We all want and need our League to be vibrant and relevant. How can we do that? One initiative identified by the Leadership Council is activating an Observer Corps.
The main objective of the Observer Corps is to ensure that government transparency regulations are followed. Members of the Observer Corps attend various municipal and local government meetings and return reports to our League. These reports include attendance records, high-level listing and description of topics covered, and a deeper dive into anything that may have been discussed that would be of interest to various League members. Each observer wears a badge identifying her/him as a member of the League of Women Voters.
I have seen the Observer Corps in action at contentious school board, library and town meetings. Just the fact that we are visible as the League reminds elected officials of their responsibilities and helps keep the audience civil!
Observers only observe; they do not speak, do not request time on the agenda, and do not participate in the discussion or meeting. In this way, we hope not only to educate League members about the functions of their public organizations, but also to demonstrate to all people in the public sector that the League supports good governing.
It’s a big year for elections at every level. National politics is prominent and with so many cutbacks of local journalism, it is increasingly difficult to keep track of what our elected officials are doing. With transparency in government as one of the leading tenants of the League of Women Voters, the Observer Corps is one way for each of us to push back the threats against democracy we currently face.
Where can you make a difference? In a government where corruption is rampant, the place to fight it is at the grassroots. Remember, if you’re not at the table, you are on the menu.
Places we would like to cover include county, city and town council meetings throughout Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties, school boards and library boards.
To learn more about observing your government at work, read here.
If you are interested in becoming a part of the Observer Corps, please contact our leadership team via email at info@lwv-uv.org. We will set up training later this summer.