ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606200072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
The Roanoke Valley's League of Women Voters chapter is calling it quits after 43 years of educating voters and taking an active role in debates over gun control, health care, at-risk children and many other issues.
The chapter's members have voted to disband as of June 30.
Membership has been dropping - from about 90 to 45 in the past 15 years - and board members say they've had trouble getting young people to join or finding people who want to step into leadership positions.
Chairwoman Phyllis Bailey said the decision was the right one to make, considering the reduced support the chapter has had in recent years. But it still saddened her.
"I've only been here eight years," Bailey said. "There are members of our league who were here at the beginning, in the 1950s, and they've stuck with the league all those years. I'm sure it's even harder on them."
Bailey hopes that someone eventually will step forward and try to restart a chapter. The League of Women Voters of Virginia will hang on to a list of names of the former Roanoke Valley chapter so they can be contacted if someone tries to resurrect the chapter.
The chapter is paying off all its remaining bills, and then will turn over whatever's left from treasury - probably a few hundred dollars, Bailey said - to the state and national leagues.
Members of the Roanoke Valley chapter can carry on as at-large members of the state and national leagues. Anyone who wants to be an at-large member can contact the League of Women Voters of Virginia at 27 Stoneridge Drive, Waynesboro 22980 or (540)943-2766.
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