The League of Women Voters of Lancaster County is celebrating 60 years of service to the community and still has a charter member or two on the rolls.
League President Susan Stephenson Weeks Leinberger is a newcomer by that standard, joining soon after she moved here from York County four years ago.
Always an admirer of the group's work, she was eager to join and just as eagerly embraced by the group, which is always looking for new members.
Members have impressed her with the depth and breadth of their experiences, which include slogging through marshes to study water quality, sitting through "interminable" government meetings, registering voters, welcoming new citizens and demonstrating voting machines for the deaf.
The president declared herself "passionate" about "wanting to do the very best to assist in voter education."
"The league is all about making democracy work," she said.
The 80-member organization's most important services are arranging Candidate Nights for public discussion of important issues and compiling information on candidates for publication in both primary- and general-election Voters' Guides, she said.
The Voters' Guide for the Nov. 6 election will be included in the Oct. 28 Sunday News.
Age: 58, and proud of it.
Residence: Lancaster city.
Hometown: I was born in Temple Hospital and lived at Broad and Allegheny streets in North Philadelphia.
Family members: Fabulous husband Gary; stepchildren Amanda and Luke; sister Patricia in Clementon; and six nephews and nieces.
Education: Bachelor's degree in English and Master of Education degree in reading, both from Penn State University; Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership, Temple University.
Growing up, I wanted to be: A psychologist.
Best advice my mother ever gave me: "Make sure your brain is engaged before opening your mouth." It never worked!
First job: Typing dunning letters from Sears headquarters on the Boulevard in Philadelphia.
Career path: Began as an English teacher at Dover Area High School and retired as superintendent of Eastern York School District.
I also worked part time in a bookstore in York to pay for my first mortgage, and worked my way through undergraduate and graduate schools. Many people may remember Danks Department Store in State College; I was the one who wrapped their Christmas presents.
First presidential election in which I voted: 1972 (Nixon versus McGovern), and I have voted every primary and general election since.
One thing I'd change about the political process: Term limits.
The U.S. president I'd most like to meet: John Adams, because of Abigail. After reading his biography by David McCullough, I think he was very receptive to listening to a woman's point of view.
Other community commitments: Good Schools Pennsylvania, the Quest program, and the Lancaster Literary Guild.
Recommended reading: "For the Public Record: A Documentary History of the League of Women Voters," by Barbara Stuhler, and "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time," by Greg Mortenson and David O. Relin.
A movie I'd recommend: "Das Boot."
Pets: Two cats, the mischievous Duncan and sultry Smokey.
Pet peeve: Misuse of the apostrophe.
My kind of music: Classical and new age.
My idea of exercise: Aquacise with the 9 a.m. group at the YWCA.
Hobbies: Reading, gardening, travel, music, embroidery, talking to my cats and myself.
The car I drive: A black Nissan Maxima.
Frequently visited Web site: eBay.
Collections: Canton porcelain, samplers and chintzware.
Best gift I received recently: The complete first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
My favorite vacation spot: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I haven't read the last "Harry Potter" book yet.
Best thing about Lancaster County: City life, with its sense of neighborhood.
Jo-Ann Greene is editor of the Books section. Her email address is jgreene@lnpnews.com.
