A long time League member, Norman was active in the Hershey (Pennsylvania) League before moving to Portland in 2001. He served from 2002-03 on the Portland Board and then joined the LWVOR Board in 2004. His first role on the state board was Voter Service Co-Chair, but he soon found his niche on the action team, serving as both Vice-Chair and currently Chair. He has also taken an active role in the study committees for “Redistricting in Oregon” and “Election Methods”, but he manages to also find time for one of his main passions - campaign finance reform. The LWVUS Board is lucky to have him. Congratulations, Norman! (For more information on the national League convention, see page 10.)

• putting up shelves
• organizing materials
• posting materials on our web site
• updating our database (on paper or computer)

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Newport Senate debate to be cosponsored by LWVOREF

By Janet Calvert, LWVOREF Chair

A debate among Democratic candidates for the United States Senate seat  will be held at the Agate Beach Inn near Newport, Oegon, Saturday, April 5, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.  The debate is a special feature of the annual meeting  of the Oregon Associated  Press Broadcasters Association (OAPBA), who are  cosponsoring partners with the League.

The five candidates participating in the debate are Pavel Goberman. Beaverton; David Loera, Salem; Jeff Merkley, Portland; Candy Neville, Eugene; and Steve Novick, Portland. Roger Obrist  of Damascus  declined the invitation to participate. This  will be  the third of the four debates featuring all or some of these candidates. The next debate is in Eugene on March 7 sponsored by the City Club of Eugene and the final debate is on April 15 in Portland sponsored by KGW and the Oregonian.

LWVOR will provide the moderator, timekeepers, greeters and assist with the question and answer portion of the program. The debate is open to the public as well as League members and members of OAPBA. The winner of the May 20 Primary Election will compete for the Senate seat now held by Gordon Smith, Republican.

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President’s Column

Marge Easley

Never a dull moment! It’s a trite but accurate phrase when describing my days as LWVOR president. February has been especially busy with the month-long legislative session. Along with my other duties I’ve been attending action meetings and helping to edit testimony and articles for the weekly Legislative Report. Our action team, headed by Norman Turrill, is to be highly commended for their dedication and willingness to work long hours during this very compressed session. Many kudos also to Rebecca Smith, our executive administrator, who is a whiz at making the online Legislative Report as informative, attractive, and easy to use as possible. If you’ve enjoyed reading it, please drop her a line of thanks.

I think you’ll agree that one of the best things about being in the League is the conversation. Being around politically and civically engaged individuals stimulates the mind and fuels a desire to make a difference. One of my personal goals is to foster that same sense of civic engagement and empowerment in the younger generation, specifically in high school students. I’ve formed a civic education steering committee that will help schools focus on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Actually our timing couldn’t be better as we capitalize on the high level of excitement generated during this presidential primary season! Stay tuned, since we hope to share some tangible civic education suggestions for local Leagues in the very near future.

And speaking of League “conversation”, I’m looking forward to talking with many of you at our upcoming LWVOR Council on May 17-18 in Corvallis. Our theme, Waves of the Future, was chosen for two reasons - to signify the ongoing work of the League as well as highlighting the urgency of our planet’s energy crisis as we move away from oil toward alternative energy sources. Our keynote banquet speaker, John Kauffman from the Oregon Department of Energy, will provide us with a very thought-provoking discussion on this important topic.

I’m sure I’ll also see many of you at the LWVUS Convention in Portland on June 13-16, either as fellow delegates or as volunteers. If you haven’t yet signed up to volunteer, please do so. You’ll be helping the League as well as giving yourself an unforgettable experience. Last but not least, you’ll also get a chance to witness history in the making as we cheer on LWVOR board member, Norman Turrill, a national board candidate. (See story)

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A Slice of League History

Marge Easley, President

1939 state League Convention opposed ERA

Here’s another excerpt from More Power Than We Knew, a history of the League of Women Voters of Oregon from 1920 to 1995, by Mary Alice Moore and Donald E. Moore. It’s fascinating that the separation of study and support was already an important League issue at the 1939 state convention.

The 1939 Convention adopted a program that separated study and support. The 18 issues for study included the state budget, taxes, city planning, marriage and divorce laws, and school finance. (According to a 1934 study, only one state contributed less to schools than Oregon did.) The 15 items for support included funding for the Public Welfare department, “sharing of mothers’ aid and institutional costs of children between the state and the county,” and an “education campaign against the proposed so-called ‘Equal Rights’ amendment to the United States Constitution.” In those days many women saw the ERA not as a way to ensure women’s rights but as a threat to protective legislation like minimum wages and restricted working hours for women.

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Marine Reserves: What are they?

