| Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County
Monday May 18th, 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fort Collins Senior Center
The 2026 Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Fort Collins Senior Center. Registration is now open on the League calendar (click here to register).
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a light dinner. The business meeting will follow. A final agenda and documentation will be sent to all League members in May.
Please register for this members-only event by May 8th. We need a quorum to adopt a Program, elect Board members, and transact other business. | | |
Whoosh!
Postcard Posse moves at the speed of light!
Thanks to the members listed below, 500 “News Boosting” postcards were snapped up in just over 48 hours. WOW! For those turned away from helping, never fear…another great opportunity to write postcards is coming. Our League will be targeting 3,000 Larimer County voters, aged 20-40, who did not vote in the 2024 election, encouraging them to exercise their right to vote in the midterms.
If you have yet to volunteer for the Postcard Posse, but would like to help, please contact Janet Schultz.
Big thanks to the Postcard Posse members Karin Alvarez, Sylvia Dorato, Pam Franzen, Jane Hamburger, Melissa King, Peg LaPoint, Jane Laupus, Marian Lilley, Owen Unangst, Pat Weintraub. You all rock! | | |  | | May Day Action
Join us in solidarity!
Friday, May 1st, 2026
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
(see article for times and places)
On May 1st, we'll be flexing our collective muscle in a tremendous day of power showing our unity behind a set of demands:
- Fair Taxation, so families come first, not fortunes;
- Abolish private armies serving unchecked federal power;
- Expand democracy, not corporate power;
- Defend free and fair elections.
Join us in celebrating May 1st together through action and community!
May 1, LOVELAND, Dwayne Webster Veterans Park, 12:00-3:00
May 1, FORT COLLINS, Picnic in City Park, 1:00-6:00
May 1, ESTES PARK, Bond Park, 4:00-6:00
May 2, WINDSOR, Main St, 10:30-12:00
May 3, FORT COLLINS, Picnic in Edora Park, 12:00
|  | Informed Citizen Book Club
May 13th, second Wednesday of every month
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM : In person
Epic Egg
1477 E. Eisenhower, Loveland
7:00 – 8:30 PM: Zoom
Who is Government: The Untold Story of Public Services
by Michael Lewis
Whether they’re digitizing archives, chasing down cybercriminals, or discovering
new planets, these public servants are committed to their work and universally
reluctant to take credit. Expanding on the Washington Post series, the vivid profiles
in Who Is Government? blow up the stereotype of the irrelevant bureaucrat. They show
how the essential business of government makes our lives possible, and how much it
matters. (Penguin Random House)
Morning contact: Annette DeMartine: ademartine@prolynx.com
Evening contact: Pat Skrentny-Lamb: pskrentnyamb@gmail.com
Next IC Book Club Meeting:
June 10
Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future
by Vince Beiser (2024)
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De-Escalation and Non-Violence Training
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Foothills Unitarian Church
1815 Yorktown Ave, Fort Collins
De-escalation is simply a method for acting as our most intelligent selves in tense situations; recognizing our own triggers and recognizing and assisting when those around us are triggered. Learn from the experts at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. The training is a collaboration between many local organizations.
THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE TRAINING THAT WAS OFFERED ON MARCH 8. If you missed that event, please attend this one!
Registration is required on the League Calendar. | | The Right to a Healthy Environment
Tuesday May 12th, 2026
Natasha Leger, Executive Director, Citizens for a Healthy Community, will present "Securing the Right to a Healthy Environment Constitutional Amendment in Colorado."
The Environmental Team will continue the meeting following this educational portion.
Register on the League calendar and learn more about this important subject! | | |
Great Decisions
Monday, May 4th, 2026
11:30am
We will discuss: Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation, Chapter 4 in the 2026 Great Decisions book.
U.S. alliance skepticism may drive countries like Japan and South Korea to reconsider nuclear options. What are the implications of the Trump administration's rethinking of the U.S. alliance system for regional and global security? Will this new uncertainty alter the way allies and rivals in various regions make decisions about security and nuclear weapons?
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.
Upcoming meetings are always announced in the League Lines, and you can find us at http://www.lwv-larimercounty.org, under “International Relations” in the “Our Work” tab.
Great Decisions meetings are held on the first Monday of each month from February to June and October to December. |
Health Care Team Meeting
Thursday, May 14th, 2026
11:30am - 1:00pm
Care Communities Meeting Room
(Next to Heart of the Rockies Church)
6514 Brittany St, Fort Collins
The May Agenda will feature:
- Voter Services Committee (VSC) members will talk about current VSC activities in preparation for the midterms
- Ongoing discussion about how the Health Care Team can support Unite & Rise activities prior to the midterms
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 April meeting:
- Members of the Unite & Rise 8.5 team presented information about upcoming activities including tabling events at public venues to encourage voter turnout and a Post Card writing campaign.
- Health Care Team members created a School District Health Care Resource List for Larimer County schools, and a Health Care Fact Sheet that will be used at Unite & Rise Tabling Events.
We look forward to seeing you at our May meeting! |
Civil Rights & Liberties
Flock camera and election access
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
11:00am - 1:00pm
Harmony Library Community Room
In April, the CL&R team continued focused work in two key areas: local surveillance camera policy and election access.
On surveillance policy, we supported Marge Nordskog’s efforts by recruiting volunteers and assisting with speechwriting and public statements for the Fort Collins City Council meeting on the use of networked surveillance cameras (Flock/ALPR).
On election access, Christine Lehmann drafted a petition aimed at building visible local support for voters and fair access to elections. We also began planning for an Election Access Pep Rally, tentatively scheduled for August 6, the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Initial discussions included identifying volunteer roles and outreach needs to support the event.
