06/22/2006: "Report On League of Women Voters Convention"

League of Women Voters (LWVUS) Press Release: Friday Harbor was well represented at the 47th biennial National Convention of the League of Women Voters last week in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by the presence of local league members, Janna Gingras and Liz Illg.

The gathering of more than seven hundred delegates from 49 states voted to immediately call for the abolition of the death penalty nation wide and to call on Congress to maintain internet neutrality. They set the LWVUS program agenda for the next two years, voting to elevate to the highest priority the Democracy Agenda of the LWVUS with emphasis on advocacy and education about the vital importance of the American system of checks and balances and separation of powers. They also voted to study immigration policy with the purpose of arriving at a national consensus position.

The four-day gathering gave League members the opportunity to celebrate the organization's accomplishments on civil liberties, election reform, judicial independence and global democracy and to discuss important public policy issues. At the conclusion of the gathering, Mary G. Wilson of Albuquerque, New Mexico was elected to serve a two-year term as the national organization's 17th president.

In her acceptance speech, Wilson thanked members for entrusting her with the leadership of this 86 year old organization. "I am excited and delighted to lead the League of Women Voters of the United States to new heights," Wilson said. "The League and its 130,000 grassroots members and supporters will re-double our efforts to end the crisis which has developed in our American democracy," vowed Wilson. She urged convention delegates to build on their strength as leaders promoting citizen participation in public affairs.

Additional highlights of the convention included the panel discussion "Understanding the System to Defend the Courts" that emphasized the importance of an independent and strong third branch of government; remarks by Dr. Thomas Mann of The Brookings Institution; and a banquet address by humorist Garrison Keillor. Illg and Gingras, now at home, are enthusiastic about their experience at the convention, and are looking forward to the next LWV National Convention which will be in 2008 in Portland, Oregon.