For those who missed it, here is a recap of what happened at the LWVDE State Convention on May 10...

Convention started at 8:30 am with registration (picking up our preprinted nametags), continental breakfast, and conversation. Attendees greeted friends old and new. Breakfast featured coffee, juice, bagels and pastries from Panera.

BUSINESS MEETING

The business portion of the meeting started at 9am and included a financial review for the organization by Treasurer Pat Newcomb, a review of the newly adopted LWVDE Strategic Plan by President Tiffany Lydon, recommendations for continuing studies and other updates to the LWVDE Action Program for 2025-2027 (presented by the various Advocacy Chairs of those subject areas), and presentation of the proposed Board of Directors and slate of officers presented by Nominating Committee Chair Letty Diswood. As per the LWVDE Bylaws, the assembled members voted several times, to approve the proposed budgets for the next two years, the strategic plan, and the action program as presented, and the new Board and Officers as proposed. There were no changes to the actual Bylaws this year.

LWVDE President Tiffany Lydon, presiding at LWV Delaware state Convention

 The Strategic Plan includes objectives under the following eight broad goal areas: (1) Improve Communications and Marketing, (2) Expand and Prioritize Membership Recruitment and Satisfaction, (3) Expand Election Support and Voter Education, (4) Strengthen Relationships with Partner/Ally Organizations, (5) Improve Financial Stability and Capacity, (6) Sustainable Leadership Recruitment and Training, (7) Explore Possible Retention of Part-Time Executive Director, (8) Evaluate Kent County League Status. The Strategic Members in attendance pointed out that while the goal areas are well-defined, the strategic plan needs to be fleshed out with an Action Plan, including measurable metrics and milestones. The plan was adopted by the membership with an addendum stating that it can be modified in future to provide more details of this nature.

The new Board of Directors includes President Tiffany Geyer Lydon, 1st Vice President: Marj Johson, 2nd Vice President Linda Barnett, Secretary Ceil Tilney, Treasurer Pat Newcomb, and Directors Tabitha Bendel, Kathi Donegan, Fern Goodhart, Jill Itzkowitz, Gwendolyn Miller, and Marlene Saunders. Tabitha, Kathi, Fern are new to the Board, and Gwendolyn is returning after a hiatus... Welcome, and welcome back! Additional board directors can be added by appointment, so if you are interested in sitting on the LWVDE Board, please contact Tiffany or the League office.

Nominating committee members include Patti Christopher and Phyllis Edamatsu. The position of Nominating Committee Chair remains unfilled at this time. Please let Tiffany or Letty know if you'd like to take this on.

The business portion of the meeting also included a review of current top-priority advocacy bills or issues in each portfolio area: Climate Change (Peggy Schultz), Criminal Justice (Chris Asay), Education (Linda Barnett for Susan Mitchell), Elections & Voting (Jill Itzkowitz), Government and Redistricting (Jack Young), Health Care (Judy Butler), Housing (Vicki Sessoms), Land Use & Transportation (Peggy Schultz), Money in Politics (Chris Asay), Natural Resources (Linda Barnett for Mary Douglas), and Social Policy (Linda Barnett). 

There were also door prizes... Tickets were drawn at various intervals to award door prizes and keep things lively :)

Presidents' Reports

Tiffany Lydon gave an overview of LWVDE activities for the past year. Notable achievements include development of a strategic plan outline and consolidation of the four Delaware League websites under one umbrella. This year also saw the rollout of the new centralized membership model by LWVUS, and LWVUS's mobilization in response the current threats to our Democracy.

Tiffany also read a report from LWV of Kent County, DE President Chandra Owens who could not be present, reviewing Kent League's activities over the past year.

LWV of Sussex County, DE President Barbara Hedges-Goettl framed her report around the "Four E's" that Sussex League tries to facilitate: Engage, Educate, Empower, and Energize. Sussex League hit a new milestone of 150 members this year, with an impressive half of their members volunteering in one way or another over the past year.

LWV of New Castle County President Dick Johnson reported on the NCC League's activities, including fundraising efforts, voter services, and scholarships. In addition to the Joann Hasse nursing scholarship administered by UD, LWVNCC will award four general scholarhips of $1000 to high school seniors or current college students at the end of this month based in essay answers to civic engagement questions.

Directives from Delegates to New Board

This section of the meeting was quite lively, with more individual suggestions than can be listed here, but many of them revolved around better communication & engagement (highlighting successful strategies employed by other community organizations) and around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Tabitha Bendel summed up the community engagement discussion by saying that it boils down to teaching people how to get involved. On the DEI front, Gwendolyn Miller suggested that we as an organization should endeavor to move from simple DEI Awareness to DEI Accountability and Action. 

Lunch

Lunch was a delicious taco bar. Thanks so much to Kathleen Baker and Jill Itzkowitz for helping to serve! We also corralled the whole group for a posed photo after lunch.

Group shot of League Members attending LWVDE Convention 2025

Keynote Speakers

Our three convention speakers expanded on different aspects on the Convention theme: New Generation, New Voices: Shaping the Future of the League. All three fielded questions from a very engaged audience after their presentations.

Shown L to R: Vienna Cavazos, Dr. Tabitha Bendel, Jada Hunter

Jada Hunter

Ms Hunter, who is our Delaware liaison to LWVUS, is a law student in Florida and works with the Young Voter Power cohort at LWVUS. Jada gave a rousing call detailing why we all need to be involved now, and talked about what it is like being the youngest person ever to be on the Board of Directors at LWV of the United States. (Brought up as a well-mannered southern girl, she had to learn to stop calling the other Directors "Ma'am," for one thing.)

Dr. Tabitha Bendel

Dr. Bendel talked about her journey as a new activist organizing a protest march in Delaware. Tabitha's presentation highlighted connecting to the community by providing "Third Spaces" where people can meet and socialize, and talk about their current experience. A third space is something beyond home and work where people can find community. Traditionally third spaces have been either churches or bars... but community organizations like LWV have an opportunity to provide third spaces (in-person social meetings) around shared interests and attract new membership and/or volunteers that way.

Vienna Cavazos

Bulletproof Pride and GenVote activist Vienna shared childhood experiences in a hispanic family with both mother and grandmother being dedicated polling place workers for every election. Our youngest speaker at 19 years old, and a popular speaker at events across the state, Vienna spoke of intersectional coalitions being key to raising voting awareness and participation in Delaware.

Adjournment

Convention was adjourned shortly after 2 pm.