The League of Women Voters of Lower Cape Fear (LWVLCF) is committed to supporting the
continued post-secondary education of young people. LWVLCF will honor one graduating
student from each of three county school districts - Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender - with a $1,000 scholarship. The scholarships are designed to provide tuition assistance to students who are actively engaged in serving their community (in their schools, houses of worship, scouts, volunteer work, etc.) and who are committed to continuing their education in the fall at a 4-year or community college.

A qualified candidate will…
Be a graduating senior at a public high school in Brunswick, New Hanover, or Pender County. Commit to attend a post-secondary institution.
Obtain two non-family references, including one from a teacher.
Submit a completed official scholarship application form and a link to a self-produced video presenting the candidate’s responses to two questions.

Completed applications, submitted to [email protected], must be received by midnight on April 15, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Applications will bevreviewed by the LWVLCF Scholarship Committee. Scholarship recipients will be notified by mid-May. The scholarship will be awarded at the LWVLCF Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 26,2025. Additional information about the League Scholarships and the application form arevprovided on the LWVLCF website at https://www.lwvlcf.org/scholarship.

The League of Women Voters works to encourage the active and informed participation of citizens in government and to increase understanding of major public policy issues. Its vision was formed more than 100 years ago by leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, and today remains a strong nonpartisan, activist, grassroots organization that believes well-informed voters play a critical role in democracy.

Media Contact:
Julia Hill-Nichols
303-601-9085
[email protected]
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LOWER CAPE FEAR
P.O. BOX 4503 WILMINGTON, NC 28406
​lwvlcf.org | lwv.org

​The League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear invites you to attend “Election of the President by Popular Vote” with Suzanne Fisher, President, LWV of Ashville-Buncombe County and Head, LWVNC Election of the President by Popular Vote Action Team on Thursday, August 22nd at 11:30 AM at Waterman’s Brewing in Wilmington. 
 
President Fisher will discuss the benefits, challenges, and processes involved with making the direct election of the President by national popular vote a reality for future generations.  She will also present the LWVUS policy on the election of the President and the current status of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
 
Waterman’s Brewing is located at 1610 Pavilion Place in Wilmington. Doors open at 11:00 AM for lunch from a reasonably-priced menu before the presentation. 
 
You do not have to be a League member to attend, but space is limited, so please register for this event on or before August 16th. Register at: August Membership Meeting | August 22, 2024 (eventcreate.com).

“The Supreme Court’s ruling to grant extraordinary immunity for sitting presidents is the most dangerous decision for democracy of our time. This erosion of democracy expands executive authority to give sitting US presidents the powers of a king — which is exactly what our republic was established to avoid. 
“According to the Court's own words, the US Supreme Court is ‘charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law.’ With this decision, the court has taken yet another step to dissolve democracy and abandon the American people, elevating the seat of president above the law.  
“Our country is at an existential crossroads, and voters must make a critical decision about the direction of our nation. The League will continue to do our part by providing nonpartisan election information for voters at VOTE411.org, empowering voters to send a clear message about the future we want. We urge American voters to turn up and turn out in November to ensure our democracy reflects the will of the people.” 

​The League of Women Voters will be holding it’s 50th annual meeting on Tuesday, June 25 at Brunswick Beer & Cider.  There was actually a League formed in November 1921 in Wilmington, following the passage of the 19th Amendment in August 1920.  There were years when the League faded away, but would then reconstitute itself.  In 1974, it began again and has grown in strength and now covers Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender Counties.
         The League has a wonderful and consequential history, beginning as suffragists.  Confident that the 19th Amendment would become a reality in 1920, the National American Woman Suffrage Association transitioned to the League of Women Voters.  That proud history will be recounted by Bonnie Bechard when she presents “Women’s Voices” to lead off the event.  Yellow Roses, worn by the suffragists as a symbol of their movement, will be in purple vases, for the members to take home as a remembrance of this occasion.  There will also be a display of the History of the League of Women Voters.
         Eleanor Roosevelt joined the League of Women Voters in 1921 and was a life-long member.  She said “I’ve always found that the best workers in a political party frequently are graduates of the League of Women Voters.”

​Wilmington, North Carolina – The League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear today announced they would be participating in National Voter Registration Day (NVRD), a nationwide, nonpartisan effort to register hundreds of thousands of voters on Tuesday, September 28th. The League will be out in force at the Harrelson Center from 10 a.m. to noon (free boxed lunches) and joining the YWCA Lower Cape Fear for the voter registration drive thru 1-4 p.m. and available to assist voters who want to register or update their registration if they have moved. 
“Every eligible American deserves the chance to participate in this year’s pivotal elections,” said Marla Barthen, co-president LWV of the Lower Cape Fear. “Voter registration is the first step to ensuring your voice is heard. We want to make sure every New Hanover County resident who wants the opportunity to vote on Election Day is registered by October 8th, or at early voting by October 30th.” 
Now in its twelfth year, National Voter Registration Day has been a game-changing annual nonpartisan campaign to register hundreds of thousands of voters in communities and online. Embraced a host of celebrities, bipartisan elected officials and organizations, NVRD leverages the collective impact of thousands of community partners, including hundreds of League of Women Voters groups, nationwide, every year.
“The League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear empowers thousands of voters through education, registration and get-out-the-vote activities in every election,” said Marla Barthen. “We host candidate and issue forums and registration drives while also providing trusted and timely elections information on VOTE411.org. We believe our democracy is strongest when every voice is heard.” 

On Monday, August 23rd, the New Hanover County Commission adopted a resolution supporting the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. New Hanover joins 26 other counties and municipalities in North Carolina that have adopted the resolution. This vote was a wonderful acknowledgement of Women’s Equality Day on August 26th, 2021. 
The League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear would like to thank the New Hanover County and City of Wilmington Commission for Women and its Chair, Sheila Evans, which advocated for, supported, and assisted in getting this resolution on the county’s agenda. With the assistance of more local governments and organizations, we will demonstrate to our North Carolina General Assembly the importance of adding the ERA to our state constitution. 

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