| APRIL 1st, 2026
(revised edition) | | It’s officially Earth Month and the Environmental Team has some suggestions for how you can celebrate! |  | | Pam Franzen sets up the voter registration table at Civic Center Park in Fort Collins. |
 | | Neighbors and democracy lovers as far as the eye can see in Fort Collins! |
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 | | League volunteers getting ready for the crowds to come at the Loveland No Kings III Rally. |
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The League was WELL represented at the March 28 "Community, Not Kings" events across Larimer County. Leaguers tabled at both the Stand Up Loveland and Fort Collins rallies, registering voters and advocating for our precious democracy. Others volunteered to be safety marshals or take on other roles.
| | Help Wanted! Tabling Across Larimer County:
“Ask Me Anything About Voting!"
Do you want to share your verve for voting? Express your devotion to democracy? Do you like meeting others in the community and discovering what issues they care about? Then look no further dear like-minded Leaguers, the Unite & Rise team has the perfect gig for you!
From May through October, Unite & Rise will be tabling across Larimer County at libraries, colleges, recreational centers, etc., meeting residents where they visit, study and play. This tabling will be to PROMOTE THE VOTE, answer questions and educate. We will be using the "Why Vote?" engagement tool designed by the Right Question Institute.
| | | | Training and information sessions will be offered on Wed., April 15, 3-4:30 pm, at the Old Town Library, Fort Collins and on Mon., April 20, 12:30-2 pm, at Harmony Library, Fort Collins. Pick one, register on our calendar and see you there! Questions or if neither time is convenient for you, please contact Janet Schultz. | Postcard Writers Wanted!
Do you want to boost voter participation for the midterms from the comfort at local (fun!) parties with fellow Leaguers? Then we have the perfect volunteer gig for you: writing postcards!
The Unite & Rise team hopes to partner with several postcard writing efforts. Skills needed: the ability to handwrite legible postcards and the resources to provide post cards stamps. Everything else will be provided by the League (postcards, voter lists, instructions). Interested? Contact Janet Schultz now! | | Think About Our Earth’s Environment
(this was missing from the original newsletter email. Sorry Environmental Team!)
It’s April, Earth Month–we all share its Climate. The Environmental Team (ET) invites you to learn and enjoy our shared Earth. Here are some ways to do that:
This month's General Meeting, by Zoom on Monday, April 13, 7:00-8:00 ( register here), should appeal to anyone who has ever wanted to be electrified by and to guide the energy and passion of young people. The ET features the Good Trouble Climate Network. This group is entirely led by high school students across Colorado. Their "Good Trouble" was recognizing the lack of Climate Science being taught and organizing to petition the Colorado State Board of Education to examine the CO Science Standards. Hear of their success and learn of their actions for their future on the Earth we leave them. | | | Our Informed Citizen Book Club selection for Earth Month is Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis (2023). Discussions will be on Wednesday, April 8 (see the entry below for more details).
ET is tabling at local Earth Day celebrations. The Environmental Team supports the urgency of Unite and Rise 8.5 to PROMOTE THE VOTE, answer questions and educate (for ET, it's to educate about the Climate Emergency and local conditions about our Earth). Find us and the Voter Services Team at Odell's Brewery on Saturday, April 18, 11:00-5:00. It's a Family Affair! | Informed Citizen Book Club
second Wednesday of the month
April 8th, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm: Zoom meeting
Morning regular attendees will meet at Epic Egg, 1477 E. Eisenhower Blvd, Loveland, 80537. Evening attendees must register for the event on the LWVLC website calendar.
Please join us for a lively discussion of our April book: Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis (2023).
In Wasteland, journalist Oliver Franklin- Wallis takes us on a shocking journey inside the waste industry—the secretive multi-billion dollar world that underpins the modern economy, quietly profiting from what we leave behind.
With this mesmerizing, thought-provoking, and occasionally terrifying investigation, Oliver Franklin-Wallis tells a new story of humanity based on what we leave behind, and along the way, he shares a blueprint for building a healthier, more sustainable world—before we're all buried in trash. (Hachette Book Group)
Morning contact: Annette DeMartine
Evening contact: Pat Krentny-Lamb
| Great Decisions
first Monday of the month: Feb-Jun, Oct-Dec
Monday, April 8th, 2026
11:30am - 1:00pm: Zoom meeting
We will discuss: U.S. - China Relations, Chapter 3, in the 2026 Great Decisions book.
