Congratulations LWVWA! At the 2021 LWVWA Convention last year, with trepidation and concerns, the members voted to implement staggered terms so that there would be Board continuity for running this million-dollar-plus corporation. You did it! You voted to elect some officers and directors each year, and Shelley Ann Jones and her Nominating Committee did a fabulous job of recruiting nominees for this first election. There will be more recruiting for officers and directors at the 2023 LWVWA Convention. The board can also appoint additional directors, so if you or someone you know is interested in an interim appointment, please let us know (send email to president@lwvwa.org). The Nominating Committee works with the Board on these appointments. We have completed our first staggered election and are off to successful completion of an important strategy in ensuring the League's capacity to meet the challenges ahead. 

The LWVWA Board includes the following: 

President: Lunell Haught, Spokane Area  

1st VP: Mary Coltrane, Seattle-King County  

2nd VP: Beth Pellicciotti, Spokane Area  

Secretary: Jean Snider, Snohomish County  

501(c)(4) Treasurer: Dee Ann Kline, Mason County  

501(c)(3) Treasurer: Myra Howrey, Kitsap County  

Director: Liz Bander, Seattle-King County 

Director: Susan Daniel, Kitsap County 

Director: Roslyn Duffy, Seattle-King County 

Director: Susan Fleming, Clark County  

Director: Jayne Freitag, Seattle-King County 

Director: Miriam Kerzner, Benton-Franklin County 

Director: Shelley Kneip, Thurston County 

Director: Julie Sarkissian, Seattle-King County  

Welcome to the new Board members Liz Bander, Susan Daniel, Miriam Kerzner, Dee Ann Kline, and Shelley Kneip! 

Many thanks to the retiring Board members Joan Lawson (Seattle-King County) and Linda Benson (Clallam County). 

By Mary Coltrane, Former Voter Services Portfolio Director, LWVWA Board 

The state League council was such a great time to reconnect with other League members after two years of pandemic! Those of us who spend much of our League time in Voter Services enjoyed the chance to connect and share Voter Services ideas. And all at the council had the chance to hear about some of our great Voter Services work.  

• Julie Anne Kempf, Seattle-King County League, shared VOTE411 information, pointing out that there are many counties in Washington state that don’t have a budget for voter guides; these are counties where the League fills the gap. She also reviewed the timeline so everyone can know when to tell friends and family to check VOTE411 on or about July 8 to see whether their candidates have participated in VOTE411.Julie Anne asks that we all contact campaigns if our candidates haven’t answered—and ask them to do so! 

• Susan Fiksdal of Thurston County shared the great Voter Services tools you will find on the Voter Services page (see the LWVWA website For Members section, Voter Services page). She described the research-based thinking behind the Be a Voter campaign—Be a Voter invokes a sense of identity as a voter and this is a powerful message. 

• Cam Kerst described how Bellingham-Whatcom County organizes the important business of getting League members out to tabling events. This is a key way we reach voters. The Bellingham-Whatcom League uses a team approach and divides the work up so that no one is doing it all. 

• Karen Crowley of Snohomish County walked attendees through the high points of a recent Voter Services workshop on candidate events, with a special focus on empty chair debates. Forums and debates are more important than ever in these hyperpartisan times, and candidates deciding not to show is a problem in terms of promoting an informed electorate. Not everyone in the League focuses on Voter Services, but understanding this and other Voter Services programs helps us all in promoting an informed electorate and getting out the vote. 

We in the League love to share ideas and hear what other Leagues are doing. There was time for this at the Voter Services caucus. Susan Fiksdal led attendees in a discussion centering on three areas: 

1. What is your messaging campaign for candidate forums? For example, is your policy for forums posted on your website? Have you written an op-ed or letter to the editor about the value of candidate Forums? What more can we do? There were lots of ideas around this question: 

• Contact Democrats and Republicans and ask for issues of interest to them.  
  
• Check with the Washington Journalism Education Association to get questions from high schoolers. 
  
• Check VOTE411 questions; do they vary from candidate event questions?  
  
