Fair School Funding VS. Vouchers: Understanding the K-12 Funding Tug of War
2025-02-12 19:00 (America/New_York) | Ohio
Event of Interest:The next state budget is a moment of truth for Ohio: strong public schools and the common good, or further investments in religious education and private preferences.

WE NEED YOU to participate in the next budget process when democratic principles and the health of public education are at stake. Come and learn some of the history and tensions.

For the last 30 years law makers have resisted adequately and equitably funding public education a mandate of the Ohio Constitution while removing barriers to funding private religious education. Last year more than $1billion in state funds went to private school tuition vouchers that are now available to everyone.

Speakers:John Patterson, former member of the Ohio House and co-author of the school funding plan will explain the plan, its roots, recent success, and the importance of the final step: full funding.

Dennis Willard, communications director for the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit will explain vouchers, the threat, and why more than 200 school districts chose litigation to challenge this expensive drain on state resources.

Nneka Slade Jackson, president of the Richmond Heights Board of Education, will offer a call to action.

Moderator: Susan Kaeser, LWVO Issue Specialist and longtime Advocate for Quality Public Education

This is an online event, via Zoom. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T8ivFRk_RZuPY-RKs-3Q7g#/registration

From Locally to Nationally: Women Defend Democracy
2025-02-14 11:00 | Ohio
Event of Interest:On Feb. 14, the League will be celebrating its 105th anniversary since its founding! Join us for a Birthday Virtual Rally “From Locally to Nationally: Women Defend Democracy”, to honor the work accomplished so far to empower voters and defend democracy, and lift up its commitment to center voters’ voices and make our democracy more equitable, more critical now than ever! You will hear from our CEO Celina Stewart, President Dianna Wynn, and a group of State Leaders doing extraordinary proactive and defensive ground work. We will also share how people can join to become members of the League, as every one of us has a role to play in our democracy.

This is an online event, via Facebook. Register at https://www.facebook.com/events/943461217764206/

Nationwide Elections Legislation Round-up (online event)
2025-02-18 12:00 | Ohio
Event of Interest:The US Constitution gives states broad authority to regulate elections, which makes for a country with a lot of different ways to run elections.

What could that mean for Ohio’s future? And how do we stack up against other states?

Katy Owens Hubler, Project Manager with the National Council of State Legislators, will join us for a round-up of election policy trends across the country to help us understand what might be next for Ohio. From registration laws to drop box access, learn what state legislatures are thinking about election policies and how Ohio compares.

This is an online event, via Zoom. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pl-eNycUSs6QNt06jwgB4A#/registration

Budget Basics: What citizens need to know about Ohio's budget process
2025-02-27 18:00 | Ohio
Event of Interest:When lawmakers show us their budget, they show us their priorities.

Governor DeWine will deliver his proposed budget to the General Assembly in the next few weeks, kicking off the months-long process that determines how Ohio’s money will be spent over the next two years.

Learn how Ohio’s budget process works, why it matters, and how you can stand up for what matters to you.

This is an online event, via Zoom. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0chDXp3JSwi5G1WK3wDpig#/registration

Wayne County Board of Elections - Board Meeting
2025-03-06 10:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: On the agenda: Certify Write-Ins for Primary/Special

Costs, Capacity and Shared Responsibility: Getting to the Heart of Fair School Funding
2025-03-12 19:00 | Ohio
Event of Interest:Join us for a conversation with Fair School Funding Plan architects John Patterson, Michael Hanlon, and Ryan Pendleton and public finance expert Howard Fleeter about what’s needed to protect public education in this moment, and how we can help.

Presented by LWVO’s Education Committee and moderated by Susie Kaeser.

This is an online event, via Zoom.

Wayne County Board of Elections - Board Meeting
2025-04-10 10:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: On the agenda: Final Allocations (ballots, ICX, PEO)

School Levies and Bonds... Impact on You and Your Community
2025-04-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Wooster High School Gym, 515 Oldman Road, Wooster, Ohio, 44691
LWVWC Event: End Your Confusion… Learn – The difference between bonds and levies – How they impact homeowners – Where to check out the impact to your taxes

Our two keynote speakers will be Julie Leathers Stahl, Director of the Wayne County Board of Elections and Russell Roberston, the Wayne County Auditor. They will explain the differences between bonds and levies as well as discuss how residents can determine personal tax impact from a levy or bond. Following Q&A for those speakers, we will disperse into breakout rooms where the audience can participate in discussions with representatives of the 4 different school districts with bonds or levies on the upcoming May 6th ballot.

Join breakout discussions/Q&A with representatives from the school districts having levies or bonds on the May 6th Ballot to learn more about your specific ballot items: – Wooster: Superintendent, Gabe Tudor – Waynedale: Director of Operations, Erich Riebe – Hillsdale: Superintendent, Dr. Catherine Trevathan – Norwayne: Educational Information Provided by School System

Documents from the event

Presentation: Elections, Levies, & Bonds…..OH MY!!!

