The following meeting information concerning local news, activities, and events organized by groups other than the CCSJ is updated at the beginning of each calendar month. Please check with the originating organization because of likely cancellations or changes since they were originally posted here. See Regional News for news, activities, and events activities not organized by the CCSJ taking place outside the Morgantown area.
Morgantown/Kingwood Branch of the NAACP voter guide
As a nonpartisan organization, the Morgantown/Kingwood Branch of the NAACP distributed questionnaires to every candidate running to represent our community at the state and federal levels. All responses are included on their website page.
aclu election protection hotline
We received the following information from the West Virginia ACLU.
"We wanted to let you know about our new Election Protection Hotline: (304) 355-5012. This resource is for anyone who encounters problems at the polls this election or has a question about voting in general.
"Starting tomorrow, September 18, the hotline will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, in addition to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays during the period of early voting (October 21-31). Those who call will be able to leave a message if they do not immediately reach a hotline staffer. Voicemail is currently active on the hotline, and calls will be returned as soon as possible.
"The hotline will be operational all day, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (or until polls close) on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. ACLU staffers, students from the West Virginia University College of Law, and other volunteers will staff the hotline.
"Voting is a fundamental right and forms the foundation of our democracy. While we hope that voters do not encounter any significant issues with voting, we anticipate there may be some unresolved questions surrounding the still relatively new process of absentee voting. We are here to help resolve any questions or issues that people may require."
City of MORGANTOWN TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY POLICING
The City of Morgantown set up a Special Committee on Community Policing. Tim Hairston represented us. The committee presented its resolution for a board to the Morgantown City Council Committee of the Whole meeting on August 25th.
A resolution considering approval is on the agenda for the September 1 City Council meeting. Meetings are by WebEx. If you wish to comment during the public portion, you can find the directions for doing so at here. This is the packet for the meeting so, to find the resolution, go to page 97 of the packet.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS
It is time to plan for the general election. Everyone can apply for an absentee ballot and check the first box- “Illness, injury or other medical reason which keeps me confined” as your rationale. The applications are preprinted to include COVID-19 as a reason to apply.
Ballots will be mailed out beginning on September 18th. Editorial comment: Please return your ballot as soon as you know your choices to avoid any problems with delays anywhere in the process.
The website to request an absentee ballot is now live here. You can apply electronically at this site or print the application and mail it yourself to the county clerk.
You may also contact the county clerk’s office to request an absentee ballot. The phone number for the Monongalia County County Clerk’s office is 304-291-7230.
Please note that, at “press time,” there are no plans to automatically mail an application for an absentee ballot to every registered voter. If you want to vote absentee, you must apply for a ballot.
Other important deadlines for the election are:
August 11 – October 28, 2020 - Eligible voters, including uniformed and overseas citizens, may apply for a General Election ballot by mail.
October 8 – 14, 2020 - Sample ballots published in local newspapers throughout the state (publication dates will vary by county).
October 13, 2020 - Voter Registration Deadline
October 21 – October 31, 2020 - Early Voting at the county courthouse, annex or designated community voting location during normal business hours and Saturdays 9AM to 5PM.
October 27 – November 2, 2020 - Official List of Candidates or Sample Ballot published in local newspapers throughout the state (publication dates will vary by county).
October 28, 2020 - Deadline for Absentee by Mail Application. Absentee applications received after October 28, even if postmarked, cannot be accepted by law.
November 2, 2020 - Deadline to hand-deliver Absentee Ballot to County Clerk’s office.
November 3, 2020 - General Election Day
November 4, 2020 - Absentee Ballots mailed, but without a postmark accepted.
November 9, 2020 - (Canvass) - Absentee Ballot postmarked by Election Day accepted if received by start of Canvass.
CITY OF MORGANTOWN LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION
The Mayor And City Council Of Morgantown Released A LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH Proclamation On June 2, 2020. A Copy Of The PDF Can Be Downloaded At This Link.
SUPPORT LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Do you want to “do something” to help in this difficult time when we are supposed to be staying at home? If so, we are suggesting that the following local organizations might benefit from any financial assistance you are able to provide as they help people in need in the Morgantown-Monongalia County area. As far as we know, all are 501 (c) (3) organizations so contributions would be deductible to the extent allowed by law:
Bartlett Housing Solutions (Bartlett House): Link. 10 West Run Road, Suite 200, Morgantown, WV 26508, (304) 292-0101, info@bartletthouse.org
Caritas House: Link. 391 Scott Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26508, (304) 985-0021.
