League experience integral to many town officials' success

Over the last 35 years, people have joined the League of Women Voters of Westford for various reasons-some want to be more informed about an issue and others have a desire to study an issue they care about. Many times that first step leads to greater interest and involvement in town government. Current League members sit on Westford boards and committees ranging from the Finance Committee to the Board of Library Trustees to the Community Preservation Committee to the Board of Selectmen.

Many of these members share the League's belief that democratic government depends on the informed, active participation of its citizens and in the League's goal of empowering people to shape better communities.

"These are the people who embody the League of Women Voters' tenet, 'Democracy is not a spectator sport,' on a daily basis," said long-time League member Ellen Harde.

Judy Culver is a familiar face in Westford because of her service to the town-she served on the School Committee for a decade and has been a member of the Finance Committee for nine years. When Culver joined the League about 28 years ago she had no inclination to get involved in town government.

"I never intended to hold public office when I joined the League, but in watching the various boards, I thought, 'Gee, I can do that,'" Culver said.

Her involvement in the League's observer corps gave Culver her first taste of what the town boards were all about. She attended School Committee meetings and reported on what was happening in the Bulletin, the publication of the LWV of Westford. Watching the meetings so closely piqued her interest in running for the School committee. Later she was the observer for the Finance Committee, and that led to her being appointed to the committee, on which she still serves.

"The most important thing I learned as a League member was how to run a meeting," said Culver, who has served the League as a board member. "The League does an outstanding job running meetings. They start on time and end on time and they follow an agenda. It's something that I've carried forward to my work in town and to my paying jobs as well."

Denali Delmar already was interested in politics when she joined the League about 15 years ago.

"I was already indoctrinated in participatory government," Delmar said. "I was part of the 'if you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem' generation."

Delmar also served as an observer for the League, covering multiple town boards, including the Planning Board and the Library Board of Trustees, two boards on which she later was elected to serve.

"(As an observer) you get to know what challenges they are facing and what the weaknesses are in the bylaws…and you also see how the boards work together, or don't work together, depending on personalities," Delmar said. "It was fascinating. I loved doing it."

Learning about Robert's Rules of Orders, a guide to parliamentary procedure intended to help organizations run smoothly, is the most important thing she brought from her work with the League to her elected positions, Delmar said.

Chris Romeo joined the League during a meeting the League was holding to discuss education reform. Romeo and his wife, Deborah, a middle school teacher in Lowell and League member, came to the meeting, because of their passion for adequate funding of Massachusetts schools.

"The discussion was so informative and I really got into it," Romeo said of that first meeting. However, it was a consensus meeting, the only League meeting where only members can participate in discussions. So, Romeo took out his checkbook and joined the League on the spot so that he would be able offer up his opinions.

Romeo, who serves as chair to both the Board of Selectmen and the Affordable Housing Committee, said he is impressed by the contributions of so many League members in town affairs and especially appreciates the League-sponsored Candidates' Night and various forums, particularly the recent affordable housing forum.

"Knowledge is power for sure and the League is always involved in disseminating information," Romeo said. "The League is an organization that is very thorough, thank God, and they always follow through."

When people join the League, level of involvement is an individual decision. At a minimum joining the League is a great way to get involved in town, meet some very interesting people with diverse interests and stay informed about a variety of issues in the Westford League's Bulletin. From there the sky's the limit.

This fall the League of Women Voters of Westford celebrates its 35th anniversary. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to both women and men. For information on joining, contact Chris Kandianis at 978-692-0890