THANK YOU so very much, LWV-PA members, for giving me the opportunity to serve as your president for this 2019–2020 year! Getting to know many of you has been one of the greatest highlights for me, as I have interacted with some amazing people.

The Board, committee chairs, and members have supported me and worked tirelessly to achieve everything from having a successful centennial celebration to our advocacy impact on several local, state, and federal legislative policies and educating our communities about a new voting system in the largest and most complex county election jurisdiction in the nation, L.A. County.

Undoubtedly, the most challenging aspect of my prez year has been pivoting to the use of technology in order to keep critical aspects of our work going during this global pandemic. The Board tackled the hard questions and made decisions. The Events team, led by Katherine Gavzy, the Communications team, led by Dorothy Keane, and the committee chairs have all stepped forward in true League fashion to roll up their sleeves and figure out a way to keep LWV-PA moving. The May League Day was a huge challenge for us, as the upcoming Annual Meeting will be. However, with the strength and support of members like you, LWV-PA is moving forward even stronger, nimbly adjusting to the changes and challenges we must face.

As we contemplate this new era when a novel virus has ushered in both public health and economic crises, let us prepare for and be open to novel ways to overcome the obstacles we will face along the way. The LWV has existed for one hundred years and has fought through many obstacles. With each one, we have found a way to move forward, to engage and inform citizens.

Forward is not a choice; it is an inevitability. As we move forward, let’s choose to do so with hope, enthusiasm, creativity, and confidence in the LWV’s mission.

Yours in the movement,

Patricia A. Coulter