In This Issue
- Join Us on Dec 2: "In League with Kindred Spirits" Happy Hour
- Dec 4: Presentation about Climate Science Misinformation
- Time to Gear Up for Legislative Action!
- 2026 Book Club Titles Revealed!
- News from Our Issues Teams & Education Groups
- Some Good Info to Know
- Are YOU the Mystery Donor?
| LEAGUE-WIDE NEWS & EVENTS
| GREAT DECISIONS
Upcoming Zoom meeting: *TODAY* December 1, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
We will discuss: American Foreign Policy in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead, Chapter 8, in the 2025 Great Decisions book.
The war in Gaza has brought the region to a crossroads. What are the possible outcomes of the war, and how might the United States use its influence to shape a long-term settlement that leaves both Israel and the Palestinians in a better position? How might Arab states in the wider region be brought into a settlement? What are America's interests in the Middle East and how can it advance them?
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.
For more information about Great Decisions, please contact Karen Heckman.
Great Decisions books for 2026 are available to order by email to Annette DeMartine. The books cost $30 again this year and will be available for pick up in January, 2026. Our first Great Decisions meeting of 2026, will occur in February, 2026.
Upcoming meetings are always announced in the League Lines, and you can find us at https://www.lwv-larimercounty.org/, under EDUCATION GROUPS 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.
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Ring in December with fellow Leaguers and meet new friends at our third
In League with Kindred Spirits
Solidarity Happy Hour
Tuesday, December 2nd
4:30 - 6:00 pm
at Verboten Brewery in Loveland
Hear, hear for good cheer, conversation and camaraderie! | | | News Access and Literacy has a few schedule updates:
Our December 16 regularly scheduled meeting is cancelled.
On December 4 at 4 p.m., the Climate Emergency Task Force, Environmental Action Team, and the News Access and Literacy Task Force are co-hosting a discussion on Climate Science: Its Political Consequences with Dr. Phil Chen of the University of Denver. REGISTER HERE to get the Zoom link.
On January 20, 2026, at 5 p.m., the News Access and Literacy Task Force is hosting Democracy on the Precipice: What Happens When Local News Disappears? This will be a panel discussion centered around the documentary Stripped for Parts. REGISTER HERE to get the Zoom link.
|  | Gear Up for Action with the Legislative Action Committee (LAC)
In preparation for the 2026 Legislative Session (which begins on January 14), LWVCO has scheduled three LAC Professional Development meetings. The first was on November 14 and its recording is now available for viewing. The remaining meetings by Zoom will be held at 9:00 AM on:
December 5, 2025: Professional Development PART 2
January 9, 2026: Professional Development PART 3
The meetings are required for returning and new LAC members, but any LWVCO member is welcome to attend!
Anyone not currently an LAC member but interested in joining a group of dynamic people who follow legislation at the state level is encouraged to reach out to Andrea Wilkins (awilkins@lwvcolorado.org), Kathy Ebersberger (action@lwvcolorado.org), or Linda Hutchinson (actionadvocacy@lwvcolorado.org) for more information.
| Affordable Housing News
December 11: Next Affordable Housing team meeting
January 8: Tour the first L'Arche home in our area
Dustin Barrington, Executive Director of L’Arche in Northern Colorado, was a guest at the AH November meeting. L’Arche serves people with intellectual disabilities in our community. For 60 years they have made an impact in more than 160 inclusive communities in 37 countries! Learn more at https://www.larchenoco.org/.
L'Arche will be part of the Heartside Hill community in Fort Collins with their first of 2 homes opening in early 2026 and a second one to follow later in the year. Funding comes from local, state, and federal sources as well as private donations and Medicaid-funded waivers.
All LWVLC members are invited to a tour of the first L’Arche home on January 8 at 1:30. Please save the date and watch for an opportunity to register on the LWVLC calendar. We'll need a headcount for plans to be made with Dustin.
| Voter Services Team News
Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 6:30–8:30 PM (online via Zoom)
Please register on the calendar to get the meeting link.
