Newsletter - November 17, 2022 - League of Women Voters of Indiana

IN GRATITUDE,

Barb, Linda, and the LWVIN Board

_____________________________

All VSCC members were very busy with the General Mid-term Elections. Locals were engaged in Forums/Debates and video interviews. LWVIN worked in partnership with WFYI to present the Secretary of State candidate forum.

Thank you for all that has been accomplished!

So now what? The VSCC Co-chairs have discussed a need for data collection of the 2022 General Election, as we did for the 2020 General election. We need to have data to have greater influence on legislation. In addition to the previously collected data, we hope to collect information regarding process and security issues for the voters, poll workers and voting locations. With data, we hope that the Indiana voters can be reassured that our voting process is secure and safe.

We are developing questions and hope to have your input and support in this December activity.

Patrice Waidner,VSCC Co-Chair

WATER SUPPLY SUSTAINABILITY…

…came into dramatic focus recently in central Indiana, but the issues and questions raised are disturbingly relevant across the state and beyond. IEDC (Indiana Economic Development Corporation) has purchased land in Tippecanoe County and plans to drill eventually up to 30 wells, each producing 4.5 to 5 million gallons of water daily (100 mg/d when fully implemented!) and build a pipeline mostly along highway rights-of-way to transport that water to a huge new 7000-acre innovation district on the north side of Lebanon along I-65 and US 52.

To put this in perspective, Lafayette Mayor Roswarski noted that 17 mg/d is the most that the City of Lafayette ever pumps from its current well fields even in the peak summer season. Thus, at 100 mg/d, almost 6 times as much water would be pumped for the pipeline. Tippecanoe County is considered to have good water resources because of the pre-glacial Teays underground aquifer in parts of the county.

As was noted, however, at the White River Alliance’s Sept. 7th Water Summit, the only study now being done (or ever done) in Indiana on water supply sustainability is under way in Hamilton County to determine future capacity because their rate of growth is the fastest in the state. Lack of studies on this crucial issue was confirmed by former Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director John Goss at the October 5th Indiana Conservation Alliance meeting. Local elected leaders have encouraged spreading awareness about this massive water transfer. Hopefully, such a dramatic development will motivate interest in and funding for assessing our water future.

This summary was prepared by leaders of the Environmental Sustainability Committee of the League of Women Voters of Greater Lafayette after meetings with local elected officials in mid-October, 2022.The issue was featured in White River Alliance’s Nov. 4th edition of CURRENTS. The article, entitled "Development Brings Attention to Water Planning in Indiana, and That's a Good Thing," can be referenced HERE.

Liz Solberg, Kristina Lindborg, and Cheryl Chapman
Co-Chairs, Natural Resources Advocacy

LWV FORT WAYNE SUMMER CHALLENGE UPDATE

LWVIN presented a reading challenge to the local leagues this past summer. The LWVFW has decided to have aquarterly book discussion in addition to the regular meetings. Book discussions are open to members and non-members.Several participants joined after the first event at the library.

The league in Fort Wayne met via Zoom for 2 years. During that time, we were very deliberate in inviting guest speakers. For example, prior to the primaries we invited a number of candidates for Township Trustee positions to join us to talk about the role. We discussed the importance of focusing on local elections and advocacy.

LWVFW has now transitioned to two Zoom meetings and one in-person meeting each quarter.Speakers are invited to address key issues in the local community and the state. We try to have a quarterly focus: understanding roles and responsibilities of local offices, effective advocacy strategies in the community/ preparing to assume positions on boards, commissions, and advisory committees, understanding the Indiana constitution, and taking stock of election results.

As we attempted to build both membership and engagement, the league had a well-attended meeting at DeBrands Fine Chocolates.Judge Wendy Davis of the Allen Circuit Court spoke on efforts to provide alternative programming for those with substance use disorders. Members had been asked to invite at least one non-member to the event. Trays of chocolates, coffee, and water were available as members and guests mingled. There were boxes of chocolates given to those registering during the event.

ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
What Montgomery County is doing!

When the June Supreme Court Dobbs decision came down, quickly followed by Indiana’s Senate Bill 1 (along with House Bill 1217) banning most abortions and terminating the licensure of abortion clinics in the state of Indiana, a group of Montgomery County women snapped into action. League of Women Voters of Montgomery County members form the vital core of this group. This “Reproductive Rights subcommittee of the LWVMC Health Committee” first encouraged women to march and gather for rallies. Then they began to organize. The group is making an impact in west central Indiana communities.

Despite the injunction currently in place blocking enforcement of Indiana’s new abortion law, this group continues to make League’s position clear while respecting the various positions of our members and our community. The group knows full well that this issue is not going away. At the LWVMC Women’s Equality Open House in August, the Reproductive Rights team had a display about League’s position, a calendar of upcoming gatherings, and they signed up new members for their team.

Anchored by two lawyers, a healthcare professional, and a public health specialist (all League members), the team began planning broader outreach. By October they had provided content to the LWVMC webmaster to create a public page on our website, a page that includes vital links to help people understand the context surrounding the situation. The page includes, for instance, a “This American Life” segment on the clinic in Mississippi that became the foundation for the Dobbs case. On the page too visitors also find a link to all the books on women’s health—from many differing vantage points—in the Crawfordsville District Public Library collection.

On November 4, at Lunch with the League a panel comprised of a lawyer, a public health specialist, and a practicing nurse practitioner presented “Getting a Handle on Indiana’s New Healthcare for Women and Its Implications” to a public audience.

In early December, the Reproductive Rights subcommittee will unveil a billboard on a well traveled road in Crawfordsville. It will read: “LWV supports Reproductive Rights for the physical, economic, and mental health of our state.” (It features League logo and colors.)

On January 25, the Reproductive Rights team will present a public forum focusing on the economic and public health impacts that will result should IN Senate Bill 1 be upheld. (A ruling on the injunction is expected in early January.)

Helen Hudson

RECIPE FOR SUFFRAGIST CUPCAKES
(Modernized version by Marcel Gonzales of a late 1880’s suffragist cake recipe)

Cupcakes

1 ¼ cup of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoon butter-cut in 8 pieces to soften
½ cup of sour cream
1 egg and 2 yolks
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix dry ingredients in stand mixer
Add butter one piece at a time until it has the texture of wet sand
Add wet ingredients, mix until smooth, about minute
Divide equally among muffin pan
Bake 20-25 minutes, turn halfway while baking
Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, the remove and let cool completely for about an hour on a rack

Frosting
20 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons heavy cream
3 cups whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 ½ cups confectioner sugar

Cream butter, cream, vanilla and salt
Slowly add sugar on medium-low speed
Whip on high speed for 5 minutes until fluffy

LWWIN co-chair Barb Schilling made these for Presidents Day

LWVIN STORE

The LWVIN Store is now open with a limited number of league logo items available, such as shirts, etc. Sales will be made only to Indiana local league members. To order, visithttps://lwvin.org/, sign on (your local league credentials work on the state site), select 'LWVIN Store' in the members menu.

NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT GOAL AND INCENTIVE

Just a reminder. LWVIN will reimburse the state portion of the PMP for each new member signed up between August 1 and December 31, 2022. This is a great way to grow your local league and receive additional funds for your league’s programs. Want some suggestions how to recruit? Take a look at some ideas developed by the Membership Committee.https://lwvin.org/ > Resources-League > Resources-MembershipComm.

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Newsletter - November 17, 2022