LWVOR Summer 2016 Voter2lwvor.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/LWVOR-Summer-2016... · 2016-07-07 ·...
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ® OF OREGON VOTER Volume 70, Issue 4 www.lwvor.org Summer 2016 Celebrating a Very Successful Joint Council League members from across Oregon and Washington met in Vancouver, Washington June 3-5. Arrival time coincided with the oil train derailment in Mosier, OR, leading to travel times as much as 12 hours! Friday evening members enjoyed Dine-Around followed by an Art Nite tour in Vancouver or the excellent play Cottonwood in the Flood, a drama based on the experiences of African Americans in Vanport of the 1940s and the rapid fall of the city with the Vanport flood. A busy day, Saturday saw a variety of workshops and breakout sessions for the two state Leagues. LWVWA, which does not conduct business during Council, met for an update on their 2015 Convention while LWVOR met for a business session. Building on the theme of “Meet at the Columbia River, lunch featured a panel discussion of the Columbia River Treaty. At Saturday evening banquet, Mary Christina Wood, originator of the climate change litigation approach called “Atmospheric Trust Litigation” spearheaded by Our Children’s Trust, provided a somber update on climate change science and why youth are suing the federal and state governments to get action. On Sunday, LWVWA discussed Advocacy between Legislative Sessions, and LWVOR adopted a budget and elected members of the state board. A final joint session sought suggestions for future joint efforts. Saturday Luncheon speakers Jen Boyer, John DeVoe, and Jim Hefferman Keynote speaker Mary Woods
Transcript of LWVOR Summer 2016 Voter2lwvor.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/LWVOR-Summer-2016... · 2016-07-07 ·...
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF OREGON
VOTER
Volume 70, Issue 4 www.lwvor.org Summer 2016
Celebrating a Very Successful Joint Council LeaguemembersfromacrossOregonandWashingtonmetinVancouver,WashingtonJune3-5.ArrivaltimecoincidedwiththeoiltrainderailmentinMosier,OR,leadingtotraveltimesasmuchas12hours!
FridayeveningmembersenjoyedDine-AroundfollowedbyanArtNitetourinVancouverortheexcellentplayCottonwoodintheFlood,adramabasedontheexperiencesofAfricanAmericansinVanportofthe1940sandtherapidfallofthecitywiththeVanportflood.
Abusyday,SaturdaysawavarietyofworkshopsandbreakoutsessionsforthetwostateLeagues.LWVWA,whichdoesnotconductbusinessduringCouncil,metforanupdateontheir2015ConventionwhileLWVORmetforabusinesssession.Buildingonthethemeof“MeetattheColumbiaRiver,lunchfeaturedapaneldiscussionoftheColumbiaRiverTreaty.AtSaturdayeveningbanquet,MaryChristinaWood,originatoroftheclimatechangelitigationapproachcalled“AtmosphericTrustLitigation”spearheadedbyOurChildren’sTrust,providedasomberupdateonclimatechangescienceandwhyyoutharesuingthefederalandstategovernmentstogetaction.
OnSunday,LWVWAdiscussedAdvocacybetweenLegislativeSessions,andLWVORadoptedabudgetandelectedmembersofthestateboard.Afinaljointsessionsoughtsuggestionsforfuturejointefforts.
SaturdayLuncheonspeakersJenBoyer,JohnDeVoe,andJimHefferman
KeynotespeakerMaryWoods
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Momentum Builds for Gun Safety Legislation
MargeEasley,GunSafetyPortfolio,LWVORActionCommitteeThetragedyinOrlando,theworstmassshootinginU.S.history,hasheightenedtheurgencytotakeactionongunsafety,andtheLeagueisdoingitspart.TheLWVUSConventionincludedagunsafetycaucusentitled“Grassroots:BringingGunSafetytoAmerica,”with150Leaguemembersinattendance.PatriciaBrigham,aLeagueleaderfromFloridaandchairoftheLWVUSGunSafetyCommittee,wasjoinedbyGregWaplesfromtheCenterforAmericanProgresstooutlinewaysthatLeaguememberscanbeleadersontheissueofgunviolenceprevention.Delegatesalsounanimouslypassedthreegunsafetyresolutions,askingtheLWVUSandalldelegatesforamomentofsilenceforOrlandoshootingvictims,reinforcingLWVUSstrongpositionsongunsafety,andadvocatingtooverturnthefederalbanongunviolenceresearchattheCentersforDiseaseControl.ALWVCoalitionforGunSafetyFacebookgroupdoesagreatjobkeepingfollowersupdatedongunissues.Itisclosedtothepublic,butifyouwouldlikeyournameaddedtothegrouppleasecontactMargeEasley([email protected]).InOregon,gunsafetyactivistsaremobilizingfortheNovemberelectionandlayingthegroundworkforthe2017session.NowisthetimetoletcandidatesknowthatstrengtheningOregon’sgunlawsisapriorityissue.
