Past Events
CVCLU Chapter Event History (1990 – 2016 compiled by Anna Leffel; 2017 - 2021 additions by Paul Wagner)
2021
Annual Meeting: Wednesday, November 10th, 2021, with ACLU-WI update from interim executive director Shaadie Ali, and presentation by Wendy Sue Johnson on gerrymandering.
Chapter Activities: staffed tables at Chippewa Valley Pride and Juneteenth gatherings.
Informational meetings and discussion with:
Dr. Jeneise Briggs, EDI coordinator with city/county of Eau Claire
Eau Claire Police Department chief Matt Rokus
2020
Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 2nd, 2020, with report from Larry DuPuis, ACLU-WI legal director, and panel discussion on "The Role of the Free Press in a Democracy" with Julian Emerson, Katrina Lim and Jessie Yang.
Chapter Activities: August: virtual Beer and Bill of Rights Gathering with David Carlson, regional coordinator for ACLU_WI, staffed tables at Chippewa Valley Pride and Juneteenth gatherings.
Board member John Wiltrout met with Chippewa Falls police chief Matthew Kelm; board members Lindsey Brandrup, Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Kelle Moran and Teresa O'Halloran assisted former and current Chippewa Falls high school students in meetings with administrator regarding identity-based bullying
2019
Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 7th, 2019; panel discussion at Unitarian Universalist fellowship on Reproductive Freedom: Protecting a Woman's Right To Choose, with Cheryl Thiede, Sara Thielen, and Chris Ott.
Chapter Activities: August: third Beer and Bill of Rights gathering at Brewing Projekt taproom with Emilio De Torre and David Carlson, staffed table at Juneteenth and Pridefest. Chapter worked with JONAH to bring Emilio del Torre from ACLU-WI to Eau Claire to present a Know Your Rights training workshop for the Latino community.
2018
Annual Meeting: Wednesday, November 14, 2018, presentation by Sean Wilson of ACLU-WI on "Smart Justice: Ending Mass Incarceration in Wisconsin".
Chapter Activities: second Beer and Bill of Rights gathering at Lazy Monk Brewery, discussion of immigration issues with Kara Lynum (immigration attorney), Luis Solis, and Chris Ott; staffed tables at Martin Luther King day, Chippewa Valley Pride and Juneteenth gatherings, John Wiltrout met with the Chippewa County sheriff
2017
Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 2nd, 2017, together with the annual ACLU-WI State Meeting
State Meeting: Emilio De Torre, Director of Community Engagement for the ACLU of Wisconsin, presenting the program, “Fight Back! Resisting Trump’s assaults on immigration, LGBTQ rights, and free speech.”
Chapter Activities: Resistance Training by livestream for ACLU People Power Action Event, first Beer and Bill of Rights gathering organized by Paul Wagner at Lazy Monk Brewery with new ACLU-WI Executive Director Chris Ott, co-hosted or helped with events sponsored by Indivisible: Chippewa Valley and People Power, helped facilitate appearance of Molly McGrath, ACLU-WI speaking on voter rights at Western Wisconsin Citizen’s Summit , staffed table at Senior American’s Day, discussed and gave input on Menomonie School Board issue regarding class education on Islamic issues.
