How to Get Involved in the League
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Participate at whatever level you're comfortable. This page includes some ideas, including a idea of how much time is needed.
Volunteer for the specific and immediate tasks on the Volunteer Opportunities page.
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Support the League with a Donation - The League is supported by volunteers, membership fees and donations. Details are here.
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Attend a League-Sponsored Program
League programs include everything from public presentations by subject experts to quarterly book club meetings. For a summary of the recurring programs, see the Series page. Most League program are now being offered online, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Watch the Home page and Calendar for announcements and details for specific programs. And, if you miss a presentation, it may be recorded on the League's YouTube channel.
League members receive information on attending shortly before each event. The public is invited to contact the person listed in the League calendar to request an invitation.
Time required: Most of these events are 1-2 hours. Check the Calendar for details for specific programs.
League members receive information on attending shortly before each event. The public is invited to contact the person listed in the League calendar to request an invitation.
Time required: Most of these events are 1-2 hours. Check the Calendar for details for specific programs.
Help Get Out the Vote
You can raise awareness of voting and deadlines through a variety of League-sponsored "Get Out The Vote" (GOTV) activities, such as help post flyers with local businesses and organizations, chalk out messages on sidewalks for voting, offer to leave educational door hangers on apartment doors. Or, if you have good ideas, help the Voter Education team come up with and plan new ways to get the message out. For details, see the Get Out The Vote page. Have an idea for a voter outreach project that you'd like to take on? Email us at: info@lwvchampaigncounty.org with "Voter Education/GOTV" in the subject line.
Time required: Some of these activities can be done on your own schedule and by yourself. Take a half hour a week to help, or do more if you can.
Time required: Some of these activities can be done on your own schedule and by yourself. Take a half hour a week to help, or do more if you can.
Sign Up To Help at a Voter Registration/Education Event
It's an election year and everyone is gearing up to help citizens register and turn out to vote. The League sponsors and staff a number of registration events throughout the year. Traditionally, these have been in-person events but, due to the need to maintain social distancing, League teams are thinking of new ways to help people register. Training and resources are available for volunteers. For details, see the Help People Register page. Have an ideas? Email us at: info@lwvchampaigncounty.org with "Voter Registration" in the subject line.
Time required: Doing a shift at a registration event can vary from 1 - 3 hours. Required training (one-time only) is about 90 minutes.
Time required: Doing a shift at a registration event can vary from 1 - 3 hours. Required training (one-time only) is about 90 minutes.
Help a Committee or Team
A number of teams work in the background to keep the League functioning and to put on the programs and events that everyone sees. These teams need people to help brainstorm, plan and set up. Take a look at some of the groups:
Functional Teams
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Action Teams
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*** Most League teams are now meeting electronically to maintain social distance, but they are actively working to continue planning, educating and doing the League's business.***
Some teams need short-term help with specific projects. Others are looking for volunteers with specific skills. Others are ready to train new volunteers. Some may need help in the future. If you're interested in any of these teams, send an email to info@lwvchampaigncounty.org. Write "I'm interested in a League Team" on the subject line of the email to help with routing. We'll get back to you and talk more about how your interests might fit with the many different plans underway.
Time required: It depends on what you volunteer for and what you have time for. Let's talk! Also please note that due to the coronavirus situation, most League teams are arranging their work so as to operate remotely.
Some teams need short-term help with specific projects. Others are looking for volunteers with specific skills. Others are ready to train new volunteers. Some may need help in the future. If you're interested in any of these teams, send an email to info@lwvchampaigncounty.org. Write "I'm interested in a League Team" on the subject line of the email to help with routing. We'll get back to you and talk more about how your interests might fit with the many different plans underway.
Time required: It depends on what you volunteer for and what you have time for. Let's talk! Also please note that due to the coronavirus situation, most League teams are arranging their work so as to operate remotely.
Join the Observer Corps
Did you know that LWVCC is working hard to make government transparent? We try to send a member to every government board meeting in the county — from the county board to the historical preservation board. How will we know what government is up to unless we are there? If you have a few hours each month to be the eyes and ears of the League and would like to learn more about local government, then perhaps being a League Observer would be an exciting League adventure for you.
*** Please note: With advent of the need to maintain social distance, "being there" may mean attending a meeting electronically. ***
Many local governmental boards are in need of an Observer Corps presence. Examples include Champaign and Urbana City Councils, Champaign Unit 4 School Board, Urbana District 116 Board of Education, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Urbana Free Library Board, Champaign County Mental Health Board, Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners, Champaign County Board of Health, Housing Authority of Champaign County, Parkland College Board of Trustees, and more.
Most of these are night time meetings. If you'd like to volunteer to observe at one of these boards (electronically) or if you have questions about observing, contact us at info@lwvchampaigncounty.org (Write "Observer Corps" in the subject of your email.)
