In the 1990s, Leelanau County resident Kathy Turner organized the Leelanau County Issues Discussion Group (CIDG) that addressed local topics at monthly meetings. Members worked toward the approval of a countywide millage to support farmland preservation. Following the defeat of the countywide millage and the County Commission’s vote not to renew its support for this program, membership dwindled. In 2008 CIDG members voted to become the Leelanau County Unit of the League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area. Fifteen women joined, with Kathy Turner as President.
By 2010, thirty-five people had joined the group. Vina Mikesell became President. Energized by the increase in attendance at its monthly meetings and growing membership, the unit undertook two studies: Energy, chaired by Ann McInnis, and Agricultural Migrant Worker Visas, chaired by Suzanne Hoff.
In April 2012, after membership had grown to 45, President Mikesell opened the discussion of whether it was time to consider becoming an independent League. A vote was taken approving independence. By the spring of 2013 the Leelanau Unit grew to 60 members. On June 17, 2013 LWV United States granted Leelanau County independence noting that the Leelanau Unit "has shown its dedication to protecting and strengthening our democracy". The League of Women Voters Leelanau County became the 391st League in America. The first Board of ten was President Mikesell; Vice-President Suzanne Hoff; Secretary Sharon Golm; Treasurer and Webmaster JoEllen Walker; Board Members: BJ Christensen, Marian Kromkowski, Ann McInnis, Barbara Reinert, Martha Shaver and Mary Tonneberger.
In the fall of 2013, the group received a grant from LWVUS Ed Fund to register high school students for the 2014 election. In the 2014 election year the LWVLC helped register 122 new voters. This has become an annual event. LWV Leelanau teams accompany County Clerk staff to the county high schools, in addition to staffing tables at various county events. The League also participates in National Voter Registration Day each year by registering voters on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.
At the Annual Meeting in May of 2015, Marian Kromkowski was elected President for a one- year term because Vina Mikesell decided to step down as President before the end of her full term. Marian was reelected in 2016 for a two-year term and continued in office until she ran for Leelanau County Probate Court Judge in 2018. Vice-President, Christi Bardenhagen, assumed the Presidency for the remainder of Marian’s 2016-2018 term.
At the 2015 LWV Michigan state convention, outgoing LWVLC President Vina Mikesell received the Helen Milliken Achievement Award. The citation read:
In 2013, under her watch and thanks to her commitment and guidance, the Leelanau County League became the 391st League in the US. Vina Mikesell’s steadfast leadership has led a starting group of 15 members in 2008 to a 2015 League with a robust board, growing membership (over 110!), multiple study committees and programs and events that the citizens of Leelanau have responded to with enthusiasm. Vina is a powerful membership recruiter and has demonstrated boundless energy and strong organizational skills that have developed this small unit to a recognized force for change in her community.
The LWVLC was also recognized by the LWVUS for its steady increase in membership. The highlight of the 2015 state convention was the adoption of the Leelanau League position on Seasonal/Migrant Workers for the entire state.
Along with standing committees, the LWVLC has four very active program committees: Farm Labor and Immigration Task Force, Early Childhood Needs and Services, Energy and Natural Resources, and the LWVLC’s newest committee, Equal Rights Advocacy (ERA). Interest in the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was spurred by the October 5, 2017 showing of “Equal Means Equal,’ a film sponsored by the League and other organizations. The committee was formed to explore the potential for a state ERA and renewed efforts for a federal ERA.
The LWVLC hosts well attended monthly meetings. For example, the LWVLC hosted LWVMI President Judy Karandjeff at three local forums on redistricting. Other outreach/educational efforts have included a LWVLC column in the Traverse City Record Eagle and regular Reader’s Forum pieces published in both the Record Eagle and Leelanau Enterprise.
In the spring of 2016, a committee was formed to create a resolution to support efforts to shut down Pipeline 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. The resolution was presented to Leelanau County townships and villages by League members. All of the villages and six of the townships voted to forward the resolution to state officials. In the fall, six candidate forums were held for state, county and township offices.
Our League also sends delegates to the LWVUS National Conventions. In June of 2014, Marian Kromkowski attended in Dallas, TX. In June 2016, Nancy Duck and Vina Mikesell attended the National Convention in Washington D.C. Six members of LWVLC attended the LWVUS National Convention in Chicago, June 29-July 1, 2018. LWVLC delegates were Tricia Denton, Joan Hunault, Jan Frazee and Beth Chiles. Marian Kromkowski attended as a part of the LWVMI Board delegation. Patricia Seiler was appointed by the LWVMI to serve as a voting delegate on behalf of the Copper Country League.
