MFN Meeting Notes 4-11-26
Janice Welsch
MFN Meeting Notes 4-11-26
April 11, 2026, 10:00 -11:30 a.m.
Community Room, Macomb City Hall
Chair: Krista Bowers-Sharpe
Program Julia Albarracin shared information about her work with immigrants, including Dreamers, in the area. She provided flyers outlining the purpose and services of the Western Illinois Dreamers (WID). A major focus is "to empower immigrant refugee communities by informing them of their rights and securing resources that will foster their successful integration into society." WID services include ITIN & identification, medical resources, immigration legal services, English classes. food banks, and rental assistance. It has offices in Beardstown, Monmouth, Springfield, Peoria, and Macomb.
MFN members can assist immigrants by sharing this information with them when there is an opportunity to do so. Other ways to help include serving as an expert witness in specific cases when one has the expertise to do so (for example, in-depth knowledge of the immigrant’s country of origin), provide money to fund scholarships for Dreamers, carrying and sharing red cards that explain immigrant rights when confronted by ICE or Homeland Security, participating in training workshops (such as the one in Beardstown on April 25) that lead to a deeper understanding of immigrants’ rights when confronted by ICE, and sharing information with others in the community.
WID has served 1000 persons seeking help, with 34 currently in proceedings. Because it had been able to hire a lawyer, they are able to offer legal assistance in these cases. Dreamers remain in limbo; the program is closed to any new applicants. Dreamers are being picked up and deported by ICE, Border Patrol, FBI, even the IRS. There have been no sightings in Macomb.
Jan noted that the Interfaith Alliance Macomb will meet on Tuesday, April 21 from 5:30-6:30 at the City Hall Community Room) to follow up on the training they had last month. They will move forward with an “awareness mechanism if immigration retention activities begin in the community” which will include identifying a list of people wanting to participate, naming an IAM contact person to receive and pass on information from the state-wide network, and developing a plan for contacting people in the group.
Treasurer & Membership Reports (Becky Parker) Current members: 36. Current bank balance: $1601.16. Becky opened a discussion about our future finances, given the increased costs related to WWIH. She noted that six members contributed $100 each for Life Memberships, inflating our income for this year. Suggestions to meet our needs included raising dues, raising Life Memberships to $150, taking advantage of community events (September Art Fair) to introduce MFN more broadly to the community, submitting meeting information regularly to the CNB and TSPR calendars of events, inviting members and others to contribute to WWIH expenses and rethinking the WWIH event (in terms of food, venue, and type of event (from brunch to afternoon reception?).
We will include a discussion of regular and life membership dues at our September meeting, when according to our Bylaws, we can change the amounts.
This discussion was interwoven into a discussion of this year’s 2026 WWIH, the only item under Continuing Business.
Continuing Business
Elisa, chair of the WWIH Committee, contributed observations about the Writing
Women into History 2026 Reception, noting the increased cost 1) of catering the
brunch and 2) the use of the Wesley Community Center.
Since we have regularly had more food than needed, adjusting amounts or moving from a brunch to a continental breakfast or even an afternoon reception was suggested. Wesley’s costs have gone up significantly, but alternate venues were not suggested. Major points of conversation were the number of women honored each year and the length of the event. Clearly, the two concerns are related and will be discussed further by the committee, the Board, and interested members.
New Business
Bylaws Review The Bylaws were approved in 2003 and have not, according to our records, been revisited and updated since then. The Board is in the process of reviewing them; if you are interested in reading and discussing them and suggesting updates to the Board, please visit the Macomb Feminists Network website (macombfeminists.org) to review them. Send suggestions to Jan (jr-w...@gmail.com) no later than Friday, May 15.
Website Update Given the changes in practice we’ve adopted as we’ve evolved as an organization, this seems an appropriate time to make sure our website reflects these. Amelia Hartnett has been covering the annual costs associated with the website and providing most of the updates about meetings, WWIH information, and other MFN announcements. Amanda Dean will study the website and make suggestions to bring it up-to-date.
The Summer Social has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, at the Bailey House from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.
Announcements Becky reported that Sally Egler had fallen earlier in the week and was at Blessing Hospital, with a severe brain injury. She continues to be in critical condition as of today.
I realize I have left out other announcements; please send yours directly to the MFN google group. Thank you.
Dorothy Vallillo
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