By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Pat Russell, LWV of Curry County

Oregon’s ocean waters have always been important to the League. We have worked to protect access to our beaches and keep our ocean environment healthy. (In 1990, the League adopted positions on Offshore and Coastal Management.) As individuals, we also enjoy the fruits of our ocean, from Dungeness crab to snapper, shrimp and rockfish. Now there’s a discussion about how to assure our grandchildren have all those experiences.

The Governor’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) has been working to address many issues facing our ocean. They are studying the effects of Wave Energy (WE) and something called marine reserves (MRs). MRs are areas of the ocean FULLY PROTECTED from all extractive activities (e.g., fishing) and potentially damaging activities (e.g., oil drilling). MRs are a type of “marine protected area” (areas reserved to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources, but NOT fully protected areas). Both issues (MRs & WEs) will impact ocean fisheries. A number of coastal governments have written to ask that the designation of MRs be postponed; that there is little scientific evidence that MRs help ocean and fish health; that Oregon already has some of the best fisheries management techniques. However, scientists suggest that MRs will be the “nurseries” for our aquatic life. We have 43 species of groundfish known. There is data available on eight of thosespecies, and two are documented as overfished.  We need "old, large" fish to provide a greater percentage of new fish.

The Governor has delayed the deadline for nomination of MRs and has stated he wants to designate less than ten. OPAC has also asked that there be a broader public outreach. (See seagrant.oregonstate.edu/outreach/reserves.html) Armed with a better understanding of their purpose, coastal citizens will be asked to provide their local knowledge in nominating MR areas. Anyone can participate in the nomination process. One OPAC member suggested that we set up a couple of pilot projects and do the research before designating large blocks of the ocean as MRs. No matter what the decision, we hope League members will be involved.

Legislative leaders, particularly the Coastal Caucus, have suggested that a complete Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map be done for the ocean floor (out to our 3-mile jurisdiction) because of all the different impacts on our ocean being considered. WE projects not only put buoys in the ocean but also require cables from those buoys to transmission sites on land. Where those cables are strung will impact fisheries.

It will cost money to delineate research, monitor and enforce any MRs and deal with any economic impact. Look for budget requests during the 2009 Legislative session.

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People Like to Give

By Janet Calvert, LWVOREF Chair

While sitting in the examination room for my yearly check up, my doctor asked me what I was doing these days. I responded that I was coordinating efforts to finance and produce the voter education materials for the League. I also admitted that fund raising was not my favorite activity.

His response surprised me. “People like to give money. They want to help. The key is to make it personal and not just rely upon a letter.”
As local Leagues and the Education Fund seek money for our very worthwhile projects, remember my doctor’s comments. Of course, not everyone asked personally will contribute to the League or any other group but very few people will contribute without being asked. If a friend or acquaintance asked for a donation to their favorite activity, many of us would be glad to help.

Jean Milgram, Development Chair, would really appreciate two or three names of your friends who might like to help. We would send a letter and you could help by giving your friend a call to share your enthusiasm and commitment to the League and to educating voters.

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League work unfolds around the state

By Rose Lewis, Local League Liaison

I enjoy following League work as it unfolds in a variety of settings around the state. This month I have received newsletters or minutes from ten Oregon Leagues. I note a wide variety of meeting arrangements - for breakfast, regular noon meetings, including brown bag, restaurant and potluck lunches; a High Tea, and in late afternoon or evening, with potluck appetizers, finger food or full-blown potluck meals. Fundraising efforts also vary, with sales quite popular, including shopping bags, books, tea, grapefruit (earning $ 3,785 for the Corvallis League) and entertainment books. Also successful were a garage sale, Secret Garden Tour, direct mail (17 letters yielded $7,100 for Portland), silent auctions; and raffle tickets for weekend getaways.

ASHLAND League continues with followup to the recent Town Hall meetings held throughout the county, working with Citizens for County Solutions and American Association of University Women. Plans are for ongoing public discussion, urging the County Commissioners to "ensure open and transparent decision making." A panel discussion on Homeless in Ashland was planned for February 21, with speakers from Community Works, Chamber of Commerce, Interfaith Care Community, a homeless activist and Ashland Police Chief. The League is inviting City Council members and others who have a stake in this issue to attend.

COOS COUNTY As a followup an earlier meeting on the Oregon Judiciary, Coos County League members held a Saturday breakfast meeting on the Judiciary, followed by a tour of the county courthouse. In support of the State Water Study, members are doing a local study of Coos County water resources, looking at regulations for various sources--municipal systems, wells, agricultural, also individual wells vs. well systems, water treatment, etc. A new member welcome "coffee" at a restaurant in Coos Bay is planned for March.

CORVALLIS members have scheduled a meeting on "Children at Risk - Child Welfare Program." On March 1 they will hold a Legislative Town Hall about the February session. Two tours are planned of water related sites.  As a member of a local sustainability coalition, Corvallis members can request a free energy audit of their homes during March. A Town Hall meeting on community sustainability is planned for March.

