Four LWV Presidents, left to right, Jennifer Rubin (ODC), Dr. Deborah Ann Turner (US), Jo Nicholas (NC), and Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins (former LWV US) celebrate LWVODC's 75th Anniversary.
2022 marks the 75th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties. For three quarters of a century, LWVODC has been successfully fighting for voters’ rights, educating voters, and encouraging people to actively engage in democracy.
On September 15, LWVUS, LWVNC, public officials, local candidates and the public celebrated with LWVODC members its long history of accomplishments, while ODC renewed it's commitment to the League’s mission of "Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy." Our guest speaker, Deborah Ann Turner, MD, JD, currently serving as the 20th president of the League of Women Voters of the United States was the main speaker. Please view the YouTube video below for her presentation to the event participants.
Pictures from 75th Anniversary: Pictures Page 1 Pictures Page 2 Pictures Page 3
History of LWVODC
On Oct. 27, 1947, the League of Women Voters of Chapel Hill submitted the application for provisional League status with LWVUS. The local League started with 33 members in Chapel Hill.
Helen Gillin, 1st President of LWV-Chapel Hill
In the words of Helen Gillin:
Full membership could not be granted until we had had a finance campaign, the remaining requirement to be complied with. So, this was undertaken in the fall of 1947 and a grand total of $40.00 raised from the community. The modesty of our achievement was charitably respected by National and full recognition resulted thereafter.
Over time we increased membership and broadened our outreach into Durham and Chatham Counties. In 1997, the name changed to LWV-Chapel Hill Area, and in 2001, we became LWVODC. Today we are 200 members strong and together cover over 1,400 square miles stretching across three counties.
