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.

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.

The League Mind MELD

In the coming months, MELD pods will be exploring how to work with other groups. As we navigate our changing political landscape, it is clear that coalitions and partnerships are more important than ever. It is crucial that we who fight for democracy must join together with a strong, united message.

A lot of Leagues and League members already have experience in developing these coalitions and partnerships. What are some of the things we can learn from them?

A great place to start is with an assessment of your own League members. While we remember to ask the "usual questions" (demographic information) when getting to know our members, we often forget to find out who they know! What organizations are our members a part of? Which elected officials do they have relationships with? What groups do they support? These could be a civic organization, political or church groups, neighborhood associations, or even just social networkers.

Collaborative work outside of the League begins with a personal relationship, and those can often start with League members participating in someone else's organization or event. We need to become known to others—and invite, invite, invite! We can build community by reaching out and asking others for help and for their expertise. We can praise and acknowledge others out there doing work similar to ours. The coalitions and partnerships will follow.

Reminder: Be sure to sign up for the Canva/social media workshop! The workshop will be held on January 22, 2025, at 4 PM via Zoom. Attendees will learn tips and tools for your personal and League use. There will be templates and League branding for presentations and social media posts, as well as LWVWA resources and more!

February's Question: Please let us know how a successful partnership you've had with another group began!

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.

We hope you have enjoyed and learned from the "In Their Own Words" essays series we've shared this year. Our advocacy is made stronger when we listen to and amplify the voices of those who are directly impacted.  As explained in the Nothing About Us Without Us Act, enacted this year, people with direct lived experience are experts in their own lives and are in the best position to find solutions to the issues they face.

We close this essay series with an essay from incarcerated writer David Jackson, written especially for this newsletter. The essay is a call to action—a call to recognize the humanity of us all and to work TOGETHER to change our society for the better.

"Society's Pen Pal" by David Jackson

I want to change the world, but will you allow me to? Do you see the value I posses, or am I just an amalgamation of years of fear mongering and political selling points? Can you see past my background check to my future's forecast—or am nothing more than the title of felon, bestowed upon me by an unforgiving penal system? Am I just in my belief that no person is defined by solely their best or worst moment?

Humans by design are dynamic, defined by a collection of the life they lived, people they loved, and communities they affected. To which most cases begin to heal the wounds of prior bad acts. Understand this is in no way a justification, or even a pacification, of the criminal element. Rather a sonnet to the restorative nature of mercy. If I may submit for your consideration, having been given your forgiveness, I could effect change on a massive scale if only society would believe in who I am, and not who I was a decade ago.

Healing is a process in which we all most don active roles. No one person can sit idly by while a community is overcoming collective traumas. People must, by the laws of nature, react to change. We must allow that change to emphasize compassion and redemption, over subjugation and otherism.

You are uniquely positioned in this moment to take an active role in the healing of not only those with lived experience, but the community at large. Allow me to stand as proof that liberation can be found in the halls of prisons across this nation. Freedom abounds in the confines of prison cells, because that is where healing is birthed. It is in that healing that we, who are soon to return to your communities, ask you to believe in. Better yet, we ask that you cultivate it. Believe that I, and others like me, have value and that my value isn't fleeting, but is sincere.

Once you believe in my value, we—together—can see change in communities across our region. When you not only believe in my purpose, but support it, then I can influence change with unparalleled efficacy. It all begins with a decision. A decision to believe that what was meant to disqualify me is, in fact, the very qualification that makes me best suited to usher in hope to hopeless communities. Will you be the one to make the decision to believe?

Say you did make the decision to believe. You picked up this very newsletter seeking answers on how best to support someone with lived experience. The answers, while simplistic, remain mired in complexity that often scare even the most devout of invested persons. This complicated process finds itself nearly insurmountable to the uncommitted. Your reading of these words has propelled you through the first step. My challenge to you is that you continue to take another.

Explore the biases that remain latent within your subconscious, challenge the trauma-filled responses that blind you to the humanity of all regardless of condition. I challenge you to assume positive intent, trust that my state-sanctioned conviction has defined my heart's convictions to bring forth restorative healing to communities everywhere. Continue to step through the fear and doubt sown by years of legal system propaganda, systematic dehumanizing of justice-impacted persons, and commercialized sensationalism sold through media across this globe. When you reach the precipice of this journey, you will be met with a choice. A choice to continue blind to the wonders of those forgotten en masse by the justice system—or to become a vested advocate, not just for those who are healing, but for those who remain broken.