LWVWC Handout: Voting Dates, Join Info, Bonds & Levies Chart

Wooster City Schools – Facilities Master Plan Presentation

Russell Robertson, Wayne County Auditor – Bio

Wayne County Board of Elections - Board Meeting
2025-05-16 10:30, 2025-05-27 10:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: On the agenda: Address provisional & absentee ballots

Wayne County Board of Elections - Board Meeting
2025-06-12 10:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: On the agenda: No specific items

Wayne County Board of Elections - Board Meeting
2025-07-10 10:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: On the agenda: Preliminary Allocations (ballots, ICX, PEO)

LWVWC at Downtown Wooster Final Friday
2025-07-25 17:00 - 20:00 | Wooster Public Square Historic District, S Market Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: Look for LWVWC at Final Friday in downtown Wooster on July 25 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. We will be located in front of Books In Stock, 140 East Liberty Street in Wooster. We will have information on the League and our work: Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy. Not registered to vote? You can register right at our table!

How Local Government Works for Us - A Conversation with Nicholas Cascarelli, Wayne County Health Commissioner
2025-07-29 18:30 - 20:00 | Wayne County Public Library – East/West Conference Room, 220 West Liberty Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
LWVWC Event: Find out how the Health Department touches all county citizens directly or indirectly as Commissioner Cascarelli discusses➢ The scope of the department’s responsibility➢ Its impact on the community➢ How it works with local partner organizations to expand its community outreach➢ And answers questions from the community audience

The community is invited to join The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Wayne County as we host Health Commissioner Nicholas Cascarelli for Part 1 of “How Local Government Works for Us”. Come and learn about a local hidden gem as Commissioner Cascarelli discusses the enormous scope of the Health Department’s work for the citizens of Wayne County. This free event is open to the public and begins at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in the East/West Conference Room of the Wayne County Public Library (220 W. Liberty St. in downtown Wooster).

If you live in Wayne County, the Health Department touches your life in some manner, directly or indirectly. If you’ve ever wondered about who to call for help related to your well water safety/testing, septic discharge from your neighbor, restaurants or food truck sanitary conditions, where to get birth and death certificates, overseas travel immunizations, childhood and adult disease information/support, overdose suicide numbers, helping a young mother-to-be obtain pre-natal healthcare, and many other personal and environmental health and wellness topics, the Health Department may be the resource you need.

Commissioner Cascarelli will address the scope of the department’s responsibility, its impact on the community and how it works with partner organizations to expand its outreach to the community. The community will have an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation.

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Slides from the meeting (use controls at bottom of slide to advance or zoom)WayneCountyHealthDept-Cascarelli-Presentation-2025_07

You can also view slides on their own page (large pdf)

Wayne County Board of Elections - Board Meeting
2025-08-14 10:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: On the agenda: Certify Candidates/Issues for General Election

Human Trafficking in Ohio and Our County
2025-08-25 19:00 | Best Western Hotel and Conference Center, Crown Room, 243 East Liberty Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
LWVWC Event: Our August 25 program will address the topic of human trafficking. Our speaker will be Joe Morbitzer, Retired Superintendent, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. We will also have a special guest: Gayle Byrne, Response Coordinator at OneEighty. Topics they will cover include:

The complexity of human trafficking issues and organizations

The statistics for our state and local regions

How state and local law enforcement are combating it

How local organizations are supporting victims

Plus Q&A with the speakers

Slides from Joe Morbitzer’s presentation (use controls at bottom of slide to advance or zoom)

HumanTrafficking-JMorbitzer-2025_0825

You can also view slides on their own page (large pdf)

Slides from Gayle Byrne’s presentation (use controls at bottom of slide to advance or zoom)

HumanSexTrafficking-GByrne-2025_0825

You can also view slides on their own page (large pdf)

LWVWC at Downtown Wooster Final Friday
2025-08-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Wooster Public Square Historic District, S Market Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: Look for LWVWC at Final Friday in downtown Wooster on August 29 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. We will be located outside, in-between New World Spice and Tea at 142 East Liberty Street, and Roomscapes at 146 East Liberty Street in Wooster. We will have information on the League and our work: Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy. Not registered to vote? You can register right at our table!

Democracy and Academic Freedom: A Forum - Session 1
2025-09-03 19:30 | Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center, 525 East University Street, Wooster, Ohio, 44691
Event of Interest: The College of Wooster will welcome three speakers for a series of lectures and dialogues titled Democracy and Academic Freedom, A Forum. Speakers will address a range of topics, reflecting on academic freedom in global, institutional, and educational contexts, with a Q&A session to follow. The series, which begins Wednesday, Sept. 3, includes the annual Constitution Day and Bell Lecture in Law on Sept. 17, and the Annual Lindner Lecture on Ethics on Oct. 15. Open to the public, the talks will take place in Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street) at 7:30 p.m. and will also be live streamed on the College website.

