert label here “ say or do or are “such and such”;  this wording immediately makes clear that the intent of the narrative is to incite emotion, not to discuss an issue.  When our leaders, locally or nationally or even friends and acquaintances start out with something that tries to group others into a single category based on a single characteristic (skin color, nationality, heritage, political affiliation, gender, hair color, age, education, etc. etc.) – no need to read further.  It’s just a biased diatribe designed to pit one group against another.  

So how to respond?  Speak up and speak out.  Recently local Brown County leaders posted some horribly prejudiced information as though it had some sort of legitimacy.  It did not.  I was very pleased to see the Democrat newspaper and many community leaders and caring Brown Countians do a thorough job of debunking the misinformation and speaking out against the gross prejudice portrayed.  I want to “second” those responses.  By adding my voice against repulsive rhetoric, my intent is to strengthen the response of those who came before me and encourage others to continue to add their voice against prejudice.  

I hope more leaders will come forward and speak against the injustice of portraying any group unfairly.  In this incident, the misinformation attacked Black people.  In the book Caste, author Isabel Wilkerson asserts one of the reasons white people continue to attempt to undermine Black people and other minorities is out of fear.  Fear of losing their privileged status in society.  Fear of being less than.  When it’s put in words like that, my hope is people will begin to recognize that it makes no sense at all to try to degrade others to make oneself look or feel better.  Stepping on others is not going to help us climb higher.  Instead, the only way we as a society will succeed is if we all succeed.  It is by helping everyone have access to the same opportunities and resources that we will all improve our status.  It starts with each of us speaking up and speaking out against wrongs when we see them.  Together we can make a better, more inclusive world and celebrate the diversity that makes us all stronger.

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Takeaways from the LWVIN Biennial Convention

Submitted by Laurie Teal, LWVBC Co-Vice President

The biennial convention of the Indiana State League was held virtually on Saturday, May 1. Shari Frank, LWVBC President, and I served as delegates from our local League.  Below are the takeaways from the Convention I would like to share with our members. More information on the convention is available at https://lwvin.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=42001&module_id=465203

• Virginia Kase, CEO of LWVUS, was the first speaker. A few highlights from Virginia’s talk: (full content is available at https://www.lwv.org/league-management/leadership-development/recorded-sessions-state-conventions-and-meetings?utm_source=LeagueUpdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=04222021
  1. LWVUS provided, via Vote411, information in 2020 to 6 million voters.
  2. The League is committed to being a multi-racial, multi-generational group.
  3. The League stands up for improved voter rights; fair redistricting; civic education; and fighting against big money in elections.
  4. Members of the LWVUS need to always consider “how do we want to show up for democracy.”

   

• Program: In addition to the national League program, delegates voted unanimously to add to the State League program the following issues: public education; natural resources/ environment; and women’s health.

   

• Investment Committee Report: Several delegates expressed a desire for the Investment Committee to keep a DEI and environment lens on the LWVIN investment strategy, keeping League values in mind.

   

• The morning keynote Speaker was Dr. Deborah Turner, President of LWVUS, who joined the group via a pre-recorded presentation. Dr. Turner discussed the “transformational roadmap” being developed by LWVUS, and reminded delegates that “We can fly, or we can fall.” Dr. Turner’s full speech is available at https://www.lwv.org/league-management/leadership-development/recorded-sessions-state-conventions-and-meetings?utm_source=LeagueUpdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=04222021

   

• The afternoon keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Dion of the University of Evansville, whose topic was voter suppression and integrity. A few notes: 1) In most elections, most registered voters do not vote; 2) In 2014 Indiana ranked the lowest in the nation for voter turnout; 3) Indiana has the shortest election hours in the U.S.; 4) the key to increasing voter turnout is motivating voters through improved civic education and increased political efficacy.

   

• Ken Jones of the LWVIN Voter Services Coordinating Committee gave a presentation of the election data gathered by the Committee. Ken provided an interesting, in-depth look at the data the Committee obtained from County Clerks and the State of Indiana about the 2020 elections in Indiana. Please note the data are not complete, as a few counties have not yet submitted all requested reporting. A few points noted here:

   

  • 44% of ballots cast by all political parties were straight-ticket votes.
  • Of the 4.741 million registered voters in Indiana, 65%, or 3.068 million, voted in the 2020 election. 
  • Of the 3.068 million Hoosier voters, 39%, or 1.201 million, voted on election day.
  • Of the 3.068 million Hoosier voters, 61%, or 1.868 million, voted by mail or in-person before election day.
  • LWVIN was the first organization to request the data from the state and County Clerks.

