by Janet Thomas
As you know, each election season brings a different array of propositions in California. Many are confusing, but each deserves voters’ attention. In past elections the LWVDV Pros and Cons team has created scripts about each proposition, and then engaged with many groups in the community to help voters understand the Pros and Cons of the initiatives. Many League members have participated at some level in this process.
League presenters try to fairly and honestly present both sides of a proposition, and, though admittedly it’s pretty hard sometimes, they try not to let biases show. As League members, we are acting in our role as educators, helping audience members understand the intricacies of the propositions, including a bit of background and an understanding of who is supporting and opposing each initiative and with what kind of funding. Though we generally stay on script, presentations have always varied a bit due to the audience's needs and presenters’ styles
This year, because of COVID19, we had to be creative in meeting our objectives by finding a way to reach audiences virtually, instead of in person. The California League said that it would not be offering a presentation, so we decided to produce what we do in-person as a video instead, for our own League’s use and for other Leagues to use as they’d wish. With the help of Diane Bianchi, we established a relationship with Associate Professor Jason Jakaitis from the Communications Department at St. Mary’s College. Our agreement was that if we wrote scripts for each of the 12 propositions, Jason would engage students in presenting, producing and editing them into five- to seven-minute videos each, to be shown on YouTube.
Though we had limited time, we were able to meet via Zoom to coordinate efforts. Diane Bianchi, Ann Flynn, and Shawn Gilbert helped us with organization and Zoom training. The LWVDV Board offered much appreciated hourly stipends to the students for their work. Kay James tirelessly communicated with organizations and other Leagues to schedule presentations.
Three two person teams of presenters (Janet Hoy and Sue Brandy, Carole Woods and Bette Felton, and Janet Thomas and Kay James) volunteered to either do their own Zoom presentation of the scripts or moderate the videos and answer questions via Zoom. And the Contra Costa Library partnered with us in streaming the presentation on its communication network.
Under the direction of Jason, and with assistance from LWVDV, St. Mary’s students successfully produced the videos, which were used in a number of presentations and viewed by hundreds of people on their own through LWVDV’s YouTube channel. They were also shared with other Leagues. The students also produced one-minute video Instagram introductions for us on their own campus to inform the SMC community about the upcoming election initiatives. In the future, they have indicated a desire to work with LWV at the state level to make such video presentations available to all local Leagues.
On a personal note, I have had the privilege of working as Kay James’ partner for almost two decades in creating and presenting the Pros and Cons of the propositions for LWVDV. She is retiring as chair after this election season, and I want to acknowledge the tremendous amount of work that she has put into researching, organizing and presenting the Pros and Cons. She has always been committed to fairness and accuracy, and her work has shown this. Thank you, Kay!
We’re living in a time of change, and as such, the LWVDV has shown that it’s capable of adapting in ways one would never have predicted. Thanks to all involved in making such efforts possible.
