Getting Involved

League of Women Voters^®
of Los Angeles

You can support the League with your time

Current Initiatives. LWVLA Units. Committees. Volunteer Opportunities. No Time?. Opportunities.

Current Initiatives

Our 2010 Program Planning day is around the corner. This is where members are able to shape and prioritize the organization's work for the prospective year.

Learn more about the many different ways you can get involved in 2009. LWVLA Opportunities

To serve the information needs of the Los Angeles community the LWVLA operates a voter information hotline before every election. Some common questions and easy sources of answers

LWVLA Units

Joining a local unit is a way to meet members in your neighborhood. Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about units including meeting times and locations.

League Committees

Much of the League's Work is done through committees.
Voters Service Committee members are responsible for many of the activities for which the League is best known; including conducting voter outreach and registration efforts, researching the pros and cons on ballot measures and writing the Election Guide, providing speakers on a range of election and public policy issues, and conducting candidate forums. For more information write voterservice@lwvlosangeles.org .
Other committees include Program (program@lwvlosangeles.org), Action (action@lwvlosangeles.org), and Public Relations (publicrelations@lwvlosangeles.org).

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many possible ways for you to participate actively in the League's work. Once you join, you will learn of volunteer opportunities through the League's newsletter (the VOTER), by signing up to receive email announcements, by attending unit meetings, or by coming back to this website.
You can also email our Volunteer Coordinator

No time?

The League has a guilt-free policy for its members. You can join and participate as much or as little as you like. Many active members were inactive for years, then increased their participation as their lives changed.

Opportunities For Involvement

~ Ongoing Committees ~
VOTER SERVICE: Poll watching, registering voters, monitoring election procedures, candidate forums, ballot measure analysis and Ballot measure speakers, Smart Voter support. Chair, Frances Talbott-White
ACTION: Health care, full public financing, redistricting, Observer Corps; election reform, ballot measure advocacy.
PROGRAM: Assist in organizing educational events and conferences and League program planning. Co-Chairs Jean Thomson and Margie Engel

~ Studies: Research, interviews, reaching member consensus ~
K-12 EDUCATION: Restudying position with emphasis on governance. Chair, Fran Lapides
POLICE: Update LWVLA position. Chair: Jean Thomson

~ Education/Advocacy ~
ELECTION INTEGRITY:Focus on threats to the integrity of the voting system. Chair, Margie Engel
Climate Changefor Los Angeles. Chair, Helene Terris
INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING: Educate and adopt as an LWVLA position: Chair, David Holtzman

~ Organizational Maintenance ~
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Assist with welcome calls, event planning, database maintenance, mailings, recruitment and engagement initiatives.
EDUCATION FUND:Board: Anne R. Whatley chair;

Los Angeles: Structure of City Government; Expand distribution, Chair, Sandy Wolber
Fundraising: Event planning. Co-chairs Renee Chanon and Carryl Carter
Civic Society: Salon event planning. Chair, Evon Gotlieb

PUBLIC RELATIONS: Expand LWVLA's use of PR tools, media database, media outreach planning, community outreach, e-newsletter
WEBSITE: Maintain, update and expand public website at http://www.LWVLosAngeles.org
FINANCE COMMITTEE: Assist in asset investment strategy and oversight. Co-Chairs, Elizabeth Ralston and Gerry Sallus
ARCHIVING:Develop office storage and archive protocol; expand current CSUN archive relationship

~ Special Projects ~

CAMPAIGN WATCH COMMISSION: Serving as staff for the commissioners in their work to arbitrate false, prejudicial or personal attack campaign complaints in an expeditious manner.
VOTER NEWSLETTER: Edit monthly articles, manage editorial policy and goals. Co-Editor, Jo Anne Aplet
ELECTION SERVICES to community: Manage elections for community organization elections such as home owners associations and housing projects. Chair, Nancy Arnheim
INTERNS: Integrate intern and LWVLA needs. Chair, Zhita Rea
WWW.SMARTVOTER.org: Assist in maintaining and expanding the service of California's pre-eminent voter informing web site. Chair, Frances Talbott-White
LEGISLATIVE INTERVIEWS: Interview Los Angeles members of the legislature on League issues and enlighten new legislators on state League positions(in February).
RUNNING AND WINNING: Multi-year project that connects high school students with elected officials to learn how to participate in government by campaigning either as a candidate or as a proponent of an initiative. Chair, Zhita Rea

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 30, 2010 11:44 PDT.