In this season of gratitude, we would like to acknowledge and thank all of the dedicated volunteers who supported the mission of Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy.
This year, these incredible volunteers worked to strengthen our democracy by providing trusted voter information through candidate forums, ballot-issue education, Vote411, and a new eBook voter guide. They supported civic participation by registering voters across the community and in high schools, offering classroom presentations, and partnering with the Girl Scouts to cultivate informed future voters.
If you would like to join this work next year, email Heather Sulgrove, attend our January meeting, and/or come to the January voter registration training.
Voter Registration Training
Please watch for details about the January voter registration training. All volunteers are required to retrain each year to meet Secretary of State requirements, and this session will include updates to the registration form. The training is tentatively scheduled for the morning of January 17, so keep an eye on the calendar and January League Lines for updated information.
| | A BIG THANK YOU to our Voter Services Volunteers: | | Abby Jordan
Ann Gabel
Anne Hall
Anne Robinson
Angelique Dietz
Annette DeMartine
Barb Applegate
Barb Hansen
Barbara Applegate
Barbara Irelan
Becky Orsi-Hunt
Becky Peters
Beth DeHaven
Betty Marshall
Bonnie Inscho
Bonnie Petty-Jones
Brenda Miles
Carrie Ashley
Carol Gertsch
Carol Newlin
Cheryl Sokoloski
Christine Lehmann
Claire Clemens
Debbie Bostak
Deborah Bayliss
Dixie Heyl
Evelyn Peterson
Erin Bergquist
Gayle Maroncelli
Gwen Lipkie
Hannah Sellnow
Heather Sulgrove
Hilary Kennedy
Jane Everham
Jane Gidlewski
Jane Laupus
Jane Paterson
Jan Latona
Janet Schultz
Janice Ort
Joanne O'Malia
Jorie Kramer
Judy Weaver
June Hyman-Cismoski
| | Jupe Herrick
Julie Rogers
Kate Jeracki
Katherine Edelblut
Kathleen Schmidt
Kathleen Whitley
Kathy Maher
Linda Boren-Burrous
Linda Maher
Linda Thomas
Loretta Hogg
Marilyn Dix-Pullin
Marjorie Kramer
Mary Bledsoe
Mary Bonham
Mary Carraher
Mary Stonaker
Michael Nekonchuk
Pam Franzen
Pat Burger
Pat Horner
Pat Skrentny-Lamb
Patricia Nekonchuk
Patti Hill
Paula Murray
Peg LaPoint
Rebecca Orsi-Hunt
Rene Moore
Sarah Wood
Sharon Courtney
Shelby Hinze
Sue Taigman
Sue Williams
Susan Canney
Susan Leopold
Susie Poulton
Sylvia Dorato
Tamie Stadnick
Tom LaPoint
Trish Warner
Trisha Sellers
Victoria Alexander
Wanda Koch
| | | Health Care Team News
Luncheon: December 11, 2025
Next Meeting: January 8, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
*Please note a change of location
Care Communities Meeting Room (Next to Heart of the Rockies Church)
6514 Brittany St
Fort Collins, CO 80525
The Health Care Team will not have a meeting in December. Instead, we will have a luncheon on December 11. Please RSVP to Suzanne Kinney at kinney822@aol.com by December 1st if you are interested in joining us.
Our next meeting will be on January 8, 2026.
The agenda will feature:
- A discussion with Trish Warner about the Larimer League PR/Social Media campaign.
- Ongoing discussion about the potential use of AI to summarize issues from the Health District of Northern Larimer County and Board of Health monthly meetings.
- Health Care Team mission and 2026 team goals.
- Generating ideas for how to strengthen our local impact by partnering with community health care organizations.
The team will also give updates on current gun violence prevention legislation & activities, community behavioral health care initiatives, and other priority health care issues.
AI can be utilized for transcribing LWV meetings, community meetings, and local government meeetings. The Health Care Team will pilot using AI to summarize the next meeting of the Health District of Northern Larimer County.
