League of Women Voters seeks to help City of Decorah and Winneshiek County

The League of Women Voters of Upper Iowa wants to help the city of Decorah and Winneshiek County achieve gender balance on appointed boards and commissions.   League members met with Decorah mayor, Don Arendt, county supervisor, Dean Darling, and county auditor, Ben Steines last month to discuss House File 243, a law passed in 2009 by the Iowa legislature requiring city and county governments to actively reach out to and recruit women volunteers as well as men who are qualified to serve.    "There are no quotas to meet," said Carol Hagen, League member, "but changes are needed in the way people are recruited to attract women to participate."

In Decorah there are currently 13 city boards and commissions, including planning and zoning, adjustment, airport, library, civil service, low-rent housing, tree, cable TV, human rights and historic preservation.  Overall, roughly 69% of those serving are male, and 31% are female.  Winneshiek County has 11 boards/commissions, including planning and zoning, adjustment, health, historic preservation, conservation, civil service, veterans affairs and Pioneer Cemetery.  Roughly 71% of those serving are male and 29% are female.

Arendt and Darling both assert that there have already been efforts to achieve not only gender balance in city and county appointments, but geographic (especially for county) and age balance as well.   Both acknowledge it is sometimes difficult to find people willing to volunteer.   Most often, word of mouth is the method used to find people to fill open positions on boards and commissions, although openings are usually publicized or advertised.  

According to a collaborative publication by the Iowa League of Cities, Association of Counties, League of Women Voters,  Commission on the Status of Women and other state organizations, gender balance on state-level boards and commissions has been required since 1987.  "Serving on a board or commission is a significant and meaningful way for citizens to participate in civic life," the publication states.  It explains that women make up more than half of the Iowa population but, on the local level, women tend to be underrepresented on boards and commissions, especially those that make economic decisions.   

To remedy this, a number of actions and approaches are suggested by the state collaboration.  Local League members discussed these with Arendt, Darling and Steines and, together, the group has agreed on a preliminary plan to strive for gender balance on local boards and commissions.  They plan to develop a brochure or handbook that describes the background and purpose for each body,  qualifications needed, how to apply, length of terms, frequency of meetings, etc.  A community forum with a panel of currently serving members speaking about their experiences is also being considered.  Finally, the city's and county's websites will post clear information about boards/commissions, and how to apply and serve.  Currently, the City of Decorah's website does list its boards and commissions.   Steines indicates the county will be updating its website to include this information.

To learn more, contact Hagen at 563-382-4007 or log onto www.women.iowa.gov and click on Resources and Tools, then ICSW Publications.