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.”

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! Wrapping up Consensus! There is a lot going on.

We are all busy and caught up in reacting to the events of each day. In the League, April is a good time to take a bit of a breather, as it is before most annual meetings and 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.

Come join MELD at the LWVWA Convention, we'll be playing the "Pathway" game—walking the route of a new member to leadership. There might just be prizes!

Update on a Second Canva Workshop
There is a strong interest in holding a second Canva workshop, however the workshop may not be held until later in the year—so, we want to provide you with some tools to use now! Our trainers have suggested the following "homework" items to address the areas in which you would like additional training (and these items will inform our work in the next workshop):

• 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.

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.

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
Happy Birthday League of Women Voters—105 years on February 13, 2025!

Think about it, we have been in the fight to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy for 105 years. At times, it seems like our work has just begun. A successful organization such as ours depends on our volunteers who are willing to get in the game and keep going. One of the ways we support each other is through the MELD program.

This program began as MLD (Membership and Leadership Development)—a partnership among the three levels of League. It is a framework of best practices, training, and coaching that helps local and state Leagues be more strategic and focused in efforts to recruit new members, engage current members, and develop new leaders. MLD began in 2006 and was a national program for a number of years. When LWVUS stopped using it, the Washington State League opted to continue and added the “E” for Engagement. We have a number of members to thank, including Ann Murphy, one of the MLD coaches and a current MELD Facilitator, and Katherine Murphy, who played a key role in developing the MELD program into what it is today.

We encourage all Leagues to have a representative in one of our Pods—they meet once a month and are great resources for information sharing—up, down, and sideways. A good example is this past year as we prepared for the dues transformation. Guest speakers, resources and information sharing often went to the Pods first, and those members then reported back to their Leagues. The Pods have a focused topic each month, as well as time for sharing what is going on in their local League, or how they could use assistance.

As we celebrate our 105^th birthday, we keep in mind all those dedicated—past and present—to keeping democracy alive.

Guiding our work, as we continue to Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy, we can look towards the League's "Oath to Democracy" and why—after 105 years of serving ALL voters (regardless of gender identity)—we will remain the League of WOMEN Voters.

March's Question: What workshops would you like to see at the 2025 LWVWA Convention in June?

Please share your responses—or any questions—with Nancy Halvorson, Membership Portfolio 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.

It is time to begin the work of planning the LWVWA's Program of Work for the next biennium!

In the League of Women Voters, the "program" is the educational and advocacy platform adopted biennially to advance the League's mission of "Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy." The biennial planning for the Program of Work is the grassroots process for identifying the work needed to achieve this mission. The LWVWA's Program—like all League action, advocacy, and education—is grounded in our positions and principles. That's why our work, especially our advocacy work, requires member understanding and agreement. Learn more about this process on our website. 

During the next few months, members of Washington's local Leagues will have opportunities to participate in the consensus process for the current studies and plan the Program of Work that will be adopted at the LWVWA Convention in June 2025. Members will be notified of the recommended Program at least 40 days prior to Convention.

Please note: Local League proposals for the LWVWA Program must be submitted no later than March 6.

Please contact Shelley Kneip with any questions or for more information.