Eve Darian-Smith, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Global and International Studies at University of California, Irvine will open the series with “Contemporary Attacks on Academic Freedom: Historical and Comparative Perspectives” on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Darian-Smith, an award-winning scholar and teacher, trained in law, history, and anthropology, will discuss situations affecting colleges across the United States and around the world. “Reflecting on the global context helps us to better understand what we are facing, and how to resist and defend our right to think freely and challenge antidemocratic forces,” said Darian-Smith. She has published widely in her field including seven books and seven edited volumes. Her most recent book, Policing Higher Education: The Antidemocratic Attack on Scholars and Why It Matters (2025, Johns Hopkins UP) explores the essential role of higher education and academic freedom in thriving democracies. She is a fellow at the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom (American Association of University Professors) which develops national briefs and strategies to defend scholars who have been censored.

More information is available at https://wooster.edu/2025/08/07/wooster-to-welcome-speakers-for-democracy-and-academic-freedom-a-forum-beginning-in-september/

Wayne County Board of Elections - Board Meeting
2025-09-04 10:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: On the agenda: Certify Write-Ins for General Election

AAUW Wooster 2025-2026 Kickoff
2025-09-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County UUFWC, 3186 Burbank Rd, Wooster, OH, 44691
Event of Interest: Bring a friend on Sept 4 to find out about the AAUW Wooster Branch and what they do at the local, state, and national levels. Membership is open to all who have an associates or bachelor‘s degreefrom an accredited institution.

SPEAKERS:

Peter Roberts will speak about the collaboration with Kiwanis for the annual used book sale.

Karen Armstrong, Past President, will speak about scholarships for women whose education has been interrupted by life circumstances.

Rush Rogers, AAUW Worthington Branch President and AAUW Ohio Programming Chair will talk about the exciting things going on at the state level and the advocacy work being done at the national level.

LWVO Airstream Voter Registration Tour
2025-09-09 10:00 - 14:00 | Lowry Student Center – College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691
LWVWC Event: Members of LWV of Wayne County will be located near the entrance to Lowry Student Center at the College of Wooster on Tuesday, September 9 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, along with representatives from the League of Women Voters of Ohio, to register college students and help them request absentee ballots. Not registered? Want to vote absentee? Stop by and see us; look for the Airstream trailer and our tables!

Fair Maps Day 2025
2025-09-17 10:30 - 12:30 | Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43202
Event of Interest: Ohio is constitutionally required to draw a new congressional map this fall. We are already one of the most gerrymandered states in the country, but without us demanding fair representation, there’s a good chance it’s going to get even worse.

As Ohio politicians begin redrawing our congressional map, we have the opportunity to come together in a show of force to let the politicians in the Statehouse know we are still here and we’re not going anywhere.

Join Ohioans from each of our 15 congressional districts for Fair Maps Day, brought to you by Fair Districts Ohio and Equal Districts. We’re coming together to surround the Ohio Statehouse with this message: no more cheating Ohioans out of fair representation!

Fair Maps Day on September 17 is our chance to put politicians on notice that we are paying attention, and we demand that politicians respect voters and the rules of the Ohio Constitution. The day’s event will include speakers, actions, and more.

For more info and to RSVP, go here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/636e40d7aa96a6f57e08789775c8d3d0d37c1410

Democracy and Academic Freedom: A Forum - Session 2
2025-09-17 19:30 | Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center, 525 East University Street, Wooster, Ohio, 44691
Event of Interest: The College of Wooster will welcome three speakers for a series of lectures and dialogues titled Democracy and Academic Freedom, A Forum. Speakers will address a range of topics, reflecting on academic freedom in global, institutional, and educational contexts, with a Q&A session to follow. The series, which begins Wednesday, Sept. 3, includes the annual Constitution Day and Bell Lecture in Law on Sept. 17, and the Annual Lindner Lecture on Ethics on Oct. 15. Open to the public, the talks will take place in Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street) at 7:30 p.m. and will also be live streamed on the College website.

The forum will continue Wednesday, Sept. 17, with the Constitution Day and Bell Distinguished Lectureship in Law: “The Art of the Deal: Free Speech in the Age of Trump” featuring Jamal Greene, Dwight Professor of Law at Columbia Law School. Greene teaches courses in constitutional law, the law of the political process, and comparative constitutional law. He is the author of How Rights Went Wrong: Why Our Obsession with Rights is Tearing America Apart, as well as numerous scholarly articles and book chapters on constitutional law and theory. From January 2023 to December 2024, he served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel. He served as a law clerk to Guido Calabresi on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School and his A.B. from Harvard College.

