Be a Flea for the League

02 Mar 2022 2:29 PM | Anonymous


By Roslyn Duffy, Fundraising and Development Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington

“You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation.”

Those words from Marian Wright Edelman, an American activist for children's rights, founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund, and the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, remind us that even a tiny creature, a single individual, or the smallest action can have a huge impact.

Although no one particularly wants to be a flea, Edelman’s metaphor underscores the persistence she used her entire life to achieve great goals and reminds us of our relentlessness in making democracy work. (To learn more about Edelman, visit https://www.childrensdefense.org/staff/marian-wright-edelman/)

To discover what kind of League flea you are, take this fun quiz.

Please consider making a contribution to the League today to continue supporting our work together.

The following lists the ABCs of how to be a flea for the League, including the estimated time commitment.

A
Attend an online protest

As long as you want

B
Be a marcher and show up to support League positions

Half-day or whole day

C
Click on links in the Legislative Newsletter to support League positions

Less than 2 minutes

D
Dream big and act relentlessly

As much as you want

E
Educate others about our election system

Every chance you get

F
Fight to protect voting rights

All the time

G
Give generously to support League work

Anytime

H
Help “cure” votes by tracking down and verifying signatures

Day or more

I
Invite others to participate in League work

Often

J
Jump in no matter how small the action

Always

K
Kindle hope in yourself and others

Frequently

L
Live your values

Every day

M
Mentor others and encourage everyone to act

Whenever possible

N
Nurture civic engagement in your community

As often as you can

O
Organize letter-writing campaigns

A few hours a year

P
Protect the vote by being a volunteer election observer

One day or more

Q
Quitting is not an option, because you matter and are needed

Always

R
Run for office and make a difference

Indefinite

S
Spread the truth by posting accurate information on social media

Whenever you can

T
Testify at a council or legislative hearing

One-hour by Zoom or a half-day-plus in-person

U
Understand League positions and articulate them to legislators

One-hour by Zoom or a half-day-plus in-person

V
Vote and be sure that others can vote too

Every election

W
Write to your elected representatives by email or regular mail

Up to an hour

X
Xanadu is not our goal, as we need to be persistent

Always

Y
You have something important to say so make your voice heard

As long as it takes

Z
Zeal is your fuel so maintain a full tank

Recharge regularly and often



The League of Women Voters of Washington is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.
The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. LWVWA Education Fund contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. The League of Women Voters Education Fund does not endorse the contents of any web pages to which it links.

League of Women Voters of the United States

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