Plan to attend the Tuesday, March 8 General Meeting of the LWV of the Spokane Area at 6 p.m. to discuss the Spokane League’s upcoming Civics Bowl. The Spokane League is partnering with its local public television station, KSPS PBS, and Spokane Public Schools to produce a televised civics contest tournament with high school students from six schools. The six KSPS PBS Civics Bowl contests will be broadcast May 2–June 6, 2022. 

The March 8  Spokane League meeting will discuss: 

• How to plan, organize, and produce a civics contest. 

• How League members wrote 400-plus questions from civics textbooks, including The State We’re In: Washington. 

• How civics education is taught in Spokane Public Schools. 

Register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

By Charli Sorenson, PR Chair, LWV of Kittitas County 

Five years ago, the LWV of Kittitas Valley (as we were called then) had no website or much of any online presence. A little over four years ago, with the blessing of the LWV of Washington Board, Delores Irwin and I set out to change that. In addition to expanding our social media presence from just Facebook to include Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, we created our online home, KittitasLeague.org, on the WordPress platform. 

Was It Worth It? 

The fascinating data suggests: Totally worth the effort! 

As 2020 was a presidential election year, it was also the highest traffic year for both the website and social media. However, as #3 shows in the following website data graphic, every year shows traffic increases during the general election (October-November) with over a 1,000 views, peaking in 2020 at 5,000 views. The #2 in the graphic shows high website traffic during the preceding primaries as well, with 2,500-plus views in 2020 and nearly 2,000 views in 2021. And, lastly, #1 shows a 1,000-view spike in traffic during the 2020 presidential primary in March 2020. 

 

Traffic data for social media and the LWV of Kittitas website. 

In four years, the LWV of Kittitas County website has had over 30,000 views and 16,516 visitors. About 5% of these visitors were from outside Kittitas County. Respectable for a county with fewer than 50,000 residents. Consistently, our website’s highest-viewed pages are the online voter’s guide, and the highest-viewed posts are those listing candidates and candidate forums. 

 

Channel analytics for the LWV of Kittitas County website. 

Combined with our ramped-up social media presence, the LWV of Kittitas County continues to expand and share nonpartisan information on topics important to county residents. As shown in the YouTube data graphic, our YouTube channel (started late 2018) has around 40,000 lifetime impressions and over 7,000 views. YouTube audience age analytics indicate that 40% of our viewers are under age 45 and find our videos via cell phone. 

Illustrated in the following table, the LWV of Kittitas County continually expanded its online reach with 2020 traffic/reach peaking in Twitter, Facebook, and our website. Through 2021, the LWV of Kittitas County had 146 Twitter followers, 563 Facebook followers, 312 Instagram followers, and 95 YouTube channel subscribers. It is unclear how pandemic and voter exhaustion contributed to the traffic drop in 2021 for both the website and our social media accounts, but probably both were in play. 

Also of note in the table is the jump in voter registration. Between 2016 and 2017 registered voters increased by just 100. However, between 2017 and 2019 voter registrations increased by 1,000 each year. In 2020 voter registration increased by nearly 4,000. Likewise, voter turnout improved each successive year (odd-year vs. odd-year, presidential year vs. presidential year). I like to think this increase correlates with the LWV of Kittitas County online presence but correlation is not causation. 

I think we have amply demonstrated a positive impact on local voter registration as well as voter turnout. Ultimately, the League must have an online presence if we wish to remain relevant in today's society. 

By Beth Pellicciotti, Civics Education Portfolio Director, LWVWA Board 

Are we ever too old to keep learning civics? Elaine Harger, retired educator and Spokane League member, responds, “We all have a deep need to hold important conversations about civics.” 

In the fall of 2021, Elaine brought her interest in civics and her experience as a lifelong educator to a class of older adults in the Spokane Community College Act 2 Program. 

Elaine’s class, We the People, explored the meaning of citizenship. She started the class with a poem for everyone to think about citizenship, what it means to be a citizen, and what is expected of a citizen. 

Another class focused on the history of voting rights in the United States. Students expressed surprise that many groups fought for decades for the right to vote. They also learned that voting rights had been given to some people and then taken away. Students read a Bill of Rights article on what the Founding Fathers thought were important traits or virtues for a citizen.  

Elaine asked the class, “What citizen virtues do we think are important? How are they different or similar to those of the Founding Fathers?” 

She noted that the Founding Fathers of the United States had many blind spots in that their actions did not always reflect their ideal of democracy. She added, “I wanted the class to see threads, continuous from the beginning of the country until now.” 

Another class focused on the redistricting occurring statewide and in Spokane County in the fall of 2021. The class started with a student showing a map, explaining how the map had influenced her and why. Then discussion moved to map bias. How did earlier flattened maps of the globe distort reality? Why are maps so important? 

