Volunteer with LWV Alameda

​As with donations, volunteer activities are fundamental to the success of the League. While volunteering requires time and effort, it also pays enormous dividends to the volunteer. Working shoulder to shoulder with other League members, volunteers pick up new skills and make new friends.

​Are you new to the Alameda community? The League of Women Voters of Alameda is a great place to get acquainted with the broader community in a civil atmosphere that welcomes diversity and respects differences of opinion. 

Be A Volunteer: Help Your Alameda Community 

As a trusted nonprofit, we provide voter services, promote good government, conduct youth civics programs, and host forums on election and community issues for all Alameda citizens. Do you want to help empower voters and defend democracy in Alameda with the LWV of Alameda? Join us and volunteer! ​

What Do LWV Volunteers Do?

To help you understand more specifically what we do, here are descriptions of our committees and the tasks they perform. You can join us and volunteer to help on one committee or more. To volunteer, complete the LWV of Alameda Volunteer Form, which is located on this page right below the information on our Youth Outreach committee. 

Want more information about volunteering with us? Email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
Action

Action Committee - League of Women Voters of Alameda

Election Information
The Action Committee will organize the writing of Pros and Cons for any local measures placed on the ballot and analyze the measures to see whether our League will take a position on them. For those where we take a position the Committee will write statements describing the measure and our position.

Money in Politics - Campaign Finance in Alameda
In 2015/16 Leagues throughout the country studied Money in Politics and a new national position was developed to support reform.  Following the success of the public forum on financing local elections in early 2018, the Action Committee reviewed the current position, recent state legislation and discussed activities to support changes in Alameda. We have now extracted data from the City’s new campaign disclosure reports to develop charts and graphs to educate the voters on financing local elections.

Good Government
District vs At Large Elections: The Committee will collect and analyze data from other local communities that have implemented district elections in contrast to at-large elections in order to present a forum in 2019.

Open Government Commission: The Alameda City Council passed a Sunshine Ordinance and established an Open Government Commission in 2011. The Action Committee will continue to monitor activities of the local government bodies to ensure that they comply with the Ordinance and good government practices.

Monitoring Local Measures from Elections
In 2019, the Action Committee will analyze local measures that were approved by voters and discuss whether there is any role for the League in monitoring them to ensure that they comply with the Ordinance and good government practices.
Communications

Communications Committee - League of Women Voters of Alameda

What We Do
  • Communicate the work of the League to our members and the community.  
  • Promote League of Women Voter of Alameda events.
  • Inform local voters about laws and policies.
  • Engage our community members in meaningful, respectful dialogue about matters that affect them.
  • Generate and manage publicity through our website, emails to members and friends, newspaper releases/ads, and social media.   

​Volunteer Opportunities
Join the Communications Committee or be a One Shot Wonder! Opportunities are listed below in order from the least amount of an estimated time commitment to the most.  

One Shot Wonder Jobs – Your choice of event(s) to help with.
  • Event Photographer - Snap 5-10 digital photos at a League event.
    Immediate opening for all interested.
    Time Commitment: less than 2 hours per event.

  • Town Crier - Post and distribute flyers for League events.
    Immediate opening for all interested.
    Time Commitment: less than 1 hour per event.  

​Communication Committee Jobs
  • Publicity Manager -  Place ads, letters to the editor, and calendar notices in local newspapers.
    Training provided.
    Immediate opening.
    Time commitment: 30 minutes about 10 times a year.

  • VOTER Editor – Gather League content (events, committee reports, etc.) and publish as our VOTER newsletter every two months.
    Training provided.
    Immediate opening for backup VOTER Editor.
    Time commitment: 10 hours every two months for one year.

  • Facebook Administrator - Post League events, League-related articles, and share advocacy alerts or news from the League.
    Training provided.
    Immediate opening.
    Time commitment: 1-2 hours a month for one year.

  • Graphic Artist - Create digital flyers and ads for League events.
    Training provided.
    Position currently filled.
    Time commitment: 1-3 hours about 10 times a year.

  • Website Manager – Post and update content to the League of Women Voters of Alameda website.
    Need HTML and CSS skills.
    Immediate opening. 
    Time commitment: 4 hours a month for one year.

  • Email Manager – Create and send email updates to League of Women Voters of Alameda friends and members
    Training provided.
    Position currently filled with full-time & backup Email Manager.
    Time commitment: 16 hours a month for one year.

Fundraising

Fundraising Committee - League of Women Voters of Alameda

Goals and Activities
• Produce the “Meet Your Public Officials” (MYPO) Annual Fundraiser; meet or beat previous years' attendance and revenue.
• Plan or facilitate other fundraising events, like Beer or Wine tastings at local breweries & wineries, special outings, etc.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • MYPO: attend all planning meetings and contribute your ideas!• MYPO: help with publicity, and solicit raffle and auction prizes prior to event;
  • MYPO: help with mailing to League of Women Voters of Alameda members with tickets, letters.
  • MYPO: need tons of help day of the event, i.e. set-up crew, sign-in tables, money managers, greeters, speed-date chaperones, raffle ticket sellers, bartenders, auction helpers, photographer, clean up crew and more!!!!
  • MYPO: be there, 5:30-7:30! Photography welcome, Facebook posts, Tweets.
  • Other events: Use your imagination, and bring your idea and plans to us!
Membership

Membership Committee - League of Women Voters of Alameda

Goals & Activities
Recruit new members, retain current members, and ensure that our valued members help support our mission of voter education and advocacy. Our membership will move toward reflecting our community in diversity and culture in age and gender.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • Join the committee (year-round) or volunteer for these specific activities.
  • Distribute membership brochures and place sign up sheets at League of Women Voters of Alameda forums, community events, venues in Alameda; talk to potential members about the League (ongoing). Set up & pick up banners, name tags at League events.
  • Give brief presentations about our League to local civic organizations, youth groups.
  • Meet with new members over coffee in informal League orientation sessions (once a month or as needed.)
  • “Adopt” one or two new members, introduce them to current members, keep members informed.
  • Manage and or assist with the Dec-Jan renewal drive with letters, e-mail, phone calls to members.
  • Open your home for informal get-togethers and conversations about League actions at the national, state and local levels, especially for new members (once or twice a year, as you wish.)
  • Plan events that could attract new members to reflect the diversity of Alameda.

