April 2026 Newsletter

by Claudia Kozinetz

April marks the time when plants begin to bloom and the weather warms up. Its name

comes from the Latin word, aperire, meaning “to open”, reflecting the opening of buds

and flowers during the season. I find it a good time to reflect as I get our garden into

shape after a frosty winter season. What will the next year bring us?

Last weekend I attended the Central Regional meeting of the League of Women Voters North Carolina. Local Leagues had the opportunity to focus on preparations for the mid-term elections and how best to get individuals registered to vote and out to the polls. We need this thinking ahead strategy to overcome the barriers being tossed at our efforts to empower voters and defend democracy.

Our first action step is to demand our Senators vote No on the SAVE America Act. The SAVE America Act will fundamentally change the way Americans register to vote and cast a ballot. Voters do not need more obstacles in having their voices heard. Congress must act to ensure that every eligible US citizen has the freedom to vote unimpeded by discriminatory rules rooted in fear and division.

Contact your Senators and demand a “NO” vote on S.1383, the SAVE America Act.

Warmly,

Claudia

Upcoming Events

Lunch & Learn: Early College Tour, Manteo

Plan to join fellow League members for an interesting exploration of the newly opened Early College in Manteo by Principal Kassie Mount.

Wednesday, April 22 at 11:30

Dare Early College

205 US-64, Manteo

No Charge

Lunch following at Salt & Cypress

1100 A S Bay Club Drive, Manteo

(featured in Our State Magazine)

Self-Paid

RSVP by April 15th to Marion Midgett

In North Carolina an early college is a public high school categorized as a Cooperative Innovative High School (CIHS). This unique educational model blends high school and college experiences in a smaller, more personalized environment. All courses are taught at the Honors Level, ensuring a rigorous academic experience. Designed to prepare students for both careers and higher education, early colleges offer the opportunity for students to complete a career certification or an associate degree alongside their high school diploma.

Volunteers Needed

Earth & Arts OBX

LWV Dare will host an informational booth at Soundside Park on Wednesday, April 22 from 4 PM to 7PM (sunset). Come out to enjoy the fun event and help get the word out! Earth & Arts OBX - An Earth Day Celebration

Artrageous

Come out to Dare Arts at Dowdy Park on Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM to 2 PM. LWV Dare will be making voting/democracy buttons designed by the children that visit our booth. We will also have a kid-friendly trivia game with small prices and voting stickers. Artrageous

Please reach out to Tianna Stathis if you are able to volunteer. Both events will be lots of fun and it is a great way to get out in the community and work with fellow League members!

Recent Events

Report on National Popular Vote Meeting

Suzanne Fisher, president of the Ashville/Buncombe LWV, was the guest speaker at the League’s well attended community meeting on the National Popular Vote held on March 26. The presentation was an explanation of the One Person – One Vote, National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or NPVIC.

NPVIC is an effort to elect the president by popular vote instead of utilizing the Electoral College which is only used in the election of the nation’s top official. Read Full Article

Leaguers Parade on St. Patty’s Day

League members participated in the 35 th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 15. The theme of the event was the 250 th Anniversary of the United States, and the entries decorated their floats, cars, signs, costumes, and marching units in red, white and blue as well as the typical green for St. Patty’s Day. The parade was larger than usual with over 100 entries, 4 bands, and a very large crowd of viewers (estimated to be tens of thousands in the Voice – maybe a bit generous) to cheer everyone on! As always, Mike Kelly, the originator of the parade – the largest in the state of North Carolina, was on hand to greet participants and folks in the crowd.

Our League had 17 participants who either walked or rode in three convertibles to send the message to VOTE, ERA, and VOTE 411. Candy was given to the many children lining the parade route as they cheered us on!

