Judy Lotas Honored with LWV-NC Gertrude Weil Award in 2023

By Submitted Story on June 6, 2023

(League of Women Voters)

Judy Lotas was honored with the Gertrude Weil Award for Leadership and Service at the LWVNC state convention in May. The Gertrude Weil Award recognizes one individual each year who exhibits courage, vision, tenacity, commitment, and dedication to mission and purpose of League, both leadership at the local, state, and national levels.

Judy’s 15 years in LWV of Dare County include two years as VP, three years as Co-President, and board member for seven years, all the while acting as ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) Chair. Her immense contributions to Dare County and our state and country made her an ideal candidate for the award that honors NC’s best known suffrage leader.

Judy retired and moved to the Outer Banks to be closer to her two daughters after she retired. She had been a partner in the woman-owned award-winning advertising firm of Lotas Minard Patton McIver Inc. in NYC for 25 years.

Judy’s many acts of service include involvement and planning of numerous community programs; member of the Dare County Board of Elections serving for two years during the pandemic; and sponsor of the Coastal Federations’ Coastal Stewardship Award which is presented to high school students who are striving to improve our coastal environment. She participates in voter registration drives, candidate forums in Dare, and produced statewide marketing campaigns for ERA and League mission initiatives.

An ardent advocate for the ERA, Judy is currently an individual member of the ERA-NC Alliance, serving as its Vice President of Marketing completing her second term. Judy is an active lobbyist in the NC General assembly, particularly with the Women’s Caucus, to further the passage of legislation. She was able to obtain commitments for the passage of the ERA from the six Town Councils and the Dare County Commissioners. Dare is the only jurisdiction in the state that has obtained such an endorsement.

Lotas also serves as the League’s liaison to the newly founded League in Northeast North Carolina in Elizabeth City. As the Dare County representative on the LWV-NC Board of Directors for the past four years, she has served as ERA Chair spending time lobbying members of the NC General Assembly advocating for ERA and other League positions on Lobby Day.

Needless to say, LWV of Dare County is proud of Judy Lotas, and we strive to live up to her example. We applaud her and all she does to champion women’s rights, voting rights, and to carry out the mission of LWV: empowering voters and defending democracy. Bravo, Judy! You make the world a better place for all of us.

Go to comments