LWVWI Annual Meeting 2026
Hilton Garden Inn Wausau, WI
Hosted by LWV Marathon County
PLENARY PACKET
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, May 29th
SATURDAY, May 30th
3pm - 5pm
Attendee arrival and meeting check-in
Networking room and refreshments
Hotel check-in
5pm - 5:05pm
General welcome and announcements
5:05pm - 5:15pm
Land acknowledgement
5:15pm - 6:15pm
Dinner
6:15pm - 6:30pm
Parade of Leagues (viewing 1 of 4)
6:30pm - 7:45pm
Malkasian Keynote Presentation
Look How Far We've Come: A Journey Through League's History, with Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, previous LWVUS President
7:45pm - 8pm
Closing announcements
8pm - 10pm
Networking reception and dessert
7:45am - 8:35am
Attendee arrival and meeting check-in
Breakfast with coffee + tea
Hotel check-out
Networking
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8:35am - 8:45am
General welcome and announcements
8:45am - 8:55am
Greeting from LWVUS Board Liaison
Stacey Chavis
8:55am - 9:10am
Presentation of Meg McClane Award for Advocacy
9:10am - 9:25am
LWVWI Staff Reports and Impact 2025-2026
9:25am - 9:40am
Parade of Leagues (viewing 2 of 4)
9:40am - 9:50am
Break
9:50am - 11:05am
Keynote: Where do We Go from Here? The Future of League & the Importance of Partnerships, with Gen Van Cleve, LWVUS Regional Organizer, and Bianca Shaw, Common Cause Executive Director
11:05am - 11:15am
Parade of Leagues (viewing 3 of 4)
11:15am - 12:15pm
​Breakouts
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League Positions: How They're Developed & Used for Advocacy, with Julie Underwood
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Unite & Rise 8.5: Creating & Maintaining Alliances and Partnerships, with Eloisa Gomez, Sinceree Dixon and Amanda Peterson
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Collecting Data: Keeping Track of the Trackers (& Why It's Important), with Beth Bashara and Tammie Grossman
12:15pm - 1:10pm
Lunch
1:10pm - 1:25pm
Parade of Leagues (viewing 4 of 4)
1:25pm - 2:15pm
State resources, toolkits and where to find helpful information, with LWVWI Staff Members
2:15pm - 2:30pm
Break
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Plenary Session
4:30pm
Conclusion and farewell
Many thanks to Marathon County for hosting!
BREAKOUT SESSION INFORMATION
League Positions: How They're Developed
& Used for Advocacy
with Julie Underwood,
LWVWI Legislative Committee Co-Chair
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Unite & Rise 8.5: Creating & Maintaining Alliances & Partnerships
with Eloisa Gomez,
Community Alliances Committee Member,
April Savage,
Community Alliances Committee Co-Chair,
+ Sinceree Dixon,
LWVWI Communications Mgr
Collecting Data: Keeping
Track of the Trackers (& Why It's Important)
with Beth Bashara
Imagine If Nonprofit Consulting Founder,
+ Tammie Grossman,
Incoming LWV Dane County President
SPEAKER BIOS
Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins
LWVUS Past President, LWVEF Current Chair
Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins is an internationally respected educator, author, and speaker whose
decades of work are grounded in civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, African-American history, and racial equity. She was the first woman of color to hold the position of President of the League of Women Voters of the United States where she spearheaded, “The Future Plan” focusing the League’s work on campaign finance reform health care reform, education reform, as well as empowering women of color to run for elected office. Dr. Jefferson-Jenkins is the author of One Man, One Vote: The History of the African American Vote in the United States as well as, The Untold Story of Women of Color in the League of Women Voters, honoring the contributions of women of color in the suffrage movement.
FRI, May 29th
KEYNOTE
SAT, May 30th
KEYNOTE
Gen Van Cleve
LWVUS Regional Organizer
Genevieve Van Cleve has worked as a political strategist, consultant, and organizer with decades of experience building campaign and advocacy infrastructure. Before joining the League of Women Voters, she served as Texas State Director and Regional Political Director for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), founded by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Genevieve completed the Camino de Santiago twice! She is a published poet and is called “GiGi” by her perfect grandchild!
