News

September 28, 2023 – 5:30 pm

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The League hosts Community Conversation in concert with other county partners, to produce informational presentations on topics of general interest. Conversations are held on the 4th Thursday of the month, 5:30 PM, at Wesley Methodist Church, 14 N 48th Avenue, Yakima, and are free and open to the public.

For further information, or to propose a speaker/topic, please contact us.

In 2011, Stanley Hauk became addicted to insect life. Over the years of watching, studying, and doing some experiments with location, habitat, and chemicals; he made the decision to go chemical-free and become a natural beekeeper.

Over the years, Stanley built his own equipment and began breeding Queens to raise bees that can survive with little interference by humans. Building his stock and improving genetics has given him the opportunity to introduce wild genetics into his operation.

Recent Community Conversations:
2023:
April 27 – Venus Lomeli – Foster First
May 25 – Lon Inaba – Yakama Nation Farms
June 22 – Dr. Connie Brumm – End of Life Washington
July 27 – Leroy Rothamel and Maryrose Gonzalez – Opportunities Industrialization Center Panel
August 24 – Jessica Mendez & Wendy Winfield – Yakima County Volunteer Attorney Services
September 28 – Beekeeper Stanley Hauk – Generation Bees

2022:
January 25 – Dr. Yami Cazorla – Plant Based Eating for Everyone
March 29 – Sarah Augustine – Redistricting Commission
April 26 – Layci Nelson – Leadership Lessons for Everyone
May 24 – Judge Bartheld –  Yakima County Superior Court Pretrial Program
June 28  – Lt. Chad Janis, Yakima Police Department – Domestic Violence

You can find the videos for other Community Conversations on our Facebook page.

Kara Kondo was a member of the League of Women Voters for 55 years, having served as President twice. She encouraged the League to be involved in the study of the city of Yakima and helped create the Downtown Committee in the early 90’s. For several decades she was the League’s appointed observer and participant in water issues of the valley, which ultimately resulted in the Yakima River Basin Integrated Management Plan, a collaborative agreement among more than a dozen entities.

Kara and her husband Tak Kondo grew up in Wapato, Washington on neighboring farms. Her family was relocated to Heart Mountain during World War II, but Kara joined Tak in Louisville Kentucky, where they were married and lived, while he was stationed in the army at Fort Knox. They later returned to the Yakima Valley where they raised their two children and were actively engaged in the community. A special dry-land garden has been created at the Yakima Valley Arboretum in honor of Kara Kondo’s contributions to the community. In the past, the Downtown Committee of the League of Women Voters has hosted an annual Kara Kondo Luncheon in her honor. We hope to restart that as the pandemic has ebbed.

Throughout the year League members provide information at community events. We can register people to vote, help people find information on their elected officials, share voter information, and more!

Would you like the League of Women Voters to have a table at your community event? If so, please contact us.