Karen Nicholson

LWV-TX President/LWV-TEF Chair (Midland)

Chair: Karen Nicholson (Midland) became Chair of LWV-TEF in June 2008 after serving as Organization Vice President of LWV-TX in 2006-08 and as a director in 2004-06. She previously served during 1989-95 in several positions, including Organization Vice President. She also served on the boards of the Leagues in Houston, Richardson, and Midland where she was president. She is adjunct instructor of mathematics at Midland College and a member of the Midland Independent School District school board.

Anita Privett

Advocacy Vice-President (Austin Area)

Anita Privett (Austin Area) joined the League of Women Voters of Texas board in 2010 as Advocacy VP. She previously served as State Issue Chair for Election Laws. She has also served as the LWV-Austin Area Publication Chair and Program Vice-President. She has a professional background in project management, organizing and information technology. She retired from IBM in 2006 and had previous experience working for state and local government, a non-profit agency and as a contractor for the Army.

Dee Brock

Organization Vice-President (Tyler/Smith County)

Dee Brock (Tyler/Smith County) was elected to the board in 2008. She served 3 terms as as president of the Tyler/Smith County League. During her tenure, the League welcomed a delegation of emerging leaders from Russia for an eight day visit to learn more about women as leaders. Last year she chaired a similar program for elected officials from Kazakhstan who wanted to learn more about strengthening state and local government with an emphasis on transparency and accountability. She serves on the boards of several local organizations and is active on behalf of the arts and libraries, as well as informed voters.

Janet Imhoff

Program VP/LWV-TX President Pro-Tempe (Plano/Collin County)

Janet Imhoff (Plano/Collin County) is the President Pro Tempe and Program Vice President for LWV-TX. She has been a League member for more than 30 years, serving numerous positions including president of the Sherman/Grayson County League. She joined the state board in 2003 after retiring from teaching fifth and sixth grades and became Vice President, Program, in 2006.

Linda Krefting

Public Relations VP/LWV-TEF Vice-Chair (Lubbock County)

Vice-chair: Linda Krefting (Lubbock County) joined the board in 2008. She served two terms as President of the LWV-Lubbock and also terms as Vice President, Director, and Voters Service Chair. She is a professor of organizational behavior at Texas Tech University's business school.

Edie Jones

Treasurer (Tarrant County)

Treasurer: Edie Jones (Tarrant County) has been on the state board since 2003. She is now the Treasurer of LWV-TX and LWV-TEF. She chaired the LWV-TEF study on public transportation in Texas in 2003-06 and then was a member of the Services to Local Leagues committee in 2006-08. She has also served as the training coordinator for local Leagues in Texas. She is a past president and treasurer of the Tarrant County League. She is on the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission for Fort Worth and is the Transportation Issue chair for the LWV-TX.

Barb Swartz

Secretary (Houston Area)

Secretary: Barb Swartz (Houston Area) joined the board in 2008 as Secretary. She also served on the state board in the late 1980's and has been president of the Houston Area League. She got her League start 45 years ago in Pennsylvania with a brand new League which elected her Program Vice President.

Reed Bilz

(Tarrant County)

Reed Bilz (Tarrant County) has been a member of LWV-Tarrant County since 1973 when her youngest of six children was three years old. League meetings gave her a chance to speak to adults on occasion. She started on board as treasurer, and has been on board off and on as Program and Action Chair and also President. Before semi-retiring a couple years ago she worked full-time and part time as a paralegal for almost 30 years. Before that she taught school for one year, then joined the Air Force. There was a 20-year gap in employment while she was engaged in having and raising six kids as an Air force wife. She is currently employed part time with her last attorney boss and the State Bar of Texas. Other activities, besides LWV include the ACLU and her Unitarian-Universalist Church. Avocations include Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme book collecting, reading, bridge, and travel.

Pat Cheong

(Tarrant County)

Pat Cheong (Tarrant County) joined the board in 2008 after serving as the President and Community Relations Vice President for the Tarrant County League. She holds a Masters of Social Work degree and has worked as a community planner with United Way of Tarrant County more than 28 years, including 12 years as director of the Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County.

Chris Davis Garcia

(Corpus Christi Area)

Chris Davis Garcia (Corpus Christi Area) joined the board in 2010. She served as President of LWV-Corpus Christi Area for two years and has worked closely with Voter Services for the past five years, primarily handling Voter Guide publication layout. Her 38-year career in communications has included employment with Corpus Christi ISD (22 years) and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce (11 years). She retired from CCISD in 2004 and provides communication services to local non-profits and community projects, including BoldFuture for the Coastal Bend, a vision initiative for Nueces and San Patricio Counties.

Susybelle Gosslee

(Dallas)

Susybelle Gosslee (Dallas) joined the board in 2008 after serving three terms as president of LWV-Dallas. She co-chaired a LWVUS project on Homeland Security and Civil Liberties in 2005 in Dallas and has been a LWVUS representative at the UN Committee on the Status of Women in 2006 and 2008. She is the founder of Our Friends Place, a residential program for teen girls who have been sexually or physically abused.

Mina Fields Johnson

(Amarillo)

Mina Fields Johnson (Amarillo) joined the board in 2010. Johnson’s League experience includes Membership Chair of the LWV Rye, Rye Port Chester, N. Y. 1968-1970, served on the Finance Committee of the LWV-Amarillo from 2008-2009, and was President from 2007-2009. She was involved in a Scholarship review in 2010. Johnson is a retired English teacher and has farmed for 26 years.

Janice Schieffer

(Plano/Collin County)

Janice Schieffer (Plano/Collin County) joined the board in 2010. She has served as Voters Service Chair from 2007 to the present and has organized candidates forums. She was Interim Website Chair. She has a professional background in journalism, technical writing, and computer software. She has served professionally in management roles and is strong in organization skills.

Linda Wassenich

(Dallas)

Linda Wassenich (Dallas) has served on the state board since 1999 and as Vice President, Public Relations, since 2001. She joined the League in 1970 and served two terms as president of the Dallas League as well as one term as Vice President, Organization. She is a licensed social worker and certified fundraiser and has been honored with the Outstanding Fundraising Professional award in Dallas in 1999 and the Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Award in Dallas in 2002. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Council of Greater Dallas.

Some photographs provided by Matt Lankes