- State League Convention
- April Unit Meetings
- Webinar: LWVUS Criminal Justice Position
and President's Message
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- Gifts that Biodiversity Brings
- Downtown on the Go Friday Forums
- Earth Day & Arbor Day
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- Thank you for your votes, Pierce County Council
- Welcome New Members
- Thank You, Generous Donors
- Volunteer Week
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State League Convention
Pasco, May 4-7 | | | The State League Convention is in Pasco this year, May 4-7. Members should have each received a notice of the convention by email. For those who did not, you can read it here. The Convention is when State League officers are elected, the budget is approved and Program for the following two years (studies, civic education programs and action) are proposed and voted on.
The Tacoma-Pierce County League is entitled to eight delegates. If you are a member and would like to represent our League, please contact Cynthia Stewart immediately.
LWVTPC members who attended the Program Planning meeting in December will be pleased to know that a proposal will be voted on for a state League study of caregiving. The Thurston League has made this proposal:
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.
Although this topic was discussed at Program Planning, it did not rise to the level of a proposal from our League, but LWVTPC delegates will be supporting this study at Convention. | April Unit Meetings
Stories from the field: Responding to Homelessness in 2023
Virtual Unit: Wednesday, April 5, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
East Pierce Unit: Saturday, April 8, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Puyallup Library, 324 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371
Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula Unit: Saturday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Anchor Room, Heron’s Key, 4340 Borgen Blvd., Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Tacoma Unit: Thursday, April 13, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Conference Room, North Tacoma Police Substation
5140 N 26th St Tacoma WA 98407 (near Kandle Park)
Program:
Pierce County advocates who promote safe and secure housing for all—especially for the most vulnerable residents of our county - will share stories of their experiences. There will be stories of cliff-hanging policy decisions, bureaucratic wrangling and delays, street level engagements that change lives (if even for a day), faith communities sharing their spaces, and projects to promote health and connection.
Rather than a fact-filled intellectual exploration, this will be an opportunity for us to hear what happens to people who, when confronted with a life-threatening crisis, decide to turn toward — not away from — our neighbors in need.
Panelists include:
- Jan Runbeck, public health RN, volunteer
- Jani Hitchen, Pierce County councilmember District 6
- Gerald Daniels, Exec Director of Brotherhood Rise
- Jay Worley, advocate with a personal history of housing challenges
- Jeffrey Boyce, homelessness missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia.
- Moderator: Rosemary Powers, LWVTPC 1st Vice President and advocate for people experiencing homelessness
| Webinar: LWVUS Criminal Justice Position
Overview and Advocacy Considerations
Criminal justice issues have been at the forefront of many of our conversations for several years. So this information about criminal justice from the national League of Women Voters may be of interest.
On Wednesday, March 22, the LWVUS advocacy team offered a webinar on the League’s Criminal Justice position adopted at the 2022 Convention, including position formation, language, and application. The webinar is geared towards state and local Leagues looking to do criminal justice work for the first time, or who would like additional considerations for their advocacy work. Discussion includes details about the position and how it was developed, the importance of an observer corps, and examples of what some other local leagues are doing regarding criminal justice.
You can view the recorded session here.
Check out the LWVUS Policy, Advocacy and Litigation Briefings, a one-stop shop to register and find resources from upcoming and past LWVUS policy and advocacy webinars. | President's Message
By Cynthia Stewart
This month we celebrate spring, renewal and preservation - sustainability, in other words! Take a look below at the many opportunities to engage in activities that will help our earth and our own wellbeing during this month. | | | And join us as we hear stories from the world of homelessness. Addressing this issue has been one of our highest priorities for years. This month's unit meetings (open to the public, not just League members) will humanize this issue for those who participate. We urge you to join us.
And it's volunteer week during April. There are so many League members to thank and appreciate. We only chose five below, but we know that there are so many more among our League who diligently support our activities, advocate for our issues and donate. We simply cannot thank any of them, much less all of them, enough for what they - YOU - do.
| The Gifts That Biodiversity Brings to Our Everyday Lives
The fourth and final 2023 series on biodiversity
By Lucinda Wingard
| | | In previous articles, I suggested what we activists might do to preserve and enhance our glorious, threatened native biodiversity in Pierce County. This month I turn to how native biodiversity enhances our own lives.
Many of us are city or suburban dwellers who likely drive somewhere else to access “Nature.” For those homebound days, I recommend two books that guide us to enjoy wildlife—animal and vegetable—in our own yards and neighborhoods.
Read all of Lucinda's delightful and informative article, including information about the books she's recommending:
Nature Obscura, A City’s Hidden Natural World, by Kelly Brenner, and
and see her pictures of the hidden natural world in her own yard, here. | Interested in transportation, housing, and sustainability?
Participate in Downtown on the Go Friday Forums | | | Thursday, April 13, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
E9 Firehouse
611 N Pine St, Tacoma WA 98406
Get more information here and see
| | | Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 & Arbor Day on April 28
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Check out the dozens of local environmental and sustainability events in April here.
There are nature walks, wellness, park, cleanup, tree planting and many other opportunities listed.
| | | | Also see the
South Sound Sustainability Expo
April 22, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
UW Tacoma Campus and Tollefson Plaza
Get information, including directions, activities and more here.
| | | Thank You for Your Votes
LWVTPC would like to recognize and express appreciation to the Pierce County Councilmembers who, on March 21, took the big step of approving the local tax for housing and homelessness. This tax, 1/10 of one percent on taxable sales, is so small it will cost the average consumer only about $16 per year, but it will generate millions of dollars annually to support housing and programs for people experiencing homelessness at the lowest income levels in Pierce County. The League expresses great gratitude on behalf of those who will be helped by this to the Councilmembers who took this vote:
- Ryan Mello, Chair
- Marty Campbell
- Robyn Denson
- Jani Hitchen
- Dave Morell
Get more information about the bill, named the Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Act, here. | Welcome, New Members!
Myrah Ballantine Andrea Heller Allison and Daniel Pincas Erin Renn
| Thank You, Generous Donors!
Mary Lewis Patricia Mail George Martinson Russell Wise
| National Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 16 – 22
It is never too early - or too late - to recognize special members who keep our League going. As an all-volunteer group, there is nothing we do that doesn't involve volunteers. But some of our members contribute so much that we can honestly say our League would not run without them. In addition to the Board of Directors, who do so much, we appreciate these special people:
- Susan Eidenschink, who runs the League office and holds our processes together
- Ruth Ann Hatchett, who as Volunteer Coordinator manages to line up members and others for every single event we have
- Noel Hagens, who steps up to fill gaps whenever they occur
- Nan Peele, who tirelessly and silently organizes the election observers time after time
Thank you for all that you do for our League! |
League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County
621 Tacoma Ave. S., Ste. 202
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-272-1495 lwvtpc.org | |