Cultivating Civic Conversations: About the State of Our Democracy—Spring 2022 

By Katherine Murphy, LWV of Kittitas County 

Registration is open for the next round of Cultivating Civic Conversations (CCC),“About the State of Our Democracy,” scheduled for Sundays, April 10 through June 12, 2022, at 3 p.m. This free, 10-week seminar offers participants an opportunity to step back and use a “beginner’s mind” when discussing civic education and engagement. If we want to encourage our friends, co-workers, and family to participate in our democracy, then sometimes we need a fresh approach—one that makes fewer assumptions about what “everyone knows” about our history and government. 

The seminar uses the LWVWA’s elementary civics textbook, The State We’re In: Washington, as the anchoring framework. This book is available online for free or in paperback; ordering information is included in the registration materials. The course creator and facilitator, Katherine Murphy, adds content from diverse sources to expand each week’s discussion. 

Prior to each week’s meeting, participants read, listen to, or watch assignments from the textbook, podcasts, or videos. Each assignment includes up to 25 pages of text to read, a podcast to listen to (there is usually a transcript),and reflection questions to consider. The assignments typically take about two hours. The Zoom sessions are one hour and include additional content as well as discussion.  

We use the Sutra Spaces discussion platform to manage and keep all the group materials in one place. To view a full schedule and to register for this seminar, visit the CCC website. 

Participants in the previous CCC sessions have said: 

• "This excellent class opened my mind and my heart to new ways of learning and thinking about our country's history and acting to address injustice." 

• "I am astounded at how much I learned and the resolve I now have to make a positive difference." 

• “It’s been an eye-opening journey into our history—a history I was never fully taught long ago in school.” 

Katherine Murphy (LWV of Kittitas County) and Wende Sanderson (LWV of Skagit County) developed the Cultivating Civic Conversations (CCC) program to meet the need expressed by community and League members who want “to learn how everything works in government.” Since that is a tall order, we decided to use a seminar format and tackle one theme at a time because we believe that it is easier to learn, grow, and thrive within a community of learners. Research shows that long-term civic engagement is built on personal one-on-one connections and we focus on this approach. 

CCC programs offer a structure that helps us reflect on the question, "How do we learn how to have transformative conversations about what it means to be human and, as humans, to constructively participate in our civic affairs?" We hope that the next CCC workshop, “About the State of Our Democracy” will help you to: 

• Discover new voices, historical context, viewpoints, and resources. 

• Reflect upon and reframe your place in your community. 

• Encourage and expand your capacity for civic engagement. 

• Nurture humor, insight, joy, and perspective. 

If you have questions or want to be added to our mailing list for future sessions, email Katherine. 

Commission on the Status of Women and LWVUS Presentation 

Members of the League of Women Voters are invited to attend the 66th Meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) at the United Nations in New York, being held virtually Monday, March 14–Friday, March 25, 2022. The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively devoted to promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. 

The priority theme this year is achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change as well as environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs. Another theme is women's economic empowerment in the changing world of work. 

The LWV of the United States has been an active participant in CSW meetings since its inception in 1946 and has attended meetings, presented and commented at commission meetings, and sponsored panels and events. 

The LWVUS will present a parallel event, “Climate Threats to Democratic Elections: Preparing for the Worst,” on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT.  Publicity details to come. 

You can register in advance for the parallel event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  

Please let the League know if you have questions about this process.  It would be helpful if you could write up brief summaries of events you attend that are relevant to LWV members and send them to csensor@lwv.org. The summaries will be compiled and shared with League members after the forum and will help the League prepare for future events.  

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NY (NGO CSW/NY) sponsors the NGO CSW Forum of events and panels, advocacy trainings, briefings on CSW discussions and draft outcome documents, and opportunities to attend regional caucuses. The NGO CSW/NY is a group of New York–based women’s NGOs in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.  

To register and for more information on the NGO CSW66 Forum and on NGO parallel events, visit the NGO CSW/NY website. 

