By Deb Carstens, LWV Seattle-King County

The LWVWA is honored to be a co-sponsor of "Changing Our Futures: Rethinking Education, Justice and Youth," a conversation devoted to exploring strategies for building school communities rooted in belonging, connection and care. 

The event features a panel discussion addressing policy and practice changes that can disrupt harmful trajectories by building strong relationships, personalized support and a culture of belonging for young people—especially those who have faced trauma or instability. 

Claudia Rowe, a journalist with the Seattle Times, will lead the discussion—which centers around her recent book Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care. Through stories of six former foster youth, Rowe exposes the haunting reality of the foster care-to-prison pipeline, and asks: Why do so many foster kids end up incarcerated?

Fellow panelists for this event include Dr. Ben Danielson, a clinical professor of pediatrics at UW Medicine and longtime community leader in health equity; Karen Andrews, executive director of the Center for High School Success (CHSS) at Stand for Children; and Henterson Carlisle, Northwest Regional CHSS Director. 

Please join us Sep. 30, from 5-7 pm at Town Hall Seattle (the Downstairs Forum). Register for the event. 

League members can now register for the Power of Critical Thinking, the first of four Media & News Literacy Workshops offered by the LWVWA as part of the Democracy Power-Up! series. This first workshop will be held virtually Sept. 9, from 6:30-8 pm. 

This online, interactive session will teach tips and strategies you can use to be a critical thinker and an active media and news consumer. You'll learn how to build your skills through real-life examples and group challenges. 

Before Attending
To get the most out of Workshop experience, we ask you to do two things before attending: 

• Get familiar with basic definitions by watching this eight-minute video: Introduction to Media & News Literacy.
• Watch this 90-second video for tips on using your computer while staying on Zoom. 

More About the Media & News Literacy Educational Workshops
These workshops are designed to teach League members skills to help them discern what is true at a time when it is becoming increasingly harder to know the real facts. 

Attendees will be presented with news examples, group challenges, individual skill development and links to additional resources. Each workshop will be led by League members with decades of experience in teaching media and news literacy. 

Workshop Schedule and Registration Links
All of the workshops will be held virtually on Tuesday evenings, from 6:30-8 pm.

Registration for the workshops is restricted to League members only. Each session will be recorded and prepared to be shared publicly. The workshop schedule is: 

• Sept. 9, 2025: The Power of Critical Thinking;
• Oct. 28, 2025: Mis-Dis-and Mal-information;
• Jan. 20, 2026: Techniques Used to Sway Opinion;
• Febr. 24, 2026: Get to Know Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Further Information
Additional details about the workshops and the Media Literacy and News Education Project can be found HERE. The LWVWA's Local News and Democracy Advocacy and Education Committee is coordinating these projects. 

Contact
Have questions? Send an email to the Committee! Contact MediaNewsED@lwvwa.org. Please allow 48 hours for a response.

In Star Trek, a “mind meld” is a kind of telepathic touch that enables the rapid sharing of knowledge and experience. Unfortunately for (at least most of) us, we are neither telepathic nor within touching distance of each other, so we have created a MELD Network* to better share tools, methods, practices and accomplishments across the state with each other.

The “League Mind MELD” column is a way to share even more information with members across the state.

The letters in MELD stand for Membership, Engagement, and Leadership Development. But what is MELD? 

MELD is a virtual gathering where members from across the state can come together to learn about the League. "Possibility Thinking" guides MELD work. We aim to empower members by helping them develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to participate in League work, locally and statewide. It is a place for members who are not generally in leadership to come together and learn about other League programs and resources—including resources from the national, state and local League levels.

MELD Pods are small groups ("pods") that meet monthly for an hour. They are a time to ask questions, brainstorm, develop leadership skills and build confidence. They're also a place to discover new roles and possibilities within the League. MELD is a place to grow!

This fall, MELD will address: 

• Nonpartisanship in this political climate
• How you can respond to local issues
• What to consider when our work is in the voter services/civics education realm 
• What to consider when advocacy is our focus

To allow us to welcome members to the MELD Pods, please confirm your representative with Nancy Halvorson (by providing their name and contact information—which will ONLY be shared with their pod leader). 

**A note to local League Presidents: It's a good idea to rotate MELD representatives. This allows more members to develop their own place in the League. Does your League have a system for MELD representatives to report back to your board and membership? 

