by Mary Coltrane, LWVWA 1st Vice President, Program Chair

Program-of-Work planning happens in January, starting the grassroots process that leads from study to action. Local League Presidents and/or Program Chairs will be asking members for ideas to submit to the state board. To learn more about how this process works, and find tools to support your League, visit the Program-of-Work Planning site.

Any topics that are submitted to the state board (via local Leagues' boards of directors) will need a scope and focus. The ideas submitted below don’t include that, nor do they include what type of item they might be: study, update, concurrence, education. (See League Lingo on the Program planning page for more info on how League uses these terms.)

Here’s the list of topics received so far– from Issue Chairs and others. Do you have an idea you would like others to know about? Please send to mary.coltrane@lwvwa.org and I will add it to the list!

1. A study for LWVWA to review laws and actual practices for abortions and death with dignity throughout Washington.  
2. Women's reproductive rights and by extension the status of women.
3. Teens -- much of our children's programs position focus on supporting and protecting young children, while teenagers have fewer services, and often are highly vulnerable.
4. Housing for all: a study on housing related issues might develop more specific guidance on housing related issues.
5. Extend our democracy, voting and civics school visits to include primary and middle schools, not just high school.
6. Multi Member Ranked-Choice Voting leading to proportional representation: Education.

Elsewhere in Program, consensus statements from local Leagues are starting to roll in. The Shoreline Study Committee will draft a position for the state Board to review. State and local Leagues can use the new position after it’s adopted; it will be affirmed by delegates at the state Convention (May 4-7, 2023).

A very exciting development in Program is the Decline of Local News study. Take a look and dip in to this fascinating report on the state League's home page. More info is being placed on the For Member page so local Leagues can take up the study in February.

The committee will hold a statewide, all-member briefing via Zoom on January 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Your League may also be holding a briefing tailored to your community- please check your League's Voter for more information.

There will be also be a discussion leader training for those taking on this important role. The trainings will be held virtually January 31 at 11:30 AM and February 1 at 6:30 PM. Watch for Zoom registration links!