New Leadership Model
Irene and Beth co-chairs
League members work to inform and educate at local farmers markets
A fun way to get our message out is when we join local parades!
General membership attends one annual meeting per year. We also enjoy two social gatherings–one in the summer and one in the winter!
St. Croix Valley League
After several years of interest by a few people in Polk and Burnett counties, a board was formed and bylaws were created for a League of Women Voters (LWV) Upper St. Croix Valley. By the end of 2015, the LWV Wisconsin recognized the Upper St. Croix Valley League. Work to present and support candidate forums, meet and greets, voter registration events, and public voter education presentations formed the core of activities. In 2019, several people from St. Croix County joined the group and by 2020, the league was expanded to three counties and the name changed to St. Croix Valley.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Policy
The LWV Upper St. Croix Valley is fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.
There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.
Nonpartisan Policy
The League of Women Voters of St. Croix Valley is nonpartisan. As an organization it does not support or oppose candidates for public office, but rather acts only on those issues chosen by the membership for study and action.
The League believes that political parties are essential to the American system of government and that the participation of informed citizens is beneficial to the political parties and to the system. Consequently, the League encourages its members as individuals to be active in political parties, in finding and supporting candidates for public office, and in seeking election to public office.
Members of the League are not eligible to serve on the Board while seeking or holding elected public office. While serving on the Board, a League member shall not seek nor hold state-level elective office, nor shall any officer or Board members allow her/his name to be used in support of any candidate or a state or federal office. In all other political activity, committee members shall participate to the extent the League nonpartisanship is maintained. There are no other restrictions on the political activities of officers and Board members, but it is the responsibility of the Board, individually and collectively, to ensure that the community has no reason to question the nonpartisan position of the organization.
The League of Women Voters of St. Croix Valley expresses a debt of gratitude to Marilyn Chesnik for her hard work founding this organization. When many people thought Burnett and Polk counties were not ready for a league and were ready to throw in the towel, Marilyn made it a personal goal to get the league off the ground. Her work to promote and invite people made the league a reality. Thank you!
Barb Wetzel is a member of the local league and she owns a special teapot. Although the teapot is a reproduction, the original pot has a history tied to the Nineteenth Amendment and women’s right to vote.