April 2026
To access links in The Voter, members first must log in to the lwvtucson.org website. | In This Edition
- President's Message
- Looking Ahead
- Highlights From Last Month
- Honor and Support DEI
- In Memory: Elizabeth Chesney Zegura
- LWVGT Board of Directors
- Contact The Voter
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 | It is hard to believe it has already been a year and it is time for me to step down and pass on the stewardship of the LWVGT to our next President. We have done so much together over the last twelve months. One only has to look at our annual report to see how busy and impactful the LWVGT is, and what we accomplish with all volunteers. This is truly amazing!
When I took on this role, I shared that my motto would be courage, commitment, and community. Courage due to the unprecedented times; commitment, inspired by so many of our members' devotion to our work; and community, as we come together to do this work, and support one another through what may lie ahead.
I am grateful for the support of the LWVGT Board as together we navigated successes and challenges. I am thankful to our committee chairs for taking on leadership roles to ensure that all the various activities of the League move forward. I want to acknowledge the guidance of so many of our members who have the institutional and historical knowledge that keeps us adhering to our Bylaws and processes. This is a cornerstone of what makes the League such a respected institution.
While my term as President may soon be at an end, I am planning on stepping into the newly proposed President Emeritus role. I will serve as a non-voting member of the Board for the next year to ensure continuity and to be on hand to support our new President and Board as they get up to speed.
On that note, I want to remind all members to register to attend our Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 25th. Register HERE.
It has been an honor to serve in this role. I look forward to being a part of the good work of the LWVGT in the future.
Thank you,
Betsy B.
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Saturday, April 25th, 8:30am-12:30pm
Breakfast and Registration 8:30am to 9:00am
Program starts promptly at 9:00am
Business meeting from 9:30-12:30
Where: Junior League of Tucson
2099 E River Rd
Tucson, AZ 85718 | Registration is required HERE
$35.00 for active members |
Meet the LWVGT Nominees!
Please join us at the Annual Meeting
to add your vote and your voice.
|  | President-Elect (2026-2027)
Cheri Sprenger
Cheri has been a member of the LWVGT since 2021. Her first volunteer work with the LWVGT was as a desk volunteer. “I believe all new members should consider working as a desk volunteer after joining. It is a great way to get familiar with the activities and other members of the League.” She assisted with organizing and promoting candidate forums in 2024 for the Voter Services Committee and served as Chair of the Issues & Eggs Breakfast Forum event for four years. She lives in Dove Mountain with her husband Russ, niece Nikole and 3 cats. She loves to travel, play golf (sometimes) and work out!
Cheri has lived in Tucson for eight years, moving here from the Bay Area after spending over twenty years in California. Her early career started in the restaurant/hospitality industry, but she moved into non-profit work in her late thirties. She has served on multiple boards, has worked as an Executive Director for both 501c3 and 501c4 organizations, and has certification in downtown planning, non-profit financial management, board development, and special event planning and marketing. She also was Program Director for the North Tahoe Leadership Program for five years and completed both the North Lake Tahoe Leadership Program and the Walnut Creek Leadership Program.
"I look forward to meeting and working with more League members as we continue our great work for Southern Arizona communities." |  | | Advocacy Chair (2026-2028)
Robert Owens
Robert Owens is a small business owner and dedicated public servant with a career built on showing up for others. He is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award under President Barack Obama and the Community Safety Award from the Pima County Attorney's Office. Originally from Florida, Robert has spent over 25 years calling Arizona home, and is an alumni of both ASU and University of Arizona. A LWVGT member since 2025, he is proud to call Arizona home.
Robert has spent the last five years working in disaster relief and the public sector across five states, including on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing critical support to communities in difficult moments. Today, he channels that same discipline and compassion into his small business ventures, helping estates and companies navigate the asset liquidation process and consulting on grants and project management. |  | Secretary (2026-2028)
Susan Black
I joined the League of Women Voters in Evanston, Illinois in 2008. In April 2018 I joined LWV Greater Tucson. I have served in numerous leadership roles over the years. Most notably was serving as President of LWV Evanston from 2010-2013 while working full time at Northwestern University.
When I joined LWV Greater Tucson, I assisted with Voter Education Programs and after a year I was Voter Education Program chair. I also served as Communications Chair and following that I became team leader of the Gun Violence Prevention Team. I currently assist with Voter Registration, coordinating Naturalization Ceremonies.
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Nominating Committee Chair (2026-2027)
Shelley Erickson
I joined LWVGT in 2023 and belong to the DEI Committee, the Communications Committee, the Issues & Eggs Committee, and Writing for Impact. I also edit The Voter. I served as the Nominating Committee Chair in 2025-2026.
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 | Nominating Committee Member (2026-2027)
Janice Crist, PhD, RN
I have been active with LWVGT since retiring four years ago. As a member of the DEI Committee, I focus on outreach with the local Latino community, with community contacts through my previous family care-giving research at the College of Nursing, and the University of Arizona, where I taught for 21 years. I served on LWVGT’s Nominating Committee two years ago. I hope we continue to prioritize diversity on our Board.
