League of Women Voters Installs Board of Directors and Launches Plan to Prepare Voters for General Election in November

(Eastern Bergen County, New Jersey; August 15, 2021) — The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley (LWVNV) elected and installed its 2021-2022 board of directors and officers at its 75th annual meeting held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The LWVNV outlined its plans to provide voters with information they need to make informed decisions in the General Election in New Jersey on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

Board of Directors Installed

At the organization’s virtual Annual Meeting, the LWVNV welcomed its new board of directors.  The newly elected officers are Leonia residents Nike Prieston-Bach as President and Joyce Luhrs as First Vice President of Marketing.  Vicki Sidrow (Fort Lee) was elected Treasurer and also Financial Secretary.  Fran Morton (Montvale) was elected to a two-year term to the board of directors.

Officers Anne Lander (Harrington Park) continued as Secretary and Shannon Currie (Edgewater) as Second Vice President of Community Engagement and Advocacy.  Members continuing on the board of directors are: Lorraine Cohen (Englewood), Naomi Epstein (Demarest), Shirley Shapiro (Tenafly), and Lucy Heller (Park Ridge) as Past-President.

Sophie Heymann (Closter) continued as Chair of the Budget Committee.  Sally Tayeb (Dumont) was named Creative Director of the chapter’s website and newsletter.  Cathie Mick, a Fort Lee resident, headed up the Nominating Committee.

Empowering Voters

This year, the LWVNV empowered voters throughout the pandemic.  The League held voter registration drives, provided voter information to libraries in its service area, distributed non-partisan voter information about the state’s three ballot issues, met with Bergen County election officials to learn about county voting procedures and offered election assistance.

The LWVNV also moderated at Candidate Forums, a key service offered by the League for decades, allowing voters to hear from candidates and ask questions.  The pandemic required the organization to change traditional face-to-face opportunities with virtual forums using on-line meeting technology.  The LWVNV joined League members throughout the state to prepare for the Primary Election providing voter information with information about the election process.

A new project was implemented with the nomination and acceptance of Kelly Epstein, a Park Ridge High School history, to attend an all-expense paid workshop to learn about the use of the renowned Harvard Case Method in teaching high school civics.  As a part of the project, Epstein discussed the case study teaching method in a public meeting and presented and moderated a case study discussion to the community at Park Ridge High School on the topic, ‘A Nation Divided: The United States and the Challenge of Secession’.  She also taught four cases to high school students.

Voters Service Education

As the League of Women Voters heads into its 102nd year, the LWVNV renewed its commitment to Voters Service, a core activity of the League, to provide voters with non-partisan information in preparation of the General Election.  The LWVNV’s activities will include conducting voter registration drives, responding to citizens’ requests to schedule local Candidate Forums, and moderating Candidate Forums.  Information about candidates will be available on the League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan website, VOTE411.org, launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund in 2006.

The main focus of the first half of the year will be on Voters Service.  The LWVNV’s voters service division plans to provide voters with the correct information they need for the November General Election.  The organization will provide information about registering to vote, using mail-in-ballots, and learning about candidates on the League-created, non-partisan VOTE411.org and League-moderated virtual Candidates Forums.

Monthly Luncheon

Among the League of Women Voters of Northern Valley’s new activities is the introduction of a monthly luncheon open to the public.  The League invites people to enjoy delicious food and share their viewpoints on a range of topics, including voting, civic engagement, women’s issues, the environment, climate change, racial equity and more.  The first meeting will be held at Zendiggi Kebab House, located at 228 Closter Dock Road in Closter, on Saturday, August 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Participants order their own lunch and may BYOB.  Visit www.zendiggi.com to order ahead and receive a 10% discount, using the code: “LWVNV”.  Volunteers interested in helping organize this first event should contact lwvnvblog@gmail.com.

Membership

Membership in the League is open to both men and women, who are at least sixteen years of age and supportive of its mission.  The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley draws members from these 29 municipalities in Bergen County, New Jersey: Alpine, Bergenfield, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Edgewater, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Leonia, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, River Vale, Rockleigh, Tenafly, Washington Township, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake.

For further information about the LWVNV, membership or to get involved in voter service activities, contact lwvno.valley@gmail.com.  Learn more about the League on the organization’s website at bit.ly/LWVNVinformation.

About League of Women Voters of Northern Valley

The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley, a chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV), is a non-partisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.  The LWV was an outgrowth of the 19th Amendment passed in 1920 giving women the right to vote.  Today, the LWV operates at the state and local levels through more than 700 state and local Leagues in all 50 states and in Washington D.C., the Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.

The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley was founded in 1946 as the League of Women Voters of Closter.  By 1964, it included 11 municipalities in the Northern Valley and was renamed the League of Women Voters of Northern Valley.  Over the decades, the chapter expanded to encompass 29 municipalities.

The organization develops grassroots leadership and achieves widespread credibility because it is strictly nonpartisan.  Throughout the year, a range of voters services and programs are provided, including candidates’ forums, registration drives, dissemination of nonpartisan information about candidates and issues, and public meetings to discuss current issues.  For opportunities to get involved or join the organization, contact (201) 947-0756 or lwvno.valley@gmail.com.  Follow the LWVNV on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.