Local League Study & Action Committees

Campaign Finance & Election Reforms

The CF&ER Committee observes the events surrounding campaign finance laws and improvements to be made in the way elections are conducted at the federal level. Recent reforms passed by Congress have been challenged and are still on deck to be examined by the Supreme Court. These laws were passed with deadlines, but without adequate funding in place to see the stated goals accomplished.

We vote to confer the F.A.I.R. (For Airing Issues Responsibly) Award to a local media outlet for airing of election information.

The Advocacy Sub-committee works for ways to promote and encourage support for League positions on matters of importance to the community.

Communications

The Communications Committee includes the LWVGR Newsletter, 'The Voter', the website, http://www.lwvgr.org, the local League listserver and any promotions of events and committees. The committee also creates informational and promotional brochures, flyers and posters.

Education

The Education Committee meets monthly. Each year there are usually a couple of events with a panel of experts from Universities, the Department of Education, the Regional Office and District 205. Topics covered included Federal and Illinois legislation, funding (or lack of), home schooling, truancy and after school programs. The committee studies and makes recommendations to the local League Board concerning school referenda. The committee is making a study of voucher systems. The Illinois League has a position opposing vouchers. The committee is represented on the 21st Century Community Centers After School Sustaining Task Force, and on the Rockford Public Schools Task Force on Student Attendance and Truancy.

Fund Development

Increasing income for local projects is one of Rockford League's three major strategic planning goals. 93% of our $45.00 annual Basic Membership goes to LWVIL and LWVUS, leaving a serious shortage of funds for local activities. The local League participates in the League's Annual State Phonathon at the Rockford YWCA. LWVGR will receive a check for a percentage of the funds raised locally. Volunteers and ideas are needed to create and organize fundraising projects.

Contributions to the League are welcome.

Health Care Committee

The Health Care Committee has the goal consistent with the state and national goal of the League to assure basic health care for everyone. The committee studies national and state prescription drug and health insurance legislation. The committee is a member of the Health Council.

International Relations

The International Committee studies issues which are emphasized by LWVIL and LWVUS, such as trade, the United Nations and the international court. The committee has been instrumental in post-9/11 educational forums regarding diversity, profiling, rights of 'illegal combatants', tribunals and war crimes.

Local Government

The Local Government Committee promotes community vision/leadership by citizens. One method to accomplish this is through the League website, http;//www.rockfordmatters.com. This site allows the general population in Rockford and surrounding areas to express opinion on public issues that affect them. RockfordMatters.com creates access between citizens and their public officials and representatives, encouraging participation in our democratic processes. Everyone is encouraged to login, and vote on the latest editorial.

The Local Government Committee is working towards the voter database and mapping phase of the site project in 2003/2004.

Member Services Committee

Membership Services' task is the recruitment, administration and education of new and current menbers. New members are always welcomed to the League. Their vitality and non-League experience is greatly appreciated.

Our first goal is a 5 % increase in members with a 10% increase in diversity (race, age and gender). Those goals are in progress.

The New Member Orientations and Festival are held a couple of times per year. Orientations are small. intimate get-togethers. The Festival is a large committee presentation, full of fun and learning. The history of both local and national leagues by presentation and video respectively, committee information tables, the many door prizes and a delicious meal combined to make an interesting evening. New, prospective and 'old’ members attend both the Orientation and Festival.

In 2003, the Membership Committee recommended to the Board special categories of membership. Those of you who enjoy history will appreciate our special memberships. First, we want to keep the basic low membership so we can invite many people to join us.

Natural Resources

The Natural Resources Committee focuses its attention on Homeland Security public emergency planning, groundwater protection, global warming, pesticide use, preservation of open spaces and natural wild flowers. Committee members continue to gather material on alternative energy as a means of pollution control, believed to be the cause of global warming. The Committee contributed a groundwater sand flow model and an Enviroscape for use in schools, The annual Youth Groundwater Festival and in the schools. The festival, held at Rock Valley College in cooperation with RVC, the Health Department and the Northern Regional Groundwater Committee, is a huge success with more than 900 students participating.
Members work with highway and forest preserve departments to protect endangered wild flowers and native plants along the roadsides. The committee works with county departments in order to raise the awareness of the necessity to protect and preserve natural habitat areas and plantswith “no mow” signs at areas designated endangered by the Natural Resources Committee. Members also participate in the Aldeen Nature Center Earth Day and the Local Emergency Planning Committee of ESDA.

LWVGR Scholarships

Margaret Wyeth Annual Scholarship Award
This $500.00 scholarship is awarded to a Winnebago/Boone County graduating college bound senior who has contributed much to school and community. Need can be a contributing factor in the choice. The previous Margaret Wyeth awards from 1996 until 2002, were mini-grants totaling $500.00 given annually to public high school social studies departments in the Greater Rockford area for projects or supplies. The change, since 2003, has been seen as a positive move. Margaret Wyeth was a career high school Social Studies teacher and a long time League member.

League of Women Voters Memorial Award
This $200.00 scholarship is awarded to a Rockford College student who demonstrates leadership on or off campus in areas of political science, history, sociology or economics. The student should show potential and interest in pursuit of public service.

Records show that as early as 1963, the League of Women Voters gave the Marion Bates Scholarship Award to a Rockfod College senior-male or female. The name of the award was changed in 1983 to the League of Women Voters Memorial Award.

Voter Service Committee

The Voter Service Committee's purpose is to increase voter turnout through registration and education. It furnishes deputy voter registrars who register well over 600-1100 people per year at a wide variety of sites. We also participate in several candidate forums, serving as moderators, timers, facilitators, and crafters-of-good-questions.

The committee has recruiting/appreciating events every year. Expanding voter education opportunities is one of our League's most important goals. The committeeVoter Service creates programs within schools to stress the importance of voting, including coordinating mock elections. The LWVGR's Voter Service committee will meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at the U of i Medical School cafeteria on Parkview Avenue. There are no meetings in June or August.