Locals join League of Women Voters board, eye on Nov. 7

Pascackvalley

The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley (LWVNV) elected and installed its 2023-2024 board of directors and officers at its 77th annual meeting.

As well, the LWVNV outlined its plans to provide voters with information they need to make informed decisions in the General Election in New Jersey on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The LWVNVʼs membership heard speaker Deborah Visconi, President/CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, discuss the challenges of transforming the Paramus-based 100-year hospital from a for-profit institution to a not-for-profit facility and her on-going leadership focus to both improve and expand service(s), while obtaining positive operating margins.

New Bridge Medical Center is the countryʼs fourth largest, publicly owned hospital, serving as a safety net for New Jerseyʼs most vulnerable populations in the stateʼs most populous county.

Board of Directors Installed

At the Annual Meeting, the

LWVNV elected and welcomed its new board of directors. The officers are Leonia residents Nike Prieston Bach as president and Joyce Luhrs as first vice president of marketing and public relations chair.

Other officers elected to the board are Vicki Sidrow from Fort Lee as treasurer and Andrew Meehan from Hackensack as secretary These members were elected directors: Demarest residents Linda Cetta and Maureen Neville, Park Ridge residents Kelly Epstein and Lucy Heller, Anne Lander from Harrington Park, and Sally Tayeb of Dumont.

Peggy Kabakow (off-board) joined Vicki Sidrow on the Budget Committee. Cathie Mick (off-board) and Andrew Meehan joined the Nominating Committee.

Empowering Voters

During the past 12 months, the LWVNV provided voters with nonpartisan materials to make informed decisions in elections. The chapter also moderated at Candidate Forums, a key service offered by the League for decades, allowing voters to hear from candidates and ask questions.

The LWVNV joined League members throughout the state to prepare for the Primary Election in June providing voter information about the election process. The chapter reached out to libraries in its service area, distributed voter information to the public, and interviewed state legislators.

The LWVNV joined other League chapters across the country in celebrating the organizationʼs 103rd birthday on Feb. 14.

The League of Women Voters of the United States United Nationsʼobserver provided updates about meetings and the Leagueʼs activities at the United Nations on the chapterʼs social media platforms.

The LWVNV discussed and approved:

• Retaining all of the League of Women Voters of New

Jerseyʼs Study and Action, 20212023 positions;

• Undertaking a new study on reparations to address the harm caused by New Jerseyʼs role in slavery and its legacy of systemic racial discrimination;

•Undertaking a study of alternative election systems, including the use of Ranked Choice Voting; and

•Recommending an update to the Legal Status Women position to reflect the economic security needs of women as they age.

Bach said in a statement, “For 103 years, the League of Women Voters has sought to empower citizens to shape better communities through information and advocacy.”

She said, “We are perhaps best known for our non-partisan voter services: registering voters in towns, high schools, or senior citizen facilities; organizing and conducting candidate forums; and creating a Voterʼs Guide of questions and answers of candidates, who are running for elected office.”

She said, “The LWVNV invites residents in our 29 Northern Valley towns to join us

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