About Us

OUR HISTORY

In March of 2017, a vibrant group of motivated women from the Tecumseh, Michigan area met with Nancy Schewe, Zoe Behnke, and Christina Schlitt, members of the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area (LWVAAA). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss creating a LWV chapter in their community. The Tecumseh delegation enthusiastically agreed to take the necessary steps to become a unit of the LWVAAA, which offered to mentor them through the process of becoming a Member At Large (MAL) Unit.

The initial step in becoming a MAL Unit is to hold a public, informational meeting. And so, this meeting was scheduled and held at the Tecumseh District Library in May of 2017. Jan Salsberry, Louise Salamin, Jeanne Knight, and Carolyn Vertin, along with members of the LWVAAA were present, sharing the importance of the League, fielding questions, and signing up new members for the fledgling LWV Tecumseh Unit. The first official meeting of the LWV Tecumseh Unit was held on June 21, 2017 and under the tutelage of the LWVAAA, (now known as the League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County) the Tecumseh Unit was ready to take flight!

The LWV Tecumseh Unit immediately began empowering voters and defending democracy facilitating educational events in Tecumseh. Four events were held in 2017:

• August 30 public event at Tecumseh District Library - Redistricting in Michigan
• September 13 public event at First Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh - Redistricting in Michigan
• October 16 public event at Tecumseh District Library - Lenawee County property millage a renewal
• November 8 public event at First Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh - How the Great Lakes Commission impacts the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Water Basin

League program work continued throughout 2018. "Promote the Vote", voting rights, immigration, campaign finances, ballot proposals, and human trafficking were all highlighted during lectures and public events, hosted by the LWV Tecumseh Unit. In addition, the Tecumseh Unit participated in the Lenawee County Health Fair, and Artalicious, sharing information on upcoming ballot proposals and assisting people with voter registration. Perhaps most notably in 2018, The LWV Tecumseh Unit hosted a candidate forum, featuring 6 candidates interested in a seat on the Tecumseh Board of Education. The forum was held at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts, with 200 audience members in attendance.

The LWV Tecumseh Unit began 2019 in earnest, determined to achieve MAL status. A Leadership Team was established and members were appointed to serve on the Board of Directors. On May 8, 2019, at a general membership meeting, the LWV Tecumseh Unit voted to become a MAL. Bylaws and a budget were created and approved, along with a Nonpartisan policy, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy. The membership now consisted of 34 members, some of which lived outside of Tecumseh, in Lenawee County. This prompted the Tecumseh Unit to rename the organization when it became a MAL to: League of Women Voters Tecumseh/Lenawee Unit.

Program work also continued throughout 2019 and 2020. Educational lunch lectures and evening events at the Tecumseh District Library continued to be well attended by League members and members of the public. Topics included: Lenawee County Courts and the Judicial System, voter registration changes, and the 2020 Census. Members and the public also had the opportunity to meet and engage with County Commissioners, the Lenawee County Sheriff, and the Lenawee County Road Commissioner. LWV Tecumseh/Lenawee planning sessions led to the creation of productive committees: Communications, Event Planning, Membership, Observer Corps, Outreach & Advocacy, Voter Registration, and VOTE411.

The League of Women Voters Tecumseh/Lenawee Unit strengthened its reach throughout Lenawee County in a multitude of ways from 2021 through 2023. Observer Corps committee members can be found throughout Lenawee County, observing meetings. The Voter Services committee has been invited to register eligible high school students at many of the High Schools in Lenawee County. We have an active and engaging social media presence, and have been repeatedly featured in local newspapers. Our VOTE411 committee continues to provide information through the vote411.org website, regarding candidates and local ballot proposals throughout the County. We continue to host engaging public events, presentations, town hall meetings and forums, and membership continues to expand.

In April of 2024, with a new name to best reflect the community we serve, the League of Women Voters of Lenawee County (LWVLEN), was officially recognized and approved as an independent local League by LWVMI and LWVUS. And of course, we continue to strengthen our membership, increase our presence throughout Lenawee County, and celebrate empowering voters and defending democracy!