In the last class, students produced “zines,” short, creative magazines. They assembled their zines with paper and colored background and sprinkled them with different fonts and pictures. Students penned their favorite quotes from the readings and answered the questions “What do you best remember from the class?” and “What are three virtues of a citizen?” 

Elaine explains her approach to teaching, “I have been an educator for a very long time. I have found that we learn best when we share readings and engage in conversations about what we have read. These conversations surface different perspectives that readers bring to a particular document.”  

As to older adults learning civics, Elaine ends by saying, “We live in a work-a-day world, true even for those of us who are retired. Our lives do not give us space to learn from each other. We have a deep need to hold these important conversations about civics, especially as adults.” 

For more information on this class, contact Elaine Harger.   

We the People zine produced by Elaine Harger’s Spokane Community College class. 

Spokane League member Elaine Harger teaching “We the People” class at Spokane Community College. 

By Mary Coltrane, Voter Services Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington

We live in contentious times. Trust in election processes is under attack. What to do? Many Leagues in Washington state have developed new election observer programs or have beefed up their existing ones. The political parties typically send observers to watch election staff as they go through the process of collecting, organizing, and counting ballots—all the steps that go into this critical part of the election process. Many local Leagues do this important work as well. The Your Vote tabloid included an article on this process, “Volunteer Observers Bring Credibility to Elections.”

Those who participate in observing elections are quick to note what an amazing process it is. When questions swirl about this process, they can say with confidence that it’s a critical part of a free and fair election. How about your League? If you are interested in knowing how to set up an election observer program, local League experts are here to help.

Edri Geiger shepherded the Clark County League through the process of setting up an observer program, and Cynthia Stewart of the Tacoma-Pierce County League has done the same for Pierce County. They are both happy to talk with League members from other local Leagues who would like guidance on what to do. Please let me, Mary Coltrane, know if you’re interested and I’ll facilitate an introduction to these knowledgeable people.

Photo courtesy of King County Elections.

Do you know that Washington state has nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs), which each contain multiple school districts? Which one is yours?

ESDs serve the professional development needs of teachers and administrators. Karen Verrill, project manager for The State We’re In: Washington civics education textbooks, is leading a committee of League members who will contact curriculum experts in all Washington state ESDs in an effort to get these books into more classrooms. The question is, how can teachers access these civics resources in book form or online? Do you have contacts to share? Contact Karen Verrill.

By Beth Pellicciotti, Civics Education Portfolio Chair, LWV of Washington

LWV of Snohomish County member Rita Ireland is “trying to enrich democracy one page at a time.” As a recipient of the LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant, and with support from her League, she is delivering free LWVWA textbooks of The State We’re In: Washington to elementary school teachers, librarians, and curriculum directors.

Rita’s enthusiasm about the new civics textbook for elementary schools is contagious. “We needed this textbook for years. For instance, it covers the early days of pioneers in Washington state and makes clear that we did not follow through with the Indigenous treaties.”

She describes the storytelling in the textbook as critically important for the younger reader. “One of the stories is about the son of farm workers, Saul Martinez, who began his public service as a member of the Pasco school board and currently serves as mayor of Pasco. Martinez’s story focuses on his father’s yearning for education and ends with Martinez describing his work as mayor and encouraging all youngsters to be dedicated to school and to follow their dreams.”

As enthusiastic as Rita is about the textbook, she had to develop a strategy to connect with those in charge of libraries, classrooms, and textbook adoption. First, she received approval for her work from the LWV of Snohomish County Board. Then she researched the names of key contacts—curriculum directors—in each school district and crafted an introductory letter about the significance of the textbook to teaching young children civics and Washington state history. She also included a picture of the book and the accompanying poster, "What Does It Take to Be a Good Citizen?"

Rita had to be persistent. She followed the introductory email with a second email two weeks later, asking for possible dates to deliver the textbook and poster. Rita has a way of making even textbook delivery fun, assuring those in the schools that this delivery would be the perfect chance for her and her husband to have a road trip date.

Rita and another Snohomish County League member designed a nameplate for each book listing the LWVWA Civic Education Fund as the creator of the textbook and the LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant and the Snohomish County League as the gift’s funders. Snohomish County League members met at her home to help with textbook and poster preparation, with Snohomish County League Board members assisting with book delivery.

Textbook distribution is a work in progress, but the effort to date has been impressive. Out of the 15 school districts Rita has contacted, 12 have set a delivery date for the textbooks, an 80% success rate. Rita believes that “if I can get the book in the hands of elementary school librarians, teachers, and curriculum directors, that is like gold.”

