Board of Directors 2023-2024

Eileen McCracken, President

She first voted in Iowa in the 1980’s and remembers vividly the excitement of participating in the caucus at college.  She had a good time last fall talking to college and high school students about how important their votes were and helping them to register and to make a plan to vote.  She was originally drawn to the LWVBWC because of the historical work that the League has done around voter rights and fair elections. 

She retired after working as an engineer for 30+ years in refineries.  She is a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for a foster child in Whatcom County and called 100’s of people during the pandemic as a volunteer COVID tracer for the health department.  She loves going for walks, gardening, and playing bluegrass banjo.   Eileen serves as president and as the member engagement coordinator and is in a 2023-2026 term.

Minda Rae Amiran, Vice President, Voter Services

I am a retired English teacher. I taught in university English departments here and abroad for 45 years, serving from time to time as department chair and dean, and active in academic assessment. Upon my retirement from New York State, I joined Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County, where I tutored adults in Basic English and ESL, wrote grant applications, and for many years was President of the Board. At the same time, I became active in the League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County, where I chaired the Voter Service Committee for 20 years, winning two LWVNY awards for innovative projects, and also led the chapter for about ten years. I moved to Bellingham in 2019.

It was my worry about the state of our democracy that brought me to the League. What seemed perilous over twenty years ago is even more perilous today. The League’s work in motivating and informing voters and in serving as a model of reasonable public discourse is more needed now than ever, and I’m committed to doing what I can to further this work. In addition to considerable experience of League activity, I bring some expertise in writing/editing and in assessment of progress toward goals.  Minda Rae is serving a 2022-2025 term.

Robin Barker, Vice President, Communications

Robin Barker was a professional librarian, graduating from University of California, Berkeley, with a Masters in Library Science. She came to Bellingham in 1980 to work for the Whatcom County Library System, and retired from WCLS in 2012 as Support Services Manager. Robin served on the boards of Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood and the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center and chaired the boards of both organizations. She was active in the local chapter of the ACLU for several years until it was disbanded. She is a charter member of the City Club, thanks to the invitation of Dick Beardsley, and is currently a board member, chairing the Membership Committee, managing the membership database and maintaining their website. She has taken Whatcom Community College classes in web design and development, and pursues this interest by working with the League on its website. Robin is serving on the Board for the 2023-2026 term and is currently the League's webmaster.

Jessica Waggoner, Treasurer

• Manage, oversee, or perform all aspects of accounting and financial management including preparation of management level financial statements, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll. 
• Develop and maintain budgets, cash flow forecasts, and KPI dashboards.
• Arrange and handle firm’s financing and banking relationships. 
• Control all firm filing and record keeping systems and requirements. 
• Establish and administer firm benefits and insurance, evaluating needs, coverage, and packages yearly to ensure optimum pricing and coverage. 
• Develop staffing projections to meet revenue needs and competitive compensation and benefits packages. 

Joy Monjure, Secretary

Since joining the League of Women Voters in 2014, Joy Monjure has held a variety of positions. Joy and her family have lived in Whatcom County since 1979. She is a life-long learner dedicated to a sustainable future for Whatcom County. She is committed to the mission of the League of Women Voters. You will find her enthusiasm is contagious.

Joy has been involved in several community improvement organizations over her 45 years in Whatcom County. She was a member of the Everson City Council, Community Health Partnership and Leadership Whatcom, Domestic Violence Commission, and more. A long-time sustainable agriculture advocate, Joy owned and operated Field of Greens, an organic farm stand near her home in Everson.

Joy worked for Bellingham Public Works for 23 years. Her job included creating and coordinating public outreach promoting watershed protection. Her work included the Lake Whatcom Water Festival, Watershed Pledge program and the 5th grade water/wastewater education field trips. She also executive produced videos and educational material for all aspects of public works. As a member of the Whatcom Watersheds Information Network she hosted Water Whys, a call-in talk radio show on KGMI.  Joy is filling a partial one-year term, 2024-2025.

