Class

Join us for Banned Books Week! The Menard Center for the Study of Institutions & Innovation at UW-Stout will host Dr. Samuel Cohen to discuss his forthcoming book: Banning Books in America: Not a How-To. After Dr. Cohen’s presentation, comments will be offered by Joleen Sterk, Director of the Menomonie Public Library. An audience Q&A will follow, moderated by Dr. Afton Greco, Director of the Menard Center. The event will conclude with a Kahoot contest with prizes for students.

This event is co-sponsored by the University Library; the Honors College; Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies; the Literature Committee; the Center for Applied Ethics, and the Menomonie Public Library.

Mark your calendars!  

There will be an Emergency Preparedness class held at the Shirley Doane Senior Center on October 1, 2025.  

This presentation will focus on how seniors can become more prepared, empowered,  and resilient.

Menomonie, WI – Braver Angels, a national nonprofit organization made up of Republican, Democrat and Independent members with a mission of “bridging the partisan divide,” will conduct three workshops at two Menomonie churches on Saturday mornings this September and October. Workshops are free and open to the anyone with a genuine interest in contributing to depolarization by learning and practicing better communication strategies. Registration is required. Participants may register for one, two, or three workshops. Light snack and beverage provided. Childcare available upon request.

The first workshop, “Christian Response to Political Polarization,” will be held at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 420 Wilson Avenue, on Saturday, September 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. This workshop focuses on understanding why political polarization is a serious moral problem for Christians and non-Christians alike. We will identify how our faith or spiritual teachings can help address polarization and specific ways we can act as peacemakers. Register at: https://signup.zone/4x2TGoPxZfiiA5EwB . You will receive email confirmation of registration.

The second workshop, “Depolarizing Ourselves,” will be held at Menomonie United Methodist Church, 2703 Bongey Drive, on Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  This workshop teaches participants how to be more aware of their own “inner polarizer,” and how to interact without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large groups of the population. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/depolarizing-ourselves-first-congregational-ucc-menomonie-umc-registration-1506054663039?aff=oddtdtcreator&discount=BRAVER. 

The final workshop, “Skills for Disagreeing Better,” will be held at First Congregational United Church of Christ on Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This workshop helps participants understand the values and concerns of those who differ from them politically and teaches essential skills for communicating across differences and finding common ground. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skills-for-disagreeing-better-first-congregational-ucc-menomonie-umc-registration-1505962828359?aff=oddtdtcreator&discount=BRAVER.

Registration is also available on First Congregational United Church of Christ’s website (https://www.menomonieucc.org/)or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MenomonieUCC). 

Please feel free to contact us to learn more.

Contact Information                                   

Organization Name: First Congregational United Church of Christ

Contact Name:  Karen Miller, Director of Faith Formation

Phone Number:  715-235-5838

Email Address:    [email protected]

Website Links:          https://www.menomonieucc.org/

                                    https://www.facebook.com/MenomonieUCC

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On July 19, 2025, native son, Brendan Ryan, will give a presentation: “A Patient’s Perspective on German Healthcare.”

Germany’s healthcare system is highly accessible.  It is funded by insurance contributions from everyone residing in Germany.  Health Insurance is mandatory, either public and private.  Premiums on the public insurance are based on income levels.

Germany has the oldest national health insurance related to social legislation developed under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck from 1883 to 1889.  The 3 principles behind this legislation are that (1) the government is responsible for ensuring access to healthcare to those who need it.  (2) Implementation of healthcare should be done with the smallest political and administrative influence.  (3) Healthcare professionals should set procedures for the healthcare system.  Mandatory healthcare has expanded from low income workers and government employees to now cover the majority of residents and citizens in Germany.

Our speaker, Brendan Ryan, moved to Menomonie with his mother, Margo Hecker, and his 2 sisters when he was 3 years old.  He graduated from Menomonie Senior High School in 2011.  He earned a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in German and Linguistics.  In 2017, he received a MA in European Linguistics from the University of Freiburg.  He and his wife Anna, a practicing pediatrician, and their 3 daughters are visiting family here in Menomonie and Elk Mound; he has offered to share his perspective about German healthcare as he has experienced it.

He will be sharing how the cost of healthcare is paid by the residents of Germany.  He will also speak about the aging population of Germany and how that will be affecting the healthcare system.  As Germany is the 3rd largest refugee hosting country in the world with 2.5 million refugees, I am sure we will have questions about how contentious this issue of immigration is in Germany, especially in regards to providing healthcare to all residents.

This presentation will be on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM at the Menomonie Public Library meeting room.  We hope you are able to come.  Lorene Vedder

Want to learn more about voting in Wisconsin? Want to help guide others through the voter registration process?

If yes, then this Voter Registration training is for you! 

The goal of the training, which will be presented on Zoom, is for participants to feel comfortably knowledgeable in helping others register to vote and to know how to access expert resources.

Topics include:
  - registration methods (by mail, in person, or on-line through MyVote.wi.gov) 
  - registration deadlines
  - eligibility requirements
  - required documents

In addition, participants will see how to use MyVote.wi.gov to locate practical information for registered voters to find:
  - their municipal clerk or their polling place
  - upcoming election dates 
  - what’s on the ballot
  - their voting activity history
  - how to request an absentee ballot 

The presenters will role-play common voter registration scenarios. Recent legal or legislative changes to the Wisconsin voting process will be covered, as needed.

This free training is open to LWV-GCV members and to the general public. 
Registration is required. LWV-GCV members, please login to register. The Zoom link will be sent after you register.

When you register for this training session, you will be asked three questions. Your answers will assist the Facilitator in preparing for the training session. Thank you.
Questions:
1. Is this your first voter registration training, either from LWV-GCV or anyone else?
2. Do you have any experience helping people to register to vote? 
    (Voter registration drive volunteer, poll worker, poll observer, municipal clerk, etc.)
3. Are you attending this training as a member of a group or for your personal knowledge?
If a member of a group, which one.

If you have any questions, please email Lori Miller at: [email protected]
 

Date and Time

Thursday, February 20, 2025, 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM

Videoconference information will be provided in an email once payment is received.

University of Wisconsin Madison – Division of Extension educators will be offering an online six-session lunch and learn opportunity this spring which focuses on the good. Beginning Tuesday May 14, the sessions will meet from noon to 1:00 PM, each Tuesday through June 18, 2024.

WeCOPE is an evidence-based program that helps adults cope with life stress by connecting with positive emotions. This program has been shown to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and improve health behaviors in randomized trials.

WeCOPE is based on the work of Dr. Judith Moskowitz. Even in the context of serious life stress, positive emotions can and do occur and have positive adaptive consequences. The course includes simple assignments for participants to complete between sessions. Materials and the class are free thanks to SAMHSA ROTA Grant #1H79TI083277-01. 

This class can be found by scrolling to the state class listing on the UW Extension Health and Wellbeing page, or by using this link: https://go.wisc.edu/j7ol1o. Materials can be picked up in Eau Claire or Dunn County’s Extension Office. Details, including the Zoom link, will be provided in an email before the class starts.

For more information, feel free to reach out to Extension Dunn County’s Human Development and Relationships Educator, Luisa Gerasimo via phone or email: 715-232-1636, [email protected].