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League of Women Voters of Sarasota County
email@lwvsrq.org
PO Box 18884
Sarasota, FL USA 34276-1884
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We are the Sarasota County (SRQ) chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV), a nonpartisan political organization.

LWV operates on three tiers to effectively engage with voters and government at all levels.

National —State —Local


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LWVUS-LWVEF Mission Statement and Core Values


The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, 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.


Vision, Beliefs, and Intentions

The goal of the League of Women Voters is to empower citizens to shape better communities worldwide.


The League of Women Voters of the United States is a nonpartisan political membership organization, which:

  • acts after study and member agreement to achieve solutions in the public interest on key community issues at all levels.
  • builds citizen participation in the democratic process.
  • engages communities in promoting positive solutions to public policy issues through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters Education Fund is a nonpartisan public policy educational organization, which:
  • builds citizen participation in the democratic process.
  • studies key community issues at all government levels in an unbiased manner.
  • enables people to seek positive solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict management.

We believe in:
  • respect for individuals.
  • the value of diversity.
  • the empowerment of the grassroots, both within the League and in communities.
  • the power to collective decision making for the common good.

We will:
  • act with trust, integrity and professionalism.
  • operate in an open and effective manner to meet the needs of those we serve, both members and the public.
  • take the initiative in seeking diversity in membership.
  • acknowledge our heritage as we seek our path to the future.

Core Values:
  • We are a nonpartisan political membership organization.
  • We believe that grassroots initiatives and consensus building are the strengths of our organization.
  • We believe that our organization models the principles of good governance.
  • We consider well before taking action and prepare well before beginning to act.
  • We believe that citizenship requires knowledge, as well as the ability and will to act.
  • We believe that the responsibility of good government rests on the shoulders of its citizens.
  • We believe that the rights of citizens at home and abroad are interdependent.

Nonpartisan Policy


The League may take action on governmental measures and policies in the public interest. However, it shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. Recognizing that the League experience uniquely equips members for public life and wishing to encourage members to utilize their knowledge and abilities, non-board members are urged to participate fully in partisan activities (on an individual basis). Board members’ activities must be limited to preserve the League’s nonpartisan position.

  • If a Board member declares for a partisan elective office, the member shall resign from the Board.
  • Public notices released by the League announcing the resignation of a Board member to run for political office should be carefully worded to avoid the appearance of endorsing the resigning Board member’s candidacy.
  • The President and Voter Service Director shall not participate in any political campaign in any way. Other Board members shall not chair or administer fundraising of political campaigns or chair campaign events, for a candidate.
  • A Board member may serve on any public, nonpartisan Board, Commission, Committee or Coalition; however, that Board member does not represent the League unless officially designated as a League representative by the League Board.
  • The political activities of a spouse or relative of a Board member are to be considered as separate and distinct from the activities of the Board member.
  • A Board member, who has resigned from the Board to run for office or take a major role in a political campaign, shall not return to the Board until at least a month has passed after the political activity has ceased.
  • A Board member may not actively campaign, petition for or support a campaign or political issue that is in direct opposition to a position of the LWVUS, the LWVFL or the LWVSRQ. A Board member may, however, support a political issue on which the LWV has no position. This includes petitioning, placing signage on property or public speaking on the issue as long as it is clear that she/he is not acting on behalf of the LWV.
  • The Board shall decide on specific issues as they arise.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role func-tion, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.

Board of Directors

Officers

Shawn Bartelt - President 2023-2025 (ends 4/25)
Vilia Johnson - 1st Vice President 2023-2024 (ends 4/24)
Rhonda Peters - 2nd Vice President 2023-2024 (ends 4/24)
Marilyn Lucht - Treasurer 2023-2024  (ends (4/24)
Brenda Griffiths - Secretary 2023-2025 (ends 4/25)

Directors

Deb Blackwell - Board Member 2022-2023 (ends 4/24)
Joyce Fitzpatrick  - Board Member 2022-2023 (ends 4/24)
Tracy Geannopulos  - Board Member 2023-2025 (ends 4/25)
Elena Vizvary - Board Member 2023-2025  (ends 4/25)

Committee Chairperson email

 

Events Committee:  Elena Vizvary = Events@lwvsrq.org

Finance Committee: Marilyn Lucht, Bonnie Granatir = Treasurer@lwvsrq.org

Membership Committee:  Rhonda Peters = Membership@lwvsrq.org

Newsletter: vacant = Media@lwvsrq.org

Speakers Bureau Chair: tbd= SpeakersBureau@lwvsrq.org

Voter Forum Chair:  tbd = VoterRegistration@lwvsrq.org

Voter Guide Chair: tbd= VoterGuide@lwvsrq.org

Action Team Leaders email

Education Action Team Leader:  Jill Lewis-Spector = Education@lwvsrq.org

Election Reform Action Team Leader:  vacant = ElectionReform@lwvsrq.org

Gun Safety Action Team Leader:  vacant 

Health Care Action Team Leader:  Ruth Brandwein = Healthcare@lwvsrq.org
     Reproductive Health & Justice is a cohesive part of Health Care.

Natural Resources Action Team:  vacant

Voter Registration Action Team: Kathy McEachran = VoterRegistration@lwvsrq.org