The Westlake/North Olmsted Chapter continued to engage with our community in a variety of ways, seeking to register new voters, educate voters and our own membership, and raise awareness about League efforts to support democracy. Below are some highlights from the past year.
Membership:We enjoyed new members joining us throughout the year. The November 2025 General Election and continued interest in Ohio and US proposed legislation prompted new memberships and participation.
Voter Service:Our priority remains educating voters on changes in election laws, promoting early voting and voting by mail, if necessary. A group of chapter members participated in Westlake’s Fourth of July parade and North Olmsted’s August Homecoming parade. These events increase visibility in our communities and engage with other community leaders. Due to construction of the Community Park, the North Olmsted Homecoming festival had fewer ways to participate this year. In September, by invitation from the Westlake Porter Public Library we hosted a table all day with volunteers in the library for National Voter Registration Day. In addition to stickers for kids and conversations with library patrons, we completed one voter registration and six vote-by-mail applications. We appreciate our community libraries and their staff for including us.
In fall of 2025, we held moderated Candidate Forums for Westlake City Council and School Board, and North Olmsted Finance Director and City Council. The Westlake Council of PTAs partnered with us to promote the Westlake School Board forum. We were asked by the Olmsted Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club to provide guidance with their forum for Olmsted Falls Mayoral race, Council seats, Board of Trustees for Olmsted Township, and Board of Education.
The Westlake-North Olmsted Chapter, along with the Bay Village and Rocky River Chapters, hosted a Candidate Forum in September 2025 for Rocky River Municipal Court Judge and Clerk of Court. We worked together with those chapters again to host a forum for Ohio's 7th Congressional District prior to the May 2026 Primary Election. Forums were held in person and recorded. Thanks to the partnership with LUSH Cosmetics and LWVUS, the Bay Village and Westlake/North Olmsted chapters hosted a table at LUSH in Crocker Park on a Saturday afternoon for two hours on March 28, 2026. During that time we checked voter status, completed registration forms, vote-by-mail applications, and gave out VOTE411 information. Along with visibility and conversations with younger demographics of voters, we talked with 56 voters and completed three voter forms, including for a 17-year old eligible to vote in the May Primary. One person expressed interest in joining the League, so we provided membership information. Leading up to the November 2025 General Election, our members volunteered at the Westlake Community Services Center for LWV information (two hours a week for five weeks), and presented information and Q&A at a North Olmsted Senior Center Luncheon. This work included assistance to seniors with changes in laws, voter registration, change of address, and vote by mail applications.
Based on previous outreach to local Senior Living facilities, we received numerous requests to return to aid their residents and staff. Trish Zaiem and Bruce Robinson coordinated ten visits to eight different senior living
facilities in Westlake and North Olmsted in September and October, helping residents prepare for the November 2025 General Election and cultivating relationships with the facilities’ staff. The results included 3 new voter registrations, 29 address updates, 119 vote-by-mail applications, and numerous discussions with voters. In March and April, we made seven visits to five different senior living facilities in Westlake and North Olmsted, in advance of the May 2026 Primary Election, resulting in 3 new voter registrations, 6 address updates, and 87 vote-by-mail applications, along with countless conversations with residents and staff.
Under the leadership of Voter Service Chair Bruce Robinson, members from several LWVGC chapters registered voters at twice-monthly U.S. Naturalization ceremonies, resulting in more than 1,061 new citizens registered to vote in 2025, and 295 so far in 2026. Some ceremonies were cancelled due to the federal shut down between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, and due to fewer countries-of-origin allowed for naturalization. Bruce Robinson is working with LWVGC on a program to determine voting patterns for new citizens and help needed for them to participate in elections confidently.
Advocacy: Since LWVUS partnered with No Kings, some members attended rallies on October 18 and March 28. While members had positions to advocate that were important to them, some members focused on checking voter status, forms, and providing VOTE411 information to rally attendees. There were several well-attended area rallies and downtown Cleveland on those dates. Monica Newell kept our chapter updated with relevant voting-related legislation, the release of Ohio’s voter data from the Ohio Secretary of State, challenges to vote-by-mail, and other policy changes.
Chapter Events and Outreach:As a Chapter, we continued to focus on opportunities to learn and discuss the importance of preserving our democracy. Various events included a November post-election debrief meeting, a popular Holiday potluck luncheon, and in January 2025, we held a discussion and review of our priorities with new and existing chapter members. In February, League members attended the touring Broadway show, “Suffs” at Playhouse Square, followed in March by a tour of The Darl Center for the Arts and attending the performance, “Conscience.”
Most recently, using many pieces of League memorabilia, we were invited by the Cuyahoga County Public Library to display historical items at the North Olmsted Branch at their April event, “Suffagettes”. We appreciate our local public library and opportunities to partner with them.
We will close out our year with a May post-election debrief meeting, and our in-person potluck Annual Meeting Luncheon on June 6, 2026 hosted in a member’s home. Also, from May 1 to June 30, along with LWV Bay Village, we are running a fundraiser with Dean’s Nursery to help replenish our chapter’s operating and advocacy budget.
We would like to thank our Leadership Team, particularly Bruce Robinson (Voter Service), Diane Ahlers and Tina Gangidine (Membership), Monica Newell (Advocacy), and Theresa Simek (Finance, Webmaster). Without their hard work and dedication, we would not have been able to accomplish all this great work over the past year. We look forward to growing our League leadership team, working with other local Leagues, and increasing our efforts with community partners going forward.
Kathy Woolner and Nadia Zaiem
Chapter Co-Chairs