*In the context of the League, MELD actually has zero connection to Star Trek; it is an acronym for Membership, Engagement, Leadership, and Development. MELD pods meet each month to serve as platforms for sharing successes, addressing challenges, and exchanging ideas among local Leagues. Are you interested in learning more about MELD? Talk to your Local League Leadership about becoming involved in MELD.

Do you have an intense interest in the political topics of today? If so, have you considered joining the LWVWA Lobby Team? 

You could be an advocate, providing research and writing for one or more Issue Chairs; or you could be appointed as an Issue Chair for a topic you really care about. Issue Chairs work directly with coalitions and WA’s Legislature, speaking for the League in support of our adopted positions. 

We provide training and mentoring, so if you choose that role, you will not have to figure everything out yourself. 

Issue Chairs are needed for Elections, Money in Politics, Eldercare, and to succeed current Issue Chairs next year in other categories.  If you are interested in being either an Issue Chair or Advocate, please contact Cynthia Stewart. 

By Carolyn Byerly, LWV Thurston County

Our Washington State Housing Study, approved at the LWVWA convention in June, is off and running!

But we need additional members. 

Members from the Thurston, Pierce and Bellingham-Whatcom Leagues currently make up the team, but we are seeking members from elsewhere in the state, particularly in eastern, central and southern regions. 

The study will cover both housing for sale and for rent, public policy and other issues, and  will focus on availability, affordability, and instability. Our first meeting considered some basic definitions of terms, the scope of the study, a regular meeting schedule and other logistics.  

The team will meet on Zoom at 11 am. on the first and third Mondays each month between August and April 2026. 

Please contact study chair Carolyn Byerly if you are interested in participating. 

By the Media & News Literacy Team

If you want to be a savvy consumer of media and news, plan to participate in the League's Media & News Literacy Educational Workshops starting in September. 

These online, interactive educational workshops on media and news literacy will offer news examples, group challenges, individual skill development, and links to additional resources. 

Mark your calendars for the following workshop dates. Each session will be on a Tuesday from 6:30-8:00 pm:

• September 9: Strategies you can use to be an active media and news consumer and critical thinker;
• October 28: Tips to identify mis-,dis-and mal-information;
• January 20, 2026: Techniques used to sway opinion;
• February 24, 2026: Understanding artificial intelligence (AI) and how it's used.

In the next In League newsletter, look for: 

• Information on how to register;
• A new video introducing media and news literacy, including different ways information is delivered and how that can influence our perception of the message. The  video will also discuss why journalism is important and why we need media and news literacy now. 

These are not normal times. We are living through a constitutional crisis in which the fundamentals of our democracy are  being challenged daily. We must take a bold approach and 'speak truth to power' using strong, unambiguous language. I want to share with you powerful guidance from our LWVUS: 

• As we hold onto our nonpartisan values, we must also hold elected officials accountable to the voters and ground ourselves in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• We will continue to call out attacks on Black and brown people where laws and human rights are violated. 
• We cannot remain neutral or silent when our democracy is threatened. History is watching. 

And so—this becomes a summer of action. 

I attended the LWVUS National Council meeting in Leesburg Virginia in late June. LWVWA Board member Nancy Halvorson and our Administrative Director Amy Peloff joined me and League leaders from across the country to learn, share, and plan during these times. We reaffirmed our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We immersed ourselves in equity-focused leadership training. We took a deep dive into honing our communication skills to navigate the inevitable conflicts we are facing. And we created plans to support the League's Unite and Rise 8.5 national call to action. Here in Washington state, our goal is to mobilize 197,595 voters to defend our democracy. How? By using the grassroots power of each local League. 

As local Leagues, I encourage you to be visible and active in your communities. As you will have read in our 'Resisting Threats to Democracy Newsletter,' League members are urged to participate in the July 17 National Day of Action: Good Trouble Lives On. The organizers remind us: March in Peace. Act in Power. 

We must also continue the everyday democracy work that is our foundation: 

• Focus on tabling. Summer events are the perfect opportunity for local Leagues to promote democracy, local League activities, and get visibility for the League's work. 
• Share information about this year's local elections and your League candidate forums. Partner with community groups, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, to get candidate forum questions. 
• Hand out local materials: TRYs, bookmarks with a QR codes for the online version, pocket versions of the US Constitution. 
• Turn Up The Heat on elected officials. Connect directly with your representatives on the issues that matter via town halls and other opportunities. 
• Thank elected officials who are supporting democracy and fighting against bad policies such as cuts to Medicaid and limits on judicial processes. 
• Write letters to the editor or op-eds in support of democracy. Use these to publicly thank the appropriate elected officials as well as to garner support for League positions. 
• Raise your voice about illegal deportations: Join mobilizations around immigrant rights and due process. 

