New Membership System
The League of Women Voters (LWV) transitioned to a national, unified membership structure, effective February 3, 2025. Members will continue to join local Leagues in order to participate in the organization. However, under the new system, all LWV members nationwide will log into a common membership platform enabling individuals to join, update their information, and pay dues online. A member's email address becomes that person's user name for database access.
All persons who use the membership portals on this page will be members of League of Women Voters, St. Cloud Area (LWVSCA). The Membership page has additional information.
The May 14 meeting was our final monthly gathering of the programming year.
We will have a program planning meeting in July to create a new calendar of topics for meetings beginning in September, 2025. In the summer, we look forward to meeting community members by tabling at events and participating in parades.
Visit us at the St. Cloud Juneteenth celebration on Thursday, June 19, from noon to 7pm at Lake George. Plans are afoot for using our float in the Waite Park parade on June 12th. There will be opportunities to table at Promise Neighborhood events, where we enjoy meeting future voters. We are registered for St. Cloud Pride, Sunday, September 21, from 11am to 4pm at Lake George.
"Growing the Future for Rural Healthcare in Central Minnesota" (event complete)
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 1:00--2:30 pm
Great River Regional Library, Bremer Room, and via Zoom
People living in rural areas often face longer wait times for medical care; travel farther to reach services; and experience poorer health outcomes than their urban counterparts. The median age of physicians practicing in rural Minnesota is 59, and one in three intends to leave the profession within five years. We will welcome two guest speakers from CentraCare who will share their experience and expertise on this topic.
Ulrika Wigert, MD, is a family medicine physician serving at CentraCare – Sauk Centre Clinic and is also the Physician Vice President of CentraCare’s Regional Markets. She has 22 years of experience serving a rural population for comprehensive health needs. Dr. Wigert will discuss the current challenges in rural healthcare and how CentraCare is addressing them.
Jill Amsberry, MD, has been a pediatrician at the CentraCare – Plaza Clinic Pediatrics for the past 14 years and now serves as the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at the new University of Minnesota Medical School CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud. She will discuss the role that medical education plays in rural healthcare and how the medical school in St. Cloud will contribute to the future of healthcare.
New Medical School Campus
According to the American Association of Family Physicians, 56% of family physicians practice within 100 miles of where they train. To support this tendency in rural areas, the University of Minnesota Medical School is opening a new campus in St. Cloud in collaboration with CentraCare, which employs nearly 12,000 people and operates 10 hospitals and more than 30 clinics. This partnership will enhance mentoring and clinical education for students—leveraging the University's medical education expertise and CentraCare's healthcare delivery experience. The CentraCare Regional Campus will open on August 18, 2025, with a class of 24 students. The school will add 24 students each year, eventually reaching full capacity in 2028 with 96 students.
To request information about an LWVSCA event, use the email icon in the box below. Please send any inquiries about an event at least 24 hours before the start time.
