Thanks for stopping by this page to learn more about the LWVGTA History!
We start with a short narrative about our early years written in 2010 by Barb Berry, a past president. After that we have lists of recipients of our annual awards. Our Making Democracy Work award is given to a community member. Our Outstanding Service award is given to a local League member. And then we have a list of all of our past presidents. We close this history section with another article by Barb Berry "What the League of Women Voters Means to You". We are so grateful to all of the volunteer collaboration over the last seventy plus decades!
Our beginnings:
In February of 1960 a group of women in the Grand Traverse area received a Provisional Charter to form a local League of Women Voters. Once it was established, the League ladies donned their tennis shoes...and hit the deck running. They studied local issues, held public meetings and reached consensus on issues at the National, State and local levels of the LWV organization. Major efforts were made to support a proposed state Constitutional Convention which was approved in 1963. The League was also active in voter service, holding candidate forums, distributing voter guides, giving voting machine demonstrations, getting out the vote and encouraging registration.
In 1963 the local League was sued for a million dollars by Dan Smoot, a conservative television talk show host from Dallas Texas over comments made by Margot Power, President of the League in the Voter newsletter. Smoot was a politically conservative and often made accusations against activities the LWVGTA supported including the United Nations, foreign aid and income taxes. Power's article accused Smoot of making comments that were poorly researched. It would have served Mr. Smoot well to have paid heed to a 1964 Wall Street Journal article that said "To differ with the League is to differ with motherhood and the flag." Eventually Mr. Smoot had to drop his case but not until it reached the Supreme Court of the United States. Thus the League began its nonpartisan political participation in Grand Traverse Area with a great deal of publicity and courage.
Women of the League took trips by canoe down the Boardman River and donned heavy boots and gloves to help clean it up and preserve it. In 1967 the League's interests broadened when it joined the Lake Michigan Interleague Organization and co-sponsored with NMC a six week symposium entitled "Preserving Environmental Quality in the Grand Traverse Area."
Meanwhile men made many contributions to the development of the local League and in 1974 the national league recognized these contributions when they allowed men to join as full voting members. Our local League welcomed men even before Rotary admitted women.
In 1967 and 2001, the League hosted the state convention. In 1968, the League took part in a state-wide drive to place a Constitutional Amendment regarding judicial selection and tenure. The drive fell short of signatures needed but the League has continued to make judicial reform a top priority state-wide and in 2008 held a forum entitled "Courting Trouble" which called for promoting "public financing" for candidates seeking election to Michigan's Supreme Court.
In 2000 permission was granted to the League to change its basis of organization to include the counties of Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim, Benzie and Kalkaska. The Benzie unit met weekly during the school year. The Leelanau unit developed in 2008 and has conducted studies of clean energy resources, farmland preservation and agricultural migrant workers but then in 2013 decided to be their own League.
Grand Traverse and Manistee Leagues co-sponsored an event in 2008 showing the HBO film "Iron Jawed Angels" at the newly renovated State Theatre in Traverse City. A reception at the nearby Park Place Hotel honored former first lady of Michigan, Helen Milliken.
Voter service which includes candidate forums, voter guides and registration drives continues to be a crucial part of the Leagues activities. The League also puts out a "They Represent You" publication each year for Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties. These publications include a list of important election dates, government officials and voter information. LWV-GTA has held candidate forums for every level of government from townships and school boards to the governor. During the 90's LWVGTA held the only gubernatorial debates in Northern Michigan.
The League has been a strong advocate of libraries for several decades. During the 1980's and 90's the Library Action created awareness of the need for a new public library to meet the needs of citizens in the area. In the 1996 it spearheaded a successful millage to fund the building of the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) on Woodmere Avenue. In recent years the League has also conducted studies on Public and School Libraries and charter schools as well as presented numerous informational forums about local issues such as preservation of water resources, dark money, Public Transportation, county and city government.
