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History of the Tallmadge League of Women Voters
The Tallmadge League of Women Voters emerged out of a backdrop of
social and political turmoil that characterized the early 1970's. The
Pentagon Papers were published in 1971 and the voting age was lowered
to 18. George Wallace was shot at a political rally in 1972 and in that
same year 11 Israeli athletes were killed at the Munich Olympic Village by
an Arab terrorist group. The U.S. was immersed in the Vietnam War, which
ended on January 27, 1973 with the signing of the peace accords. The
1973 ruling of the Supreme Court in Roe v Wade made abortion legal in
the country. In 1974 the House Judiciary Committee adopted three
articles of impeachment against President Nixon and on August 8, 1974
he announced his resignation.
It was the era of many stay-at-home moms who had time to volunteer
and were looking for significant ways to become involved and impact the
social and political structure. For many, the League of Women Voters
(LWV), a non-partisan organization whose purpose is to encourage the
informed and active participation of all citizens in government and politics,
met this need. LWV is organized to function on the three levels of
government - national, state and local. Local membership includes the
state and national LWV. Through its Voter Service, the League provides
non-partisan factual information on government, political parties, voting
procedures, election issues and candidates. League positions are taken
on issues but never on candidates and are the result of membership
consensus based on study and discussion. Action is initiated after a
position is reached.
There were four local Leagues in Summit County in the early 70's - Akron,
Stow, Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson. Six Tallmadge women belonged to the
Stow League and became interested in forming a Tallmadge League as a
vehicle to study local governmental issues. In order to become recognized
as a League, a new group had to meet strict established standards
regarding membership, organization, fundraising and the completion and
publication of a study of the local community. This process took about two
years to complete during which provisional status was granted and
progress was monitored by a member of the state LWV Board of Directors.
The first organizational meeting of the new group took place on November
29, 1973. Those attending were Elinor Moles, Judy Turner, Nancy Burgess,
Karen Morgan, Ardis Smith, Shirley Smith, Esther Diamond, Marie Zonko,
Holly Keel, Julie Lythgoe, Dorothy Burnette, Jackie Tefft, Betty Bauer,
Suzanne Smith, Jeanne Blackwell, Jane Huth, Helen Lundy, Margaret
Watral, Connie Leonard, Nancy Treichler, Lora Perren, Lois Maio and Lois
La Dow from "The Tallmadge Circle ".
The first officers of the Provisional Tallmadge League were: President-
Nancy Treichler, 1st Vice President - Karen Morgan, 2nd Vice President -
Judy Turner, Secretary - Julie Lythgoe, Treasurer - Lois Maio. Board
Members were: Shirley Smith, Elinor Moles, Nancy Burgess and Beverly
McCreanor. Holly Keel was the first Voter Service Chair.
Annual dues in the Tallmadge Provisional League were $15.00 out of
which $7.50 went to the state LWV and $4.25 went to the national LWV
leaving $3.25 to be used locally. The annual budget included income and
expenditures of $1200.00. Additional money was raised in the community
through a Finance Drive, which was supported by members and the local
business community.
In May 1974 members included: Betty Bauer, Eileen Bluhm, Barbara Bray,
Nancy Burgess, Dorothy Burnette, Marion Chappelear, Leslie Christovich,
June Doverspike, Virginia Emigh, Suzanne Hetrick, Vera Heinen, Jane
Huth, Holly Keel, Sue Knapp, Connie Leonard, Joan Lewandowski, Helen
Lundy, Julie Lythgoe, Lois Maio, Elinor Moles, Karen Morgan, Beverly
McCreanor, Velma Neumeister, Tomi Olex, Mary O'Shanick, Lora Perren,
Barbara Pohelia, Jennifer Proudfoot, Fran Ripley, Cathy Schnurr, Marty
Smith, Shirley Smith, Suzanne Smith, Kay Suchan, Jackie Tefft, Nancy
Treichler, Judy Turner, Julie Whalen, and Marie Zonko
In May 1976, Ruth Clusen, President of the national LWV, officially
welcomed the Tallmadge League of Women Voters to their roster of fully
recognized local leagues saying " your recognition report was well
organized and gives us a clear picture of your achievements during your
provisional period. It is obvious that you have worked hard during the
past two years and that you have reached the goals which you have set
for yourselves." Joan Lawrence, President of the state LWV, was guest
speaker at the Annual Meeting and added her welcome.