More information is available at https://wooster.edu/2025/08/07/wooster-to-welcome-speakers-for-democracy-and-academic-freedom-a-forum-beginning-in-september/

Election Protection Summit 2025
2025-09-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Encova Building, 471 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH, 43215
Event of Interest: From the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition:

Please join the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition for our 2nd annual Election Protection Summit.

This event is intended for Election Protection poll monitors, Election poll workers, Peacekeepers, and Boards of Election monitors. We will have various break out sessions throughout the day. We will send out a detailed agenda and list of speakers prior to the event. Lunch is provided.

More information at https://actionnetwork.org/events/election-protection-summit-2025

Our Constitution is Under Threat: Speak Out!
2025-09-21 14:00 | College of Wooster Learning Garden Pavilion, 437 East Pine Street, Wooster, Ohio, 44691
Event of Interest: This event is being organized by the Wooster Advocacy group, in collaboration with student organizations on campus, and with the support of community organizations including the NAACP, League of Women Voters of Wayne County, and OSCILiO Immigration Litigation Center.

Some of these organizations will have speakers at the event, addressing various aspects of Constitutional rights under threat. And everyone – campus and wider community – is invited to participate in the speak-out portion of the event to share their concerns about the current state of our Constitutional rights – and ideas for how to organize together to protect our democracy.

Food and light refreshments will be provided.

Parking is available on Pine Street.

NAACP Wooster/Orrville Freedom Fund Dinner
2025-09-28 17:00 | Greystone Event Center, 50 Riffel Road, Wooster, 44691
Event of Interest: From the Wooster Orrville NAACP:

On Sunday, September 28, 2025, Greystone Conference and Event Center, located at 50 Riffel Road in Wooster, Ohio, will be hosting the Wooster/Orrville NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Dinner and the 60th Anniversary of our branch. We invite you to join us in this celebration.

We will have a reception at 5:00 pm, where you can take time to review and bid on the donated items for our Silent Auction, along with a visual presentation of the accomplishments over the years. At 6:00 pm we will prepare for dinner.

Our Keynote Speaker for the evening will be Professor Mark P. Denbeaux, a graduate of the College of Wooster. He is an American attorney who holds the position of law professor at Seton. He is also an author and had a profound involvement with Guantanamo issues with Torture and National Security. He was co-founder of the NAACP at the College of Wooster which led to the current Wooster/Orrville NAACP Adult Branch.

More information at https://www.wooster-orrvillenaacp.org/event-details/2025-freedom-fund-dinner

Political Rhetoric and Misinformation in Democracy
2025-09-30 19:00 | Lean Lecture Room in Wishart Hall, 303 E. University Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
LWVWC Event:

In a world rampant with misinformation and political polarization, The League of Women Voters of Wayne County is presenting “Political Rhetoric and Misinformation in Democracy”, a program designed to inform attendees on how to recognize, sort through and identify this bi-partisan phenomenon. Free and open to the public, the event will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., in the Lean Lecture room, lower level of Wishart Hall, 303 E. University Street, on the College of Wooster Campus.

A panel of noted published experts, will present a non-partisan look at how different political strategies and data can be used to sway and confuse the public.

Featured will be the following speakers:

Elora Agsten – Learning Engagement Librarian, College of Wooster

Denise Bostdorff – Professor of Communication Studies, College of Wooster

Lauren Copeland – Principal Consultant, Data and Dialogue Insights

“As always, the League’s focus continues to be educating citizens to use their voice and their vote by making informed choices that truly reflect their wishes on both issues and candidates,” Brenda Linnick, league member, said. “Our goal for this event is to enable attendees to recognize how both sides of the political spectrum are equal opportunity offenders and use data and words to sway and polarize voters.”

The League understands that polarization created by political rhetoric and misinformation leads to divides within society and can undermine the democratic process. The group strives to present educational opportunities which can help community members engage in real, informed civil discourse.

LWVWC Candidates Forum 2025
2025-10-05 15:00 | Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH, 44691
LWVWC Event:

Candidates Forum 2025
Questions & Answers with candidates for:

Wooster City Council
Wooster School Board

Deadline for Voter Registration
2025-10-06 20:30 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
You can register to vote online in Ohio. Go to VoteOhio.gov to register, check your registration, download an absentee ballot for printing, see Early Voting times, and to learn about voter ID requirements. A link to the Wayne County Board of Elections is also provided below.

Early In-Person Voting Begins
2025-10-07 08:00 | Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH, 44691
Go to VoteOhio.gov for details or visit the Wayne County Board of Elections website at https://www.waynecountyoh.gov/. If you are outside Wayne County, you can find your Early Voting location by going to https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/early-voting/.

In addition, the first absentee ballots will be mailed out on this day.
