OBSERVER CORPS – CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!


The Observer Corps is a group of League members who agree to observe meetings of groups that regularly meet. This is an opportunity to get informed on issues that matter to your community by learning what public organizations do, who runs them, how they impact the community and just what the issues are.

We are seeking volunteers to observe one or more government entities.  The extent of your commitment is flexible, dependent on what you’d like to take on. Meetings may be attended in person, on zoom, or viewed on the entity’s website. Quick training is available and the documentation of the meetings is simple.

Volunteers can observe whatever government agencies are of interest to them or the League. Our Observer Corps will attend meetings of the County Commissioners, city councils, township boards, library boards, and school boards. There are also meetings of other relevant entities such as planning commission, road commission, drain commission, etc.

Your observations become part of our League’s mission to educate voters. Observations can help us in planning for candidate forums or informational presentations to our community.

Sound interesting?  Contact us!

Background and References

In 1945, at the UN Charter Conference, the League of Women Voters was invited by President Harry Truman to serve as a consultant to the U.S. delegation. Since that time, the League has continued its presence at the United Nations through its one official and two alternate observers.

In July 1997, the League was granted Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which provides the opportunity to make interventions on issues the League supports. Consultative status allows the League to: make formal oral or written statements to the UN and be consulted by the UN in areas which the League has expertise. You can follow their work here.

Today, Leagues form the Observer Corps to help safeguard the public’s interests in our local governmental process. League members attend (often virtually) the meetings of local governing bodies (the library, the Board of County Commissioners, planning boards, the road commission, and others) where elected or appointed officials set budgets, decide policies or tackle issues that affect our daily lives. The work from the Corps informs our Candidate Forums each year, helps us stay in touch with issues that speak to our positions, connects us with our elected and appointed officials, and helps us keep you informed.