We have a “Board of the Whole” so all members are welcome to attend. Please look for an email sent to members prior to each Board Meeting. If you are not a member and would like to attend as a guest please email: lwvpull@yahoo.com

This meeting is open to the public!

Together, let’s make this year count.

Big ideas start with great conversations! Join us for our Annual Planning Meeting as we brainstorm programs, events, and opportunities to strengthen our community and empower voters in the year ahead.

Bring your favorite salad, finger food, or dessert to share, and come ready to connect, collaborate, and help shape the year ahead. Whether you’re a longtime member or just curious about getting involved, your ideas matter. We hope to see you there!

When: Thursday, August 6, 2026, 5:00 PM

Where: Kat Odell’s House in Pullman

Let’s plan, laugh, and eat together, and turn ideas into action.

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Monthly Board Meetings will be in-person on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 9:30-11:30 am. The location will be Neill’s Coffee Shop on Main St. in Pullman unless otherwise announced.

We have a “Board of the Whole” so all members are welcome to attend. Please look for an email sent to members prior to each Board Meeting. If you are not a member and would like to attend as a guest please email: lwvpull@yahoo.com

Program Description:

All qualified candidates for the 2026 U.S. House of Representatives Primary, Washington’s 5th Congressional District were invited to participate in this candidate forum.

The forum was open to all qualified candidates. Invitations were extended to every qualified candidate, and participation was voluntary. The candidates in bold on the list below attend the forum. The forum was recorded and is availbe to watch on the LWVPullman YouTube channel.

Date and Time: Monday, July 13th at 6:30 pm

Place: Pullman Recreation Center, Room 100, 190 SE Crestview, Building B, next to City Hall, Room 100 is on the lower level next to gym and Senior Center.

Candidates for the 2026 U.S. House of Representatives Primary, Washington’s 5th Congressional District are as follows:

Michael Baumgartner (Incumbent - R)

Andrew Bartleson (I)

Carmela Conroy (D)

Ann Marie Danimus (I)

Kevin Fagan (D)

Richard Freudenberg (D)

Matthew Hayes (I)

Bajun R Malalwalla (D)

Michael McGarr (D)

Nate Powell (I)

Kyle Ursey(I)

David Womack (D)

Ballots will be mailed starting on July 17th. Election Day is August 4th. We recommend using an official ballot drop box. If you choose to mail your ballot, mail it at least 10 days before Election Day. Please make sure you sign your ballot.

Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Location: Community Congregational United Church of Christ, 525 NE Campus St, Pullman

All members of the Pullman League are cordially invited to our Annual Business Meeting. It is very important that you attend if possible as a quorum is required. Friends of League are welcome as fresh ideas and new energy are always valued and appreciated.

We will focus on the 2026-2027 Budget, Officers, and Bylaws, and review some successes from the last year.

Please join us with your presence, thoughts, and a dish to share.

Program:

The Nez Perce Tribe’s Education Department is dedicated to promoting the well-being of the Nimiipuu people—a mission that takes different forms across Idaho and Washington. At the recent presentation, Nez Perce education manager Joyce McFarland shared insights into the current state of tribal education, while attorney Jeanette Moody explored the vital topics of tribal sovereignty and treaties.

Historically, Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) lands extended across what are now Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Recognizing the importance of this history to our region, the League of Women Voters of Pullman hosted the program to deepen community understanding of Nimiipuu culture and heritage. The strong attendance reflected a shared interest in learning and connection.

While the speakers offered valuable perspectives, they emphasized that they were sharing their own knowledge and experiences, not speaking on behalf of the tribe as a whole. Looking ahead, the Nez Perce Education Department hopes to expand its efforts to include a language immersion school, helping preserve and strengthen the Nimiipuu language for future generations.

Speakers:

• Joyce McFarland - Nez Perce Education Manager

• Jeanette Moody - Nez Perce Attorney

Coordinator: Theresa Jordan

Date: April 4, 2026

Time: 10:30 am

Location: Neill Public Library, Pullman

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Program:

The Pullman League of Women Voters as we explored entrepreneurship in Whitman County on Tuesday, March 10,2026, at Paradise Creek Brewery in Pullman! The speakers were well versed in this topic. Marie Mayes, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at WSU, discussed what makes a successful founder, current startup trends, and recent successful startups she has witnessed. Kara Riebold, the Executive Director at the Port of Whitman County, discussed the Port of Whitman County and the work they do to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the county. This event was also available over Zoom and it was recorded - unfortunately the sound on the recording is not great due to lots of background noise.