Dorie Belisle

Through the work of the League, Dorie envisions a community where people feel heard and respected, a community where people understand the workings of our government and know where to go for information and, most of all, a community that cares.  Her background is varied.  She is a teacher, a wife and lifelong partner of 50 years, a mom of four, previous co-owner of two businesses (BelleWood Acres, (1995-2018) and Triangle Auto and Tire, (1974-1993) and a community outreach manager for the Tenmile Creek Watershed Project, (1999-2008). She is a graduate of Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program (2001) and holds a BS degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Mankato State University. (1972).   Dorie is serving a 2024-2027 term on the Board.

Setsuko Buckley

Setsuko Buckley joined LWV in 2017 and currently serves on the civics education committee. She is doctorate in Education from the University of Washington. Setsuko has been teaching Japanese at Whatcom Community College for 29 years. In addition, she has taught education, history, anthropology, sociology, and human services in higher education in the State of Washington. Her mission is to help students to become future educators who demonstrate their knowledge, positive attitudes, and skills needed to build a democratic, equitable learning community.

Besides teaching, Setsuko has conducted research on moral, multicultural, global, civic, and human rights education at International Christian University in Japan as a Research Fellow. Utilizing the advanced knowledge on education, she currently serves on the Outcome Assessment committee and the Equity Project (TEP 5) at WCC to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Her community services include PDK Washington State chapter #1599 as Foundation/Scholarship Representative for 17 years, the Bellingham Sister Cities Association (BSCA) for 6 years as Membership Chair, AAUW Membership Co-Chair for 3 years, Assumption Catholic School Education Council for 2 years, YWCA at-Large for 2 years, and WABE (Washington Association for Bilingual Education) Member-At-Large for 2 years.

As part of the LWV board, Setsuko is strongly committed to enhancing the status of women and advancing equity and inclusion in valuing diversity from a global perspective and to taking action for the local community. Setsuko is serving a term on the board from 2022-2025.

Jan Catrell

Siri Hiltz

Siri Hiltz holds a Masters of Library and Information Science degree from the University of British Columbia. After working in public, special and government libraries focusing on youth and young adult services for ten years, she spent some time working for a national early literacy nonprofit as a program manager. Raised in Washington, Siri moved to Bellingham in 2019 and volunteers on several League committees. Siri was elected to the board in 2024 for a 2024-2027 term.

Sislena Ledbetter

Sislena Ledbetter, Ph.D., is a social psychologist, researcher, lecturer, author, and life coach. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from North Carolina Central University and earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in social psychology from Howard University. Her post-graduate studies include educational leadership training at Georgetown University Graduate School of Professional Studies and Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She has also received a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certificate in the workplace from the Univ. of South Florida. She has received fellowships and internships, including interning during the Clinton administration.

Dr. Ledbetter has held many non-profit and higher education roles, including Assistant Professor of Psychology, Executive Director of Counseling, Health and Wellness, Director of Counseling and Student Development, and Associate Vice President of Student Development. Presently, she is the Associate Vice President of Counseling, Health, and Wellbeing at Western Washington University. Within her first 2 years, she led the institution to adopt the Okanagan Charter, encouraging systemwide principles of embedding well-being throughout the institution. She serves on the United States Health Promoting Campus Network where she serves as chair of the Diversity and Inclusion team. Dr. Ledbetter has written and attracted more than 5 million dollars in funding for behavioral health over 4-years.

She also serves as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for more than 25-years and is a lifetime member of the NAACP. She meets regularly with the Whatcom County Small Business Development Corporation Supplier Diversity to discuss barriers to inclusion and equity in its procurement practices. Dr. Ledbetter has developed and led behavioral health programs addressing HIV-AIDS, substance abuse, suicide prevention, and domestic violence. Her research interests include exploring wellness, power, and politics for women of color in leadership roles in the workplace and exploring factors that enhance healthy intimate relationships in the Black com-munity. She was the host of the DC Cable Television program "A Healthy Mind," where she interviewed guests on mental health topics. She is interested in helping bring another lens to the board that may reflect a broader and more diverse constituent group.