Relations with China remain tense with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent Chinese policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America's strategic options?
Great Decisions is on the LWVLC calendar and you can register there. A Zoom invitation will be sent to all previous participants If you are new to GD, and wish to participate, contact Annette DeMartine at ademartine@prolynx.com. For more information about Great Decisions, please contact Karen Heckman at keheckman@gmail.com.
| Support the Petition of Ballot Issue #195
LWVCO supports Initiative #195 for the November 2026 ballot. This measure institutes a graduated or progressive income tax. The 97% of Colorado taxpayers making less than $500,000 would receive a tax cut; only those at the top will pay more. The revenue raised will support affordable healthcare, public schools and childcare. If you would like to sign the petition, contact one of the following Leaguers to sign: Mary Carraher, Jane Everham, Kathy Maher or Janet Schultz or look for them at a League event.
Click here to read about the League’s full position.
| Voter Services
Tuesday, April 14th, 2026
The Voter Services Team volunteers continued to be very busy in the month of March with Candidate Forums in Timnath, Wellington and Berthoud. Vote411 went live on March 10th in anticipation of those April local elections.
Voter Registration initiatives were held at Rocky Mountain High School, Poudre High School, Fort Collins High School and Fossil Ridge High School. VST also visited Front Range Community College, the Civic Fair at Colorado State University and Morningstar of Fort Collins. Voter Registration tabled at both the Fort Collins and Loveland No Kings Day rally.
Looking ahead, we will be well represented at the Mirasol Senior Community in Loveland, Earth Day at Odell’s Brewery, and a Car Show and Community Event in Loveland. More events at housing facilities are also anticipated.
| Health Care Team
Thursday, April 9th, 2026
11:30am - 1:00pm
Care Communities Meeting Room (next to Heart of the Rockies Church)
6514 Brittany St, Fort Collins, 80524
The April Agenda will feature discussion with Unite & Rise 8.5 team members about pre-midterm activities and opportunities for Health Care team members to participate.
Additionally, the team will discuss any current Public Health updates, Gun Violence Prevention activities, Universal Health Care, Behavioral Health Care, and other priority Health Care issues.
Highlights of the March meeting: Members of the LWVCO Legislative Action Committee presented information about how bills are chosen for review, specific health care bills under consideration, and positions that the League is taking on these bills.
| Housing Happenings
Thursday, April 9th, 1:30pm-3:00pm
- Hosted Greeley's Solutions Team to learn how city supports programs for services that unhoused are in need of to achieve stability.
- Collaborating with Together Colorado to bring nationally touring film "Beyond the Bridge-A Solution for Homelessness" to Loveland on Saturday, May 30 at St. John's Evangelist Church in Loveland. More details to come. Save the date!
- Helped plan presentation for the SLDG to provide update on Loveland's challenges to provide services for the unhoused. Recording available on League website.
- Brook Cunningham, NOCO Foundation Regional Housing Officer, will be guest speaker at April 9 meeting. Register on calendar for zoom link.
| New Member Orientation
Saturday, April 4th, 2026
10:00am - 11:30am
Care Communities Meeting Room (next to Heart of the Rockies Church)
6514 Brittany St, Fort Collins, 80524
New and prospective members are invited to meet face-to-face to learn about the League and ways to engage around your interests and passions to make our democracy work! We’ll begin with refreshments and informal conversation followed by an introduction to our mission, structure and program priorities. Bring your questions and join us for a stimulating conversation. Reservations requested by April 2 on the calendar; space is limited. Carpooling can be arranged.
| | Share Your News with Us!
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Thank you for helping us share important updates with our community! | | Access to Membership Directory
Based on privacy concerns expressed by some members, the League has removed the downloadable PDF member directory from the "Member/Leader Directories" page of the website. Members will still be able to look up information through the online search function, but not download it. You can find the directory here after you sign in to the website.
https://www.lwv-larimercounty.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=320226&module_id=679957 | | | |