From Our Members
Carol: current VP: Before I set off for England to go to graduate school, my mother took me to meet a friend of hers from high school. As I went out the door, her friend said: "Remember, women have died so that you could go to graduate school." I thought at the time that she was exaggerating, but I learned better. I read the history of the struggles of British women to get the vote; the battles for admittance to universities. They were jailed for protesting. When they went on hunger strikes in British jails, their teeth were knocked out and they were force-fed by tubes. My mother and her high school friend knew more about the challenges of women's right to vote and to be educated than I did.
So it was natural that she and I would both join the League of Women Voters. She joined, like other stay-at-home-moms, when I was in high school, during the heady days of the Illinois state Constitutional Convention, where the League had a leading role. I joined after a professional career in my late 50's. She was President of the St. Charles League during the 1960's, when feelings ran high over Vietnam, and she was called a communist by some local patriots for advocating; looking at both sides of an issue. (There were also rumors of a communist cell at Robin's Bookstore on Third Street in Geneva.) She stuck to her non-partisan rules, herself a fervent Republican from Kansas, one of the anti-slavery states before the Civil War. I joined as a free marketer and social liberal because it's the only place you can be both at the same time. And the only place that forces you to look at both sides of every issue.
The League of Women Voters has a unique place in American political life. It is recognized as impartial and more than bi-partisan; it is beyond party politics. The League is valued by voters and by candidates and elected officials because it insists upon and makes possible the fair exchange and expression of views upon which democracy depends. Without it, our political life would be poorer, less open and less accessible. Anyone, man or woman, who wants to ensure the health of our political process will find a home here. We can't change our name because it's our brand, but men belong as well,including my own brother. He joined without my urging or even knowing about it. I guess he listened to Mom, too.
Janet: Past president: First Joined League: approx. 1970
I've been a League member for a long time. Initially, I was attracted to League in Montgomery County, Maryland. League was a leader on my burning issue -- fair housing, and had a solid reputation for study and consensus before action. Wherever I moved, I found that joining League was a sure-fire way to get to know people who care about the community and work to make a difference at the grassroots level.
Jamie: First Joined League: 1956 in Geneva
After I moved to Geneva I immediately began attending the meetings of the Women's Society of Christian Service because in my home church in Mississippi, I had been so enriched and educated in the various study groups and programs offered. I was shocked because the church women met in homes, not the church. Their program was "name your favorite hymn" and we all sang one verse of each or brought our favorite "love" poem (it was Valentine's Day) and read it. I had been accustomed to meeting every Monday with four studies a year. Samples: under Social Concerns we explored the founding and structure of the United Nations; tackled race relations with "Blind Spots"; and learned about different cultures and countries with the national and foreign missionary programs.
I was very upset (and, of course, tried for a number of years to change the mentality + to no avail), but the pastor's wife, Miriam Hoisington, a Radcliff graduate, consoled me and led the way. She was chair of the League's International Relations Committee and invited me to a meeting. About the same time, Betty Dempsey knocked on my door and asked me to join the League (at that time there were very few newcomers so it was an easy task to contact each one personally). Of course, I paid my dues ($5 a year) that day. The League was studying and acting on many of the same topics that I had done through my church in Mississippi.
By March, I was on the board and the PR chair. I attended my first meeting accompanied by my two-month old son. I was hooked.
In 1960, as the newly elected president of the Geneva League, I attended the national convention in St. Louis with Nancy Allen, president of the Batavia League. We were very proud to be there in support of Ruth Phillips, St. Charles, who was inducted as president of the LWV of the US.
The late 50s and early 60s were times when few women worked (for money!) and since we had child care available for each meeting our membership soared to 125. Copies of our "Know Your Town" were sent to every household and our candidates' meetings then, as now, were popular and well attended. We had study groups on local, state and national issues and, when consensus was reached, made statements and lobbied for our positions. We guarded our non-partisanship so carefully that Republicans thought we were all Democrats and Democrats were sure we were a Republican women's club.
In 1963 I served on the Illinois state board as publications chairman, followed by administrative vice president until 1972. That's when I joined the work force and became inactive + but I still love the League and the wonderful friends I've made through the years.
Lucile: First joined League: approx. 1965 in Geneva
I joined at the invitation of a friend to attend a meeting with her and I joined because I found a group of women who were talking about things that interested me: local government, clean water, clean air and the common market, etc.--not just babies, cooking and bridge. Jamie Daniel was President at the time. I stayed with the League for the same reason I originally joined.
Over those 40 years, Lucile has served as President, Voters Service Chair, Chair of the Illinois Constitutional Convention Incentive and Kane County League President. She has also co-chaired with AAUW a push for a county health department and odd jobs along the way.
Joanna: First joined League: approx. 1975 in Randolph, NJ.
"I was encouraged to join LWV by the female Mayor of Randolph, NJ, at that time, Lee Whildin. I had put together a rally at a town meeting regarding a developer who wanted to create a dump in a wooded area of the township. It ended with the town council voting "No." The Mayor wanted to know how the hearing came to have so many attendees. Some folks had told her that there was a woman who came to their door. It was me!"
Joanna has served on a zoning board, the board of a child service agency, a LWV secretary, an observer and reporter for a LWV publication, a co-president, and on various committees/study groups.
She remains a supporter of the League because, "It always gives me a nonpartisan report on issues. Not many, if any, organizations and their publications do that."
Fran: First Joined League: approx. 1970 in Pittsburgh
"LWV was a lifesaver for stay-at-home moms wanting to experience the real world. Since it was a union town and home to many corporations, we had a large vital organization. Many members were interesting professional women."
Fran remains a supporter of the League because it addresses issues that matter. "In 1981 we moved to St. Charles and I was delighted to find even a small group here. There were monthly meetings, often fascinating, and field trips."
Darlene: First Joined League: 1995 in Geneva (past president 2005-2007)
I was president for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Kane County chapter in 1995. I worked at an alternative school in Aurora with a current League member. I would spend my time on the phone at lunch time doing NAMI work: calling legislators, writing letters, calling people and giving them support, etc. She watched me and said, "I think you should come to a League meeting with me and see what we do."
I initially joined because I was impressed with the study the state league did in the mid 80s on state-wide care of persons with serious mental illnesses. The LWVIL took action by contacting the legislators and public on its findings and continues today by working with a coalition of mental health advocates. For the last two years I have also served as the LWVIL mental health issue specialist.
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