League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters was officially founded in Chicago in 1920, just six months before the 19th amendment was ratified and women won the vote. Formed by the suffragists of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters.
After World War II, the League carried out a nationwide public support campaign, at the request of President Franklin Roosevelt, to establish the United Nations and to ensure U.S. participation. Following the campaign, President Harry Truman invited the League to serve as a consultant to the U.S. delegation at the United Nations Charter Conference. One of the first organizations officially recognized by the UN as a non-governmental organization (NGO), the League still maintains official observer status today.
Julia Lathrop, of Rockford, a national League founder, helped establish the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) that fall. One year later, Lathrop helped found the League of Women Voters of Winnebago County (LWVWC), later renamed League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford (LWVGR), which encompassed Winnebago and Boone counties. On April 3, 1922, the Board of LWVIL recognized the local League.
Among the Rockford League’s charter members were: Julia Lathrop, noted for her work on the Children’s Bureau and the League of Nation’s Commission; Mabel Ashton Johnson, the founder of the Visiting Nurses Association; and Kate O’Connor, a founder of the State League of Women Voters and coordinator of Illinois’ welfare program for women and children. The Rockford League’s first President was Mrs. William C. Free.
1920’s, The first week after their founding the League held their first public meeting with speakers on the importance of the women’s vote at Memorial Hall and protested proposed use of Camp Grant as a federal prison. Later, the local League challenged a local vote tally, obtained affidavits to support their contention, and won support for training of election judges.
A member of the League of Women Voters, Claire Flynn McIntyre has helped lead the League's efforts over the past decade to pass the amendment to allow the state to institute a graduated income tax. The League has worked tirelessly to pass a Fair Tax since the 1990s, working closely over the years with organizations such as the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and the more than 300 statewide organizations, faith groups, and thousands of individuals that make up the Vote Yes for Fair Tax coalition.
A graduate of the University of Connecticut (BFA) and Fairfield University (MAT), Claire moved to Illinois in 1993, joining the League in 2005 and representing the League of Women Voters of Illinois a state issues specialist in School Funding and Fiscal Policy. She and her husband, Randy, a retired executive with the Kerry Group, have 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
This will be a timely program considering all of the ads that are being shown on TV and radio. Regardless of your position on the Fair Tax Amendment, this will be an interesting and informative program. You can invite friends or prospective members to join our Zoom meeting by forwarding the meeting information to them.