Ann McInnis and Jane Packard represented our League at the LWV Lake Michigan Region Conference held in October 2016 in Portage, IN. Jane Packard attended the LWVLMR Conference in 2018. Jane became a member of the Board of LWVLMR and has continued to attend annual conferences for the organization. Tricia Denton has attended the conference and has been a LWVLMR board member since 2019. Natalie Wilson attended the LWVLMR conference as a delegate in 2022.
Nine Delegates from LWVLC attended the LWVMI Convention in Livonia, Michigan in May, 2019: Tricia Denton, Christi Bardenhagen, Jan Frazee, Beth Chiles, Sue Miller, Chris Palmer, Jacquie Johnson, Anne Rogers and Nancy Duck. Joan Hunault and Marian Kromkowski attended as members of the LWVMI Board of Directors. Several members received “Belle Ringer” awards, named for LWVMI’s first President, Belle Brotherton. Also at the 2019 state convention, Joan Hunault and Marian Kromkowski were thanked for their service to the LWVMI Board.
On January 31, 2018 LWVLC had 169 members. During the 2018-2019 League year, the League held well attended monthly forums and special programs and was a regular presence in local media. Six members attended the 2018 LWVUS Convention in Chicago. Spearheaded by Janis Frazee, the LWVLC held a caucus to support passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. A unanimous vote of the more than 1,000 delegates adopted its resolution as part of the official LWVUS Program. LWVLC, in partnership with the Leelanau County Democratic and Republican Parties, hosted a Voter Appreciation Open House attended by nearly 200 people – a first of its kind event in the nation. After LWVLC held 4 candidate forums, registered voters at 9 events, promoted voting rights initiatives and produced a local voter guide, Leelanau County recorded a 71% voter turnout, tops in the state! The following is a sampling of the topics LWVLC offered during its monthly forums held September, 2018 - July, 2019:
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Ballot Initiatives Explained
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Understanding and Preventing Substance Abuse in Leelanau County
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection Today
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Make Your Voice More Powerful – How To Be An Effective Advocate For Public Policy ● From Idea to Advocacy: How the LWV develops position and program ● Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – What Is It and What Can I Do?
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Remembering Important Women Who Have Changed History That Time May Have Forgotten, But We Have Not
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The Promise of Early Childhood – What Children Need, What Parents Want and the Community’s Role in Supporting Them.
At the Annual Meeting in 2018, Tricia Denton was elected President of LWVLC.
In the spring of 2019, LWVLC became a mentor League of a new League forming in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties: League of Women Voters Leelanau County, Charlevoix- Emmet Counties Unit. Robin Jordan, chair of the Unit, sat on the LWVLC Board. LWVLC handled the finances of the Unit. After several years of mentorship at the beginning of the 2021-2022 League year, the Unit became a Member-at-Large of the League of Women Voters of Michigan, known as a MAL, and assumed a new name, League of Women Voters of Northern Lower Michigan, LWVNLM. LWVNLM is off to a terrific start with over 80 members and active programing concentrating on Voter Service.
During the 2019-20 League year, LWVLC garnered national and international attention. LWVLC assisted with passage of the County Early Childhood Millage through education and advocacy. It co-sponsored events such as the Michigan Septic Summit to promote water protection. LWVLC received the Best Costume award in the Leland July 4 Parade for its entry: 100 years of LWVMI Suffragists. Mentoring the Charlevoix-Emmet County Unit, which grew to nearly 50 members in its first year, was a privilege for LWVLC.
The year 2020 marked both the seventh year as a League for LWVLC and 100 years for the LWVUS!
In March 2020, the COVID 19 pandemic struck our nation and the world. Fortuitously LWVLC’s Bylaws provided for virtual meetings and voting. The League was able to pivot to conducting all its business online: committee, board and membership meetings as well as monthly informational forums open to the public. The LWVUS National Convention in Washington, DC. was held virtually with 5 of the League’s members attending as delegates and LWVLC member Joan Hunault was elected to the LWVUS Board. At the 2020 LWVLC annual meeting which was held virtually, Tricia Denton was elected to a second term as President
In 2020, LWVLC, through the work of the ERA Committee and the Early Childhood Needs and Service Committee, purchased and distributed 22 copies of The Women’s Hour to 7 Leelanau
County schools and 4 public libraries as well as 79 children’s books on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to 10 Leelanau public and private schools and organizations that support young children.
