About the La Plata League

Our mission, our structure, our history and our archives at Fort Lewis College, Center for Southwest Studies

Upcoming Events.  Our Mission.  Other Leagues.  Our History.  Policies, Bylaws, Job desc.  Board Training Materials.  Member Recognition.  Member Recipes.  Past Events.

Upcoming Events

Our Mission and Roles

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles.

• Voters Service/Citizen Education: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.

• Action/Advocacy: we are also nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

  To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, we use funds from the League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization.

  Our Vision, Beliefs, and Intentions guide our activities.

Other League Organizations

Members of the La Plata County League are also members of:

• League of Women Voters of Colorado, and
• League of Women Voters of the United States

*LWV-US on February 7, 2008 formally recognized the League of Montezuma Colorado as a new League.
Our congratulations to the League of Montezuma!

The announcement from the LWVUS was as follows:

The LWVUS Welcomes Two New Local Leagues!
At its recent meeting, the LWV-US Board recognized two new local Leagues: the LWV of Southeast Valley (AZ) and the LWV of Montezuma County (CO). We welcome them to the League family and extend special thanks to the LWVs of Arizona and Colorado for mentoring them through this process. The LWV of Southeast Valley has held successful community events, including a program on minimum wage and workers issues in Arizona. The LWV of Montezuma County has established a reputation for holding excellent candidate forums and has been an advocate for air quality.

*The League of Women Voters of Colorado Council 2008 held its bi-annual state meeting May 16 and 17, 2008 in Durango, Colorado. For a report from the meeting authored by LWV-LPC member Marilyn Brown, click LWVCO Council To view a few pics from the meeting, click LWVCO pics. For a view of the invitation from Marjory Beal, LWVCO President, click CO Council 08

History of the League of Women Voters

Read a short history of the League of Women Voters.
Click La Plata League history to access our archives maintained at Fort Lewis College.

*July 2010: Eleanor Roosevelt: League leader a short video from LWVUS

In the 1920s, Eleanor Roosevelt served as vice president for legislative affairs at the League, monitoring federal legislation and hearings in Congress. Watch this short video about how Eleanor's membership changed the League -- and how the League changed her.

Policies, Bylaws and Job Descriptions for LWVLPC

LWVLPC local policies revised July 24, 2008

LWVLPC local bylaws as adopted May 15, 2010

LWVLPC Job descriptions for 2009-2010

Board Training Materials

*6/24/10 The following are Board Training Materials presented by Stephanie Huss, President, LWVLPC

• It is an honor to serve on a League board but there are no honorary positions New Yorker 7/7/03

• Board Meetings for the Unbored TIPS FOR MINIMIZING BORED BOARDS (OR COMMITTEES)

• Board Training BOARD TRAINING LWV La Plata County, Colorado June 30th, 9 a.m. MST

• Board Training-2 Basic Board Training Workshop

Member Recognition

*3/16/10 Making Democracy Work Day LWVLPC Proclamation approval by the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners

• Making Democracy Work Day Proclamation
• LWVLPC comments to LPC Board of County Commissioners by LWVLPC President, Stephanie Huss
• LWVLPC photo with LPC Board of County Commissioners

*Click Colorado Senate LWV Proclamation to listen to the Colorado Senate discussion on 3/15/10 regarding the adoption of the LWV Proclamation. Scroll to SB10-007 to play the video.

*2/20/10 You may now view photos from our LWV 90th birthday party by our ace photographer Suzanne Becker
The models are two of our 50 year LWVLPC members: Mary Ruth Bowman and Barbara Cristol!

*1/19/10 Durango Herald:Author goes inside U.S. intelligence Navy's first African-American woman in that role reveals personal journey by Leslie Doran Special to the Herald
A Woman's War, The Professional and Personal Journey of the Navy's First African American Female Intelligence Officer, by Durangoan Gail Harris with Pam McLaughlin, is a revealing look at the inner workings of the United States Intelligence community. Spurred on by a childhood dream inspired by watching the film "Wing and a Prayer," 5-year-old Harris vowed to become a Navy intelligence officer. It didn't matter to her that no woman or African-American ever had filled that role; Harris was determined to succeed, and her father supported her goal...
Gail Harris is a member of the League of Women Voters of La Plata County

*11/18/09: It is with saddness that we, LWV of La Plata County, note the passing of our beloved member, Virginia Carol Graham. Virginia died on Thursday, November 12, 2009.
No services are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Mercy regional Breast Care Center, c/o Mercy Health Foundation,, 1010 Three Springs Blvd., Durango, CO, 81301.

