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League celebrates 50 years

Past presidents honored during a 50th anniversary meeting of the League of Women Voters were, seated, from left, Sharon Burlingame, Judy Katz and Nancy Glowacki, and, standing, Kathy Baluha, Renee Kumor, Barbara Volk, Marian Lowry, Grace Poli, Marion Huff

The League of Women Voters of Henderson County recognized past presidents, honored two 50-year members and celebrated five decades of civic service and voter education during an annual meeting May 21 at The Cedars.

Recognized for 50 years of service were Lee Luebbe, who joined the League in Winnona, Minn., and Carola Cohn, who joined in Michigan, in 1965. Throughout their lengthy history with the organization, Luebbe and Cohn have assumed various responsibilities in League.
“Fifty years of membership marks extreme dedication not only to the League, but also to our community,” said League President Sharon Burlingame.
During her 50 years of work strengthening democracy and educating voters, Luebbe has been instrumental locally in the Mediation Center, the Board of Directors of the Henderson County Department of Social Services, Blue Ridge Community Health Services and voter education. She conducted a study of immigration issues in 2008 that led to a non-partisan information program, “Myths and Facts About Immigration” that have been presented to local churches, students and civic groups. She also led the League in studying the role of citizen advisory groups in local government. She currently serves as chair of the nominating committee of the national LWVUS.
League50yearsSharon Burlingame congratulates Carola Cohn and Lee Luebbe for 50 years of service to the League of Women Voters.Cohn’s years of service in Hendersonville include her service as a founding supporter of the Mediation Center and Pisgah Legal Services. She is an active leader in the United Agenda for Children and the Children and Family Resource Center. She was recently awarded the Richard C. and Vina L. Sauer Charitable Leadership Award by the Henderson County Community Foundation. Both Luebbe and Cohn have been honored as “Peacemaker of the Year” by the Mediation Center, in 2015 and 2011 respectively.
During the program, the club heard about the local chapter’s achievements over the years. It published its first Local Government Handbook in 1967, studied land-use and a proposed TVA dam in the 1970s, helped form the Dispute Settlement Center in the 1980s and fought billboard deregulation, sponsored candidate forums and helped start the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy in the 1990s. From 2000 until today, it has hosted candidate forums, run the Kids Voting program and worked on voter registration, affordable housing, health care and juvenile justice.
Along with the national League of Women Voters, founded in 1920, the Hendersonville chapter encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League does not endorse candidates and is not affiliated with any political party. Membership is open to men and women of all ages. For more information, visit www.lwvhcnc.org or www.lwv.org.