The League will return to Olympia in February for an in-person Lobby Day, the first since 2020. Above, former state Rep. Mike Pellicciotti, now state treasurer, addresses the League at an earlier Lobby Day event.  On the main page, Pam Crone, left, and Nancy Sapiro, League contract lobbyists, offer training to members in Olympia.

League members from throughout Washington will have an opportunity to lobby their senators and representatives in Olympia, when the LWVWA holds an in-person Lobby Day on Tuesday, Feb. 9. 

After six years of virtual Lobby Days via the Zoom platform, members of the state League Lobby Team elected to resume the practice of inviting all League membership to the Capitol campus for a daylong event of programming and small group meetings with lawmakers. 

Both meeting options – in-person and online – feature pros and cons, said Ann Murphy, who co-chairs the Lobby Team with state League Advocacy Chair Martin Gibbins. Gibbins also serves as the state League vice president. “But definitely, the in-person event on the Capitol campus builds greater camaraderie among our membership.”

Plus, Murphy added, “It is really exciting to all be there in person.”

The last in-person LWVWA Lobby Day was in 2020, just days before the statewide Covid 19 shutdown was ordered. More than 200 League members registered for the event, although 138 turned out.

Agrant from the national League of Women of Voters will help offset some costs of hosting the event, making the in-person option possible, Murphy said.

The Lobby Team is also restructuring the preparation and training it will offer League members in advance of the legislation session, which begins on Jan. 11.

“This year, it’s about developing a program. That’s the main impetus,” Murphy said, noting much of the content of this year’s trainings will be similar to years past. 

“But we’re looking to build a more cohesive program. And with all of the new members we have, that’ll be helpful as it will allow our people to step through the process from the start and see a whole roadmap ahead of them.”

In place of what had been a half-day Action Workshop event, typically on a Saturday in November or December, will be a four-night series called “Learning the Issues,” conducted on one evening in November and three in early December. 

On Monday, Nov. 30, Lobby Team members will provide instruction on League legislative priority issues titled “Protecting a Democracy under Siege,” namely protecting the budget and revenue, voting rights and local news. Wednesday, Dec. 2, environmental issues will be the focus, while on Monday, Dec. 7, social and economic policies will be front and center. Finally, Wednesday, Dec. 9, will feature an overview of the Lobby Day.

All “Learning the Issue” sessions will be livestreamed on Zoom from 6:30-8 pm.

Members can also attend a virtual training on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 6:30-8 pm on setting up meetings with lawmakers. That event was previously referred to as “Getting Your Ducks in A Row.” 

On Saturday, Jan. 9, Democracy Advocacy Issue Chair Alison McCaffree and colleagues will offer the popular Speak Up School training on how to effectively discuss topics with elected officials. It will be held from 2-4 pm via Zoom.

The first edition of the state’s Legislative Action Newsletter, profiling the bills the League is following and recommending member action, will publish Sunday, Jan. 10. Additional editions that will update developments and request further League member action will be published every Sunday through session’s end.

Prefiling of bills begins Dec. 7.

Murphy encourages members and local League leadership to start talking now about travel to Olympia for the Feb. 9 event. She said members who live a distance from Olympia may want to start discussing ride- and room-sharing.

The 105-day session concludes April 26. More details will be coming.