Newsletters

PUBLIC MARCH BULLETIN

March 2026

IN THIS INAUGURAL PUBLIC ISSUE. We are pleased to offer this newsletter to the public to spread awareness of the League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area and our activities. Please read and share with friends and family!

NEW this month - “A Word From Our Co-President,” in which one of our Presidents will lead off the newsletter each month with some words of inspiration. And, also NEW this month, “Member Spotlight.” This month we are honoring the memory of lifetime member Ginger McCall, a trailblazer in the community.

A WORD FROM THE CO-PRESIDENT

Rachel Tompkins, Co-President of LWVEA

Pictured, moderating our recent candidate event.

As interest in elections in general grows, and people recognize their responsibility to vote for candidates that represent them, the League’s long standing policy of providing Voter Services Candidate Events is becoming recognized as important. Our recent event was well-publicized by our Publicity Committee, and was taped by the editor and viewed so far 4.916 times on the site provided by the Edwardsville Intelligencer newspaper, our ally organization in our efforts.

I think we can all celebrate this resurgence of interest in candidates and voting, however much it has resulted from disappointment in the level of representation the public may be receiving at the present time. We are ready in this and many ways to encourage this wave of interest, inform

voters of their choices, register voting and encourage voting. We will provide programming that meets the needs of our members, if they will tell us what they are on the survey they will soon receive. We will attend the No Kings Rally on March 28 as a group, to support the rights of immigrants and the rule of law. We will educate the public at the June 28th local celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and we will continue to register voters in a planned and organized way. We will also need to raise some funds to support our efforts—so LET’S GO, LEAGUE! This is what we do.

And I would be remiss not to mention the loss of a League member, Ginger McCall, who was in the forefront of all our efforts to work for environmental causes and to lend our influence to City Planning. She was an inspiration, showing all we can achieve with determination, organization and work.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Ginger McCall

April 27, 1931 ~ February 27, 2026 94 Years Old

A Memorial Service for Ginger will be: Saturday June 13, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Meridian Village
27 Auerbach Place

Glen Carbon, IL

Virginia “Ginger” McCall died peacefully on February 26, 2026 at Meridian Village. She was born on April 27, 1931 in Minneapolis, MN. She earned a BA in political science from Macalester College in 1953. Ginger first became associated with the League of Women Voters while living in Minnesota. She commented that a League meeting was the only place that women could have a conversation about something other than childcare.

After moving to Edwardsville in 1968 Ginger became a member of the League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area continuing that membership for 59 years.

During her years of membership Ginger served in many leadership positions: spearheading the effort to get recycling operations and waste reduction efforts started in Edwardsville; helping establish the Edwardsville Library Friends (ELFs) and serving as president for several years; serving on the centennial celebration committees for the N.O. Nelson Manufacturing Company and creating the Village of Leclaire and establishing The Friends of Leclaire. One of her signature achievements was her tenure on Edwardsville’s Human Relations Commission

starting in 1986, during which time the Commission was given responsibility for making a change to the portrayal of an African American person on the city’s historical mural.

Many people will remember Ginger (hat on head, clipboard in hand) gathering information at community events for a League study of a local issue. Many board members will remember long program planning meetings where Ginger insisted that we consider carefully the wording of our League positions. These planning meetings became known as the March marathon. We thank Ginger for her service to the League and we will miss her.

-Carol Reinking

Ginger was an example of one person making a difference in her community. The City of Edwardsville and the League of Women Voters of about 20 years ago, the Village of Glen Carbon invited public review for an update to its Comprehensive Plan. Ginger McCall, who had already participated in reviews of plans for Edwardsville, planned to lead a study of the Glen Carbon plan so that the League of Women Voters of Edwardsville Area (LWVEA) could provide meaningful input.

I jumped at the chance to learn how a League study was done and how to contribute in a meaningful way to local government. Ginger patiently walked me through the basics—what a Comprehensive Plan was, how to obtain a copy, and how the public input process would work.

When we began studying the plan, I found it overwhelming. Ginger, however, calmly showed me how it was structured and what to look for in each section. As we worked through it together, she framed a series of questions for us to consider. She taught me that raising a good question was often more important than immediately finding the answer. She approached the work with energy and curiosity, and there was always a twinkle in her eye when she asked those questions.