Rita is not “selling” textbooks—she is highlighting the importance of civics education for elementary schoolchildren. In all her correspondence, she emphasizes that The State We’re In: Washington is free. It is an online, open education resource for young students to learn civics education.

Now she is considering a book display in local libraries, with the question, “Parents—are you interested in teaching your child civics?”

Rita Ireland—"Enriching democracy one page at a time.”

See for yourself: The State We’re In: Washington elementary-grade textbook is free, online, and ADA compliant.

Consider applying for a LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant: LWVWA Civics Education Grant Guidelines (see pages 21-27).

From left to right: The State We’re In: Washington textbooks for elementary schools and the poster "What Does It Take to Be a Good Citizen"; delivering textbooks and posters from Olympia to Snohomish County are Rita Ireland with Thurston County League members Paula Holroyde and The State We’re In project manager, Karen Verrill; bookplate for each donated textbook created by the LWV of Snohomish County and the LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant.

Win at Trivial Pursuit! When was the first Temperance and Good Citizenship Day in Washington state? Hint: not long after women won the right to vote and the League of Women Voters was established.

In 1923 the Washington State Legislature proclaimed Temperance and Good Citizenship Day. Almost 100 years later, the purpose is still the same: “To promote civics education and peaceful citizen engagement.”

Clark County League member Teresa Torres talked about the purpose of this day with high school juniors, telling them that:

Temperance and Good Citizenship Day seems like an odd name for an important date. In this case, temperance means exhibiting moderation. Today you are going to learn an important part of being a good citizen—registering to vote and then using that right for the common good.

Read Teresa’s recent article, “Local View: Observance Vital for Democracy,” in The Columbian.

State law requires that all high schools in Washington state reserve this day every year for voter registration. Did your League work with schools for Temperance and Good Citizenship Day on January 14, 2022? Contact LWVWA Board Member Beth Pellicciotti—she would like to learn more about your work with schools.

By the LWV of Washington Nominating Committee

Do you have a passion for our democracy and defending it in these difficult times? Have you thought about your role in leading the LWV of Washington into the future?

If you're like me, the last few weeks have been tough. Commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, watching the same violent footage, and hearing some members of the U.S. Congress defend or even deny what happened can be beyond discouraging. But I hope you are also like me and turning that discouragement into motivation to do everything possible to defend our democracy from very real threats.

Service on the state board offers an opportunity to work collaboratively toward LWVWA goals, share your League successes with other members, build your leadership skills, help set the future for the LWVWA, and expand your commitment to the League.

We have extended the application deadline through February to give you some extra time to consider applying to the LWVWA Board.

We are looking for individuals who are:

• Dedicated to the League’s mission, “Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.”
• Committed to the LWVWA’s strategic plan, our nonpartisan policy, our commitment to advocacy, voter services, civic education, communications, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The position serves on both the LWV of Washington Education Fund (c3) and LWV of Washington (c4) Boards.

We encourage individuals with varying work and volunteer experiences to apply. Whatever your background, we would like to talk to you. We seek individuals who are creative and hard-working. If this sounds like you, apply to the LWVWA Board. We also welcome your recommendations for candidates to the LWVWA Board.

More information about how you can contribute your time and talent by serving on the LWVWA Board is available on the LWVWA website. If you would like to know more, contact the Nominating Committee at nomcom@lwvwa.org.

By Dee Anne Finken, Local and Regional News Study Chair, LWV of Washington

The state study looking at the impact of the decline in local and regional news operations continues its work as the new year begins: the study group has already conducted 20 interviews, primarily with scholars, journalism professionals, and government and civic leaders. The 10 League members who are participating have reviewed more than 400 articles and other documents.

Among the findings to date are a correlation between the decline and increased public financing costs, less scrutiny of government and corporate decisions and actions, greater political polarization, and reduced civic engagement.

Studies the group has reviewed include Financing Dies in Darkness: The Impact of Newspaper Closures on Public Finance; When Towns Lose Their Newspapers, Disease Detectives Are Left Flying Blind; When Newspapers Close, Voters Become More Partisan; and Civic Engagement Strongly Tied to Local News Habits. 

Much has been written about the national decline; this study group is tracking staff cutbacks and closures in Washington state, and then looking at how those reductions are impacting various aspects of our society, including public health, public financing, civic engagement, and political participation (by candidates and voters). We are tracking how civic and government leaders view these changes and specifically how they impact our basic democratic systems.

The group is researching a range of suggestions for turning the tide, including the development of community partnerships, nonprofits, and legislation. Also being addressed is how the pandemic has changed the climate for news organizations and consumers.

