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Month: May 2010

Initiative goldrush: a record 77 filed (so far)

Initiative goldrush: a record 77 filed (so far)

Washington’s initiative process is going gangbusters this year.  We’ve easily broken the previous record for most initiatives filed in a single year, with 77 filed already, eclipsing the 60 filed in 2003 and the 57 in 2008. We could easily meet or beat the record for most initiatives making the ballot, too, since  well-heeled individuals and groups are sponsoring some of these measures and presumably can afford to hire paid signature-gatherers in heavy enough numbers to make the ballot.  It…

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From Your Corner of Washington: Everett

From Your Corner of Washington: Everett

Located along Puget Sound about 30 miles north of Seattle, the Snohomish County seat was well known for being a lumber mill town. It also was home of Henry “Scoop” Jackson, who served in the U.S. House from 1941 until 1953, and in the U.S. Senate from 1953 until his death in 1983. Nowadays, Everett is renowned for its Boeing plant (featuring the world’s largest building by volume), where the 787 Dreamliner had its maiden flight last December. How did…

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WSL Updates for May 13, 2010

WSL Updates for May 13, 2010

Volume 6, May 13, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) MARKETING 101 – PR FOR NON-PROFESSIONALS 2) HOW VALUABLE IS YOUR LIBRARY? 3) MORE TRAINING FOR DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS 4) WEBINAR EXPLORES BENEFITS OF PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS 5) REVISED STANDARDS FOR SERVICE TO YOUNG ADULTS 6) TRENDS IN TEEN LIT – THE INDEPENDENT VIEW 7) DIGITAL PHOTO MANAGEMENT FOR LIBRARIES 8) THE FUTURE IS MOBILE – IS YOUR LIBRARY READY?

Gregoire leaving? Then what?

Gregoire leaving? Then what?

Amid speculation that Governor Gregoire could be President Obama’s pick for U.S. Solicitor General , our elections folks are getting bombarded with questions about succession, special elections and so forth. Here is an internal memo from Elections Director Nick Handy and Assistant Director Katie Blinn: “If the Governor were to resign, the following would apply. The “duties of the office shall devolve upon the  Lieutenant Governor” without any action by anyone. If the Governor were to resign May 31 or…

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The Road to Women’s Suffrage: 1877

The Road to Women’s Suffrage: 1877

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage in Washington. Leading up to the centennial, which is in November, we are sharing some tidbits about the fight for women’s right to vote in Washington, and how it was finally won. In 1877 the Washington Territorial Legislature passed a law allowing tax-paying women to vote in school elections, reflecting a belief that women had a “sphere” that included home and family matters.

Governor Richard D. Gholson

Governor Richard D. Gholson

From the desk of Judy Pitchford Richard D. Gholson was Washington’s 3rd Territorial Governor serving from July 1859  to sometime in 1861, though he reportedly returned to his home state of Kentucky on a six month leave of absence in May 1860, never to return to Washington. Though he was only in Washington for 11 months, two important events did occur – the “Pig War” of 1859 on San Juan Island and the capture of the schooners Ellen Maria and…

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Reed: Thumb’s up for all-mail voting

Reed: Thumb’s up for all-mail voting

Secretary Reed is a big fan of the state’s embrace of vote-by-mail – and is urging Congress to help voters in other states have the same option. Reed, now in his 10th year as Washington’s chief elections officer, has been impressed with how well-received this reform has been, implemented over time and without a mandate from Olympia.  In recent testimony prepared for the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Reed endorsed legislation by both of Oregon’s senators and Washington Sen….

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Honoring letter-writing champions

Honoring letter-writing champions

What do Little House on the Prairie, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Elegant Universe have in common? They are the books chosen by the three Washington students honored in Olympia as the state champions in the national Letters About Literature contest. Reagan Nelson (middle) of Spokane, Stephen Hitchcock (right) of Woodinville and Tyler Christensen (left) of Snoqualmie were honored in Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office by Reed, State Librarian Jan Walsh and Guy Lamolinara of the…

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Youth Academy gives back to the community

Youth Academy gives back to the community

Secretary Reed visited the  Washington Youth Academy in Bremerton, and gave a presentation on community service and encouraged students to get involved in small ways.  His theme, “Find Your One Thing,” inspires citizens to give back to their communites, state and country just one single action and small step at a time to make a difference.  Students at the Academy are familiar with community service since it takes at least 40 service hours to graduate from the program.  Although, many students volunteer more…

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Elections 101: Honors and back to school

Elections 101: Honors and back to school

Capping this year’s Washington State Elections Conference, Secretary Reed presented two big awards before about 220 county auditors and other state and county elections officials. The Voter Outreach Award went to Shirley Forslof, who has been Whatcom County Auditor since 1988. Reed and State Elections Director Nick Handy praised Forslof for working well with the county’s voter activist communities, participating in the state’s college civics program and for working closely with the county’s higher education communities. “Shirley is an excellent…

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