In This Issue
Election Day November 8
Be an Informed Voter
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Election Day is November 8
Be sure to mail your ballot before November 8 | | | Be an Informed Voter!
By Susan Fiksdal
Have you watched our Candidate Forums? You can find links on our website’s homepage. And you can see the discussion on the expansion of the Port and County Commission Districts here.
Shelley Kneip and Karen Tvedt shared the work of contacting and convincing candidates to take part, finding moderators and timekeepers for each forum, vetting questions, and writing scripts for the moderators. As always, we worked closely with Thurston Community Media which produces the forums. This is a time-consuming group process every year and the results are always quite stunning visually, and sometimes in what they reveal! Gathering good questions is crucial, so watch for the email from Darlene next year and consider submitting questions. Please tell your friends and family to watch our candidate forums before they vote by November 8.
| President's Message
By Darlene Hein
It truly feels like fall, with colder weather and trees turning red and gold. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. It also means that November is here along with Election Day and Thanksgiving. This year’s elections seem fraught with difficult issues from state governments across the country making it harder to vote and misinformation hitting us from every which way. It’s hard to watch TV, check out social media, and sometimes, even talking to our relatives, coworkers and neighbors seems impossible. | | | It can be difficult to look at the upcoming Thanksgiving and think about giving thanks. One way to deal with all the negativity and not be soured is to start thinking about gratitude now. No reason to wait until Thanksgiving. Gratitude can bring joy and comfort in troubled times. To have gratitude for all we have and all that can be. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and the ability to show appreciation for what we have and to return kindness put forth.
One of the things I am thankful for, along with this beautiful place we call home and my friends and family, is the work the League is doing to make sure community members are informed voters. We do this by providing voting information through the Vote411 website; ensuring people have information about where candidates stand on issues; inviting members to be election observers; and providing information based on facts through our website and social media. We must thwart misinformation by providing information based on facts. Most of all, we should provide correct information when we see misinformation being touted. This is what the League of Women Voters is about.
There is no reason to wait until Thanksgiving to find and share gratitude. Gratitude is free and it is amazing how it can bring joy and comfort during troubled times like these.
| Threats to the Indian Child Welfare Act
By Shelley Kneip
The Tribal Update Study Committee is monitoring a significant court case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). ICWA was enacted in 1978 to address removal of Native American children from their homes. This Act gives tribal governments exclusive jurisdiction over children who reside on a reservation, and concurrent, but presumptive, jurisdiction over foster care placements for children who do not live on the reservation. It also provides that every effort be made to first place the child with relatives or other tribal members.
Before ICWA was enacted, almost one-third of Indian children were removed from their homes and 90 percent of those were placed in non-Indian homes. Indian children were losing their sense of culture and otherwise traumatized by these placements. ICWA was intended to redress generations of child removal and assimilation by government and religious entities.
On November 9, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral argument in a case, Brackeen v. Haaland, that may drastically change ICWA. Plaintiffs are arguing that ICWA is unconstitutional because it bases child placement decisions on race. In support of the Act, it is argued that ICWA is based on recognition of tribal sovereignty, not race, and should be treated as laws related to interaction with other sovereign nations. A court decision finding the Act unconstitutional could have far reaching effects on other laws and treaties involving sovereignty. Given the conservative nature of the current Court and its recent decisions, this case is being closely watched. | How to Get Me to Show Up and Speak on What is Important to Me
Panel discussion - Voter Education and Outreach within Hispanic and Latino Populations
By Crystal Champion, LWVTC DEI & Justice Committee
On October 19, 2022, we were honored by three distinguished guests: Lucy Barefoot, Office of Secretary of State Elections Division; Dianna Torres Angulo, President of Hispanic Roundtable; and María Sigüenza, Executive Director of Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs. October is Hispanic Heritage Month, but what we've learned is that Latina/o and Hispanic are umbrella terms that encompass many different rich heritages. It is important to remember that just because people are grouped together by our US census does not mean everybody is the same or has the same issues. It's important to ask rather than assume a person’s heritage. “It's like a prism.” Maria Sigüenza. |  | How do we fully include all Hispanic groups, be a true ally, and influence young people? All three agreed that language access is key. Get connected with a variety of groups. Not everybody in the same constituency has the same needs. Make room. Be present. Show up constantly and purposely. Carve out space for their voices. “Allyship is a first step to really working alongside a community.” Maria Sigüenza
As we walk supportively alongside, we need to keep going because the moment we stop we fall. Join us.
To learn more about these astounding women and their amazing works see the links below.
