Home » Local League Chapters » Local League News and Activities - 2010

Local League News

• Asheville/Buncombe - January 2010
• Carteret County - January 2011
• Catawba Valley - January 2010
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg - January 2010
• Dare County - November 2010
• Henderson County - January 2010
• Lower Cape Fear - November 2010
• Moore County - October 2010
• Orange, Durham, Chatham Counties - September 2010
• Piedmont Triad - January 2010
• Wake County - January 2010

Asheville/Buncombe - January 2010

Asheville Buncombe co-sponsored the Budget Road Show, along with United Way NC, and the NC Justice Center.  They also held an education forum to discuss how the budget is impacting the local school systems (Buncombe County and Asheville City).  On February 19th, the league will hold an appreciation event for elected state and local officials.  Visit their website for more information.

From Kathleen Balogh

Carteret County - January 2011

The League of Women Voters of Carteret County is alive and well under the guidance of Sharon Harker as president and a very able Board of Directors. The Carteret League has sponsored a Women's Equality Day celebration for several years. This year the program was held on the campus of Carteret Community College and the guest speaker was a local female attorney, Deborah Van Dyken. The Carteret League honored Karen Amspacher, executive director of the Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center on Harkers Island. President Harker said that the Carteret League chose to honor Ms. Amspacher because she demonstrates similar qualities to Carrie Chapman Catt, founder and early leader in the League of Women Voters. President Harker said, "Both women were strong and compassionate community leaders." The substance this Women's Equality Day Event presents to the Carteret Community is twofold: 1) It recognizes the accomplishments and service of women in the Carteret Community, and 2) It is excellent public relations for the Carteret League of Women Voters.

The Carteret League also held a very informative election forum in late October. Ten candidates attended and over 100 local citizens were informed of the candidates views. The Forum was divided into two segments - one for the state and federal offices and the second for local office seekers. Both of these events were well covered in the local newspaper.

The Carteret League is to be commended for carrying out such well attended and important events. They are an asset to their community and to the State League of Women Voters.

From Carole Ellis

Catawba Valley - January 2010

The League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley sponsored Coffee with the Legislators on January 16th at the Newton Library Branch.  Our legislators were available to discuss important issues. Attending were Representatives Mark Hilton, Ray Warren, and Mitchell Setzer.  Robert Dawkins of Democracy NC also joined us to provide additional information on current issues in North Carolina. Some 30 guests attended the informative “Annual Coffee.”  On December 5th League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley held our annual Christmas dinner at the Trott House Inn in Newton, NC.

Upcoming Events:

• Our League will sponsor voter registration at local high schools.
• Our membership database is up-to-date and all members are engaged in the process.

Our League would be interested in hosting a Board meeting/training session.

From Carolyn Jones Connor

Charlotte-Mecklenburg - January 2010

Charlotte-Mecklenburg League has an active schedule, including: 

1. Living Legends of the League - Celebrate LWV’s 90th birthday - Feb. 19, 6:30 – 9 pm

2. Women’s Issues - Screening of Iron Jawed Angels at YWCA - Feb. 12, 6:30 – 9 pm

3. Women’s History Month Event is tentatively planned for the weekend of 3/20 or 3 /27. The program will include a portion of a documentary about the women’s movement.  A discussion about the Equal Rights Amendment will follow.  Ideally, two female attorneys with opposing views and one neutral participant will lead the talks.

4. Lunch with the League in partnership with the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association on January 28th featured Bob Hall from Democracy NC to speak about campaign reform and Census 2010.  (We try to do a lunch every month.)

5. CIVICS 101 begins on February 22nd at 6:00pm running for 5 weeks covering City Government, County Government, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Mecklenburg County Courts and Media featuring The Charlotte Observer.  This class is sold out. 

6. Voter registration in High Schools – we do this once a year in the spring – will be working with Kids Voting and local BoE to expand this to 16/17 year olds as a result of the new law.

Learn more about events at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg website.