Citizens’ Initiative Review: MargeEasley,LWVClackamasCountyLeaguememberswillbeofferedauniqueopportunitytoobservetheaward-winningCitizens’InitiativeReview(CIR),whichwillbeheldthisyearfromAugust18to21atWesternOregonUniversityinMonmouth.Thisinnovativeprocess,developedbytheOregon-basednonprofit,HealthyDemocracy,wasfirstenactedintolawin2011withthestrongsupportoftheLeague.Itbringstogetherarandomly-selecteddemographicallybalanced“jury”ofcitizensandgivesthemtimeandresourcestofairlyevaluateastatewideballotmeasure.ResultsarethenpublishedintheOregonVoters’Pamphlet.Theprocesshasproventobesosuccessfulthatreplicationeffortsarenowunderwayinotherstates.Staytunedformoredetailsastothebestdateandtimetoobserve,aswellaswhichballotmeasurehasbeenselectedforevaluation.ConsiderorganizingaLeague-sponsored“fieldtrip”togetafirsthandlookattheinnerworkingsofaCIRpanel.
LWVORBoardofDirectors
NormanTurrill,PresidentBeckyGladstone,1stVPAliceBartelt,2ndVPRuthKistler,TreasurerSallyHollemon,SecretaryDirectors:AnneEmmons,KathleenHersh,KaranKuntz,ToniLampkin,LuisNava,andRobinWisdom
LWVORStaffSarahAndrews:OfficeCoordinatorSendaddresschangesto:LWVORStateOffice133012thSt.SE,Suite200Salem,OR97302email:lwvor@lwvor.orgVOTERispublishedfourtimesayearbytheLeagueofWomenVotersofOregon.Memberssubscribethroughtheirannualdues.Anyperson,16orolder,mayjoin.VOTERisalsoavailableontheLWVORwebsiteatwww.lwvor.org.VOTEREditor:KaranKuntz
LWVORMissionTheLeagueofWomenVoters®ofOregonisagrassroots,nonpartisanpoliticalorganizationthatencouragesinformedandactiveparticipationingovernmentinordertobuildbettercommunitiesstatewide.ThestateLeague’spurposesaretoinfluencepublicpolicythrougheducationandadvocacyandtoprovidesupportforLeaguemembersandtheLeagueorganization.
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President's Column / Norman Turrill ThisisaversionofmymessagetoourCouncil2016meetinginVancouverinJune:
IwouldjustliketoplantsomeideasforafewminutesaswelookforwardtoanhistoricelectioninNovemberandanotherLeagueyear.
Althoughourmembercountshavenotimproved,wehaveatleaststoppedtheircontinualdecline,andIthinkthemembershipprogramisdoingwell.IamparticularlypleasedwiththeformationofanewWashingtonCountyStateUnit.Duringmyvisitsaroundthestate,IhaveseengreatenthusiasmandpotentialforLeagueprograms.AnintegralpartofthisistheMembershipandLeadershipDevelopment(MLD)program.AlllocalLeaguesshouldbeparticipatingintheMLDprogram(http://forum.lwv.org/member-resources/sections/membership-and-leadership-development)oratleastincludingitsmethodsintoeverythingthatyouplantodo.
MysenseisthatthegeneralelectionthisNovemberwillbeoneofthemostimportantonesindecades.Wewilllikelyseeahistoricshiftintheelectorateasmoreminority,naturalizedandyoungervotersgetinvolved.TheNewMotorVoterLaw,whichtheLeaguesupported,willhelpenhancethesetrendsinOregon.Therefore,itisevenmoreimportantthatwemobilizeasmanymembersandsupporterstohelpwithallourvoterserviceprograms.BeckyGladstone,1stVPforVoterEducation,canuseallthehelpthatshecanget!
