By Miriam Kerzner, LWVWA Board Member and Nominating Committee Member

The Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters of Washington is seeking applicants or nominations for the next board term. Learn more, apply, or nominate someone here.

I had long supported my local League financially when I was chosen to serve on the state board.  In all that time, though, I had never actively participated. While I appreciated the League of Women Voters in general, my knowledge of what it did and how was shallower than a puddle. Surprisingly, becoming involved first at the state level was an excellent first step to learning about the League and provided me with the tools to become a more effective member of my local League at the end of the two-year term.  

There is no better way to grasp the League’s web of organizations than to sit in the middle of it.  Nowhere else do you sense the tension between adhering to National’s broad mandates and respecting the independence and limits of local Leagues.  Similarly, the state board gives participants the opportunity to see how state-wide projects grow out of local concerns and interests, flourish with the active support of state-level institutions, and sometimes influence national or other state organizations.  

The best part is that the network is made up of deeply engaged, caring, thoughtful people all of whom care about the League and for other volunteers.  I had never organized an event before joining the state board.  Organizing the Convention was terrifying. I succeeded because of the generosity and support of the other board members and that of the host league, Benton-Franklin County.  Everyone lent me their experience, their time, their knowledge, and their sympathy. In the process, I have developed a set of friends I know I can call on for help and advice in the future. My experience reinforced that none of us need to be experts; we just need to be willing to show up.  

Ultimately, the foundational work is done at the local League level and being a member of the state board provides you with tools and friends that can enhance that effort and enrich your life in unforeseen ways.