Beth Springston - 1/26/10

Dare County - November 2010

LWV-Dare The League of Women Voters of Dare County (northern Outer Banks) has several initiatives for the 2010-2011 year. The very popular Women’s History Film/Lecture Series will be repeated after a most successful initial offering last year. By popular demand Lin Logan, LWV vice-president and retired college professor from Virginia Wesleyan College, will present her four-part lecture/series in a different venue in the county that will serve a regional population in Manteo. The presentations will be held in March to coincide with Women’s History Month.

Other than Voter Service activities, programming for this year will focus on local environmental issues. Willo Kelly, League member and community activist as well as governmental relations director for the Outer Banks Homebuilders Association and the Outer Banks Association of Realtors, will present her new endeavor called "Blue Green Outer Banks," which is a non-profit targeting rethinking recycling expecting that everyone, locals and renters alike, must contribute to the effort to protect the fragile barrier-island environment. Other programs will focus on renourishment of the eroding beaches. The sand replenishment program is a very contentious topic in our community; the procedure is extremely expensive, and sustained results are greatly dependent upon the weather, i.e., hurricanes and nor’easters that cause tremendous amounts of sand erosion. The sustainability of tourism depends on the viable seashore to attract visitors to contribute to the local economy. The topic will be addressed with a panel discussion stating the pros and cons of the effort and a tour of the beaches that are the most seriously effected.

A continuing project which includes fund raising, data gathering, and circulating of the annual Citizens Guide in its 28th printing is a comprehensive League endeavor. 7500 copies of the 48-page Guide are distributed throughout Dare County each year. The document contains pertinent information about services available to local citizens provided by the county, the state and the federal government. Also included are voter information with the names and contacts for elected officials, dates of local and national elections, and other facts of interest to residents. Funds are received from the county, the six incorporated towns, and the business community.

LWV-Dare was organized 29 years ago. The organization currently has a membership of 70 members serving a community of 35,000 citizens.

Nancy Birindelli

Henderson County - January 2010

The Henderson County League is still interested in moving immigration to priority status on the National agenda and has written to Judy Duffy at the National League requesting to present an updated power point presentation at the Convention in June and would like the LWVNC' s support.  They think that immigration is going to be an issue with legislation already having been introduced last December and have garnering 90 co-sponsors so far.

The Hendersonville League also contacted the National League asking to be included in the census information sharing proposed in a Presidents List earlier.  They have since received flyers that they have given out at meetings, etc., and in February will place a flyer on both the census and immigration in their exhibit space at the local library.  They also place small notices in the local newspaper each week about the importance and benefits of the census.

From Barbara Coulson

Lower Cape Fear - November 2010

Serving Brunswick, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender counties

The LWV-Lower Cape Fear has held several well-attended "Hot Topics" lunches. Subjects included women’s equality, immigration, (presentation of the League’s position), and sea level rise in the area. A radio interview about women’s equality also gained attention and a candidate forum (co-sponsored by UNCW, the Wilmington Star-News, WHQR public radio and WECT-TV6) for local candidates in October was also well attended. A membership committee has formed and is working, with mixed results. So far, the goal in membership has not been achieved, in spite of several new members, due to some non-renewals as well.

Learn more about Lower Cape Fear League events at their website.

From Audrey Albrecht, President

Moore County - October 2010

Moore County League has started the new year with much enthusiasm.

In August, the Board held its Annual Retreat with a full agenda. Four representatives from the Board attended the MRI training in Charlotte at the end of the month. Program ideas were plentiful and plans for the year began to take off.

In September, our first monthly luncheon gave us an opportunity to have a talk with the chairperson of the county commissioners about upcoming issues facing the county for the coming year. At the end of September, we were highly visible in the Southern Pines annual Autumn Fest where we registered voters and to promote visibility gave many brochures about our meetings.

