League of Women Voters on marking 90th year

Ninety years ago, Carrie Chapman Catt first proposed a League of Women Voters to “finish the fight” and work to end all discrimination against women. And so the League of Women Voters was founded on Valentine's Day in 1920, six months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

Today we are a grass-roots organization with 850 Leagues throughout all 50 states. Although the League is known widely for our voter education efforts, it has been an institution in Johnson County for 90 years and Linn County for 63 years, working on regional governance and hosting candidate and legislative forums.

The League is strictly nonpartisan, but we have always been political, advocating to effect change at the national and local level.

As we enter into a new year, we know that the League will be there doing what it has been trusted to do for more than 90 years: discuss the important issues, ask the difficult questions and demand accountability from our local government. Our members join the League because they know that whatever happens to our democracy over the next 90 years, it should be up to us, the people.

The League of Women Voters is the organization where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to civic improvement, and this year, on our 90th Anniversary, we hope you will stand with us in this work. If we don't do it, who will?

Jean McMenimen

President, League

of Women Voters

Cedar Rapids/

Marion

Polly Horton

President, League of Women Voters Johnson County