by Lunell Haught, LWVWA President

The League of Women Voters of Washington and Fix Democracy First are teaming up again for Democracy Lobby Week and other advocacy events during the 2023 Legislative Session. The groups have a long history of partnership, share common interests, work well together, and have adapted from an in-person lobby day on the Hill to a virtual format that lasts an entire week. Learn a little bit more about what to expect from Democracy Lobby Week and how we work together.

The League has thirteen issue chairs who lead research and recommend bills to the lobby agenda. Issue chairs rely on analysis from the League's fourteen coalition partners. The League also has a contract lobbyist who helps guide our strategy so that we can accomplish goals on both democracy issues and other issues that members care about.

Before we advocate for a bill or respond to a support request, we must answer two very important questions:

1. Does the League have a position on the issue. LWVWA positions are found in the Program in Action, revised every two years based on events and decisions during that time. We also use positions from LWVUS to support our advocacy work.
2. How will the bill affect communities of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, religious minorities, and others? We are fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice, which means that we must consider the impacts of a bill on all individuals, households, and communities.

Lobby week is virtual, though Fix Democracy First and the League members once gathered in Olympia. While this is for several reasons, chief among them is that our citizen lobbyists have outgrown the convenient spaces available! Other organizations still visit in person, and almost every day a (smaller) group is on the Capitol campus. It is fun and a real show of interest and commitment, but there just isn’t enough room now. This change also accommodates more schedules—both legislators' and members'. Citizen lobbyists start together on the first day and then meet with legislators, throughout the week, as is convenient, and come together in the evenings to learn (and celebrate the work).

Although League and Fix Democracy First members don't show up in force, this new, less visible lobbying is just as impactful. A recent survey of the public described the League of Women Voters of Washington as knowledgeable, active, nonpartisan, and a group working towards fairness and equality on voting and civil rights. That's a reputation to keep, and each member contributes to it.

It is an enormous job to orchestrate individual meetings for the almost 200 registered for Democracy Lobby Week. Ensuring the right people are with the right legislators at the right time with the right message is huge. Hats off to the planning team of Portfolio Directors Susan Fleming and Susan Daniel, Ann Murphy, Cindy Madigan, Carol Sullivan, and Fix Democracy First's Cindy Black, as well as local League action chairs and presidents. They are part of the team who make the League's reputation so strong.

by Miriam Kerzner, LWVWA Board

Convention may seem like it's months away, but it's coming up fast.

Due February 4th

• Recommendations for Program of Work and Studies
• Nominations for state board are due to the Nominating Committee

Delegate Count

Your delegate count is based on your membership as of January 31st.  It's almost time to start figuring out how many delegates you can send.

Volunteers Needed (contact mkerzner@lwvwa.org)

• Does your League excel in welcoming members and helping them find their place? Let us know so that we can all learn from you.
• Does your League do a great job attracting young professionals? Share your expertise and help us develop a workshop track just for them.
• Do you want to have a working holiday with your family? Come along and let us know how we can make Convention a welcoming place for all ages and affiliations.

by Lunell Haught, LWVWA President

League members know what they are talking about, or they don’t talk as League members.

That idea is at the heart of the League's credibility and reputation.

League members are asked what they think about many issues but only offer the League opinion based on the adopted positions in the Program in Action. Members study issues and develop a consensus relying on what we've learned in a study. At Convention, the League adopts a position about an issue based not on a vote, but on the consensus of members who have read a study, wrestled with the consensus questions at a local meeting, and which has then been adopted by the local board of directors.

The League does not have an opinion unless it is based on a position. That's different from organizations that are not member-driven, which have positions or opinions based on the few.