The first local item for study adopted by the Tallmadge League in 1976
was a study of the planning and zoning in Tallmadge with particular
emphasis on a master plan for land use; structure and functions of the
planning and zoning commission; the revision and updating of zoning
ordinance #67; future housing needs and preservation of open-space -
green areas in the city. Since that time the Tallmadge League has
adopted local positions on public education, housing, land use and
planning, and charter government. Regional positions, in conjunction with
the other local leagues in the county, include land use, environment,
mass transit, county government and social policy.
Through the years the Tallmadge League of Women Voters has enjoyed
strong support from the local government, the schools and the business
community. Candidates Nights have been held regularly. Monthly
meetings include topics on the environment, government, education,
natural resources, juvenile justice etc. Membership is open to every
voting age citizen. Members receive a monthly local newsletter as well as
publications from the state and national LWV's.
Presidents of the Tallmadge League:
Nancy Treichler- 1974-76 Judy Turner - 1976-77
Jackie Tefft - 1977-78 Virginia Carter - 1978-79
Joyce Parker - 1979-80 Kay Hill-Jenny Millin - 1980-81
Suzanne Hetrich- 1981-85 Sally Keatts - 1985-87,
Catherine Bond - 1987-89 Sally Keatts - 1989-1991
Sandra Beckett - 1991-95 Susan Glaser - Jimelle Collins - 1995 - 1997
Leslie Zaynor - 1999-2001 Susan Schunk - 2001-03
Rose Strebler - 2003-05 Megan Raber 2006-2007
The Tallmadge League of Women Voters emerged out of a backdrop of
social and political turmoil that characterized the early 1970's. The
Pentagon Papers were published in 1971 and the voting age was lowered
to 18. George Wallace was shot at a political rally in 1972 and in that
same year 11 Israeli athletes were killed at the Munich Olympic Village by
an Arab terrorist group. The U.S. was immersed in the Vietnam War, which
ended on January 27, 1973 with the signing of the peace accords. The
1973 ruling of the Supreme Court in Roe v Wade made abortion legal in
the country. In 1974 the House Judiciary Committee adopted three
articles of impeachment against President Nixon and on August 8, 1974
he announced his resignation.
It was the era of many stay-at-home moms who had time to volunteer
and were looking for significant ways to become involved and impact the
social and political structure. For many, the League of Women Voters
(LWV), a non-partisan organization whose purpose is to encourage the
informed and active participation of all citizens in government and politics,
met this need. LWV is organized to function on the three levels of
government - national, state and local. Local membership includes the
state and national LWV. Through its Voter Service, the League provides
non-partisan factual information on government, political parties, voting
procedures, election issues and candidates. League positions are taken
on issues but never on candidates and are the result of membership
consensus based on study and discussion. Action is initiated after a
position is reached.
There were four local Leagues in Summit County in the early 70's - Akron,
Stow, Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson. Six Tallmadge women belonged to the
Stow League and became interested in forming a Tallmadge League as a
vehicle to study local governmental issues. In order to become recognized
as a League, a new group had to meet strict established standards
regarding membership, organization, fundraising and the completion and
publication of a study of the local community. This process took about two
years to complete during which provisional status was granted and
progress was monitored by a member of the state LWV Board of Directors.
The first organizational meeting of the new group took place on November
29, 1973. Those attending were Elinor Moles, Judy Turner, Nancy Burgess,
Karen Morgan, Ardis Smith, Shirley Smith, Esther Diamond, Marie Zonko,
Holly Keel, Julie Lythgoe, Dorothy Burnette, Jackie Tefft, Betty Bauer,
Suzanne Smith, Jeanne Blackwell, Jane Huth, Helen Lundy, Margaret
Watral, Connie Leonard, Nancy Treichler, Lora Perren, Lois Maio and Lois
La Dow from "The Tallmadge Circle ".
