Annual Meeting: A Blooming Success!
This year’s annual meeting was “blooming different!”
It was held at the main branch of the Catawba County Library in Newton on Saturday, June 7.
The event began with a luncheon buffet enjoyed at tables decorated with spring flowers and work gloves.
The official meeting started with enthusiastic audience participation. It ended with small groups discussing ways to help the League flourish.
Priya Palmer, president, summarized the League’s successes this past year and noted the distinction associated with being named “A Rising Star” League in North Carolina.
She introduced the concept that democracy is like a garden and needs to be tended. Sometimes that is hard work. The members in the audience joined in her talk by enthusiastically voicing the cue cards to emphasize the work that can be required.
The members reviewed charts summarizing the League’s 2024-25 finances and the proposed budget for 2025-26. The proposed revisions to the By-laws were approved unanimously. Leaders for the upcoming year were elected. (Details in the following article.)
Inspired and inspiring. Felicia Culbreath-Setzer.
Felicia Culbreath-Setzer inspired the group with her speech. She encouraged members to accept the roles that society expects of them but not to let those expectations limit what they do.
She incorporated some history of the US suffrage movement to show the power and influence that women can have when they are united (with men, too) for a cause.
Ms Culbreath-Setzer serves on the Catawba County Board of Elections.
She is an award willing employee with the NC Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and helped facilitate the partnership with the League for the candidate forum held in the fall of 2024.
Dianna Wynn, President of LWVUS, was featured by video in a message to encourage League members to be inspired by the suffragists and to be bold in defending democracy.
The last portion of the meeting offered members a chance to rotate through three groups. At each table, with a short time limit, members had a chance to respond to fun, personal questions and then work together to generate ideas to help the League flourish in targeted areas. Laughter happened. This was a meeting where inspiration and interaction was intermixed with the necessary business as shown in more photos below.
Leaders Chosen to Serve LWVCV 2025-26
l-r, Tiffany Canaday, Darla Wiedeman, Julie Pepper, Priya Palmer, Linda Greenwell, Betty Lohr and Tom Lundy.
The following members will be serving in elected positions for 2025-26:
· President-Priya Palmer
· Secretary-Tom Lundy
· Treasurer-Linda Greenwell
Joining the above officers on the Board will be: Julie Pepper, Betty Lohr and Darla Wiedeman.
Tiffany Canaday is an exoffio member of the Catawba Valley Board and a member of the LWV North Carolina Board.
Also elected, but not serving in Board positions next year are Nominating Committee Chair, Jill Patton, and Nominating Committee Member, Carol Trivette.
Carol Trivette, Glenn Fisher, Emily Sengupta and Cindy Lundy, were thanked for their service to the League as they are leaving their current roles.
Suddenly, We Are a Star!
League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley League (lwvcv) is North Carolina Rising Star Award Winner for 2025!
The League of Women Voters of North Carolina recognized our League at the state convention in Durham, on May 3. The award cited the work of the members of the League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley in 2024 for Leagues under 100 members because we:
• presented or co-hosted 35 events over three counties;
• interacted in person with nearly 1300 event attendees;
• reached almost 18,000 people via social media and our website;
• distributed over 4300 pieces of informational material;
• placed 101 yard signs, billboards, banners, and car magnets to promote voter awareness; and
• monitored Boards of Election meetings in four counties.
These achievements are a testament to not only members' dedication, ingenuity, and tireless efforts but also to the power of collaboration. Over the past few years, the League has cultivated strong, lasting partnerships with 14 nonpartisan organizations that share its commitment to strengthening democracy. These partnerships have enabled LWVCV to expand its reach, engage diverse communities, and create meaningful opportunities for civic participation.
According to League President, Priya Palmer, “Our League embodies the spirit of outreach, collaboration, and service, proving that even a small but passionate group can drive meaningful change. We remain steadfast in our mission to inform, engage, and ensure every voice is heard. We are thrilled that the state organization has recognized our efforts in this way.”
members mingle
These and more seats were filled at LWVCV’s membermingle. It was held at Betty Lohr’s home on the evening of May 8 with the dual purpose of having a time for members to socialize and to share a preview of the New Plan for 2025-26. Tom and Cindy Lundy helped share hosting responsibilities.
LWVCV has pivoted its yearly plan. With challenges, specifically to voting rights and in general to democracy, LWVCV reached out in February to members for new ideas, used components of its current annual plan and incorporated ideas from the March LWVNC Western Regional Meeting to create a New Plan for 2025-26.
The plan evolved around the question:
What meaningful actions can our League take this year to support our community and our members, while staying true to our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy in a nonpartisan manner?
The ten-point plan has been sent to all members with the opportunity for them to choose how they want to support it.
Priya Palmer, President—Honored with Community Service Award
Given by the Friends of Ridgeview Branch Library and the Women’s Resource Center
Dr. Ida Clough, in presenting the award, mentioned that Priya has found a deep sense of purpose—believing that life is best lived with passion and service to others.
Dr. Clough noted that most recently, “Priya has been actively involved in the local NAACP chapter, serves on the Board of Exodus Homes—supporting individuals in recovery—and finds her most cherished work in the League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley.”
Other women honored at the Women’s History Month Event were Dr. Jane Everson, Yaidee Castillero Fox, and Betty Coleman-McDowell. Felicia Culbreath-Setzer shared an inspirational talk with those in attendance.
The event was held on March 13, 2025 at the Ridgeview Library.
In her acceptance remarks (shown in the video above), Priya concluded by encouraging everyone to check their voter registration . . . and then, as you can see, she offered a just a few more suggestions.
Leaguers Brainstorm Ideas for 2025.
On February 24th, League members gathered in Newton to generate ideas on how best to be active during this year. They focused on a single question: What meaningful actions can our League take this year to support our community and our members, while staying true to our mission of Empowering Voters & Defending Democracy in a nonpartisan manner?
The session began with a video featuring national League president, Dianna Wynn. Dianna is the former president of the Wake County LWV.
The participants first focused on the state of voters now. Then they began creating ideas that could be implemented this year. Later in the two hour session, each member there twas give 6 green dots to stick on the ideas they favored. A second phase of this planning will include the opportunity for those who could not attend to complete a survey adding their digital green dots to the list of ideas.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”