Your LWVWA Board is active. I am heartened and guided by this statement made at the LWVWA National Council meeting: "Try things we've never tried before so we can create a future we've never seen before." We have a retreat scheduled for July. We will wrestle with how to prioritize our work over the next two years, using input from the LWVWA Convention as well as guidance and learning from LWVUS. We are asking the question: How can the LWVWA best meet the demands of this moment and build the needed capacity and resilience for a sustainable future? We will be having this conversation with local League leaders over the next months as well. I meet monthly with each of the local League presidents and am eager to hear their input. Look for more to come on this important question. 

So, we are asking big questions and seeking new answers. Thank you all for the work you are doing. We must continue to meet this moment with courage and commitment. 

Karen Crowley, LWVWA President

Fellowship, business, and guidance on resisting threats to democracy were also center stage.

It was packed!

With reminders from LWVUS President Dianna Wynn that "We will not be silent!"; with inspiration from WA Attorney General Nick Brown that we have reason to hope; with guidance about how best to resist the escalating threats to democracy; and with hours of fellowship and conversation. The 2025 LWVWA Convention "Stand Up For Democracy" was a packed event. 

From Spokane and Pullman to the San Juans and south to Clark County, 149 registrants—136 in-person and 13 virtual—participated June 5-9 at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA. Also joining the convention at times were "neighbor" League members, nearly a dozen Oregon members. 

President Wynn's Saturday evening keynote generated great applause, cheers, and rounds of standing ovations. 

"We will not be silent," Wynn told the audience that filled the Lewis and Clark Ballroom in the Heathman. 

"We will not be silent," she repeated. "Not as suffragists at Seneca Falls in 1848, not in state assemblies fighting for the 19th Amendment in 1920, not while defending democracy in Congress in 1955 and certainly not today."

Wynn also participated in Friday afternoon's Q&A featuring former LWVWA President Mary Coltrane and former LWV Clark County President Nancy Halvorson. A communications consultant who previously served as president of the ACLU in North Carolina, Wynn visited with dozens of Washington League members, often for long exchanges, and attended a number of the workshops and caucuses before her Sunday morning departure. 

Cynthia Stewart, chair of the convention planning team, observed that, "This was a remarkable convention—full of energy, lots of new information and ideas, motivation to stand up for democracy, and abundant mingling to meet and talk with each other. And the Clark County League did a spectacular job of supporting the convention, making it easy and fun for all involved."

Attorney General Brown addressed the convention Friday evening, focusing on how Washington state is committed to standing up for law and against escalating attacks on our democracy by the Trump Administration. He noted his office has filed at least 20 lawsuits against the federal administration. 

Dr. Susan Martin's (LWV San Juans) Friday lunch speech focused on the timely question: "Still a Nation of Immigrants?" while Saturday's lunch speaker, Professor Kate Starbird, detailed her research into the intentional manipulation of online information for political gain, largely by the far right. 

Willie Frank III, son of native rights advocate and environmentalist Billy Frank Jr., of the Nisqually tribe, was the featured speaker Friday morning. 

Workshops throughout the weekend focused on redistricting, the new LWVWA Elder Caregiving study; a budget Q&A, media literacy and news education, resolutions, resisting threats to democracy, League governance, the ballot translation project, and microplastics (the microplastics workshop cleverly titled "Does this Plastic Make Me Look Fat?"). 

The business of convention included adoption of the budget, resolutions, the current program and new programs, including an update of the Indian Treaty Rights Study; and update of the LWVWA Washington State Housing Study; and the State of Democracy in Washington education project. 

Karen Crowley (LWV Snohomish) was elected LWVWA's new president. Angela Gyurko (LWV Jefferson) was elected secretary; Martin Gibbins (LWV Seattle/King) was re-elected as second vice president; Cynthia Stewart continues as first vice president; and Dee Ann Kline Parkinson continues as the C4 treasurer. 

Sasha Bentley (member at large) and Robbie Soltz (LWV Kittitas) were elected to two-year director terms, while Toyoko Tsukunda (LWV Clallam) was elected to a one-year term. Dee Anne Finken was re-elected as a director and continuing directors are Nancy Halvorson (LWV Clark), Aly Welch Heinrich (LWV Pullman), and Shelley Kneip (LWV Thurston). Karen Madsen (LWV Snohomish) was appointed to return as C3 Treasurer. 