   

• Shari and I attended three workshops during the convention. LWVBC Board member Judy East attended both DEI workshops.

   

  • Supporting Public Education: Speaker Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, president of the ICPE (Indiana Coalition for Public Education). The main topic of the discussion was about charter schools. Did you know: 1) there is no auditing required of private schools in Indiana; 2) charter schools have no publicly elected school board; 3) student performance in charter schools is about the same as public schools; 4) there is little to no state or local oversight or accountability of charter schools; 5) charter and other private schools are prohibited from discriminating only on the basis of gender or race; 6) Indiana ranks 49^th in the country for teacher pay.

     

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: Speaker Melissa Currence, the LWVUS Indiana Liaison. Melissa encouraged attendees to look at everything we do through a DEI lens. Group discussed also taking a new look at our local positions through a DEI lens.  A recommended TedTalk is “Your Privilege is Showing,” by Lillian Medville.

   

  • Money and Politics: Speaker Andy Downs of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University Fort Wayne. The discussion focused on candidates for office and finance reform. Andy suggested some helpful questions to ask candidates that would improve campaign fund transparency: 1) Where did financial support come from; 2) How was the money spent; 3) Disclose all donations and expenditures in a timely manner.

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Redistricting Presentation Available for Groups, Organizations, or Churches

Source: May newsletter of League of Women Voters Bloomington-Monroe County

Editor’s Note: LWVBC President Shari Frank has worked alongside the Bloomington League to develop this presentation.

“The LWV-BMC is proud to announce that beginning in May/June we will offer ‘Working for Fair Voting Maps in Indiana.’ The one-hour presentation includes a PowerPoint presentation (about 30 minutes) with a 7-minute video, followed by a 30-minute comment and Q&A session. 

“The presentation is designed to raise awareness about Indiana’s redistricting process, share basic information about representation, show what is at stake when maps are drawn to favor one party over another, and explain why redistricting should be nonpartisan, transparent, and protect communities and common interests. 

“We would be honored if you would consider scheduling a redistricting presentation for groups, organizations, churches, and clubs to which you belong.”

Please contact LWVBC President Shari Frank at browncountylwv@gmail.com to schedule a presentation or for more information.  

Join LWVBC in a Writing Blitz on Redistricting

During the May 10 board meeting of the Brown County League of Women Voters, the board decided to join with the Indiana State League and other local leagues in a post card mailing effort to encourage our state legislators to develop Fair Maps when redistricting occurs later this year.

The board chose three specific dates: Flag Day on June 14 (honoring the American ideal of one person, one vote); Women’s Equality Day on August 26 (to demand Fair Maps); and Constitution Day on September 17 (the birthday of our U.S. government) to send post cards to the following legislators. 

Contact information for the legislators is available HERE. 

• State Senator Eric Koch, representing Brown County

• Representative Chris May, representing Brown County

• Governor Eric Holcomb

• Roderic Bray, President Pro Tempore of the Indiana Senate

• Todd Huston, Speaker of the House of Representatives

• Representative Timothy Wesco, Chair, Elections and Apportionment

Click HERE for talking points on redistricting, courtesy of the Indiana League. Some message themes are suggested below:

• Redistricting must be fair and transparent 

• Stop the Gerrymander!

• Draw the maps so all votes count  

• I want to pick my legislator, not be picked by one 

• I want to see the maps after they are drawn and before any votes are taken 

• Redistricting is not job security for legislators 

• Fair Maps ensure Democracy

• Draw the maps incumbent blind

• Protect Democratic principles of Proportional Representation: every vote should be equal

If you would like to use graphics on redistricting for your correspondence, the state League has many for use: click HERE. The State League also has many resources on redistricting, available HERE.

And finally, printable maps of Indiana districts are available HERE.

Flag Day (June 14) is the first of three dates LWVBC selected for a Fair Maps Campaign.  If we work together to send in communications, it helps show a concerted effort – a consensus that constituents want fair maps to let voters choose their representatives, not the other way around.  Please join us in sending an email, letter or post card to the representatives listed above. 

• Mail post cards or letters 3-4 days ahead of the date
• Email on the designated date

We would love to put an image of your post card/email/letter on our website! To share your communications, please send to browncountylwv@gmail.com.

