Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy
The League of Women Voters is a political organization that neither supports nor opposes candidates or parties and encourages informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area serves the people of Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Countryside, Indian Head Park, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, La Grange, La Grange Highlands, La Grange Park, Riverside, Western Springs and Westchester.
Attention LWV Members - Please Read this Information re Renewal
Most LaGrange LWV memberships expire on June 30th. You will soon receive a renewal reminder email from the new online membership portal that will look something like this:
Thank you for being a member of the League of Women Voters. Your membership will expire on [expiration date]. Continue your commitment to empowering voters and defending democracy by renewing your membership with the League. To do so, please click here:
Please make sure that you CHOOSE the LaGRANGE LWV as your local league when you renew (we’ve had some issues with this)! Don’t leave the League area blank!
You can avoid this issue by joining or renewing from the LaGrange league website here. Clicking on “Join or Renew Now!” at the bottom of the page will ensure that your membership is automatically tied to the LaGrange League.
We encourage everyone to use the new online portal if possible. The preferred payment option is a direct bank transfer (ACH transfer), which minimizes fees. You’ll need your financial institution's routing number and your account number. You also have the option to pay by credit or debit card.
For those who do not use the internet, there is a membership form here that you can print out and mail to LWV LaGrange, P.O. Box 542, LaGrange, IL 60525, with a check made out to LWVUS. But again, we hope most members will opt to renew online. For a look at the new portal, see a brief video here.
Tour the "New" Fullersburg Woods with Us on June 3rd
The League of Women Voters® of the La Grange Area is sponsoring a tour of the “New” Fullersburg Woods. On Tuesday evening, June 3, Conservation Foundation members Stephen McCracken and Deanna Doohaluk will lead us on a guided walk along Salt Creek in Fullersburg Woods. We’ll have a chance to observe and learn about the changes in creek flow, fish population, groundwater quality, and plant life since the dam removal. Co-sponsored by LWVLGA and Salt Creek Watershed Network.
The program will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Graue Mill (on west side of York Road north of Ogden Avenue). Parking is available in lot on east side of York Road. Advance registration is required at the following link, and will be limited to 40 people: https://tinyurl.com/LWVLGA-June3-25. This event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, email us at league [at] lagrangearealwv.org.
Download the flyer here.
BEDS Plus Celebrating "Sheroes" - Please Donate to the
League of Women Voters – LGA Team
We’d love for you to join the League of Women Voters LGA team, create your own, or donate to help us make an even bigger impact this year. Every dollar raised provides safe housing, and resources for survivors as they rebuild their lives. Go to this link: https://www.classy.org/team/650105 to donate to the League of Women Voters – LGA team or create your own personal team to raise funds! Please share!
A Fair Way To Assess And Manage Stormwater: Learn from Western Springs and our MWRD
On Ocober 8th the League of Women Voters® of the La Grange Area sponsored a program on stormwater management and assessment. Our suburban properties all generate stormwater runoff, some more than others. But how to share the cost fairly? Western Springs Deputy Village Manager Casey Biernacki helped us all understand how their village’s Stormwater Utility Fee was proposed, implemented, and received in their village. You can view details on the Western Springs Web site. How does the Fee equitably assess the cost of runoff, and then redirect the funds to improve the village stormwater management system? Public Affairs Specialist Patrick Thomas of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District then zeroed in on other local stormwater initiatives and on regional stormwater management. Lots of good material is posted at https://mwrd.org/what-we-do.
LWV of Illinois Releases Fact Checking Resources
In recent years double checking claims made by candidates, PACs, and other information providers has become more necessary than ever. A task force of the Illinois League of Women Voters has released a very useful summary of Web sites and other resources you can use to double check the information that you encounter. You can 
download the document here.
Learn About BEDS and Housing Insecurity in La Grange
On February 8th, the League of Women Voters® of the La Grange Area sponsored an informative program on the struggles of housing insecurity. Erin Molek of BEDS discussed the history of BEDS, the impact of BEDS in the community, and how to get involved. Many individuals and families are teetering on the edge, just one hardship or crisis away from experiencing the uncertainty of housing loss. Together, as a community, we can make a difference. Join us in building a safety net and support system to assist those facing homelessness and housing insecurity. You can listen to a recording of this program here.
In partnership with the Hinsdale Public Library, the LaGrange Area LWV will again sponsor the Great Decisions program starting in January of 2025. Great Decisions is a program of readings and videos created by the Foreign Policy Association that serve as the basis of monthly discussions of important topics in foreign policy. The sessions are open to the public, and are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the library, and over a Zoom connection. Materials are available at the Library. More information is %20rblackwell [at] punshui.com (available here).
