by Amanda Clark, LWVWA Nominating Committee

Washington is a beautiful state. It has everything, from the sea to mountains to deserts to rivers to…Well, you get the idea. And in many of these locations there’s a local League, from Bellingham-Whatcom, to Spokane, to Yakima, and more.

There are many excellent reasons to join the League of Women Voters of Washington board: to use your skills to further the League’s mission, to be a force for democracy, to work with other strong, talented people. But there’s also what I call a “hidden” reason: you will be able to visit various local Leagues and see the sights of our state.

Pre-pandemic, the board held meetings in Yakima, Olympia, and Seattle. Often the meetings would alternate between Seattle and another place, then back to Seattle. During the pandemic, of course, meetings were held online. We all know Zoom meetings can work just fine, but it’s often better to meet in person.

When the LWVWA board convened this fall, travel to local Leagues resumed, meeting in Spokane in September and Olympia in October. Often the local League hosts a social event the evening before the meeting, giving both board members and local League members a chance to get to know one other. The board can learn about the local League’s projects, and help share great ideas across the state, or help find additional resources. The board can get a sense of local concerns, and the local members can suggest areas where additional state support is useful. And you might make new friends based on your other passions—the League is full of knitters, kickboxers, master gardeners, and more.

The LWVWA Nominating Committee is currently seeking applicants for the 2023-2025 Board. In the For Members section of the LWVWA website, you can find a link to the Nominating Committee and from there, you’ll be able to fill out an application, see the job description of a board member, watch a video about joining the board, and see the answers to frequently asked questions. In addition, contact information for all Nominating Committee members is listed, and we’re all happy to answer your questions.

LWVWA board members now serve staggered two-year terms, so there is continuity from term to term, enabling the new members to learn from experienced board members. We hope you’ll consider applying if you would like to expand your commitment to the League—and see our beautiful state.