Bianca Shaw
Common Cause WI, Executive Director
Bianca Shaw is a respected Wisconsin public policy and civic engagement leader whose work sits at the intersection of democracy, equity, and community power. As State Director of Common Cause Wisconsin, she leads efforts to protect voting rights, strengthen democratic systems, and engage communities in shaping a more just and inclusive future. Known for her strategic leadership, dynamic public speaking, and deep commitment to advocacy, Bianca brings a people-centered approach to policy and a powerful voice to this moment in our democracy.
SAT, May 30th
BREAKOUTS
Speakers listed alphabetically by last name
Beth
Bashara
Founder
Imagine If Nonprofit
Consulting
Beth Bashara is the founder of Imagine If Nonprofit Consulting.
Her work centers on helping organizations clarify roles, build productive board culture, and develop strategic plans that lead to real progress rather than documents that sit on a shelf. Beth is known for her engaging teaching style, combining clear frameworks with interactive learning that helps participants immediately apply what they learn. Through consulting, training, and online courses, Beth works with boards and executive leaders who want to strengthen their organizations and increase their impact in the communities they serve.
Eloisa
Gomez
LWVWI Community Alliances Committee, Ballots without Barriers
Eloisa Gómez is a public speaker on the topics of Latina activism in Wisconsin and Latino voting rights in Wisconsin. Eloisa worked in the Wisconsin Legislature and from 1988-1992, she worked in the City of Milwaukee’s Mayor Office as the Mayor’s liaison in the areas of housing, LGBTQ groups, community organizations and women’s health. Eloisa serves on the Wisconsin Humanities Board of Directors. With the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Milwaukee County, she helped found Comité por el Voto Latino/Latinx Voter Outreach Committee in 2017 and remains and active member; In 2018, she became chair, then co-chair of the Community Alliances Committee for five years. She currently serves on its Language Access Committee now called Ballots without Barriers/Votos sin barreras
Sinceree
Dixon
LWV
Wisconsin
Communications Manager
As a lifelong Milwaukeean, Sinceree (she/her) is a proud graduate of UW–Milwaukee, where she earned her degree in Sociology. With a strong background in communications, community organizing, and activism, she is deeply committed to advancing equity, civic engagement, and amplifying underrepresented voices. Sinceree proudly serves as the Communications Manager for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.
​Her heritage and lived experience as a Black and Indigenous woman ground her passion for advocacy and guide her work to defend democracy. with purpose and heart..
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*Sinceree is Menominee and Ojibwe (enrolled in the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superor Ojibwe)​
Tammie
Grossman
LWV Door
County
Incoming President
Tammie Grossman received her law degree from DePaul University College of Law. After coming annually to Door County for over 30 years, she recently retired to Door County after a 35+ year career working on community economic development issues at both the state and federal level. She has vast array of experience in fundraising and grants management including compliance and has served on several boards over the years. Tammie is on the leadership team of the League of Women voters of Door County and is co-chair of the Natural Resources Committee and Unite and Rise.
Amanda
Peterson
LWV
Wisconsin
Voter Services Manager
Amanda (she/her) comes from a strong background of grassroots organizing and civic participation. She has been a trustee in the Village of Oregon for 8 years and a poll worker for over a decade. Previously, she has been a freelance editor, worked for the Fair Maps Coalition, and volunteered with many community groups. She earned a degree in Spanish from Gustavus Adolphus College. In her free time, she enjoys many hobbies, including juggling, playing ukulele, and reading.
Julie
Underwood
Co-Chair
LWVWI Legislative
Committee
Julie Underwood, a nationally recognized authority on school law. She is the author of many books, briefs, and articles. She was the education expert on the ALEC Exposed series and project. From 2005 to 2015 she was Dean of the School of Education at UWMadison, which has been consistently ranked as the #1 School of Education in the nation. She has continuously served on the board for the grassroots advocacy organization, the Wisconsin Public Education Network, since its creation. Currently she serves on the Wisconsin’s League of Women Voters legislative committee.
Lanette R.
Walker
Bear Clan and
Ho-Chunk Nation
Member of the Bear Clan and the Ho-Chunk Nation, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Leadership from UW Green Bay and is deeply committed to supporting her community. She is a married mother of five and grandmother to seven, currently residing in Wittenberg, Wisconsin. She serves as a Tutor Specialist for the Ho-Chunk Nation Education Department, where she is dedicated to helping students succeed.