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 | Nominating Committee Member (2026-2027)
Yolanda Herrera
I am a fifth generation Tucsonan, following in my father Manuel Herrera Jr.'s footsteps seeking to create positive change for everyone, including the environment. A retired interior design consultant, I now work at the 390th Memorial Museum to continue to honor the Greatest Generation. I have belonged to the LWVGT since 2022. |
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Membership Committee
New Member Meet & Greet
Saturday, April 11, 2026
10:00am to 12:00pm
| | Join us for this in-person event at the LWVGT office.
800 N Swan, Suite 126
Tucson, AZ 85711
520-327-7652
This is an informal opportunity to connect in-person with fellow members and meet Board leadership. You'll learn more about the League’s history and its impact in our community. We’ll also share volunteer opportunities including voter outreach, connecting with League members, helping with community events, and much more.
If you're ready to get involved, we're ready to show you the way!
We will provide light refreshments. Please RSVP HERE. | | | Environmental Issues Committee
Microplastics Particles in the Environment: A Rising Concern
| The Environmental Issues Committee (EIC) has been exploring the problems associated with waste management, such as what plastics we use and throw away and where they go. Many items in our daily lives are made of plastic such as bottles, bags, clothing and even tires. Plastics are useful, convenient, cheap, and lightweight. But as these materials break down and decompose, microplastics particles pollute land, water, and the atmosphere.
The EIC recently read Matt Simon's 2022 book, A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies. He describes in frightening detail the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in our environment. Furthermore, plastics are produced from fossil fuels and generate greenhouse gasses, thereby contributing to climate change. “Plastic Rain” pollution falls from the sky, containing synthetic microplastics particles. Studies indicate that people inhale, eat, and drink millions of these particles a year as they are in foods and have seeped into soil and aquifers. Plastic has been found in blood, colon tissue and placentas.
What are some solutions? Recycling of plastics is often not profitable and is just a Band-Aid solution. We need to avoid single-use products and use glass or paper materials that are more easily recyclable. Holding corporations responsible for the plastics they generate through laws, regulations, and taxes are also options. Adding filtration to water treatment systems can help minimize our exposure to microplastics. We need to find – or return to – healthier substitutes for the ubiquitous plastics in our lives.
|  |  | | Ready Set Vote Tucson, created by LWVGT, provides timely and accurate information about voting for Pima County.
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Vote411, created by LWV, provides election information you need, customized to your address.
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Issues & Eggs Breakfast Forum
Friday, March 6, 2026 | Thanks to Tucson Spotlight for a wonderful article that you can read HERE. They also included a link for the recording and you can find that on LWVGT YouTube Channel HERE. |  | | LWVGT thanks our sponsors! |  | LWVGT thanks our raffle donors! | | |
Writers' Corps
Writing for Impact
March 27, 2026 |  | | Previous Writing for Impact workshops have been close to two hours long. For this workshop, we focused on contacting elected officials and representatives and kept it to about fifty minutes.
|  | Our thanks to Teleia T., Northwest Campus Student Life Coordinator, and Pima Community College for inviting us to their Power Leadership Conference. | | |
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April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Local and national resources help us understand that sexual assault and violence affect a diverse population.
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers resources for tribal communities HERE.
- Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) HERE.
- City of Tucson Adult Sexual Assault Unit HERE.
- Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA) HERE.
- Arizona Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) HERE.
- University of Arizona provides links for these resources: locations on and off campus, state and national resources, resources for undocumented individuals, and resources for men HERE
| In Memory
Elizabeth Chesney Zegura
1949-2026 | Elizabeth Chesney Zegura passed away in New York City on February 10, 2026, at the age of 76, over two years after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma.
In Tucson, she was an Associate Professor (later emerita) in the Department of French and Italian at the University of Arizona, guiding and mentoring generations of students. Elizabeth was an active member of the Tucson community, dedicating time to St. Michael & All Angels Church, of which she was a member and had served on the vestry and altar guild; St. Michael's School, where she had served on the board of trustees; and the League of Women Voters.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Elizabeth's memory can be made to St. Michael & All Angels Church, the University of Arizona Department of French and Italian, the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, the ASPCA, UNICEF, the Glioblastoma Research Organization, the Musella Foundation, or another charity/organization of your choice.
You can read Elizabeth's full obituary HERE.
|  | | Elected Officers
President 2025-2026: Betsy B.
President-Elect 2025-2026: Linda M.
Secretary 2024-2026: Barb C.
Treasurer 2025-2027: OPEN
Public Programs 2024-2026: Teresa J.
Membership 2025-2027: Taylor M.
Communications 2025-2027: Haley K.
Advocacy 2024-2026: Lovely G.
Voter Services 2025-2027: Pat M. & Sharin M. | | Elected Directors
Bob D. 2024-2026
Linda L. 2024-2026
Appointed Director
| | | We want to hear from you!
All committees and members are encouraged to submit articles and information to be published in The Voter. Send articles via the links below, and note the 20th of the month is the deadline for all issues. However, exceptions can be made if your event happens late in the month. The editor may reach out to Committee Chairs requesting summaries for events that occur late in the month.
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