March 2026 Newsletter

As we move into another active month for our League, I’m reminded of the strength that

comes from a community committed to informed participation. Dare County may be

small in size, but our members continue to demonstrate how powerful local engagement

can be when we show up, speak up, and work together. In February, the 2026 Citizen

Guide was bundled and distributed throughout Dare County and a sizeable crowd

attended February’s program, Troubling Times: NC Public Education.

This month, our focus remains on expanding voter education and strengthening the

League’s visibility across the Dare County. With local issues evolving and statewide

decisions shaping our daily lives, the League’s mission—to empower voters and defend

Democracy feels more essential than ever. I’m proud of the work our volunteers are

doing, from helping voters make a plan for the Primary to hosting thoughtful

conversations that bring clarity rather than division.

Looking ahead, we have several opportunities to deepen our impact. I encourage you to

attend our upcoming events, invite a friend to join the League, and continue

championing civil discourse in your circles. The work we do is not about one election or

one moment—it’s about building a culture of engagement that lasts.

Want to learn more about LWV? – Consider attending the LWVNC Eastern Regional

Meeting on Saturday, March 28th in New Bern, NC. Please contact me, Claudia

Kozinetz, Claudia.kozinetz@gmail.com, with your interest or questions.

Thank you for your dedication, your energy, and your belief in the power of informed

citizens. Together, we continue to make a meaningful difference here in Dare County.

Warmly,

Claudia

2026 Citizen's Guide is Hot off the Press!

You can find a copy throughout Dare County or check it out online. Many thanks to Carol Butscher and Emma Turnbull for all the hard work spearheading this project on the 37th edition! And, to all the League volunteers who helped in various ways to get this beloved guide sponsored, prepared and delivered! Fantastic job!

New LWV of Dare Website is Live!

Make sure you check out the newly redesigned website for LWV - Dare County! It is filled with really helpful information to keep our members and the community informed and active. Many thanks to Heidi Hess for her creativity and diligence! Some of the reviews so far note that new look is energetic with straightforward, logical navigation!

Join the League in the St. Patrick's Day Parade !

In Celebration of our Country’s 250th Year … You are invited to Walk or Ride with the Dare LWV on Sunday, March 15th!

Our League is participating in the Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade in Nags Head! The parade is scheduled to kick off at 1pm, rain or shine. We will be celebrating our country’s 250th Birthday as well as our primary focus: Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy!

We have three cars registered in the festivities, along with several walkers, and we would love to have more of our members join in this celebration!  We will be highlighting the Importance of Voting, the League’s www.Vote411.org on-line Voter Guide, and our country’s milestone 250 th birthday!   

If you would like to walk or ride in the 1 – 1 ½ mile parade route, or if you any questions,

please contact our Membership Chair, Lorelei DiBernardo, by emailing her at ltd32@charter.net.

What is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?

by Lorelei DiBernardo

Find out on Thursday, March 26 at 4:30-6 PM, Pitts Center in Southern Shores

The League of Women Voters believes that the direct-popular-vote method for electing the President is essential for representative government.

There are over 500,000 elected offices in US; all but one are direct elections – most votes wins.

Only President/Vice President is an indirect election. Article II, Section I of the Constitution specifies that state legislatures decide how to instruct their electors.

Read more details about NPVIC at this LINK.

It's Time for the LWV Eastern Regional Meeting

The League of Women Voters of North Carolina is sponsoring a regional meeting for the

local Leagues of Carteret, Dare, Lower Cape Fear, North East and Onslow on Saturday,

March 28, 2026, from 10 am to 3 pm in New Bern, NC. The meeting is open to all

members of LWV Dare. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow Leaguers from

neighboring local Leagues and LWVNC Board members.

Draft Agenda Highlights:

• League structure and roles
• GOTV Toolkit review (2024 lessons and 2026 needs)
• The future of voter registration
• Advocacy Day: advocacy vs. lobbying
• Lunch discussion: membership recruitment strategies
• LWVUS Transformation Roadmap and membership drive
• League's use of grant funds – discussion
• LAT priorities and alignment
• 2026 calendar, including governance programming

This meeting is designed to strengthen collaboration, clarify priorities, and support

League leadership across the state.

We look forward to bringing Leagues together for productive discussion and shared planning. Contact Claudia Kozinetz, Claudia.kozinetz@gmail.com for registration.



