About the League
What is our mission? How are we structured? What is our history?
Our Mission and Roles
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.
The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles.
- Voters Service/Citizen Education: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.
- Action/Advocacy: we are also nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.
To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, we use funds from the League of Women Voters Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization. The League of Women Voters, a membership organization, conducts action and advocacy and is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation.
Our Vision, Beliefs, and Intentions guide our activities.
Officers and Board of Directors
Officers:
Cynthia Stewart, President, stewdahl@comcast.net, 2021-2023
Rosemary Powers, First Vice President, rpowers@eou.edu, 2021-2023
Noel Hagens, Second Vice President, noelhagens@gmail.com, 2020-2022
Lydia Zepeda, Secretary, 2021-2023
Julie Offner, Treasurer, 2020-2022
Susan Eidenschink, Education Fund Treasurer, 2019-2021
Directors:
Deanna George, 2021-2023
Liz Knox, 2020-2022
Theresa Power-Drutis, 2020-2022
Latasha Ware, 2021-2023
Jim Warnock, 2021-2023
Board Member Portfolios
At the 2020 Annual Meeting, a bylaw amendment was approved, requiring that each Board member have a portfolio, a role for which they are the Lead. The list that follows shows which subject areas and responsibilities are assigned to each Board member.
All members are encouraged to support the League through work on a committee or project. Please contact the Board members below (see list above for contact information) if you would like to engage with them and others on their topic areas.
Cynthia Stewart, President, stewdahl@comcast.net, 2021-2023
Homelessness - Support
Candidate Forums - Support
Climate Change Lead
Rosemary Powers, First Vice President,
rpowers@eou.edu, 2021-2023
Media & Democracy Study - Co-Lead
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Lead
Homelessness - Support
Noel Hagens, Second Vice President,
noelhagens@gmail.com, 2020-2022
Get Out the Vote - Lead
Candidate Forums - Lead
Lydia Zepeda, Secretary, 2021-2023
Land Use Action Program - Lead
Government Observer Program - Co-Lead
Julie Offner, Treasurer, 2020-2022
Susan Eidenschink, Education Fund Treasurer, 2019-2021
Directors:
Deanna George, 2021-2023
Government Observer Program - Co-Lead
Criminal Justice/Police Reform - Support
Liz Knox, 2020-2022
Vote411 - Lead
High School Voter Registration - Lead
Theresa Power-Drutis, 2020-2022
Media & Democracy Study - Co-Lead
Homelessness - Lead
Communications Committee - Lead
Latasha Ware, 2021-2023
Unit Meetings - Lead
Jim Warnock, 2021-2023
Criminal Justice/Police Reform - Co-Lead
Election Observer Program - Support
Off-Board Chairs:
Election Observer Program Lead - Nan Peele
Volunteer Coordinator - Ruth Ann Hatchett
League of Women Voters of WA Orientation Material
The following have been provided by the League of Women Voters of Washington to help members and others understand the structure and vocabulary of the League.
Orientation Information
Glossary (sometimes called League Lingo)
2021-22 Program Year Goals
Each year the Board adopts goals for the coming year that help in prioritizing unit meeting programs, forums and other activities that are suggested throughout the year.
Read this year's goals here.
2021-22 Work Program - Land Use Action
A Land Use Committee will be formed to follow the County's comprehensive and community plan updates and advocate for protection of our natural resources, biodiversity and habitat; mitigate climate change; as well as promote our positions on affordable housing, park lands, sustainable transportation, and internet access. The scope includes:
- Identify the comprehensive plans within Pierce County;
- Review them to identify gaps and opportunities to advocate for;
- Identify the schedule, process and opportunities for updates to advocate for;
- Identify and establish working relationships with organizations to collaborate with; and
- Advocate to revise and support comprehensive plans to promote our positions on the environment, affordable housing, climate change, park lands, transportation, and internet access (These are all specific positions that the LWVTPC has taken).
Read the entire scope of work
here.
2021-23 Work Program - Media & Democracy Study
A two-year study will be conducted to investigate the effects of contemporary media trends on Pierce County, to identify regular news outlets available in the county (including ownership, publication, curation, reach); and to collect data from residents regarding their access to the reliable, regular, and accurate information needed to exercise their rights as citizens. We will develop appropriate data collection instruments, gather basic information about currently available media outlets, conduct surveys and/or qualitative interviews with residents, and situate Pierce County within the context of current scholarship about US news media outlets and Internet/social media information sources.
Read the entire study description and scope of work here.
