[ Falcon Heights - Lauderdale - Little Canada - Maplewood - Roseville ]

On Tuesday, April 16, the League of Women Voters Roseville Area will host Changes in the Weather - What’s the Big Deal?, a presentation by Dr. Kenneth Blumenfeld, Senior Climatologist for the Minnesota State Climatology Office.

Dr. Blumenfeld will discuss what Minnesotans can expect to experience in the next decades based on the best available science.  As a climatologist, Dr. Blumenfeld provides state agencies, communities and citizens with up-to-date and scientifically accurate climate information.

The Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues of Women Voters (CMAL) announces its updated position on governance of the Metropolitan Council.  Based upon the report of its study committee, members of all local leagues across the metropolitan area overwhelmingly voted to support the following:

• Appointment of Metropolitan Council members and its Chair by the Governor,
• Fixed staggered terms for Metropolitan Council members with removal only for cause, and
• Metropolitan  Council members should have a regional perspective, knowledge of regional issues, reflect demographic diversity and be able to meet the time requirements to serve effectively.

The 2019 annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 in the new Wakefield Park Community Building at 1725 Prosperity Road in Maplewood. A social hour will begin at 5 pm with dinner at 6 pm. The business meeting will begin at 7 pm. Members will elect new officers, approve a budget, and set the local program for the 2019-20 year. This year, we are offering a full dinner featuring Parmesan Crusted Chicken for $26. A vegetarian option is also available for that price.

View the video of this event on our YouTube channel.  Learn how to access Health Care Facility Resolved Complaints here.  Elder Voice Family Advocates has created a list of guidelines and questions to ask when searching for elder living facilities.  You can see those guidelines here.

On Thursday, March 14, the LWV Roseville Area will co-host with the Shoreview Library and Do Good Roseville the fifth program in a six-session series on immigration experiences in America.The program, Family and Community, will be held at the Shoreview Library, 4560 N. Victoria (just north on Victoria off Hwy. 96) from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

If you were not able to attend the February 19th League meeting reviewing the CMAL study update of the Metropolitan Council and would like to participate in the consensus process, a video of the presentation and discussion is available here. A written study summary was sent out with the February Voter and is also available on our website.  Click here to obtain a copy of the consensus questions.  Print it out, fill in your opinions and mail the form to Karen Schaffer by March 1. 

Notification occurred in January that the required follow-up report for the Martin Brown Grant Award had been received, reviewed, and accepted.  $500 in additional funds have been received by Treasurer, Joyce Briggs, bringing the total of Martin Brown Grant monies to LWVRA to $1000.  The Grant funds were used to expand Voter Services Activities in 2018, especially in the area of Community Engagement.

How are our communities and county dealing with transit and infrastructure needs, green initiatives to respond to our changing climate, and budget challenges? These and other key issues came into focus at this year's "Conversations with Constituents" on January 15 at Roseville City Hall.  On hand were mayors from our five cities, four Ramsey county commissioners and two local school board representatives for timely and thoughtful conversations with 60 in attendance, including 38 LWV-RA members!

As we broke out into three groups, topics covered were wide-ranging, including water quality,environment, transit, city comprehensive plans, healthcare challenges, affordable housing, budget challenges and opportunities, and gun safety issues. Here is a link to CTV15's recap of the event.

New to League?  Need a refresher course in the how government functions?  The Roseville Area League of Women Voters, Do Good Roseville and the Roseville Library are co-sponsoring two programs to review the mechanics of government as a foundation for community members to understand how they can participate in decisions and create a positive impact on your government.