Celebrating the Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson 

Black History Month came to a close with the nomination of the first Black woman, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court. LWV's CEO Virginia Kase Solomón wrote about the added challenges faced by Black female candidates in both this decision and across the political sphere. As we applaud the decision to promote a Black woman to the highest judicial post in our nation, we reflect on the countless contributions Black women have made to our democracy since its inception. 

LWVUS Launches Registration Campaigns 

With primary elections kicking off, the League has launched multiple voter registration campaigns to empower underserved communities across the nation. These include young people, new citizens, and those returning from incarceration. Check your voter registration and primary information at VOTE411.org! 

102 Years of Defending Democracy 

To honor over a century of work, Leagues across the country hosted more then 100 actions (more actions than years of League history) empowering voters across the country. These included registration drives, letter-writing campaigns, educational panels and workshops, and more. 

Did you miss our virtual birthday rally? Check it out and learn more about state and local League actions from our birthday. 

March is Women’s History Month and there are lots of ways to celebrate. The following are just a few of the events or resources to learn more about women’s history. 

• The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum are commemorating and encouraging the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history at the Women’s History Month website, which includes a calendar of events throughout March. 

• Explore a guide to women’s history resources available from the Library of Congress. 

• Read President Biden’s Proclamation on Women’s History Month, 2022. 

• Learn more about women’s history through the National Women’s History Museum and access its resource toolkit. 

• The National Women’s History Alliance’s theme for Women’s History Month is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” Check out the alliance’s website for resources about women’s history. 

• Celebrate Women’s History Month by learning about Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of all time. We all know her characters and incredible plot twists, but what do we know about the Agatha herself? On Public Television (check your local listings).  

Have you ever thought about running for office but didn’t know where to start or what it entailed? The Fix Democracy First (FDF) Education Fund is introducing a new project, Women in Office Now (WON), that will provide free training to help women successfully run for office. The goal is to help build knowledge and assist women to successfully run for office and win elections. 

The WON project will include 12 training modules, all free and all held virtually online, starting March 8. The workshops will feature special guests, including current and former legislators as well as experts in various discussion topics.  

The first training is Tuesday, March 8, from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and will cover: 

• The need for women in leadership 

• The impact on the community 

• What office to run for 

Register for the first WON workshop now! 

All module trainings are approximately 90 minutes long and provide time for questions and interaction with presenters and guest speakers. No worries if you can’t make a training, as they will all be recorded and archived for viewing on demand by women considering or planning to run for local or state office in the future.  

The WON program will also work to build a statewide leadership support network to help women as they run for office, and FDF will partner with other organizations to help ensure success and long-term sustainability in recruiting, training, and supporting women in office. 

Trainings will be held every other Tuesday, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. PT, from March 8, 2022, through August 9, 2022. You can register for just one or all of them. Note: Each module has a separate registration link. You are welcome attend one or all of them! The following is the schedule for the remaining WON trainings, so mark your calendars and register.  

March 22, 2022, Training Module 2: Where to Start? Questions to Ask Yourself 

• What do I need before I begin? 

• What office should I run for? Why? 

• Who will I represent? 

• What are the responsibilities and duties of that office? 

• When should I run? 

• Who is my competition? 

• What are my platform and values? 

• What do I hope to accomplish in that position? 

• Do I have the time, support, confidence, and motivation to run? 

Register for Training Module 2 

April 5, 2022, Training Module 3: The Basics of Running for Office 

• Campaign timeline 

• Resources needed to run a successful campaign 

• Filing your candidacy for office 

• Writing a campaign plan 

• Next steps 

Register for Training Module 3 

April 19, 2022, Training Module 4: Running a Campaign—What Do I Need to Know? 

• What is my campaign plan? 

• Do I have my team ready? 

• Who am I running against? 

• Funds and resources needed 

• Outreach to constituents and the public—know your community 

• Volunteer recruitment and retention 

• Debating and interviews 

• Getting endorsements and working with the media 

Register for Training Module 4 

May 3, 2022, Training Module 5: Choosing Your Campaign Team 

• Who should be a part of your team? 

