Side A: The Bay Village Chapter of the League of Women Voters was established in Spring 1948, with Dorothy M. Austin as president. The goal of the chapter was to ensure all citizens of Bay Village had the information they needed to cast an educated vote. They first met in the Cahoon family homestead, which then served as the city library and later as Rose Hill Museum. Gladys H. Luecke led the group on its first study, a city charter form of government for the village. Voters approved the charter on April 12, 1949, and the Village of Bay officially became the “City of Bay Village” in 1951. Since its founding, the Bay Village Chapter has made an educated voter its first priority by supporting citizen participation in government and influencing public policy through education and advocacy.
Side B: The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 following passage of the 19th Amendment, with the aim to help newly enfranchised women exercise their vote. The same year, the Cleveland League of Women Voters was founded by Belle Sherwin, who went on to be President of the National League for 10 years. Upholding the League’s commitment to promote democracy and empower voters, dedicated members of the Bay Village Chapter of the League of Women Voters have been active at the community, state, and national levels. Their work has encompassed: preparing voter guides; holding nonpartisan candidate forums; educating students on the importance of voting; promoting voting access for all; registering voters; promoting fair and representative districts; and encouraging transparency in government. The Bay Village Chapter was honored to celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2023.