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Flag Day: A History Lesson

Submitted by LWVBC Secretary JoAnne Himebaugh

At the onset of the American Revolution in 1775, colonists were not fighting under a single flag. Instead, regiments participating in the war for independence against the British fought under their own flags. In June of 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to create a unified colonial fighting force, the Continental Army. This led to the creation of what was, essentially, the first “American” flag, consisting of 13 red and white alternating stripes and a Union Jack in one corner.

George Washington considered the Union Jack symbol too similar to the British flag and found it difficult to unite the colonists under this new flag.  On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress took a break from writing the Articles of Confederation and passed a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

As we celebrate Flag Day on June 14, may the first three words of the world’s longest surviving written charter of government, the United States Constitution, “We The People,” reaffirm that the government exists to serve its citizens. As such, our government representatives should be reflective of those they serve and should not seek to hold their representative position through means of gerrymandering. 

Consider dropping a letter, email, post card to your state representatives and encourage them to enlist independent redistricting.  Contact information for our state legislators can be found HERE.  

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The U.S. Flag: Guidelines for Display

Submitted by League Board member Janet Kramer

As we head into the summer, with Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day on the calendar, here are some guidelines for display of the U.S. flag, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if illuminated during darkness.

   

• The flag should be displayed on or near the main building of public institutions, schools during school days, and polling places on election days. It should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

   

• The flag may be flown at half-staff to honor a newly-deceased federal or state government official by order of the President or the Governor, respectively. On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon.                          Image credit: wallpapercave.com

   

• The flag should never be draped or drawn back in folds. Draped red, white and blue bunting should be used for decoration, with the blue at the top and red at the bottom.

   

• Out of respect for the U.S. flag, one should never dip it for any person or thing, even though state flags, regimental colors and other flags may be dipped as mark of honor.

• When the flag is worn out or otherwise no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. The Veterans Affairs Office at Deer Run has a box available at their front door for anyone to deposit an old flag for proper disposal. 

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Did You Save Your Copy of the 2021 Who’s Where / Connections?

This year, the LWVBC collaborated with the Brown County Democrat to produce a joint Who’s Where in Brown County/ Connections publication. This was done in an effort to save printing costs, which have been increasing each year, and to reduce time and effort in updating all the information provided in Who’s Where.

If you did not receive a copy of Who’s Where / Connections with your March 30 edition of the Democrat, you can access the booklet in multiple ways:

• Copies are available at the Brown County Democrat office
• Copies are available at the Brown County Library
• Contact the LWVBC at browncountylwv@gmail.com to request copies
• A pdf version of Who’s Where / Connections is available on the League website: http://www.lwvbrowncounty.org

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Update from LWVBC DEI Committee

Submitted by Judy East, Committee Co-Chair

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a nationwide effort to incorporate all kinds of Americans into organizations from government to schools to churches and civic groups.  The League of Women Voters of the United States has established its own very broad policies on DEI, which the Brown County League has adopted. 

In our committee we are exploring our own biases regarding race through in-depth readings and discussions.  We began by focusing on white people’s perceptions of Blacks and how we try to protect ourselves from recognizing our own prejudices. White Fragility by Robin DeAngelo was a good starting point. We next read Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, which distinguishes between race, caste, and class, and makes the case that the United States, India, and Nazi Germany are prime examples of caste systems. Disturbingly, we learned that the Nazis modeled some of their treatment of Jews on the Jim Crow laws against Blacks. We were all shocked that we hadn't known of this. If you hadn't known either, here is a link to learn more: https://www.history.com/news/how-the-nazis-were-inspired-by-jim-crow.Some of us are beginning to journal from Layla Saad’s book Me and White Supremacy.

We are now beginning to read 1491 by Charles Mann.  It describes the pre-Columbian Americas, which were much more populated, diverse, and civilized than our histories would have us believe.  We plan to learn about other marginalized groups in the future.

While educating ourselves is our first goal, we will also seek opportunities to share what we learn and address any issues that arise in our own community. We are very proud that one of our members, Melissa Rittenhouse, is part of the Nashville Town Council’s Human Resources Advisory Committee. We want to join other DEI efforts in Brown County and encourage groups to examine their own policies.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee (DEI) has been meeting twice a month since December.  We welcome new members!  To be added to our Zoom email list, contact Judy East atjudithaeast@gmail.com.

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DEI Glossary of Terms: H - I

Source: League of Women Voters Bloomington-Monroe County

Editor’s Note: Below is a partial glossary of commonly used words with detailed definitions and their sources. Additional terms will be discussed in future League newsletters.

As you read through the information, ask yourself the following: 

• What definitions surprised you? 
• What definitions are new to you? 
• What familiar definitions have you used interchangeably? 