• How to interview and choose the right team 

• Recruiting team members 

• Working with volunteers 

Register for Training Module 5 

May 17, 2022, Training Module 6: Campaign Communications 

• Branding—visuals, signage, online presence 

• Building contact lists 

• How best to reach constituents 

• Social media platforms 

• Email communications 

• Canvassing best practices 

• Media contacts and outreach 

Register for Training Module 6 

May 31, 2022, Training Module 7: Campaign Finance 

• State and local regulations 

• Contribution limits 

• Filing with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) 

• Fundraising dos and don’ts 

Register for Training Module 7 

June 14, 2022, Training Module 8: Fundraising for My Campaign 

• Fundraising goals and timeline 

• Hosting events 

• Online fundraising options 

• Targeting donors in your jurisdiction 

• Outreach to bigger donors 

• Public funding (available in certain areas) 

Register for Training Module 8 

June 28, 2022: Training Module 9: Candidate Forums and Interviews 

• Public speaking 101 

• Speech writing 

• Preparing for interviews and debates 

• Research and know your positions 

• Practice sessions 

Register for Training Module 9 

July 12, 2022, Training Module 10: Preparing for the Election 

• Difference between primaries and general election 

• Candidate questionnaires and forums 

• Mobilizing your base 

• Motivating staff and volunteers 

• Endorsements 

• Canvassing 

• Media outreach 

• GOTV! Get out the vote 

• Preparing for the results, good or bad 

Register for Training Module 10 

July 26, 2022, Training Module 11: After the Campaign: What Happens Next? Evaluating Your Campaign 

• I’ve won! Now what? 

• I’ve lost. Now what? 

• What worked? What didn’t? 

• Acknowledging your team and volunteers 

• Thanking your base and donors 

• Final fundraising reporting 

• Making sure all loose ends are taken care of 

Register for Training Module 11 

August 9, 2022, Training Module 12: Preparing to Take Office 

• Choosing your team for success 

• Putting together your office schedule 

• Researching legislative procedures and timelines 

• Joining legislative committees 

• Meeting with constituents 

• What will be my legislative focus and priorities? 

• Caucusing with fellow office holders 

• Following through on commitments 

Register for Training Module 12 

By Marty Bishop, Climate Change Solutions Committee, LWV of Kitsap County 

SAFE Cities is the movement of communities working to end local fossil fuel expansion. Join the LWV of Kitsap County in a discussion of SAFE Cities with Ingrid Archibald, a SAFE Cities Organizer of Stand.earth, on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Ingrid, who lives on Duwamish and Coast Salish land in Seattle and loves being near trees and water, will present the various options that communities have to protect themselves from fossil fuel threats. Organized by the Kitsap League’s Climate Solutions Committee, join the Kitsap County League in learning how to keep our communities safe from fossil fuels.  

Registration required. 

  

Ingrid Archibald, SAFE Cities Field Organizer 

By Mary Coltrane, Voter Services Committee Chair, LWV of Washington 

Voter Services includes many services that Leagues across the country provide to their communities. Among these is a service of critical importance: candidate forums and debates. Unlike many organizations, when Leagues organize candidate forums or debates, the audience isn’t only League members. On the contrary, we in the League work hard to make our forums and debates accessible to the community at large. Voter Services is about providing all eligible voters the tools they need to cast an informed ballot.  

The LWV of the United States notes that forums and debates are like hiring interviews. No one would hire someone without interviewing them first; as voters, we should get a chance to take the measure of candidates so we can have some assurance they will represent our views if they are elected. 

This is all fine and good. But what happens when candidates don’t show up for the interview? It’s a problem. Volunteers work hard to organize these events. When candidates don’t show, and if the event is left with only one candidate, the idea of an empty chair debate comes into play. Or, what if a candidate just won’t appear no matter how many times, and how nicely, League volunteers point out the costs and benefits? This seems to be happening more often than in the past. What should your League do? The day of a debate is not the time to make a decision. Planning and forethought will make a difference.  

The state League's Voter Services Committee is presenting two workshops to help with planning and forethought. Candidate and debate managers, all Voter Services volunteers, boards, every League member, and friends of the League are invited to attend one or both workshops.  

