What is Observer Corps?

Observer Corps (OC), a long-standing LWV program, was re-established by our League for a one-year pilot in 2021.  Members who participated in the pilot felt our League  benefitted from connecting with and learning more about the work of local government, so our Observer Corps has continued as an active committee open to all LWVLA members.  
(See below for current OC assignments.)

What are the LWVLA goals for Observer Corps?

• Promote open, transparent and accessible local governance
• Learn about local issues, initiatives and governmental processes
• Inform LWVLA voter education and issue advocacy efforts

What do Observer Corps members do?  

• Choose a city, county, or school district entity to observe
• Complete a report on the processes and business of this entity
• Attend the monthly OC meeting for discussion of observations
• Make recommendations to the Program Committee and/or the Board of Directors for further study or advocacy

Please let us know if you are interested in observing a La Crosse area committee, council, or board. 

Contact Us  

League “observer corps” or monitoring programs are not new. Many Leagues across the country have had programs in place for decades. The goal of this publication is to document how these programs work, as well as to describe the benefits that accrue to the League as well as the public. We have compiled some “best practices” as well as provided information about how these programs can contribute to the vitality of the League.... I hope that this guide will be a valuable resource for Leagues and other community members as we all continue the vital work to keep government open and accessible to the public. Click below to read the LWV resource guide, "Observing Your Government in Action."