Christian Help: Link. 219 Walnut Street, Morgantown, WV 26505, In-Kind Contributions / Collection Drives: information@motownchristianhelp.com, (304) 296-0221; Financial Contributions: finance@motownchristianhelp.com, (304) 296-0221 Ext. 11.
Community Kitchen, Inc. At Trinity Episcopal Church: Link. P.O. Box 922, Morgantown, WV 26507.
Empty Bowls Monongalia: Link. 7 Rousch Drive, Westover, WV 26501, (304) 241-5510
Milan Puskar Health Right: Link. 341 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 292-8234, info@mphealthright.org
Morgantown Area Meals on Wheels: Link. 3375 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 599-1954, morgantownareamow@gmail.com.
The Pantry Plus More: Link. 9 Rousch Drive, Westover, WV 26501, (304) 282-1123, info@pantryplusmore.org.
Scotts Run Settlement House: Link. P.O. Box 590, Pursglove, WV 26546, (304) 599-5020 for email form.
The Shack Neighborhood House: Link. P.O. Box 600 Pursglove, WV 26546, (304) 599.5466 for email form.
United Way's list of food and hunger sites: Link.
Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc., Emergency Impact Fund for North Central West Virginia: Link. P.O. Box 409, Morgantown WV 26507, 304-296-3433
FREE COVID-19 TESTING
To increase the COVID-19 testing opportunities for minorities and other vulnerable populations, the Governor's Office, the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs, WV Department of Health and Human Resources, WV National Guard and community partners are providing FREE, optional testing for residents in counties with high minority populations and evidence of COVID-19 transmission.
This testing is available to all individuals in selected counties, including asymptomatic individuals. Proof of insurance is NOT required. Identification, such as a driver’s license or proof of address, will be required to be tested. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. See the DHHR website for more information.
MORGANTOWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
The next regular meeting should be Thursday, September 17th at 6:30 p.m. in the Public Safety Building Conference Room on Spruce Street. You can get information on the commission, including information on filing complaint forms here, copies of the agendas and minutes for the commission meetings here, and a calendar of annual human rights observances here.
GREATER MORGANTOWN INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION (GMIA)
No updated information was available about future meetings at “press time.”
You can follow GMIA on Facebook or on the web. The email address is morgantowninterfaith@gmail.com.
League of Women Voters
"The League of Women Voters of Morgantown-Monongalia County is working on various ways to encourage voting and to celebrate the 19th amendment SOMEHOW given that all our celebrations were cancelled. People are encouraged to travel down High Street to check out the banner, which was funded by donations from the community and from donors to WV Women Vote and its member organizations. We will announce events as we get them finalized."
The League is working with the Morgantown/Kingwood Branch of the NAACP, Mountaineers for Progress, and PFLAG to sponsor local candidate Zoom forums. Once candidates confirm their interest, the interviews will be recorded via Zoom and will be available to the public as soon as possible.
Offices invited to participate in the forums include:
Monongalia County Commissioner
Agriculture Commissioner
WV Senate, districts 2, 13, and 14
WV House of Delegates, districts 5, 49 and 51
The WV Women Vote speaker series included a presentation with Ellie Smeal, past president of NOW, on August 26, Women’s Equality Day. You can see it here
MORGANTOWN NOW CHAPTER
Follow this group on Facebook. The July meeting will be a video conference call on July 14th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. For the video conference link, email morgantownnow@gmail.com.
Morgantown NOW has also started “Timeline Tuesdays, a “20 part series, created by an all-volunteer team from the WV Women Vote Coalition of Morgantown. Our series will illustrate important events in the history of WV and the USA as they relate to voting.” You can access these videos from the Facebook page.
Morgantown NOW is selling stylish VOTE masks for $7.00 each with cash or check made payable to Morgantown NOW. To order one, please email Lynda Goldberg at withay@goldilox.us.
PFLAG MORGANTOWN
The September General meeting will be on Tuesday, September 8th, at 6:00 p.m. Topic: PFLAG Votes & LGBTQ History as Advocacy Work.
Join the Zoom Meeting here. Meeting ID: 998 0917 3941; Passcode: 233396
September Social Saturdays will be on Zoom on September 12th, 19th, and 26th at 9:00 a.m. Join the Zoom Meeting here. Meeting ID: 624 282 185 Passcode: COFFEE
Follow PFLAG on Facebook or at their website.
