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- AANHPI Heritage Celebration
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Get Ready for the State Convention
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LWVTC Study Proposal, Caregiving in Washington State,
Recommended by the State Board for Convention
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This Week in the Legislature
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The TRY for 2023
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Calling for Volunteers: LWVTC Candidate Forums
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Membership and the LWVTC Web Site
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Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
| | | Sign-up here to subscribe to the LWVWA Legislative Newsletter for weekly updates about priority bills and how you can make your voice heard. Scroll to “The 2023 Legislative Issues” to get updates about how you can act on issues of particular concern to you.
Celebrate Spring by Walking with the League! April 18, 1:00 pm at Marathon Park.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Racial Justice & Belonging: A Community Conversation with Local Leaders: April 26, 6-8:00 pm at the Olympia Center.
Hunger Walk, May 7, 3:00 pm at Huntamer Park in Lacey. Benefits the Community Kitchen & Thurston County Food Bank. | Let’s Talk about Race Book Group, Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. May 9, 2:00-4:00 pm at the Tumwater Public Library.
AANHPI Heritage Celebration, Saturday, May 20 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Olympia Center.
Help with the 2023 LWVTC Candidate Forums. Contact Karen Tvedt or Shelley Kneip.
Coffee and Breakfast with the League: Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am at River’s Edge Restaurant, Tumwater.
State Convention May 4-7 in Pasco, Washington.
| | | Celebrate Spring by Walking with the League!
Tuesday, April 18, 1:00 pm
(after Coffee w/the League)
Marathon Park, by the restrooms at entrance off Deschutes Parkway
1011 Deschutes Parkway SW
Olympia, WA | LWVTC has organized an opportunity to get outside, meet and socialize other members and walk around Capitol Lake. We're meeting informally to get acquainted, see some friendly faces, and take in the beauty of Capitol Lake in the Springtime. You don't have to walk fast and there are plenty of benches for taking a break. If you want a walk challenge, we can trek up the switchback and circle the Capitol Campus to see blooming trees and gorgeous views.
Be prepared for the Northwest Spring weather, with bouts of wind, sun and rain.
| Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Racial Justice & Belonging:
A Community Conversation with Local Leaders
What Jurisdictions Are Doing to Create a More Equitable Thurston County
April 26, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Olympia Center, Rooms #101 & 102
222 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA 98501
Zoom participation also available
Join us for a lively and informative panel conversation. Learn what local municipalities are doing to address issues related to racial equity, inclusion and belonging throughout Thurston County. Doug Mah, SPSCC Trustee, Consultant and former Mayor of Olympia will moderate this impressive panel:
- City of Lacey Commission on Equity: Shannon Kelley-Fong, Assistant City Manager; Commission on Equity Chair Cliff Brown (2021-2025); and Commissioner Dr. Thelma Jackson (2021-2024)
- City of Olympia Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice & Belonging: Tobi Hill-Meyer, DEI Programs Manager
- City of Tumwater: Mayor Debbie Sullivan, Mayor and District 6 representative to the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Cabinet
- Thurston Board of County Commissioners Racial Equity and Inclusion Council: Ramiro Chavez, County Manager
Please let us know if you plan on attending in person or by Zoom, and/or if you have any questions, by emailing Membership@LWVthurston.org. | |
Let's Talk about Race Book Group
May 9, 2023, 2:00-4:00 pm
Tumwater Public Library
7023 New Market St., Tumwater
By Annie Cubberly
Our next selection is Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. Since libraries are central to the story, we will meet at the Tumwater Public Library. We are a welcoming group. Please come and share the thoughts and feelings that this book provokes for you. Even if you don’t read the book, you are welcome.
| | | Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s a story about the power—and limitations—of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.
“Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching…I was so invested in the future of this mother and son, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of this deeply suspenseful story!” – Reese Witherspoon
I am loving it on Audio.
| 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 Holroyde for information about attending in person. | | | Save the Date
Saturday, May 20, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Olympia Center
222 Columbia St NW, Olympia | Get Ready for the State Convention
By Shelley Kneip | | | Every other year, the League of Women Voters of Washington holds a convention. This year the convention will take place Thursday, May 4 through Sunday, May 7, in Pasco. The 2023 LWVWA Convention theme is: Discovery4: Discover Democracy, Discover League, Discover Partners, Discover Tri-Cities. The convention will be an opportunity for new and long-term members to learn more about the League, meet members from across the state, and get inspired.
What happens at convention? This is the time to vote on various actions to be taken by the LWVWA. Officers and board members are elected, bylaws may be amended and the Program in Action is adopted for the next two years. There are also workshops and caucuses to learn more about issues important to you.
If you would like to be a voting delegate on behalf of the Thurston League, please contact Darlene Hein. You don’t have to be a delegate to attend, and if costs are a concern, let us know. You may be able to travel and share a room with another League member. To learn more, visit Council & | LWVTC Study Proposal, Caregiving in Washington State,
Recommended by the State Board for Convention
By Karen Tvedt and Darlene Hein
Congratulations fellow Thurston League members! Our proposal, a study of Caregiving in Washington State, has been approved by the LWVWA Board to go forward to convention as a “recommended item.” On March 25, the state League posted this item on the state League website and sent it to local Leagues and Member at-large units.
We are scheduled to conduct a caucus at State Convention (May 4-7 in Pasco; see article above). The purpose of this session is to generate interest and answer questions delegates may have about the proposed study. If you have thoughts about other ways we might encourage League members across the state to support this proposal or are interested in working on the study (if approved), please let us know.