Troubling Times: NC Public Education

by Nancy Birindelli

The Co-chairs of the State League’s Action Team on Education presented a most interesting and depressing assessment of the status of education in NC. The general consensus was that the public schools are greatly underfunded and rank at or near the bottom of revenue spent in other states for per pupil expenditures (50th) and teacher salaries (43rd). A further concern is that there is no approved state budget for 2026! The presenters’ recommendations were to become proactive in notifying elected State officials of our concerns and advocate for better funding of the public schools!

For a more complete review of the meeting, click on this LINK for the long version!

ThriveOBX

League members participated in ThriveOBX's inaugural Move-A-Thon held at First Flight High School on February 14th.

Our booth and volunteers shared information about the League with attendees.

At the Nags Head Elementary School (NHES) mock election, 5th grade "Ambassadors" from NHES were on hand to assist the younger students as mock poll workers.

Have you ever seen an inflatable Halloween costume? If not, you can trust me when I tell you that they are hilarious...even more so when someone is running in it. That was this year's theme for the mock election and the students were thrilled! 

Every year, the NHES PTO hosts their annual Color Run to raise money for their school initiatives and activities. During the Color Run, the students will run through clouds of non-toxic color powder, in white t-shirts provided by the PTO, to create a bright and fun way to exercise.

For this year, if grade levels meet their fundraising goals, volunteer teachers will race in inflatable costumes around the parking lot. Will the winner be the Unicorn, the Sumo Wrestler, or the Chicken???

Our League is pleased to announce that our membership is one hundred one strong! To introduce the new folks, there will be a series of articles in the coming months that will have short bios about each of them.

MARY LOU HOFFERT

Mary Lou is a new Leaguer who moved to Southern Shores eleven years ago having owned a timeshare in Duck. She grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Hawaii where she met her husband, Bill. As a Navy family they were stationed in several stateside bases as well as Hawaii and Greece and then as civilians spent thirty years living in Virginia Beach where she was employed by the Navy in informational technology. Mary Lou has been a volunteer for the Dare Library Board, the Dare Library Foundation and on the board of the Eastern Albemarle Regional Library. She also is an AARP volunteer assisting with tax preparation. The Hofferts have a son who lives in Dallas and a daughter residing locally.

PAT KOBOR

Pat is a resident of Southern Shores having relocated from Great Falls, VA, several years ago after frequently vacationing here. She grew up in Cullman, AL, and attended Vanderbilt University where she met her husband, Emery. Serving as a lobbyist on the Hill for the American Psychological Society, she worked to secure support for NIH and NSF issues in aging, child development, and mental health. The Kobors have two daughters - a nurse in Richmond and an attorney in Brooklyn. Pat, a new Leaguer, is an officer in the Democratic Women of Dare, enjoys Majong and belongs to a book club.

Responsible Communication about Our Democracy

Would you like to understand mis/dis information and be empowered to communicate

responsibly about issues? Rather than restating or re-sharing rumors, instead share

positive information that educates voters, building resiliency to rumors and misleading

information.

Review the latest Democracy Integrity Briefings

The Algorithmic Transparency Institute, a project of the National Conference on Citizenship, partners with the League of Women Voters to inform LWV National and State Leagues about narratives circulating online related to elections, democracy, voting, and other key topics.

LWV Dare - Kelly's St. Patty's Day Parade

March 15, Nags Head

Board Meeting

March 18, 10:00am

Kitty Hawk Fire Station

National Popular Vote

March 26, 4:30 p.m. Pitt Center, Southern Shores

Eastern Regional Conference for LWV-NC

New Bern, March 28, New Bern

Lunch & Learn Tour Dare County Early College

April 22

11:30-1:00 p.m.

College of the Albemarle, Manteo

No Kings Rally

The No Kings nationwide protest will take place on March 28, 2026, with the League of Women Voters US (LWVUS) participating as a nonpartisan partner. No Kings is a nationwide movement focused on defending democratic freedoms and opposing authoritarian policies. 

The March 28, 2026, event marks the continuation of a series of peaceful protests, following previous gatherings on June 14, 2025, and October 18, 2025.

LWVUS is joining No Kings as a national partner, enabling local Leagues to participate in support of democratic advocacy without taking partisan positions. Here in the Outer Banks, the rally will take place on both sides of Rt 158, just east of the Wright Memorial Bridge from S Dogwood Trail/The Woods Rd to ~Duck Woods Drive. Time is 11 am to 1 pm. Permits to assemble and rally have been secured from the Kitty Hawk and Southern Shores Public Safety Departments.

LWV Dare League members are encouraged to lean in as they so choose.

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