Resident Achieves Lifetime Membership With League of Women Voters

Achieving a 50-year milestone is always an accomplishment. Fort Lee’s Norma Seixas recently attained this distinction as a 50-year member of the League of Women Voters and now is recognized as a lifetime member.

According to Seixas, being a part of the League of Women Voters has been a lifelong commitment, resulting in friendships formed over many years. 

"I was one of many fortunate young women in 1960s Englewood who were persistently encouraged and pursued by Dorothy Heller to become members of the League of Women Voters," explained Seixas. "She called me regularly through many months of my pregnancy, and when my son was three months old, I joined the League."

Seixas called Heller "a remarkable woman," and said she encouraged many women to become active in the League and beyond.

"I had always had an interest in political issues and government, and the League was a perfect place to keep informed and to learn how to become effective,” Seixas said.

Seixas' road to the League started as a child in West Virginia, where her parents and other relatives often talked politics around the kitchen table. 

"It was a strong influence,” Seixas said.

Her interest in politics continued as an undergraduate studying political science at New York University and as a graduate student pursuing an M.A. in anthropology from Columbia University.

Since joining, Seixas has been exposed to a myriad of issues that the League studied. 

"Among the issues at that time, I recall local public housing; the electoral college, a loser; equal rights, a winner; and many local, as well as national matters," she said. "Perhaps the only negative fallout, as more women succeeded in business and professional life, has been a reduction in [their] active League membership."

Seixas identified some issues that should be studied. 

“I think the time may have come to revisit popular election of the president, abolishing the electoral college and campaign finance reform,” she said.

Throughout her lengthy history with the organization, Seixas has assumed various responsibilities, including serving on the League of Women Voters of Englewood’s board of directors; working with the League of Women Voters of Bergen County (ILO), an umbrella organization of five local Leagues based in Bergen County; and becoming a board member of the League of Women Voters of Northern Valley. 

A Fort Lee resident since 1990, Seixas has been involved with voter registration in the borough and participated in candidates’ nights in the area. 

“For several years, I have moderated candidates’ nights," she said. "Most recently and frequently in Englewood, including this past October; in past years, Leonia, Tappan, Ridgewood [and] Tenafly.”

She also narrated a series of League public service announcements that aired on TV about housing, domestic violence, the courts and education.

“I feel closely identified, essentially, as a League person, and can see future growth, as well as need for the League now and in future. My only regret is that we have not been a stronger force in Fort Lee. Most of our Fort Lee members came from other communities and are involved mainly in the region, but I love living in Fort Lee,” Seixas said.

Now, she hopes to see a new generation introduced to the League. 

“My current concern is to find ways to encourage active participation, interest and political participation by younger people," Seixas said. "The education that the League can provide awaits them, but only if they become participants.”