What is the LWV Observer Corps?

Observer Corps is the eyes and ears of the League and a function of the League that all members can take part in. 

Observers are individuals who attend local government meetings, take notes, and report back to the League and to the community.  League members who participate in Observer Corps learn how government works and about issues that are or may become items for local study and action. Consistent League presence at local government meetings also adds to the League’s visibility and credibility.

Observer Corps:

• helps ensure that citizens are aware of decisions that impact their lives – how those decisions are made and how citizens can have input on those decisions;

• promotes government transparency and accountability; and

• helps Local Leagues tie their program planning and advocacy work to timely issues that are relevant to their community.

For more information about Observer Corps, see the national League resource guide, Observing Your Government in Action.

Go to Observer Corps Resources
Sign up for the LWVSCTX Observer Corps

LWV Of South Central Texas’ Observer Corp

Observer Corps is a core program for our League and an important way for League members to help us build relationships with elected officials in our five county area, and spot opportunities for our League to be an effective contributor to the civic fabric of our community.

We are seeking observers for meetings of elected bodies in our five-county area. This includes meetings such as each county’s Commissioner’s Court, City Councils, School Boards, Hospital District Boards and Water District Boards. We are hoping to identify at least two volunteers to attend each type of meeting as a team – thus two people from Yoakum would attend City Council meetings together or, more people are interested, teams could alternate attending meetings. As a team, two volunteers can talk about what they observed and complete a questionnaire provided by the League to help document the meeting. 

Being an Observer doesn't require a big commitment of time. With so many meetings now offered via Facebook Live or Zoom, you may be able to easily observe your designated group from home. This is a great way to volunteer for something that works with your already-full life, increases your knowledge of how your government is working, and helps the League fulfill its mission of empowering voters and defending democracy.

Check out Observer Corps Resources
Sign up for the LWVSCTX Observer Corps

What Is An Observer? What Does An Observer Do?

An observer is an individual who attends a governmental meeting, notes what happens at the meeting, and reports back to the League and through the League to the community. 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 learn how issues are being addressed.

Observers also 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 handled “in the sunshine,” in the open. Ideally, observers are monitoring both the issues being discussed as well as the process by which they are being discussed. While not every item up for discussion will relate to a League’s priorities, ensuring that the meeting is being conducted in an open and acceptable way is critical to the League’s efforts and the health of our democracy.

Observer programs are not vehicles for individuals to work on personal or partisan agendas. Observers generally do not “act” on issues in these meetings unless serving as a designated spokesperson for the League, observers should not provide commentary or testimony on issues on behalf of the League. Instead, observers attend meetings to gather information. Through the process, their presence encourages better, more transparent government.

Check out Observer Corps Resources

What Happens with Observer Corp Observations?

Quarterly, volunteer Observers will meet to share what they learned and talk together about possible next steps. Some actions that  Observers might recommend to LWV SCTX Leadership Team include (but are not limited to) are:

• Sending thank-you notes to various elected bodies to acknowledge citizen-friendly meeting processes that result in meetings that are welcoming to citizens, where agenda and “how to participate” information is readily available, and public comments are handled respectfully.

• Requesting a meeting with an elected official to share concerns and offer suggestions.

• Convening a study team to learn more about an issue or plan a public information meeting on an issue.

• Writing an article for local newspapers about an issue or practice.

The goal here is to use what is learned to encourage more citizen-participation-friendly meetings of elected officials and to encourage citizens to be informed about community issues - not to chastise or embarrass.

Check out our Observer Corps Resources
Sign up for the LWVSCTX Observer Corps

Sign Up to be an LWVSCTX Observer!

Peruse the varioius meetings you can observe in your county. You'll find the meeting name, meeting day/time, meeting location, link to the entity's webpage, and who is observing this group:
Colorado County
De Witt County
Fayette County
Gonzales County
Lavaca County

Sign Up to be a League Observer! This simple online form will ask you to check the meeting you would like to observe. We'll follow up to help you get started!

If there is a meeting you would like to observe but it is not on any of the sign up sheets above please let us know by filling out this short form. Missing Meeting for Observer Corps

Check out our Observer Corps Resource area

For more information, contact Janis Richardson.

Observer Corps Resources

For general information:

LWVUS's resource guide, Observing Your Government in Action

Open Meeting Law Resources:
Texas Open Meeting Act Handbook 2022, published by the Texas Attorney Generals office
Guide to Texas Open Records and Open Meeting Laws published by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
Texas Open Meetings Act Training, a slide show coving the highlights from the Texas Open Meeting Act

Forms to Download
LWVSCTX Observer Corps Training Doc
LWVSTX Open Meeting Act Key Points
LWVSCTX Observer Corps Meeting Introduction Letter
LWVSCTX Observation Form

To find an Observer Corps Buddy in Your Area:
Check our website's Member Directory to look for someone in your area who you might want to invite to be your Observer Corps buddy. You'll need to sign in to our website with your username and password. You'll find a username and password reminder link on the sign-in page if you've forgotten how to log in!