League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn announces 2021-22 member award winners
The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn recently announced its 2021-22 annual award winners, recognizing outstanding contributions from among its hundreds of members.
Selected by committee from nominations submitted by the members, the awards are bestowed upon the recipients during the annual meeting. The League has given these awards for the past 22 years.
The awards recognize the outstanding contribution to voter education and community service that has resulted from their volunteer efforts, benefiting the citizens of the village of Glen Ellyn.
Awards were given to Bernadette Laszewski, Barbara Kwaitkowsky and Erica Nelson.
Susan B. Anthony Voter Service Award
The Susan B. Anthony Voter Service Award goes to a member or members who have worked diligently to register voters and educate voters on candidates and issues. The award for 2021-22 goes to the outgoing Voter Services Director Bernadette (Bernie) Laszewski, a two-time winner of this award. A member since 2019, Laszewski got involved immediately in voter education and was sworn in as a voter registrar. In 2020, she took on the role of voter services co-chair and had to reinvent the role due to the pandemic. According to League co-president Sarah Allan, "Bernie's commitment to the League through her belief in the League's work is what makes her so effective in this role. She spent countless hours resetting the candidate forum format to a virtual program, which was emulated across DuPage County League forums."
Laszewski also led the charge to create a program targeting young voters through specific targeting at the train station during Lollapalooza weekend, in high schools through government teachers and special birthday postcards, and with "selfie" frames that helped soon-to-be 18-year-olds picture themselves as voters. Her voter services team also worked to arrange demonstrations, along with six other DuPage LWV and the Office of the DuPage County Clerk, for the new voting equipment that debuted in the June 28 Illinois primary.
Outstanding New League Member Service Award
The Outstanding New League Member Service Award is bestowed to a new member who has become actively involved and assumed a leadership role in the League. The 2021-22 award goes to Barbara Kwaitkowsky.
Kwaitkowsky is a newcomer to the League as well as Glen Ellyn, having moved with her husband from Oak Park in 2020.
"Barbara jumped in head first in her first year as a member of our League," said League co-president Michelle Thorsell. "She has fully engaged in League activities, volunteering to serve on the Civic Betterment Party Study, agreeing to serve in a leadership position on our 2022-23 board as director of local government, and most recently, volunteering to attend the national League of Women Voters Convention where she will serve as one of our League's delegates. She's a rising star."
Phyllis Renfro Community Action Award
The Phyllis Renfro Community Action Award goes to a member who has been exceptionally active in League and is an activist in the community.
The winner for 2021-22 is Erica Nelson. Nelson recently won the Hometown Hero award from the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, and the League has recognized her for a wide range of league and community activities to which she has committed her time, energy, and leadership.
Nelson served as co-president of the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn from 2019-2021 and is currently a voter service co-director.
According to co-president Allen, "Erica's excellent management skills in so many areas of League leadership are deeply valued and appreciated. She has a strong commitment to the mission of the League and works tirelessly to ensure that our democracy remains strong."
Nelson is one of the founders and a board member of One Community, a nonprofit organization in Glen Ellyn dedicated to creating an inclusive community. She was a Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 board member for 12 years, and served as president of the board. She has also been on the PEP Education Foundation board since 2015 and is an active member of Rotary and the Glen Ellyn Resource Center.
In addition, Nelson is an advocate for improving resources for mental health services, helping steward a successful effort to pass legislation creating a 708 Mental Health Board in Milton Township that is now actively serving the community.
Co-president Thorsell added: "Our league and our community are fortunate that Erica is so committed to improving the lives of others. In this work, she is a leader who engages others and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition."
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The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn is a nonpartisan political organization that 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. The League welcomes new members and civic minded community members to its public meetings and candidate forums.
For more information, visit lwvge.org