League of Women Voters of the
Lewis-Clark Valley
P.O. Box 178
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
What We Have Done
National:
The League of Women Voters was organized in 1919 after suffrage for women was passed by Congress and ratified by the states. Since that time the League has kept pace with changing times. The League has worked hard to improve the legal status of women and the welfare of children. The League championed the reorganization of Congress, and has led the struggle to fight air and water pollution and to improve legislation protecting the consumer. The League is concerned about equal opportunities for citizens in education, employment and housing. For more information about the National League visit http://www.lwv.org
State:
The League of Women Voters of Idaho was officially launched at the first State Convention on May 3, 1951, in Twin Falls. Elise Torbet, a Boise resident, was elected the first president; however, she became ill and Crystal Roendaul led the state League from 1951 to 1953.
Mrs. Torbet championed the formation of the first local league in Boise in 1944. She was instrumental in providing the impetus for the establishment of local Leagues in Twin Falls and Pocatello by the end of the 1940's. Local Leagues were being formed around the State in the 1950's from Coeur d'Alene to Idaho Falls. To date there are six local leagues: Kootenai County, Moscow, Lewis Clark Valley, Boise, Pocatello, and Treasure Valley. A Member-at-Large Unit (MAL) meets in Twin Falls.
Over the years the Idaho State League activities have earned the League recognition as being a grassroots organization. The first state League study of taxation and financing spanned the years from 1953 to 1955. This was the training ground for studying issues and forming consensus around the State. The first legislative action campaign to gain a greater degree of home rule for Idaho municipalities began in 1955 and, although no legislation resulted, a valuable booklet was authored by Catherine Walker, and published in 1957. The publication A Greater Degree of Home Rule for Idaho Municipalities was used by local Leagues around the State as the study guide for coming to consensus on the issue.
Since the first study there have been many other important studies resulting in change. To name a few: a booklet on Idaho's adoption laws and procedures was published in 1957; a Children's Code Commission was established to study laws relating to children; a study of Idaho's Constitution in 1961 resulted in the establishment of the Constitutional Revision Commission in 1965; a study of public school funding, begun in 1970, expanded Paying For Idaho's Public Schools; in 1972-73 the League's "Action in Education" top priorities were the establishment of kindergartens state-wide and the publication of Idaho's Exceptional Children-Education for All; the study of reapportionment began in 1984 with the introduction of a bill by Senator Norma Dobler (state League president 1969-1971); in 1995 a constitutional amendment was passed to establish a bipartisan citizens' commission to reapportion the Legislative Districts following the National Census. The League continues to be a driving force in the state. For more information about the State League visit http://www.lwv-id.org
Click here to find information about our local League history.