Traverse Area District Library
Food Pantry Donation Drive - Fill the Book Bike and help those in need.
 TADL Food Drive details
Community Resources - Community Resources Page

Jan 12, 2026 Advocacy Committee Meeting. See the LWVGTA Event Calendar for the Zoom link, 10:30AM

Jan 15, 2026 Voter Services Committee Meeting. New Members are welcome. See the LWVGTA Event Calendar for the Zoom link, 10:00AM

Misinformation/Disinformation Videos
View these informative videos from the LWV Macomb County.
WHAT IS DISINFORMATION?
HOW TORECOGNIZE & STOP THE SPREAD OF DISINFORMATION
HOW MODERN TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS THE SPREAD OF DISINFORMATION

Data Centers In Michigan: What You Need to Know
Hot topic! Here is a good primer about what all the fuss is about.

• What data centers are and why they're booming in the Great Lakes
• Facts about water and energy use
• What's happening in Michigan and across the region right now
• The potential economic benefits and immediate environmental concerns
• What can be done to develop data centers responsibly in the Great Lakes

Bridge Detroit-Data Centers in Michigan

Let Voters Vote!
The League of Women Voters of Michigan Presents a Panel Discussion on Why Proposed Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) is Needless and Only Serves to Suppress the Vote. Zoom Registration Here!

Disability Voting Outreach
Several federal laws affirm the right of individuals with disabilities to vote independently and privately, but not everyone knows how to utilize the accessible voting options. Charlotte will be presenting a series of educational programs on this topic titled "Understanding Voting". Two programs are currently scheduled for December 18 to Grand Traverse Industries(GTI) and January 15 to Disability Network. The League believes that every person should have the confidence and knowledge to vote.

Crawford County Unit (CCU) is getting closer to becoming an independent League. The name will be the LWV of North Central Michigan (LWV NCM) and covers the counties of Crawford, Otsego and Roscommon.  Meetings will be on the 4th Monday of the month. Special December 15th holiday event:
10:00am-11:30am, Grayling City Hall, 1020 City Blvd, Grayling.
Speakers from local County Food Banks Presentations. Bring food bank/pantry donations. See the League Event Calendar for details. 

Voter Services Committee - Many thanks to everyone who supported our November election as voters, election workers and board of canvasser observers.  There were elections in four of our five counties in November and we were able to have observers in each county. In two counties our observers were able to report on complicated situations so that they could be monitored by state election support groups. In general the members of Boards of Canvassers are welcoming and thank us for our reliable attendance as observers.

If you were a Board of Canvasser Observer, and did not yet fill out the feedback survey from the team at the LWV Michigan who coordinate this project, here is a survey opportunity on the BOC observation process: BOC Observer Survey .

And, many thanks to everyone who supported our voter service activities in 2025.  We had Voter Education tables at Friday Night Live, Voter Registration Day, and the No Kings 2 Rally.  We had a voter information table in November in the lobby of Old Town Playhouse who presented a one-act play "The Minutes" about a city council meeting. We observed Boards of Canvassers in both August and November.

We are making plans for 2026, which will be a full year of elections, issues and candidates. Our next Voter Services Committee meeting will be via zoom on Thursday Jan 15, 10am. The zoom link is on our event calendar on our website, lwvgta.org. Please join us and bring your creative ideas for reaching out to all voters in our counties to increase voter turnout, and voter understanding of the issues & candidates on the ballots. We are working on creating presentations for libraries and small groups, reaching out to voters with physical challenges that make it difficult to cast ballots, brainstorming about Democracy Trivia nights - all suggestions and volunteers are welcome, please join us.

Happy Holidays! Rest up, enjoy the season and join us in January as we kick off a busy year of Voter Service activities!

Advocacy Committee - The Advocacy Committee has been busy with writing letters to appear in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and other local publications. There have been two in the paper in October and another letter should appear within the next few weeks. We are using our VOICE to inform and educate the public. If you missed them, you may read them here.
RE Forum - LWV Protecting the Vote in Grand Traverse Area
RE Forum Vote Security - What GT County Does Right
RE Opinion - Decline to Sign anti-voter petitions

Ann Swaney - claims to be an introvert, but I have seen her in action, and she is quite the unstoppable force. The LWVGTA has been fortunate to have Ann as an active member. She currently has been leading the Natural Resource and Environment Advocacy committee to do great things, and is a Michigan representative to the LWV Lake Michigan Inter Leaue Organization, but has also held the position of Secretary. Ann was born & raised in Flint & Higgins Lake (summers) and as a youth in Girl Scouts, taught swimming & boating for 2 years at a Girl Scout Camp. She loves animals and the outdoors and attended MSU with the intention of becoming a veterinarian but a majored in Math and English and pursued a master’s degree in library science. You may have met Ann while she was librarian at NMC. Join in with the Natural Resources and Environment committee and get to know Ann and how the League operates.

How did you learn about the League of Women Voters and why did you decide to join?
Ann - I was a founding member of the Pearland, Texas LWV back in the early 1970s. Unfortunately, they were swallowed up by the Houston Texas LWV and are no more. After moving to Old Mission 40 years ago, I became friends with several women who were local members of the Grand Traverse League. Many of these women I respected and looked up to, so paid attention to what they did but never joined. Finally in 2012, when I first retired from NMC, Barbara Berry came up to me at church and suggested I join the LWVGTA. That’s all it took. Next thing I knew I was on the Board.

What do you do to relax when you get some time to yourself?
Ann - I’m an introvert at heart -- so read, work on my so-called lawn, pet my cat(s), and take long walks in the woods. Being active in organizations gives me plenty of socialization time.

Have you read any good books lately you would recommend?
Ann - I belong to three book clubs, so have read many wonderful books. Currently reading Malala, the story behind her work bringing women’s education to Pakistan and other countries around the world where women are treated as second-class citizens.

Who or What inspires you?
Ann - Nature is an inspiration, of course, but really the women I work with everyday at NMC, Historical Society, Church, and of course the League, are the ones who really inspire me. Also, my daughter, who has managed to work full time while raising 4 teenagers.

I think all women have great powers. What do you think your super-power is?
Ann - Sense of humor. I’d be lost without it.

Wise Words

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world:
someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”
― Tom Bodett  

Hoping for peace and joy this holiday season. 
Many 💖♥️💕 Thanks to all the Election Workers.
You make our elections Work!