Have your signed up for the 2025 LWVWA Convention yet?

There are some great speakers and workshops that members will enjoy, as well as the plenary business sessions. You may attend as a League member who is not a delegate or as a delegate if you are so designated by your local League's President. Note that the early bird registration rate ends on May 15.

This Convention focuses on the issues that are threatening our democracy and how the League can be involved, as well as doing the standard business of the League. Additionally, the Clark County League has planned some wonderful learning opportunities about the Vancouver area.

Register Today        Purchase Guest Meals/Sign Up for Field Trips

Convention: The Basics

• When: June 5-8, 2025
• Where: The Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, WA
• Registration: In-person and virtual options are available. Register now.
• Lodging: Reservations at the Heathman Lodge may be made by calling 360-254-3100. Please tell the reservation agent that you will be part of the League of Women Voters of Washington Group and request the Group rate when you call.
• Schedule: The fun starts Thursday afternoon, and then we really hit the ground running starting 8am Friday morning. See the schedule below. If you are not a delegate, you can come for a meal or a day at special rates to hear speakers or attend workshops.

If you haven't been to a League Convention before, join the online caucus on Tuesday, May 13 at 5:00 pm. Register for the caucus HERE. Attendees will learn about what happens in plenary sessions and why, including what the current and new Programs are, how to make motions, and more!

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Recognize a Valuable Local League or Member

Convention is a time when we get to recognize achievements by, and contributions of, League members and local Leagues to the success of the League as a whole—take this opportunity to recognize a valuable local League or League member!

There are a number of awards given each year. If you have a nomination for any of the awards below, use this form to suggest a person or local League to be considered. Nominations are due by May 21, 2025. The various awards are:

The Dorothy Roberts Award has been presented at LWVWA conventions since 1993—except perhaps in 2023—and the description is “to a person who shares a commitment, dedication and passion for the mission of the League.”

The Evergreen Awards were first awarded at the LWVWA Council in 2016 and include the following categories:

• The Cedar Award is given for actions that reflect generosity and providence. The cedar tree is a symbol of strength, support and connection, and prosperity.
•  The Fir Award is given for actions that demonstrate pillar of strength and tower of truth. The fir is a symbol of the power of determination and perseverance.
• The Pine Award is given for actions that represent the longevity and virtue of the League. The pine is a symbol of wisdom, longevity, reaching for the stars, and striving to make life better.
  
• The Evergreen Award—the highest award—given for extraordinary actions that sustain the League and keep it vibrant and growing.

Nominate a Member

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Remembering League Members Who Have Passed

We are also compiling "remembrances" for League members we have lost since 2023. Please share names, and photos if possible, HERE. Please make submissions by May 21, 2025.

Submit a Remembrance

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Convention Agenda
More details will be available in the Convention workbooks

Thursday, June 5

• 2:00 pm—Registration (continues through 8:00 pm).
• 3:30 pm—Women's HERstory Walking Tour of Vancouver, including a museum tour.
• 5:30 pm—Dine Around.
• 7:30 pm—LWVWA Board Meeting.
• 7:30 pm—Caucuses.

Friday, June 6

• 7:30 am—Registration (continues through 5:30 pm).
  
• 7:30 am—Tour of Reconstructed Fort Vancouver.
• 8:00 am—Caucus of local League treasurers.
• 9:15 am—Workshops: Microplastics, Ballot Translation Project, and Governance: How the League Works.
• 10:30 am—Plenary speaker Willie Frank Jr. III, Nisqually Tribe, son of Billie Frank Jr.
  
• 11:45 am—Lunch and Keynote Speaker Susan Martin, re: the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
• 1:30 pm—Plenary Business Session, with welcoming speeches.
  
• 3:15 pm—Plenary workshop Fireside Chat with LWVUS President Dianna Wynn.
• 4:30 pm—Workshops, including: Discuss Proposed Resolutions with the Resolutions Committee; Eldercare Study: You Spoke, We Listened; and Redistricting.
• 6:00 pm—No Host Happy Hour
• 6:30 pm—Dinner with Keynote Speaker WA State Attorney General Nick Brown.
  
• 8:00 pm—Caucuses: Health of Democracy in WA State; and Criminal Justice.

Saturday, June 7

• 7:30 am—Registration (continues through 5:00 pm).
  
• 7:30 am—Lecture at the Fort Vancouver National Historical Site Visitors' Center: "She Who Watches," a feminist-focused look at the democratic cultures and societies along the Columbia River since the earliest of time.
  
• 8:30 am—Breakfast Buffet
• 9:30 am—Workshops: Truth Matters: Introduction to Media and News LIteracy; Budget Q&A; and MELD.
  
