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(marge.easley@frontier.com).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.

Voter Summer2016Page3

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!

Voter Summer2016Page4

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)

Voter Summer2016Page5

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

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