What is the League of Women Voters' Mission and History - League of Women Voters of Piedmont

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ABOUT US

The League is a political grassroots network and membership organization that believes the freedom to vote is a nonpartisan issue. For more than a century, we’ve worked to empower voters and defend democracy. As a women-led led organization, we encourage everyone to take part in our democracy.

Who is the League of Women Voters?

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering everyone to fully participate in our democracy. With active Leagues in all 50 states and more than 750 Leagues across the country, we engage in advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing to protect every American’s freedom to vote.

Founded in 1920, the League was a merger of the National Council of Women Voters and the National American Women’s Suffrage Association. Referred to as a “mighty political experiment,” it aimed to help newly enfranchised women exercise their right to vote. Learn more about the history League of Women Voters of the US.

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont (LWVP) strives to keep the residents of Piedmont informed about local elections and policy issues that affect the community. It aims to educate voters on social policy issues including fair housing, racial justice, climate change, and election reform.

LWVP was established in 1948 to take an active role in the community. With the goal of becoming more informed together, LWVP formed a Civic Study Group in January of that year. The members set out to conduct a complete study on the ballot for the upcoming City Election and the manner in which the City Charter could be amended. Learn more about the history of LWVP.

LWVP continues to study upcoming ballots and provides materials for community members to make informed decisions when casting their votes.

Our volunteers work tirelessly to empower voters and defend democracy. Meet our 2022-23 Board Members.

Why Support the League of Women Voters?

The League is a grassroots organization providing every member the opportunity to learn and educate others about government, and take action on public policy. We walk our talk: we believe that we need everyone to participate in order for our community to be strong, safe and vibrant.

Whether you contribute your time, your money, or both you can feel confident that your investment in democracy goes further in the League. Help us with our mission of:

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

Your participation in League will expose you to a breadth of experiences and issues that will not only inform you but create greater possibilities for civic engagement than you might imagine. You can spend as much or as little time as you wish.

Whether you aspire to leadership or are keen to follow the lead of experienced members, the League will excite, use, and nurture your civic curiosity, ideals, and desire for action.

LWVP Presidents

2020-present: Lorrel Plimier
2018-20: Nancy Beninati
2016-18: Katy Foulkes
2014-16: Cathie Geddeis
2013-14: Hope Salzer
2012-13: Julie McDonald
2011-12: Sue Kawaichi
2010-11: Tam Hege, Sue Kawaichi
2008-10: Lianne Campodonico
2006-08: Susan Schroeder
2003-06: Mary Ann Benson
2001-03: Krys Wulff
2000-01: Mary Iverson
1997-99: Karen Mai
1995-97: Carole Levenson
1993-95: Tam Hege
1992-93: Deborah Van Nest
1991-92: Karen Mai
1989-91: Shirley Schell
1987-89: Gail Dryden
1986-87: Valerie Matzger
1984-86: Karen Mai
1982-84: Katy Foulkes
1980-82: Tam Hege
1978-80: Katy Foulkes
1977-78: Kerry Reynolds
1975-77: Dorothy (Dot) Nelson
1973-75: Helen Herbert
1972-73: Gaye Kincaid
1971-72: Mrs. Donald Kincaid (Gaye)
1969-71: Mrs. Vernon Goodwin
1968-69: Mrs. Charles Mynard (Wilma)
1966-68: Mrs. H. S. Ruth
1964-66: Mrs. David Wendel (Pat)
1962-64: Mrs. Charles Mynard
1959-62: Mrs. E. A. Hassan, Jr.
1957-59: Mrs. L.T. Hayes
1955-57: Mrs. Roger Eliassen
1953-55: Mrs. Emil Reinhardt
1951-53: Mrs. Carl Flegal
1949-51: Mrs. Lauffer T. Hayes
1948-49: Mrs. W. Ed Wallace

Learn About Volunteering

Volunteer with the League - be a part of our team

Democracy is a team sport and we need you on our team!

Join the League

Join us and be part of the solution!

Make a Donation

Make a Difference= - Support Our Work - Together we can protect and defend democracy

Make a tax deductible donation to support our events, voter education, and advocacy.

Meet Our
2022-23 Board of Directors

Officers

President
Lorrel Plimier
Lorrel cares about protecting voting rights and making the government work for the people. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find her enjoying a cup of tea, baking sourdough bread, and walking the dog around town. She is known to decorate a mean cake. Lorrel is an attorney and data scientist with a BA from Mount Holyoke College, a JD from Boston College Law School and a Masters in Information and Data Science from UC Berkeley.

VP of Program
Lois Corrin
Lois admires Barbara Jordan because she was an exceptional guide during the Watergate hearings. When she was ten, Lois wanted to be an FBI agent. If she could do anything in the next year, she would travel to historically Black colleges and universities talking about civic engagement. Lois has a BA in economics from Stanford and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.

VP of Program
Nancy Beninati
Nancy brings her background in advocacy, policy and civil rights to the League. She is currently a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the Civil Rights Enforcement Section at the California Department of Justice. A hero of hers is former U. S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall because he was not afraid to stand up to injustice and fight for what is right. Nancy has been a Board member of the League of Women Voters of Piedmont since 2013 and has served in various capacities including past President. When she is not discussing important issues with her League colleagues she enjoys mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and playing golf with her twin boys.

Secretary
Mary Hedley
The June evening was hot, the small Berkeley polling place was crowded and stuffy, and I happily waited my turn to cast my first vote: Shirley Chisholm for President. I still love to vote, and I’m still waiting to be able to say the words ‘Madam President’. I earned a BA (English) and a JD from UC Berkeley.

Treasurer
Chris Krenn
Chris cares deeply about democracy. He is knowledgeable, helpful, principled, and his favorite ice cream flavor is cherry. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find him coding with coffee. When he can, he enjoys rock climbing and swimming in the ocean with friends and family. Chris is a computational physicist with degrees from UC Berkeley in materials science and engineering.

Directors

Membership Director
Linda McClain
Linda cares about tutoring under-educated kids (we need more tutors!), reducing gun violence (and violence in general), and reducing homelessness. Her personal motto is “look for chances to do a little good each day.” In her spare time she enjoys cooking, entertaining, games, and travel with friends & family. Linda is a retired real estate agent with a BS degree from from UC Berkeley in Business Administration.

Voter Service Director
Jennifer Trainor
Jennifer cares about the climate, and saving democracy. She speaks three foreign languages (some better than others) and at any given moment would love to be hiking in the Grand Tetons. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find her getting up late, reading too many news sites, and gardening. Jennifer is a retired product manager and entrepreneur with a BA from Stanford in International Relations and an MBA from Yale.

Youth Engagement Director
Barbara Addleman
Barbara cares about stopping gun violence and saving our planet and the environment. As a child, she wanted to be an Olympic swimmer. These days, on any given weekend, you can find her sipping a latte, reading the paper, and then heading out for a swim. Barbara is a Freelance Graphic Designer and Mixed Media Artist for 40+ years. She has a BA in Advertising and Journalism from San Jose State.

Climate Advocacy Director
Hope Salzer
Hope has been an LWVP Board Director and/or active League member since 2012, serving in numerous roles from President, Program VP, Voter Service chair to High Schools Liaison. She brings a deep skill set developed over a career in management consulting and corporate marketing to benefit our organization. Hope studies martial arts and spends most Saturday mornings in the dojo. She is an avid wildlife gardener and is currently pursuing a degree in landscape architecture.

Director-at-Large
Anita Stapen
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