Committees/Teams

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Our Committees are how we organize for success. They’re made up of members and volunteers – we encourage all of our members to join a Committee to get connected to our work. If you're thinking about joining a Committee, send the Chair an email or attend one of their meetings to learn more.

Social Policy
socialpolicy@lwvsantabarbara.org

Chair: Pamela Flynt Tambo

Meetings: Called as needed

Join us to research, learn, and take action on issues such as behavioral wellness, access to housing, homelessness, reproductive rights, immigration, and more. We coordinate with the other LWVSB standing committees on issues of mutual interest. You can help us study, form positions, write letters and speak at public hearings. We also coordinate with other community organizations working on health care, criminal justice, immigration, and important social issues and services.

Criminal Justice
socialpolicy@lwvsantabarbara.org

Chair: Gail Osherenko

Meetings: Please email if you are interested in participating.

The Criminal Justice task force is a collaborative effort of our League and the local branch of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). We work to eliminate injustices in the jail system and law enforcement practices, reduce the number of people in our two county jails who do not present a risk to the community as well as those with mental illness who would be better served in the community.

In 2021, our County jails were ordered to comply with terms of a stipulated court order to remodel, reconfigure, renovate, or provide new construction to “ensure the protection of the constitutional and legal rights of people incarcerated in the Santa Barbara County Jail system and who are qualified individuals with disabilities as defined under relevant federal and state law.” Compliance with the court order has been slow and incomplete, hence the parties agreed in August 2023 to a new timetable to be completed by 2029.

Our task force is tracking the progress of our Sheriff and County in meeting the requirements of this order. We invite you to work with us as we focus on humane treatment and rehabilitation with the goal of addressing human needs in the community and promoting the successful reentry into communities of those who have been incarcerated.

Communications
vpcommunications@lwvsantabarbara.org

Chair: Vicki Allen

Meetings: The Tuesday before each month's Board meeting at 2:00 pm. Check the Calendar for details.

Join us to spread the word about our mission, Community Forums and other events, state and national action alerts, and League positions on important issues. You can expand LWVSB’s connections, networks, and communications on social media and contribute articles and photos to our email newsletter and our website. Help us reach out to the wider community.

Environmental Action Committee
enviroaction@lwvsantabarbara.org

Co-Chairs: Joanie Jones, Colin Jones & Ann Bailey

Meetings: 2nd Friday of each month, 10:30 am. Check the Calendar for details.

Climate Crisis
The latest scientific assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change again highlighted the urgency to act. The damage of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions is already extensive and caused mainly by human activities. Unless stronger action is taken now to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, it will take many more years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, thus, the adverse impacts and related losses will escalate exponentially.

Environmental Issues
Santa Barbara County is a unique place distinguished not only by tremendous natural beauty, but also its history of effective conservation measures and land and ocean management. However, with the new realities of climate change, along with an increasing population and substantial land use changes, the pressure on natural resources poses serious challenges to California residents and their environment.

The Environmental Action Committee supports the urgency to act to mitigate climate change and the decline of our natural resources. We monitor and advocate for the prevention of climate threats such as extreme heat, wildfires, floods, and coastal problems by California legislative, Santa Barbara area local government, and agency actions. We support creative transportation solutions and efficient use of alternative energy resources. We seek healthy agricultural and land use practices, enhanced water and air quality, and biodiversity stability. In addressing the climate crisis and the health of our natural resources, the goal of our Committee is to promote the economic wellbeing and resilience of our communities while ensuring environmental justice for all.

Please join us if you are passionate about participating in any of these efforts.

Housing
housing@lwvsantabarbara.org

Co-Chairs: Whitney Rubison & Megan Turley

Meetings: 3rd Friday of each month from Noon to 1:00 pm. Check the Calendar for details.

This Committee focuses on the growing affordability housing crisis in the South Coast. We aim to monitor, educate on and advocate for housing that is affordable to our moderate- and lower-income workforce and vulnerable households. We believe that people who work in our community should be able to live here and that inequities in the production of housing across all income levels requires an infusion of public attention and resources. We pay special attention to policies at the County and city-level that aim to increase affordable housing production, preserve existing affordable housing and protect households from eviction. Please join us in making a difference on this critical community issue –all points of view are welcome regardless of expertise. Just passion and a can-do attitude is all that is required.

Book Club - Overbooked
bookclub@lwvsantabarbara.org

Co-Chairs: Elaine Rudin and Janet O’Laughlin

Meetings: Thursdays, every 4 to 6 weeks. Check the Calendar for details.

The purpose of the club is to help members and friends stay current on League issues and to engage in thoughtful discussions of important topics. All are welcome. Book Club Selections may be available at the Public Library, so that you can read for free.

Membership Team
membership@lwvsantabarbara.org

Membership Team: Judy Eisenhauer, Gail Fairburn, Joanie Jones and Janice Rorick

Meetings: Dates and times vary as needed.

This essential Committee manages and builds member engagement. You can help by attending and inviting your friends to our Community Forums, provide them with opportunities to learn more about the League, help host orientation meetings for new members, and plan just-for-fun events so that new and existing members can meet and get to know each other better.

Join us!

Voter Service
VoterService@lwvsantabarbara.org

Co-Chairs: Daniel Gonzalez and Claire VanBlaricum

Meetings: Dates and times vary as needed.

You can help us make democracy work by joining the Voter Service Team. Here’s where the rubber meets the road - voter education and registration. You are needed for voter registration drives and to distribute copies of the League’s Easy Voter Guides (in both English and Spanish!) prior to each major election.

You also can help us set up Candidate Forums, Pros & Cons Forums where we discuss the state propositions that will appear on everyone's ballot, and contribute to VotersEdge.org - the website with information on candidates running for election. We discuss upcoming elections, Candidate Forums, and voter registration events we are planning.

Nominating Committee
nominating@lwvsantabarbara.org

Chair: Peth Pitton-August

Members: Daniel Gonzalez, Sherry Holland, Joanie Jones, Donna Will

Every year, the Nominating Committee is responsible for finding candidates for vacancies on the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee, the Leadership Team, and other offices. Although candidates are not voted on until the annual meeting in May or June, the Committee works throughout the year to identify candidates from a diverse set of backgrounds. To provide the Committee with many perspectives, the members of the Nominating Committee seek input and solicit nominations from all members. Please reach out to the Committee with your ideas!

Observer Corps

observercorps@lwvsantabarbara.org

Meetings: The LWVSB Observer Corp is not currently active, but we are seeking members who are interested in revitalizing it.

Observers serve as the “eyes and ears” of the League at selected government agencies such as the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and School Boards. As a member of this Corps, you will report to the Board to keep them alert to possible actions needed to support League positions. Additional volunteers are needed to observe City Council, Board, and Commission meetings in Carpinteria, Goleta, and Santa Barbara.

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