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| The Nashville Voter
Volume 77, No 9
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| Welcome to this issue of the LWVN Voter. You'll notice that the Emma page design allows you to access the LWVN Calendar by pressing a button at the top of the page!
Please note, you can increase your screen size within your personal information manager (i.e., Microsoft Outlook). In the Microsoft Outlook Message Bar at the top of the e-mail page, choose "Other Actions'' and then in the dropdown menu choose "Zoom." The Zoom window allows you to increase the file size; try 140% for easier onscreen reading.
Also, please note that if you want to share/forward this newsletter to others, you MUST click on the envelope icon at the upper right side of this emailed version.
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League CalendarOctober Hot Topic: Mis, Dis, and Mal Information. October 4th at 12:00pm CT via Zoom. In an election season rife with misinformation, identifying misinformation and disinformation has never been more vital. This session will explore how to identify and counteract misinformation with a special emphasis on voter misinformation. We'll cover common tactics used to spread false information, tips for fact-checking, and resources to help voters stay informed. By understandin the tools and strategies used to manipulate public opinion, attendees will leave equipped to contribute to a healthy democratic process. This session will be interactive, so come prepared to discuss how misinformation is affecting your lives! Register here.
Choose How you Move Nashville Transit Forum. October 12th at 2pm-3:30pm at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (3421 Belmont Blvd). This forum is designed to provide attendees with a clear understanding of the proposal, offer a platform to ask questions, and engage in a meaningful discussion about the plan's potential impact on the city. Learn more about the plan here, and register for the event here.
League of Women Voters - Williamson County Hosts Williamson County Schools' Entrepreneur and Innovation Center (EIC) and Career & Technical (CCTE) Educational Leadership Team. October 16th at 1pm at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library (8109 Concord Rd. Brentwood). Join Executive Director Dr. Jeremy Qualls, Assistant Director of the EIC, Paula Chilton, and Assistant Director of College, Career, and Technical Education, Kris Schneider, as they discuss their team's work with the students of WCS. The EIC is a unique academic program for WCS. Students who attend the EIC gain hands-on experience and learn how to start their own business, service, or product with the potential of receiving funds in a Shark Tank-style competition. The WCS CCTE program is comprised of 35 unique programs of study for middle and high school students—from mechatronics to cosmetology. These programs have received national, state, and local awards and the CCTE program recently secured a $15.5M state grant. Plan to attend and hear from these enthusiastic and dynamic leaders about how these programs prepare local students for success. Register here.
U.S. Congressional Candidate Showdown, Sponsored by NOAH. October 20th at 3:00pm at Greater Bethel AME Church (1300 South Street). Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) is a faith-led coalition that is multi-racial and interdenominational. Comprised of congregations, community organizations, and labor unions, our members work to give voice to traditionally marginalized people. We are at a crossroads on Affordable Housing, Criminal Justice, Education, and Economic Equity. Learn where your candidates stand! Register here.
Vox Grata Women's Center present We Have a Voice: A Celebration of Women's Suffrage featuring Andrea Ramsey's Suffrage Cantata. October 27 at 3:00pm at Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church (1203 Ninth Avenue North). As our country approaches the 2024 national elections, Vox Grata presents a concert reflecting upon the struggle for women’s voting rights in America. Andrea Ramsey’s Suffrage Cantata examines the long road women have traversed to gain the right to vote. Through song and narration, the work uplifts the momentous impact suffragists have made upon the United States of America while also acknowledging the lack of equality in voting rights that African American women have experienced. Raising their voices in song alongside the W. Crimm Singers and ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, Vox Grata aims to amplify the voices of American women and the organizations that support their right to vote. Vox Grata hopes to leverage the power of music and collaboration with our community to provide a platform to increase knowledge of and engagement in the upcoming national elections. The concert’s free-will offering will benefit the League of Women Voters’ Education Fund. This event will be livestreamed. For more information, click here.
