Democracy Forum
Beginning in 2004, the League of Women Voters - Downeast in cooperation with WERU FM has produced and sponsored a series of radio programs on topics in participatory democracy called the Democracy Forum. The show ran every four year through 2016.
Beginning in 2017, just because there was so much to talk about, we continued the conversations into a non-election year, and we've been doing it every year since.
In September, 2018, the Democracy Forum won top honors from the Maine Association of Broadcasting for public affairs radio.
Broadcasts may be heard from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the third Friday of the month. Listen live at WERU Community Radio, 89.9 FM, streaming on the web at WERU.org.
Here is information about current programs. Programs from the 2016, 2012, and 2008 archives are also available online.
We welcome volunteers who are interested in planning and producing the programs. This great project has taught us so much and made friends of our colleagues. For more information, contact us at downeast@lwvme.org
Book Group
Past Events
Federal Funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The League of Women Voters-Downeast hosted a discussion on federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which affects our partner, WERU, along with Maine Public Broadcasting. We'll be joined by special guest, Matt Murphy, General Manager of WERU. This event was held on June 21, 2025.
More information:
Voting Rights and the Integrity of Elections in Maine
The League of Women Voters-Downeast hosted a panel discussion on voting rights and the integrity of elections in Maine. Panelists included Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State, and Lisa Goodwin, Bangor City Clerk. In recent years, legislators and election officials around the US have implemented strict voter ID laws and other new rules that redefine and restrict the right to vote. Our panel discussed the current laws on voting rights in Maine, the many checks and balances built into Maine’s election system, and proposed new measures regarding voting and elections. This event was held on September 28, 2024.
Making Democracy Work: Local Action on Climate Change
The League of Women Voters-Downeast hosted a panel discussion with local activists and civic leaders who are tackling climate change head-on. How are they making democracy work on this vital issue in their own communities? What can we learn from them about the power of civic engagement? Panelists included Raney Bench, MDI Historical Society; Johanna Blackman, Executive Director, A Climate to Thrive; David Dietrich, Climate Resilience Committee, Blue Hill; and Jim Fisher, Town Manager, Deer Isle. This event was held on June 22, 2024.
Local News and Democracy
The League of Women Voters-Downeast hosted a panel discussion on April 6, 2024, on the importance of local news outlets to a functioning democracy. Panelists included Kate Cough of The Maine Monitor, Carrie Jones of The Bar Harbor Story, Faith DeAmbrose of The Mount Desert Islander and Dan MacLeod of the Bangor Daily News. With three state and federal elections coming up in Maine this year, an informed electorate is more important than ever. “As local newspapers across the country close up shop, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to feel a sense of community and to get vital, accurate information,” says Ann Luther of League of Women Voters – Downeast.
Peter Shinkle Book Talk
Author Peter Shinkle joined our book group on February 22, 2023, to talk about his book, United America: How FDR and Henry Stimson Brought Democrats and Republicans Together to Win World War II.
Conspiracy Theories in American Politics with Jamie McKown
Jamie McKown was our guest for the LWV-Downeast meeting on November 12, 2022. Jamie is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and James Russell Wiggins Chair in Government and Polity at COA. He has an long-standing interest in conspiracy theories in American politics, and he'll reflect on how these have shaped our civil discourse in the past and in this particularly fraught moment post-election 2022. Click here to listen to the interview.
Reflections on Local Journalism from Earl Brechlin
Earl Brechlin was our guest for the LWV-Downeast meeting on July 9, 2002, at the Moore Center in Ellsworth. Earl first spoke to the League about 20 years ago about the state of local journalism. It was pretty eye-opening way back then. We invited him back this year to revisit the topic and reflect on the status of local reporting and local newspapers. Earl is former editor of the Mount Desert Islander, which he co-founded with The Ellsworth American publisher, Alan Baker. Earl's journalism career began as a reporter for the Bar Harbor Times. Now retired, Earl's distinguished lifetime contribution to local journalism will be honored in October when he will be inducted into the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame. Click here to listen to the interview.
Membership:
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