About CCIA

Our purpose is to hold government
accountable to the public while
serving the public interest.

CCIA elects new officers for 2011/2012

Concerned Citizens In Action has completed
the tally of member ballots and held their
meeting to nominate and elect officers.

Welcome new board members:

Janice MacArthur
Lucia Worthington

New officers for 2011/2012:

John Wagoner, President
Lucia Worthington, Vice President
Martha Martin, Secretary
Mariann Guetter, Treasurer

Thanks to all our members who returned their
ballots.  We appreciate your support!

____________________________

CCIA invites members and citizens to their
Public meeting on Wednesday
May 25th at 7pm
Camas Public Library

Concerned Citizens In Action is holding a
public meeting to nominate members to three
of the nine board positions.  Members of CCIA
are encouraged to attend and nominate their
choice for these positions.  

Ballots with the names of the nominees will
be mailed to CCIA members during the first
week of June.   The ballots will be tallied and
the results listed on our website after
June 30th.

At our next meeting in July, the board, along
with it's newly elected members, will
nominate and vote for new officers.  These
names will also be posted on our website
following that meeting.

Please join us on May 25th, observe our
process, ask questions, and find out more
about CCIA activities.

_______________________

CCIA Presents
 Professor Lucia Worthington

Professor Worthington will be CCIA's guest
speaker on Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00pm.
Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave., 2nd
floor meeting room.  
This is a
free event and all citizens and public
officials are is invited to attend.

Professor Worthington will present a talk
titled:

“People – Ethics – Government.  
Is it Possible?”

What is the big deal about ethics? Professor
Lucia Worthington will take the mystery out
of ethics and put it back into a common sense
framework. She will challenge the audience
with four questions and probe if the
combination of people, ethics and
government is indeed possible:

  1. Why are we making such a big deal out of
    ethics in the US.?
  2. Why do we worry about ethics when we
    are a country of laws?
  3. What are the two main ethical approaches
    in business?
  4. What are the stages of moral
    development and do they matter in
    government?

Professor Worthington holds honors degrees
in history and philosophy  and has battle
scars from being  a small business owner and
political organizer. She has a master's degree
in management and took additional graduate
work in public and educational policy. She
recently returned from fast paced
Washington D.C. to enjoy the quality of life
along the Columbia River. She teaches for
Clark College and WSUV.

Please join us on May 18th at 7:00pm as we
learn more about Ethics as they relate to
government.  Professor Worthington will take
questions following her presentation.
________________________________________

City of Washougal Updates
February 2011

CCIA  is happy to announce that the City of
Washougal has now reinstated their two
public comment periods for both regular
meetings and workshops.  We thank our
members and friends who sent emails in
support of this process.
We hope that citizens will continue to be
involved in their local government by
attending meetings, speaking during public
comment periods, and being part of their
government process.  
__________________________________

City of Washougal Updates and Concerns
January 2011

CCIA  has been attending every City of
Washougal meeting and workshop for many
months.  There have been some changes to
the process of obtaining public comment that
are of concern.  
Public comments and/or questions had
previously been set at the end of both regular
meetings and workshops, allowing the public
to hear the process and discussions, and
then either comment or ask questions of their
elected officials.

This is No More.

Now, public comment is set at the beginning
of both the workshop and meetings, which
does not allow for informed and interactive
comments to be presented.  
Both the Port of Camas-Washougal, and the
City of Camas council set public comment
periods twice, once after new business is
presented, and again at the end of the public
meetings.  This works well, and the elected
officials are able to hear informed and
immediate comments and questions, which
contributes to a much more positive process.

At the City of Washougal's last workshop,
CCIA's Secretary, Larry Keister, presented
these comments:
"The City Council is an elected body to
represent the citizens of Washougal.  By
amending the agenda and asking for a vote on
an issue
after Public Comments eliminates
citizens' ability to voice our opinion or provide
you with any input.  This practice eliminates
you representing me.  I am an advocate for
open government and I am an educated voter
and you should not leave me out of decisions
that affect the business of the city."

CCIA hopes that the City of Washougal will
reconsider and provide the citizens an
opportunity to be heard at the END of their
workshops and meetings.
Please email the City of Washougal at:

sguard@ci.washougal.wa.us (Mayor's email)

or email city council:

jrussell@ci.washougal.wa.us
jmcdaniel@ci.washougal.wa.us
rmorris@ci.washougal.wa.us
mcoston@ci.washougal.wa.us
dshoemaker@ci.washougal.wa.us
pgreenlee@ci.washougal.wa.us
mdelavar@ci.washougal.wa.us

Let them know you would like your voice and
the voices of all citizens to be heard by having
public comment at the END of meetings and
workshops.
_________________________________

Concerned Citizens In Action
Update

CCIA has been active in the community,
attending most government meetings,
listening, commenting, and responding to the
process.  We hope that you can join us at
future meetings.  There is much going on, and
you are a vital part of it!

_________________________________


Election results for 2010/2011

Concerned Citizens In Action has completed their
elections for new board members.  CCIA members
voted by mail-in ballot for three open positions and four
nominated members.  Elected are: Susan Stauffer, Ceil
Kirchner, and Martha Martin.