2024 LWVUS Election Webinar Series
All League members are invited to attend this series of weekly webinars on a variety of election topics leading up to our busiest season of election work. The following are the live webinars that will be offered, and other relevant recorded webinars will be included on the LMS page as well. Click here to register. Topics include:
- Preparing for Post-Election | Thursday, Oct. 3, 1pm
- Bystander Training & Voter Intimidation | Thursday, Oct. 10, 1pm
Volunteer Opportunities
The Voter Services Committee is seeking passionate volunteers to help register voters before the deadline on October 7th. There are two opportunities currently available:
- Nashville State Community College Fall Festival on October 1st
- Nashville State Community College Fall Festival on October 2nd
- Tennessee Justice Resource Center on October 7th
If you would like to volunteer, please send an email expressing your interest to lwvnash@gmail.com.
Vote411.org
We need your help contacting candidates running for positions in the General Election, such as State Representative, General Sessions Court Clerk, U. S. House of Representatives, etc. You will ask the candidates about the important issues in our community and their positions. If you have any questions about contacting the candidates, email us at lwvnash@gmail.com.
Election Dates
- Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 7th
- Early Voting: Oct. 16th-31st
- Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Oct. 29th
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President's Message
As you know, this election is incredibly important for the future of our democracy. It’s never too early to start thinking about your voting plan. Early? Election Day? Absentee? Check out this link from the Nashville Election Commission with helpful dates and information about polling places.
The next two months are packed full of events aimed at getting out the vote and making sure voters are prepared! The voter services committee is still looking for volunteers for upcoming events. On October 12, there will be an information session on the transportation referendum on the ballot. Our Metro Council chairs have been busy organizing this event. Read below for more details!
Along with all our efforts to get out the vote, there is also a very exciting event about the history of women’s voting rights in the country. We hope you join us on Sunday, October 27, for We Have A Voice: A Celebration of Suffrage.
I hope to see you at some of these events!
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Hot Topics
By Karen Wieckert and Melissa Hanson
Hot Topics October: Mis, Dis, and Mal Information with Guest Speakers Melissa Mallon, MLIS and Emily Bush, MLIS
In an election season rife with misinformation, identifying misinformation and disinformation has never been more vital. This session will explore how to identify and counteract misinformation with a special emphasis on voter misinformation. We’ll cover common tactics used to spread false information, tips for fact-checking, and resources to help voters stay informed. By understanding the tools and strategies used to manipulate public opinion, attendees will leave equipped to contribute to a healthy democratic process. This session will be interactive, so come prepared to discuss how misinformation is affecting your lives! Register here.
Melissa Mallon, MLIS, Associate University Librarian for Teaching & Learning at Vanderbilt University, where she leads colleagues in the Vanderbilt Libraries to plan, develop, and implement innovative programs for instruction and learning for faculty and students across the university, including use of educational technologies in library instruction, assessment of student learning, and supporting the holistic student experience through embedded librarianship and outreach initiatives.
Emily Bush, MLIS, is Instruction and Digital Learning Librarian at Vanderbilt University Libraries. She works in the Teaching and Learning department developing information literacy instruction and community outreach initiatives.
Hot Topics September: Campaign Finance with the Nashville Banner
September Hot Topics brought us two ace reporters from the new Banner. Sarah Grace Taylor, state politics reporter, and Stephen Elliott, Nashville city politics reporter discussed campaign finance at the federal, state, and local levels. They also gave us a tutorial on where and how to look for information about campaign finances. It was a very informative and useful presentation. More information can be found here.
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Community Connections
By Sabina Mohyuddin and Leona Edwards
On September 11, LWV Nashville collaborated with Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) for a voter education event for ESL students. Twelve students listened to Community Connections co-chair, Sabina Mohyuddin, and LWV Tennessee President, Debby Gould, who shared information on the November 5th elections. They discussed the difference between federal, state, and local elections, what's on the ballot, electoral college vs. popular vote, and how to register to vote. Attendees were able to practice voting with an actual voting machine! This is the second collaboration between NICE and LWV which had a voter education event in June for the August 1st primaries.