The first workshop, on Saturday, April 2, will feature Maggie Bush from the LWVUS, Mike Bay of TVW (Washington's public affairs network), and a representative from the Public Disclosure Commission (invited). They will talk about the various issues to consider as Leagues navigate our hyperpartisan environment. The second workshop, on Saturday, April 23, will offer ideas about how to successfully communicate the value of forums and debates with candidates, the media, and your community. Register for both workshops. 

Both workshops will allow ample time for your questions. As a matter of fact, the Voter Services Committee would love to have your questions in advance. We’ll share any questions we receive ahead of time with our speakers so they can tailor their remarks to what you want to hear. 

Mark your calendar and register! Look for reminder information in the March 18 This Month in the League, or shoot me an email if you have questions.  

Join us for the two online workshops designed to help Leagues prepare for this year’s election events.  

Saturday, April 2, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Rules for “Empty Chair” Debates 

• Setting policy, process, criteria, and more! Board members and candidate forum managers encouraged to attend. 

• Maggie Bush, LWVUS Programs and Outreach Director 

• Mike Bay, VP of Programming, TVW (Washington’s public affairs network) 

• Public Disclosure Commission representative (invited) 

Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Getting the Word Out 

• Working with candidates, the public, and the media 

• Streaming and recording 

• Broadcast agreements and participant ground rules 

By Carolyn Odio, Roster Manager, LWV of Thurston County 

DEI's emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion is super important and this article addresses the “I” in DEI: inclusion. The following are some free resources that can support inclusion in your League activities for the hearing impaired and those with low vision.   

Resources for the Hearing Impaired for Zoom Meetings 

• Captions are necessary with Zoom meetings. Automatic electronic captions are available in Zoom at no charge for both free Zoom accounts and paid subscriptions. (Make sure you’re using the latest version of Zoom.) To learn how to install Zoom captions, watch this six-minute video.
• Washington state provides, free of charge, remote conference captioning, which is a person to caption Zoom meetings—this really improves the accuracy of the captions. For more information and to take advantage of this captioning enhanced service, visit the Washington Relay website and fill out the Scheduling Request Form.
• Video of the speaker is absolutely necessary in Zoom meetings. For lip readers it is imperative to see the speaker on the screen. This is necessary even when captions are included. So make sure the video of your presenter is turned on.

Resources for Those With Low Vision 

The Braille Institute has created an award-winning low-vision font called Atkinson Hyperlegible. It is free to download.  

• See what the font looks like on the Google Fonts site. 
• Download this free font from the Braille Institute website.
• View a talk on YouTube about the Atkinson Hyperlegible font.
• Read a “Guide to Understanding What Makes a Typeface Accessible” on Medium.
• To install the font on your computer:
• • On Apple computers, view The Font Book User Guide.
  • On a PC, review the Microsoft guidelines on how to Add a Font.
  • To change your default font in Microsoft Word (Mac and PC), review Change the Default Font in Word.

Why not make Atkinson Hyperlegible the default font for your publications and newsletters? If you use Club Express as your League website host, why not use this font for your website? This font is available through the Club Express Control Panel, under Fonts. 

In closing, let's include our low-vision and hearing-impaired members. If you have deaf members, or members with other limitations, reach out to them and ask what they need to participate fully in League activities. This is where we can make a difference and where “the rubber meets the road,” by going this extra mile and making it happen.  

Note: This article uses Atkinson Hyperlegible.

The League of Women Voters of Washington and Fix Democracy First hosted more than 200 participants in January's second virtual Lobby Week. Core issues in democracy (including elections, voting, money in politics) as well as climate and transportation bills were highlighted. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Washington State House Majority Caucus Chair Lillian Ortiz-Self, Washington House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, Washington Senate Republican Caucus Chair Judy Warnick, and Washington Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig shared interesting stories about running for and serving in Washington’s part-time legislature. They also addressed bills of particular interest to them. To keep updated on what’s going on with bills in this year’s state legislature, catch up with the weekly issues of the Legislative Newsletter or sign up, if you haven't already.