Speakers:

• Kara Riebold - Executive Director of the Port of Whitman County

Kara Riebold first joined the Port 13 years ago as a grant writer. She held the roles of Broadband Director and Finance Director before being named Executive Director in 2022. Kara is a proud Cougar alum receiving both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Washington State University. She makes her home near Almota with her husband and two children. 

• Marie Mayes - Interim Director, Center For Entrepreneurship, Associate Professor (Career Track), Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship, Carson College of Business, WSU

Marie Mayes is the Interim Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and an Associate Professor (Career Track) at the Carson College of Business at Washington State University. In her role as Director, she fosters entrepreneurial engagement, scholarship, and dialogue across the university. In May of 2026, Marie will transition into the role of Chair of the Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship Department. Marie teaches courses in Launching New Ventures, New Venture Planning, and Innovation. Beyond her work at WSU, she maintains a consulting business and participates as an angel investor.

Coordinator: Lennis Boyer

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 7:00-8:30 pm

Location: Paradise Creek Brewery, 245 SE Paradise St, Pullman

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Coordinators: Fran Powers, Andrea Kirchner-Loewus, and Desiree Greystone

Program: Calling all students and families!

Curious about the League’s Visual Arts Competition but not sure where to start? Come check out Where Civics Meets Art and turn big ideas about community, government, and citizenship into creative inspiration!

Don’t just think about civics…let’s make art.

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Time: 6:00-7:30 pm

Location: Greystone Art Gallery, 245 S Grand Ave, Pullman

RSVP: Please RSVP Here!

6:00 - 6:15 PM Meet and Greet at the Greystone Grand Gallery

6:15 - 6:40 PM Meet your local government with a presentation from the League of Women Voters

6:45 - 7:30 PM Where Civics Meets Art - Brainstorming with artist, Desiree Greystone.

“I’m just a kid. How do I use my voice to make a difference in my community? What does that look like visually? Let’s explore that together.”

The visual arts competition is for all students in grades 3 to 12 living in Whitman County, WA. Students will have until March 31st to enter their artwork.

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Don’t miss this special exhibit at the Libey Gallery in the Whitman County Library in Colfax still on display through June.

Carolyn and Cheryl had fun times displaying artwork as part of the May 16th Downtown Pullman Art Walk and for the exhibition in the Libey Gallery for the month of June!

The Artists’ Reception highlights are live on our League’s YouTube Channel. Click here to view the YouTube video

Thankful for the students for participating in the program (watch the YouTube) and for the committee that worked hard to pull off another successful civics education program. Committee members in top photo from left to right: Lennis, Sutton, Deb, Kat, Carolyn, Crow, Andrea, Fran, Kimberly.

CLICK HERE for a presentation of all the “90% Happens Locally” Artworks

Here are some photos of the winning artists with their artwork, the special Choice Award winners, and the awards tables.

Grateful to have had Pullman Girl Scout Troop 3210 participate in posting the colors at the start of the event.

Welcome to the 2026 Visual Arts Program

The 5th Annual Visual Arts Competition theme has offically been launched. This program is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Pullman’s Education Fund which serves all of Whitman County. The program is supported by Neill Public and Whitman County Libraries.

LWV Visual Arts Competition Committee: Carolyn Joswig-Jones (Chair), Lennis Boyer, Deb Olson, Kat Odell, Sutton Mooney, Crowe Gammons, Fran Powers, and Kimberly Thompson

90% Happens Locally

Between state, county, and city governments, most of the decisions that affect your daily lives happen close to home. This year’s competition highlights the power of our voices, our votes, and our actions to create change in our own communities.

Purpose: This art competition invites students in grades 3–12 living in Whitman County to showcase their artistic talents while learning about local government. The LWV is a nonpartisan organization, and, as part of our civics education program this year, we want to encourage students to explore how local government shapes daily life and imagine the change they can create close to home.

Eligibility:

1. Participant must be in grades 3 - 12.
2. Participant must be a resident of Whitman County.
3. Participant must fill out an entry form completely with a parent/legal guardian signature and physical copy of artwork turned in.