• 10:45 am—Plenary Business Session II.
• 12:30 pm—Lunch with Keynote Speaker Kate Starbird: A Spotlight on Rumors.
• 2:15 pm—Plenary Business Session III (Budget Review).
• 3:00 pm—Plenary Workshop: Civics Stories: Empowering Youth in the Schools and in the Community.
• 4:30 pm—Plenary Workshop: Resisting Threats to Democracy.
• 5:45 pm—No Host Happy Hour.
• 6:30 pm—Dinner with Keynote Speaker LWVUS President Dianna Wynn.
• 8:15 pm—Caucuses: Tribal Study; and Redistricting.

Sunday, June 8

• 7:30 am—Local League Presidents' Breakfast
• 8:00 am—Breakfast for other attendees
• 9:00 am—Plenary Business Session IV
• 1:00 pm—LWVWA Board Luncheon and Meeting of the new LWVWA Board.
  

Please see the accompanying article about all the great things that are happening at the LWVWA Convention in June. Among the many fun and interesting events you will see there is a question and answer session with League of Women Voters of the United States President Dianna Wynn.

What are your questions about the national League? There's a lot going on right now, and the LWVUS has taken a prominent role. What would you like to hear about? Dianna will answer your questions and share your comments in a fireside chat format.

Whether you or not you can make it to Convention, your questions are welcome! Please send questions to info@lwvwa.org.

In Star Trek, a “mind meld” is a kind of telepathic touch that enables the rapid sharing of knowledge and experience. Unfortunately for (at least most of) us, we are neither telepathic nor within touching distance of each other, so we have created a MELD Network* to provide a mechanism to better share tools, methods, practices, and accomplishments across the state with each other.

The “League Mind MELD” column is a way to share even more information to all our members across the state. This column will run each month and will include the responses we receive to the questions posed at the end of the previous month’s column.

The League Mind MELD
Fighting for democracy! Preparing for Convention! Developing partnerships and coalitions? Welcoming new members! Annual Meetings! There is a lot going on.

We are all busy and caught up in reacting to the events of each day. Now is a good time to take a bit of a breather, as it is before most annual meetings and the LWVWA Convention. It's also a good time to get together with new members.

Membership orientations can take many forms—from informal coffee dates, a Zoom overview of the League, or even a phone call. Reaching out to find out what is on your members' mind, asking questions, and then being quiet and listening is very important! This is how you develop your League to reflect your community and fit into it, and work with other organizations and agencies.

MELD Pods this month will be exploring how to recognize new members and our volunteers, best practices, and how to effectively respond to the ongoing changes in our government.

Attend the MELD workshop at Convention, and walk the pathway from joining the League to different levels of leadership and be on the lookout for prizes! Make sure to check the "Bingo" game in your welcome packet—yes more surprises!

Interested in Canva?
Attendees of our first social media/Canva workshop told us what they want assistance with, and there will be a follow-up workshop later in the year. Until then, your homework is as follows:

• Canva for Beginners—YouTube video;
• Canva brand kit—YouTube video;
• Canva templates—YouTube video;
  
• Canva and QR codes—YouTube video;
  
• Canva graphics—Canva step-by-step guide.
  

Question for the month: What are your tips for volunteer recognition? We would like suggestions on creative ways to hold new member orientations.

Please send your responses to (or direct any questions toward) Nancy Halvorson, MELD Director.

*In the context of the League, MELD actually has zero connection to Star Trek; it is an acronym for Membership, Engagement, Leadership, and Development. MELD pods meet each month to serve as platforms for sharing successes, addressing challenges, and exchanging ideas among local Leagues. Are you interested in learning more about MELD? Talk to your Local League Leadership about becoming involved in MELD.

The House of Representative passed the SAVE Act yesterday. LWVUS released the statement posted below. We still have time to prevent its passage in the Senate. Here are a few actions you can still take:

1. Call our Senators asking them to continue their fight against the SAVE Act:
   • Senator Patty Murray: 866-481-9186
   • Senator Maria Cantwell: 202-224-3441 
2. Write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper (see template) and (talking points), as a private resident of Washington.
3. Post your opposition on social media, using the LWVUS talking points.

A Dangerous Step Backward for Our Democracy: League of Women Voters Responds to Passage of the SAVE Act in the US House

Press Release / Last Updated: April 10, 2025

Washington, DC — Today, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States, issued the following statement in response to the passage of the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act in the US House of Representatives:

“Today is a dark day in politics. The passage of the SAVE Act in the US House is a direct attack on the fundamental right to vote and a dangerous step backward for our democracy.

