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Date: 6/19/2026
Subject: LWV Bellingham/Whatcom - The Voter, June 2026
From: League of Women Voters Bellingham/Whatcom County


The Voter June 2026 Logo
To our readers: this edition of The Voter has been delayed due to a massive attack on the vendor that hosts our website and membership platform. No data was compromised, but access to the website and its functions were largely unavailable for many days. But we're back!

See you Saturday at the LWVBWC Member Meeting!

March in the July 12 Pride Parade
quilt in pride colors
Do you know what was missing from last year's Pride IN Bellingham parade? The League of Women Voters! If you'd like to carry our banner and represent the League in the Pride IN Bellingham parade on Sunday, July 12, 2026 please contact Siri Hiltz (sirianne@gmail.com). If you are willing to be the main contact for our group on the registration form and can coordinate our volunteers on the day of the parade, please note that in your email!

Book Group to Discuss "Final Forest"
Final Forest book jacket
To learn more about the values of our forests and the role they play in our economy and well-being, we will read Bill Dietrich’s book that was published in 1993 but is still very relevant.
On July 29, we’ll discuss The Final Forest: Big Trees, Forks and the Pacific Northwest.  The author, Bill Dietrich, began his career in journalism by covering issues in Bellingham.  The Final Forest was his first book in a very successful writing career. Our discussion will be led by two of our members who have closely followed local environmental issues, Lynn Colson and Judith Akins.

Immigrant Support Team Members Meet with Law Enforcement
Sheriff car

Members of the LWVBWC Immigrant Support Team met with Bellingham Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig and Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley in May to discuss and better understand their stance on immigration enforcement and ICE activity within our community.

Who Has the Power to Declare War?
Watch the newest in our series of very short videos on a variety of government powers and functions. The newest asks, "Who has the power to declare war?" But check out some of our other carefully researched videos on the Department of Homeland Security, the Supreme Court, and birthright citizenship. Many thanks to volunteer writer Minda Rae Amiran, and delightful volunteer reader, Siri Hiltz.

Comprehensive List of Local Boards and Commissions Now Available
Government meeting
Interested in knowing more about how local government works, or being a part of it? Volunteers have compiled a complete list of every board and commission in Whatcom County so you can observe their meetings. Check out the list on our website.

Whatcom County's Mental Health Court
 The Healthcare Team met with Mental Health Court Judge Angela Anderson to learn more about how this court seeks to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and help participants achieve long-term stability.

Get Out the Vote Team Visiting Schools
volunteer registering WWU student
Get Out the Vote team members have been busy in Whatcom County high schools registering students. Other have been hanging out in Red Square at WWU to help students develop a plan for voting in the general election. Training for tabling volunteers is planned for July and August.

League Members Attend LWV Washington Council

LWV Washington’s bi-annual Council was on June 5-7. Several League members attended virtually, and a couple more in person.

While official business, such as electing new board members, was minimal, there were quite a few interesting speakers and programs, including a Braver Angels training on how to have conversations with people we don't agree with. 
We also heard how the state League has been responding to the results of the survey of local Leagues conducted last year. The state Board of Directors has taken major steps to respond to the survey results by undertaking its own transformation journey.

Look for us on...

Bluesky Threads
Bluesky Threads

The League would like to welcome our newest members:

Sydney Fuller

 Sara Wells

 Julian Edleman

Help the League do Our Work

Make a Donation | Volunteer Your Time | Stay Informed

LWVBWC thanks The Voter editors, Theresa Kingma and Becca Verda
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