The vehicles were driven by Charlotte Pedigo, Holly McNeill and Nancy Birindelli. Marchers included Deb Bauer, Lorelei DiBernardo, Jeanine and Ron Emery, Fran Kapinos, Barbara Liberi, Judy Lotas, Marion Midgett, Marcie Ries, Mary Jane Slesinski, Tianna and son Dorian Stathis, Geri Sullivan, and Kaye White. A special thanks to Geri who utilized her artistic talents to make the signs, and a BIG SHOUT OUT to Lorelei who organized the whole show!!!

Eastern Regional Meeting Recap: One League, One Purpose

On March 28, League members from across eastern North Carolina gathered in New Bern for our Eastern Regional Meeting. Attendees included members from: Carteret, Cape Fear, North East NC, Craven, Jacksonville and Dare and regional officers from additional NC areas, such as Raleigh, Durham, Wake, Charlotte and Asheville.

With the shared focus of Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. the day was full of thoughtful discussion and genuine connection as we look ahead to 2026 and 2027.

Local Dare County Members, Claudia Kozinetz, Charlotte Perdigo and Kathleen Wasniewski represented the local LWV-Dare group. Read More.

by Nancy Birindelli

Christine Fleisher

Is a first time League member who relocated to OBX from Westerville, OH, a suburb of Columbus. She and her husband, Kevin Davis, had rental property in Duck for several years but now call the town home having moved permanently a year ago. Christine has a BA in accounting from Otterbein University and a MA from Ohio State. She began her career as an accountant but after ten years made a significant change and became a high school and then a middle school math teacher completing a 17-year tenure.

Cristine is enjoying exercise classes at the Y and is a member of the Democratic Women. She has a 3-year-old labradoodle named Sandy that is doing puppy agility training at the OBX Dog Club.

The League was important to her as she is interested in getting people out to vote with having more access to cast a ballot as well as issues that are part of LWV’s mission. She is also excited to be part of the OBX community!

Talking Points

Advocacy Versus Lobbying

The League of Women Voters NC will be participating in Advocacy Day 2026 on April 28th in Raleigh. This event offers an opportunity for members to join together to speak to legislators about important issues. As this is a day to focus on advocacy, it is important to understand the difference between advocacy and lobbying:

Advocacy

Educating the public and decision-makers about issues
Sharing research, data, and lived experiences
Raising awareness about how policies affect communities
Encouraging civic engagement and participation
No request to support or oppose a specific bill

Lobbying

Directly asking lawmakers to support or oppose specific legislation -
Direct Lobbying
Communicating a position on a named bill or amendment
Encouraging others to contact legislators about a specific bill- Grassroots Lobbying

If you’re educating or explaining → Advocacy

If you’re urging a yes or no on a bill → Lobbying

Important to Note:

501(c)(3): Voter services, education, advocacy, limited lobbying

501(c)(4): More robust legislative advocacy and lobbying

Together, they allow the League to educate voters and influence policy

All members are welcome to attend and can find more information here at lwvnc.org

Information gathered from the Eastern NC Regional Meeting from Director Cheryl Tung.

Book Club

Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer

In April, LWVNC kicks off its inaugural book club meeting on April 23rd via Zoom!

The book chosen for this month is "Anatomy of a Purple State" by Christopher Cooper.

Book Description: North Carolina represents a perfect distillation of the promise and peril of modern American democracy: hyperpartisanship, gerrymandering, dissatisfaction with the two-party system, the urban-rural divide—these issues are all brought into sharp relief in the Tar Heel State. For that reason, North Carolina politics and government are increasingly of interest not just to North Carolina citizens but to journalists, political observers, and people across the country. Political scientist Christopher A. Cooper, to whom the national media go when they need a quote about North Carolina politics, offers a primer made for all people, no matter their political leanings.

Readers will be introduced to everything that has made North Carolina the most purple of purple states—from the state constitution and the influence of think tanks to the growing racial diversity of the state and the limitations on the governor’s power. By explaining how we came to be in the political situation we are in, Cooper shows us where we might go next. And, as many have said, “As North Carolina goes, so goes the nation.”