Sislena is delighted to have an opportunity to serve the League of Women Voters Bellingham Whatcom County and looks forward to offering expertise in research, service, and advocacy. She is committed to educating and empowering diverse communities and is passionate about the strength of multicultural representation across all leadership sectors. Dr. Ledbetter believes that equity and justice include expanding opportunities to build economic health across the broadest possible constituents. She looks forward to supporting the great work already in progress at LWVBWC.  She serves a term from 2022-2025.

Donna Meehan

Born and raised in Montana, she spent much of her working life there working as paralegal and CPA for a large law firm.  Accounting was her second career choice after a divorce and desire to change her career from casework.  Initially, she and her ex-husband moved to Washington in 1970 to further his schooling and Donna's  work.  During that early move to Washington, she lived in Tacoma, Pullman area, Okanogan and finally Coupeville.  She then returned to Montana after a divorce and pursued a new career.   When it came time to retire, she chose Bellingham because her daughter and her family are here.  It also has little snow and no hail.  she also has come to enjoy the political atmosphere and openness of the community.

As a parent and community member she has been involved in many organizations from Girl Scouts to Zonta.  Many related to her daughter’s activities but she has also been a board member for many non-profit organizations such as Montana Women’s Run, Youth for Understanding and Zonta.

She has been aware of the League for many years and was part of a small group of women in Okanogan County who in 1980 formed a local League.  She served as the president briefly before her family moved to Coupeville. She also was briefly a part of the League there before returning to Montana.  When she moved to Bellingham she was impressed with the very large and active League here.  Since joining in 2019 she hasbeen searching for an area to focus her energies. She is hoping that board membership will help her focus as well as provide 

an opportunity to serve and make a difference in her community. 

"While I cannot say I have any particular skills in the League’s many areas, I have a willingness to learn and I am not shy about asking questions and taking on leadership roles in any organization in which I have been involved."  Donna serves a 2024-2026 term on the Board.

Carol J. Smith

Carol was born and raised in Washington State. Her father was born in Eastern Washington and his family moved to Ferndale in 1923.  Her dad became a Methodist minister and they moved around the state of Washington to different churches every four years.  Throughout her childhood they visited her grandparents in Ferndale and enjoyed a cabin at Birch Bay that her family owned for 60 years.  She went to the University of Puget Sound and finished her degree at The Evergreen State College when it first opened.  After college she worked at a very small school in Kirkland that offered an education to elementary aged students who struggled in public schools.  She moved here in 1980 to earn a fifth-year teaching certificate. She met and married David Smith and has been a Whatcom County resident ever since.  They have two daughters who both graduated from Mt Baker High School.  She was a stay-at-home mom and a substitute teacher.  When the girls were older, she got a full-time job with the Mount Baker School District and taught at Kendall Elementary.  She loved teaching third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade during her 12-year career. They lived in the county for more than thirty years.  Now she lives in the Cornwall Park neighborhood.

She first encountered the League of Women Voters Bellingham/Whatcom County when attending the massive protest against the proposed coal port terminal at Cherry Point in 2016.  She was intrigued.  They had moved into Bellingham from the County. When she saw the invitation to come and learn about the league at one of their annual gatherings held at the Bellingham Library, she decided to check them out.  she was inspired by the women she met there.  They were using all their skills to make a positive difference in our county and country.  After that meeting she became a member of the LWVBWC.  She am committed to the LWV for their non-partisanship and their process to carefully study issues before taking a stand.  Currently she is Co-Chair with Shovia Muchirawehondo of the Racial Equity/Healthy Democracy Issue group. She is also an active member of the Climate Issue Team.  Carol serves a three-year term, 2024-2027.