Looking Ahead
League of Women Voters, St. Cloud Area (LWVSCA) is planning to attend a range of community events this spring and summer. Our members who volunteer at these events will be available to discuss current issues and address questions about voting law and voter registration. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our table at the St. Cloud Juneteenth celebration at Lake George on June 14, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. We also anticipate participating in three local parades in June and another on the Fourth of July.
Women's History Month
In March, we recognized women who made their mark and influenced history. The League of Women Voters (League) itself has been a driving force in women's history. The League was founded on February 14, 1920, in expectation of women achieving the right to vote, which occurred officially on August 26, 1920, when the 19th Amendment was certified and added to the US Constitution. Since then, the League has been active at the national, state and local levels to encourage voter registration and informed participation in elections by everyone eligible.
Staying Informed
Minnesota voting law changes that were adopted in 2023 will be implemented in 2024: 1. automatic voter registration when obtaining state issued IDs (choice to opt out); 2. the preregistration of 16- and 17-year-olds; and 3. restoration of voting rights for ex-offenders living in their communities. This year, we are advocating to include Minnesota's version of the ERA into our State Constitution and to implement redistricting reform through the Fair Maps bill.
The General Election will be held on November 5, 2024. Voters will elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Ballots will also include a number of open seats for the U. S. Congress and State of Minnesota. Plus, there will be many local races on the ballot for municipal, school board, and county offices. The League of Women Voters, St. Cloud Area (LWVSCA) will be tracking filed candidates representing jurisdictions our area. After the Minnesota State Primaries on August 13, 2024, we will finalize a schedule of candidate forums, open to the public, that we will sponsor in late September and early October.
Monthly Meetings
Our line-up of monthly topics for 2024 started with “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” in January, followed by “Minnesota's Green Bank” in February. After “Book Bans” in March, the April topic was "US Supreme Court." The May meeting about the Community Policing Agreement was our final of the programming year. In July, we will gather to select new topics and create a new schedule of meetings beginning in September.
"St. Cloud Community Policing Agreement 2024”
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 1:00 pm (event complete)
Great River Regional Library and via Zoom
Since its initial adoption on September 20, 2005, the “Community Policing Agreement” in St. Cloud has helped the local police department form relationships within the community; this agreement has been used as a model for other departments around the country. The last major update was in 2021. Chief of Police Jeffrey Oxton will address the latest revisions, covering: 1. Overview of the Structure, Vision and Mission, and Strategic Planning for the St Cloud Police Department, 2. General/current crime statistics and trends for the City of St Cloud, 3. Department challenges for 2024, and 4. Community Engagement Efforts, including St Cloud Community Policing Agreement updates.
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