About halfway through our work, I realized she could have completed the entire project herself in half the time. But what mattered more to Ginger was sharing the work, listening to others, and mentoring the next generation of League members. She showed us how to engage thoughtfully with local government and how the League’s processes work—conducting a study, writing a report, and navigating the sometimes-confusing process of reaching consensus among members.

She also helped me understand how seemingly basic governance decisions shape our communities—affecting the environment, lighting, road placement, water supply, costs to citizens, quality of life, and how zoning and housing plans influence who lives in a community.

We completed our review, and our input did have some impact on the Village’s updated plan. I came away from the experience with a new friend and a deep respect for the value of taking the time to work carefully through an issue while following the League’s thoughtful processes.

I’ve been involved in other League studies since then, and each time I imagine Ginger sitting there with us—still with that twinkle in her eye—asking just the right questions. The League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area are better for Ginger’s presence among us.

Thank you, Ginger. -Becky Ellis

For Ginger's obituary:

https://www.weberfuneralhome.com/obituary/VirginiaGinger-McCall

UPCOMING LWVEA EVENTS

League of Women Voters of the Edwardsville Area will participate in Edwardsville’s celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
By Lynn Engelman

Mark your calendars! On June 28th the City will be kicking off a week long celebration with a major event in the City park by the Library. We will have a booth that will feature interesting and little known facts about the Declaration of Independence. Make sure to stop by our booth! We'd love to see you.

Senior Citizens Breakfast with District #7

Submitted by Carol Peterson

📅
Friday, April 17
⏰
8:00 a.m.
📍
Edwardsville High School

This is an opportunity for seniors in District #7 to hear updates, ask questions, and engage directly with district leadership. Informed participation starts with showing up—RSVP encouraged to help with planning.

https://my.lwv.org/illinois/edwardsville-area/join-magnify-our-voice

CANDIDATE EVENT HELD ON FEBRUARY 25, 2026 AT THE WILDEY THEATRE
By Rachel Tompkins

The Voter Services Primary Candidate Event on February 25th was a success in terms of the number of candidates present, the number of audience members, and the number of views of the videotape.
There had been twelve candidates expected, but actually 14 candidates attended. There were four Democrats and two Republican primary candidates from the US Congressional 15th district, but not the incumbent.

There were one Democratic and two Republican primary candidates for the US Congressional 13th district, but not the incumbent.
There was one Republican primary candidate for the Illinois House district 109.
There were two Democratic primary candidates for the Illinois Senate district 56.

There were two Republican candidates for Madison County Clerk and Recorder.
The Wildey theater lower house was almost completely full, attendance estimated at 200-250. The views of the entire event on the Edwardsville Intelligencer site have been 4,916 so far.

For more photos and information about this event. Visit our Facebook page. And, if you're not following us, give us a follow!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16MASvow6W/

To see the recording of this event from The Edwardsville Intelligencer:

https://www.theintelligencer.com/news/article/illinois-candidate-forum-congress-madison-county- 21941637.php?utm_campaign

ONGOING AREA PROTESTS

Chris K. and Julie H. with Deb the unicorn use their First Amendment rights to protest in Edwardsville on Fridays, noon to 1pm, Edwardsville City Park.

LWVEA Board member, Whitney D. is protesting in Montgomery County, but usually protests in Macoupin County, where she resides.

You are Not Alone: Prayer Vigil in Solidarity with ICE Detainees

By Anne Masters

Saturday, March 7, 2026. Ste. Genevieve ICE Detention Center

Rachel Tompkins, Cartney James, Carol Juen, Susan Jensen and Anne Masters attended the March 7, 11:00 a.m. Prayer Vigil in Ste. Genevieve. It was sponsored by many St. Louis Catholic and other groups, but also by the Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve organization. The program included speakers from the Episcopal Archdiocese of St Louis, the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits, U.S. Central and Southern Province, the United Methodist Church and Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve. There was music and I wondered if our singing could be heard by the incarcerated immigrants being held as the event was held in a shelter across the street from the Ste. Genevieve ICE Detention Center. The Center appears to be behind the County Sheriff’s brick headquarters in metal buildings. We were told that most Illinois residents who are arrested by ICE or other federal agents are taken to this Ste. Genevieve Detention Center.

We estimated at least 300 in attendance, perhaps more. There were many who took their cars as we did, but also there were three buses of participants from the St. Louis area.

The Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve volunteers who spoke at the event explained their work. They reach out to the incarcerated to make a connection and help them contact family members to let them know where they have been taken. Sometimes the incarcerated people are moved quickly, but often they are there long enough for the volunteers to provide a communication connection. One of the volunteers who spoke at the event said she has made a connection with over 140 incarcerated immigrants since last October, providing phone cards so that they can call and speak to their families. The organization volunteers pay for the phone cards, stamps and supplies, and they spend hours engaged in this work. There is a great need for financial support for their work.

Following the Vigil a delicious Mexican lunch was provided with music by a Mariachi band. It was held at the VFW building in town. Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve provided lunch at no cost to those attending. There was a table where we were able to pick up information and contributions to Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve. If you are interested in knowing more about their work the description below includes their web and email addresses.

“Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve is a support group in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, working to support immigrants in our community. Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve is guided by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 's philosophy of nonviolence and seeks to use the tools of nonviolent social change to bring about the beloved community. Abide in Love Ste. Genevieve’s current actions support our immigrant neighbors, including those here temporarily while in ICE

Custody in our local jail. We provide calling cards to ICE detainees so they may contact their loved ones. We also assign each detainee a pen pal who regularly checks in on him or her and assists with locating legal and spiritual resources. We are also organizing workshops for our local immigrant community.” info@abideinlovesg.org www.abideinlovesg.org Abide in Love is a 501 C 3 organization.

Phone Call Fridays

The US House passage of the SAVE America Act is a direct attack on the freedom to vote. This bill is not about election security. It is about restricting access to the ballot and deciding who gets to participate in our democracy.

Millions of eligible voters could be blocked from casting a ballot under the SAVE America Act’s restrictive documentary proof of citizenship requirements. This includes voters who are already properly registered and previously provided proof of citizenship but could still be turned away at the polls if they do not bring a qualifying ID.

Here's what you can do: Call US Senate leadership and urge them to reject the SAVE America Act and any legislation that makes it harder for people to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Congressional leaders must take your calls even if you are not in their districts.

Look Up Your State Rep & Senat

PROTECT ILLINOIS FROM DATA CENTER HARMS

Urge your legislators in the Illinois General Assembly to co-sponsor and vote YES on the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) to promote transparency around data centers and their impact on Illinois communities.

EMAIL TEMPLATE:
Subject Line: Illinois must act to protect transparency around data centers' community impacts.

Representative/Senator _____,

As your constituent, I ask you to co-sponsor and vote yes on the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) to promote transparency and to protect our Illinois communities from data center harms.
Data centers are not required to report or disclose how much water they use and consume each day and therefore are not required to keep track of their water usage. Our communities need transparency and public reporting to be able to plan for water demand, sustainably manage water use to prevent depletion of aquifers, appropriately adapt water and

wastewater rates to protect consumers, and to ensure potentially toxic waste from data centers is properly regulated and discarded.
Our clean air is at risk. Without the additional policies in the POWER Act, data center energy load growth will increase use of fossil fuel plants, also, data centers use diesel backup generators that fill the air with dangerous pollution.

And especially our vulnerable communities are at risk. Local communities deserve transparency around the full impact that data centers will have. The POWER Act mandates transparent community engagement, closes pollution loopholes, and establishes protections for environmental justice communities.

The bottom line: With the POWER Act, Illinois has the opportunity to continue its leadership on climate and protect public transparency.

I urge you to co-sponsor and vote yes on the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) in the spring legislative session.

Empowering Young Voters

The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Law would ensure that every Illinois high school offers nonpartisan voter registration to eligible students before they graduate. Join LWVIL in asking legislators to support this bill.

New LWVEA Website

Special thank you to Stacey L, Board Member, who has been working on our NEW website. She has spent loads of time working on this initiative, and it is an ongoing project.
Go take a look: https:/edwardsvilleareail.lwv.org/

VOTE 411

You can learn about the candidates on your ballot at VOTE411.org, our one-stop shop for nonpartisan voting information.

Keep in touch!

Email: Edwardsvillearealeague@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edwardsvillearealeague.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edwardsvillearealeague8774/featured Instagram: Instagram.com/lwvedwardsvilleilarea
Website: https:/edwardsvilleareail.lwv.org/