In reviewing them, what differences can you see and why are they important to how and when the words are used?

What role can you play in connecting these definitions to League work and sharing them with your 

League network? 

Heterosexism: A system of advantage based on sexual orientation. 

Homophobia: Homophobia is the fear and persecution of people of different sexual orientations, which is rooted in a desire to maintain the heterosexual social order.‘

Implicit Bias: A negative association that people unknowingly hold. Expressed automatically, without conscious awareness. Many studies have indicated that [it] affects individuals’ attitudes and actions, thus creating real-world implications, even though individuals may not even be aware that [it] exist[s] within themselves. Notably, [it has] been shown to trump individuals’ stated commitments to equality and fairness, thereby producing behavior that diverges from the explicit attitudes that many people profess.Source: Racial Equity Tools; State of the Science Implicit Bias Review 2013, Cheryl Staats, Kirwan Institute, The Ohio State University. 

Inclusion:Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power.

Intersectionality: Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

“ism”: A way of describing any attitude, action, or institutional structure that subordinates (oppresses) a person or group because of their target group, [e.g., color, gender, economic status, age, religion, sexual orientation, language, citizenship, etc.]

Source: W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Institute for Democratic Renewal and Project Change Anti-Racism Initiative. A Community Builder's Tool Kit. Claremont, Calif.: Claremont Graduate University.

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Campaign to Support theFOR THE PEOPLE ACT

Submitted by LWVBC President Shari Frank

It’s important to keep up contacts with our Senators to pass the S.1, the For the People Act.

Continual communications about S.1 from Hoosiers will impress upon our representatives that Hoosiers want reforms to voting laws.  Please look for LWVIN and LWVBC updates and keep on writing.

When presented without partisan bias, the majority of citizens favor all the benefits of theFor the People Act.  Voters want access to voting, big money out of politics, and all the other benefits to help citizens vote: 

"More than 80 percent of respondents said they supported preventing foreign interference in elections, limiting the influence of money in politics, and modernizing election infrastructure to increase election security. More than 60 percent of respondents supported requiring nonpartisan redistricting commissions, a 15-day early voting period for all federal elections, same-day registration for all eligible voters, automatic voter registration for all eligible voters, and giving every voter the option to vote by mail. "  Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-feared-democrats-voting-protections-bill-polls-well-a-new-poll-says-they-re-right/ar-BB1gj8Zy?rt=1&ocid=Win10NewsApp&referrerID=InAppShare

Below is a link to an article that explains the amendments/changes that are being considered to the Senate version of For the People Act from the Brennan Center for Justice: 

2021_01_Case for HR1_update_V4.pdf (brennancenter.org)  Why Congress Should Pass theFor the People Act.  Just skimming the article headings shows the many benefits offered voters in theFor the People Act. One key benefit is creating a nonpartisan process to draw fair maps when Congressional Districts are redrawn. 

Even when theForthe People Actpasses, it only affects redistricting for Congressional Districts, so we still need to focus on fair maps for State Senate and State Representatives in Indiana.  Please take part and support the LWV campaign to write Hoosier representatives to let them know you want fair maps in 2021 as outlined in this newsletter. 

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Watershed Management Plan Under Development by Friends of Lake Monroe

Submitted by Maggie Sullivan, Lake Monroe Watershed Coordinator

watershed@friendsoflakemonroe.org

812-558-0217

Friends of Lake Monroe is currently developing a watershed management plan to address non-point source pollution in Lake Monroe.  Nonpoint source pollution is essentially any form of pollution that reaches our waterways by being washed overland or through groundwater.  Some examples include animal waste, human waste, soil, fertilizer, herbicides, and trash. 

A watershed is the land that drains into a particular lake or other waterbody.  Here is amap of the Lake Monroe watershed**link:https://friendsoflakemonroe.org/watershed-plan/, spanning 440 square miles and covering over two thirds of Brown County.  If you live along any of the three branches of Salt Creek (North Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork) or any of their tributaries (Sweetwater Creek, Greasy Creek, Clay Lick Creek, Hamilton Creek, Gnaw Bone Creek, and Schooner Creek, to name a few), you live in the Lake Monroe watershed and your property drains to Lake Monroe.  What happens in the watershed has a direct impact on water quality in the lake.

