Neighborhood conversations, meet candidates Moir & Askeland in a beautiful barn, LWV video

Dear people!   I am excited to share a few updates on my campaign--

1) meet & greet in a beautiful barn next week--Oct 1, 6 pm! RSVP! deets below! 

2) Neighborhood Conversations in YS for local candidates begins this Sat Sept 27 - meet at 10 AM!--we could use your help! More deets below or email me  and 

3) League of Women Voters video forum with me and candidate Marilan Moir (Jed Hanna invited but not available) posted!  

A quick aside: you may have noticed the Askeland yard signs mentioned last week are now popping up around the Township and villages!  I'm slowly getting them out there.  Especially if you don't see any in your neighborhood or on your road, I'd be happy to get a yard sign to you.  Just shoot me a response! ($10 donation appreciated--check to Friends of Lori Askeland, cash, or online--but easily waived).

1) Please come meet/greet candidates Moir and Askeland in a beautiful barn, Wed Oct 1, 6-7:30!  I'd love to see friendly supportive faces at a meet the candidates event this coming week in a beautiful barn out in the rural township, hosted by the farm owner.  She will be inviting many of her own friends and neighbors, and capacity is a little limited, but there will be heavy appetizers plus wine/beer/ soft drinks, on what we hope will be a lovely fall evening, this coming Wed. October 1, 6 pm.  Please let me know if you want to come and I will send you the details! Above is a photo that gives a glimpse of the dancefloor she's had polished up, and the loft she built!  There is also outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the farm, weather permitting. 

2) Neighborhood Conversations! (aka Canvassing)  Lindie K. is heading up our Yellow Springs canvassing for the local Dems*!   "We are starting a campaign of neighborhood conversations (aka canvassing), and we need you to talk to your neighbors.  We'll train you!  You can bring a friend or be paired with someone with experience.  The suggested words we will use to help get out the vote were written by us and for us!  Right here in YS, and right now! 

Here are the details! Saturdays at 10 a.m. Spend a couple hours. Bring a charged phone (with Minivan downloaded, if possible) and a bag to carry campaign literature. Wear good walking shoes. Bring a friend or two. Help preserve democracy."   Email askeland4trustee@gmail.com for more details about where and when. 

3) The Dayton League of Women Voters (DLWV) "Meet the Candidates" Video for MT (Greene) is up and ready for viewing here, featuring Marilan Moir and me!  Every election, DLWV invites all candidates to voluntarily share their brief bios and their answers to set questions in two formats--a print/ digital election guide with written answers to a few questions (which has not yet been released, so far as I can Google), and video.  

I was a little nervous at first, but I think I come into my stride as the conversation goes on! 

(Just as an FYI the DLWV Yellow Springs Village Council forum is here.  The other local races--YS school board, YS mayor, Clifton Council--do not seem to have video conversations available.)

FINALLY:  *A note on party affiliation and this race:  * The canvassing will be for candidates who filled out the "preferred candidate forms" for the Greene County Democratic Party (which helps ensure that candidates have been examined about problematic things like driving with expired or revoked drivers' licenses) and then also responded to an invitation to participate in canvassing with volunteers who would help encourage voting and distribute their materials.  

AND It is ALSO true that all of the local races are non-partisan offices.  

So:  I believe it is better for everyone concerned if candidates are simply honest about who we are and where we stand: I am a precinct captain for the Greene County Democratic Party, and I have always been open about my party affiliation--despite my own serious misgivings about the state of the National Democratic Party, which I often disagree with. But I stay and work in the party because I believe in these core values. And I believe the dangers of one-party rule in this state are very real, including very serious corruption issues. I'm not naive!--corruption can arise in any party that doesn't have to engage with voters because they have rigged the rules in favor of their own power.  So I am working with the GCDP to reinvigorate local and state politics right here, in ways that are actually attentive 1) to the real needs of ALL the people, no matter what their politics and background--and 2) to the survival of this precious planet, our only viable lifeline.   

Resisting corrupt, one-party rule can happen best if we use the tools at our disposal, and the biggest one is the seat at the table automatically given to a second party, the Democratic party, which we also need to hold accountable.  

In lieu of a full poem, A STATEMENT BY AUDRE LORDE that I find inspiring:

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Lori Askeland, candidate for MT Trustee

Check out my blog! askeland4trustee.blogspot.com 

Or find me on Facebook or Instagram

9/15 Trustees' meeting, Yard Signs, Write a letter to YS News for me?, Upcoming events!

Dear People!  Early yesterday morning I drove down to Cincinnati to pick up my yard signs (from a union shop!),* so if you're interested in getting a sign to put in your yard, and haven't told me yet, please let me know (along with a reminder of your street address), and I will put one in, or set it by your door so you can place it where you want it.  (It was great as I drove to see the fall colors starting to come on, the soybeans nearing harvest time.  I love fall!). 