2016
Annual Meeting: October 27, 2016
3 UWEC professors and UWEC students speak host panel presentation about Political Correctness
Chapter Activities: addressed concerns about racial profiling on UWEC campus, lobbied in support of ECASD policy to protect transgender students, staffed table at Senior American’s Day
2015
Annual Meeting: October 28, 2015
Chief Probation officer of Western District of Wisconsin, Executive director of WCLU, Re-Entry coordinator at Dane County Human Services, and program supervisor at the community transition center speak on life after incarceration and re-entrance into the community
Chapter Activities: presentations about privacy and technology, monitored drone activity in area, partnered with community organizations
2014
Annual Meeting: October 8, 2014
Madison professor discusses the privatization of public schools
Chapter Activities: led fundraiser to support ACLU legal challenge to Wisconsin’s same-sex marriage ban, interview on WHYS radio about marriage equality, press conference about launch of Wisconsin Unites for Marriage Coalition, tabled EC Pride event
2013
Annual Meeting: October 24, 2013
Former Planned Parenthood president, Executive Director of WCLU, and co-founder of Chippewa Valley Free Clinic speak about Equal Access to Health Care
Chapter Activities: investigation of racial profiling incident at local restaurant (resulted in staff training and apology), launched GSA at MHS, alerted Manz about advertisment for VBS, presentation to CV Learning in Retirement, hosted first “Let’s Talk: ACLU”, led efforts to pass more drone regulations, WEAU-TV 13 interview about ACLU position opposing collection of DNA at time of arrest, tabled Pride Fest
2012
Annual Meeting: September 20, 2012
ACLU Policy Analyst, Chris Soghoian, speaks on law enforcement surveillance of internet and mobile communication
Chapter Activities: organize coalition against voter-ID, monitoring of drone activity in EC area, sent letter to UWEC chancellor protesting charges for student photo IDs for voting purposes, tabled Bobfest North, Free Food/Free Speech Festival, and Pride Picnic
2011
Annual Meeting: October 26, 2011
Equal opportunity specialist, political science professor, EC chief of police, and UWEC chancellor for inclusion tak on Racial Profiling in the Chippewa Valley
Chapter Activities: distribution of anti-voter ID flyers and information, spoke at EC City Council hearing in favor of Werthmann/Wachs Resolution opposing SB6, led discussion on film “HOWL”, co-sponsored Church/State debate at Schofield Hall, tabled at First Amendment event at UWEC, attended and tabled at Bobfest North, attended Chippewa Valley Pride Day Picnic
2010
Annual Meeting: October 19, 2010
Chris Ahmuty (Executive Director of the WCLU) speaks on Civil Liberties Issues
Chapter Activities: Worked on CVCLU history archive projects, Banned Books Week, participated in Building and Grounds Committee to discuss Jason Zunker Memorial
2009
Annual Meeting: September 30, 2009
Local parent, librarians, and ACLU-spokesperson discuss the First Amendment vs. Parental Discretion
Chapter Activities: co-sponsored the UU Congregation dealing with finance reform, sent letters to Leader Telegram supporting the edits made to Jason Zunker memorial, reviewed UWEC Flipside censorship complaints
2008
Annual Meeting: October 1, 2008
Panel of community members discuss “Are U.S. Elections Fair?”
Chapter Activities: UWEC forms student alliance, ACLU staff host legal observer workshop for University students
2007
Annual Meeting: October 24, 2007
Local Judge, Drug Court coordinator, Reverend, a representative from the Department of Corrections, and Restorative Justice Program coordinator discuss Alternatives to Incarceration
Chapter Activities: active in state referenda campaigns, Progressive Film Festival, resolved complaint about religious handout to a public HS team, presentation at NWEA teachers convention, participation in Banned Books Week
2006
Annual Meeting: September 19, 2006
A death row exoneree, a family member of murder victim, and No Death Penalty Wisconsin representative speak about the Death Penalty
Chapter Activities: members speak out against ban on civil unions, and gay marriage, Banned Books Week, sponsored a visit from Matthew Rothschild of Progressive magazine, discussion at NWEA Teachers convention about films from the ACLU Freedom Files
2005
Annual Meeting: September 27, 2005
Paleoanthropologist discusses religion in public schools and the Scopes Monkey Trial
Chapter Activities: racial discrimination report from CVTC students leads to improvements in classroom and lab management, action on policy on R-rated movies in the classroom, spoke out at City Council meeting about free speech violations, led a workshop on teach LGBT issues at NWEA Teachers convention, showing of “UnConstitutional” a film about Guantanamo and prisoner rights
2004
Annual Meeting: November 4, 2004
Educators, parent, and a student panel on R-rated Movies in Schools: Freedom to Teach; Freedom to Learn
Chapter Activities: Bill of Rights committee formed and created an-Patriot Act resolution, support GSA in Menomonie HS, attended area holiday concerts, Banned Book Week readings, presentation at NWEA on “Teaching Gay Issues in the Schools; Engaging Resistance”
2003
Annual Meeting: November 4, 2003
Personal account from UWEC Palestinian student about harassment of Moslems since the Patriot Act, Discussion with WCLU director about civil liberties since the Patriot Act was passed.
