Newsletter/June 2025

by Caludia Kozinetz

On June 5, 2025, we gathered for the League of Women Dare County Annual Meeting. This is a LWV required meeting for conducting important business for the coming year. Members reaffirm the Non-partisan and DEI policies, approve the annual budget and elect officers and board members. Get to know your new officers – they are listed on our website. Elisabeth Silverthorne, Executive Director, Beach Food Pantry was our Guest Speaker. She addressed the food safety net crisis Dare County is facing and how we all can “do something meaningful” to address safety net issues in our communities. 

Awards – Awards! We were delighted and proud to announce that the Exemplary Leadership Award, was awarded at the League of Women Voters North Carolina 39th Biennial Convention in May to our own, Carol Butscher. Carol has been spearheading the Citizen’s Guide for years. She demonstrates the criteria of the award: “This board member demonstrates the ability to create an environment characterized by trust, respect, ingenuity, sharing and industry, while assuring the alignment of core League values with ongoing programs and initiatives. They perform valuable work instilling in others the desire to contribute more; works toward a common vision employing creativity, persistence and follow through, and demonstrating a willingness and determination to go beyond the norms in productivity and dedication." Congratulations Carol! In its first year, The Audrey Award, was presented to Tianna Stathis. Read the details in the article below. Congratulations Tianna!

(No Board Meeting in July)

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

10:00am to noon

Baum Center, 300 Mustian St.

Kill Devil Hills, NC

All Are Welcome!

by Claudia Kozinetz

On a stormy June day, officers and board members met to discuss and plan the year ahead. We were all feeling angry and alarmed – the "No Kings" protest was just a few days before. In the current environment, how can we uphold the LWV mission to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy?

Lorelei DiBernardo made a presentation on the National Popular Vote and the Interstate Compact. You can take action on this by going to: nationalpopularvote.com – at the right side of the page you see, “TAKE ACTION NOW – TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO PASS NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE” – insert your zip code and you are off to taking action.

Finally, there was brainstorming for topics for Lunch & Learn and public programs. A few include, "Vaccines – What Does My Family Need?;" "Reproductive Health Justice;" "What Do You Mean by WOKE?;" "Pandemic Recovery & Resilience" – and many more. Stay tuned, stay engaged and stay empowered.



by Lorelei DiBernardo, Membership Chair

Hello Dare LWV Membership!

The League of Women Voters has recently converted to a brand-new membership system. The new process is serving the entire country and over 700 League chapters!

This change has streamlined record keeping and it makes joining our team easier and more consistent. Many of you are due to renew your memberships on or before June 30, 2025, and we encourage you to use the on-line option available at https://portal.lwv.org.

Some changes:

• Membership dues are now the same in all 50 states! The recommended annual Individual Membership is $75/year, but you may pay more or as little as $20.
• Online you may pay by credit card or by electronic bank payment.
• When you join or renew your membership, your dues will be split by percentage between the National League (33%), State League (47%), and Local League (20%). This will be reflected on your credit card or bank statement, showing that you are a member at all three LWV levels.

If you are more comfortable renewing your membership by check, please contact me using my contact info below! 

If you have any questions or have problems using the link above, please let me know at ltd32@charter.net or at (252) 261-4365. Thank you!

by Nancy Birindelli

Several years ago, our League was very saddened by the untimely passing of Audrey Esposito, a long time Board member. She had been active in many programs to include monitoring Board of Education meetings, being an excellent publicity chair, conducting voter registration and forum activities, serving as a co-president of the Dare chapter, and then representing Dare as a member of the State League for four years.  Many members contributed over $1,100 memorial donations in her honor. The Board adopted a restricted fund that would establish an “Audrey Award” to be presented to a member who had contributed greatly to the programs of our League for the current year.

At the recent Annual Meeting, the first Audrey Award was presented to a member who has taken voter registration to a higher level by having students in the elementary schools participate in mock elections – even having a ballot box made that has an Audrey plaque. However, her greatest accomplishment was the planning and implementing of a Get Out the Vote rally held at Dowdy Park last fall. After obtaining a grant from the Outer Banks Community Foundation, she scheduled entertainment, speakers, vendors from about fifteen different non-profits, and food trucks for a very special community event to promote active participation in the voting process!

The winner of the Audrey Award is TIANNA STATHIS!!!



League of Women Voters - National

League of Women Voters of Dare County

League of Women Voters of North Carolina

LWV Statement on Women's Equality