May 2021
By Dale Cousins, Membership Committee Co-Chair
Introduction: As May 2021 comes to a close with League elections and the beginning of a new year, it is the blogger’s privilege to acknowledge the incredible amount of high-quality work and marked improvements made by Dianna Wynn, outgoing President of the League of Women Voters of Wake County. Dianna has approached her League presidency the past two years as if it were a full-time job and has added structure and organization to our ever-increasing membership. Under Dianna’s leadership, the League has tripled in size. Even in a pandemic year, LWV-Wake continued to offer multiple opportunities for engagement at all levels for all members. Other Leagues in the state have come to rely upon the best practices established by Wake under Dianna’s guidance. If you have not had the chance to become better acquainted with our outgoing President, there is no time like the present.
Dianna Wynn grew up in the west—Arizona, California, and Texas. She was raised near Dallas, Texas, where many family members remain. She met her husband, Brian Holland, in college with the speech and debate team at California State-Fullerton, where she earned her BA. After attaining her Master’s Degree at the University of North Texas, she began her career teaching communications in the Community College system. She has authored several books on communication and has been a full-time consultant assisting attorneys and clients in developing effective arguments for use in complex civil litigation. She continues to edit and update communication textbooks.
She and Brian moved to the Triangle in 2000 and today reside in Cary. They share a love for modern and contemporary art and have furnished their home with pieces collected from many art openings, both local and from around the country. Dianna served on the board of Artspace while Brian practiced law. He is the current Vice President of his company and serves on the Capital Area Work Force Development Board. Brian, who is also a member of LWV-Wake, often assists as needed with special events and projects. Defending democracy and representing the League are interests they share.
Dianna has always been interested in politics and political news as well as being active in contributing to positive change. She was active with the ACLU of North Carolina as a board member and former President. While participating in the series of “Moral Monday” marches at the NC General Assembly, she was arrested for her efforts at public discourse. She served as an advocate in several political organizations but came to feel more comfortable with approaching issues from a non-partisan perspective. Thus, the match for Dianna to the League of Women Voters was a natural one. She also appreciated the fact that the League tackled multiple issues with research and education as supporting pillars.
Dianna’s first task for the League was to reinvigorate the Facebook page as Communications Committee Coordinator. She took on responsibility for all external communications on behalf of the League, and she revamped and improved its web presence. In addition to managing the League’s image through communications and branding, she worked as co-chair of the Redistricting Committee and led the efforts to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters. She updated the Wake League’s history, gathered and transferred the League archives to the State Library of NC, organized efforts around our conversion to a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, initiated a DEI discussion group, and introduced the idea of utilizing an organizational management platform, Club Express, handing its implementation over to incoming President Cheryl Tung. Club Express will host the ever-growing roster of members, programs, and events, making the work of many volunteers much easier and the route to League information much more accessible. All the while, Dianna kept focused on the 2017 five-year strategic plan to take the League forward.
Dianna has achieved so very much for the League; it is hard to believe that she says she was intimidated by her first few events as a new member. She felt she was surrounded by amazing women working diligently toward the League’s goals. However, she soon found her place and realized that the willingness to learn about the issues and grow with fellow Leaguers was more important than being an immediate expert on any given topic. Likewise, she advises new members to attend, in person or virtually, as many activities as needed to find their own place as a League member. Long-term friendships develop as an added benefit to doing the noble work of the League.
She says, “The mission of the League is to defend democracy and empower voters. The League is one of the few grassroots organizations that empowers members by providing meaningful volunteer opportunities to further that mission. We’ve been doing this work for over 100 years, and I believe that we’ll do it well into the next century and beyond. I am glad that I am able to play a part in this important work.”
Join the blogging team in thanking Dianna Wynn for work well-rendered as the League’s professional volunteer! She has achieved so very much for the League, amidst growing pains and a global pandemic. She promises to remain a resource for us all as we move forward.