CURRY COUNTY members continue to work with the Homeless Youth Coalition, including Oasis Shelter, for which they are collecting items such as disposable paper products, phone cards, bus passes and money. Global climate change is another concern. They recommend checking out the national website at www.lwv.org to see articles on:  "The Heat is On: Climate Change and Emerging Policies" and "Economic Effects of Not Taking Action on Climate Change."

DESCHUTES COUNTY "The snow is almost two feet deep at my house right now," reports Dalyte Hartsough in her February -March President's Message....The League's First Thursday Luncheon meeting (Continued on Page 6) Leagues around the state (continued from Page 5)
featured Michael Gaston, director of Deschutes PublicLibrary, speaking on The Changing Face of Deschutes County.  In March the sheriff will speak on the Deschutes County Jail. A general membership meeting on mental health is planned on March 20.

LANE COUNTY Six speakers were invited to take part in a Saturday Civics 101 forum on "Springfield and Eugene:  Shared Attributes, Shared Borders.  What separates and what joins the two cities?" February’s Third Thursday lunch speaker was Oregon's First Lady Mary Oberst, wife of Governor Ted Kulongoski. Her topic was "Oregon's Sesquicentennial: Your Important Role in Preparing for 2009." Project Homeless Connect offered an opportunity to register voters at this big annual event, where 1007 homeless citizens made contact with needed services last year.  A Meet and Greet Open House to learn more about the League is planned for early March.

MARION AND POLK COUNTIES The Foreign Policy Interest Group partnered with Physicians for Social Responsibility and UNA to hold a forum on “Iran - History, Culture and the Nuclear Dispute" in February. Panelists included an Iranian-born speaker who moved to the US in 1949 and is now a professor of anthropology, another Iranian who moved here in 1977 and is now an administrator in Oregon Department of Human Services, and a physician and educator who traveled to Iran on a peace delegation in 2007.
 PORTLAND League arranged for a Media and Democracy Forum last month. It joined with Global Sistergoods, Oregon Public Broadcasting and Mercy Corps' Film Connection to present the film Iron Ladies of Liberia, a documentary about Africa's first freely elected female head of state. 

ROGUE VALLEY Of considerable interest to members is the question of land use issues in Jackson County.  Porter Lombard, of the local League, reports that a new group called Citizens for Constitutional Fairness has emerged, asking Jackson County to grant development for the 571 approved waivers. He feels it would be wise to monitor these waivers to make sure Measure 49 rules are followed.

UMPQUA VALLEY Lois Allen and Beverly Paulson have compiled an early history of the League of Women Voters in that area, and learned that in 1921, immediately after suffrage, a Douglas County League was formed. The first board included women from Roseburg, Canyonville and Riddle. It is not known how long the group continued, but the Roseburg League (later the Umpqua Valley League) was organized in 1961, with 50 members at that time.

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Facing a daunting task: Revenue Restructuring Task Force meets

By Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator

It has an impressive title – Task Force on Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring. It is the latest attempt, over the past 20 years, to change the way in which state and local governments in Oregon receive revenue and expend it on public services. The 30 member task force was authorized by HB 2530 (2007) after extensive discussion and debate during the 2007 regular legislative ession. Presentations about revenue and budget problems were developed and widely given by Senators Morse, Schrader, and Westlund, aided by Senator Monroe. Senator Morse also informed League members about the issue at Legislative Process Day. The Task Force started meeting in November, work groups have been formed, and the final report is due in November, 2008, prior to the 2009 Legislative Session.

In its three meetings thus far, the Task Force has reviewed the previous attempts at tax reform, dating from the McCall plan in the 1970s, including attempts at sales taxes as well as a set of straw ballots that tried to determine what citizens wanted to do about state programs and revenue. They also have discussed the revenue streams, the workings of property and income taxes and other funds. They have been apprised of the immediate critical fiscal problems facing Oregon counties and cities. The Conversations With Citizens launched by former Governor Barbara Roberts in 1991 yielded information about the range of state services desired by Oregonians, but no real desire to pay for them.

The group reached consensus that the task is huge, the problems immense, and no plan can be devised in 10 months to deal with the serious revenue problems and distribution of needed services. They decided to form work groups which will meet from January through March or April, each with a specific topic and goal. The purpose is to put together a grand plan with doable segments which can be implemented over two or three biennia. Serious discussions have been held about the need to keep the public informed and to ensure that there are ample streams of communication at a reasonable level of citizen understanding.

This is an important effort to coordinate government revenue and expenditures at all levels and to understand the interrelationships and consequences of fiscal actions taken by each entity. The Task Force members appear to be engaged in the effort as seen by the attendance at the first meetings and the level of questions and possible solutions put forth. The League is monitoring the meetings as we did with the Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature in 2006 and will keep members informed as the discussions move forward.