*10/16/09: It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Morley Ballantine, chairman and editor of The Durango Herald.
Mrs. Ballantine lived a life dedicated to journalism, public service, philanthropy, education and the arts. She was an honored 54 year member of the League of Women Voters of La Plata County. Her contributions ranged from introducing the ideas of using an agenda and running meetings efficiently in the early days to donating the hosting of the LWVLPC website at the Herald.
A celebration of life will be held at 2pm Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
Click Morley Ballantine to view a short audio slideshow retrospective of her life story.

*3/9/09 Durango Herald:Those Darlin'Demons: A Century of Girls Athletics in Southwest Colorado and the Effects of Title IX, Congratulations to Mary Ruth Bowman, the author and a member of the League of Women Voters of La Plata County!
Click Darlin Demons to read about the book. Please note that Mary Ruth will be honored at a book signing on Tuesday, March 24 from 6:30 to 7:30pm at Maria's Bookshop in Durango.

*DURANGO ROCKS! 1/17/08- Our own Pam Patton, past LWV-LaPlata Treasurer and current Board Chairperson of La Plata Electric was declared the winner of the Morley Ballantine Award. The Morley Ballantine award honors one woman each year who has given outstanding contributions to our community. Morley herself is an honored lifetime member of the LWV. For more information on last night's winners at the Durango Chamber of Commerce Award Ceremony, click DH1-9-08

Member Recipes

*Sharing good food is important to our LWVLPC members. The following recipes are from some of our recent events:

• 1/7/10: Sweet Potato, Peanut Soup - recipe from Sally Bellerue

• 1/7/10: Byerly's Wild Rice Soup - recipe from Stephanie Huss

• 1/7/10: Mexican Tortilla Soup - recipe from Suzanne Becker

• 1/7/10: Zesty Pumpkin Soup - recipe from Trish Pegram

Past Events

*Leaguers,
We are invited to a bill signing ceremony on Monday, June 7th with Governor Bill Ritter and Senator Bruce Whitehead. This event will be held near the Animas La-Plata Project at 3:30 p.m. on CR 211, up towards the dam where the gate is locked. Thanks to League member Marsha Porter-Norton for the information. Call or email me if you want to carpool.

*The Fiscal Responsibility Information Committee, the 9-R School Board, and the League of Women Voters of La Plata County cordially invite you to attend an informational presentation on three of the ballot initiatives which will be on the November 2010 ballot: Amendments 60 & 61, and Proposition 101.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 10, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the 9-R Board Room at the 9-R Administrative Building, 201 East 12th Street, Durango.

Carol Hedges, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, will be the featured speaker. Ms. Hedges is a recognized expert on the effects of Colorado's TABOR amendment. Her current research explores spending and taxation in Colorado in light of fairness, efficiency and adequacy. She most recently was a senior policy advisor for The Bell Policy Center.

The potential impact of these three issues on publicly-funded education entities such as K-12 schools and colleges makes it important that we well understand the implications of the proposed changes to the Colorado Constitution and to state law. Descriptions and analyses of these initiatives can be found on The Bell Policy Center web site, at the Bell

*LWVLPC will hold its annual meeting on May 15 2010 from 9am to noon. Kellie Hotter, La Plata County Commissioner, will be our honored guest and speaker. Click invite to read the invitation and background info. See ya there!

*You may now view the LWVCO 2010 Council Agenda for Friday, May 21, 2010

* SkiDay for LWVLPC members only
Join us for a Ski Day at Purgatory on Thursday, February 25, 2010

• Meet at the North City Market parking lot at 9 a.m. to carpool from town
• Skiers, meet us at the base of Lift 1 at 10 a.m. to ski
• Non-skiers, meet at Eolus Condominium Unit 627 at 10 a.m.
• Bring a bag lunch for yourself
• Bring treats for all if you feel like it
• Bring a great attitude because it's going to be a beautiful day (and, if it's not, we can always reschedule!) RSVP to Stephanie at stephanie@frontier.net

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 13, 2010 15:47 PDT.

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