The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County invites the community to an open house 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday in the lobby of the remodeled Crawfordsville Airport, 759 W. C.R. 400S, to toast Women’s Equality Day and learn about the League’s work in Montgomery County.
Visitors will get information about how to play a part in Active Voter Services, Observer Corps, Vote411, Lunch with the League and other programming and committees that the organization has in place to keep citizens involved in learning about issues of public concern.
This is a meet and greet, not a formal program.
Forty-nine years ago this month, the US Congress named Aug. 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” This date commemorates Aug. 26, 1920, when the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote, became federal law.
In the decades since, women have not only voted, they have taken a more equal place in public life, in business, and in education, and elsewhere. The work toward equality in our democratic system remains incomplete. Forwarding equality is an ongoing task for citizens everywhere. In this highly partisan era, League’s non-partisan work is especially valuable.
In 1920, the League of Women Voters formed when suffragists (whose mission had been accomplished) took on a new task. The League’s originating purpose was to help educate the female half of the population about democratic processes of our government and how they could play a part. That work continues today — with both women and men as members. In proclamations issued on Women’s Equality Day, each president, starting with Richard Nixon in 1973, has pledged that his administration to forwarding the cause of equality among genders, race and ethnicities in our country.
Montgomery County has had an active League of Women Voters since 1947. In countless ways, for more than 75 years, this non-partisan organization has helped strengthen the county and kept the public informed.
This fall is an election year and those who attend the open house Friday will be able to see and learn about how county officials, with non-partisan citizen help, keep our Montgomery County elections free and fair.
The League of Women Voters may have an old-fashioned name but it does cutting edge, non-partisan work on behalf of citizens. Montgomery County’s League is Indiana’s second largest. Its membership is made up of both women and men.
