LEAGUE PROGRAMS: VOTER SERVICES, EVENTS & PUBLICATIONS
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages active and informed participation of citizens in government, seeks to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
In that spirit, the Weston League provides a range of voter services, organizes and periodically cosponsors events of local, state, national, and international concern, and creates and maintains publications about town government and community resources.
All of our voter service activities, events, and publications can be supported by making a tax-deductible donation to the League of Women Voters of Weston, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. Please visit our donate page.
Old Mill
VOTER SERVICES
Candidate Debates & Voter's Guides
The League organizes non-partisan municipal candidate debates during local election years and collaborates with other area Leagues and the LWVCT in presenting and promoting candidate debates and forums in national/state-wide election years.
Election season voter services also include preparation of the Weston League's Voter Guides and collaboration on the National League's multifaceted voter resource, Vote411. Voter's Guides allows those running for office to post biographical information and answer a set of League-formulated questions in their own words; they are given strictly observed guidelines regarding length of responses, etc. in order to ensure fairness.
Participation in League moderated debates and Voter Guide preparations both offer an opportunity for candidates to introduce themselves and communicate their views directly to potential constituents.
Other Activities
League members staff a booth at the Lachat Town Farm's annual Earth Day event and are joined by Weston Registrars of Voters who register new residents and help answer questions about voting, coming elections, the Annual Town Budget Meeting, and more. Members also distribute timely non-partisan voter and town government information.
League volunteers – typically joined by Weston's Registrars of Voters – also periodically participate in additional Lachat Town Farm and other town-wide activities at which they distribute these materials. And, during election season, members have become a non-partisan presence at the Weston Senior Center and at Weston High School, helping to inform and answer questions including those of soon-to-be new voters.
See also VOTING here.
ANNUAL EVENTS
LWV of Weston's Speak Up!
This unique moderated event, held annually since 1992, brings together elected town officials, chairs of appointed boards, committees and commissions, the Town Administrator, Chief of Police, Superintendent of Schools, and other key officials to address residents' unfiltered questions and concerns about community and government affairs.
Special History Month Events
The LWV sponsors programs that celebrate both Black History Month and Women's History Month. Programs explore the history of the fight for voting and civil rights, equality before the law, racial justice, and related government and cultural issues and have most often been co-sponsored with the Friends of the Weston Public Library and the Weston History & Culture Center.
Events have included film showings such as Iron Jawed Angels and Miss Representation, the one-woman musical show, A Journey, telling the stories of Black women as an integral part of American history by writer and actress Kimberly Wilson, and a program featuring the stories of "Connecticut's African American Heroines" presented by the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.
Politics & Pie: A Conversation with Our State Legislators
This event brings Weston residents together with their elected state senator and state House representative in the Connecticut General Assembly. It provides our legislators the opportunity to update the public about the ongoing or, in alternate years, the just-ended legislative session, share their perspectives on its challenges and accomplishments, and answer constituents' questions.
The Betty Hill Forum on International Affairs
Over the years, the Betty Hill Forum has featured speakers on a wide range of international and occasionally national and state focused issues. The event was inaugurated in 2000 with guest speaker Ilana Landsberg-Lewis of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and was attended by Betty Hill. The Forum is traditionally held in conjunction with the League's annual member meeting in late spring. The luncheon and program are open to the public.
View the story behind this special event in honor of Betty Hill here.
Candidate Debates
The League organizes non-partisan municipal candidate debates during local election years and may collaborate with other Leagues in the same voting district in presenting candidate debates/forums in national/state-wide election years. These events are presided over by a trained moderator who is assisted by two bipartisan teams of League volunteers: One team screening written voter questions to eliminate duplication and ensure civility, and the other ensuring fairness in response times offered to each candidate.
OTHER PROGRAMMING
The League occasionally organizes special presentations and "Community Conversations" on a wide range of issues. These have included programs such as "Connecticut's Fiscal Challenges…" with CT Mirror investigative reporter Keith Phaneuf, a "Local News, Community and Democracy" presentation and discussion with a panel of journalists and communications specialists, a series of programs about Weston assets beyond our schools such as our extensive nature preserves, and by partnering with the LWV of Redding and Mark Twain Library in promoting their multi-year series, Conversations on Truth, Myth, and Democracy.
The LWV of Weston is also joining with the Town and other Weston groups in planning local America 250 events and activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the July 4th 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence.
LWV OF WESTON PUBLICATIONS
For information about town government and community resources, visit LWV Publications here.
Betty Hill
The Betty Hill Forum on International Affairs
Betty Hill was a life member of the League of Women Voters and an active member of our local League. In honor of her decades of championing women's rights and her belief in the importance of women being well-informed and active citizens at all levels of government – and, most especially, her interest in world affairs – the LWV of Weston announced establishment of this annual program at a community celebration of Betty's 100th birthday.
At the inaugural event in 2000, Betty shared the following thoughts:
"From the earliest days of the League programs, there was always a concern for international problems. We had study programs and speeches on issues like world trade, China and the United Nations.
Through the years, programs for study began to change and I became concerned that the League was losing its global outlook. I rejoice that Weston is coming up with an answer by offering programs like this one today. After all, women have a powerful voice, not only in Weston and Connecticut affairs, but also on global issues. Congratulations to our League for taking this step. I thank you greatly for honoring me by naming these lectures for me."
Also in 2000 Betty was honored by the Secretary of the State at a celebration marking the 80th anniversary of the day Connecticut became the 36th and last state needed to approve the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Her votes in the 1920 presidential election were among the first cast by Connecticut women.
Betty graduated from Smith College in 1921 and remained active in Smith alumnae affairs, local town meetings and the League of Women Voters throughout her long life.
Betty Hill died on August 22, 2001 at the age of 102.