MORGANTOWN CHURCH OF THE BETHREN
Morgantown Church of the Brethren continues to worship online on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. The church lawn at 464 Virginia Ave. is equipped with pavilions that can be used by students and anyone else wanting a place to work or study and use free Wi-Fi and fresh breezes. Please go to Facebook for further information.
MORGANTOWN PRIDE
This group “provides social and educational resources for the LGBTQ+ Community, Friends and Allies in Mon. County.” Follow this group’s activities on their Facebook page.
Morgantown Pride will be hosting the Second Annual Morgantown Pride Block Party virtually on September 5th from noon to 7:00 p.m.
"This will include pre-recorded events featuring artists, local musicians, and community leaders! There will also be a socially distanced, pre-recorded parade premiering on the block party weekend!“
Folx will have the opportunity to sign up for sponsorship levels and to participate soon!”
You can also support Morgantown Pride by buying Mothman pins at Hoot and Howl, 245 Walnut Street, for $8.00. Shipping is available. “Morgantown Pride would like to thank Liz Pavlovic Design for creating our adorable Pride Mothman!”
Information on designing and ordering your Pride shirt is available on their Facebook page, where you can also see a photo of the Mothman pin.
NAACP morgantown
The next meeting will be on September 15 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Contact the NAACP at 3241naacp@gmail.com for more information and to learn how to participate.
The branch has established several committees, including Education; Communications, Press and Publicity; Criminal Justice; Political Action; Legal Redress; Health; Community Coordination; and Environmental and Climate Justice. Barb Howe represents CCSJ on the Community Coordination Committee, which is chaired by Denny Poluga.
UNITARIAN-UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF MORGANTOWN
September 6: 11:00 a.m.- An open meeting of the UUFM Board
September 13: 11:00 a.m. - Sister Rosie Hefner "Restorative Justice and the Circle Process."
September 20: 10:30 a.m. with the UU's of Greater Pittsburgh for an Animal Blessing
September 27: 11:00 a.m.- Duane NIchols with a program about Madame Curie
Check the web site or the Facebook page for updates.
WVU AND NGLCC (NATIONAL LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) VIRTUAL SMALL AND DIVERSE BUSINESS VENDOR FAIRm
This event will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. via zoom. WVU is always “seeking out diverse suppliers so we can expand the number of companies participating in the public procurement process.” The goals are to learn about valuable programs and resources, how to register with the WVU bid website, and further the state’s “commitment to growing the economic development of small and diverse businesses.” For more information, please contact Eva Hajian at 304-293-51152 or eva.hajian@mail.wvu.edu.
WVU art in the libraries virtual program
On August 26 the WVU Libraries’ Art in the Libraries Virtual Program hosted Eleanor Smeal, former president of the National Organization for Women. A recording of the event can be seen on YouTube.
The next presentation, featuring Ilene Evans, will be by Zoom on Saturday, September 25, from noon to 1:00 p.m. Register here.
Additional topics include:
Becky Cain, former national League of Women Voters president to speak on the impact of voter registration and turnout on Oct. 9 from noon-1 p.m.
Women of Appalachia Spoken Word event on Oct. 17 from 1-3 p.m.
Atiba Ellis, Professor of Law at Marquette University Law School on democracy, voting, and race on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
Further information is here. Registration for the Ceperley and Ellis presentations should be available online later, but to get an invitation to these zoom webinars, email Exhibits Coordinator Sally Brown Deskins, sbdeskins@mail.wvu.edu.
WVU DIVERSITY WEEK 2020
This annual event is scheduled for October 11-17.
WVU NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM
Please go here for a variety of resources on “Native Mascot Facts & Resources.” Bonnie Brown, the coordinator of the Native American Studies Program, has prepared “BACKGROUND: Retiring the Washington “R_dsk_ns”* Name and OTHER so-called “Indian” mascots,” noting that “In acknowledging the disparaging nature of the term, “R_dsk_ns” is used in place of the Washington team’s name in this entry.” She also said that “The term “Indian” in quotation marks, is used to differentiate between the term used as a descriptor for a caricatured mascot and the term Native Americans might use for themselves as individuals, tribes, or groups.”
See their website for more information.
WVU CENTER FOR BLACK CULTURE AND RESEARCH
For more information, please go here.
WVU CENTER FOR WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES
For more information, please go here.
WVU LGBTQ+ CENTER EVENTS
See their website for more information.