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Healthcare/Public Health
By Patti Scott and Harper-Grace Neidermeyer
TennCare illegally cut health care for thousands of Tennesseans, judge rules
Tennessee's Medicaid program TennCare unlawfully terminated health care coverage for thousands of Tennesseans, a federal judge ruled Monday, marking the conclusion of a four-year-long class-action lawsuit. Read more here.
THHC Advocacy Conference August 24, 2024 High Points
- Representative Butry from Montana discussed MT experience. Work requirements for Medicaid in place in MT but there is a system in place for job coaching, training, placement, collaboration with businesses and communities. Not just a law, but a cohesive plan. Talk with your reps about the importance of health care coverage for all/Medicaid expansion!
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Metro Government
By Karen Hernan and Pat McCauley
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/ UNHOUSED
Nashville will receive $5 million from the White House and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation by creating a Faith Based Development Institute. "As the cost of land increases, it becomes even more challenging to create affordable housing units, and our faith community, which owns nearly 4,000 acres of land across the county, represents a significant opportunity to partner together to create affordable housing options," Mayor O'Connell said.
PUBLIC SAFETY/ TRANSPORTATION/ TRAFFIC/ POLICE
A bill passed on first reading, (passing 3 readings is required for full passage) with much discussion, prohibiting employees of the police, fire, and all metro departments from joining hate groups that incite violence. It is unusual for bills to be discussed on first reading.
City Council approved the purchase of license plate readers back in March of 2024. Mayor O'Connell made the decision to halt implementation of LPRs. LPRs from the initial pilot program may still be in operation. And certain parts of town, such as Belle Meade, and private locations such as apartment complexes and parking lots continue to have their own LPRs.
GENERAL
A rule change was made to who can speak at the public comment period at start of each of council meeting. Only residents of Tennessee may sign up to speak. Residents must show proof of residency to staff when signing up to speak. There is a long list of documents allowed to prove residency and staff have discretion to accept a document that is not on the list. This change will take effect in mid October. It is a direct result of the episode of Nazis signing up to speak with fictitious names at a metro council meeting. They were very loud and disruptive in the council room which caused them to be escorted out of the building. If they had not been disruptive, the council might have had to listen to what they had to say. The public comment period at the beginning of every metro council meeting is relatively new as it was mandated by the state in spring 2024.
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| Stay Informed about Upcoming Calendar Events!
If you get the electronic version of the Voter, we want you to know that the upcoming calendar events are available on our wonderful, new website – www.lwvnashville.org. On The calendar scrolls on the events of the current and upcoming events thanks to Tracy Depp, who keeps the calendar current. If you haven’t taken a look, do so to make sure you mark your calendar so you won’t miss a thing!
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ATTENTION: The Nashville Voter is a digital publication. If you have received this copy of the Voter in the mail, it means the League of Women Voters of Nashville does not have an e-mail address for you. Please help us by sending your e-mail address to LWVNash@gmail.com. Being on the LWVN e-mail database ensures your receipt of all LWVN newsletters, event invitations, meeting announcements, and Call to Action alerts.
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| 2024-2025 LWVN Board of Directors
Co-Presidents: Lara Webb and Ophelia Doe
1st Vice Presidents: Melissa Hanson and Karen Weickert
Secretary: Ethel Detch
Treasurer Susan Mattson
Portfolio Chairs
Communications: Yolonda Beech
Community Connections: Sabina Mohyuddin and Leona Edwards
Education: Dr. Patricia Brock, Dr. Leslie Cowell, and MaKenzie Mosby
Environment: Russanne Buchi-Fotre and Jack McFadden
Health Care/Public Health: Patti Scott and Harper-Grace Niedermeyer
Membership: Reba Holmes and Cindee Gold
Metro Government: Pat McCauley and Karen Hernan
Voter Services: Kathy Anderson, Kalen Russell, and Beth Gordon
Williamson County Representative: June Bond
Nominating Committee Chair: Senator Brenda Gilmore
Nominating Committee Members: Betsy Walkup, Constance Caldwell, Hasina Mohyuddin, Ophelia Doe, and Brenda Wynn
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