LWV Duluth Observer Corps Program
If you are looking for a way to become involved in local government, consider the possibility of participation in the League of Women Voters of Duluth Observer Corps.
What is the LWV Observer Corps?
The League has been a champion of government transparency since our founding in 1920. It is one of our core principles and a vital part of our mission. Our efforts in this area reinforce our reputation of fairness, nonpartisanship, and trust.
Protecting our right to know is integral to the health of our democracy. Decisions that determine how our schools will be run, at what level community safety programs will be funded, and how land in our towns will be used to impact our lives are vital to our well-being. These kinds of decisions need to be made with public input and oversight. One important way to ensure that is to observe government meetings. Experience has shown the importance of the League being present to watch—and to take action when necessary.
What does an LWV Observer do?
An observer is an individual who attends a governmental meeting, notes what happens at the meeting, and reports back to the League. By attending public meetings of local governmental bodies/agencies, observers learn more about what their government is doing. They learn about the issues facing their community and are empowered to take action if warranted. They also learn how issues are being addressed. Observers keep elected and appointed officials on notice; they let them know that someone is watching what decisions are being made and how they are being made. They help ensure that the issues facing their community are being addressed “in the sunshine, in the open.”
Observers submit a written report from each meeting for publication in the LWV Duluth Voter. Please submit reports to
[email protected]
LWV Observer Guidelines
To protect the credibility of the Observer Corps, the local League, and the LWV generally, observers must not actively participate in the substance of the governmental entity they are observing.
• An observer can never be a member of the governmental body they observe. In fact, League members who serve as elected officials should not serve as an observer for any other governmental entity while in office. League members who serve as appointed officials should confer with their local league board before serving as an observer of other governmental entities.
• Observers should not comment as a League member on issues deliberated by the governmental body they observe, particularly during the meetings observed. League comments should be presented by a different League member. Comments as a private citizen could be made at a time and manner separate from any role as observer.
• Observers should function separately from any advocacy efforts made by the local League to the governmental entity being observed.
• Observers should not engage the press about the governmental entity they observe.
If you are interested in becoming an observer, please contact Sue Henke {[email protected], 218-340-9383} for more information about what is expected of an observer. It is not usually a major consumer of time, most governmental units only meet once a month for an hour or two. It’s a worthwhile use of time for yourself and your community.
Background Information:
Observing Your Government in Action
Open & Public IV: A Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act
Tools for LWV Duluth Observers
Observer Report Format - LWV Duluth.docx
Guidelines for Government Agency Observers.docx
LWV Duluth focus areas 2024.docx
Observer Training Video Feb 8 2024.htm
Additional Resources
Observer-IntroLetter-Template.docx
Observer-Assign-Template.docx
What is the LWV Observer Corps?
The League has been a champion of government transparency since our founding in 1920. It is one of our core principles and a vital part of our mission. Our efforts in this area reinforce our reputation of fairness, nonpartisanship, and trust.
Protecting our right to know is integral to the health of our democracy. Decisions that determine how our schools will be run, at what level community safety programs will be funded, and how land in our towns will be used to impact our lives are vital to our well-being. These kinds of decisions need to be made with public input and oversight. One important way to ensure that is to observe government meetings. Experience has shown the importance of the League being present to watch—and to take action when necessary.
What does an LWV Observer do?
An observer is an individual who attends a governmental meeting, notes what happens at the meeting, and reports back to the League. By attending public meetings of local governmental bodies/agencies, observers learn more about what their government is doing. They learn about the issues facing their community and are empowered to take action if warranted. They also learn how issues are being addressed. Observers keep elected and appointed officials on notice; they let them know that someone is watching what decisions are being made and how they are being made. They help ensure that the issues facing their community are being addressed “in the sunshine, in the open.”
Observers submit a written report from each meeting for publication in the LWV Duluth Voter. Please submit reports to
[email protected]
LWV Observer Guidelines
To protect the credibility of the Observer Corps, the local League, and the LWV generally, observers must not actively participate in the substance of the governmental entity they are observing.
• An observer can never be a member of the governmental body they observe. In fact, League members who serve as elected officials should not serve as an observer for any other governmental entity while in office. League members who serve as appointed officials should confer with their local league board before serving as an observer of other governmental entities.
• Observers should not comment as a League member on issues deliberated by the governmental body they observe, particularly during the meetings observed. League comments should be presented by a different League member. Comments as a private citizen could be made at a time and manner separate from any role as observer.
• Observers should function separately from any advocacy efforts made by the local League to the governmental entity being observed.
• Observers should not engage the press about the governmental entity they observe.
If you are interested in becoming an observer, please contact Sue Henke {[email protected], 218-340-9383} for more information about what is expected of an observer. It is not usually a major consumer of time, most governmental units only meet once a month for an hour or two. It’s a worthwhile use of time for yourself and your community.
Background Information:
Observing Your Government in Action
Open & Public IV: A Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act
Tools for LWV Duluth Observers
Observer Report Format - LWV Duluth.docx
Guidelines for Government Agency Observers.docx
LWV Duluth focus areas 2024.docx
Observer Training Video Feb 8 2024.htm
Additional Resources
Observer-IntroLetter-Template.docx
Observer-Assign-Template.docx