Empower Democracy, Join the Movement: Volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Northwest Westchester!

The Northwest Westchester League services the towns of Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Croton, Montrose, Ossining, Peekskill, Verplank and Yorktown.

We are at the early stages of forming our league and all of its committees. There are many volunteer opportunities available.

Voter services. 

The League’s main purpose and reason for existing is to provide services to voters.  The committee plans and executes robust voter registration and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) programs in all our communities; participates in the Fair Maps (redistricting) plan to inform and involve our communities in contributing to a fair plan for the State; plans, coordinates, and moderates candidate forums for local offices and records them for posting on our website; gathers candidate information for use with the Vote411.org website and “Voters Guide,” and oversees the distribution of the “Voters Guide” to individuals, schools, and businesses. 

Advocacy. 

The Advocacy Committee, in collaboration with other single-focus committees such as Environment & Health Care Reform, monitors and promotes current League issues and positions by making written and in-person statements to village boards, local newspapers, and at public hearings; lobbying elected officials; and developing contacts with other non-partisan organizations with similar goals.  A few examples are:

• women’s issues (e.g., equity in employment laws & practices, equal pay for jobs of comparable worth, domestic violence, human trafficking).  A recent legislative success was passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the NYS Constitution; now our energies will refocus on ratification by the voters on the 2024 November ballot;

• measures to increase local fair and affordable housing initiatives;

• land use and riverfront  planning that provides for open space and waterfront access;

• rural issues such as universal broadband access;

• campaign finance reform;

• greater equity in education financing.

Events. 

Our Events committee develops, presents and, when possible, records for future viewing, informational & social programs for members and the general public.    Each summer we meet to brainstorm about topical events for the coming year.  Programs under consideration include community meet and greets with visits with our elected officials.  We are actively seeking to expand our list and welcome your input.  We hope you'll join us!

Environment. 

Join us to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change on our air, water and soil through education, advocacy and action in our communities.  We track and promote environmentally conscious local, county- and state-wide legislation, including food scrap recycling, restricting single-use plastic food ware and packaging reduction.  We are monitoring the decommissioning of Indian Point and the plans of the Army Corps of Engineers to protect the NY-NJ harbor from storm surge and sea level rise.  As we service several river towns, we are dedicated to protecting the health of the Hudson River, imperiled by leakage from sewage treatment plants, stormwater runoff, and the residue of plastics.

Membership. 

The Membership Committee works to increase league membership through a DEI lens; reaches out to residents by distributing membership applications and packets to public libraries and realtors; adds League links and messages on village websites and public access stations; welcomes and communicates with new members to determine & channel interests; issues calls-to-action to members; maintains members’ contact information and oversees annual renewal drives & fundraising. 

Publicity/Social Media. 

This committee promotes awareness of the League’s positions and activities by posting information on our social media sites (Facebook and Instagram), and other online outlets; designing flyers, and writing and distributing press releases.

Youth Outreach. 

We are especially committed to recruiting student members aged 16 and above for League projects such as voter registration drives in high schools and special annual events such as “Vote Like a Girl,” and “Running & Winning,” a day-long workshop at Manhattanville College providing the opportunity to explore public service as a career with elected officials; and “Students Inside Albany,” an intensive four-day stint designed to introduce students to the workings of state government; they observe legislative sessions and shadow their senators and assembly members.  College student members are encouraged to join the LWV of Westchester’s Youth Engagement Committee and participate in the Inter-league College Campus Program, focusing on teaching students lobbying, voter registration, and get out the vote messaging.

Other Jobs:

Photography/Videography.

Website Maintenance.