LWVUS Annual Convention

My First League of Women Voters National Convention Experience
By Cynthia Peterson, President

I attended the LWV-US Biennial Convention, in Washington, D.C., June 27-30, 2024. It was a terrific and valuable experience for me; also chaotic, perplexing, what-the-heck??, too much time spent down in the weeds, tiring experience, too. The convention was at the large and lovely Washington Hilton, right of Dupont Circle. So large that when I turned the wrong direction after getting off the elevator on the 5th floor, I was sure I was never going to be seen again.

I appreciated seeing how the process worked in the plenary sessions. I enjoyed making contacts with other Leaguers around the country. The Nebraska delegation included: Jennifer Racine (Omaha), Claudia Stevenson (State), Janelle Stevenson (State), Rachel Gibson (State), Candide Villard-Santiago (Omaha), Taylor Sterba (Omaha), Jan McKinsey (Omaha)… and me.

It was great to see a large number of men who were delegates and young people participating.

Most of the workshops I attended had some applicable value for me and/or LWVLL work we are doing or contemplating. I attended:

  • Immigration 2024: Discussion with Doris Meissner
  • Corporate and Organizational Partnerships: Expanding Your Reach
  • Engaging Young Voters, New Americans, and Formerly and Currently Incarcerated People
  • Just the Beginning: A Century of Political Power and the League of Women Voters
  • Abolishing the Electoral College
  • Fundraising Basics and Making the Ask to Support your League

LWV-US’ new CEO-elect Celine Stewart made a rousing speech.

The keynote speaker at the reception and dinner was Kimberly TeeHee, a striking full-blooded Cherokee woman and League member. I learned a couple of interesting factoids from her — in 1945 at Eleanor Roosevelt’s insistence, LWV was invited by President Harry Truman to serve as a consultant to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. Since that time, the League has continued its presence at the UN through its one official and two alternate observers.

Secondly when the Cherokee were forced from their native lands by the US government, the Cherokee were eventually offered a seat in the US House of Representatives. After all these years, the Cherokee delegate still remains unrecognized and unseated by the US Congress. Kimberly TeeHee is that delegate today. In the closing hour of convention, the instructions to the Board included working to get the Cherokee delegate seated in Congress.

It was announced that the Girl Scouts of America and the League have entered into a partnership to Get Out The Vote. I proposed a partnership with local Girl Scout troops to assist them in attaining their civics-related badges. We look forward to getting the partnership information for discussion.


Plenary session in the ballroom.

What I Learned Attending the LWV National Convention as a Virtual Delegate
By Jean McGuire, Vice President of Action

While this was the third national convention I have attended, it was the first time I attended virtually. It was a bit of a different experience, but it was still a very educational way of attending the convention including be able to vote on all actional items. And it was cost effective because I could do it from my home office.

I learned a lot from the workshops that were offered prior to the convention as well as during the convention. As always with national conventions, there were more workshops that I wanted to attend than time allowed.

The workshops I attended were:

  • State League Study Process: From Inception to Position
  • Local League Empty Chair policies: To hold or not to hold?
  • Addressing the Electoral College during a Presidential Election Year
  • Creating a Culture of Voting on Campus
  • Vote for Vermont Update to the US Privation Position
  • Ranked Choice Voting: Local Elections, Presidential Primaries & the League
  • How to get more Candidates to Respond for Vote411

I look forward to sharing the information I learned with the board and with the different committees that drive the work of our League. We will be sharing information on Ranked Choice Voting and the National Popular Vote at a planned September Meeting and the workshops I attended helped better prepare me to advocate for both topics.

The next National Convention is scheduled for 2026. I would encourage Leaguers, both new and seasoned, to consider attending the next convention either “live” or “virtually”. It a great way to learn more about the “big picture” of the League and to bring great ideas back to our League.

League members are encouraged to attend in person or virtually. It’s a great way to meet others and learn how to further our work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.

Your donation helps us to pay for expenses such as sending participants to the convention.