We are only the League if we are connected to each other through our work. One of the most powerful ways we connect is through our annual meetings of the Convention or Council. The formal work of adopting positions, the budget, and the program of work happens at Convention. You don't have to be a delegate to get a lot out of gathering together to be in League with each other. The consistent comment about these meetings is, "I'm so glad I went." You will find people who share and build on your ideas and find ways to bring them to life. You'll get support for engaging others and rejuvenating yourself. Join us in Pasco, May 4-7, 2023. 

by Mary Coltrane, LWVWA 1st Vice President, Program Chair

Consensus meetings are happening for The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy study during February. I hope you’re planning to take part! Local Leagues will host consensus meetings, after which each League will organize member views, based on the study findings, into a consensus statement from their League. The state League will develop a position based on local League consensus statements.

The state League is hosting two discussion leader trainings to assist in getting to consensus. If you are a discussion leader for your League, or would like to know more about how this works, please join us:

• Jan 31 11:30 AM: Discussion Leader Training (Option 1)
• Feb 1 6:30 PM: Discussion Leader Training (Option 2)

The consensus questions have been posted on the Members Only Local News Study site. You will have to login to access the site; if you have forgotten your password or need assistance, there are instructions when you attempt to login.

We recognize you are busy. We’d like you to be able to participate in the consensus process for the study even if you can’t read the full report. Please check out this two-minute video for how you can be well versed enough to participate by focusing on key pages in the report. And please take a look at the page numbers referenced in each of the questions. You will find a discussion related to the question topic on those page numbers. 

by Beth Pelliciotti, LWVWA Board

Many League members join the League because of an earlier experience with government (LWVWA Internal Survey October 2022). It might have been Girls' or Boys' State, a political science course, or an internship. Whatever the experience, the interest in government started in school.

The Washington State Legislature offers this kind of government experience for students ages 14-16 via the two page programs– the WA House of Representatives Page Program and the WA Senate Page Program. As pages, students work for a week in Olympia during the legislative session; they see government up close and attend Page School every day to learn more about how government works. Per the Legislative Page Program FAQs, pages work on a variety of assignments, "making deliveries to offices, going on errands, assisting offices, presenting the colors at the opening of each day's session, and working in the House chambers." 

How can a local League get involved?  Bonnie Bless-Boenish from the Clallam League (LWVCLA) describes how her League partnered with their local Boys and Girls Club on earlier projects which led to the current partnership on the page program. 

"Last year about this time, the LWVCLA met with the Boys and Girls Club Director to talk about civics education and how we might partner with them. We talked about their needs/wants in the area of civics education. The club director talked about a student who was a page before the pandemic and what an excellent opportunity it was, and how the director hoped to get more students involved.

She asked for help researching the program for the 2023 Legislative Session. A LWVCLA League member, Sharon Maguire, offered to make calls and find the latest news concerning the page program being offered again after the pandemic.

She organized a "Page School" meeting with the club director and two main staff members. She also presented the information to the teen group and helped interested students learn about the application process.

This year the Boys and Girls Club hopes to send three students to be pages in Olympia during this legislative session. The Boys and Girls Club is planning to help students with the application process, chaperones, and funding. They want all applicants to go the same week– during spring break. The club has budgeted for the cost and plans to get an Airbnb for that week; they will have all students stay there, will provide transportation to the capitol each day, and will send a chaperone. The club will also get kids the clothes they need (black pants, shoes, etc.) and pay for their spending money/food costs during the day. The chaperone will provide the other meals at the Airbnb.

The LWVCLA role is still being determined, but it might include giving the pages some prep information before they go– answering questions, having Sharon Maguire share information about the layout of the buildings, etc., helping with shopping for clothes, etc."

• Educating the public how government works is part of the League mission to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy.
• Leagues are good at long-term planning.  Exploring a potential partnership, determining application deadlines, and securing page funding might take a year.  Consider applying for a LWVWA Civic Education Grant– see the In League October 2022 Civic Education Grants article for more information.
  
• The Boys and Girls Club is making the page program a priority. They seek to find and send students from families with economic challenges. The League is also committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. No student should be excluded from this government learning because of lack of financial support.

