The League of Women Voters is ringing in National Women’s History Month this March by celebrating their 97th year.
Over the years, the non-partisan group worked hard to amass many remarkable achievements that are not limited to elections and women’s suffrage.
In the 1930s, the League worked for the enactment of the Social Security and the Food & Drug Acts.
The League lead the effort to establish the United Nations in the 1940s, and continued to have observer status.
During the sixties, the League was very involved in civil rights, working for equality of opportunity and helped build a solid foundation of support for equal rights to education, employment and housing.
The group also focused on agricultural issues, nuclear safety the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
Today, the group educates and mobilizes voters and works with other women around the world regarding global democracy programs.
The group celebrated their 97th year last month.
“I’m in awe of what they accomplish,” said LWV member Janis Dorgan of the Village of Briar Meadow. Dorgan explained that after having a family and working full time like many other women, she decided to join the league when she moved to The Villages.
“One of my grandmothers didn’t have the right to vote till her twenties… it’s quite impressive to see how far we’ve come,” she continued.
Dorgan also appreciates how non-partisan LWV is and how focused the group is to educate women all year round.
“It’s a gift and a privilege,” Dorgan said about being part of LWV.
The LWV meets on the last Monday of each month.