We launched our watershed planning project with a community forum in January 2020 co-hosted by the League of Women Voters (thank you!) where we gathered community concerns.  Since then, we have been gathering other forms of data by conducting water quality monitoring, reviewing existing studies, and documenting stream conditions throughout the watershed.  We have also been working to (virtually) educate the public through newspaper articles, blog posts, social media updates, Zoom presentations, and in classrooms as part of Fourth Grade Field Day in Brown County.  (Are yousmarter than a fourth grader?) **link:https://friendsoflakemonroe.org/november-2020-newsletter/#smart

Our next step will be to set improvement goals for any pollutants above our water quality targets, most likely sediment, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and E. coli.  Then we will identify specific strategies for meeting those goals.  Examples from other watershed management plans include increasing use of cover crops, educating about septic system maintenance, restoring wetlands, and planting riparian buffers (trees and shrubs planted along streams to stabilize the stream bank as well as providing shade and habitat for fish).  All practices would be implemented on a voluntary basis.  We plan to acquire additional funding to help interested landowners with these strategies.

This fall we will host a community forum to discuss our findings and solicit feedback from the community.  Hopefully we will be able to gather in person, but if not, there’s always Zoom!  The final Lake Monroe/Upper Salt Creek Watershed Management Plan will be published in January 2022 and we hope to begin implementation that fall.  We appreciate all the support the League of Women Voters has provided for this project and hope we can continue to collaborate through joint educational efforts and community forums.   Please feel free to reach out anytime with questions, comments, or suggestions.

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May Holidays 2021

May 3: World Press Freedom Day: “3 May acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of a story.”

Source: https://events.unesco.org/event?id=World_Press_Freedom_Day_2021_2466106133&lang=1033

The LWVBC salutes our members whose careers were in the media.

May 4: National Teacher Appreciation Day:For over 80+ years, educational leaders and politicians debated whether a day should be established to honor the contributions of teachers, but it wouldn’t be until the 1950s that this movement began to yield some concrete results. In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded the 81st U.S Congress to proclaim a National Teacher’s Day. Unfortunately, it would take another 27 years before the day would become official, however. This happened on March 7th, 1989 when Congress declared a National Teacher Day. 

Eventually, the day was moved to May and the National Parent Teacher Association managed to get the entire first week of May named Teacher Appreciation Week in 1984. The National Education Association followed the following year, and National Teacher Appreciation Day was founded on the Tuesday of the first full week of May in 1985 and every year afterward. 

Source: https://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/national-teacher-appreciation-day/

The LWVBC salutes our members whose careers were in education.

May 6: National Nurses Day: Celebrated annually on May 6th since 1982, National Nurses Day is a holiday that not only celebrates nurses and raises awareness about the importance of their contributions to society. This holiday kicks off National Nurses Week – a week that ends on May 12th and marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

National Nurses Day can be traced back to 1953 when Dorothy Sutherland, an employee at the U.S. Dept. of Health, composed a letter to President Eisenhower suggesting that a National Nurses Day be officially declared. Unfortunately, the President didn’t take up her suggestion and it was left to private citizens to begin celebrating a National Nurses Day and eventually, a National Nurses Week. Finally, in 1974, President Richard Nixon declared a National Nurse Week. This was followed by a resolution started in New Mexico in 1981 to declare the 6th of May National Recognition Day for Nurses. This proposal was heavily promoted by the American Nursing Association over the next year. Finally, in 1982, the U.S Congress declared May 6th to be National Recognition Day for Nurses and it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Source: https://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/national-nurses-day/

The LWVBC salutes our members whose careers were in health care.

May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia: The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

May 17th was chosen as a way to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. “The Day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision-makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc. to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.”Source: https://therustintimes.com/2021/04/17/may17-announces-theme-for-2021-international-day-against-homophobia-transphobia-and-biphobia/

May 20: Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD):The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities/impairments.Source: https://globalaccessibilityawarenessday.org/

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COVID-19 Vaccine Indiana Info

If you are age 12 or older, you can get a vaccine.Please note that anyone younger than 18 must receive the Pfizer vaccine. It is the only vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for that age group. Proof of age will be required at the time of vaccination.

Call 2-1-1 to schedule. For more information: go to https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/

Additional resources:  Brown County: COAD Hotline: Call 812-988-0001 for help related to food, medicine, transportation.  Or visit their website: https://www.browncountycoad.com

NOTES FROM CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/vaccines/facts-covid-vaccines-english-508.pdf

Remember: Even after you get your vaccine, take precautions. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth in large groups, continue to wash your hands often, and stay at least 6 feet away from other people you do not live with. 

This gives you and others the best protection from catching the virus. Right now, experts don’t know how long the vaccine will protect you, so it’s a good idea to continue following the guidelines from CDC and your health department. We also know not everyone is vaccinated, so it’s still important to protect yourself and others. 

