History of the Falls Church League

History of the Falls Church Chapter of the LWV

The City of Falls Church is located in northern Virginia, six miles from Washington, D.C. It has a population of 11,200 + including about 100 members of the League of Women Voters of Falls Church.

The League of Women Voters of Falls Church was established in 1951. When the City of Falls Church received its charter in 1948, the women of the former town of Falls Church were an integral part of the LWV Fairfax County. It became clear to these women that they needed an LWV separate from Fairfax, to concentrate on our own local problems.

A Committee on City Affairs (Falls Church women formerly in the Fairfax League) held an organizational meeting on February 15, 1951, to begin to form LWVFC and twenty-one women paid $3.00 dues to join. Thirty-four charter members adopted their first local program and LWVFC was officially recognized by the National League office on May 1, 1951. The late Jane Dexter served as first President for two terms. A charter member, Sibyl Vanneman, was the second President, has remained in the League continuously, and is once again on the board, as second Vice President.

Membership has gone up and down and up again over the years; presently we have about 110 members, both men and women. Dues of course have also gone up. Thirty presidents have served from 1951 to 2003; former President Marge Witting set a record, serving five terms! Men were admitted to the League in 1974, and former City Councilman Ed Strait was the first man to join LWVFC. No man in LWVFC has yet served as president! Many former League presidents in the City later served on the school board, planning commission and city council.

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