For more information on how to connect with your local Boys & Girls Clubs, contact them at:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington State Association
www.washingtonclubs.org
P.O. Box 1774
Olympia, WA 98507 (360) 550-8511
We welcome your feedback and questions. Please contact us at katya@washingtonclubs.org

by Lunell Haught, LWVWA President

In League… meaning in close cooperation or in partnership with.

One way we are in league together is we use a consensus process, and at this time, we are working on consensus for studies on Shorelines and Local News. We don’t vote or take an expert's word for important issues. Consensus depends on learning about an issue (reading and understanding a study) and expressing your opinion about what you’ve learned during a dialog with other members. The result is a statement that captures the essential ideas of which the members of a local League agree. This statement goes on to the state board of directors so that a position can be created that is based on the informed wisdom of the membership. It is ratified at convention.

Consensus is a defining characteristic of the League of Women Voters. Although there are many in the League who are experts on the facts and history of an issue, you are an expert on how different policy approaches will affect your life and the lives of others like you. What YOU think is essential in the way the League operates. Being a welcoming organization means members can understand an issue and from their perspective contribute their good judgment about a topic. Democracy includes many perspectives, and we get to demonstrate that and practice it in our consensus process.

by Mary Coltrane, LWVWA 1st Vice President, Program Chair

Program-of-Work planning happens in January, starting the grassroots process that leads from study to action. Local League Presidents and/or Program Chairs will be asking members for ideas to submit to the state board. To learn more about how this process works, and find tools to support your League, visit the Program-of-Work Planning site.

Any topics that are submitted to the state board (via local Leagues' boards of directors) will need a scope and focus. The ideas submitted below don’t include that, nor do they include what type of item they might be: study, update, concurrence, education. (See League Lingo on the Program planning page for more info on how League uses these terms.)

Here’s the list of topics received so far– from Issue Chairs and others. Do you have an idea you would like others to know about? Please send to mary.coltrane@lwvwa.org and I will add it to the list!

1. A study for LWVWA to review laws and actual practices for abortions and death with dignity throughout Washington.  
2. Women's reproductive rights and by extension the status of women.
3. Teens -- much of our children's programs position focus on supporting and protecting young children, while teenagers have fewer services, and often are highly vulnerable.
4. Housing for all: a study on housing related issues might develop more specific guidance on housing related issues.
5. Extend our democracy, voting and civics school visits to include primary and middle schools, not just high school.
6. Multi Member Ranked-Choice Voting leading to proportional representation: Education.

Elsewhere in Program, consensus statements from local Leagues are starting to roll in. The Shoreline Study Committee will draft a position for the state Board to review. State and local Leagues can use the new position after it’s adopted; it will be affirmed by delegates at the state Convention (May 4-7, 2023).

A very exciting development in Program is the Decline of Local News study. Take a look and dip in to this fascinating report on the state League's home page. More info is being placed on the For Member page so local Leagues can take up the study in February.

The committee will hold a statewide, all-member briefing via Zoom on January 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Your League may also be holding a briefing tailored to your community- please check your League's Voter for more information.

There will be also be a discussion leader training for those taking on this important role. The trainings will be held virtually January 31 at 11:30 AM and February 1 at 6:30 PM. Watch for Zoom registration links!

by Miriam Kerzner, LWVWA Board

The League of Women Voters of Washington will convene its biennial Convention on Thursday, May 4, 2023 and end on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at the Pasco Holiday Inn Express and Suites.

The business of Convention will set the stage for the 2023-2025 biennium and will include adoption of Program of Work, election of officers and board of directors, approval of budget, and approval of bylaw amendments. There will be a variety of workshops addressing key issues and tips and ideas from other Leagues for League work.

Additional Convention details will be continually added. The final business for Convention will be posted by March 25, 2023 (as per bylaw requirement).