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Updates from LWVIN

The LWVIN website is https://www.lwvin.org

From LWVIN’s latest newsletter: The Year in Review: An important benefit that has emerged from this pandemic year is thegrowing awareness that we really are in this together.  The State League is all of us. Zoom has facilitated meetings for working committees, involving members from all local Leagues.  In turn, we’ve seenincreased local League participation in the State League,ensuring that local Leagues have more input in our common work at the state level.  Club Express and ourrevived now-regular newsletter edited by Pam Lockerhave improved communication with and among local Leagues, and ourimproved websitehas made more resources available to all.  It takes us all to make democracy work!

Working for democracy in the next months will take all the partnerships we can forgewith non-partisan groups, locally and state-wide.  But it will also entail talking to our families, neighbors, and individuals we can now more cautiously meet. Advocate for Fair Maps in everything you do!  Write postcards to our legislators, wear a Fair Maps button everywhere you go, write a letter to the editor…more information available on theRedistricting Reform Resource pageand from your league’s representative to the Redistricting Reform committee.

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Updates from LWVUS

The LWVUS website is https://www.lwv.org

LWVUS Commends US House Passage of DC Statehood:The League of Women Voters CEO Virginia Kaseissued the following statement following the US House of Representatives passage of HR 51, the Washington DC Admission Act:

“The people of Washington, DC deserve the same rights as every other person in this country, and today the more than 700,000 residents of the District of Columbia are one step closer to an equal voice in our government.

“The League of Women Voters supports this bill which would the create a 51st state from the residential and commercial areas of the District of Columbia, while preserving a smaller federal district as the nation's capital.

“It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this vote. Our grassroots network across the country have advocated for DC Statehood for years, joining petitions, building support, organizing watch parties for the Congressional hearing, and spreading the dream of DC statehood to communities around the country.

“DC statehood is not a partisan issue but a civil rights issue which cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice. As DC is a jurisdiction with a majority population of Black and Brown people, continued efforts to block full representation is discrimination against the people who live, work, and pay taxes in the District. For decades, Congress has refused to vote on statehood, based on racist accusations that DC cannot govern itself. It is long past time that we dispel these racist and discriminatory excuses and deliver justice to the residents of our nation’s capital.

“We applaud the House for taking this historic vote to pass HR 51, and we urge the Senate to follow suit. For everyone who calls DC home, we will not stop fighting until you finally get the full representation you deserve.”

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Here’s How to Contact Your State and Federal Legislators

State Senator Eric Koch

            Website: https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/koch

                  Email: Senator.Koch@iga.in.gov

                  Phone: 800-382-9467 or 317-232-9400

                  Address: Indiana State Senate, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis IN 46204

State Representative Chris May

         Website: https://indianahouserepublicans.com/members/general/chris-may/

Email: h65@iga.in.gov

                  Phone: 317-232-9981

                  Address: Indiana House of Representatives, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis IN 46204

9^th Congressional District U.S. Representative Trey Hollingsworth

         Website: https://www.hollingsworth.house.gov

                  Phone: 202-225-5315

                  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrey

                  Address: 1641 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515

U.S. Senator Mike Braun 

Website: https://www.braun.senate.gov

Phone: 202-224-4814

                  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikebraunforindiana

                  Address: 374 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510

U.S. Senator Todd Young

Website: www.young.senate.gov

Phone: 202-224-5623

                  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorToddYoung

                  Address: 185 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510

Governor Eric Holcomb

         Website: https://www.in.gov/gov/

Phone: 317-232-4567

                  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GovHolcomb/

                  Address: Office of the Governor, Statehouse, Indianapolis IN 46204-2797

State Senator Roderic Bray, President Pro Tempore of the Indiana Senate

                  Phone: 317-232-9400

                  Email: Senator.Bray@iga.in.gov

                  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodric.bray

Address: 200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis IN 46204

State Representative Todd Huston, Speaker of the House of Representatives

                  Website: https://indianahouserepublicans.com/members/general/todd-huston

                  Phone: 317-232-9677

                  Email: h37@iga.in.gov

Address: 200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis IN 46204

State Representative Timothy Wesco, Chair, Elections and Apportionment

                  Website: https://indianahouserepublicans.com/members/general/timothy-wesco

                  Phone: 317-232-9753

                  Email: h21@iga.in.gov

                  Address: 200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis IN 46204

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Government and Board Meeting Calendar