To read the full article and listen to the audio recording of our panelists, click on the DEI web page.
Related links:
| Karen Verrill Evergreen Award Tree Planting
The pictures below are from the celebration of long-time Thurston League member Karen Verrill's LWVWA Evergreen Award for her work in promoting civics education. On October 10, LWVWA Board members joined Karen and others to plant a cedar tree in her honor at Squaxin Park. Karen is past president of LWVTC and the League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA). | The picture at left shows (L to R) LWVWA President Lunell Haught, Karen Verrill, and League members Bev Austin and Beth Pelliciotti who have worked closely with Karen on civics education and the League's civic education textbooks. The picture at right shows Karen with members of the LWVWA board.
| | Learn more about these events in this issue.
Nov 10 - Let's Talk About Race Book Club
Nov 14 - Shoreline Study Membership Meeting
Nov 16 - DEI & Justice Committee | | Save these Dates
Dec 3 - Holiday Party
Dec 10 - Action Workshop
Dec 10 - Merritt Long Book Signing
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Let’s Talk About Race Book Club
A reminder that our Let’s Talk about Race Book Club selection for November is Marilyn Morgan’s Trailblazing Black Women of Washington State. We will meet at Susan Fiksdal’s home on November 10 at 2:30 pm. Contact Annie Cubberly if you are interested in attending. | | | Shoreline Study
LWVTC General Membership Meeting
By Karen Tvedt
| | | Learn more about the League’s Shoreline Study during a November 14, 2022, 6:00 pm, General Membership Meeting. Shelley Kneip will provide an overview of the study and the League’s consensus process. Time will be provided for Q&A. Watch your email and the League's website for additional information.
This meeting is preliminary to a LWVTC Shoreline Study Consensus Meeting on Saturday morning, January 7. On January 7, we will work in breakout groups and ultimately make decisions about how our League will respond to the consensus questions. The LWVTC must submit its response to the state League by January 16, 2023.
As discussed in last month’s Voter, studies are the basis for adopted League positions. Before the League takes a position on an issue, it must first conduct an objective study and go through a “consensus process.” The consensus process entails a statewide review of the study, with each local League answering “consensus questions.”
All local League members are invited to participate in the process. Prior to the January 7 meeting, participants should review the study and consensus questions, which can be found here on the state League website at Program of Work Planning for the LWVWA (2019-2021). (Note: you must be logged in as a member to access these documents.)
Once local Leagues have responded, the LWVWA Board will determine whether consensus has been reached and draft a position which can be used for advocacy and will be reviewed by members at the 2023 convention.
| DEI & Justice Committee
Tribal Position Update Study
In honor of the designated Native American Heritage month, the DEI & Justice Committee will hear from a panel of Tribal Position Update Study Committee members who will talk about what a learning experience this study process has been.
Photo at left provided by R. Peggy Smith | | | These individuals will share what has been most surprising, eye opening, or impactful for them at the DEI & Justice Committee meeting on zoom, November 16, 2022, 5:30-7:00 pm. Possible topics may be the importance of native language as part of cultural education, the role and importance of tribal sovereignty and the inherent need for connection to the land. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask the panel questions.
Contact Carol Goss if you are interested in attending. | |
Save the Date
Holiday Party | | | The LWVTC Holiday Party will be Saturday, December 3 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity to meet new members and reconnect with friends. Celebrate the work the League has accomplished in 2022 and give a toast to all those who have volunteered to help make this organization a vital voice in our community. See the December Voter and the League's website for more details.
| Preparing for the 2023 Legislative Session
Save the Date: Action Workshop
By Cynthia Stewart
The November election will be critical. It will determine which party leads the Senate and which leads the House of Representatives. The majority party selects their Chamber’s leadership in November or December. If there is no change in party majority, most of the top leadership will not change, but there will be substantial change in House of Representatives committee chairs. Five House committee chairs did not run for reelection, including Health Care & Wellness, Finance, Consumer Protection & Business, Labor & Workplace Standards and State Government & Tribal Relations. Committee Chairs have huge power to determine what bills are considered (or not) in their respective committees.
How is that relevant to our local League? Our members will be asked to engage with legislators on a variety of issues for which the state League of Women Voters has positions. Whether or not the League gets to testify on a bill that League supports depends entirely on what the committee Chair decides can have a public hearing or a vote.
League members can learn more about these processes, the issues and how they can be involved at the annual Action Workshop on December 10. There will be a panel of legislative leaders discussing their perspectives; sessions on a wide range of issues, from natural resources and waste management to homelessness and housing to education and children, health care, and so much more. There will also be a “how-to” session to learn how to get the information you need and how to communicate effectively with legislators.