Plan now to attend—each local League may send their President and additional delegates as determined by your membership count that is finalized with LWVUS on Jan. 31, 2023. Anyone may attend as an observer. Delegates chosen by the members of local Leagues and can have one delegate for its first through 15th voting members and one delegate for every 25 additional voting members or major fraction thereof.

This is a great place for new and long-term members to learn more about the League, meet members from across the state, and be inspired about our next 100 years. Bring friends who might want to discover the League and family who can uncover the hidden gems of our region. All are welcome!

Join us at the Convention: Discovery^4: Discover Democracy, Discover League, Discover Partners, Discover Tri-Cities. 

People, not just plenaries.

Relationships, not just rules.

Discovery, not just decisions.

by Dee Anne Finken and Delores Irwin, LWVWA Journalism Study Co-Chairs

Fewer candidates running for local offices, fewer citizens voting in local races, and challenges for public health-- these are just a few of the developments playing out across the country as local newspapers decline.

League of Women Voters members are learning the state of Washington isn't immune to these concerns and others as they dig into "The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy," a two-year League study completed late last year by a committee of ten League members from throughout the state. The study is the result of interviews with more than 50 scholars, elected officials, government leaders, journalists, and other interested parties. In preparing their report, study committee members also reviewed more than 500 documents.

"After studying the national reports that indicated the news crisis is linked to a number of areas of concern, our study committee's task was to investigate whether similar trends are happening in our state," said Haught. 

The state board approved the study in mid-November and it is now before local Leagues throughout Washington as individual units begin the consensus process that ultimately will determine if the League should develop a policy to support local news.

"The essence of consensus and being a grass-roots organization is member dialogue," explained Lunell Haught, LWVWA president. "Consensus relies on using each member’s judgment, informed by a study, to develop a position that can be used in advocacy and public education. The League is unique in this process. It means the voice of the members is at the forefront of League work. For the League, consensus indicates what members agree on, or can 'live with.'"

The state consensus is crafted from local League consensus and will be adopted by the board and affirmed by delegates at the May 4-7 Convention in Pasco.

To help with the effort, news study committee members are sharing key findings of the study via Zoom briefings. Besides a reduction in local candidates and voters and public health concerns, the study has identified links to reduced community involvement and higher costs for publicly financed construction projects.

On Saturday, January 21 at 10 AM, the study group will also present a briefing to League members statewide via Zoom. There will be time for questions and answers, as well as discussion.

by Mary Coltrane, LWVWA 1st Vice President, Nominating Committee Member

Have you wondered what it would be like to serve on the LWVWA Board of Directors? Have you thought it might be a good fit for you? Have you been curious enough to ask yourself, “What does the Board do, anyway?”

Maybe you’ve noticed the state League has taken a position on an important initiative. How did that happen? The state League seems to be very involved in legislative lobbying. What’s going on there? How about Voter Services and Civic Education? How does the state League decide whether to hold a candidate forum or debate and what goes into it? Maybe you’re interested in getting youth more engaged in voting; what does the state League do to help with that? And during January, the state League is spearheading League’s grassroots process of deciding what items (if any) to take up for state-wide study during the 2023-25 program year.

And then there’s work to support local Leagues in their efforts, and to serve as an interface between local Leagues and the National League. League’s federated structure means each League is its own incorporated entity; coordination is critical.

The LWVWA Nominating Committee is looking for candidates to fill several positions for the next biennium:

• President
• 2nd Vice President
• Secretary
• Three (3) Director positions.

Check out state League’s Nominations web page to learn more about what it means to be on the state board. Contact any member of the Nominating Committee if you have questions.

Nominating Committee Members:

• Shelley Jones, Chair, sjones@lwvwa.org
• Amanda Clark, aclark@lwvwa.org
• Mary Coltrane, mary.coltrane@lwvwa.org
• Beth Pellicciotti, bpellicciotti@lwvwa.org
• Kathy Sakahara, ksakahara@lwvwa.org