About the League

League of Women Voters^®
of Geneva-St. Charles

What is our mission? How are we structured? What is our history?

Our Mission. Local Program and Goals. Other Leagues. Our History.

Our Mission and Roles

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.
The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles.

Voters Service/Citizen Education: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.

Action/Advocacy: we are also nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, we use funds from the League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization. The League of Women Voters, a membership organization, conducts action and advocacy and is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation.
Our Vision, Beliefs, and Intentions guide our activities.

Local Programs and Goals 2008/2009

Voter Service and Education

Sponsor candidate forums.
Congressional candidates (fall of 2008)
State and county candidates (fall of 2008)
Local candidates (spring of 2009)
Partner with other groups when possible.
Offer E*Slate Training to senior citizens.
Expand and train moderator roster.
Expand access to candidate information on our League website.
Adapt LWVIL policy for videotaping/recording of candidate forums by individuals and groups.

Local Issues and Advocacy

Mental Health/Developmental Disability Study Group will meet regularly to network and plan future action based on consensus.
Evaluate status of Observer Corps
Explore formation of committees for countywide Environmental group, school financing, or LWVIL issues that have local support.

Visibility

Maintain website
Track queries and volume of website use.

Membership

Membership Committee will meet at least two times in next year
Increase membership 10%.
Work with LWVIL on membership recruitment projects

Fundraising -- plan at least one event

Other League Organizations

Our Geneva St. Charles League is one of four local area Leagues in Kane County. The others are:

Batavia
Elgin Area
Carpentersville-Dundee Area

We work Kane County-wide on studies, cosponsor candidates forums and hold general meetings with neighboring leagues. If you live in the Aurora-Kane County area, please join us. Presently there is no league that covers that area.
Our members are also members of:

League of Women Voters of Illinois, and
League of Women Voters of the United States.

History of the League of Women Voters

Read a short history of the League of Women Voters.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: July 21, 2008 16:06 PDT.