Read on for notes on the 9/15 MT meeting, a request for folks to write letters to the editor on my behalf, and a list of some upcoming events!  Would love to have more meet and greets (maybe especially during the day in YS, since I have a flexible schedule). If you are part of a group willing to invite me to chat for a few minutes, I'll happily try to make it happen!

Notes from the MT Meeting Mon 9/15:  As mentioned, as was my practice while serving on Village Council, I will be sending quick notes about every meeting to this list, before and after the election (if I am elected.  And once elected, I will be sure to send them prior to the meeting!).  I attended the Miami Township meeting this past week, and since one Trustee had to miss due to illness, most of the big issues originally slated for discussion (the proposed reimbursement policy, concerns about legal fees, for example), were delayed until next time.   The main issues discussed were : 

• clarified zoning language related to non-conforming properties in the ongoing Zoning Resolution (what we call a Zoning Code in the Village)--all present voted yes, as I would have. 
• a proposed lease-purchase of a couple of new passenger trucks for MTFR. This will be brought for a vote in the future, but I would vote yes.  The machines are older and need to be replaced.
• formally named Jeanna Gunderkline as the MT's public records custodian (vote was unamimous, I would also have voted yes), with plans to present an updated public records policy in a future meeting.  
• Factual information about the Township's levy renewal issue on the ballot this fall   I plan to vote yes on this levy renewal, and I would even if I weren't running for a MT office. This non-permanent levy has been in place since the early 2000s, and provides 47% of the funding for the MTFR.  It's designed to generate a set amount of money, ~$595K, so each property-owner's share of that amount has actually been reducing over time because of the growth in property values and the number of developed properties within the Township boundaries.  It costs each of us about $82 / $100K assessed value, and is vital to maintaining our excellent MTFR services with their admirable average of 3:45 minute response time!  In my view, this is an easy yes vote!

Other ways you can help my campaign!

 

Write a letter to the YS News for me? I wrote a letter to the editor this week re-introducing myself as a candidate for this office (here's a sneak preview!).  It would be great to have lots of letters showing up in the news over the next month+.  Just send them to ysnews@ysnews.com.  Short and to the point is good!  Ellen Bierhorst wrote a nice short one that she shared with me, and it was just a paragraph of 3-4 sentences explaining why she's voting for me.  If you're willing to write one, feel free!  Also I'm happy to send you whatever would be helpful for you to write.  Here's my short resume in case that's useful. 

Mark your calendars!  The McKee Group "Candidates Nights" are coming running from 7-9 pm at Mills Lawn School!  

Wed. Oct. 15: Council and Mayor candidates

Thurs. Oct. 16:  Yellow Springs Exempted School Board and Miami Township candidates

Please show up with your questions!

Want to host a candidate meet & greet for me or just invite me to pop in on a regular potluck, local group meeting, or other informal event?  I'd love to come.  Kate & Steve had a great event for Marilan and me at their home on Sept. 11.  It's not too hard, and is helpful.  Here are a few other places you can meet and greet me and some other candidates in the next few weeks:

Not fully scheduled but probable events on the horizon: 

--Meet & Greets for Marilan and me will be held at a couple of farms in the rural areas of the Township at 6 pm on October 1 & October 23; PM me and I'll get you details!

--There's a likely meet & greet on Oct 7 in YS, details to come!

--Working on getting a candidates' night in Clifton, likely the third week of October, likely at Clifton Presbyterian.  Will share details as soon as I know them!

This week MT Township candidates were also zoom-interviewed for the Dayton League of Women Voters Candidates' Forum, having also turned in answers to questions for the LVW voter's guide (I'll post a link to both the video of the forum and the text-based digital guide when they are ready!).  

Feeling inspired?  Here's my online donation site, if you're interested!  OR just email me (askeland4trustee@gmail.com) and you can send a check or cash or whatever works best for you to Friends of Lori Askeland. 

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Finally, continuing my old tradition....often a favorite part for readers!

HERE'S A POEM: 

*I stopped in the Lumberton General Store and Cafe for a quick coffee and late breakfast on my way back.  (It reminds me a little of Rose's Apothecary in Schitt's Creek, ha!). It's a lovely little rural business south of Xenia on 68, that Tanya here in town introduced me to.   Here's a pic of my decaf latte with a little glimpse of 68 and a golden beanfield nearing harvest in the far distance:

I am still new to this cafe, and I'm not an immigrant to the US, but I could imagine feeling a little bit about this cafe as Naomi Shihab Nye's uncle feels in this beautiful little poem:

My Uncle’s Favorite Coffee Shop

By Naomi Shihab Nye

Serum of steam rising from the cup,

what comfort to be known personally by Barbara,

her perfect pouring hand and starched ascot,

known as the two easy eggs and the single pancake,

without saying.