Here’s what will appear in the convention workbook:
Thurston County League
Item #1
Type: Study
TITLE: Caregiving in Washington State: What exists and what is needed to support seniors and other vulnerable adults and their caregivers?
SCOPE: With the aging of the population due to increased life expectancies and lower birthrates, an increased proportion of Washingtonians require long-term care to meet their basic needs. This care falls disproportionately on family caregivers, who provide the bulk of care for older adults. These caregivers are also central in ensuring access to health care and community-based social services. Research shows that family caregivers are predominately women, many of whom are employed outside their homes. When long-term care outside the home becomes necessary due to increased disability, the care available is limited, of variable quality, and extremely costly. While this proposal speaks specifically about seniors and their caregivers, these issues have implications for younger vulnerable adults who are unable to care for themselves and expect that most of the findings and recommendations of this study would apply to them as well. | This Week in the Legislature
While the regular session of the 2023 ends on April 23, now is when things really get interesting - and you can still make a difference! The cutoff for policy bills to pass of committee was Wednesday, March 29. The cutoff for bills to pass the fiscal and transportation committees is in a few days, April 4 (watch the LWVWA
| | | The Senate released its capital and operating budget proposals and has held public hearings on these. The House released its proposed budgets on Monday, March 27, with public hearings shortly thereafter.
After each chamber has adopted its proposed budget, key budget leaders from both bodies meet to negotiate their differences and come up with a final budget that both chambers will adopt. That final decision will occur near the very end of the session. Meanwhile, the adjustments they may consider will come from public input, coalitions and others, as well as members’ own negotiations. Your input to the Legislature on both policy and budget remains very important.
Additional ways you can follow the hearings and legislative process.
• Via TVW (Washington State’s public affairs TV network), and
• On the Washington State Legislature website.
If you have any questions about League issues and working with the Lobby Team, please contact | |
The TRY for 2023
By Susan FIksdal
The Voter Services Committee revises our brochure of Elected Officials, called They Represent You (TRY), each year. We work closely with the County Auditor’s Office to make sure we have all the latest updates. Their deadline of the end of February for local communities makes our process a fairly long one.
You can access the TRY on our website here. Or, you can pick up a copy at your local Timberland library. We have distributed 600 TRYs to libraries, city halls, city council members, county commissioners, senior centers, and retirement communities.
Thanks to Shelley Kneip and Vicki Merkel for revising the TRY, and to all of those who volunteered to distribute it.
| | | Calling for Volunteers: LWVTC Candidate Forums
It’s going to be a big year for our local elections! There will be two new Thurston County Board of Commissioner seats and two new Port of Olympia seats open to candidates. In addition, there will be 21 city council, mayor and port commissioner open seats. The League of Women Voters of Thurston County strives to help educate the public on all of these elections through our candidate forums. As we have done for many years, we will be partnering with Thurston Community Media to record and produce these forums.
The primary forums are scheduled for June 17 and 18. While we typically hold primary forums only in races where there are three or more candidates, we still expect a full schedule. The forums for the general election will be held September 16 and 17.
We are seeking volunteers to help plan the candidate forums. This includes deciding which candidate forums we will hold, inviting candidates to participate in the forums, formulating forum questions, developing scripts, and publicizing the videos. Closer to the forum dates, we will also be seeking volunteers to act as moderators or timekeepers for one or more candidate forums.
Please contact Karen Tvedt or Shelley Kneip if you have questions or are interested in helping plan the forums and/or serve as a moderator or timekeeper. | Membership and The LWVTC Web Site
Ever wonder if your LWVTC membership is current? For many of us, LWVTC membership expires in May. The membership roster was transitioned last March to the Club Express platform. With this change, membership is not limited to a set join/renewal month but is for one year based on the date joined or renewed. Members receive automatic renewal reminders 30 days and 2 weeks prior to their expiration dates and 5 days after membership expires.
To check your membership status, you can easily set up an account on the LWVTC website and from there, check your profile. You can add, subtract, and change your profile. Once there, please take a few minutes to complete the interest survey. This helps us connect you to opportunities to make a difference that may arise.
Once you set up your member account, you can access member resources. On the LWVTC Home page, see “Member Resources,” at the top right side; click on it - check it out. You’ll find Board & Governance information with annual meeting information; Financial information including our Education Fund and Operating budgets and reports; LWVTC Bylaws (these are also in Handbook/Directory); Board Documents (minutes and reports); and LWVTC Published Positions. Click on “Membership Directory” to reach other members’ contact information.
As a local League member, you’re also a member of the State and National Leagues, joining thousands of other members in influencing issues at the state and national levels. If you’re curious about state and national League positions, you can find them at the following links: state League public policy positions and national League positions.
| Deep gratitude to Thurston Community Media (TCMedia) for hosting and producing the March 29 Regional Fire Authority Voter Education Forum. To be voted on by Olympia and Tumwater residents in a special election on April 25, Ballot Proposition 1 proposes formation of a regional fire authority (RFA) for Olympia and Tumwater. Panel members offered important pro and con insights into the RFA plan for governance, operations, and financing, including the imposition of a "Fire Benefit Charge." This Forum, presented by the League of Women Voters of Thurston County and the JOLT was televised on TCTV channel 77 and the Comcast Cable system, and was live-streamed at TCMedia.org.
| | | 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/ | |