Set aside 9:30 am to 2:00 pm on December 10 for this virtual Action Workshop. Registration will open soon at the LWVWA web site.
Additionally, there will be a Lobby Week during which you can get more specific and up-to-date information about actual legislation that has been introduced and participate in a meeting with your legislators. Although previously announced as the week of February 13, Lobby Week has been moved to the week of February 6. There will be additional information on this over the next month or two.
The League is all about preserving democracy and empowering voters. Your participation in the legislative process does both. |
Save the Date
Meet author Merritt Long, My View From the Back of the Bus | | | For those who missed Merritt Long’s appearance at the August DEI & Justice Committee meeting, meet him in-person, and see his view, “from the back of the bus.” His book reveals his lens as a “colored” child, “Negro” teenager, “Black” young man, and finally successful African American state official. Merritt D. Long was shaped by – and helped to shape – American history. Books will be available for purchase and inscription by Mr. Long.
This book signing event is sponsored by the Thurston League’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee and will be December 10, 3:00-5:00 pm at Panorama’s Pavilion building. Hope you can join us!
| Membership Committee
By Carol Goss
Your 2022-2023 LWVTC Handbook/Directory should have arrived via USPS. If you have not received your copy, contact Membership@LWVthurston.org.
Welcome to new and renewing members:
Pam Aylmer, Susie Galpern, Wendy Gerstel, Sue Minahan, Judy Schroeter, and Laurie Smith.
Members are sent reminders from the LWVTC website 30 and 15 days prior to a member’s expiration date and 5 days after expiration. Watch your spam or junk folders for email reminders if you think it’s about time to renew your membership (for many of us, this will be next spring). | Double Up and Double Down:
Encouraging Friends and Family to Donate and Join the League
Roslyn Duffy, state League board member, assisted by Susan Fiksdal of our League, have developed a video called, Double Up and Double Down with the League of Women Voters of Washington. Forward it to your friends and family now! If you use social media, please share it. It is clever and delivers a clear message about the importance of joining together to protect our democracy.
| | With Tremendous Gratitude, We Thank:
Our Partner Thurston Community Media (TCMedia)
The League of Women Voters of Thurston County has partnered for many years with our local community access television station, Thurston Community Media. TCMedia, a nonprofit corporation, produces, broadcasts, and records our candidate forums, typically twice each year.
Over the years, TCMedia also has filmed and broadcast other League events.
Over the years, TC Media has also filmed and broadcast other League events. | | | In addition, TCMedia offers all candidates an opportunity to be in its “Video Voter’s Guide.” You can view the Video Voter’s Guide on TCMedia’s YouTube Channel: Thurston Community Media - YouTube.
As a community television station, TCMedia manages public, educational, and governmental access resources and develops educational and governmental access programming for Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Thurston County. As a media center, TCMedia also provides video production workshops and summer camps through its “Young Producers Network” program and training scholarships. You can watch TCMedia on channels 3, 22, 26, and 77 on the Comcast system in greater Thurston County, or on Channels 3, 22, and 23 on Consolidated Communications in the Yelm area.
We particularly want to thank Deb Vinsel, TCMedia’s CEO, who works closely with our members to make it all happen. We also want to thank the excellent and professional staff at TCMedia. We couldn’t do it without them and their expertise.
Our Website Builders and Excellent Communicators!
Over the past year, we were lucky enough to have a group of brilliant volunteers helping us develop our new website. The website is very professional, looks great and surpassed all our expectations. If you haven’t looked at it lately check it out here.
Our move to a new website started with Tony Wilson doing the preliminary work with ClubExpress, and R. Peggy Smith helping with moving information from our old website. Then the communication team of Kathy Varney, Miriam Hewitt and Beth Mooney took over. They gave an amazing amount of time getting the website up and working. They also worked on the League’s social media presence.
Sorry to say, all but R. Peggy have moved on to other adventures, hopefully less stressful. They will be missed, but we are grateful for the time, energy and caring that they put forth to make us look professional.
| Coffee with the League
If you haven’t been able to attend Coffee with the League you’re missing out! Every Tuesday morning from 10:00-11:00 am we discuss local Thurston and WA state topics. Come to hear about what’s going on and ways you can influence local issues and state legislation. Contact Paula Holroyd for information about attending in person.
| | | EMPOWERING VOTERS. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Copyright © 2022, League of Women Voters of Thurston County, Washington
Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 2203
Olympia, WA 98507
http://www.lwvthurston.org/ | |