Fwd: πŸ’Œ Macomb Love Letters Day 20/30 - Love Letter to Macomb by Janice Welsch

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Becky and/or Sam Parker

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Jul 12, 2025, 9:05:49β€―AM7/12/25
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Here is the latest post from "No Place Like Macomb" (website & FB posts by Amanda Dean) which has Jan Welsch's letter highlighting MFN, Writing Women Into History.Β Β  If you are not familiar with this site, check it out and sign up to receive the letters.Β  Better yet-- contribute your story.Β  There is an amazing array of individuals from diverse backgrounds who have contributed.
Becky


-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: πŸ’Œ Macomb Love Letters Day 20/30 - Love Letter to Macomb by Janice Welsch
Date: 11 Jul 2025 21:48:48 -0000
From: No Place Like Macomb <he...@noplacelikemacomb.com>
Reply-To: No Place Like Macomb <he...@noplacelikemacomb.com>
To: par...@macomb.com <par...@macomb.com>



Macomb Love Letters Project  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β  View in browserΒ 









In 1975 when I came to Macomb as a newly hired WIU faculty member to teach film and comp, I Amtraked it back to Chicago almost every weekend to see friends and films but as ties to Western grew, I settled in and for the next 30 years my life centered increasingly on my job and campus activities. Of course, I made regular visits to businesses in Macomb for groceries, haircuts, and the other services I needed to keep the lights on, the plumbing working, and lawn mowed. And I participated in some activities that reflected my on-campus interests, but It was only after retirement, that I became an engaged community member.

Always an activist, I found it easy to slip into new roles in a variety of organizations that need volunteers to exist. Two that I particularly enjoy are the Macomb Feminist Network (MFN) and the One Book One Community Festival (OBOC).

The MFN has been meeting regularly for over 20 years to learn about the many facets of Macomb government and the support services for residents. Over and above that, however, is our Writing Women into History project that honors women who have made extraordinary contributions to our community. Since Maria Dunstan proposed it in 2010, three or four women have been recognized each year and given an opportunity to tell their stories, beautiful, often poignant, often funny, always unique, histories of activism in Macomb that have affected virtually, if not literally, every aspect of life here. Each year’s reception is a bright, celebratory ode to our humanity.

Our OBOC Festival Is only in its fourth year, but it carries the weight of the America Library Association behind it. Members of Macomb’s Shared Community Action Group proposed it and the Macomb Public Library, the Western Illinois Museum, the University of Illinois Extension, and the YMCA quickly got behind it. A committee was formed and our OBOC was born. To make sure all ages could participate, we agreed to choose one theme but three books, one for tots, one for β€˜tweens, and one for adults. It’s a project that prompts enthusiasm and exploration and complements longstanding book-centered projects like area book clubs and Friends of the Library. As a festival, it invites connections to multiple forms of expression–conversation, yes, but also art, music, and diverse activities led by residents with contrasting backgrounds but shared interests.

The MFN and OBOC are just two of the scores of organizations connecting us and, as love letter after love letter documents, energizing us as a community.

Janice Welsch
Macomb Resident for 50 years

Photo: The Macomb Feminist Network’s 2025 β€˜Writing Women into History’ honorees: Sandy Nelson, Marla Vizdal, Bonnie Smith-Skripps, and Kathy Veroni.


Call for Submissions:

No Place Like Macomb is seeking submissions for its special feature: ’30 Days of Macomb Love Letters.β€˜ Writers of all ages are invited to send letters, poetry, or essays sharing your perspective on Macomb and its future. MP3 files of authors reading their work are encouraged, but not required.

Please send submissions, along with a short bio to: he...@noplacelikemacomb.com


30 Days of Macomb Love Letters will be shared in the No Place Like Macomb Newsletter, website, and Facebook page every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning May 28, 2025Β 


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David Egler

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Jul 12, 2025, 10:00:41β€―AM7/12/25
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Thanks. Β I have access now.
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On Jul 12, 2025, at 8:05β€―AM, Becky and/or Sam Parker <par...@macomb.com> wrote:

ο»Ώ Here is the latest post from "No Place Like Macomb" (website & FB posts by Amanda Dean) which has Jan Welsch's letter highlighting MFN, Writing Women Into History.Β Β  If you are not familiar with this site, check it out and sign up to receive the letters.Β  Better yet-- contribute your story.Β  There is an amazing array of individuals from diverse backgrounds who have contributed.
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