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HomeINTERCOM Online May 2025

LWVE Newsletter– The INTERCOM

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Greetings LWVE:

On April 30th LWVE hosted our Annual Meeting.  It was a chance for us to reflect on what the LWVE has accomplished and to focus on the challenges ahead for us.

One of the happiest jobs I have as LWVE president is to thank people for exceptional work and/ or exceptional kindness.

I am happy to pass along the report from our Treasurer, Mary Kelly, that we finished the year in the black. That is very good news. I would like to thank newish LWVE members Ginny Darakjian and Betsy Soete for all of their exceptional work putting together educational fundraisers for LWVE. I am particularly grateful for their hard work and moreover, for their friendship. Ginny also stepped up to help with the Bylaws Committee, subbed for me at the Economic Development Summit at the last minute when I had to have knee surgery, and helped me host the big holiday event when I was unable to walk. I was and remain very grateful for all of that. Thanks also to Joan Lakebrink, who was a real delight to work with and made the hard work fun.  Holly Heap and Gloria Callaci did such a good job. Without Gloria none of us would have gotten to spend an evening dining with the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court; this was a particular highlight for me. Together this entire team did a wonderful job. Thanks to each of you.

Many thanks to the board for all of their hard work these past two years. There were amazing events that educated and inspired. Like all of you, I was already an environmentalist, but Paula Scholl’s amazing climate events and tireless work on the subject have inspired me to do more on this existential issue. The candidate fora were so well done; I was so impressed by each of them. I heard so many compliments from citizens for the work done by the amazing Voter Service/Forum Team. I also know from regular updates from Judy Hoffman that getting to the finish line on many of these events was sometimes a real challenge. The Local Government team has also worked so hard keeping tabs on our government and tackling Envision Evanston. Big jobs. Each, well done.

Thanks to Kathy Tate-Bradish, who always picked up when I called and usually ended up volunteering to host something in the ensuing telephone call. Your friendship for the past two decades is something I treasure.

Thanks to the office team for all of their tireless work staffing the office. Fern Anderson, Sally DeVincentis, Val Veneziano and most importantly Judy Elsass held everything together and helped make the move from the Civic Center to our storage unit go smoothly. If you have a chance to call into the office, make sure and thank them. They each do their jobs exceptionally well. They are our frontline contacts along with Mary Lewis and the LWVE website.

We now have a new slate of officers. Please reach out and ask what you can do to keep LWVE strong. Democracy is not a spectator sport. We need you.
—Michelle Jordan, President, League of Women Voters of Evanston

THE INTERCOM
May 2025

LWVE Annual Meeting– Read an overview of LWVE business conducted at our April 30 gathering.

Former Council Members Revelle and Wynne: Bittersweet Reflections– A highlight of the annual meeting was hearing from just-retired Council Members Melissa Wynne and Eleanor Revelle about joys and challenges of serving on the Evanston City Council.

Federal Judiciary Study: Enabling LWV Advocacy– A strong democracy requires strong professional and ethical standards for federal judges and justices. The LWVE and other local Leagues have now taken a stand on what those standards should be.

Evanston’s April Elections– A look back at the 2025 municipal and school board campaigns and their outcomes.

Voter Services: LWVE and the Evanston and Skokie Consolidated Elections– Learn how the LWVE collaborated with other local groups to educate voters in our communities.

Women’s History Trivia Night– LWVE members took part in a Women’s History Month event organized by our friends to the north, the League of Women Voters of Wilmette.

Climate Corner: “Combating Climate Change 101": Actions You Can Take– With federal agencies pulling back, action at the local level has become essential.  Our April 7 event demonstrated the wealth of opportunities to get involved in Evanston and Skokie.

Climate Corner: Environmental Protection Checks and Balances– Despite the EPA's recent changes, checks and balances still exist in our legal and regulatory systems to compel enforcement of environmental laws. Read about the avenues available.

Everything You Need to Know about Renewing or Joining– The new LWV Member Portal is up and running. Learn how— and when— to renew your membership and how to donate directly to the LWVE.

Envision Evanston 2045: Revisions and Reactions– This update describes some changes in the February 2025 draft of the Comprehensive Plan for Evanston and the LWVE response.

Membership Update– A welcome to our new LWVE members.

We’ve Moved!– The new LWVE mailing address is 909 Davis St, Second Floor, Evanston, IL 60201.

Upcoming Events– A guide to upcoming LWVE events, as well as events offered by neighboring leagues or co-sponsored with other organizations. More information on events can be found elsewhere in this issue and in the Events Calendar on our website. 

LWVE Leadership

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& Skokie, Illinois, since 1922

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Evanston, IL 60201

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