LOWV of Arlington Heights installs new board
The League of Women Voters of the Arlington Heights-Mount Prospect-Buffalo Grove Area including Wheeling, Prospect Heights and Elk Grove Village, founded in 1955, installed its 54th board of officers. New officers are: president Cathy Duoba, Elk Grove Village; vice president Judith O. Royal, Arlington Heights; secretary Laura Bartell; and treasurer Nancy Duel. The following are directors: Cathy Boykin, Barbara "Glennie"Browne, Tabitha Long, Dawn Walter and Connie Weissman.
Before campaign finance was a daily newspaper subject, the League held a public conversation about it in September 2008, with David Morris, assistant director of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Other subjects addressed by the League of Arlington Heights during its public program meetings were about housing opportunities, climate change and adaptation, health care reform and the adverse effect of economic crisis on local self-help centers and township services.
Before elections the League of Women Voters Arlington Heights holds free public candidate forums. Recent forums were held before the 2008 Primary, the Presidential Election in 2008, and the local election in April. These forums were broadcast live and rebroadcast on cable TV to help voters become familiar with the candidates and their views on issues. The League, a nonpartisan political organization, neither supports nor endorses any political party or candidate. It encourages informed and active participation in government.
In October the League brought the Illinois Student Vote Project to four out of the six high schools in District 214. Using actual voting machines transported from the Cook County Clerk's Office, the League produced a realistic voting experience for several thousand high school students. During Women's History Month of March the League with the Village of Mount Prospect held a reception and award program for retiring State Representative Carolyn Krause for her tireless service as representative of the 66th District and as Mayor of Mount Prospect. The three villages in the 66th District, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, and Elk Grove Village, issued proclamations. The mayors of Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect presented theirs during the program.
LWVAH joined the Arlington Heights Cool Cities Coalition which is working with Mayor Arlene Mulder and the Village of Arlington Heights. Its goal is to reduce global warming pollution through local government action and to build community support for a mayor's commitment to the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. (Neighboring communities including Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows, and Palatine have already signed on to the USMCPA.)
President Duoba and vice president Royal attended the 54th LWV Illinois Convention from June 12-14 in East Peoria. The attendees discussed issues and reviewed League policies for future action. They attend workshops on such issues as the 2010 Census and redistricting; campaign finance, ethics and tax reforms; effective coalitions; and action on issues.
The League of Women Voters works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Any citizen over 18 years of age, regardless of gender or race, may join the League. Visit lwvah.org.
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