League of Women Voters® of Manitowoc County History of the Manitowoc County League

HOME ABOUT LWV Vision, Beliefs, and Intentions Voter Education Action and Advocacy Manitowoc League

The League of Women Voters of the United States, a non-partisan political organization, was founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt who had worked vigorously for passage of the 19th amendment to the constitution enfranchising women. The League founders were concerned that this new population of women voters take this privilege and responsibility seriously. Thier hope was that women be informed of public issues and that they themselves run for public office. The founders envisioned that League members would actively study all sides of issues and ultimately lobby for legislation they deemed to be in the public interest.

In the 84 years since its founding, the LWV has worked for labor's right to organize, child welfare legislation, and US entry into the League of Nations and later into the United Nations. One of its most prominent members was Eleanor Roosevelt. The League has supported clean air and clean water legislation, taxation based on ability to pay, community corrections, prison and jail reforms, health care reform, campaign finance reform, direct election of the president, and many other legislative reforms.

The Manitowoc League was founded in the 1940's to address local issues and to provide non-partisan voter information. A League in Two Rivers was also organized. Later, the Two River's League was disbanded and eventually the LWV of Manitowoc County was formed encompassing a larger political/geographic unit. This enabled League to study and act on issues facing all of Manitowoc County.

A few of the issues League has studied and acted on locally include jail staffing and programming, juvenile detention facilities, municipal court (begun as a direct result of League action), school lunch for Manitowoc Public School students, mental health services in Manitowoc County, adequate services and funding for the Human Services Dept. Other issues included prevention of school truancy in Manitowoc County schools (a publication and position paper were developed in 2004), programs for students at risk, and dental access for low income children.

Candidates' forums are held on a regular basis to provide non-partisan, unbiased election information to the voters. League frequently works with other groups in voter registration drives.

Most meetings are open to the public. Meetings provide information on a variety of local, state and national issues.

Membership is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. The League hope is to attract people from a diverse economic, social and political spectrum. For membership information contact Darlene Wellner at 920-682-9466 or email info info@lwvmanitowoc.org.

See also League History from the League of Women Voters of the US.