About the League of Women Voters of DeKalb County

• Mission
• Principles
• Activities
• People
• National History

Mission

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization which encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Each member of the League of Women Voters of DeKalb County is also a member of the League of Women Voters of Georgia and the League of Women Voters of the U.S.

The general objectives of the DeKalb County League are:

• To establish positions on public policy through member participation and agreement
• To take concerted actions that secure public policies consistent with League positions
• To enhance citizen participation in local, state and federal government decisions
• To increase citizen participation in the election process

Principles

The non-partisan policies of the DeKalb County League are as follows:

1. The board has the responsibility for maintaining the nonpartisanship of the organization.
2. A board member shall resign to run for or hold elective office. The following board members shall resign to take an active and visible role in a campaign for a political candidate: President, Voter Service Chair.
3. If a board member plans to engage in active and visible political activity, that member must seek a decision by the Board as to whether the activity would affect the community's perception of the League's nonpartisanship.
4. The political activities of a spouse, household, or relative of a board member should be considered as separate and distinct from the activities of the board member.
5. When a board member resigns to work actively for a candidate or to run for office, it should be so noted in the newsletter.
6. Members in leadership roles of league unit and other public meetings have the responsibility to ensure the non-partisanship of the meeting and its environment.
7. When acting in public as League representatives, members should be sensitive to their responsibilities and must not allow partisanship to be discernible.

Activities

The League takes action at all levels of government. The League’s efforts to shape public policy encompass a variety of strategies including lobbying for or against legislation and the use of monitoring techniques and litigation to ensure full implementation of laws.

The DeKalb League arrives at its position through research, study and a process of member agreement. League action is based on the general consensus of members who have weighed the facts on both sides of the issue. This thorough way of forging positions gives the League its unique influence and credibility with government policy makers.

Overall League programs are adopted at the May Annual Meeting. State and national programs are adopted at biennial conventions, and are based on thoughtful discussions and general agreement by the local Leagues.

National History

"...I begin with a quote from a letter written by Abigail Adams to her husband, John Adams, in 1776.  She wrote:  “ I long to hear that you have declared an independency – and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.  Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.  Remember all men would be tyrants if they could…”  John Adams wrote to Abigail: “As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh.  We have been told that our struggle has loosened the bands of government everywhere -- that children and apprentices were disobedient that schools and colleges were grown turbulent that Indians slighted their guardians and  slaves grew insolent to their masters.  But your letter was the first intimation that another tribe more numerous and powerful than all the rest were (had) grown discontented.”  John Adams laughed.  Abigail didn’t laugh." Writes LWV DeKalb member Lenecia Bruce. To read her essay <go here>.

People

The following individuals serve on the DeKalb County League's Board of Directors: 

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