The SAVE Act is based on misinformation and fearmongering rather than facts, as there is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voter registration or voting in state and federal elections. Instead, the SAVE Act will create new barriers to voter registration by requiring submission of documentary proof of citizenship materials in person every time a voter updates their registration, which particularly harms rural voters, voters of color, married women who have changed their last names, and other voters who have been historically marginalized who already face obstacles in accessing the ballot box.

The League of Women Voters of the United States strongly opposes this legislation, which now moves to the Senate. We call on senators to do their job to protect American voters and reject this dangerous bill. The freedom to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and we will not stand by while politicians push anti-voter laws that weaken access to the ballot.

We will continue to fight to protect the voting rights of all eligible Americans and ensure that every voice is heard in our elections. The League is committed to working with our partners and legal advocates to pursue all avenues in fighting back against this harmful law. We will use every tool at our disposal to defend voters from unjust restrictions and uphold the integrity of our electoral system and democracy.”

We're proud to announce that we will have some amazing featured speakers at this year's LWVWA Convention—including Washington's Attorney General Nick Brown and LWVUS President Dianna Wynn. (And that's not even all of our speakers—keep reading!)

If you have been waiting for more details on what is planned for this year's event before registering, read on.

If you just want to know the basics, here you go:

• WHEN: June 5-8, 2025
• WHERE: The Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, WA
• REGISTRATION: In-person and virtual options are available—register now!
• LODGING: Reservations at the Heathman Lodge may be made by calling 360-254-3100. Please tell the reservation agent that you will be part of the League of Women Voters of Washington Group and request the group rate when you call.
  
• SCHEDULE: The fun starts Thursday afternoon, and then we really hit the ground running starting 8 am Friday morning. We are still finalizing the schedule, but we encourage members to arrive Thursday or early Friday morning.
  

Answers to questions many members have been asking:

1. What is the schedule of keynote speakers?
   The keynote speakers include:
   
   • Friday, June 6 (Lunch)—"The 14th Amendment"—Susan Martin, President of LWV of San Juan County; LWVWA Immigration Study co-author;
   • Friday, June 6 (Dinner)—WA State Attorney General Nick Brown;
   • Saturday, June 7 (Lunch)—"Spotlight on Rumors: Shaping Online Conversations"—Kate Starbird, Professor, Center for an Informed Public (University of Washington);
   • Saturday, June 7 (Dinner)—"LWVUS and Protecting Democracy"—Dianna Wynn, LWVUS President. President Wynn will also be available for a Q&A session at a plenary session on Friday afternoon.
     
2. What happens on Thursday?
   Much happens at Convention long before the first of the plenary sessions, which begin following lunch on Friday. On Thursday afternoon there will be a "Women's Herstory Tour" through downtown Vancouver, and a Thursday evening dine-around featuring a selection of restaurants, and then caucuses and fellowship back at the Heathman Lodge. 
   
   
3.  What happens in Plenary Sessions?
   Plenary sessions are where the delegates meet in a group and do the official business of the Convention. This includes these decisions:
   
   • Adopt the Current and New Program;
   • Adopt a Budget;
   • Amend Bylaws;
   • Elect Officers;
   • Resolutions;
   • Direction to the Board.
   There will be a webinar offered prior to Convention for delegates to get more information on these items. There will also be sessions where everyone meets to hear an important speaker or workshops for all.
   
   
4.  Are there workshops?
   Yes, workshops are planned on a variety of topics. There are still spaces available. To propose a workshop, contact Cynthia Stewart, Convention Planning Chair. Note: Workshops are intended to be educational but not advocacy. 
   
   

5.  Are there caucuses?
   Yes, a number of caucuses are planned. There are still opportunities available. To propose a caucus, complete this Caucus Request form. Requests received before May 15 will be included in the Convention Workbook. Requests that come in after that date will only be listed on the Convention website. Note: Caucuses can be used to inform about and advocate for Program of Work proposals and other advocacy issues.
   
   

6.  Are there field trips?
   Yes, we have several fun excursions planned!

   • Thursday afternoon: Take a walking "Women's Herstory Tour" through downtown Vancouver;
   • Thursday evening: Grab dinner with other attendees by signing up to participate in our dine-around featuring a selection of restaurants;
   • Friday morning: Take a tour of the reconstructed Fort Vancouver National History Site, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year;
   • Saturday morning: Attend a lecture at the Fort Vancouver National Historical Site Visitors’ Center, “She Who Watches,” a feminist-focused look at the democratic cultures and societies along the Columbia River since the earliest of time.