The first officers of the Provisional Tallmadge League were: President-
Nancy Treichler, 1st Vice President - Karen Morgan, 2nd Vice President -
Judy Turner, Secretary - Julie Lythgoe, Treasurer - Lois Maio. Board
Members were: Shirley Smith, Elinor Moles, Nancy Burgess and Beverly
McCreanor. Holly Keel was the first Voter Service Chair.
Annual dues in the Tallmadge Provisional League were $15.00 out of
which $7.50 went to the state LWV and $4.25 went to the national LWV
leaving $3.25 to be used locally. The annual budget included income and
expenditures of $1200.00. Additional money was raised in the community
through a Finance Drive, which was supported by members and the local
business community.
In May 1974 members included: Betty Bauer, Eileen Bluhm, Barbara Bray,
Nancy Burgess, Dorothy Burnette, Marion Chappelear, Leslie Christovich,
June Doverspike, Virginia Emigh, Suzanne Hetrick, Vera Heinen, Jane
Huth, Holly Keel, Sue Knapp, Connie Leonard, Joan Lewandowski, Helen
Lundy, Julie Lythgoe, Lois Maio, Elinor Moles, Karen Morgan, Beverly
McCreanor, Velma Neumeister, Tomi Olex, Mary O'Shanick, Lora Perren,
Barbara Pohelia, Jennifer Proudfoot, Fran Ripley, Cathy Schnurr, Marty
Smith, Shirley Smith, Suzanne Smith, Kay Suchan, Jackie Tefft, Nancy
Treichler, Judy Turner, Julie Whalen, and Marie Zonko
In May 1976, Ruth Clusen, President of the national LWV, officially
welcomed the Tallmadge League of Women Voters to their roster of fully
recognized local leagues saying " your recognition report was well
organized and gives us a clear picture of your achievements during your
provisional period. It is obvious that you have worked hard during the
past two years and that you have reached the goals which you have set
for yourselves." Joan Lawrence, President of the state LWV, was guest
speaker at the Annual Meeting and added her welcome.
The first local item for study adopted by the Tallmadge League in 1976
was a study of the planning and zoning in Tallmadge with particular
emphasis on a master plan for land use; structure and functions of the
planning and zoning commission; the revision and updating of zoning
ordinance #67; future housing needs and preservation of open-space -
green areas in the city. Since that time the Tallmadge League has
adopted local positions on public education, housing, land use and
planning, and charter government. Regional positions, in conjunction with
the other local leagues in the county, include land use, environment,
mass transit, county government and social policy.
Through the years the Tallmadge League of Women Voters has enjoyed
strong support from the local government, the schools and the business
community. Candidates Nights have been held regularly. Monthly
meetings include topics on the environment, government, education,
natural resources, juvenile justice etc. Membership is open to every
voting age citizen. Members receive a monthly local newsletter as well as
publications from the state and national LWV's.
Presidents of the Tallmadge League:
Nancy Treichler- 1974-76 Judy Turner - 1976-77
Jackie Tefft - 1977-78 Virginia Carter - 1978-79
Joyce Parker - 1979-80 Kay Hill-Jenny Millin - 1980-81
Suzanne Hetrich- 1981-85 Sally Keatts - 1985-87,
Catherine Bond - 1987-89 Sally Keatts - 1989-1991
Sandra Beckett - 1991-95 Susan Glaser - Jimelle Collins - 1995 - 1997
Leslie Zaynor - 1999-2001 Susan Schunk - 2001-03
Rose Strebler - 2003-05 Megan Raber 2006-2007
| This history of the League of Women Voters of Tallmadge was prepared by Nancy Treichler for the Tallmadge Bicentennial. |
| League of Women Voters of Tallmadge PO Box 435 Tallmadge, Ohio 44278 www.lwvtallmadge.org |