The Health Care Team is looking for one or more volunteers to update our webpage. Please contact us if you are interested.
We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting to discuss priority health care issues!
| Informed Citizen Book Club
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM : In person meeting, second Wednesday of the month.
7:00 – 8:30 PM: Zoom Meeting, on the second Wednesday of the month.
There will be no IC Book Club meeting in December. Our next meeting will be on January 14, 2026.
Looking for a good, informative read? Here is a list of the books we will read next year:
|  | OCT 14 |
 | NOV 11 |
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 | | For more info, to register for zoom link, or to suggest a book, please visit our webpage. |
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January General Meeting
January 12, 2026
6:30-8:00 pm via Zoom
A preparation guide for the annual Program Planning meeting has been sent out to League leaders. At Program Planning, our teams will lay out the priorities and actions they're planning for the coming year and all members will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide input. This is an important meeting for our League membership, so please make plans to attend by registering on the Calendar. The meeting will be held via Zoom from 6:30-8:00 pm.
The Planning Worksheet each team received is due December 19. Your participation is critical to the success of our League. There are so many actions being taken by many, so think about how to build on those in planning for the new League year!!
Thank you!
Program Planning team: Trish Warner, Eve Bingham, Kathy Maher
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COMMUNITY EVENT OF INTEREST
| LWV-Estes Park Zoom Coffee Hour with Karen Sheek
Saturday, December 13, 10:00 AM via Zoom
Topic: What is the Colorado League of Women Voters Up To? Task Forces and Beyond
Join the Estes Park League for a conversation with Karen Sheek, LWVCO Director for Local League Support. All are welcome to join this community event!
Karen Sheek is a retired middle-school educator and business owner. She taught in the Cortez School District for more than 30 years. In 2011, Karen served out the term of a departing city council member and went on to be elected to two 4-year terms, serving as mayor for 6 of those years.
In 2020 Karen took on the role of President of the League of Women Voters of Colorado. She served in that role for 2 years and now continues to serve on the LWVCO Board of Directors as Director for Local League Support.
| Concerned about transparency in government?
Sign up for the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition’s Colorado Transparency News Colorado Transparency News. It’s free and comes straight to your inbox once a month.
| Social Media Corner
If you would like to spread the word around the work you are part of on social media platforms, come to a Zoom meeting December 5 at 2pm. Meetings are open to ALL members who have an interest in using social media to spread League messaging.
This is a monthly meeting to build a schedule 3 months out to plan posts. It is important to look ahead to help make a plan. Sure, we can always advertise our calendar events, but Jen Pena, our Social Media Lead, advises us to think in terms of themes and stories to plan a longer-term engagement strategy.
Is there messaging your team wants to amplify in December, January, February? January is our League's month to focus on Program Planning for July 2026 thru June 2027. Is there a "story" that can be told around this work? If you have ideas, please attend this meeting! Register on calendar to receive the Zoom link and to let us know whom to expect!
If you're not able to help plan our social media presence, please do what you can to boost the visibility of our messaging and that of our partners! Follow LWV-LC on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky) to keep up with action alerts, advocacy campaigns, education resources, partners' actions, and local League events.
After viewing a post, like, share, and comment to help amplify the League’s nonpartisan work!
| Attention, Issues Teams!
Time to claim your General Meeting!
The following months are available for Issue Teams to plan a general meeting: February, March, June, July, August. Complete the “Add Event to Calendar” form with details at least one month in advance. Contact Trish Warner (trishwarner27@gmail) with any questions.
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JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE YOU GO...
| Thank You, Unidentified Donor!
LWVLC recently received a particularly generous donation processed through a California-based financial management firm. The donor was unidentified, but it wasn't clear to us whether the donor intended to be anonymous. With the information available, we aren't able to send a letter of thanks. If the donor would like to come forward, we'd like to make the association in our records. Please contact Ann Keith if you would like to identify yourself. In any event, our local League thanks you sincerely for your generous donation!
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