About the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham




Our Mission and Roles


The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation 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 always 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 Alabama Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization. The League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham, a membership organization, conducts action and advocacy and is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation.

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Our 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 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 government 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 governmental 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

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.

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Principles of the League of Women Voters


The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in
the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States.

The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends
upon the informed and active participation of its citizens and requires that
governmental bodies protect the citizen's right to know by giving adequate
notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records
accessible.

The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be
responsive to the will of the people, that government should maintain an
equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and
development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution
of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, promote a
sound economy and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of
international problems.

The League of Women Voters believes that cooperation with other nations is
essential in the search for solutions to world problems, and that the
development of international organization and international law is imperative
in the promotion of world peace.

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Founding and Early History of the League of Women Voters


From the League of Women Voters of the United States:

The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The convention was held just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle.

The League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters. It encouraged them to use their new power to participate in shaping public policy. From the beginning, the League has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy. It was then, and is now, a nonpartisan organization. League founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance would protect the fledgling organization from becoming mired in the party politics of the day. However, League members were encouraged to be political themselves, by educating citizens about, and lobbying for, government and social reform legislation.

This holds true today. The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. The League has a long, rich history,that continues with each passing year.

Read more about the history of the League of Women Voters over the decades and its journey to the vibrant, modern organization that it is today.


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Leadership of the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham


Contact the LWVGB, including members of the Board of Directors:
(Members may access direct board contact information here. If difficulty accessing, contact Jean Johnson at jjohnson@lwvgb.org or 205 222-2097.)

League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham
P.O. Box 530522
Mountain Brook, AL 35253
Phone: (205) 583-5000
E-mail: Contact Form

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024–2025

Members, for full board contact information click here.
Non-members, send a message to a board member here or call 205 583-5000.

OFFICERS:

President (2024-2025)
Scottie McClaney

Vice President (2024-2025)
Judy Jones

Secretary (2024-2025)
Stephanie Schmidt

Treasurer (2024-2026)
LaTanya Dunham


DIRECTORS:


Stephanie Butler (2023-2025)

Dana Ellis (2024-2026)

Vivian Crump (2023-2025)

Ida Tyree-Hyche Hill (2024-2026)

Cheryl Ransom (2023-2025)


[Other Directors may be appointed by the Board.]


Committees will reflect LWVGB's priority projects and issues. They will be determined by the board at the Orientation and Planning meeting this Summer.


NOMINATING COMMITTEE
2024-2025

Julie Reese, Chair
Cheryl Ransom, Member

(Another member to be named by and from the Board.)


OTHER

Recent Past Presidents

Julie Reese (2023-2024)

Cindy Lowry (2022-2023)

Dana Ellis (2021-2022)

Leonette Slay (2020-2021)

Ida Tyree-Hyche Hill (2019-2020)

Leonette Slay (2018-2019)

Starr Culpepper (2017-2018)

Jean Johnson (2016-2017)

Ida Tyree-Hyche (2015-2016)

Yvonne Brakefield (2014-2015)

Trisha Powell Crain (2013-2014)

Cyrondys Jackson (2012-2013)

Ida Tyree-Hyche (2011-2012)

Leonette Slay (2011)

Sarah McDonald (2009-2011)

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Membership in the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham


Membership in the League of Women Voters is open to anyone age 18 or older. We encourage diversity. Despite our name, both men and women are welcomed as members in the League. (Men have been members since 1973 and hold leadership roles.)

The League of Women Voters is a three-tiered organization. Your membership in the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham also includes membership in the League of Women Voters of Alabama and the League of Women Voters of the United States.

Learn about membership in the League of Women Voters and join us! If you believe in our principles, we encourage you to join the conversation and help us make our democracy work better for everyone!

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