Cindy Piennett (LWV Seattle/King), nominated from the floor on Friday afternoon, was elected chair of the new nominating committee. Also elected to that committee were Beth Pellicciotti (LWV Spokane) and Tricia Grantham (LWV Pullman). 

On Sunday morning, the Dorothy Roberts Award, which recognizes a League member who is committed, dedicated, and passionate about the mission of the League—and whose work has made the League known to others outside of the organization—was given to First Vice President Cynthia Stewart. She is also Lobby Team Chair. 

Girl Scouts from the Oregon and Southwest Washington Council presented the colors and led a flag salute Saturday afternoon—and donated 150 boxes of their very popular cookies in recognition of the new, two-year national partnership between the League and the Girl Scouts. 

Convention-goers repeatedly lauded the nearly four dozen Clark County League volunteers who assisted with planning and execution of the event, including handling registration, tech assistance at workshops, transportation, credentialing, providing welcome bags, organizing a dine-around and field trips. Among them were Judie Stanton (former LWV Clark County President) who organized drivers. 

"Some of our newest members jumped in and wanted to help and got exposed to the state convention within months of becoming a member," Stanton said. "And, of course, we have the folks we can always rely on. People were taking big jobs, little jobs. It was terrific."

In Star Trek, a “mind meld” is a kind of telepathic touch that enables the rapid sharing of knowledge and experience. Unfortunately for (at least most of) us, we are neither telepathic nor within touching distance of each other, so we have created a MELD Network* to provide a mechanism to better share tools, methods, practices, and accomplishments across the state with each other.

The “League Mind MELD” column is a way to share even more information to all our members across the state. This column will run each month and will include the responses we receive to the questions posed at the end of the previous month’s column.

The letters in MELD stand for Membership, Engagement, and Leadership Development. But what is MELD? 

MELD is a virtual gathering where members from across the state can come together to learn about the League. The goal is to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence that enables members to discover how they would like to participate in League work, locally and statewide. 

It is a place for members who are not generally in leadership positions to meet others from across the state to learn about other local League programs and what resources are available. MELD meets in small groups (MELD Pods) for one hour a month. It is a time to ask questions, brainstorm solutions, develop leadership skills, build confidence in your place in the League, and learn about possibilities to move into other roles. MELD is a place to grow!

We are gearing up for fall 2025. Look for discussions on welcoming and engaging new members; nonpartisanship in this political climate; the issues in your local area; important considerations when our work is in the voter services or civics realm—as well as when advocacy is our focus; and proposed webinars on different aspects of League membership. 

We are also looking for those who would like more information on becoming a MELD Pod leader. 

**A note to League presidents: It is always a good idea to rotate MELD representatives. This allows more members to further develop their own place in the League. Does your League have a system in place for the MELD representative to report back to your board and/or your membership?

Question for the month: What was your favorite takeaway from the 2025 LWVWA Convention? 

For more information on when MELD Pods meet, becoming a pod leader, or anything else that comes to mind, contact Nancy Halvorson. 

*In the context of the League, MELD actually has zero connection to Star Trek; it is an acronym for Membership, Engagement, Leadership, and Development. MELD pods meet each month to serve as platforms for sharing successes, addressing challenges, and exchanging ideas among local Leagues. Are you interested in learning more about MELD? Talk to your Local League Leadership about becoming involved in MELD.

Have your signed up for the 2025 LWVWA Convention yet?

There are some great speakers and workshops that members will enjoy, as well as the plenary business sessions. You may attend as a League member who is not a delegate or as a delegate if you are so designated by your local League's President. Note that the early bird registration rate ends on May 15.

This Convention focuses on the issues that are threatening our democracy and how the League can be involved, as well as doing the standard business of the League. Additionally, the Clark County League has planned some wonderful learning opportunities about the Vancouver area.

Register Today        Purchase Guest Meals/Sign Up for Field Trips

Convention: The Basics

• When: June 5-8, 2025
• Where: The Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, WA
• Registration: In-person and virtual options are available. Register now.
• Lodging: Reservations at the Heathman Lodge may be made by calling 360-254-3100. Please tell the reservation agent that you will be part of the League of Women Voters of Washington Group and request the Group rate when you call.
• Schedule: The fun starts Thursday afternoon, and then we really hit the ground running starting 8am Friday morning. See the schedule below. If you are not a delegate, you can come for a meal or a day at special rates to hear speakers or attend workshops.