• Work with organizations that work with schools to get access to schools. 
  
• Divide up and systemize communication with the candidates.  
  
• Outreach for questions: Include community, journalists, party leadership, social media. 
  
• Make a plan to adopt a candidate events policy. Include writing an op-ed telling the public what it is. Submit it to your local newspaper. 
  
• Partner with your library to put on Zoom forums.  
  
• Educate voters about positions/job duties that are on the ballot. 
  
• Work with speech/debate classes, high schools, and community colleges to engage youth. 

2. Reach out to diverse communities: What have you done in the past that works? What are your plans for this year? How are you working with speakers of other languages? Here are some ways local Leagues are working to achieve our DEI goals: 

• Use QR codes—they’re  a magnet! Put posters on your car with a link to the voter registration site. 
  
• Reach out  to tribes, the NAACP, churches, LGBTQ groups, and food banks. Attend their events. Leave the Your Vote publication at churches and other locations.
  
• Translations are great but can be expensive. Need to consider materials to translate; use certified translations, then reach out to the community to distribute.  
  
• Pass out translated flyers at food banks. 

3. Reach out to youth (registering them to vote, preregistering, other activities). There’s a lot of interest among local Leagues in reaching out to youth. Here are some ideas: 

• Boys & Girls Clubs 
  
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters. 
  
• United Student Leaders groups in high schools are active. 
  
• Hold a youth forum.
• Partner with organizations and have students register people to voter.
• Advertise on buses and ferries.
• Offer youth scholarships to join the League. 

Take a look at the Voter Services page on the League website. You will find information and tools that you can use to help spread the word about voting!   

By Lunell Haught, President, LWV of Washington 

At the LWVWA 2022 Council, four speakers provided valuable information integral to League work: 

Francis Benjamin, “LWVWA Member Survey Results: What Do We Really Know?”  

Francis Benjamin discussing the results of the LWVWA member survey. (Photo by Amy Peloff)

The LWVWA has been conducting a study with Washington State University to evaluate how effective the League has been in meeting the goals outlined in its 2017 strategic plan. This presentation by Francis Benjamin, Information Systems Coordinator at WSU, provided the results of our all-member survey. Throughout the weekend, members used the information to make plans for the coming year. The results of the survey will be used in the statewide strategic plan. Download the PowerPoint of the presentation and the Interim Membership Report. 

Nicholas Lovrich, Ph.D., “Polarization & Incivility in American Politics: Is Congressional Gridlock Affecting U.S. State Legislatures?”  

Nicholas Lovich talking about the history of civil discourse. (Photo by Amy Peloff)

Nicholas Lovich, co-editor of the book Outside Looking In: Lobbyists’ Views on Civil Discourse in U.S. State Legislatures, spoke on the book’s origins in the Washington state legislature. The presentation included a discussion on civil discourse and the lack thereof throughout the history of the United States. Of particular note was the negative effect of term limits on civility. Review Lovrich’s PowerPoint of his presentation. 

Jessica Rohloff, LWVUS Secretary  

Jessica Rohloff talks about her life and work with the League. (Photo by Amy Peloff.)

Jessica Rohloff, Secretary of the LWVUS, gave a personal history of her engagement with the League. She embodies overcoming challenges and a commitment to the League, democracy, forgiveness, and understanding.  She also hosted two sessions explaining the national bylaw and consensus issues for the 2022 LWVUS Convention.  

Vicki Lowe, “Working with Tribal Communities: Tribal Sovereignty and Indian Health Care” 

Vicki Lowe talking about tribal health care. (Photo by Amy Peloff)

Vicki Lowe, American Indian Health Commission Executive Director, spoke on the history of American/United States and tribal relationships. Washington ranks fourth in the number of tribes within state boundaries. After this orientation, she explained the responsibility of the federal government for Indian health care. She emphasized the importance of generosity as a cultural value and some ways of working with these sovereign nations. Review Lowe’s PowerPoint presentation. 