TheconversionsoflocalLeaguesto501(c)(3)organizationshasgonerelativelywellwithsevenLeaguespassingthenecessarymotionsattheirannualmeetings.OneotherLeaguewantedtogoforward,butdidn'tbringitupattheirannualmeeting.IhavenotyetcalculatedwhetherornotitmakessensetogoforwardwithaGroupExemptionrequesttotheIRS.Sostaytunedonthisone.
YourLWVORhasimprovedfinances.Thisisdueinpartbecausethesuccessfulconsolidation(ofourtwostateorganizations)hasmergedourmoney,accountsandreservesintooneorganization.Theconsolidationmayalsohaveimprovedthereceiptofgrantmoney.501(c)(3)foundationsandgrantorscanonlygivetoother501(c)(3)organizations,sotheyaremorelikelytogiveusagrant.
Anotherreasonforourimprovedfinanceshasbeenourfiscalfrugality.Wehavestreamlinedourofficebynotreplacinganemployeewholeft,byreplacingthephoneandinternetprovider,andremovinganunusedfaxphoneline.Atthesametime,wehaveinvestedinanewcomputerandotherofficeequipmenttohelpourremainingemployeebemoreproductiveandbebetterabletosupportourvolunteers.
Finally,IwantyoutoknowthatyourDevelopmentCommitteeisveryactivelyconsideringanewfundraisingcampaign.WiththeLeague's100thbirthdayapproaching,wearebeginningtoplanacampaignforearlynextyearformembersandsupporterstoleavea"LeagueLegacy"forthenext100years.YouwillhearmoreaboutthisaftertheNovemberelection.
Thankyouforlistening!Youareagreatgroup!
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Welcome to the New Washington County Unit KathleenHersh,MembershipChair,TheLeagueisexcitedtowelcomeanewstateunit!TheLWVORBoardhasrecognizedtheLWVUnitthathasformedinWashingtonCounty.Thereareabout15members.Twomembers,JosieKoehnandVirginiaBrucehavesteppedforwardtobeco-chairs.
TheyheldtheirfirstmeetingafteracceptanceJune20th.ThegroupdiscussedwhatvoterforumstheycouldsponsorfortheNovemberelectionandwhatorganizationstheymightworkwithandhowtheymightincreasetheirvisibility.
AnothertopicofdiscussionwasgovernanceoftheunincorporatedurbanareasinWashingtonCounty.VirginiaBrucehadpublishedaseriesofarticlesintheCedarMillsNewsletteronthistopic.Othermemberspresenthadsomeinterestingpiecesofinformationonthetopicbutfelttherewasalottolearn.Therewasageneralfeelingthatthiswouldmakeagoodtopicforastudy.
Informationonsomeoftheballotmeasuresthathavemadetheballotormightmakeitwaspresentedanddiscussed.
ThegroupagreedtomeetagaininlateJulyorearlyAugust.Thiswasagreatstart!
Two Members Reflect on Their First LWVUS Convention EmilyMedley,LWVofClackamasCountydelegate IfirstarrivedinWashington,D.C.onthesameflightasmyConventionroommate.Directflightsacrossthecountryareawonderfulthing.Ispentfivehourscrochetingandwritingaletter,andthenitwastimeformyroommateandmetocatchacabtothehotelandregisterourselvesaftergettingintoourroom.AfteradinnerofChesapeakecrabcakes,IfinallytookachancetolookatourConventionWorkbook.Yes,IcouldhavedonethisbeforeIleft.I'dbeenworkingtwojobsinstead.
Iwasalittledisappointedtonoticethatthethemeappearedtobeheavilyorientedtowardvoterservice.I'djustfinisheddistributionofVoters'Guides,struggleswiththepostalservicebureaucracythatsurroundsbulkmailoflargepieces,andthearrangementofthreeforumsinmypositionatthePortlandLeagueoffice.Iwasinterestedinaction.ThisdisappointmentquicklydissipatedasIlearnedatacaucusthatmanystateleaguesdon'tuseVote411.org,heardspeakersandleaguemembersfromother
statestalkaboutstruggleswithstrictandarbitraryvoterIDlaws,difficultieswithlonglinesatpollinglocations,gerrymandering,andproposedlawsthatwouldmakesomeofourmembersfelonsforregisteringvoters.IhaddinneronenightwithsomemembersoftheD.C.Leaguewhodiscussedtheirstruggleoftaxationwithouttherepresentationthatisonlyaffordedtostates.Itbecameclearveryquicklythatmydesiretofocusonactionwasaprivilegeofcomingfromastatethatmakesregistrationandinformedvotingeasy.
