Staff photo / Bob Coupland The Trumbull County Chapter of the League of Women Voters, from left, Pam Hallett, board member; Peggy Boyd, president; and Theresa Salcone, honorary member, set up for the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the National League of Women Voters, which started in February 1920. The local chapter meets each month at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library and hosted a special program recently to mark the occasion.

WARREN — The Trumbull County Chapter of the League of Women Voters hosted a special celebration recently with cookies and chocolate milk as the national league marked 105 years in February.

The local chapter gathered for its monthly meeting this week at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library. The group meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month.

Peggy Boyd, local chapter president and 15-year member, said the national league’s executive board began Feb. 14, 1920, with the local league in existence for more than 40 years.

The league members set up a display at the library’s main entrance.

“We are a nonpartisan group whose purpose is to get information to the voters and get them registered and out to vote. We put out a voter information guide on issues and candidates. If people ask us questions, we help them or send them to the board of elections,” Boyd said.

The 28 members host meetings with local elected public officials who discuss what they do in their positions and future goals, and host various speakers on different issues being addressed statewide and nationally.

Boyd said the national league started the candidate forums in Washington, D.C., for presidential races, which have become popular in the county for local candidates.

“These forums allow people to connect a face to the candidate’s name on the ballot,” she said.

While the league does say “women voters,” men also are welcome and students can participate, Boyd said. She said former Trumbull County Board of Elections member Ron Knight has been a longtime member.

“The members are active in the community helping with voter registration, including at the Eastwood Mall,” Boyd said.

She said the league partners with the A. Philip Randolph Institute to host candidate forums.

Boyd said there are leagues of women voters in Youngstown and Kent, with whom the Trumbull County league collaborates on projects. She said the league has worked on Law Week and taken high school students to law events and local courtrooms.

“We attend many commissioners’ meetings to see what they do,” Boyd said.

She said the 105th anniversary was a special celebration.

Pam Vines, secretary and a five-year member, said being a member has helped her better understand what the election issues are and their pros and cons.

Sue Smith, board of directors member, said the national league started with the Suffragette Movement led by Warren resident Harriet Taylor Upton.

“The Suffragette Movement was the basis for the League of Women Voters. It is important that we be non-partisan since we speak with politicians from both parties,” Smith said.

Vines said she enjoys the speakers who have discussed such topics as the Warren Peninsula project.

“We try to keep updated on the current issues at the state level and local level such as land use and new policies,” Smith said.

She said meeting officials and having speakers allows the league to have better ties to the community. She said she likes it when mayors, judges, auditor and county officials attend to share what they do and their goals for their office.