Calendar of LWV Events* (see below for other events of interest)

May 29: LWVDE Ed Fund meeting at the Wayside Inn, Smyrna. 6 pm.

June 12: LWVDE State Board Meeting, 6 pm. Wayside Inn, Smyrna.

June 13-17: LWVUS Annual Convention, Portland Oregon

June 19: Urban Health/Justice Committee meeting, 6 pm, League office

July 17: Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Disability Services, LWVDE will cosponsor a pre-primary gubernatorial debate with the Disabilities Community, at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. 4:30 pm.

* Find more details on the last page of our latest newsletter or call the League office at 302-571-8948. All members are welcome at board meeting

Other Community Events of Interest:

May 22: Claymont Renaissance open house (3416 Philadelphia Pike), 6-8:30 pm. $15 donation suggested. Please RSVP by calling 302-793-CRDC

June 5: Delaware Center for Justice- The Exonerated, play and refreshments at Baby Grand, Wilmington. Details at 658 7174

Board Members

Jane Dilley , President

Elaine Darling, First Vice President

Lois Myoda , Second Vice President

Peggy Schultz, Secretary

Pat Toland, Treasurer

Patricia Christopher, Voter Services

Letty Diswood, Voter Editor

Janet Kramer, Justice System Co-Chair

Elizabeth Pertzoff, Natural Resources Co-Director

Roberta Ray

Mary Roper, Communications/Public Relations

Judy Taggert

Online Resources

Urban Health and Justice Study (2007)

Reapportionment Study (2004)

Delaware Government Information

"This Way to the Voting Booth" (downloadable guide to registration and voting for Delaware citizens)

Our current newsletter (May 2007)

Annual newsletter (April 2007)

Who we are and what we do

The League of Women Voters, which dates to 1920, has the following mission statement:

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The LWV of Delaware, one of 50 state Leagues, has three local Leagues, in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties. The New Castle County League is a vibrant organization of men and women who support the League's mission in many ways. Each year we hold a variety of events, including board meetings (to which all members are welcome), committee meetings, Great Decision meetings, general meetings on a variety of topics, candidate and issue forums, programming meetings, and social events. Some recent events are featured below, including our annual meeting, League Legislative Day in Dover, a celebration of American history, a discussion of the Afghan legal system, a general meeting on transportation, voter registration at Newark Community Day, and a general meeting on immigration issues.

On April 23 the LWV of Delaware held its annual Legislative Day, by co-sponsoring an Energy Forum in Dover. This was a chance for legislators, League members, and other members of the public to learn about the current status of energy in Delaware and to discuss possible future energy plans for our State. Photo: Larry Diswood

Each spring the League of Women Voters of New Castle County holds an annual meeting. The event this year was on April 3 at Arsht Hall in Wilmington. As usual, it was a lovely occasion. After a brief business meeting there were cocktails and dinner. After dinner, two women received the Carrie Chapman Catt Award. Jackie Harris was recognized for her devoted efforts on behalf of Delaware libraries, and Fay Whittle for her work in prisons. This was followed by a talk by PBS film critic Patrick Stoner, who delighted the audience with stories from his many interviews with Hollywood actors and actresses. Carrie Chapman Catt was a key figure in the women's suffrage movement and, upon ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920, she founded the League of Women Voters. The LWVNCC has given annual awards in her honor for six years.

Jacqueline Harris speaks after receiving the Carrie Chapman Catt Award. Photo by Larry Diswood. Board member Janet Kramer presents the Carrie Chapman Catt award to Fay Whittle. Photo by Larry Diswood.

photo credit: Anthony Carter

In February of 2008 the LWVNCC sponsored a meeting at Hagley Museum, honoring students who were awarded prizes by League members last spring at Delaware's National History Day event. Historian Jonathan Russ of the University of Delaware spoke to those gathered on "the value of understanding history in an election year."

The highlight of our January 2008 general meeting was a talk by LWV member and Delaware Assistant Attorney General Richard Gebelein, about his experiences in Afghanistan. Serving as the Rule of Law Officer for the Staff Judge Advocate, he helped transform a tangled and diverse legal system into one which could be fair and uniform while incorporating elements of local history and custom.  Everyone left with a better understanding of life and its challenges in that war torn country.

In May 2007 we invited Transportation Secretary Carol Ann Wicks to speak at a General Meeting on the problems facing Delaware in view of transportation budget shortfalls. The Transportation and Land Use Committee has been an active participant in NCC planning, and actively advocates for increased public transportation and sensible and sustainable use of land in the county.

The League is present at many community events, providing voter information, voter registration, and an opportunity for the community to learn more about us. Here Anita Puglisi and Peggy Schultz are working at the League booth at Newark's Community Day in September, 2007.

When new issues arise in local or national politics, the League often begins a study to determine whether members can reach a consensus as to how the issue should be dealt with. Once a position is established, the League and its members will lobby for what we believe are sensible solutions. At left, League members are learning about and discussing the complicated issues related to legal and illegal immigration, and its ramifications. This general meeting took place at the Woodlawn Library in Wilmington.