If you haven't been to a League Convention before, join the online caucus on Tuesday, May 13 at 5:00 pm. Register for the caucus HERE. Attendees will learn about what happens in plenary sessions and why, including what the current and new Programs are, how to make motions, and more!

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Recognize a Valuable Local League or Member

Convention is a time when we get to recognize achievements by, and contributions of, League members and local Leagues to the success of the League as a whole—take this opportunity to recognize a valuable local League or League member!

There are a number of awards given each year. If you have a nomination for any of the awards below, use this form to suggest a person or local League to be considered. Nominations are due by May 21, 2025. The various awards are:

The Dorothy Roberts Award has been presented at LWVWA conventions since 1993—except perhaps in 2023—and the description is “to a person who shares a commitment, dedication and passion for the mission of the League.”

The Evergreen Awards were first awarded at the LWVWA Council in 2016 and include the following categories:

• The Cedar Award is given for actions that reflect generosity and providence. The cedar tree is a symbol of strength, support and connection, and prosperity.
•  The Fir Award is given for actions that demonstrate pillar of strength and tower of truth. The fir is a symbol of the power of determination and perseverance.
• The Pine Award is given for actions that represent the longevity and virtue of the League. The pine is a symbol of wisdom, longevity, reaching for the stars, and striving to make life better.
  
• The Evergreen Award—the highest award—given for extraordinary actions that sustain the League and keep it vibrant and growing.

Nominate a Member

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Remembering League Members Who Have Passed

We are also compiling "remembrances" for League members we have lost since 2023. Please share names, and photos if possible, HERE. Please make submissions by May 21, 2025.

Submit a Remembrance

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Convention Agenda
More details will be available in the Convention workbooks

Thursday, June 5

• 2:00 pm—Registration (continues through 8:00 pm).
• 3:30 pm—Women's HERstory Walking Tour of Vancouver, including a museum tour.
• 5:30 pm—Dine Around.
• 7:30 pm—LWVWA Board Meeting.
• 7:30 pm—Caucuses.

Friday, June 6

• 7:30 am—Registration (continues through 5:30 pm).
  
• 7:30 am—Tour of Reconstructed Fort Vancouver.
• 8:00 am—Caucus of local League treasurers.
• 9:15 am—Workshops: Microplastics, Ballot Translation Project, and Governance: How the League Works.
• 10:30 am—Plenary speaker Willie Frank Jr. III, Nisqually Tribe, son of Billie Frank Jr.
  
• 11:45 am—Lunch and Keynote Speaker Susan Martin, re: the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
• 1:30 pm—Plenary Business Session, with welcoming speeches.
  
• 3:15 pm—Plenary workshop Fireside Chat with LWVUS President Dianna Wynn.
• 4:30 pm—Workshops, including: Discuss Proposed Resolutions with the Resolutions Committee; Eldercare Study: You Spoke, We Listened; and Redistricting.
• 6:00 pm—No Host Happy Hour
• 6:30 pm—Dinner with Keynote Speaker WA State Attorney General Nick Brown.
  
• 8:00 pm—Caucuses: Health of Democracy in WA State; and Criminal Justice.

Saturday, June 7

• 7:30 am—Registration (continues through 5:00 pm).
  
• 7:30 am—Lecture at the Fort Vancouver National Historical Site Visitors' Center: "She Who Watches," a feminist-focused look at the democratic cultures and societies along the Columbia River since the earliest of time.
  
• 8:30 am—Breakfast Buffet
• 9:30 am—Workshops: Truth Matters: Introduction to Media and News LIteracy; Budget Q&A; and MELD.
  
• 10:45 am—Plenary Business Session II.
• 12:30 pm—Lunch with Keynote Speaker Kate Starbird: A Spotlight on Rumors.
• 2:15 pm—Plenary Business Session III (Budget Review).
• 3:00 pm—Plenary Workshop: Civics Stories: Empowering Youth in the Schools and in the Community.
• 4:30 pm—Plenary Workshop: Resisting Threats to Democracy.
• 5:45 pm—No Host Happy Hour.
• 6:30 pm—Dinner with Keynote Speaker LWVUS President Dianna Wynn.
• 8:15 pm—Caucuses: Tribal Study; and Redistricting.

Sunday, June 8

• 7:30 am—Local League Presidents' Breakfast
• 8:00 am—Breakfast for other attendees
• 9:00 am—Plenary Business Session IV
• 1:00 pm—LWVWA Board Luncheon and Meeting of the new LWVWA Board.