The 2022 LWVWA Council got started on Friday, June 10 with a bang as local League presidents shared the opportunities and challenges they deal with and how they address them. The panel of League presidents included Necia Quast, LWV of the San Juans (60 members), Bobbie Ryder, LWV of Pullman (80 members), Nancy Halvorson, LWV of Clark County (135 members), and Karen Tvedt, LWV of Thurston County (176 members). The presidents gave brief descriptions of their League’s culture and structure. After they set the tone for candid sharing and problem-solving, League members were able to talk about their own Leagues and situations at their tables. 

Presidents, Necia Quast, Bobbie Ryder, Nancy Halvorson, Karen Tvedt, from four Washington state Leagues sharing about their Leagues. (Photo by Susan Daniel.) 

By Beth Pellicciotti, Civic Education Portfolio Chair, LWVWA Board 

Council 2022 offered me a number of firsts, and some happened before I arrived in Everett. I had never been to the Moses Lake Museum, I had never eaten lunch in Cle Elum, and I had never been in commuting traffic north of Seattle to Everett (I was a passenger for this trip, and I sincerely thank the driver, Lunell Haught, for her navigation).  

If getting to Council 2022 was an adventure, being there was a joy. Seeing League members in person after years of viewing them as talking heads on Zoom was a treat. We greeted each other with “You’re so tall!  You’re so short!”   

We were greeted by Snohomish and Skagit League members upon our arrival and were registered without a hitch. Because of these Leagues’ work with the hotel staff, we enjoyed some of the best vegetarian food I have ever eaten during these three days.   

For me, the best part of Council 2022 was meeting League members at their tables. Tabling is a simple yet profound concept. We spread our ideas and League work over long tables on either side of a hallway leading to the hotel’s meeting rooms. We met each other coming and going, taking every opportunity to talk about League work.   

Karen Verrill (Thurston County), project manager for the League’s textbook, The State We’re In: Washington, sold civics textbooks and posters at her table  (see The State We're In: Washington web page to order or read online). The poster, “What Does It Take to Be a Good Citizen in a Democratic Society?” is now in Spanish, thanks to the LWVWA Education Fund and the Snohomish League.  

Bonnie Bless-Boenish (Clallam County) showed League members how to engage children in civics and voting by displaying her homemade civics games—Match the Signatures (mail-in ballot concept), put a chip on pictures of Things Paid for by Taxes (understanding government work), or Vote for Shelter Funding for Dogs or Cats (voting for things important to you).   

Mary Coltrane (Seattle-King County) stood behind large piles of brochures and swag intended for use by local Leagues—5,500 brochures on restoring voting rights for returning citizens, hundreds of Your Vote tabloids, and bags full of “Be A Voter” pins. And all of this was just in my corner of the hallway. 

Many of us left with heads full of new ideas and bags full of handouts for summer voter registration tables. A lucky few won door prizes and silent auction items. I thank the Snohomish and Skagit Leagues for these and for their unwavering hospitality throughout the council. 

A final big thank-you to those working continuously on this event planning: LWVWA Administrative Director Amy Peloff, LWVWA President Lunell Haught, and LWVWA Board members Linda Benson, Jayne Freitag, and Dee Ann Kline. We were hoping for 60 attendees and had over 100. It was an adventure getting to Everett, a joy being there, and like road trips of old, it was fun looking at pictures when returning home.   

This postcard is a rather subtle promotion for Moses Lake, where I really enjoyed the museum and the art show.(All photos by Beth Pellicciotti.) 

 

Tables! Spokane League member Ann Murphy displayed Civics Bowl information. The PBS KSPS Civics Bowl and Mary Coltrane’s Be a Voter Campaign are both finalists for the LWVUS national awards. 

 

Civics games for children. 

 

Bonnie Bless-Boenish (Clallam County) explaining the civics games to League members who are retired teachers. Note Bonnie’s special mask, which allowed those who lip-read to better understand the conversations.   

 

The door prize I won! The door prize was from the Skagit County League, with the plant holder knitted by Harriet Custer, assisted by Debbie Prestmo. 

