<< Back 11/13/02 Advocates of progress League of Women Voters focus attention on governmental issues By Maethel Shindelman and Susan Ervin Perhaps you have noticed the League of Women Voters mentioned in the local press — sponsoring events, hosting speakers, moderating forums. What is the league and who is in it? The Macon County League of Women Voters was started in 1990, one of over 1,000 league chapters in the country, with more than 90,000 members. The league has a long and venerable history, having been formed in 1920 by the suffragists who had succeeded in acquiring voting rights for women. In the 1920s the league worked to advance women’s rights, and has continued to work for equal pay, safe work places, childcare, and other women’s rights. In the 1930s, we focused on child labor laws and the creation of the Social Security system. In the 1940s, we supported the founding of the United Nations and continue to advocate international peace building. In the 50s we were in the forefront of the civil rights struggle and have continued to work for equal opportunity in education, employment, and housing. In the 70s, we sponsored the first televised presidential debates, campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment, and helped see through the Clean Water Act, followed by strong efforts to protect the environment ever since. In the 90s, we worked for fairer tax policies, voting rights, and arms control. In the 1990s we helped get the national Voter Registration Act passed and focused public attention on health care reform. Today, the League is a leader in campaign finance reform and election administration reform and is taking voter education to a new level with nationwide Internet programs. (Visit www.dnet.org for voter information). Voter participation in government and government accountability have been leading issues throughout out history. The league is non-partisan. Our local league has active members from both major parties and does not support or oppose particular candidates or parties. We do take league-wide positions on a variety of issues, after study and agreement by national, state, and local leagues. At this time, we have public policy positions on representative government, international relationships, natural resources and social policies. Individual members may be active in political parties, though not in the name of the league. League representatives may speak at hearings and other public functions as long as their statements are consistent with national league platform. Our local league has chosen to focus on local issues under league guidelines. We have monthly informational programs to which the public is always invited. In the last year, we have had programs on neglected and abused children, women in government, health care in Macon County, law enforcement issues, new superintendent of schools Rodney Shotwell, Vision 2025, election reform, the Social Security program, the new erosion control ordinance, Soil and Water Conservation District programs, Macon Tomorrow, and the Greenway. However, we are probably best known for our candidate forums. This past election season, we sponsored pre- and post-primary forums at our own meetings, and assisted with forums sponsored by the radio station and a written forum in the Franklin Press. Questions for the radio forum were submitted by listeners, the station staff, and the league, and were drawn blind from a box during the forum. The questions for the newspaper forum were prepared by the editor and staff and sent to candidates by the league. At our own meetings, members submit written questions. We have adopted that format so that we can cover a range of issues and focus on what the candidates themselves have to say. Candidates are always given a time slot to introduce themselves and explain what is most important to them in the election and again at the end to summarize, respond, or address anything they haven’t had a chance to speak about. During the many years that we have participated in such forums, we have been thanked repeatedly by candidates, for the opportunity to discuss serious issues and for the well-organized, respectful, “equal opportunity” venue. We think it is a recognition of our dedication to the community and to voter education that we are the group selected to moderate public forums. League members also apply their leadership skills in vital community organizations such as the Arts Council, Board of Aldermen, Chamber of Commerce, County Commission, Friends of the Library and Library Board, Farmland Preservation Board, Friends of the Greenway, Human Relations Council, Humane Society, Kiwanis, Little Tennessee Watershed Association, Macon County Aids Taskforce, Macon County Community Foundation, Macon Historical Society, Macon-Jackson Conservation Alliance, Macon Leadership, Macon Tomorrow, Planning Board, NCEA, Nantahala Hiking Club, Reach, Rotary, School Board, Streets of Franklin, Western NC Alliance and Volunteer Council. Whether you want to become active in community events or just listen to informative programs, we’d love to have you come to our meetings or become a member. Our customary meeting date is at noon on the second Thursday of the month at the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. On Thursday, Nov. 14, the program will be “The Media: Public Information and Responsibility.” On Dec. 12, Joyce Dugan, former chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokees, will speak on tribal issues. (This article was written by Maethel Shindelman and Susan Ervin, who are co-coordinators of the Macon County League of Women Voters. For more information on the League of Women Voters, visit www.lwv.org.)