Peninsula Township resident Jane S. Watts of Peninsula Township has been awarded the Helen Milliken Leadership in Civic Empowerment Award from the League of Women Voters of Michigan (LWVMI).

The award, which "honors those who have led the way in providing citizens with information and encouraging informed voters through League work at the state and/or local levels," was presented to Watts at LWVMI's annual convention. Watts is a long-time member and former president of LWVMI and produces the League's "They Represent You" brochure. The brochure lists the names, contact information, and terms of office for both elected and appointed officials at the local, state and national levels for Kalkaska and Grand Traverse Counties, as well as voting information. "Each year, Jane personally delivers approximately 5,000 copies of They Represent You to libraries, public offices, and schools in the area," according to LWVMI. "The brochure is very popular and is used by students, educators, health and human service agency staff and private citizens as a valued resource."

Watts also distributed over 2,600 copies of the LWVMI published Voter Guide to libraries, public offices and schools throughout the region during the 2016 election. "Again this is something Jane has done for many years, which exemplifies her commitment to the League’s mission of encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government on all levels," says LWVMI.