Upcoming Meeting
The CL&R team meets regularly on the third Saturday of each month. Our next meeting will take place on May 16, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Harmony Library.
The agenda will include:
- Potential follow-up actions on local surveillance issues, including engagement with Northern Colorado privacy coalitions
- Continued planning for the Election Access Pep Rally
We welcome anyone interested in these issues to join us. |  | | Colorado Citizen Observers Project
Thompson School District faces budget challenges
Our latest Citizen Observers report reviews recent activity from the Thompson School District R2-J Board of Education, highlighting key financial, academic, and governance developments shaping the district’s near-term future.
The report outlines a tightening financial picture despite improved audit controls, with rising costs and increased reliance on state loans. It also examines ongoing questions around school performance at two campuses under state improvement plans, as well as unresolved issues tied to urban renewal oversight and classified staff representation.
With budget decisions due by June and several major questions still open, the coming months will be critical for the district’s direction.
Read the full report here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-194659900 |  | Housing News
May meeting and Beyond the Bridge
Thursday, May 7, 2026
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Jen Dial, Water Resources Manager of the City of Fort Collins, will be our speaker at the May 7 team meeting.
Jen will cover the following:
1) A general overview of the water districts across the area and why there are so many.
2) How water companies must plan — both for today and tomorrow.
3) How tap fees are determined.
4) How rates are set.
The regular team meeting will follow Jen's presentation.
And mark your calendars for the May 30th showing of Beyond the Bridge at St. John’s Church in Loveland. This powerful and solution-focused documentary offers an uplifting and hopeful perspective, emphasizing that solutions are not only achievable but already working in communities committed to change. A panel discussion with community leaders will follow the film. Free and open to the public! | | |
 | Help Us Create an Unforgettable Silent Auction Experience
Our Women’s Equality Day celebration is coming together—and the Silent Auction is one of the highlights each year.
We’re looking for donations that create memorable experiences, such as getaways, dining, classes, or unique local opportunities. Whenever possible, we encourage sourcing items from local businesses to help strengthen community connections.
Need ideas?
Vacation stays, restaurant gift cards, brewery tours, spa packages, or creative “date night” bundles are always popular.
Submit your donation here by May 15.
Your contribution helps make this event engaging, meaningful, and fun for everyone involved. |
 | Support Women’s Equality Day 2026
Women’s Equality Day brings our community together to honor the people and work that strengthen democracy in Larimer County.
At the League of Women Voters, that work includes voter registration, candidate forums, and providing trusted, nonpartisan information—helping ensure everyone can participate.
Sponsorship supports and sustains this work locally.
Sponsorship levels:
- Champion — $1,000 (tickets + full recognition)
- Leader — $500 (tickets + recognition)
- Supporting — $250 (ticket + recognition)
When you become a sponsor, you are supporting informed voters and a stronger community.
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 | Help Us Honor Our Community Leaders
Each year, our Women’s Equality Day celebration recognizes individuals who are making a meaningful impact in Larimer County—and we need your help to identify them.
We are currently accepting nominations for:
Women’s Equality Day Award
Honors women who are creating positive change in our community.
Submit a nomination: click here!
League Legacy Award
Recognizes a League member whose long-term commitment has strengthened our mission and impact.
Submit a nomination: click here!
Deadline: June 1
Nominations only take a few minutes. If someone comes to mind, we encourage you to take a moment to recognize their contributions. |
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| Renewing Your Membership? Thank you!
Prompt responses to the renewal reminders make life easier for our Membership Team. When you renew, please take a few minutes to review your profile and update interests and skills – and add a photo! Accurate information guides our leaders in making the most of our members’ talents.
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| League Name Badges
The necklace name tags will continue to be available at League General Meetings. However members who frequently help with voter service or community outreach tables may want to have a magnetic name badge. The cost is $10. If you would like to order one, please send your name and request to Linda Mahan at membership@lwv-larimercounty.org by May 13. When the badges are ready for pickup members will be notified. Payment of the $10 cost will be handled through our League’s website. |
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| Celebration of Life
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
11:00am
First Congregational Church
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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 | | The Digital Front Porch
Pull up a chair and connect with the League online
You may have noticed—we’ve been showing up more on social media lately. We’re working to share timely, reliable information, highlight community events, and create more opportunities to stay connected with the League’s work across Larimer County.
As part of that effort, we’ve launched a dedicated social media campaign for our Women’s Equality Day celebration. In the coming months, you’ll see stories, updates, and ways to get involved—from nominations and sponsorships to the impact this event has in our community.
You can help expand that reach. Following, sharing, and commenting on our posts helps more people find trusted, nonpartisan information and opportunities to participate.
Stay informed. Stay engaged. Follow along below.
|  | Women Who Made Waves
Throughout history, women have challenged the status quo, expanded rights, and strengthened our democracy. This feature honors those who made lasting contributions—and inspire us to continue the work.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize Dorothea Dix, a pioneering reformer who transformed how people with mental illness were treated in the United States. After witnessing the inhumane conditions faced by people in jails and almshouses, she launched a nationwide campaign for change—personally investigating facilities across multiple states and presenting her findings to legislatures.
Her advocacy led to the creation or expansion of more than 30 hospitals for people with mental illness. During the American Civil War, she also served as Superintendent of Army Nurses, organizing care for Union soldiers.
Her work helped:
- Improve conditions for psychiatric patients
- Expand access to mental health care
- Lay groundwork for reforms that still matter today
Learn more and share her story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Dix
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Stay informed. Stay engaged.
Follow us for trusted, nonpartisan information. | |