Iowa Activity: Mormon Handcart Park

Remember this activity that Regan organized?  We have pictures!

The Mormon Handcart park is just off Mormon Trek -- click here for a map.  Thanks to Regan for organizing and to all who attended.

With love,

The Literacy Committee  

October -- Citizenship: Voting

Several of our monthly goals in October center around voting as a way to demonstrate citizenship.

Here are some helpful websites that might be helpful as you consider voting in the November election:

Johnson County Voter Registration information -- click here.
Election Day Voter Registration information --  click here. 
Find your polling place in Johnson County -- click here.  
List of candidates & ballot issues -- click here.
Information about absentee ballots -- click here.
Places & dates for early voting -- click here.  

Love,
The Literacy Committee

October Theme -- Citizenship: Presidential Debates

We know that becoming informed about the views and stances of presidential candidates is essential in voting responsibly.  Presidential debates provide one way for us to learn more about how each presidential candidate plans to act if elected to office.

Here are the dates & times for the remaining presidential debates:

October 11, 8:00 - 9:30 pm:  Vice-Presidential Debate, foreign & domestic policy
October 16, 8:00 - 9:30 pm:  Presidential Debate, town meeting style
October 22, 8:00 - 9:30 pm:  Presidential Debate, foreign policy

For more information about the debates and a live stream via internet, click here.  If you choose to watch any (or all!) of the debates, be sure to report each one as a completed goal.

As we enter this election season, it is important to remember that the church is politically neutral.  From lds.org:

The Church’s mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not to elect politicians. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established.
The Church does not:

• Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
• Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes.
• Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes to. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader.

The Church does:

• Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections.
• Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.
• Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church.
• Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

Sending our love,

The Literacy Committee   

Iowa Activity: Wilson's Orchard

Mary and her family headed to Wilson's Orchard.  Mary says:

We went to the apple orchard! Well... I'm sad to say that there were hardly any apples and by hardly I mean there was one... literally only one, in the whole orchard!  Apparently they had a rough season and not many apples came of it.  We were pretty content with our tiny little apple though, and I am happy to report that we saw tons and Tons of deer!!!! 

A link to the Wilson's Orchard can be found here.  Here are some fun events they are planning (that do not involve apples!):

October 13-14:  Pumpkin Festival
October 20-21:  Games Weekend
October 27-28:  Trick-or-Treat

Thanks to Mary for sharing with us!

Love, 

The Literacy Committee

University of Iowa Lecture Series

The University of Iowa Lecture Series is hosting two speakers in October: L. Hunter Lovins (October 4) & Junot Diaz (October 12).

Here are the bios of each speaker from the University of Iowa website:

L. Hunter Lovins: L. Hunter Lovins is President and founder of the Natural Capitalism Solutions (NCS) (www.natcapsolutions.org). NCS educates senior decision-makers in business, government and civil society to restore and enhance the natural and human capital while increasing prosperity and quality of life.

Junot Diaz:  Junot Diaz was born and raised in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. His work has appeared in: The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Time Out, Glimmer Train, Story, African Voices, Best American Fiction '96 (ed. John Edgar Wideman); Best American Fiction '99 (ed. Amy Tan); Best American Fiction '00 (ed. E.L. Doctorow) and The O. Henry Prize Stories anthology, 2009; Diaz was included in the 20 Writers for the 21st Century issue of The New Yorker (Jun '99). 

More information about each lecture can be found by clicking here.

October Theme: Citizenship

Happy October!

We are in month two of the Lengthening Your Stride program.  We hope that you each found meaningful ways to lengthen your stride in the area of personal health during September.  This months theme is citizenship.  Be sure to check out the goal suggestions tab -- we have lots of links there this month.     

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law (Articles of Faith #12)."  We can demonstrate our belief in this doctrine by being good citizens of our city, state, and country.   

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride in the area of citizenship.

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

Love,

The Literacy Committee