When your choice has been made, and you begin to question where your voice can be most loudly heard, the answer is simple. In the quietest room. Seek spaces in which nobody looks like you, shares your experiences, or speaks with your vernacular. Identify an ally in restoration and move diligently in companionship with them to move healing further. Use the authority you have been afforded by way of nature to break the traumatic cycles that meticulously ensnare us all.

I want to change the world, but will you let me? Better yet, will you help me?

It is with fervent sincerity I request you seek someone with lived experience, and invest in their dreams. Invest in the freedom they foster within themselves. Invest with your time, attention, compassion, empathy, ideas, guidance, criticism, love, and trust.

Although this process seems daunting, the ramifications of achieving it are indefinable. I will change this world, but WE will change history.

In service,

David Jackson

If you are interested in learning about the peer counseling, trauma, or reentry work I am currently engaged in, and would like to get involved, please contact me via the Securus platform, or through standard mail at:

David Jackson

387627 MCC - TRU

PO Box 888

Monroe, WA 98272

David Jackson is a relentless visionary purposed with the creation of opportunity for all who feel they are disqualified from society. David has worked in community for years to minimize the divide between society and those with lived experience. His passion for curing the trauma of justice-impacted persons has enabled him to create the first Peer Resource Center within the Washington penal system. This transformative peer counseling space will become operation in early 2025.  

By Dee Anne Finken, LWVWA Lobby Team and Board Member

Nancy Sapiro, the LWVWA's contract lobbyist, says one of her greatest strengths isn't one people typically associate with those of a professional lobbyist.

"People think lobbying is a lot of schmoozing," Shapiro said as she took a break from preparing for Washington's legislative session, which begins January 13, 2025.

"I do a lot of listening," she said. "And I think that is really important."

That means no gregarious welcomes or back-slapping when Sapiro greets a lawmaker. Rather, Sapiro enters a legislator's office with the goal of finding understanding, and that, she said, comes from listening and finding common ground.

"That's the sweet spot, that's when people are willing to engage."

Sapiro is the sole proprietor and owner of Northwest Justice Consulting and has represented clients in Olympia since 2012. She specializes in healthcare—including reproductive health and end-of-life-care—civil rights, economic and social justice, civic engagement, and promoting policies that support working families.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Sapiro previously worked for League Voice, which was formerly the Northwest Women's Law Center. There, Sapiro was engaged in impact litigation and legislative work.

But, intrigued by lobbying—and the chance to turn meaningful policies into law—Sapiro changed focus, opening Northwest Justice Consulting 12 years ago.

Nine years ago, she began working with the League, which she calls an honor. "The longevity and history of the organization is so impressive. It's been at the forefront of civic engagement forever."

Over the years, her League work has changed, she said, mostly because of the League's growing sophistication in lobbying and legislation. "Lobby Team members know the processes and key players and provide testimony. They have greater expertise. They know their stuff and so I help now mostly by sharing political context and strategizing with team members."

Sapiro said she's seen the Legislature change over the years, too. For one, younger people are getting elected. "Many now have young families," she said.

Quick not to characterize that development as good or bad, Sapiro also sees a different perspective among legislators about what being elected means. "It's 'I've been elected, and the people of my district want me to do things and want to see change now.' There is a hunger for things to happen quickly."

Sapiro, a member of LWV Seattle/King County, said, in reality, she's been advocating for many years.

The proof is in the story she's told her daughters about growing up in the Midwest and during the bitterly cold winters in grade school, when she and her female classmates had to wear dresses to school.

When the girls went outside for recess, she said they could slip on pants underneath their dresses, but they had to remove the pants when they came back inside.

"Then it dawned on me, 'why do we have to wear dresses?'"

Sapiro promptly organized her classmates and together they marched to the principal's office to protest.

"We convinced the principal and we all began to wear pants."

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.

The League Mind MELD

This month, the MELD focus is on "L&D" (leadership and development). Effective leadership is critical, but not everyone is comfortable with words like Leader or Leadership. This can be a potential block—because words matter! Perhaps working with different terminology can help. Instead, think in terms like, Mentor, Guide, Helper, Facilitator, Responsible Party, Conductor, or Influencer.

Some folks are very good in these roles. What do you notice about those individuals in these roles? What draws you to them and encourages you to be part of what they are doing? We all know a good guide when we encounter one—to learn from them, we just need to break down what it is we're picking up on.