When We Meet
Find us, the League of Women Voters of Alameda Membership Team at Alameda’s Nob Hill Grocery, near the Peet’s Coffee shop (which is located inside) at 10am, the second Wednesday of each month. 
Programs

Programs Committee - League of Women Voters of Alameda

Goals and Activities
The main objective of Programs is to further the education of members and non-members on issues supporting our national and state positions while also addressing local items of interest. Committee members assist with event topics, event planning, promotion, and attendee engagement. Programs range from film showings of topical issues to well-known political speaker panels. These events are held at various venues to increase attendance and League exposure at different demographic and geographic pockets within the community.

Throughout the year, the Programs Committee will:​
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  • Develop event planning structure, support other League of Women Voters of Alameda committees with their events and reduce duplication of effort and resources.
  • Foster relationships with venues, speakers, and co-sponsorship organizations.
  • Establish regular committee meetings & activities Through its diverse activities in presenting educational events and forums, the Programs Committee provides an excellent opportunity for members to serve, learn, and meet new people.

Six different programs will be held 6 times a year. For some events, Programs may pursue cosponsorship/co-partnership with groups aligned with our League positions on a topic of mutual interest. This has a dual benefit for us. One, it provides us greater exposure to other organizations and to new groups of local residents. Second, it helps to lower our overall cost in terms of labor and funding for these joint events versus hosting an event by ourselves.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • Social Media Butterfly enjoys taking photos along with posting and/or tweeting on Facebook & Twitter and willing to attend League events.

  • Event Wallflower likes going to meetings with other members to come up with action plans for future events, yet prefers to get stuff done on their computer rather than making phone calls, following up with others, etc. Assistant Cat Herder enjoys talking on the phone and likes to reach out to people to follow-up on event arrangements to confirm event details as well as contacting others involved. Also, helps with staying in touch with past co-sponsors, speakers, other local non-profits, etc. for future opportunities on public forums.

  • Event Elves are willing to help out as needed at events like set up, clean up, test microphone, pass out and collect question cards, etc. Elves will be on our A-List to get event dates & information on opportunities to volunteer but do not need to go to committee meetings.
Voter Services

Voter Services - League of Women Voters of Alameda

Goals and Activities
Help educate citizens so they can learn more about the electoral process, make informed choices, and get involved in government. This is the heart and soul of the League, and this critical committee needs many helping hands!

Volunteer Opportunities
  • Voter Forums. During election seasons, we hold community forums to provide voters with question and answer sessions with local candidates, and explain the pros and cons of state, regional, and city ballot measures.

  • Affidavits and Voter Materials. We distribute affidavits regularly, and Easy Voter Guides during election seasons, to public sites in Alameda.

  • Voter Registration. We staff tables to register voters all League of Women Voter of Alameda events, and staff a table or information booth to register voters at local community events.
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  • Voter’s Edge. This is a League of Women Voters of California and Map Light partnered website that offers comprehensive candidate and ballot information to California voters.
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During election seasons, we update this website with information on local candidates and ballot initiatives. 
Youth Outreach

Youth Outreach Committee - League of Women Voters of Alameda

Established in 2015, the League of Women Voters of Alameda Youth Outreach Committee recruits young members to become informed, engaged, and valued participants in our historic mission of voter education, advocacy, and making democracy work.

Goals and Activities
The primary goal of the Youth Outreach Committee is to work on the annual League of Women Voters of Alameda High School Debate Scholarship Program, which will take place in the spring. The program engages the Alameda High Schools to promote creative thinking, enhance knowledge of civics, and encourage students to become active participants in the democratic process. Youth Outreach Committee members will also take part in League of Women Voters of Alameda’s High School Voter Registration Program which occurs in the spring at the Alameda High Schools.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • Work with Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) administrators and teachers to gain an understanding of requirements as related to preparing students to debate.

  • Work with community and institutional partners, including the College of Alameda and Girls Incorporated of the Island City, as related to preparing students to debate.

  • Construct a debate format and rules of engagement to be submitted to AUSD administrators and the LWVA Board for approval.

  • Select a League Position or Issue to be debated using the League’s pros and cons tool.

  • Write and submit grant-funding requests to potential funders, including Bank of Marin, Alameda Rotary Club, Golden Leaf Energy, and others.
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  • ​Work with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, AUSD administrators, and teachers to provide our High School Voter Registration Program at various high schools. ​​

Volunteer - LWV of Alameda Board of Directors

Nominations are closed for the 2020-2021 year, but it is not too early to think about joining our Board of Directors next summer!

You may review the job descriptions below.

The next full set of elections will be held at the Annual Meeting in June of 2021. All terms will last one year and begin on 1 July 2021. LWV of Alameda members may apply or nominate other members (with their permission) to “make a difference." 

​To learn more, contact our Nominating Committee.