League celebrates 80 years

The Jasper County League of Women Voters celebrated its 80th anniversary Thursday night at the Newton Arboretum. Current and past members gathered for a historical presentation, cake and socializing.

For women and men in the League of Women Voters, politics involves participation, and throughout the past 80 years, hundreds in the community have worked to create change.

The league’s goal is to improve government and engage citizens by creating an inclusive atmosphere, starting discussions on current events and educating voters. To the league, democracy only works if we participate.

The organization conducts local and national studies about issues such as education, immigration, agriculture and health; they are activists for voter registration, observe meetings such as city council, school board and the Skiff Medical Center board; and they offer the public opportunities to meet their local politicians at events such as forums and the legislator coffee each month during session.

“What first appealed me to League was the thorough way the they did studies and looked into issues. It was very impressive. I think it gave League credibility to see many projects to completion,” member Joan Tyler said.

At the anniversary celebration, current league members took a walk down memory lane by giving a presentation reviewing the past eight decades of league activity in the county.

When it first organized in 1934s, Gladys Nelson was the first president who later went on to serve as a representative in the Iowa State Legislature.

The group participated in a tuberculosis testing for food handlers, a study about the formation and structure of the United Nations, and a study about a potential community mental health center which later became Capstone.

As the group evolved so did its membership. Newton had three different meeting groups because its participation was too high to meet in one place at one time.

As time went on, the league held studies about civil defense, the use of voting machines and potential counseling in schools.

In the 1980s, the organization conducted studies on the protection for battered women, urban renewable and adult day care need which evolved into Willowbrook Adult Day Care.

Members take their information to city or county officials and discuss needs they find in the community based on research.

“I thought it was really interesting to hear history of the League over the past 80 years. It was an excellent review of all the good things that League has done for the community,” member Laura Engel said.

The league will host its annual Jasper County League Candidate Forums in October.

The first will begin at 7 p.m., Oct. 16, at the Newton City Hall Council Chambers and feature State Senate candidate Chaz Allen and Crystal Bruntz, State Representative candidates Dan Kelley and Patrick Payton, and State Representatives Greg Heartsill and Meghan Suhr. The second will begin at 7 p.m., Oct. 23, at the Newton City Hall Council Chambers and feature Jasper County Recorder candidates Denise Allan and Marshall Critchfield as well as Jasper County Supervisor candidates Joe Brock, Dennis Carpenter and Jeremy Heaberlin.