LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

FORMATION

The Minnesota League of Women Voters started in 1920, with Clara Ueland as the first President. 

The St. Louis Park League of Women Voters was started in the Fall of 1953 when 18 members of Unit 45 of the Minneapolis LWV who lived in the Park held a pre-organizational meeting on September 9 at the Village Hall.  The meeting was chaired by a Mrs. Dosse, who "made it clear that while Minneapolis is not eager to divorce its suburban units, it does not intend to encourage any further violations of National Policy."  (Two other Minneapolis units made up of Park residents chose not to participate in the new SLP League.)  A pre-organizational was held on October 27. On November 17, 1953, 52 women attended the organizational meeting at Lenox School, and officers of the Provisional League of Women Voters of St. Louis Park were elected.  Mrs. Ernest Marotta (Bunny) was elected the first president.  The first general membership meeting was held at Village Hall on December 10, 1953. The group was officially chartered on July 10, 1954, with Mrs. William Bierne as President. Its 134 members met in 11 units.

MISSION

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

NONPARTISANSHIP

The League supports or opposes governmental issues which members have studied and reached agreement upon.  It does not support or oppose political parties or candidates.  As individuals, members are free to be active in party politics, and are encouraged to do so, except when they represent the League in the public eye.

THE FIGHT FOR THE CHARTER

In September 1954, the League focused on a study of the proposed St. Louis Park Home Rule Charter, and they campaigned vigorously for the passage of the Charter. Two previous referenda had turned down the new form of government.  The League held meetings in their homes for friends and family, provided public speakers for 24 meetings of local organizations, campaigned by telephone, advertised in the Minneapolis and St. Louis Park newspapers, and distributed 10,000 fliers door to door.  The Charter was passed on December 7, 1954, and Charter Commission Chairman Everett Drake said "The effort put forth by the League of Women Voters was the greatest single factor in bringing about the overwhelming adoption of our new City Charter."  

KNOW YOUR CITY

One of the first activities undertaken was the local government survey.  Leaguers attended meetings of the Village Council, School Board, and others; researched news articles; read past minutes of governing bodies, interviewed local officials, etc. They strove to collect information on the history, economics, and physical characteristics of the Village.  Organizations, churches, and schools were listed as well.  The study was called "Surveying the Park," and it was issued in May 1954.

In November 1955, members Mrs. Ernest Marrotta, Mrs. Herbert Ramberg, and Mrs. Elwyn Williams prepared the first “Know Your City” handbook, setting forth the important facts about the city government. The booklet was based on the original “Surveying the Park” that was issued in 1954. Sources of new material for the study were the home rule charter, the City’s administrative code, and the annual budget for 1956. This booklet was updated and published for several years before the City took over the responsibility.

VOTER REGISTRATION

In 1955, City Clerk Joe Justad deputized League members so they could register citizens to vote.  This was to be a core activity for the League throughout the years, and was one of the first efforts of this kind in Minnesota.  Booths were set up in shopping centers around the City.  When 18-year-olds were given the vote in 1971, booths were set up at the High School to register new voters. 

OTHER ISSUES

The issues the League tackled over the years cover every aspect of Park life.  These include the City plan, the City parks and recreation bond issue of 1958, the SLP Library, the school bond issue of 1965, straw polls of issues at a booth at Robin Hood Days, law enforcement, bike trails, affordable housing, zoning, nuisance control, education, juvenile justice, energy, community education, reproductive choice, disability rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, foreign affairs, mental health, firearms, domestic abuse, cultural diversity, desegregation, immigration, air and water quality, and clean indoor air.  Leaguers sat in on City Council, School Board, and other meetings as observers, and they sponsored candidates meetings before elections. 

 

PRESIDENTS OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ST. LOUIS PARK

It is interesting to note that, despite the empowering nature of the organization, in the beginning members were identified by their husbands' first names, with the women's names in parentheses. It is significant that this practice changed in the pivotal year for women's rights, 1972, when the husband's names were shown in parentheses. In 1977, husband's names (and the Mrs.) were dropped entirely.

 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.