Opportunities for Recognition:

Convention is a time when we get to recognize achievements by and contributions of League members and local Leagues to the success of the League as a whole. There are a number of awards given each year. If you have a nomination for any of these awards, use this form to suggest a person or local League who should be considered. Please give the name of the nominee, the name of the proposed award, and a description of why they should receive the award.

The different awards are:

1. The Dorothy Roberts Award: Presented at conventions since 1993 (except perhaps in 2023). The description is "to a person who shares a commitment, dedication, and passion for the mission of the League."
2. The Evergreen Awards: First awarded at Council in 2016, and include these categories:

Recently, the League of Women Voters promoted the April 5, Hands Off rallies organized around the country, and we encouraged members to participate. Some local Leagues noticed complementary and congratulatory postings on their social media accounts, such as: “Way to go!,” “Glad you were there, LWV!” and “Excellent!”

A few, though, posed questions about the League’s presence at the protest. One, for instance, noted, “I thought you were supposed to be nonpartisan.”

Whether such inquiries were sincere or the work of someone looking to ignite an online fight is not clear. What is clear, though, is that the members of League of Women Voters—at the local, state and national levels —are not jettisoning our commitment to nonpartisanship.   

We do not engage in partisan politics by rallying and calling for an end to the assault on democracy and rule of law. The Executive Orders and disregard for judicial rulings by the current administration are not about politics, right or left, Republican or Democrat. They are an assault on our democracy, on our country.

As LWV leaders have stated: “The League cannot stand by silently while we watch the executive branch ignore not only tradition and protocol, but, more significantly, legislative and constitutional law …”

Living our values has never been so important, both defending democracy and maintaining our nonpartisanship. No one should connect defending democracy with aligning ourselves with a particular party.

As an organization with Leagues in all 50 states, and in Puerto Rico, members will maintain our commitment to nonpartisanship as we partner with and participate in events with others. But we will carry our own signs and make—without apology—our own statements that express our values, and the values of defending democracy and empowering voters that we have lived out for more than a century.

Read more about nonpartisanship in the League of Women Voters HERE.

The LWVWA biennial convention will happen June 5 through June 8. The plenary session will begin on Friday, June 6.

What happens at Convention? A lot! The Convention Planning Committee will be getting the word out on workshops, local League caucuses, speakers, tours, hotel registrations and more. These are all the fun things that surround the important work we do at convention. The work happens in Plenary Session.

The League at every level is a grassroots organization. This plays out at the National Convention, state convention and local League annual meetings. June 2025 is when members, as delegates of their League, have their say on these important areas of the League. Delegates come to Convention informed but not instructed. Delegates have the duty of informing themselves not only on the particulars of all the proposals, but likewise on how they will affect League governance.

Plenary Session is where delegates adopt Program of Work and a budget. Program of work includes the studies, updates and civic education projects that are the underpinning of state League positions and its Advocacy/Action agenda. The budget is the decision-making tool that supports state League work and guides allocation of resources.  

Plenary Session is where delegates elect the officers and directors. These are the people who accept the fiduciary responsibility and duty of care to manage the state League for the next two years. They will lead the state League at a critical time in our democracy. Delegates will also elect a chair and two members of the 2025-27 nominating committee. This essential committee is charged with finding and vetting the leadership slate that they will present to the 2026 Council and the 2027 Convention.

If this sounds intriguing to you, please check with your local League leadership and let them know you would like to be a delegate representing your League on these questions. There's important work to do, and a lot of fun as well. Please join us!

By Nancy Halvorson, LWVWA Membership Portfolio Director

In Star Trek, a “mind meld” is a kind of telepathic touch that enables the rapid sharing of knowledge and experience. Unfortunately for (at least most of) us, we are neither telepathic nor within touching distance of each other, so we have created a MELD Network* to provide a mechanism to better share tools, methods, practices, and accomplishments across the state with each other.

The “League Mind MELD” column is a way to share even more information to all our members across the state. This column will run each month and will include the responses we receive to the questions posed at the end of the previous month’s column.

Ahh—the times we are in. Now, more than ever, it is important to connect with one another for support, as well as sharing and developing creative ideas for defending and strengthening our democracy. The LWVWA provides many opportunities for us to come together with our shared priorities, and there is a place for everyone!

For further information, reach out to Nancy Halvorson.

Below is a list of ways that folks can get involved for democracy at the state level:

MELD Pods meet:

• The second Thursday of the month at 4:00 pm.
• The Third Wednesday of the month at 4:30 pm.
• The fourth Monday of the month at 5:15 pm.
  