Another area being explored is the impact social media giants are having, from publishing content local and regional news operations produce to the advertising revenues they capture. Additionally, sources are addressing the impact of misinformation and disinformation from social media and so-called “pink slime” publications that, while pretending to focus on local news, are actually promoting partisan issues and gathering user data.

Celebrating the League’s Birthday

In February, the League will be celebrating its 102nd birthday with action, advocacy, and storytelling. Women have powered democracy for over 100 years, and for our birthday we are coming together across the country to build power for elections in 2022. We will honor the 102-year legacy of our organization with a day of unified, pro-voter action as one League, together. Celebrate the League’s legacy by joining Leagues across the country for LWV Birthday Action on Feb. 14, 2022. Sign your League up to take action. More resources are to come.

2022 Legislative Trends

The LWVUS strives to provide guidance and policy outlooks to state and local Leagues around the country, whether it be tracking legislation, interpreting bills, or responding to advocacy inquiries. The League is revamping its legislative guidance this year to provide a better outlook on the trends that Leagues may expect in state legislatures. This comes in direct response to feedback from League leaders, and we hope it will be helpful as Leagues consider their legislative priorities for 2022.

LWUVS Advocacy Legislative Office Hours

To provide more direct support to Leagues this coming year, the LWVUS Advocacy team will be officially launching Legislative Office Hours—register and see dates. This is a regular space to open our virtual offices and listen to and support your legislative work. To start, office hours will be the second and last Thursdays of every month, from 3–4 p.m. ET/noon-1 p.m. PT. To accommodate those interested, please plan on having the meetings last up to 15 minutes. If you plan on calling about specific positions or bills, please contact us at advocacy@lwv.org with an email subject “Leg Office Hours,” a brief description of what you wish to discuss, and any documents/attachments. This will ensure our team can come to our meeting as prepared as possible.

LWVUS Small-Dollar Funding Flyer

Prior to the holiday break, the LWVUS sent boxes of small half-page flyers to state Leagues outlining the merits of small-dollar campaign funding. It is our hope that Leagues will use these flyers over the course of the next year as we work to engage voters in the 2022 election. Provisions in the Freedom to Vote Act provide the opportunity for states to create small-dollar funding systems, which give voters more of a voice in elections. Whether the bill passes or not, we will need to build support for small-dollar funding across the country. If you have any questions or concerns, or you are a state League that has not received flyers, please reach out to jjones@lwv.org.

Updated LWV Website and Resources

For the past year, the LWVUS team has been hard at work on a website redesign that showcases the LWVUS even more powerfully. We're pleased to announce that the updated site design will launch the week of January 24! This relaunch is the first major part of ongoing work to make our site stronger and includes:

• New homepage design that better highlights our focus areas, major legal cases, recent news, and VOTE411.
• An update to the main directory of resources and points of contact. The Guide to LWV Services for Leagues is the best starting place for League leaders to receive answers to their questions and get in touch with the right staff person at the LWVUS.
• Modernized design across the site.
• Custom "Take Action" to-do lists on our primary issue pages to empower users to get involved.
• Enhanced search abilities, including the ability to search by content type and topic.
• On-page donation options to ease the donor experience.
• Accessibility upgrades on the back end to improve the user experience.

This is ongoing work—changes currently in progress or coming later in the year include:

• A legal center with detailed information about all our legal cases.
• A new design for our League Management Site.
• Thorough accessibility upgrades to all of our content.
• Updates to all of our web content.

We're very excited to introduce the new site design to you and to continue our digital enhancements throughout 2022.

2022 Program Planning Leader’s Guide & Survey

The Program Planning Leader's Guide and survey response form are now available for Leagues to use at their program planning meetings in early 2022. The input of League boards will help shape the proposed program of study and actions that will be voted on by convention delegates in June. Program planning report forms must be returned online by Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Each League is entitled to one response, and individual member responses are not accepted. Access the Leader’s Guide and the 2022 Program Survey. For questions about program planning, email progplan@lwv.org.

LWVUS 2022 Convention

The 2022 Convention will take place June 23–26 in Denver, CO, and online. Current information is available now on the LWVUS website, including FAQs as well as the following resources:

• Proposed Bylaws Amendments
• Program Planning Survey Forms
• Hardship Designations
• Caucus Applications
• Wares Market Table Applications
• Event registration and hotel reservations are scheduled to open at the end of January.
  
  

In Case You Missed It

• Blog: 5 Ways to Defend Democracy in 5 Minutes, by LWV president Dr. Deborah Ann Turner
• Blog: The League's 2021 Accomplishments, by CEO Virginia Kase Solomón
• Report: Election Audit Report comparing 2009 League Guidance and the 2021 Bipartisan Policy Center Report