The LWV of Washington 2022 Council, is scheduled for June 10-12, 2022, in Everett, Washington. With the theme “Reconnect, Restore, Renew,” it will be packed with League experts to help you be more effective serving your community. Here’s a roundup of what we have prepared so far along with useful information for attending
Speakers Scheduled
Three sessions with guest speakers include a Friday dive into the research we’ve done about the LWVWA. Francis Benjamin, Ph.D., a Washington State University researcher for the League, will report on the findings of the in-depth, all-member survey that examined characteristics about our members, their interests, their motivations, and the perception of nonpartisanship. We will learn if there are differences depending on which side of the mountains you live and your age group. With this as a background, we’ll focus on interests, programs, and services that would be useful to local Leagues.
Nick Lovrich, co-editor of the book Outside Looking In: Lobbyists’ Views on Civil Discourse in U.S. State Legislatures, is the scheduled speaker for the Saturday box lunch program, where we’ll hear about the Washington State Legislature from the unique perspective of its staff, lobbyists, and legislators. Lovrich will share important insights about civil discourse that may impact your thinking about term limits.
Jessica Rohloff will be the dinner speaker for Saturday evening. As secretary of the national LWV Board of Directors she will share insights about the League’s Transformation Journey, which aligns with the state’s strategic plan. There are changes being recommended at the national convention (such as, how do you feel about “pay what you can dues”?) that you’ll want to hear about.
We’ll share more about other speakers in upcoming newsletters. Everyone who has heard these guests speak has come away rejuvenated with enthusiasm for League work. Join us.
COVID Protocols to Keep You Safe at the Council
We hope to see everyone at this year’s LWVWA Council. This will be the first time in two years that we’ll be meeting in person—and we’re ready! We’ll have masks, vaccine cards, social distancing (six seated at tables designed for 10), and an air filtration system bringing in fresh outside air through frequently changed filters. And it will be almost summer! Here’s how the COVID protocols will work:
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Proof of vaccine will be required at check-in.
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Masks will be required. We will be seated in a ballroom twice the size we need with six people at tables usually designed for eight to 10.
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There will be room to spread out during the box lunches and the pizza party.
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Individual preferences about social distancing will be indicated with a red, yellow, or blue dot you will place on your name tag when you arrive.
The priority is protection for our members, and of course to Reconnect, Restore and Renew!
For information and to register, as well as to sign up your League to have a table to share all of your good programs and resources.
Questions? Contact Linda Benson or Jayne Freitag.
Slate for 2022-2023 LWVWA Board Announced
By Nominating Committee, LWV of Washington
It was decided at the LWVWA 2021 Convention that staggered terms for the LWVWA Board would start in 2022, and the Board would determine who among the newly elected Board members would have a one-year term for 2021-22. Those Board members scheduled for one-year terms 2021-22 were presented at the LWVWA Board Meeting in September 2021 by a Staggered Terms Committee comprised of Board members. According to the minutes of the September 2021 Board meeting, the Staggered Terms Committee “reviewed the requirements of the bylaws change at the convention that formed the basis of the committee’s recommendations. The new bylaws require that the 1st VP, (c)(4) Treasurer, and four Board directors be elected at the council.”
The Staggered Terms Committee recommended that three of the Board members, continuing from the previous Board (2019-2021), serve one-year terms in 2021-22 and then run for reelection in 2022. There is an additional director’s position that was vacant in 2021-22 due to a resignation after the 2021 Convention, making a total of four director positions on the projected slate with the 1st VP and (c)(4) Treasurer.
The Nominating Committee was responsible for establishing a new process for its work, as now it would be seeking candidates yearly from the membership. In 2022, that involved finding candidates for 1st VP, Treasurer, and four directors. We conducted an outreach program to League Members to both explain why the LWVWA Nominating Committee would be asking for nominations every year going forward and to seek nominations for the slate at the 2022 LWVWA Council.
The outreach program included:
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Articles in the Voter and TMIL
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Attending local League board meetings
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Attending Seattle-King County unit meetings
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Hosting two meet-and-greet Zoom sessions
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Sending emails
In the end, we had many more candidates than positions. This is great for the LWVWA, as each candidate was highly skilled with varied experience, skills, and talents.
The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the slate for the 2022 LWVWA Council. The slate will be presented at the council on Friday afternoon, with nominations from the floor immediately following, per the LWVWA Bylaws. According to the Council Committee, the election will take place during lunch on Saturday.
2022-2024 Board Nominees
1st Vice President: Mary Coltrane, LWV of Seattle-King County
(c)(4) Treasurer: Dee Ann Kline, LWV of Mason County
Director: Liz Bander, LWV of Seattle-King County
Director: Susan Daniel, LWV of Kitsap County
Director: Miriam Kerzner, LWV of Benton-Franklin Counties
Director: Shelley Kneip, LWV of Thurston County
Presented by the 2021-2023 Nominating Committee: Shelley Jones (Chair), Amanda Clark, Mary Coltrane, Beth Pellicciotti, and Kathy Sakahara.
Getting to Everett: How About a LWV Amtrack Train?
The following are several alternatives to driving to Everett, Washington, from Vancouver, Spokane, and Seattle:
Vancouver, WA, to Everett with stops along the way:
Spokane to Everett with stops along the way
Seattle to Everett Bus 512: Access the schedule online.
Seattle to Everett via Greyhound: Check the Greyhound website.
Council Workshop: How to Do Civics Education (Using a DEI Lens)
In this workshop, you will receive information and materials about:
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How to connect with schools
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Ways to work with youth groups
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The LWVWA civic textbooks—and what’s next
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Civics education for adults
Council Workshop: Tools for Engaging Members
This workshop will focus on membership engagement and how adults learn best. The workshop goals include:
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Gaining an understanding of how we remember information and become motivated to act.
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Learning how to use experiential tools to “hook in" volunteers and unengaged members.
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Receiving resources to revitalize longtime members and inspire new members.
This will be an interactive workshop with time for small group discussion and sharing. We learn by experiencing and sharing with others. You will be given resources, examples, and time to process. You will leave with tools to design your local programs for engagement and action that inspire new volunteers and members for leadership succession.
For more information about the 2022 LWV of Washington Council and to register for the 2022 LWVWA Council.
Volunteer to Help Out at the Council
The LWVWA is seeking volunteers to assist at the 2022 council. Volunteering is not limited to League members—anyone can help out at the council, including partners of League members. You can easily sign up through the LWV of Snohomish County website. On the Volunteering Opportunities page, click the View More arrow on the left side (beneath Upcoming Opportunities) to expand the list of available volunteer slots and view the number of volunteers required and the number assigned for each day and time slot. Then click Volunteer Yourself at the top, enter your information on the I Want to Volunteer page, and pick a time when you are available. Club Express then sends automatic reminders.