Leadership can be approached in different ways—you can facilitate singly or in partnership with others. Leagues in Washington are using a number of different leadership styles/models to ensure League activities operate smoothly. While there is no one right way to lead, there are some key points to being an effective leader:

• Listening is # 1: Listening is most important. What are the needs and concerns of the group? What are the most important tasks to be worked on? Good leaders listen to what their teams have to say in these matters.

• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate: A good leader will recognize the work of their team and make it clear they care. It is also important to share what is going on in the organization—and share regularly!

• Ask and Delegate: Asking others for help shows them that you appreciate them and believe in their skills and talents. Plus, when others step up to help in ANY way, they are likely to take ownership and responsibility for the success of the activity or event.

• Participate: This one is for all of us! As Lunell Haught is known to say: "It is important for us to rise above our capacity. The League is not a sit-down dinner and you get to be served. This is a potluck where we all bring something to the table."

There have been requests to have a workshop/panel/exercises on leadership and development at the LWVWA Convention in June 2025. Other requests include a League/member 101 model for local Leagues to adapt to their particular League. We welcome your suggestions! Please share them.

Reminder: Be sure to sign up for the Canva/social media workshop! The workshop will be held on January 22, 2025 at 4 PM via Zoom. Attendees will learn tips and tools for your personal and League use. There will be templates and League branding for presentations and social media posts, as well as LWVWA resources and more!

The Month's Questions

Last month, we asked "what are you grateful for?" The responses from Katherine Murphy were well said and reflect the vast majority of those we received:

• "I am thankful to live in the state of Washington because we currently have more freedom here than in other states, and because we are more climate conscious."
  
  
• "I am thankful for the hundreds of thousands of people who GOTV!"
  
  
• "I am thankful for League friends."

January's Question: How do YOU identify an effective facilitator?

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.

By Kit Muehlman, LWV Bellingham/Whatcom County

Is there a relationship between the method used to select our representatives and our later complaints about their actions? Is there an election method that would promote more equitable representation and less political polarization? It was these questions that led members of various local Leagues to consider multi-member districts (MMD) as a means toward proportional representation. To this end, in May 2023, at the LWVWA's Convention in Pasco, members approved a new education project on multi-member districts.

The LWVWA Program in Action supports the "adoption of election methods that produce proportional representation when electing representative government bodies such as councils, legislatures and Congress." But what is "proportional representation?" In a government body, proportional representation means that each political group elects representatives in proportion to its voting weight. In other words, a political group with about 33% of the vote elects about 33% of the representatives.

Currently, Washington does not use election methods that produce proportional representation on a statewide level—47 of our 49 legislative districts send three lawmakers to Olympia from the same political party. This means the majority party in each legislative district gets 100% of the representation, while the minority party gets zero representation. There are only two districts with mixed representation, the 10th and 26th legislative districts.

How does this relate to multi-member districts? Well, to achieve proportional representation, a voting method using MMDs—with multiple winners—is required. When an election contest can have only one single winner, it is impossible to achieve proportional representation.

Multi-Member District History in the United States

Multi-member districts have been used in the United States before. They were used in Illinois for 110 years (1870-1980). Lawmakers there reported bipartisan cooperation and bipartisan legislation, which abruptly ended when voters passed the Cutback Amendment in 1978. Illinois voters passed the amendment after legislators raised their own salaries and it cut representation to one member per district.

In the 20th Century, two dozen cities—including New York City, Cleveland (OH), and Cambridge (MA) used MMDs to achieve proportional representation. With the use of MMDs, these cities began to elect members of traditionally underrepresented groups in far greater numbers. The communities saw increases of Black, Italian, Irish, Polish, and women serving in elected positions.

However, after years of use, there was a backlash against the visible presence of ethnic minorities in government. Persistent local efforts managed to repeal MMDs. Though MMDs remained in Cambridge, 23 cities gave up on proportional voting and returned to traditional party politics.

In November 2024, Portland, OR, used multi-member districts with proportional representation for the first time. Arguably, Portland now has the most diverse and politically balanced city council in the history of the city.

Opposition to Multi-Member Districts

There are those in opposition to MMDs though. Opponents say elections using proportional representation are confusing for voters. However, voters have been successfully using proportional representation in Cambridge and Albany (CA), and now in Portland.