Time required: Depending on the board selected, a few hours a month, often in the evening, is what's needed to attend. A bit more time may be needed on your own to write up your notes to share.
*** Please note: With advent of the need to maintain social distance, "being there" may mean attending a meeting electronically. ***
Many local governmental boards are in need of an Observer Corps presence. Examples include Champaign and Urbana City Councils, Champaign Unit 4 School Board, Urbana District 116 Board of Education, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Urbana Free Library Board, Champaign County Mental Health Board, Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners, Champaign County Board of Health, Housing Authority of Champaign County, Parkland College Board of Trustees, and more.
Most of these are night time meetings. If you'd like to volunteer to observe at one of these boards (electronically) or if you have questions about observing, contact us at info@lwvchampaigncounty.org (Write "Observer Corps" in the subject of your email.)
Time required: Depending on the board selected, a few hours a month, often in the evening, is what's needed to attend. A bit more time may be needed on your own to write up your notes to share.
Work with the Candidate Forums
At league co-sponsored Candidate Forums, attendees get a chance to interact with candidates in contested races and ask them questions. Visit the Candidate Forums page for more background on what Candidate Forums are. See the League YouTube page to view the 2020 primary election forms held on January 30 and February 10, 2020.
Update for Fall 2020: Normally the Candidate Forums are in-person events that are also recorded. In fall 2020, the Candidate Forum team is considering having an online Candidate Forum. As the event draws nearer, there will also be opportunities for logistical help with the events. Send a note to info@lwvchampaigncounty.org with "Candidate Forums" in the subject line.
Time required: Periodic meetings with the committee to plan and organize. To help at the events themselves, several hours for one or two evenings.
Update for Fall 2020: Normally the Candidate Forums are in-person events that are also recorded. In fall 2020, the Candidate Forum team is considering having an online Candidate Forum. As the event draws nearer, there will also be opportunities for logistical help with the events. Send a note to info@lwvchampaigncounty.org with "Candidate Forums" in the subject line.
Time required: Periodic meetings with the committee to plan and organize. To help at the events themselves, several hours for one or two evenings.
Volunteer for High School Mock Elections (postponed)
Since 2010, the Champaign League of Women Voters has held mock elections in local high schools. Mock elections are a good way to inspire our youth's interest in elections. Since this is an national election year, this is a good time to volunteer for this effort. Mock elections are coordinated with the Champaign County Clerk's office. Mock elections are organized by the Youth Outreach & Civic Engagement team.
Update for Fall 2020: This year, the County Clerk is not able to offer mock election for fall 2020 given the impact of Covid19 on the few months leading up to the general election. The County Clerk's office will be focusing efforts on a safe, fair and accessible election. In addition, we do not know what school will look like in the fall nor do we know what the election itself will look like that we could “mock” the election. Essentially planning for any mock election is on hold until a future election.
Time required: Meet and talk with people to plan and make contact with the schools. Take a shift at a local high school in the fall.
Update for Fall 2020: This year, the County Clerk is not able to offer mock election for fall 2020 given the impact of Covid19 on the few months leading up to the general election. The County Clerk's office will be focusing efforts on a safe, fair and accessible election. In addition, we do not know what school will look like in the fall nor do we know what the election itself will look like that we could “mock” the election. Essentially planning for any mock election is on hold until a future election.
Time required: Meet and talk with people to plan and make contact with the schools. Take a shift at a local high school in the fall.
Become an Issue Specialist
Issues Specialists for the League of Women Voters of Illinois are people who volunteer to learn about an issue and what legislation or activity may be in the offing---and share their knowledge with others. Issue Specialists send out Action Alerts to local League members when an issue on which the League has a position may be affected by Illinois legislation. These Alerts provide time-sensitive information and encourage League members to contact their local legislators.
We can be more effective in this effort if we have local specialists in contact with the State League who can energize our local efforts. These are just a few of the Issue Specialist topics: Electoral College, Redistricting, Graduated Rate income Tax, Gun Violence Prevention, Immigration, Affordable Housing. Contact: Theresa Michelson thmichelson@gmail.com to discuss any of these.
Time required: This is an activity you can do on your own time and at home.
We can be more effective in this effort if we have local specialists in contact with the State League who can energize our local efforts. These are just a few of the Issue Specialist topics: Electoral College, Redistricting, Graduated Rate income Tax, Gun Violence Prevention, Immigration, Affordable Housing. Contact: Theresa Michelson thmichelson@gmail.com to discuss any of these.
Time required: This is an activity you can do on your own time and at home.
Need more information? Have some questions?
Contact us at info@lwvchampaigncounty.org.
Contact us at info@lwvchampaigncounty.org.