By Dee Anne Finken, LWVWA Nominating Committee member

Applications are now being accepted for members interested in becoming directors and officers on the LWVWA Board for 2025-27. In the happy chance you are elected, you will carry a portfolio.

What, you may ask, does it mean to carry a portfolio?

In the financial world, a portfolio is a collection one's investments or assets. In many ways, that also describes a portfolio carried by a LWVWA director or officer.

For a portfolio is where a board member invests—in this case, time and energy—and often reaps great returns or rewards. 

At present, the LWVWA board has the following portfolios for directors to carry: Civics Education; Development; Program; Action or Lobby Team; Local News; Internal Communications; Membership Empowerment and Leadership Development; and Candidate Debates and Forums.

Officers are president, first and second vice-presidents, c3 and c4 treasurers, and secretary.

Four former state board members, all of whom also served as state presidents, recently shared some perspectives about portfolios and board service:

"Portfolio might seem like such an antiquated term," said Ann Murphy, whose League membership spans 45 years. "But it's really just what you're responsible for."

Murphy, who is from the Spokane Area League, initially joined the LWVWA board as an Education Fund director and then became the C3 treasurer. In 2015, she switched hats and was elected president, serving two terms.

League members looking to join the board don't need to have a concrete idea in mind for the portfolio, said Murphy. "You're not necessarily being asked to come on the board to do X, Y, or Z. Your skills and interests will determine it."

Judy Golberg, who also joined the League 45 years ago, said—ideally—candidates are enthusiastic about what they will take on. "Do you have professional skills in the area? Are you passionate about developing membership or leadership, for instance?"

Interest in working with others is important, too, said Golberg. "What we want are people who want to be a part of a team. People learn from one another and each person brings his or her own personal experience and a background from their own local League."

Over the years, Golberg has carried a variety of portfolios and served as LWVWA president from 2003-2005. She is a member in Benton/Franklin counties.

Linnea Hirst, from the Seattle King County League, said she assumed the Program portfolio on the LWVWA board because no other member had chosen it. It was a natural fit because Hirst had been involved with studies beginning with her first year in the League in 1965. "I just enjoy digging in and learning stuff and working with people who are bright," she added.

Hirst served as LWVWA president from 2009-2011 and then as co-president with Kim Abel from 2011-2013.

Abel, from Kitsap County, joined the League in 1997, attracted by its practice of considering a variety of important issues—and for looking at those issues from a range of perspectives. "I was very entranced."

To begin, Abel was active in her local League until 2003, when she was elected Mayor of Port Orchard. Elected office prompted her to step back from the League, but four years later, when she was no longer seeking elected office, one of the first phone calls she received was a request to return to League work.

Shortly after, she became LWVWA Vice-President, serving for two years and carrying the Advocacy portfolio. After that, she was co-president for two years and then president for another two.

Abel said it's helpful to note that the pace of duties for a board member often varies, depending on one's portfolio.

Carrying the Advocacy portfolio, for instance, means more demands when the Legislature is in session. Carrying the Development portfolio might mean more work during specific fundraising efforts. "Portfolios have their ups and downs," Abel added.

Directors have carried a variety of portfolios over the years. Murphy's mother, Margaret Fellows Portman, also a longtime League member, held the environmental equality portfolio.

Murphy, Golberg, Abel, and Hirst acknowledged the task of being an officer or director can be time-consuming, particularly for those carrying heavier portfolios, such as Action, Program, or President.

"The time commitment is real," said Hirst. "And you need to be ready to do a good job. But you'll find other people to work with you."

All four agreed that despite the time and energy investment, the rewards are plentiful.

'The joy for me was the feeling of being up on things and understanding what was going on," said Murphy. "I felt like I knew the pieces of the ballot issues and it was always an opportunity to gain more in-depth knowledge of issues that are before the public."

The opportunity to meet other interesting people is also a big payoff.

"And not just League people," said Murphy, who, while LWVWA president, was at a luncheon where Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor was speaking. "She was walking around the room, answering questions and she stopped behind me. her hands ended up on my shoulders and she gave me a shoulder rub."

Golberg, too, spoke of the opportunity to meet other interesting people, noting her work on the top-two primary election process had her working alongside three former governors.

When Murphy stepped up to serve, she said she recalled her mother's advice to her and her sister, Jane. "She always said to us: 'Go make a difference. And to make a difference you have to jump in and commit.'"