Lori Osborne, archivist from the Evanston History Center, will speak at the new-member reception on Thursday, February 2, 2012. 

Evanston women played a pivotal role in obtaining the vote for Illinois women in 1913. Illinois was the first state east of the Mississippi to give women the vote and this expansion of women's rights in Illinois set the stage for national women's suffrage. Though this may seem surprising for Illinois to play this role, it actually makes historical sense. From the years just following the Civil War until the final passage of the 19th amendment in 1919, Illinois women were often at the forefront of developing the arguments and strategies that propelled the suffrage movement forward and eventually led to its success. And, many of these Illinois women called Evanston home and, naturally, later went on to found the Evanston League of Women Voters. Osborne will relate the story of how Illinois women got the vote and the Evanston women who were most involved in making it happen. Highlighting the 1913 passage, in advance of the 100th anniversary coming next year, Osborne will show how this history remains relevant today. Click here for more information.

To learn more about the League of Women Voters and the types of activities we are involved in, please see this extremely useful reference guide for new members.

Elected officers for 2011 - 2012 are:

President	Susan Black
Vice President, Local Programs	Elizabeth Kinney
Vice President, Membership	Catherine Whitcomb
Vice President, Communication	Melissa Leasia
Treasurer	Elizabeth Hayford
Secretary	Eleanora DiLisicia

The League has an active presence in the Evanston community. Our organization serves the needs of the community through programs such as:

• Public meetings on current governmental issues
• Sponsorship of candidate debates
• Observing and reporting on Evanston governmental boards and commissions
• Voter registration
• Action on selected topics which the League has studied

The League serves the interests of our members, too, with networking opportunities through our monthly luncheons, a chance to be up close and personal with state and local legislators at our annual summer luncheon, getting the buzz on issues through the Intercom newsletter.

Read our organization's bylaws.

Be informed about our organization through this site. Contact us with your comments and opinions, and take action to be an informed voter.