League of Women Voters Subunit to Meet on Orcas this coming Monday

Tickets for this beautiful quilt (65” x 75”) are being sold to support the attendance of a delegate from LWVSJ to the national convention in Atlanta in June. The drawing for it will be held May 10 at the LWVSJ Annual Meeting at 12:00 at the Orcas Hotel. The inscription on the quilt back reads: “This quilt is to celebrate The LWV 90th Birthday February, 2010. It was made in Friday Harbor, Washington by members of The League of Women Voters of the San Juans” Call Marian O’Brien at 376-1402 to purchase tickets, $5 each & $20 for 5

Contributed by Marian O’Brien

On Monday, April 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, a meeting of the Orcas Island subunit of the League of Women Voters of the San Juans will be held. This recent development of the subunit will allow interested Orcas Islanders to meet without traveling to Friday Harbor monthly. Three board members from San Juan Island will be traveling to meet with current, former, and potential members for an informal gathering to discuss how the Orcas subunit will function.

Orcas Island created a Unit-at-Large of the League of Women Voters in 1984, which became a regular local league in 1995. This League serves all of San Juan County. Over time, and as membership grew, meetings were held on the ferry to be able to accommodate members from all of the Islands. Eventually, meetings were held mostly on San Juan Island due to the large number of members there.

Since that time, the League of Women Voters of the San Juans has continued to carry out, on all of the Islands, the responsibilities and functions that are guided by the national League that recently celebrated its 90^th Anniversary of service in the US.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that has worked since 1920 to improve our systems of government and impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy. The League’s enduring vitality and resonance comes from its unique decentralized structure. The League is a grassroots organization, working at the national, state and local levels.

The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for office at any level of government. At the same time, the League is wholeheartedly political and works to influence policy through advocacy. It is the original grassroots citizen network, directed by the consensus of its members nationwide. The 900 state and local Leagues comprise a vast grassroots lobby corps that can be mobilized when necessary.

Over time, the League’s legislative priorities change to reflect the needs of society and critical issues of concern. The organization remains true to its basic purpose: to make democracy work for all citizens. The League of Women Voters makes a difference in the lives of citizens because of the energy and passion of thousands of members committed to its principles.

The League of Women Voters has earned a highly respected position in American politics due to its mission to achieve at all levels of government: nonpartisan commitment, thorough research and studies, consensus at all levels of League process, providing valuable education and analysis of issues and initiatives and ballot measures, sponsoring Forums and Debates, proactive policy in education, the environment, campaign finance, international relationships, energy conservation, stabilization of the individual insurance market, support of sustainable communities, effective children’s services, balanced transportation and port district systems, protection of water resources, improved social policy in general, responsible local government, criminal justice and fiscal responsibility.

Lofty goals, but with a well-established national membership, funded lobbyists and policy makers at all levels of the organization, and committed local leadership in communities around the country, the breadth of the League is functional, vibrant and a vital connection to the roots of our democracy.

Please join us on April 19 at 5 p.m. at the Eastsound Senior Center. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you aren’t able to get to the meeting, please contact: Marian O’Brien at marian@bokubooks.com, or 376-1402 for information on renewing your membership or becoming a new member. Additional information can be seen at www.lwvwa.org/san-juan .

en Voters of the San Juans” Call Marian O’Brien at 376-1402 to purchase tickets, $5 each and $20 for 5.