Weekly News & Event Invitations
In this issue:
100 Rural Women Podcast Episode 23
October Book Group Selection
Civic Engagement
Rural Voice - Grand Rapids
Podcast - Featuring Syd Bauer
🎙️ Welcome to 100 Rural Women and Their Stories — Episode #23.
In this episode, Syd Bauer shares her story of building community and showing up for the people around her. From driving the city transit bus to serving as a head election judge, Syd reflects on what civic participation, practice, and connection have taught her—and how strong communities are built.
She also explores her idea of “social safety webs” and what it means to create spaces where people can care for and support one another.
Featuring guest hosts Rijula Shrestha and Nani Mahkuk-Guaman, 100 Rural Women summer interns from the University of Minnesota Morris.
Know a woman whose story should be shared? We’d love to hear from you—connect with us at teresa@100ruralwomen.org.
New episodes drop every Wednesday.
🎧 Tune in and be inspired
October Book Announcement
Come Join Us in the Reading Room!
Grab your book, your favorite beverage, and join us for a relaxed evening of conversation and connection.
Ghosts of 4th Street - My Family, a Death, and the Hills of Duluth
This book is an open, frank rumination on a brother’s death and its reverberations throughout a family.
Every family has its stories and secrets. Laurie Hertzel’s family had more than its share. At an early age, Laurie, the seventh of the ten Hertzel children, took on the challenge of sorting them out. Not old enough to be one of the Big Kids, yet too old to be with the Three Little Kids, she spent most of her time alone, reading, wandering, and observing her family as they moved around her in their house in Duluth.
We’ll gather on ZOOM for our October Book Group:
Wednesday, October 14th
⏰ 7:00 PM CT
💻 ZOOM
Morning Connections
Thursdays@8:30 a.m. CT
☕ Join Us for Morning Connections
Looking for a simple way to connect with other women each week? Morning Connections is an informal Zoom gathering filled with light conversation, encouragement, and community.
Bring your coffee or tea, breakfast, children, pets, or even your work. There’s no agenda beyond taking a few moments to connect with others. A host will facilitate the conversation, making it easy to join in—whether you’re a regular or attending for the first time.
We’d love to have you join us!
Every Thursday Morning
🕣 8:30–9:00 a.m. CT
💻 Via Zoom
Come as you are—we look forward to connecting with you!
Civic Engagement
Early Voting Next Week
🗳️ MN General Election Dates to Remember
Early voting begins: Friday, September 18
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3
Every election is an opportunity to help shape our communities. Make a voting plan—whether voting early, by mail, or on Election Day.
Check your voter registration:
MN Voter Status Check
See what’s on your ballot:
Minnesota Sample Ballot
Track your mail ballot:
MN Absentee Ballot Status
Official election information:
Minnesota Secretary of State Elections
Rural Voice
100 Rural Women creates connections and inspires leadership. We see a future where more rural women lead positive change for themselves, their families, communities, the nation and the world. We are committed to building leadership through networks, mentorship, education, and civic engagement. Our 501(c) 3 non-profit organization is non-partisan.