Below are the registration fees:

* Due to lack of staff, we are primarily focused on offering Council as an in-person event. We will do our best to create a virtual experience for those who are unable to attend in person, but it will not be a comparable interactive experience. We will offer a voting process for virtual delegates and will stream the plenary and workshop sessions via Zoom, but we will not necessarily have the ability to include virtual participants in Q&A sessions. It will be up to individual caucus organizers to figure out how to make their sessions available to virtual attendees.

The in-person registration fee will cover lunch, happy hour, and buffet dinner on Saturday, as well as snacks on Saturday and Sunday. Coffee, tea, and water will also be provided. We suggest that attendees bring their own coffee cups.

Delegates and observers will use the same registration process. Local Leagues will submit their list of approved delegates to Amy no later than May 19.

FRIDAY

4 p.m. | Walking Tour of Capitol Grounds

6 p.m. | No-Host Dinner at Local Restaurant/Dine-Arounds

7 p.m. | Caucuses/Meet the Board and Board Candidates | Individual hotel rooms and Holiday Inn Express Lobby

SATURDAY

8:00am | Registration

8:00am | Exhibits

8:30am | Presidents Breakfast | Holiday Inn Express Meeting Room

10:00am-10:20am | Welcome and Opening Remarks: Karen Crowley | Main Room/Zoom

10:20am-10:50am | Plenary I (Business Meeting) | Main Room/Zoom

11am-11:50am | Facilitated Discussion with Coalition Partners | Main Room/Zoom

12:00pm-12:45pm | Lunch

1pm-1:45pm | Power Mapping Exercise with Lobby Team / Issue Chairs | Main Room/Zoom

2:00pm-3:20pm | Workshops

3:30pm-4:50pm | Workshops

5:00pm-5:40pm | Happy Hour, Time for Candidate Forum if needed for Board election | Main Room/Zoom if needed

5:45pm-6:30pm | Dinner

6:30pm-7:30pm | Keynote Speech: The Honorable G. Helen Whitener, Washington State Supreme Court | Main Room/Zoom

7:30pm-9:00pm | Caucuses

SUNDAY

8:00am | Exhibits

9:00am-9:30am | Plenary II (Business Meeting) | Main Room/Zoom

9:45am-11:45am | Braver Angels/Nonpartisanship Best Practices | Main Room/Zoom

There are two hotels within an easy 6-minute walk from the Council venue:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lacey

We have a block of 15 rooms with 2 queen beds each reserved for a group price of $151 (plus 11.7% tax and a $2.00 nightly flat occupancy tax) for Friday and Saturday nights. This price includes a hot buffet breakfast. If more than two people share a room, the hotel may add an additional fee. This block will be available until they are gone or May 15, whichever comes first. If there is a lot of demand, we may be able to get more rooms at this rate, so book early!

Check-in time is 3pm; check-out time is 11am. If you arrive before check-in, the hotel can store your luggage for you. You may also leave your luggage in the Display Table room at the Council venue, but LWVWA will not be able to guarantee its security.

Instructions:

1. Click Booking Link.
2. Once the link is clicked and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites webpage is open, click “SEE WHAT’S AVAILABLE” in the top right corner.
3. Enter the dates you wish to stay.
4. Select number of room and guests.
5. Leave “Rate Preference” as is and select “Search”.
6. Complete booking as usual.

League of Women Voters Booking Link

Candlewood Suites Olympia/Lacey

We have not reserved a block of rooms at the Candlewood Suites, but if you prefer to prepare your own meals, this may be a better choice for you since their rooms feature fully furnished in-room kitchens.

Homestays

There are a limited number of homestays available. Priority will be given to those with financial need. Contact Vallee Needham for more information.

• Nominating Committee Report
• Proposed Standing Rules
• Delegate Report

We invite local Leagues, committees, and other groups to set up (and staff) display tables for attendees to learn more about their work. (Potential display table ideas include sharing a program that you are proud of, recruiting for a project, or selling items from your League.) Table setup begins Saturday at 8am, and breakdown must be completed by 2pm on Sunday. Use this form to submit an application for your own display table. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2026.

