Dear Members,
Big news, voters in Washington will continue to be able to send their ballots in the mail! Make sure that your ballot is postmarked on or before Election Day. The advice is to send your ballot at least a week before the primary Election Day deadline of August 4, 2026. All registered voters should have received the Voters’ Pamphlet via USPS. Your ballot will be mailed out starting July 14. Your alternative to return your ballot at a designated Official Ballot Drop Box (locations listed in attached flyers, voters’ pamphlet or here) or in person at the Elections Office at the Yakima County Courthouse. Remember to sign your ballot on the return envelope as it is matched to the signature on your most recent driver’s license, add date mailed, and your telephone number in case there is a question about your ballot. In your conversations with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors, remind them to vote. Do not forget to vote!
I hope that you will take the time to watch the Congressional District 4 (CD4) Candidate Forum recording that is posted on the LWVYC website. There will be another CD4 forum recording added to the website soon that was hosted by AARP and the League of Women Voters of Benton-Franklin Co. and the Yakima Co. back in June at the WSU Tri-cities Campus.
The June 16th LWVYC Annual meeting was well attended as I counted eighteen members and six guests in person, along with four members online via zoom. A big ‘thank you’ to Peter and Amy (Peggy Peterson’s daughter and grandson) with the Unity of Yakima Spiritual Life Center for their diligence in setting up the zoom meeting. Rev. David Hacker of St. Michael’s Church and chair of the Between the Ridges (BTR) opened the meeting with a Tribal Land Acknowledgement. It was great tribute to the ancestors of this land. Thank you for sharing the importance of the land acknowledgements, Rev. Hacker.
One of the highlights of the Annual Business Meeting was the nomination and election of two new members to the Leadership Team (LT). The new members are Tracy Levy and Susan Kaphammer. Tracy is going to be our Editor for The Voter. Susan has previously been on the Leadership Team The Leadership team truly welcomes you both. Thank you to Lana, Kitty and Ulla, for taking on this task. At this meeting Peggy Peterson and Dori PeralesBaker were elected as the new Nominating Team for this fiscal year. The third member will be from the LT. The Nominating Team only serves for one year as stated in our bylaws. We are still looking for a member to step up as a Treasurer. In addition, we have LT members Barbara Schultz, Janis Luvaas, and Steve Hill for a total of six. Stepping down from the LT are members Criss Bardill, Joy McKinney, Karri Livingston, Kitty Jubran, and Lana Barnes. They will continue to be at tabling events as part of the Voter Service Committee. Another highlight was the adoption of three programs that the LWVYC members voted to focus on for this next fiscal year. The programs will be on Immigrants’ Rights, Getting Out the Vote (GOTV), and Data Centers/AI. If you are interested in researching and being a part of one of these programs, please reach out by email or contact one of the Leadership Team members. Members, if you belong to an organization who are interested, especially if this is your group’s field of interest, please let us collaborate and work together. It will take all of us to move forward with these programs. The last highlight was celebrating all our members who recently joined and those who have been members for years. Thank you!
Members, feel free to reach out to me with your ideas, and thoughts for getting involved in community events. Also, any thoughts on fundraising. Last, consider joining the leadership team if you are interested in being a treasurer, or an LT Chair of a committee. These are the committees established: Voter’s Service Committee, Program Focus Committee, Action Program Committee, Communication Committee, Members Service Committee, and Budget Committee.
With appreciation,
Cindy Olivas, President
