The LWV Washington’s bi-annual Council was on June 5-7. Several League members attended virtually, and a couple in person, including member Tanya Emam.
The first plenary session featured State Senator Jessica Bateman serving District 22. That was followed by a presentation on coalition partnerships, with several speakers from different organizations. Some takeaways: coalition partners need to find common ground but not necessarily 100% agreement; the point is to find more people to spread your message; know that those in Olympia have different strategies than those working at the grass roots. The program ended with a “power mapping” exercise—using a grid to evaluate potential partners in terms of the extent of their agreement with your positions, and the amount of power they may have in the community.
After lunch there were several break-out groups. Robin attended one reporting on the educational “program” adopted last year on the state of democracy in Washington. The team had come up with twelve categories to use in evaluating the state of democracy. We were given a preview but the report hasn’t come out yet.
Another breakout group featured Board President Karen Crowley reporting on the state League’s own transformation journey over the last year. The State Board has committed to hiring several new staff, in part thanks to generous donations from several board members along with the increase share of League dues. They are also helping local Leagues with the costs of Directors and Officers insurance and Zoom licenses. More printed materials were also handed out to each League.
The evening’s keynote speaker was the Honorable G. Helen Whitener, Washington State Supreme Court Justice. Here are Tanya’s takeaways:
- Pivotal, unprecedented time
- Silence allowed others to control how we are seen, place us back into servitude
- Silence been there, done that
- Gender should be an asset; stand strong to be treated as equal
- Today- what happened to women’s work for equality?
- Equal access allows for fairness based upon merit
- Women want just treatment
- Today we continue to grapple with just treatment
- LWV ask is for brethren to take feet off neck
- Design new legal and social advocate tools at state level
- Be American first whether born here or brought here
- Reformulate by hearing the voice of the other
- Include safe space
- Protect most vulnerable amongst us
- 5 open State Supreme Court Justices in WA
- Pay attention to court races in WA. Five of nine justice seats have multiple candidates.
In response to a question from the audience, Justice Whitener suggested ways to learn about this year’s Supreme Court candidates: ask lawyers; look for balance on the Court (e.g. from different parts of the state); consider endorsements from trusted sources.
On Sunday after a business session there was a program presented by Braver Angels on Skills for Disagreeing Better. A series of exercises to reinforce these basic tenets:
- Listen carefully. “Be curious”
- Acknowledge the other person’s view before you share your own perspective.
- Pivot: ask for permission to take your turn in the conversation.
- Perspective: use I statements; howyou came to your view; share a personal story; mention something you agree with.
Take a look at the Braver Angels Participant Guide.
Click here to read Tanya’s report.