For immediate release
                        
Submitted by the League of Women Voters --
                                                 
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut, recently selected by the Washington-based Ruth S. Shur Leadership Institute for a nationally funded development initiative, held training for 24 members from nine of its 28 Connecticut local Leagues. The League of Women Voters of Hamden-North Haven was represented by its co-president Mary Bigelow and Eileen O’Neill; attending as an observer was Elona Vaisnys, former president and a Ruth S. Shur Fellow/National Coach.
The Ruth S. Shur Leadership Institute was established by the League of Women Voters of United States thanks to a gift by Walter Shur in memory of his late wife who had been an active League member. The Institute’s Membership and Leadership Development program will be implemented by the local leagues in all 50 states with the support of a national coaches team and a cadre of state coaches.
 
The Connecticut coaches are Nancy Donoghue of Canton who will coach the Cheshire-Wallingford and Hamden-North Haven Leagues; Jara Burnett of Greenwich will coach the East Shore, Ridgefield, and Stamford Leagues; Christine Lodewick of Ridgefield will coach the Fairfield and Mansfield Leagues; and Barbara Checksfield of Canton will coach the Greater Hartford and Westport Leagues.
 
During the training held at the Meriden Sheraton July 16-17, the participants attended “best practices” workshops conducted by national trainers, Cheryl Graeve of Washington, DC, Brenda Rogers of North Carolina, and Carol Reimers of Connecticut.  Training included techniques for empowering citizens to have a voice in their communities and for heightening League visibility. A national coach will advise state coaches, and the state coaches will advise their assigned Leagues monthly as they implement leadership and membership growth activities.
Commenting on the national development initiative, LWVCT President Cheryl Dunson said, “In this time of increased political incivility and growing polarization, the League of Women Voters is needed more than ever. A strong League in every community is the best way to ensure that we have an American citizenry that is informed on the issues, ready and able to cast a ballot, and to ensure that every vote is counted.”
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization of women and men that encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. For more information about the national leadership initiative or to join the League, contact the LWVCT at 203/288-7996, lwvct@lwvct.org, or visit www.lwvct.org 
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Cheryl Graeve, trainer, League of Women Voters US,
Nancy Donoghue, state coach,
Mary Bigelow, co-president, LWV of Hamden-North Haven.