League of Women Voters
Julie Winn, Leauge president. photos by Cindy Steele
~ by Paige Langenderfer
The League of Women Voters( LWV) was founded in 1920 by women who had been active in the women’ s suffrage movement. The 19 th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was just months away from final ratification after a 72-year struggle for suffrage. The founding members of the LWV saw a need to educate this huge number of new voters about their rights and about issues. Today, the League’ s fundamental pursuits continue to be voter education and ensuring the right to vote, fighting against obstacles to voting by any and all who are eligible.
From the beginning, the League was non-partisan, and did not endorse or oppose any party or candidate. However, it has always been political in the sense that it studies and takes positions on issues of interest to its members. It was also, from the beginning, an activist, grassroots organization that recruited and worked on local, state, and national levels.
The principle underlying its approach was that it was critical that voters play an active role in a democracy, and that to do this well,
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they must be informed and have access to reliable information.
When the League at any level undertakes an issue, it studies that issue in depth, ensuring that every aspect and viewpoint is thoroughly understood, pulling together whatever data and expertise is needed. The membership then works to achieve consensus on a position based on that study, and must concur before it becomes an official position.
The Brown County LWV chapter was founded in 1971, gaining official status from the National League in 1972.
According to longtime members, it began when one of the founding members had serious concerns about the school board and education in Brown County and wanted to do something. It was suggested that a League chapter be established, as many found the non-partisan, yet activist, approach attractive.
There were 55 founding members, of which only one remains active in the chapter, Ruth Reichmann. A scholarship at the Brown County Community Foundation honors another founding member, Dorothy Stewart Cagle. Today, there are 45 members.
Brown County LWV member Julie Winn keeps a copy of the group’ s member
handbook from 1974. The book opens with the mission, which still holds true today:
“ The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization, dedicated to the principles of selfgovernment established in the Constitution of the United States. The League works to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. Through its program, the