Opponents also believe that proportional representation would weaken the two-party system by allowing independents and third parties to run viable campaigns. However, proponents think that proportional representation will result in stronger parties by allowing more candidates to run, opening the field to find the strongest candidates in one party.

Ultimately though, if we want elections that result in elected bodies that proportionally reflect the political views of the people they represent, we have work to do.

Any local League, or organization to which you belong, is invited to request a presentation of the Multi-Member District Education Project, in person or virtually via Zoom. Contact Kit Muehlman by email or at 360-630-4152.

Multi-Member District Resources

• Watch a recording of our MMD presentation.
• Find League documents and other selected resources on the MMD project page.
• Read the MMD Bibliography.

Join us on Nov 21, 2024 from 7:00 - 8:00 PM for a webinar about how to use YOUR power at the county government level—maybe even to help guide county policy around forest management!

Register Here

We invite League viewers and the public to consider advocating for change in their counties. As an example, we will talk about challenges and opportunities to better manage public forest lands to protect mature forests while helping trust land beneficiaries and rural communities. We will describe efforts in two counties to protect mature forests with the help of the county governments. See below for the details of this event.

The Presenters

Vanessa La Valle (LWV Thurston), Kate Lunceford (LWVWA Forest Issue Chair), and Brel Froebe (Executive Director of the Center for Responsible Forestry).

The Agenda

7:00 PM—Welcome/Introductions: We invite League viewers and the public to consider advocating for change in their counties. As an example, we will talk about challenges and opportunities to better manage public forest lands to protect mature forests while helping trust land beneficiaries and rural communities. We will describe efforts in two counties to protect mature forests with the help of the county governments.

7:05 PM—Vanessa La Valle will describe the work in Thurston County with the county commission. La Valle helped develop A New Vision for Capitol State Forest. County Commissioners used the report as part of a plan to co-manage forests in their county with the Department of Natural Resources.

7:25 PM—Kate Lunceford will describe the work in League of Women Voters of Snohomish County to educate the county council and ask it to participate in forest management with the DNR. LWVSC’s work has been guided by data provided by the Center for Responsible Forestry and Legacy Forest Defense Coalition on where structurally complex forests exist and how they might be protected. What is the first step in gaining alliance with the council?

7:30 PM—Brel Froebe will talk about how CRF has supported efforts of LWVSC to gain some alliance with the county council to better manage forests in their county. What is a mature forest? What is at stake if they are logged (habitat, water and air quality, carbon content)? How has the election changed the strategy for protecting mature forests? How can revenue to junior taxing districts be replaced? What role does the county council/commission have?

7:50 PM —Q&A and contact information

8:00 PM—adjourn

Did you know that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has had long-term observers from their organization coming to observe US elections for 22 years? In fact, these observers have been coming to Washington and Oregon every two years for these two decades. 

 The OSCE is a collaborative organization of 57 countries from Europe, North America, and Central Asia—including the United States. Their Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the wing of the organization that conducts election observations.  

In May of 2024, the ODIHR released a comprehensive “Needs Assessment Mission Report” for the US general election on November 5. The Mission Report provides a comprehensive background of the political factors at play in the election, as well as the legal and electoral framework in which the election occurs. Their report also includes an explanation of why they were observing US elections this year, what conclusions they reached, and the recommendations they have stemming from those conclusions. The ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report can be viewed here.  

In Thurston County, at a ballot party at the Olympia Public Library, two League members had the opportunity to interact and discuss elections with two of the ODIHR observers. Below is an account of their experience.

By Susan Fiksdal, LWV Thurston 

At a ballot party on October 23, Annie Cubberly and I (LWV Thurston County) met two international elections observers! We were able to discuss a number of fascinating topics—ranging from Washington’s elections to the League’s work in WA and across the US.  

The two observers had a lot of questions, including asking if we (in our capacity with the League) had received any threats or harassment about the elections. Thankfully, we were able to explain that we had not, though we had an instance where a bot had requested voter registration services and several instances where requests may have been “testing” our nonpartisan stance.  

One question I found quite odd was when they asked if we knew of any “ballot harvesting” taking place in Washington. I was surprised by the phrase. Annie and I explained that it is so easy to submit a ballot we doubted anyone would let someone they didn’t know and trust submit their ballot for them.  

Washington elections were not the only topic discussed though. The two observers were interested in the League’s “Be a Voter” campaign, and we gave them copies of our “They Represent You” (directory of elected officials) as well as some League swag, including stickers and bookmarks. 