What pleasure for an immigrant—

anything without saying.

My uncle slid into his booth.

I cannot tell you—how I love this place.

He drained the water glass, noisily clinking his ice.

My uncle hailed from an iceless region.

He had definite ideas about water drinking.

I cannot tell you—all the time. But then he’d try.

My uncle wore a white shirt every day of his life.

He raised his hand against the roaring ocean

and the television full of lies.

He shook his head back and forth

from one country to the other

and his ticket grew longer.

Immigrants had double and nothing all at once.

Immigrants drove the taxis, sold the beer and Cokes.

When he found one note that rang true,

he sang it over and over inside.

Coffee, honey.

His eyes roamed the couples at other booths,

their loose banter and casual clothes.

But he never became them.

Uncle who finally left in a bravado moment

after 23 years, to live in the old country forever,

to stay and never come back,

maybe it would be peaceful now,

maybe for one minute,

I cannot tell you—how my heart has settled at last.

But he followed us to the sidewalk

saying, Take care, Take care,

as if he could not stand to leave us.

I cannot tell—

how we felt

to learn that the week he arrived,

he died. Or how it is now,

driving his parched streets,

feeling the booth beneath us as we order,

oh, anything, because if we don’t,

nothing will come.

Copyright Credit: Naomi Shihab Nye, “My Uncle’s Favorite Coffee Shop” from Fuel. Copyright © 1998 by Naomi Shihab Nye. Used by the permission of BOA Editions Ltd., www.boaeditions.org.

Thoughts on Jones Annexation and Levy Renewal

When I served on Council (2007-2015), many people appreciated my notes about the meetings we were having, explaining my thoughts on the issues, which I sent out about 2-3 times a month.  Send me an email at askeland4trustee@gmail.com if you'd like to be added to that list, or just read what I wrote here!

In the spirit of my earlier Council email-list/ blog, I have written out my thoughts on a couple of the major issues facing the Trustees after last Wednesday's (9/3) regular meeting, and linked them here (if you want a bit of a deep dive).  I also put a quick summary below the invite .... so please read on!

First, there is an informal candidate event here in town for me and for Marilan Moir, and I'd love for you to come if you have questions: 

Meet Two Miami Township Trustee Candidates! 

Come and chat with

Lori Askeland and

Marilan Moir

at a local friend's house

Thursday, September 11, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Finger foods and drinks

RSVP appreciated -

email me - askeland4trustee@gmail.com - for deets!

My thoughts on issues related to last Tuesday's meeting, long form here, short form here:  

1) Annexation: In a nutshell, based on the information I have gathered particularly about the Jacoby Creek concerns and my understanding of the process, I support the Trustees' vote, although I generally support housing development within the Village's urban service boundaries.  

I know how challenging and time consuming it is to serve on Village Council, and maintaining communication between the various government entities has been a perennial goal and challenge--I would love to see better communication and I think that my skills and my previous service on Council could be a real boon in this regard.  I did suggest that Township write to Council explaining their decision and what they heard.

(*Note: good news, developments of the sizes proposed for YS, will not overburden our MTFR service, even if they all come through, and any statements to the contrary are simply factually incorrect.  In fact, development at the levels proposed in all the different projects is generally a fiscal and staffing plus for a small system like ours.  

That's not the only basis for a decision, but it's not a good reason to oppose.  Happy to talk further.)

2) Levy Renewal:  I am a little concerned that  the levy renewal that will be on the ballot this November has so far not been discussed very much, except by Trustee Moir.  I had a question and a suggestion about that. 

3) Compensation for Public Service, Reimbursements: I did not discuss this in my letter to the Trustees, but I plan to discuss this issue in my next email to everyone and link to it on my blog! So, please stay tuned!

Ask for Trustworthiness, Ask for Askeland, Trustee!

Lori

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If you wish to be removed from this list for any reason (no need to explain), just reply-email me at askeland4trustee AT gmail.com and I will do so forthwith!

My contact info!  

Email:  askeland4trustee@gmail.com   

Facebook: “Lori Askeland for Miami Township Trustee” 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori_askeland_4_mttrustee/

Website / Blog: https://askeland4trustee.blogspot.com/

My Act Blue:  https://secure.actblue.com/donate/askeland4trustee

Or I can also easily accept checks directed to FRIENDS OF LORI ASKELAND (email me at askeland4trustee AT gmail.com for address).