2019 LWVAL AWARDS: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
The League of Women Voters of Alabama has three awards which are awarded at state convention based on the vote of the state board and one with fixed criteria for its awarding.
2019 LWVAL Transparency in Government Award
In 2015 the League of Women Voters of Alabama (LWVAL) created the Transparency in Government Award to recognize efforts to bring greater transparency to governmental decision-making in Alabama at any political level. Nominations for the award may be submitted by any individual or organization in Alabama or any local league, MAL unit, or member. This biennial award will be presented at the 2019 State Convention in Tuscaloosa, May 18-19, 2019.
LWVAL and its members believe that transparency in government is one of the major mechanisms for making government accountable to the people. It aids in creating an open and inclusive government and in enhancing public trust in government officials and their decisions.
Those nominated may include local and state political leaders, elected or appointed, and citizens and members of nonprofit organizations who have championed transparency in government.
Submit a nominee for the 2019 LWVAL Transparency Award
The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2019.
Direct questions to Kristen De La Fuente (awards@lwval.org). The state board makes the final selection.
Joyce Woodworth Memorial and Jane Katz Public Service Awards
The Joyce Woodworth Memorial Award and Jane Katz Public Service Award are named in honor of two league members who gave outstanding, long-term service to league. The history of these awards and the service of the honored members are given below.
Any local league, MAL unit or individual LWVAL member may submit nominations for the Woodworth and Katz Awards. Recipients are selected at the discretion of the state board.
Joyce Woodworth Memorial Award
The Joyce Woodworth Memorial Award is presented to an individual or a League for outstanding work in League program. Program is the set of LWVAL positions that have been established through consensus or concurrence. LWVAL advocacy efforts are based upon program.
The LWVAL Board established the Joyce Woodworth Award in 2002 in memory of Joyce’s long-term service to the League at the state and local levels and to recognize her outstanding work in the area of Program. During 20 years of League leadership, Joyce edited the state VOTER and chaired the State Budget and State Finance and Taxation committees From 1980 – 1991, she authored a series of Facts and Issues publications for LWVAL, including the Tennessee Valley Authority in Alabama (1980); Ethics in Government: Facts and Issues (1988); Alabama’s Money: Government Finance and Taxation (1988) and Alabama’s Money: The State Budget Process (1991). Joyce served as vice president, secretary, and president (the position she held at the time of her death) of the Shoals League. Her service in the League, on the state and local level, is strong testimony of her enduring commitment to the mission and work of the League.
Nominations should include the name and league membership of the person or local league/MAL unit submitting the nomination, the nominee’s name and league membership as well as a description of the league work of the individual and why it merits recognition.
Submit a nominee for the 2019 Joyce Woodworth Memorial Award
The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2019.
Direct questions to Kristen De La Fuente (awards@lwval.org). The state board makes the final selection.
Jane Katz Public Service Award
The LWVAL Board established the Jane Katz Public Service Award in 2005 to recognize an individual or organization whose work strengthens democracy.
The award is named for Jane Katz whose advocacy work as the LWVAL Legislative Chair is legend in the League and the Legislature. Appointed to the new position of Legislative Chair in 1964, Jane led the League’s advocacy efforts in the 1960’s – 1970’s for the support of constitutional reform, education, equalization of property taxes, consumer protection law, reform of election law amendment, and environmental issues. She originated and published the Capitol Newsletter that featured the League’s priority legislation. She also originated and published the Voting Record of legislators at the end of the sessions. She was known for reminding us to “… congratulate ourselves on our victories, console each other on our defeats and persevere.”
Jane was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002. Her biography on the AWHF website describes her as “a woman of vision and courage” and “an incisive critic of government” with “the ability to make complex, controversial, sensitive political issues understandable to average people.” Jane Katz’s work as an advocate for good government and her history of promoting informed citizen participation in government is an inspiration to the League to make democracy work better.
Nominations should include the name and league membership of the person or local league/MAL unit submitting the nomination, the name of the individual or organization nominated as well as a description of their work on behalf of strengthening democracy and why it merits recognition.
Submit a nominee for the 2019 Jane Katz Public Service Award
The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2019.
Direct questions to Kristen De La Fuente (awards@lwval.org). The state board makes the final selection.
Phyllis Rea Membership Award
The Phyllis Rea Membership Award is given to the local league/MAL unit with the highest percentage membership growth over the previous two years based on the official national PMP count of local league members. This year two awards will be given: one for Leagues/MAL Units with more than 50 members and the one for Leagues/MAL Units with fewer than 50 members.
The LWVAL Board established this award in 1983 to honor Phyllis Rea’s constant and inspirational commitment to the League. Joining in 1957, Phyllis was one of the founding members of the Auburn (now East Alabama) League. She served as LWVAL Voter Editor, 1968-1972, and as LWVAL President, 1972-1979. Beginning in 1972, and with LWVUS permission, LWVAL sponsored litigants in a federal lawsuit to defend voter rights. As League president, Rea testified in several voter rights lawsuits across Alabama. Along with Leaguers Jane Katz and Olivia Harrison, Phyllis wrote and secured passage of seven election law bills. In 1973, she led the League effort to advocate for the reformed Judicial Article of the Alabama Constitution, work that brought high praise of its author Judge Howell Heflin. Phyllis led the League campaign for other constitutional reform efforts including home rule and a just tax system. She fostered publication of voter education materials and factual publications on such subjects as environmental management practices. Phyllis Rea was committed to good government and the informed and active participation of Alabama citizens.