Committees are where the work of the League gets done. Most of our committees meet on a monthly basis and are open to all interested members. Joining or working with a committee is a great way to give back to our League and our community. It's also one of the best ways to form connections with other League members. Meetings are open to all League members. Contact the Committee Chair to join.
Observer Corps
Purpose: To monitor local government agencies to learn what local issues are being addressed, how they are being addressed, and to ensure their actions and decisions are transparent. Currently our League is observing Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, Sonora City Council, and Tuolumne Utilities District.
Chair: Jane Braga
Meeting Date/Time: Monthly, 4th Wednesday, 1:30, at the Senior Center.
What We Do
- We attend meetings of the agencies and write a report on each meeting.
- We meet monthly to share and discuss the reports. We make note of areas of concern, topics to follow.
- We coordinate with Interest and/or Study Groups on upcoming agenda items on their areas of interest.
- We write a monthly report for The Voter to keep our membership aware of actions and issues of the agencies.
- We report to the Action Committee when League Action is appropriate.
- We publish semi-annual reports in local papers on the agencies. We summarize the past six months making note of both positive actions and areas of concern.
Here is our latest report from July 2025.
Voter Services
Purpose: Promote non-partisan, unbiased voter advocacy and education through a variety of
election-related activities offered to the public in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties.
Chair: Susan Medeiros
Meeting Date/Time: Monthly on the 3rd Monday at 1:30 pm
What We Do
- Inform voters on issues related to free and fair elections.
- Offer voter registration services.
- Provide candidate and ballot measure information during elections.
- Collaborate with the County Elections Office regarding election information and assistance.
Activities
- Voter Registration/Voter Education - Provide voter registration help and information at different community locations and events all year round.
- Candidate Forums - Organize and host candidate forums for local candidates in competitive races, during election years.
- Pros and Cons - Present unbiased pros and cons of state and local ballot measures.
- VOTE411 - Solicit the participation of local candidates in this online voter information service during the election season.
- County Elections Liaison - Gather and share information about elections and the support that the county may need.
Membership
Purpose: To recruit, retain and empower membership to meet the Mission, objectives, and goals of LWVML, LWVC and LWVUS: in a manner that fits the distinctive willingness and capacity of the individual member, to ensure a healthy organization. To honor each member’s uniqueness.
Chair: Patricia Horthius
Meeting Date/Time: Monthly on the 2nd Wednesday at 1 pm
What We Do
- Promote retention, growth and diversity in membership
- Develop marketing material for Recruitment outreach
- Develop a program of consistently reaching out to new members by delivering new member packets and assessing needs.
- Welcome new members, introduce to organization, provide them with access to important information, introduce at general meetings.
- Contact members who are not renewing to discuss their experience, determine if a dues scholarship would be helpful, and identify any improvements we can make to our League.
Activities
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Cheer – Connect with members electronically or via cards and advise of special needs or circumstances.
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Hospitality - Greet attendees at meetings and events.
Program
Purpose: Research local, state, and national government issues and take action.
Chair: Brenda McHenry
Meeting Date/Time: TBD
What We Do
The League has positions on a variety of government issues, from voting rights to environment to justice, and many in between. The Program Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Mother Lode:
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Researches local issues, becoming familiar with current positions.
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Informs membership and the community of issues, to reach consensus and adopt positions.
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Develops and proposes advocacy and action plans.
Activities
- Advocacy - The League takes “action” on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing “League position” that supports the issue or speaks to the cause. In the League, “ACTION” means advocating or lobbying for an issue on which the respective League (local, state, regional or national level) has a position.
- Study - Conducts thorough research and study on topics which are presented to the membership in an unbiased manner. Positions result from a process of member agreement about a specific topic which is reached by group discussion The purpose of having a League position is to use that position to influence public policy. Our league has completed one study to day, The Rural Homelessness Study in 2023.