LWVUS Board Recommended Program for 2022-2024 

The LWVUS board is recommending readopting the Campaign for Making Democracy Work as the LWV program for 2022–2024. More than 300 Leagues participated in the LWVUS program planning process, and the Leagues unanimously voted for the LWVUS to continue prioritizing the Campaign for Making Democracy Work in the next biennium. Leagues also had the opportunity to indicate if there was another position or policy that the LWVUS should work on. Staff will use those recommendations to shape the watchdog issues for the LWVUS to respond to. Leagues proposing "not recommended" or other items need to follow the requirements outlined in LWVUS Bylaw XII Principles and Program Sec. 2(c). The Program Planning Committee will host a webinar to explain the proposed program in more detail. A new platform has been created for the LWVUS and Leagues proposing studies and concurrences to post information on their proposals and for all League members to review and engage in discussion. For questions, email progplan@lwv.org. 

When Candidates Refuse to Participate in Voter Education Opportunities 

Every year, Leagues hold hundreds of candidate debates and forums and produce hundreds of voter guides to help voters learn about the candidates on their ballot. Unfortunately, some candidates refuse to participate in these voter education activities and call into question the League’s reputation. Read the League's guidance to help shape the public narrative and news coverage of these situations. 

Be Safe When You Protest 

These past few weeks have been difficult. A Supreme Court opinion threatening reproductive care and jeopardizing personal civil liberties was leaked. As an organization that believes in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy, we will fight to preserve the individual rights of women to make their own reproductive choices. The League asks you to join us in amplifying the work of trusted organizations with years of advocacy and expertise in the reproductive justice movement. For those of you joining League partners in action, please stay safe and prepare with our protest safety guidance. Additionally, we are already starting to see mis- and disinformation taking hold in conversations around this opinion. The League strongly encourages you to share updates from trusted resources only and lift up the voices of leaders in this space. The League of Women Voters stands with our allies to protect women’s access to care and encourages you to show up in solidarity. Our democracy depends on it. 

Apply to Attend the COP27 UN Climate Conference in Egypt 

Apply now to attend the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 7–18, 2022. The deadline to apply is July 1. To request an application form or learn more, please contact Robin Tokmakian at rtokmakian@lwv.org. This is a self-funded opportunity. 

Miscellaneous Resources 

• Legislative Office Hours Landing Page: Everything you need to know about the LWVUS Legislative Office Hours. 

• Evaluation Training Series Page: Contains new materials, including a PDF of answers to chat questions and feedback from the first session. 

• Election Preparation Toolkit: Everything you need to prepare for this year’s election season, including helpful resources on public education, outreach, and action. 

• Structure Transformation Plan: A set of proposals that seek to grow League membership in number and diversity, strengthen our grassroots power, and bolster our ability to empower voters and defend democracy. 

• Blog: Being an Election Worker: 101, presented by Pinny Sheoran (LWV of Arizona), Isabel Longoria (LWV of Houston), and Debra Cronmiller (LWV of Wisconsin). 

• Webinar: Recruiting and Building Strong Boards, including how to apply the DEI lens to the process. 

The following are volunteer roles the LWV of Washington is seeking help with. This is your opportunity to play an important part in your state League! 

Office 365 Support 

Do you know how to use SharePoint and/or Microsoft Teams? Have you ever set up some Power Automate actions? We need someone to help take the LWVWA to the next level in our technology usage. An expert would be great, but a tech-savvy person who is really interested in figuring out how to use these technologies to make the League more efficient and connected (and has the time and energy to do so) would be a big help, too! This work could include experimenting with the technology, providing tech support to members, administering guest access, exploring how to make this technology available to local Leagues, and any other ideas that we come up with. Contact Amy at apeloff@lwvwa.org. 

Social Media Expert 

The LWVWA is seeking a social-media savvy League member to help post to the LWVWA’s social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram). Role would require checking daily alerts and news sources for information about the League as well as posting interesting and educational events in line with League issues. Especially need someone who knows Instagram. Contact Lea at lgalanter@lwvwa.org. 