Ilearnedinadiscussionofourdefinitionof“nonpartisan”thatwearetouseourdefinitionofthewordandnottheworditself,andthatrefusingtosupportoropposepartiesorcandidatesshouldnotpreventusfromexpressingopinionsonhatefulrhetoric,moneyinpolitics,ortoneofcampaigns.Havingmajoredinrhetoricalanalysis,Ibreathedasighofrelief.Itwasfascinatingandinspiringtobesurroundedbyroughly750menandwomen,oldandyoung,allwithopinionsandenthusiasmforattainingsimilarendsthroughafairprocess,withciviland(Continuedonpage5)
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LWVUS Convention (Continuedfrompage4)
respectfuldiscussion.Thisishowdemocracyshouldwork.IleftafteradjournmentproudtobepartoftheLeague'sefforttowardthisgoal,atlocal,state,andnationallevels.LateradventuresofsightseeinginthegeneralareaincludedalovelyroadtriptoMonticello,andawalkdownanescalatorwaterfallinaflashfloodrainstormtoreachtheMetrotrain.Ihaveapictureofathree-foothigh"wetfloor"warningconeinsidethestationhalfwaysubmerged.
AliceBartelt,LWVORBoard2ndVicePresident,ActionCoordinatorSome700LeaguemembersjoinedtogetherinWashingtonDCforthe52ndNationalConvention.Whatimpressedmethemostwashowmanyactivitiestherewere.Caucusesandworkshopsbeganat7:15inthemorning,plenarysessions,includingthebusinesssessions,wentuntil5:30,andtheneveningactivitiescontinueduntil9:30pm.Therehardlyseemedenoughtimetosleep.Theconventionaccomplishedquiteabit.Bylawswerepassedthatallowanyindividualtobecomeavotingmember,providedthattheyareatleast16yearsold.PMPwillremainthesameforthenexttwoyears.ThedelegatesalsopassedtheLWVUSbudget.OregondelegatesClaudiaKeithandKathyFrischmannorchestratedthreeclimatechangeresolutions.TheyworkedtirelesslytoperfectthewordingtothesatisfactionoftheResolutionsCommittee,andmadesurethatspeakerswerereadytospeakinfavoroftheresolutions.KudosgotothemandtoPresidentNormanTurrillforgettingtheseresolutionspassed.Theconventionwasalsofortunatetohaveanumberofgreatoutsidespeakers.JenniferLawlessspokeaboutengagingmillennialsinourelections.AmandaTaub’spresentationwascalled“UnderstandingAmerican
Authoritarianism.”PeterOverbyofNPRdiscussedmoneyinpolitics.Apaneldiscusseddefendingtherighttovoteandexpandingtheelectorate,especiallyamongvotersofcolor.JoeGoldmandiscussedtheforcesatplayinthe2016elections.PollsterCelindaLakespokeaboutframingissuesforwomenvoters.Allinall,itwasastimulatingconvention.Iwouldrecommendthateverymemberattendanationalconventionatleastonce.ConventionsenergizeustocontinuetheimportantworkoftheLeague.Theyprovidetoolstohelpusbemoreeffectiveinthepursuitofourgoals.
Convention Adopts Climate Change
Resolution ThefollowingthreeclimatechangerelatedresolutionspassedandwereproposedbytheLWVofOregon:1)TheLWVUSconsidersigningontoanAmicusBriefwiththe21youthplaintiffsfromOurChildren’sTrust2)TheLWVUSsupporttheratificationoftheUNCOP21ParisAgreement,and3)TheLWVUSshouldcontinueworkingforfullimplementationoftheEPACleanPowerPlan,especiallyatthestatelevel,asafirststep,andshouldcallontheWhiteHousetoimplementanupdatedscience-basedClimateActionPlanthatstabilizesglobalwarmingbybringingCO2levelsdowntonomorethan350ppmby2100.
OregondelegatestoLWVUSConvention
InThisIssue:CelebratingJointCouncil2016 1MomentumforGunSafetyLegislation 2Citizens’InitiativeReview 2President’sColumn 3WelcometoWashingtonCountyUnit 4ReflectionsonLWVUSConvention 4ClimateChangeResolution 5
Non-profit Organization US Postage
Paid Salem, OR Permit 312
League of Women Voters® of Oregon 1330 12th St. SE, Suite 200 Salem, OR 97302 503-581-5722; FAX 503-581-9403 [email protected]; http://www.lwvor.org