Written by Barb Berry, President LWVGTA 2007-2009
LWVGTA Making Democracy Work Award Recipients
2009, Bill Thomas, Editor of the Record-Eagle
2010, Joe VanderMeulen, Director, LIAA
2011, Dawn Olney, Benzie County Clerk
2011, Michelle Crocker, Leelanau County Clerk
2011, Linda Coburn
2012, Tom Menzel, CEO, BATA
2012, Susan Miller, Executive Director, Benzie Bus
2013, Brad Van Dommelin, Director TC Convention Center
2015, David Tak Ready, TCAPS Teacher
2016, Aaron Olson, TADL Sight and Sound Coordinator
2017, Bonnie Scheele, Grand Traverse County Clerk
2019, Addison (Sonny)Wheelock Jr, GT County Commissioner
2021, Benjamin Marentette, Traverse City Clerk
2023, Paige Paul, TCAPS teacher
2024, Sheryl Guy, Antrim County Clerk
LWVGTA Outstanding Service Award Recipients
2005, Betty Parker
2006, Peg Kauffman
2007, Jane Watts; Parsons Ringsmuth
2008, Pat Laarman
2009, Mary Grover; Joan Ewing & Brian Bennsett, Pro-Printing
2010, Ellie Long
2011, Barb Berry
2012, Bev Newson
2013, Mary Beeker
2014, Donna Hornberger
2015, Inara Kurt
2016, MaryLee Orr
2017, Ingrid Brophy
2018, Linda Crandall
2019, Christina Schlitt
2021, Jan Warren
2022, Anne Magoun
2023, Jean Howard
2024, Marcia Koppa
LWVGTA Presidents
1959-1961, Blanche Kimmett (Provisional Status0
1961-1963, Jean Shelby
1963-1965, Margot Power
1965-1967, Azalia Bishop, Esther Willman
1967-1969, Helen Sullivan
1969-1971, Peg Kauffman
1971-1973, Carol Hale
1975-1977, Sara Hardy
1977-1978, Maureen Fairbanks
1978-1981, Betty Parker
1981-1983, Kay Lewis
1983-1986, Ruth Gamble
1986-1987, Anne Melichar
1987-1989, Nancy DeManigold
1989-1991, Joann Oxender
1991-1992, Barbara Jacobs
1992-1993, Phyllis Cowden
1993-1994, Luci Novak
1994-1995, Jeanine Easterday
2001-2003, Jane Watts
2003-2007, Mary Grover
2007-2009, Barbara Berry
2009-2013, Donna Hornberger
2013-2015, vacant
2015-2021, Jan Warren
2021-2023, vacant, board convenor: Cheryl Naperala
2023-2024, Cheryl Naperala & Christina Schlitt, co-presidents
What The League of Women Voters Means to You
by Barbara Berry
The League is an organization that was founded by the National American Women’s Suffrage Association, just six months before ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution on August 18, 1920, giving women the right to vote. Its purpose, to encourage women to become informed voters, and actively engage in the legislative process, is the same today.
The League is nonpartisan in that we do not endorse or support any political party or candidate for office. Voter service is one of our main missions including candidate forums, voter guides and registration drives. LWVGTA has held candidate forums for every level of government from townships and school boards to the governor. During the 90's LWVGTA held the only gubernatorial debates in Northern Michigan. Candidate Debate Forums are the most visible of its endeavors. Strict protocol is required for these debates to take place so that they are completely non-partisan. Every candidate is given the same question, a set time limit on their response and a chance to rebuttal. Questions are reviewed for duplication, objectionable language and appropriateness. Information has also been provided on candidates online through VOTE411 and the state's Voter's Guide. The League also puts out a "They Represent You" publication each year for Grand Traverse, Benzie and Kalkaska counties. These publications include a list of important election dates, government officials and voter information.
However, in addition, the League informs the electorate on issues of local, state and national issues. It has held "informative" forums on Climate Change, Judicial Reform, Health Care Reform, Environmental Issues with an emphasis on water resources, Public Welfare, Education, Prison Reform and Libraries. The League can also monitor activities through an observer corps.
Once an issue has been studied by individual leagues a position is adopted by consensus. League members or league units--following strict protocol rules--may then contact their elected representatives and educate others, lobbying either for or against proposed legislation. In 2013, the Grand Traverse Area League did a study of public libraries in the region, conducting interviews with every librarian in the region and developed a position statement. Based upon that statement the League can advocate for all libraries located within the region. Positions are reached at the state and national level as well. For instance, the League of Women Voters of Michigan (LWVMI) supported the formation of an independent redistricting commission in lieu of the legislature as the primary redistricting body.