Also in attendance at the ballot party was the local chair of the Republican Party. The League’s excellent reputation nationwide was discussed with him, and it was noted how serious candidates must accept invitations to candidate debates and forums. He did, however, express the premise that League questions are often viewed as partisan.  

The long-term observers Annie and I spoke with are just two of 64 observers from the OSCE who were in the US to observe ballot processing and talk to election officials, political parties, and civic groups. 

The library provided pizza to party goers and showed League candidate forums for voters.

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.

Dip Your Toe Into Canva and Social Media

Join us on January 22 at 4:00 PM for our social media general overview, "Dip your Toe into Canva & Social Media!" Register here.

We will be providing tips, tricks, and tools to help you work with templates, logos, and branding on Canva. Bring your questions and your concerns. Jen Winkler (LWV Snohomish County) and Joanne Lisosky (LWV Seattle/King County) will show us how easy and fun it can be to increase the impact your League has in your community! We'll look at how to use League resources, such as templates, to create your own "What is the League of Women Voters?" posts and personalize it for your own League. There is also the possibility of a more in-depth training as well.

Post Election Breathers and Thankfulness

Whew! The 2024 Election has come and gone—and while we may not know the outcome of all the election races at this point—it's time to take a breather! We have all worked so hard these past 15 months, from more tabling and GOTV, to recruiting more volunteers and fielding more requests, to more speaking engagements, more meetings, and more advocacy. It seems like it is always more, more, more! But we did it—YOU did it. So, pat yourself on the back.

Also, a special thank you to Bev Herbst (LWV Skagit County) and Ellie Hutton (LWV Clark County) who spoke to all the MELD pods during October on the new League dues process to be launched in early 2025.

The League Mind MELD

LWVUS webinars for League leadership positions are taking place in November and December. Make sure you are registered for one of these important webinars! Register here.

November MELD pods will do a bit of reflection on this past election season and then focus on the ins and outs of Program Planning and preparation for consensus on two statewide League studies.

Lately, we've been reflecting on what members have learned by attending MELD sessions. We've heard about:

• LWV Klicitat/Skamania's work partnering with a local Tribe to encourage voter registration;
• LWV Skagit County hosting a guest speaker and video presentation on LGBTQIA+ issues;
• The Spokane League worked this year to translate ballots into different languages, hosted their annual Civics Bowl (which included a partnership with their local public access TV);
• The introduction of LWV Seattle/King County's civics education curriculum being introdued in local schools;
• LWV Kitsap's unique take on GOTV on the roadways, using "Burma Shave" type signage to get the message out;
• An in-depth reporting from LWV Benton/Franklin Counties on how they've covered multiple districts and their other forum successes.

But that's just SOME of the many, many things local Leagues around the state have been doing. We want to hear more from local Leagues and invite you to join us at MELD sessions to share the successes of your League!

Last month we asked what LWVUS webinars you attended. The most frequent answer was the "Framing the Future Office Hours." This makes as it's a space to learn a bit more each month about the big changes with due collections in January 2025.

December's Questions:

November is a time dominated by Thanksgiving (at least once the election is over), so naturally, we're asking: What are you thankful for?

Please send your asnwers to Nancy Halvorson.

*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.

You are Invited!

Join the Nominating Committee at this Meet and Greet to ask questions, learn about, and discuss team leadership opportunities for the LWVWA Board of Directors. If you have ever considered joining the LWVWA leadership team, this is for you!

Choose at least one of the following dates and times that will work best for you:

• Saturday, November 13 at 3:00 PM
• Wednesday, December 4 at 6:00 PM
  

Before attending, we encourage folks to learn more about the board and the nominating process.

These gatherings will be held via Zoom. Please contact Jean Alliman to get the Zoom link—and include which session(s) you would like to attend.

We look forward to seeing you on one or more of these dates!

Please feel free to reach out to the Nominating Committee members with questions or for more information on the board and nominating process:

• Jean Alliman (LWV Spokane Area), Chair, jean.alliman@lwvwa.org
• Linda Benson (LWV Clallam County), benson@lwvwa.org
• Julie Sarkissian (LWV Seattle/King County), jsarkissian@lwvwa.org
• Dee Anne Finken (LWV Clark County), dfinken@lwvwa.org
• Shelley Kneip (LWV Thurston County), skneip@lwvwa.org