Happy Birthday to Us! The League of Women Voters Turns 102 

The League of Women Voters will be celebrating its 102nd year with events that include: 

• The LWVUS will gather as one League on Monday, Feb. 14, at 8 a.m. PT to celebrate its expansive history and its pro-voter future in a virtual rally featuring speakers from partner organizations like Black Voters Matter and the Worker's Circle. RSVP for the rally. 

• Join the LWVUS on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. PT as it kicks off its 102nd birthday action with a friends and family National Friendbank. OutreachCircle will be used to invite LWV networks to upcoming birthday actions and activities. Registration. 

• Discuss D.C. statehood and the movie The Last Battlefront with the LWV of D.C. on Monday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. PT. 

Voting Rights Roller Coaster 

After escalating actions demanding that President Biden do all within his power to promote voting rights legislation, the League was thrilled to see POTUS stand up for the freedom to vote and call for the end of the filibuster. His shift was a direct result of all the work activists undertook in 2021.January also saw disappointments, such as the Senate's failure to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. During this time, we're reminded of the many obstacles that the Voting Rights Act faced before passing; we know that our current fight, though no less challenging, will be successful. 

Tackling Gerrymandered Maps 

State Leagues and partners across the United States are taking legal action to counter gerrymandered maps. The League has joined cases in Baltimore County, MD, and the state of Georgia opposing racial gerrymandering. To stay up to date on this work, sign up for our People Powered Fair Maps newsletter. 

New Staff and Digital Design in 2022 

The League kicked off the new year by welcoming several new team members to the national office, including Press Secretary Shannon Augustus and Senior Director for Voting and Elections Adam Ambrogi. The recruitment process isn't over yet—the League is currently searching for organizers, analysts, marketers, and more to join our team. 

The national League also launched a fresh new website design to better showcase the League's priorities and promote resources like VOTE411 and its legal cases. This is just the first in a series of digital enhancements, so stay tuned! 

Leagues in the News 

• The LWV of Houston was featured on ABC’s This Week as they worked to inform voters of changes in voting laws in time for upcoming elections. LWV of Houston president Annie Benifield spoke to Martha Raddatz about how they're doing it. 
   

• LWV of Salt Lake student board member Arundhati Bonney Oommen was recently selected to represent Utah at the U.S. Senate Youth Program. Check out this impressive student League member! 
   

• In a piece from Politico, LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase Solomón commented on the "ripple effect" that the failure to pass federal voting legislation will have on women voters. 
   

• LWVUS Chief Counsel and Senior Director of Advocacy and Litigation Celina Stewart spoke to the Associated Press about how and why Black women want federal voting legislation. Watch the video. 
  

By Lunell Haught, President, LWV of Washington 

So many things to do, so little time. 

While spending time dealing with our own issues (personal, family, and friends), League members have the added stress of being aware of the challenges to our democracy, the need for early childhood education, how to care for the disenfranchised, what to do about climate change/instability—the list goes on.  

Science tells us stress can cause increased aggression as a way to feel better about being overwhelmed. Good to know. It helps me bite my tongue, take a breath, leave a room, or not send an email, so I can move my thinking into my prefrontal lobe (which handles executive functions, especially decision-making). Having compassion for those in stress (who isn’t?) doesn’t mean people get a “pass” on that behavior, but it certainly helps me answer the question “what are they thinking?” and decide what to do next. 

One of the causes of stress is having a sense of no control. Here are some things to consider doing to help you feel like you’re making a difference.  

• Find out what boards in your community have openings for citizens and apply to serve.  

• Run for office—seriously—you know people and you love politics. I did it. It was hard. I was amazed at the people who “showed up” for me. I lost—either way, you change the focus of a race. If you win, being in leadership can be an extremely valuable experience, especially in this age of outrage. 

• Support candidates and elected officials who feel the same way you do about issues, if your League position allows. It is easy to say nothing and make observations when you don’t approve of something. Representatives need support through notes, calls, and mentions in public. If you don’t want to run for office yourself, support those who do—both before and after the election.  

• Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper. 

• Ask someone to join you at a League meeting—or Zoom in and talk about it later.  

• Create space for yourself—tune out and charge your own batteries so you can continue working on what’s important.  

Send me your suggestions too—I’ll share them.