Newsletter Editor 

The LWV of Washington is seeking someone to work on editing the state newsletters, The Voter and This Month in the League. Each newsletter is published once a month (first and third Fridays). Tasks include collecting articles, reviewing articles for adherence to League style and proper English, making sure graphics are royalty-free or finding graphics for articles, and working with the LWVWA staff to produce the newsletters. The ideal person would have excellent writing and editing skills and be able to follow the LWVWA Style Guide, the Associated Press Stylebook, and LWVUS guidelines. Contact Lea at lgalanter@lwvwa.org. 

MELD Pod Facilitator 

The LWVWA is seeking Membership Engagement Leadership and Development (MELD) program pod facilitators, a position that involves about five hours a month. This includes a monthly 60-minute Zoom meeting with your assigned pod and writing a short report. The facilitators also meet once a month for an hour. The MELD program is a way for all League levels—local, state, and national—to communicate, share their successes and challenges, and receive information about programs and resources. This leadership position requires good listening and communication skills and the ability to facilitate a group discussion. If you’re interesting in being a pod facilitator, contact Linda Benson for more information. 

Spanish-Language Book or Graphic Designer

Do you have graphic design or book design skills to share? If so, you can help the League convert one of its civics textbooks, which has been translated into Spanish. The position pays well. If interested, contact Karen Verrill.

Not Too Late to Register for the LWVWA 2022 Council 

Plans for the LWVWA 2022 Council are moving along quickly, with many people working hard to make it informative and fun. While early-bird registration has ended, there are still a few things you need to do ASAP if you haven’t done them already:   

• Fill out your request form for a display table and/or caucus proposal (links to these forms are also located on the event registration page). 

• Book a hotel room. 

• Find someone to carpool with or investigate public transportation. 

• League Presidents: Confirm who your League’s delegates are and send names to LWVWA President Lunell Haught. 

So don’t forget your mask and vaccination card and get ready to Reconnect, Restore, and Renew with your League sisters and brothers June 10–12. 

The LWVWA Walks Its Talk at the Council 

At the 2019 LWVWA Convention, the following resolution on climate change passed:  

Be it resolved that we as the LWVWA and associated local Leagues shall address climate change when opportunities are available. We shall be cognizant of our carbon footprint, and when practical incorporate plans to minimize it in conducting events such as meetings and forums. Also, we shall consider the effect of the latest forecasts on climate change when analyzing issues and planning actions. 

The League believes that a democracy can do the most good for the most people through cooperation and policy implementation, and that is why we emphasize taking action. We cannot solve the climate crisis by personal virtue alone—although personal action is important, not only to make progress but to focus our attention on what we can do. 

• Analysis shows that reducing our consumption of meat is clearly a way we can reduce our greenhouse gas impact. Many of us consume much of our diet in vegetable-based portions already, so enjoying vegetarian meals here allows us to think about increasing our proportion of plant-based nutrition and how to make that delicious and interesting. (Special dietary considerations can be noted on the registration form.) 

• A printed handout of the workbook and schedule will not be available when you arrive. Instead, a few days before the council, registered attendees will have access to a web page that will contain all the materials for the council. You may print them out and bring them with you or download the information and bring your laptop.  

• We will have a water/coffee/tea station (no single-use bottled water). Feel free to bring your own cups or containers.  

• Consider the available transportation options. 

• The table swag is low impact. 

Civic Education Workshop

The LWVWA Civic Education Committee looks forward to sharing what they’ve learned about League civic education activities across the state in a Saturday workshop, from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Part of the workshop will be dedicated to discussing members’ civic education ideas and projects, including: 

• How to use the inventories of civic education activities for youth and adults. 

• Civic education for adults—how one League dedicates part of its meetings to “civics moments” and has prepared “programs in a can” for outreach to community groups. 

• Civic education for youth—developing relationships with schools and libraries, youth organizations, and universities. 

• Marketing the LWVWA Education Fund civics textbooks, The State We’re In: Washington, through contacts with schools at all levels. Learn about Education Service Districts across the state. 

