Chip Halbach, recently retired, long-time Executive Director of the Minnesota Housing Partnership, and Gail Dorfman, Metropolitan Council representative and Executive Director of St. Stephen’s Human Services, discussed housing issues and the role of the Metropolitan Council on Oct. 21. The meeting was sponsored by the Council of Met-ropolitan Area Leagues, Centennial Methodist Church, and our League chapter.  CTV Channel 15 recorded the event, and it can be viewed on their website here.  

See what programs are coming in the 2017-2018 program year by clicking here.

Minnesota faces a future of jobs going unfilled because of a shrinking population. Immigrants have played an important role in our economy. The League of Women Voters Roseville Area will host a presentation on the role immigrants will play as Minnesota is challenged to create new jobs and preserve and promote its economic future.

There are two voter registration events coming up. 

• Sunday, September 24 at the Roseville Library, 2180 Hamline Avenue North, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m
• .Saturday, October 7, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at the Do Good Roseville-sponsored Volunteer Community Fair at Fairview Community Center, 1910 County Road B W.

State Representative Peter Fischer, a Director at Avenues for Homeless Youth in Minneapolis and Elaine Carnahan, Senior Career Counselor at Women Achieving New Directions (WAND) at Fairview Community Center in Roseville spoke to over 50 League members and guests about the need for affordable housing Sept. 19.  Fischer works with young people and Elaine focuses on families.

Feeling frustrated with the government in Washington or locally?  Seeking avenues to work for change?  

Make Your Voice Heard:  Getting to Know the League of Women Voters, an evening to learn how to mobilize, will be offered by the Roseville Area League on Tuesday, October 17, at the Maplewood Library, 3025 Southlawn Drive in Maplewood, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. 

League members and a local Minnesota State Senator will address how the League impacts public policy.  The program will also address voter education and current advocacy initiatives of the Roseville Area League, which includes cities of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Maplewood and Roseville.  Join us to find out how you can make a difference.  Free and open to the public.

LWV Roseville Area is sponsoring a candidates' forum for the Falcon Heights City Council Elections (7 candidates for 2 positions) on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 7:00 -8:30 p.m. It will be held at Falcon Heights City Council Chambers, 2077 Larpenteur Ave. W., Falcon Heights, MN 55113.  Candidates are: Tom Brace, Ronald Dixon,Tony Fischer, Melanie Leehy, Mark Miazga, Paula Mielke and Michael Wade. All have agreed to participate. Florence Sprague has agreed to be the moderator.  Volunteers are needed.  Please contact Cecilia Warner ( cawarner@iphouse.com ) if you are willing and able to serve. 

The forum will be televised live on Channel 15, and web streamed on CTV's website: ctvnorthsuburbs.org  Channel 15 will replay Friday, Sept. 29 at 3 pm and 11 pm; Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7 am; Monday, Oct. 2 at 9 pm; Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 5 am and 1 pm; Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5:30 pm and Friday, Oct 6 at 1:30 am and 9:30 am.

Submit brief questions for the candidates in advance of the event by sending an email to:  lwvrosevillearea@lwvmn.org.  Enter "Falcon Heights Candidate Forum" in the subject line.

The Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues of Women Voters (CMAL) will host a panel of housing experts at an October 21 (Saturday) meeting.  The League of Women Voters supports fair housing and equality of opportunity for housing for all persons. Speakers will discuss housing issues, including city comprehensive plan housing updates and the role of the Metropolitan Council. The meeting is co-sponsored by the Roseville Area League and Centennial Methodist Church.

Panelists are:

• Chip Halbach, long-time Executive Director of the Minnesota Housing Partnership
• Gail Dorfman, Metropolitan Council Representative and Executive Director of St. Stephens Human Services
• Cathy Bennett, Housing initiative, Urban Land Institute

The League of Women Voters of Roseville Area will host a panel of experts who will discuss homelessness and the struggle to find stable housing.

• State Representative Peter Fischer, a Director at Avenues for Homeless Youth in Minneapolis
• Elaine Carnahan, Senior Career Counselor at Women Achieving New Directions (WAND) at Fairview Community Center in Roseville
•  If available, people who have experienced homelessness will also participate.

The Sept. 19 meeting will be from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Little Venetian Restaurant, 2900 Rice St., Little Canada. A social hour and pasta buffet will begin at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $20. Please reserve by Sept. 15 by mailing a check payable to "LWV Roseville Area"  to Mindy Greiling, 2495 Marion St., Roseville, MN  55113. The program is free and open to the public.

Observer Training is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. at the Lexington Park Building (2131 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville).  Participants will receive a League button and learn about the purpose of observing local government meetings (city, school district, county), procedures for being a League observer, topics that we have positions on and how to report in after the meeting.  Everyone is invited – new or experienced! Bring friends.