LWVAC Interviews Life Member...Billie Staff 

LWVAC is proud to have several Life Members--those who have been League members for 50 consecutive years! We've set out to interview them all. Here we talk with Billie Staff. 

Billie Staff was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has 

been in the League for over 60 years, in three different Leagues, 

in three different cities. She has been a strong advocate of the 

League's methods of study-consensus-action. She has 

immensely enjoyed the League seminars and forums, which 

allow citizens to get together and discuss issues. 

We asked Billie to reflect on her League experience and the 

changes she's seen over the years. 

CHARLOTTE 

Bille and her husband moved to Charlotte in 1960 for his job at Eastern Airlines. Billie joined the League there in 1964.  

In the League Billie found interesting women who wanted to learn about current issues. Many of them had young children, and they would meet in the local church, hiring someone to watch all the kids. 

They followed League protocol in studying a topic, developing consensus, and publicizing their results. Billie observed that what they didn't seem to do often was the last step: take action.  She feels this was partially due to the culture at the time and place, when a woman's activism could adversely impact her husband's career.  

In retrospect, Billie categorizes this as "study, no action." 

MIAMI 

In 1978, Billie and her family moved to Miami. In that larger city, at that time, she found a League more populated by educated and working women, women who did not fear speaking up.  

Billie became President of the Miami League in 1984. (It was a presidential election year, and Billie, very politically active, was dismayed by the fact that as League President she was not allowed to campaign.)

LWVAC Interviews Life Member...Billie Staff 

The job was quite time-consuming in the era of paper and landlines. Billie enjoyed running the organization, but was less excited about the public-facing duties. She counted herself lucky to have as vice-president Annie Betancourt [known to some League members as our guide for League trips to Cuba]. Annie enjoyed being the League's public face, and she was good at it.  Between the two of them, they had a solid partnership that covered the many responsibilities of League executives in Miami. 

GAINESVILLE 

Billie joined LWVAC in 1991 when her family moved to Gainesville. She subsequently served as Treasurer in all six years that Rosalie Bandopadhthay was president. Billie says of that role: "We were still using paper accounting books; after me, Jerry Kidder became Treasurer and built a digital system for us." 

After her stint as Treasurer, Billie served on the League board as the Coordinator for all the LWVAC events. She did this for several years, but had to leave the position to attend to a family emergency. 

 A selection of LWV books from Billie Staff's library 

What changes have you seen in the League?

LWVAC Interviews Life Member...Billie Staff 

I have always enjoyed and respected the long-held League methodology: study an issue, develop consensus, publicize results, then lobby for action. As the world has become more connected and events more fast-moving, however, we have had less opportunity for long study and more pressure for quick action.  

What advice do you have for our members? 

Participate in anything you can. Get to know people and the League. Get back to being together. Everyone is worth knowing. In the League you can find out about anything--there's always someone who's keeping on top of the issue. 

Ronald Reagan tried to discredit the League by calling us "a bunch of women do-gooders." I say, "Yes, we are!"