Request a Display Table

Session 1 | 2pm – 3:20pm

Participating in the Lobby Team Theater | Main Room
Make a difference lobbying with the League. Want to turn your values into real policy change? This interactive workshop shows how the League of Women Voters advances its priorities—and how you can take part. You’ll get a quick overview of legislative work, learn about an Action Alert and what to do with it, and explore ways to step into roles like advocate or issue chair. We’ll look at how local Leagues strengthen our impact. Through brief activities and small-group discussions, you’ll leave with a clear next step for getting involved. Facilitators: Ann Murphy, Marty Gibbins, Alison McCaffree, Karen Tvedt, Karen Peacey, Katie Johnson, Phyllis Farrell, and Karen Wieckert

Hands on Canva | Room 159
Ready to build your design skills? This interactive session offers a guided, hands-on introduction to Canva, the easy-to-use tool for creating eye-catching graphics, social media posts, and outreach materials. Bring your own device and follow along as a lead instructor walks through a step-by-step exercise. Coaches will be stationed throughout the room to provide one-on-one support, answer questions, and help you troubleshoot in real time. Whether you’re brand new to Canva or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll leave with practical experience—and something you’ve created yourself. Facilitators: Carolyn Stewart and Joanne Lisosky

Progress on Update of 1980 Indian Treaty Rights Study | Room 183
Adopted at the 2025 Convention of the League of Women Voters, this study update is underway with participants from across the state. In this session, we’ll share our progress, highlight key challenges and achievements, and offer a closer look at the work in development. Most importantly, we want your questions and input as we shape the next phase of this important effort. Join us to learn more. Facilitators: Janet Hedgepath, Eleanor Walters, Suzi Hokonson, Susan Fleming

Making an Impact: Report on the State of Democracy in Washington | Room 189
"The State of Democracy: Washington" is an educational project approved at 2025 Convention. The project examines different aspects of democratic functions in the state, such as voter participation, election methods, the media, and the judiciary. Results of this research will be presented, followed by a brainstorming discussion about how to tailor its release to varied audiences to have maximum impact. Facilitators: Julie Anne Kempf, Lunell Haught, Beth Pellicciotti, and Jean Snider.

Session 2 | 3:30pm – 4:50pm

Asked and Answered: How LWVWA will use new resources to support Local Leagues and build our collective capacity | Main Room
At our 2025 State Convention, local Leagues asked how the state League will use the increase in dues allocation from LWVUS to build capacity and support local Leagues. That question led to our own transformation journey. LWVWA Board President Karen Crowley, joined by members of the Strategic Priorities Committee, will share what we learned from our survey of Local Leagues—and how that learning has informed a bold tactical plan to move the organization forward.

Demystifying MELD | Room 159
What is MELD—and how can it strengthen your League? This session explores LWVWA’s Membership Engagement & Leadership Development (MELD) Network and the role it plays in building vibrant, sustainable local Leagues. You’ll explore practical strategies for welcoming and engaging members, hear what’s working in Leagues across the state, and reflect on key aspects of leadership—including the often-overlooked power of the “first follower.” Leave with fresh ideas to grow participation and leadership in your League. Facilitators: Nancy Halvorson, Ann Murphy, Lunell Haught, Ellie Hutton, and Jeanne Crevier.

Protecting the Rights of Immigrants | Room 183
How can the League of Women Voters strengthen its work to protect immigrant rights—locally and nationally? This interactive workshop explores three key areas: the push for national concurrence on immigrant rights, the current landscape for immigrants and refugees in Washington, and meaningful ways members can take action. We’ll discuss practical next steps, including forming an immigrant rights affinity group, expanding the lobby team’s work on state legislation, and tracking local policies that impact immigrant communities. Come ready to learn, share ideas, and find your role in advancing this critical work. Facilitators: Susan Martin, Shelley Kneip, Janet Lenart, and Lydia Zepeda.

Stories That Move Democracy: A Replicable Civic Storytelling Model to inspire Local Action | Room 189
Engaging with local government is at the heart of democracy—and stories are a powerful way to make that engagement visible. This workshop introduces a replicable storytelling model developed by the LWV of Mason County in partnership with the Washington Office of the Secretary of State’s Rural Civic Engagement Program. Learn how to collect and share civic stories that highlight community strengths and inspire action. Through examples, a Quick Launch Guide, and Q&A, you’ll leave ready to start your own program and expand your League’s impact. Facilitators: The LWVMC Civic Storytelling Project Team: Patti Bradley, Lynda Links, Peggy Morell.

Caucuses are informal gatherings outside of the regular business meeting times (after the evening program).

Because we are approaching Council as an Innovation Lab process, please think of ways that your Caucus can help shape the future of the League, channel the enthusiasm of our new members, and result in ideas participants can take back to their Local Leagues.

We have blocked out time on Friday and Saturday evenings for caucuses. You will need to provide your own technical expertise. We will have the ability to schedule some caucuses on the LWVWA Zoom account, but you may need to provide your own Zoom account if we have too many requests for simultaneous caucuses. These will NOT be recorded by LWVWA.

Submit a Caucus