Rules:

1. Participants must read the Educational Program Summary and ensure their art is respectful and relevant to the theme.
2. Artwork will be separated into three grade groups: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12.
3. Artwork must be an original piece, completed entirely by the participant. Only one entry per student.
4. Art materials may include the following: crayons, pencils, colored pencils, markers, pens, ink, pastels, paints, charcoal, collages, photography, mixed media, digital media, clay, plaster, wood, stone, cloth, cardboard, natural material, etc. Artwork may not be videos or images in-motion.
5. 2-Dimensional artwork is not to exceed the size of 11 x 17 inches. 3-Dimensional artwork is not to exceed 1 cubic foot.
6. No names, including the artist or artwork title, are to appear on the front of the completed artwork.
7. The entry form must be filled out completely and accompany the artwork.
8. Judges will evaluate artwork based on creative interpretation of the theme.
9. The Visual Arts Competition Committee or the selected judges may disqualify entries if any of the listed rules are not followed.
10. By signing the entry form, you are granting the LWV of Pullman/Whitman County full rights to use the physical artwork and photos of artists with their artwork for social media and educational purposes.

Prizes:

Multiple winners will be awarded prizes within each grade grouping. The winning prizes will be $50 to spend at local businesses and a copy of the LWVWA civics textbook, The State We’re In: Washington.

Educational Program Summary:

All participants must read the Educational Program Summary and ensure their art is respectful and relevant to the theme. Please click here for the Educational Program Summary

How to Enter:

Our preferred method for entering is for students and parents to use the online entry form. If it is not possible to enter online, one may submit their artwork with a signed paper version of the entry form.

• Click here to Enter Online
• Click here to print a Paper Version of the Entry Form

Submit artwork with an attached copy of the completed/signed entry form by either method below:

Drop-off:
Neill Public Library in Pullman or Whitman County Library in Colfax

Mail:
League of Women Voters of Pullman
P.O. Box 366 Pullman, WA 99163
ATTN: Art Contest

Deadline for submissions: March 31, 2026

Winners will be notified by April 11th.

An artists’ reception will be held on Saturday, April 18, 12:00 p.m. at Neill Public Library in Pullman.

Please email if you have any questions. lwvpullmanvacc@gmail.com

Theme Related Civics Education Materials

The League has a small group of trained volunteers available to provide in-person or Zoom civics presentations of up to one hour between February 17 through March 15. These presentations are aligned with the competition theme and are available for classrooms, after-school programs, or other student groups living in Whitman County in grades 3-12. Click here to fill out the Presentation Request Form and we will do our best to get you scheduled.

Click here for the Google Slide Presentation

Click here for a PDF of the Slide Presentation

Click here for the Supplemental Material for the Slide Presentation

Additional Resources

City of Pullman - Government Website
Whitman County - Government Website
LWVWA Textbook Free Digital Downloads including Grades 7-12 and Spanish versions of The State We’re In: Washington

Art Competition Flyers:

• Click here for the Art Competition Flyer
• Click here for promotional poster
• Click here for promotional quarter sheet flyers

Judges

The judges are appointed by the LWV of Pullman (Whitman County). The judges evaluate the submitted artwork using a Rubric scoring system with the following criteria.

Relevance to the theme: Development of theme through creativity. How well does artwork depict theme.

Visual effectiveness: Overall appearance. Evidence of planning and preparation.

Originality: Uniqueness of ideas.

Message: Clearly describes the artist’s intent.

Click here for the Panel of Judges for 2026

Publications about the competition

Power of Our Voices, Votes, Actions to Create Change- an article in the LWV of Washington NewsLetter - In League Newsletter, Feb 17, 2026

Pullman Art Competition for Youth Prompts Valued Talk About Civics- an article in the LWV of Washington NewsLetter - The Evergreen Voter, Feb 3, 2026

Past Competitions

2025 Visual Arts Competition Native America and the USA: Honoring the legal, federal, and cultural relationship between Native America and the USA while highlighting Native resilience, sovereignty,and modern identity.

2024 Visual Arts Competition Why Does Voting Matter?

2023 Visual Arts Competition Earth Art: Civics and the Natural World are connected.

2022 Visual Arts Competition What Does Democracy look like to you?

Please email if you have any questions. lwvpullmanvacc@gmail.com

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Coordinators: Tricia Grantham and Kat Odell

Join us for our December board meeting where we’ll take care of business and enjoy a festive cookie exchange. Bring a plate of your favorite treats to share—homemade or store-bought, all are welcome!

Let’s wrap up the year with good company, good conversation, and very good cookies.

Saturday, Dec 13th, at 9:30-11:30 am. All members will be emailed meeting location.

We have a “Board of the Whole” so all members are encouraged to attend. If you are not a member and would like to attend as a guest please email for more information. lwvpull@yahoo.com

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