Chapter Activities: presentation to Universalist Fellowship about the Patriot Act, attended school holiday choral programs, asked Wilson Park to change the holiday display, asked city busses to take down flashing religious and political messages. Banned Books Week, table at NWEA Teachers Convention, website reopened
2002
Annual Meeting: November 6, 2002
Group discussion about “Of Rights and Wrongs: The Threat to America’s Freedoms” film
Chapter Activities: holiday concert focus changed, assisted with youth outreach program “The Other America Tour”, helped teacher attend GLSEN “Teaching Respect for All” conference, sponsored a table at NWEA teacher convention, Banned Books Week
2001
Annual Meeting: October 16, 2001
Professors of Sociology and Social Work and WCLU director speak on the prison build-up and its impact on Wisconsin communities
Chapter Activities: branch was awarded Chapter of the Year, monitored the pressure on Chetek schools to teach Creationism, monitored December seasonal music programs in public schools, creation of ACLU campus club at Memorial, banned Books Week, 9/11
2000
Annual Meeting: October 25, 2000
Local religious leaders, Chippewa Falls Public School Superintendent, Professor of Political Science and director of WCLU speak on Religion in Public schools
Chapter Activities: investigation of racial profiling complaint, investigation of religious release program in the Augusta area schools, Banned Books Week, sponsored a booth at the Northwest Education Association convention
1999
Annual Meeting: October 7, 1999
Local Judge speaks about criminal penalties
Chapter Activities: Banned Book Week, assisted in the creation of GSA club at MHS, participated in Diversity March, religious programming in schools
1998
Annual Meeting: October 23, 1998
Discussion about the CVCLU and the ACLU
Chapter Activities: co-sponsor Banned Book Week activities, Chippewa Valley Promise Summit,
1997
Annual Meeting: October 9, 1997
WCLU director, local judge, EC district attorney speak on current issues in criminal justice
Chapter Activities: attended convention of the Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English, co-sponsored celebrations of Banned Books Week, creation of the web page, monitoring religious content in school holiday concert
1996
Annual Meeting: October 15, 1996
ACLU President Forum
Chapter Activities: involvement in Banned Books Week, LGBT students at high school discrimination, avoidance of teaching evolution in HS
1995
Annual Meeting: October 10, 1995
WCLU director, Local lobbyist, private school principal, member of Islamic Center and Mosque speak on Vouchers, Prayer, and the Future of Public Education
Chapter Activities: Native American logo at Menomonie HS, HS sports team prayer before competition
1994
Annual Meeting: October 12, 1994
Local Police chief speaks on civil rights and police work
Chapter Activity: maintenance of private student records, Native American logos, T-shirt policy in EC school district
1993
Annual Meeting: October 12, 1993
Local Judge speaks about “The View of the New Judge”
Chapter Activity: Advisory Council established, Privacy of Student records, Indian Logo at Menomonie HS
1992
Annual Meeting: October 19, 1992
Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union (WCLU) speaks on Free speech
Chapter Activity: Dress code at EC secondary schools, person refused food at distribution center
1991
Annual Meeting: October 2, 1991
Professor speaks about history of the First Amendment (freedom to criticize and censorship)
Chapter Activity: Creche in park, hats in schools, UW hate speech rule, Carillion Christmas music, Sex respect curriculum
1990
Annual Meeting: October 16, 1990
Local Judge speaks about freedom of expression
Chapter Activity: Religious scene in Wilson Park, UW hateful speech rule, School concert religious music, hats in schools, harassment of Hmong children