The Board of Directors held the election for new
officers at their July 21st meeting.  By unanimous
consent, all current officers were re-elected.

Officers are:

Martha Martin, President

John Wagoner, Vice President

Larry Keister, Secretary

Roger Daniels, Treasurer

Thank you to our members for participating in this
election.

_______________________________________
Votes for new board members ends June 30th


CCIA has three new board member vacancies to fill.  CCIA
members will have the opportunity to vote by mail, with the
deadline being June 30th.  Four people were nominated by
CCIA members.  The election committee made up of Roger
Daniels, John Wagoner, and Larry Keister will tally the votes
and reveal the results at the July 14th Board meeting.  At that
time, new officers will be elected.

CCIA continues to attend most local government public
meetings, and is always glad to answer questions or lend
support for those who have concerns about their local
government officials.

_____________________________________________________
Concerned Citizens In Action Member Meeting
(Public is invited)
May 19th, 7pm
Camas Police Station Meeting Room
2100 NE 3rd Avenue

CCIA will be having their Members meeting to nominate
members for three board positions that are up for election.  
Members and the public are invited to attend.  Other issues
discussed will include local government performance regarding
open meetings and public inclusion.  Public input and questions
are welcome during this meeting.

If you are a member, you will be receiving a mailed letter of
invitation to this meeting.  We hope you can attend and
participate in the nomination process, as well as offer your
input and ideas.

If you would like to become a member, complete the application
by opening the link on this page (see below: "Want to Join
CCIA?") and mail your application or fill one out at our
members meeting.  There is
NO fee to join.  You will receive
regular email notifications regarding local government issues,
be notified of upcoming CCIA events, and be able to participate
in the election of your board.  

We also welcome visitors to our board meetings when they
wish to present issues of concern.  You may contact President
Martin to arrange a visit.  Just click on the
Contact CCIA link
above and send an email, or
call Dr. Martin at (360) 835-1070.

Martha Martin, Ph.D.
President
Concerned Citizens In Action
_________________________________________

Brian Sonntag, WA State Auditor Enjoyed by
Many Government Officials

Brian Sonntag gave his audience many things to remember, but
mostly he left people with the impression that he is easy to talk
to, appreciates communities that are trying to work together,
and that our communities made an impression on him.

Over 50 people attended the Aprils 14, 2010 Concerned Citizens
In Action Public Meeting.  Government representatives from all
over Clark County came to listen and learn, asking our state
auditor great questions that gave rise to even better questions
and answers.  Representatives from the City of Washougal, the
City of Camas, the City of Ridgefield, the Port of Camas-
Washougal, the Port of Ridgefield, the City of Battleground, and
East County Fire & Rescue were in attendance.  

President Martin presented Mr. Sonntag with a plaque to thank
him for speaking, which had the quote by Thomas Jefferson:
"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted
with their own government".

We thank Brian Sonntag for being our speaker.  And thank you
to all who attended.  By having so many government officials
there along side citizens, we were able to show how our
community supports open and honest government.  

Martha Martin, Ph.D.
President, CCIA
___________________________________________________

WA State Auditor Brian Sonntag to be Guest
Speaker on April 14th at 6:30pm

Concerned Citizens In Action will host a members
meeting on Wednesday April 14th, 6:30pm at Washburn
Auditorium at Washougal High School.  
The public is also invited to attend.  
Brian Sonntag, Washington State Auditor, will be CCIA’
s guest speaker, and will describe the different audits
his office performs for local government agencies, and
the protections associated with the Washington State
Whistle Blower law.  After speaking, he will take
questions from those attending.  

Now in his fifth term as Auditor, Brian serves as a
board member of the Washington Coalition for Open
Government.  Last year he received the Coalition’s
James Anderson Award, for his advocacy for open
government.  The Washington Newspaper Publishers
Association’s gave him the Freedom’s Light Award in
1999. And for his efforts to improve local government
operations, Brian received the Warren G. Magnuson
Award from the Seattle Municipal League in 1999.  If
you would like to gain more information about the State
Auditor's office or learn more about Brian, please visit
www.sao.wa.gov.

Come and learn more about the Washington State
Auditor's office.  Bring your questions, listen to others,
meet your State Auditor, and learn more about your
local public group Concerned Citizens In Action.

Concerned Citizens in Action is an award-winning
public non-profit corporation established to provide
educational information for citizens about city, port,
county and state governmental processes and, to hold
government accountable to the public for the public
interest.  For more information, contact Dr. Martin,
President at
360-835-1070.
________________________________________

______________________________________
Click Here for other news and information.
_______________________________________________



www.concernedcitizensinaction.org
Proud Member of Washington
Coalition for Open Government
Frequently Asked Questions

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CCIA and how we serve our
community.
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CCIA?  

Click here to download a copy of
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.

There is no fee to join!
Donate to CCIA today.

To make your contribution
by mail, send to:

CCIA
P.O. Box 64
Washougal, WA 98671

CCIA welcomes your
support!
We are a non-profit, and all proceeds
go to supplies, website hosting,
events, printing, and training.  All
board members are volunteers.  There
are no paid positions.