About the League

What is our mission? How are we structured? What is our history? Read our newsletter The VOTER for current League activities and information.

Our Mission.  Membership.  Officers And Board of Directors 2006-2007.  Our History.  Other Leagues.

Our Mission and Roles

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles.

• Voters Service/Citizen Education: We present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.

• Action/Advocacy: We are nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, we use funds from the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization. The League of Women Voters, a membership organization, conducts action and advocacy and is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation.

Our Vision, Beliefs, and Intentions guide our activities.

A Look At Our Membership

The San Luis Obispo County League has 225 members. Our membership consists of 74% women and 26% men.

We have members throughout San Luis Obispo County, including all of the incorporated cities and unincorporated areas. Roughly 31% live in the city of San Luis Obispo; 27% in South County; 19% in Los Osos; 11% in the North Coast area; and 11% in North County. Fewer than than 1% live outside the county.

Officers And Board of Directors 2006-2007

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

OFFICERS:

President: Ann Garfinkel

First Vice President/Programs: Emily Penfield

Second Vice President/Voter Service/League TV: Sara Horne

Treasurer: Maggie Higgins

Secretary: Lee Chivens

DIRECTORS:

Action & Health: Donna Sullivan

Communications: Galen Ricard

Development: Bob McDougle

Land Use & Planning: Arlene Powers

Member Services: Marlys McPherson

Observer Corps: Elinor Kogan

OFF BOARD COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

Budget: Glen Silloway

Children's Network Services: Alice Yamada

Hospitality: Lois Hughes

Nominations: Carrie Pardo

Smart Voter: Kendra Beck

LWVC Management Training Advisor: Beverly King

History of the League of Women Voters

Our county League was established in 1962. The League has a strong history of activism and citizen education. We pushed for unified school districts in the 1960's, led the fight to prevent the cementing over of San Luis Obispo creek in the 1970's; pushed for the construction of a juvenile hall; conducted workshops on off-shore drilling, land use and emergency planning; honored adult community activists through our Rhodes Honorees program (1998-2006); honored youth volunteers who contributed their time and efforts to make their communities a better place through the "SLO Action Heroes" program (2001-2007).

On an ongoing basis we publish "Know Your County: A Guide to San Luis Obispo County Government"; monitor elections for Cal Poly and common interest developments; and inform voters through "Pro/Con" forums and a SmartVoter.com website.

Since 1998, we have produced a television show, "SLO Democracy," which educates the public on services offered by government; how to access government; and how to be an active and informed citizen. The show airs at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday evenings on public access television cable channel 2 . In 2005 we launched an advocacy television show, "Public Issues," which airs on the same channel. "Public Issues" is produced once or twice a year on timely issues of interest to the public.

Other League Organizations

• League of Women Voters of California
• League of Women Voters of the United States.

See other Leagues in California and other state Leagues and local League websites.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: December 22, 2007 11:42 PST.

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