In October, we had our monthly luncheon with a Army Reserve Colonel discussing an update on Afghanistan—lots of discussion came from our members. That same evening we held our candidates’ forum for county commissioners as well as school board candidates. We were discouraged that attendance was low, but thought it may be that many of the county voters had already voted in the early voting. However, we again were successful in distributing literature about our organization.

For November, we are looking forward to a wine and cheese event at a member’s house to welcome our 11 new members over the last two years. For our monthly luncheon, we are excited about having a Sheriff’s Department captain from the Drug Enforcement Team discussing prescription drug abuse.

Five new members have joined this year! Let’s keep on kicking!

From Jo Nicholas

Orange, Durham, Chatham Counties (ODC) - September 2010

League ODC is moving forward with a skeleton management team, which communicates primarily by e-mails as needed. Each of the counties now determines a program of activities, and there are also some general meetings of interest to all members.

Chatham has been the most active with voter service, hoping to increase the League’s visibility there. Members participated in First Sunday in Pittsboro and registered voters, and they are putting together an on-line Voter Guide which will include candidates (representing Chatham) for US House, State Senate and House and County Commissioner. Another voter registration drive is planned at Walmart in Siler City. Durham members will be registering voters at GlaxoSmithKline and Orange has made available the Annual Report of the Orange water and Sewer Authority (OWASA.)

On September 11, there is an education forum entitled Medicare for All 101: Who Wins, Who Loses?, which already has 100 registrants. Another issue forum is planned on immigrations, and a grant has been submitted to Walmart to fund that. ODC is also participating in the new Membership Recruitment Initiative (MRI) and is considering doing an educational meeting to encourage more poll workers from underrepresented minorities as a part of the Public Advocacy for Voter Protection Project (PAVP) grant to LWVNC.

Check out the LWVODC.org website for the most up-to-date information.

Judie Burke
ODC liaison for LWVNC

Piedmont Triad - January 2010

Whitney Vanderwerff’s presented Jane Aycock with an award recognizing 50 years in the League. She is now an honorary life member of the League of Women Voters. She served on the board, as secretary and as facilitator of major consensus meetings on vital issues.  Her design of candidate forums is the model for years.  She was also involved in naturalization ceremonies and producing voter guides.  Jane never seeks credit. She always makes things go well because she is so easy to work with.  Her genuine humility is rare.  You chose the League of Women Voters as one avenue for developing and implementing your role in fostering civic involvement and participatory democracy, and for your quiet servant leadership. Thank you.

Congratulations to Other League members
Louise Smith received the United Arts Council Volunteer of the Year award. Louise volunteers time and talent for League activities too.  Pricey Harrison received the received the Defender of Justice Award from the NC Justice Center.  Ellen Olson was honored on October 8 by Planned Parenthood for her leadership while serving as director of Planned Parenthood.

From Marlene Pratto

Wake County - January 2010

1.  Wake League has a Lunch with the League meeting the 4th Friday of each month.  Open to the public, these are usually bring-your-own at the Hargett Street YWCA in Raleigh, but sometimes catered luncheons at the NCSU University Club.  The invited speaker at the January lunch was Verla Insko, NC House Representative.  She spoke on Healthcare Reform and North Carolinians.  February 26 Jane Pinski from the NC Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform will speak.

3.  Wake League has been following the actions of the new Wake Board of Education, which just experienced a major shift in direction.  New members, now in the majority, vow to return Wake to neighborhood schools, ending years of “creating and maintaining a diverse student body.”  They also have pledged to put an immediate end to year-round conversions and mandatory assignments.  The League is particularly concerned with a disregard for open government by the new school board.

3.  Our League is celebrating the 90th birthday of the LWV with a high tea at The Heritage, a retirement community in Raleigh on February 14 from 2–4.  We are asking that attendees wear white (and a hat!).  Purple suffrage sashes will be handed out.  Tea and sandwiches will be served.  Jo Nicholas of Moore County has agreed to come with MaryLou Bernett to present a short program on the life of Carrie Catt.

From Louise Romanow