finishing the Thurston County Water Study (just need to finish the consensus process). With the assistance of TCMedia, we produced a series of candidate forums; tabled at numerous events; continued to meet weekly for Coffee with the League, and so much more!

 

I feel very fortunate to have worked with such a supportive group of interesting and engaged people. It is quite remarkable that most of the board signed up for another two-year term, some in new positions, but still as part of the board. Our new board for the coming year includes me continuing as President; Nathaniel Jones as Vice-President; Karen Tvedt as Secretary; Leslie Williamson and Annie Cubberly as Co-Treasurers; and Carol Goss, Susan Fiksdal, Tara Heinecke and Brenda Paul as elected Directors.  When the Board meets in June, we will be looking at appointing two new directors for one-year terms.  

I am looking forward to another productive year. If you are interested in being appointed to a one-year Board position, want to get more involved in our work, or have ideas for things to work on for the coming year, please reach out to me at dwhein68@comcast.net.

By the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee

As the LWV grapples with its troubled past of leaving behind historically excluded and oppressed populations in the name of Women’s Suffrage, we are committed to holding ourselves accountable and work toward equity, inclusion and racial justice for everyone.

The proliferation of laws across the country banning gender affirming education and health care makes it more important than ever to fight for the lives and well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals. We need to counter the coordinated attacks by legislators introducing hundreds of bills targeting transgender and non-binary youth, barring them from healthcare that can save their lives. 

According to a March 22, 2023 report from Cullen Peele, Human Rights Campaign, “Gender affirming care, when made in consultation between a provider, their patient, and the patient's parents, is backed by decades of research and is supported by every major medical association, representing over 1.3 million doctors nationwide. However, amid growing disinformation peddled by extremists and national anti-LGBTQ+ organizations, lawmakers in statehouses across the country continue to introduce and pass legislation that severely restricts or prohibits gender affirming care for transgender youth.”

The changes in laws not only prohibit basic rights but also embolden and weaponize bias and hatred targeting young people who simply want to live. Imagine every time leaving your home, bracing yourself for the possibility of being harassed, bullied and possibly assaulted because of how you look. This is an old and continuing story for a number of populations. “LGBTQ youth are not inherently prone to suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity but rather placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society.” The Trevor Project

Whether you can make time to “show-up” or volunteer in person at Pride events, it’s an opportunity to stand with and by LGBTQIA+ members of our community.

See these LGBTQIA+ resources:

A group from the LWVTC, AAUW and the Olympia UU fellowship is working with South Puget Sound Community College and the SPSCC Foundation to establish an endowed Gladys Burns Hope & Opportunity Scholarship. This scholarship will share Gladys’s name and story with generations of students to come. 

Our goal is to raise $25,000 to establish an endowed scholarship that will be managed in perpetuity by the SPSCC Foundation. LWVTC has donated approximately $3,000 to initiate the fundraising process (these funds remain from a bequest Gladys made to the Thurston League at her death).  You can contribute to this effort as follows:

Your gift is vital to helping students and remembering Glady’s legacy of supporting people on their path to improving opportunities and pursuing brighter futures for themselves and their families. 

 

People like you make the work of the League of Women Voters possible!   Our current membership totals 177 members. Thanks to everyone who renewed their membership.

In case you haven’t renewed yet, please know that your dues of $75 (for individuals and $100 for households), continues the legacy of promoting voting rights, civic education, and nonpartisan advocacy on issues affecting us all. We offer partial scholarships ($25) for low and fixed incomes and provide free memberships to students (full or part-time). No financial information required.

Your LWVTC renewal gives you membership and voice to your local League , state League and national League. Welcome and thank you to new and renewing members