• Applying for the LWVWA Education Fund Civic Education Grant. Get a step-by-step overview of the process. Learn about successful grant applications this year. 

Voter Services Table 

Voter Services will have a table at the LWVWA 2022 Council where you can pick up items for tabling. You will find the Your Vote publication, brochures from the ACLU that explain all the particulars around voter registration for returning voters (formerly incarcerated), buttons, and stickers. There will be a presentation at the council highlighting voter services work in the community. It will include information about the Be a Voter campaign, VOTE411, a summary of the candidate forums and debates workshops, and a model for voter outreach in your community. The Voter Services Committee is also looking into local League sharing time and want to know if that’s something folks would like.

By Alison McCaffree, Census & Redistricting Issue Chair, LWV of Washington 

The LWV of Washington calls for comprehensive reform of the Washington state redistricting process before 2031. The trust in our election systems starts with redistricting. Without comprehensive redistricting reform, Washington’s community needs will continue to be second to other concerns.  

On the table in these reforms is an independent citizen’s redistricting commission. What would this look like for Washington state and what will it take to get us there? Is there something unique about Washington’s political environment that prevents us from a structure that includes ordinary citizens and people who don’t identify with either major party?  

Join your League colleagues on Tuesday May 24 at 5 p.m.as we discuss the successes and challenges of commissions in California, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona, and other places. Learn what structures and rules these commissions have used and how well they worked to bring about equitable and legal maps during the 2021 process.  
 
Redistricting reform discussion meetings are held every other Tuesday, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the following dates and topics: 

• May 24, 2022: Independent citizens commission 

• June 7, 2022: Public input and access 

The registration link is the same for all meetings. If you have any questions, contact Alison McCaffree. 

While redistricting relies on technology and data analysis, ultimately human judgment must balance representation among various communities of interest with many needs that sometimes overlap or conflict. Washington’s redistricting commission needs a larger group of people representing communities around the state. We must create a process that inspires trust, a process that holds commissioners accountable to communities, and ultimately a process that gives voice to the people of Washington state. 

In June, the LWV of the Spokane Area will register new citizens to vote during the first in-person naturalization ceremony to be held in two years. The following is an article published in the This Week in the League newsletter in February 2020, shortly before the pandemic hit that underscores the importance of these events for both League members and new citizens.  

One of the Reasons I Joined the League of Women Voters… 

By Denise Campitelli, Treasurer, LWV of Spokane Area 

One of the reasons that I joined the League of Women Voters a little more than a year ago was to be involved with voter registration in some way. I went through voter registration training and observed a couple of civics education classes in the high schools and had enjoyed it all. 

And then on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, I volunteered to be part of the voter registration efforts surrounding a naturalization ceremony, and I cannot tell you how moving and rewarding that event turned out to be.  

Standing in the back of the jam-packed, ninth-floor courtroom in the Thomas S. Foley United States Courthouse, I had the honor of watching 34 individuals from 23 different countries take their oath of citizenship. I was mesmerized by the proceedings and not a little emotional with the overall atmosphere of the event. Each new citizen received a certificate of citizenship, shook hands with those officiating, and returned to the seats. Then Judge John Rodgers addressed the new citizens and told them three things: 

• First, he warmly welcomed each person, saying that he did not know their individual paths in arriving at this day, but that he was happy to be part of this life-changing event. 

• Second, he strongly urged—he actually said that he was begging—them to participate in this country’s democracy with whatever activity they choose, with the most important activity their right to vote. 

• And third, he asked them to remain themselves. In other words, do not change who they are but incorporate their culture into their new country’s culture. 

The new citizens (and their family and friends) made their way to where the LWV of Spokane Area and the Spokane County Elections Office personnel were waiting for them, and I am proud to say that 23 new citizens of the United States registered to vote that day. 

It was a most memorable experience and one that I recommend to all. I do have some advice though: 

• Be sure to join the next voter registration training. 

• Volunteer for all events, but do not miss a naturalization ceremony. 

• Bring tissues!