Get involved with a committee:

• The LWVWA Civics Education Committee meets on the first Thursday of the month at 1:00 pm. Contact Beth Pellicciotti to get involved.
  

• The Voter Services Committee is comprised of leaders in the local League's Voter Services. They meet monthly on the second Wednesday from 4:30 - 6:00 pm. Reach out to Mary Schick or Cam Kerst to attend or learn more.

• The Redistricting Reform Campaign Task Force meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 2:00 pm. Contact Alison McCaffree to get involved.
  
  The LWVWA is leading a multi-year, statewide campaign to reimagine and reform the Washington State redistricting process. In keeping with League positions and the current Protect Democracy campaign, the LWVWA will plan and execute a campaign to reform the structure and procedures of the Washington State Redistricting Commission through a state constitutional amendment and statutory changes before the 2031 redistricting cycle.
  

• The Local News and Democracy Advocacy and Education Committee meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 1:30-3:00 p. Email Dee Anne Finken to get involved.
  
  Members of the committee, which also goes by the shortened title the Local News Team, are developing a media literacy and news education training project. That effort will start with a pilot training offered to all delegates attending the state convention in Clark County June 5-8. We are looking to equip League members with the tools they can use to help themselves and others decipher what they read and hear in the news is true and what isn't.

Get involved with an affinity group:

• NEW: Reproductive Rights held their first meeting on March 13. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Necia Quast. The LWV of the San Juans is working on creating an Affinity Group for Reproductive Rights to discuss what we might to as we head to the State Convention and eventually the national Convention to get updated League Positions on Reproductive Rights.
  
  
• Treasurer's Affinity Group meets on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 pm. Contact Dee Ann Kline Pattison to get involved.
  
  
• Environment Affinity Group sends out a newsletter early each month. See the current issue of the newsletter, "Our Climate Radar," on Google Docs. Send content for future editions to the editor, Anita Rose, and contact Marty Gibbins to be put on the mailing list.
  
  
• Health of Democracy in Washington State Affinity Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 4:30 pm. Contact Jean Snider to get involved.
  
  How healthy is Washington State's democracy? A potential biannual scorecard on our state's democratic processes is in progress. Evaluation factors include voter participation, voting rights, election, money in politics, media access, broadband availability, and more.
  

*In the context of the League, MELD actually has zero connection to Star Trek; it is an acronym for Membership, Engagement, Leadership, and Development. MELD pods meet each month to serve as platforms for sharing successes, addressing challenges, and exchanging ideas among local Leagues. Are you interested in learning more about MELD? Talk to your Local League Leadership about becoming involved in MELD.

In response to the increasing threats to US democracy, the LWVWA will hold a virtual town hall for members to hear from LWVUS staff on the League's approach to defend democracy in this challenging time.

Members will have an opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns and their expectations for what we do next.

Keep up with the LWVUS fight to defend democracy with their blog posts and press releases. Follow along with opportunities to strengthen democracy in Washington and our communities with the LWVWA.

Registration is required for this event. Sign up below.

Register here

The League of Women Voters of Washington will begin its biennial Convention on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The Plenary will convene on Friday, June 6, and end on Sunday, June 8, at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA.

The business of Convention will set the stage for the 2025-2027 biennium and will include adoption of Program of Work, election of officers and board of directors, approval of budget, and approval of bylaw amendments. There will be a variety of workshops addressing key issues and tips and ideas from other Leagues for League work.

Additional Convention details will be added as they become available. The final business for Convention will be posted by April 25, 2025, in compliance with the LWVWA bylaws. 

Plan now to attend—each local League may send their President and additional delegates as determined by your membership count that was finalized with LWVUS on Jan. 31, 2025. Anyone may attend as an observer. 

Delegates are chosen by members of their local Leagues.  Local League Representation is calculated in compliance with LWVWA bylaws: Section 9.4:

Representation. Each local League and MAL unit shall be entitled to voting representation in the convention as follows: one delegate for its first through 15th voting members and one delegate for every 25 additional voting members or major fraction thereof. 

Convention is a great opportunity for new and long-term members to learn more about the League, meet members from across the state, and be energized to meet the times. All are welcome—delegates and observers alike!

Book Your Hotel Room Now!

Reservations at the Heathman Lodge may be made by calling 360-254-3100. Please tell the reservation agent that you will be part of the League of Women Voters of Washington Group and request the Group rate when you call.

There are single and double occupancy rooms available for $169/night (plus the following fees: the current Vancouver City Occupancy Tax of 10.7%, a $2.00 per room, per night County Assessment, and an amenity fee of $16.30 per night for an estimated total of $205.38/night.