The pandemic continued to rage during the 2020-2021 League year, yet LWVLC kept up its good work by hosting virtual monthly forums and member meetings as well as monthly board meetings and committee meetings. LWVLC worked in close partnership with the Leelanau Enterprise to sponsor a record 13 candidate forums and, working with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, presented the first candidate forum with a tribal focus. Traverse Area Community Media and Interlochen Public Radio also co-sponsored our candidate forums. Susan Price worked tirelessly to develop the Vote411 Voter Guide for Leelanau County. She called individuals ahead of time and then followed up if they failed to participate. The Enterprise published and distributed 15,000 of the Leelanau VOTE411 Voter Guides. In 2021, LWVLC sent 13 delegates to the virtual LWVMI Convention. Members of Voter Service worked diligently to get people registered to vote; to inform them about the process of how to vote; to reassure them that voting was safe and secure no matter what method they used to vote. League members worked at the polls on election day with a variety of election duties. They also served as observers of the certification of election results.
The League of Women Voters Leelanau County continues to be recognized as a welcoming, informed and respected group dedicated to and actively working to improve the quality of life in Leelanau and beyond. We are known as one of the State’s most active and respected organizations. Membership held stable during the pandemic. Virtual monthly forums continue to be very well attended. League members continue to be engaged as active participants in their government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.
The 2021-2022 year was our League’s second year of virtual operations. The League hosted 11 community forums, 8 member meetings, 11 board meetings, plus more committee meetings and training sessions than can be counted. The Equal Rights Advocacy Committee held monthly meetings educating its members about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion matters with such presentations as The LWVUS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy; Jim Crow, Project 1619 and Critical Race Theory; Racism and Indigenous People; and America’s Borderline Poem: Alma Rosa Vasquez - there are still many barriers for women of color. See page 14, Program, for more information about LWVLC’s committees.
The Charlevoix-Emmet County Unit that LWVLC mentored became a local League, now called League of Women Voters of Northern Lower Michigan.
At the virtually held Annual Meeting on May 4, 2022, President Tricia Denton emphasized that for more than 100 years, the League of Women Voters has worked to ensure voting accessibility for every eligible voter and made nonpartisan information available so that voters are fully informed before casting their ballot. In 2022, the League is called to return to our original mission: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. Tricia said,
“During the past year, many ballot initiatives and legislative attempts have been made to create barriers to the registration and voting processes. Many include confusing language, accompanied by mis- and dis-information and they pose a direct threat to our democracy. This election year, the Leelanau League is collecting signatures for Promote the Vote 2022, a constitutional amendment that would enshrine additional voting rights. We will again conduct candidate forums and populate Vote 411 to provide non-partisan information on local candidates, proposals and other important election information. Your support in these efforts is critically important.”
Also at the Annual Meeting, Tricia was reelected to a third two-year term as President. She, Tina Greene-Bevington, Jacquie Johnson, and Natalie Wilson were the official delegates to the 2022 LWVUS Convention, held in Denver in late June, 2022. They attended virtually while Joan Hunault was elected to a second two-year term on the LWVUS Board of Directors in person at the Convention.
The 2022-2023 LWVLC year saw varied and inspiring monthly forums on Zoom. Topics ranged from September’s meeting when former LWVMI President Judy Karandjeff informed LWVLC members about the three ballot proposals to be voted on in November, 2022, of which Promote the Vote 2022 was of prime importance to the League to the May forum by Denise Keele on having difficult conversations, especially about climate change. Candidate forums were held, Vote 411 was enhanced with local information under the direction of Susan Price, and voter registration sessions were held for local high school and college students. LWVLC had two in person gatherings: the traditional bring a dish Holiday luncheon to which county government officials are invited and the June Annual Meeting at noon this year. Both Michigan State Senator John Damoose and State Representative Betsy Coffia spoke at the Annual Meeting. Nine delegates attended the LWVMI Convention in East Lansing in May, 2023. We had four Belle Ringer Award winners: Advocacy – Sue Miller, Voter Service – Jacquie Johnson, Membership Recruitment or Engagement – Tina Greene-Bevington, Financial Management or Fundraising – Jane Gale.