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Instream water laws: Water Study Committee in full swing

By Liz Frenkel, Water Study Committee

The LWVOR Water Study Committee is in full swing and wants to share some interesting facts about Oregon’s instream water laws. Did you know that Oregon was one of the first states to protect non-consumptive uses of its waterways? A 1929 law prohibited withdrawals of water from waterfalls “in view of or near, the Columbia River Highway, from Sandy River to Hood River”. Those waterfalls, besides being scenic, were competing as sources for hydroelectric power generation. By 1955, the Legislature was emboldened to establish minimum perennial streamflows, specifically to support aquatic life and recreation and to minimize pollution.

In 1987, the Legislature passed the Instream Water Right Act. This huge bill added “public uses” to the list of consumptive “beneficial uses”, such as domestic, municipal, irrigation, power development, industrial, and mining. Instream Water Rights were to be held in trust for the people of Oregon “to maintain water instream for public uses”, such as recreation, fish life purposes, pollution abatement, and navigation, with the same legal status as other water rights.

Despite this illustrious history, non-consumptive use of water (fish and wildlife, water quality, recreation, scenic, navigation) in-stream uses got short-shrift. Water in any western state is considered liquid gold to agricultural, municipal, industrial, power development and mining interests. That’s all out-of-stream. Non-consumptive uses are all in-stream. Can you have both?

Most streams are already vastly over-allocated, and, since Oregon’s water law is based on the “first-in time, first-in right” doctrine, those senior water users didn’t leave much for junior public users. Water Resources Department adopted 547 minimum stream flows under the 1955 Minimum Streamflow Act. Many of the established minimums levels of flow provided inadequate protection and were for larger rivers and streams, leaving many of the 12,000 named streams in Oregon with no instream protection at all.

While the Water Resources Department by 1997 had converted approximately 500 minimum stream flows to instream water rights and certified 900 new instream water rights applications, about 150 instream application were still pending.

The state has limited ability to increase water availability to meet flow rights in low precipitation years. The state’s streams are over-allocated while demand for water continues to grow. As long as out-of-stream uses outcompete in-stream uses, protection for “public uses” of water remains a challenge.

The State Water Study Committee is doing the homework on this and other intriguing water topics: water and energy production, well water regulations, water transfers, water and land use planning, aquifer recovery and storage. Please join us; it’s really very exciting,

NEXT MEETING: March 10 at the state LWV office in Salem. The committee has been meeting alternatively between Eugene and Salem. For more information, contact co-chairs: Marnie Lonsdale, lonsdale9066@comcast.net and Robin Wisdom, rwidsom@jeffnet.org.

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Waves of the Future

Waves of the Future will be the theme of LWVOR’s Council 2008 in Corvallis May 17 - 18. Plans include a keynote speech by John Kaufmann, senior policy analyst in the conservation division, Oregon Department of Energy, and a presentation on the results of our voter education programs (see below). Council delegates also will elect a second vice president, treasurer, and three directors and adopt a budget for next year.

Council, which alternates with state Convention, officially opens at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Salbasgeon Suites.. Early arrivals will be able to participate in a dine-around Friday evening, May 16, and Saturday morning tours of Oregon State University’s wave tank and the Farmer’s Market in Riverfront Park along the Willamette River.

There also will be a workshop on parliamentary procedure at 11 a.m. Saturday. A buffet luncheon will be served at noon on Saturday. Council ends at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. While only delegates may vote, observers will find many interesting activities and workshops at Council and are encouraged to attend.

For more information, check with your local League, the LWVOR office or the website, www.lwvor.org. To view Council information, you will need to use the member login (username, lwvor; password, carriecatt). Look under Events.

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Council delegates to hear Voter Education evaluation findings

By Janet Calvert, LWVOREF Chair

The results and recommendations of the evaluation of the LWVOR Education Fund voter education programs and publications will be presented by Elaine Cogan of Cogan Owens Cogan at the May State Council Meeting. Cogan will review the responses of a questionnaire sent to all local Leagues as well as the information gathered from two focus groups.  She will then discuss their evaluation of how well the Voters’ Guide and our other voter education materials meet the needs of Oregon voters. The LWVOREF Board of Trustees are eagerly looking forward to fresh ideas on the production and distribution of the Voters’ Guide to reach traditional and younger voters. This will be an excellent opportunity for League leaders to respond and comment on the the voter education evaluation and provide guidance and suggestions to the Trustees on how to implement or adapt the recommendations. Copies of the evaluation and a summary of the recommendations will be available after the state Council meeting in May. She will speak on Saturday, the first day of Council, right after the 12:30 p.m. lunch.

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LWVUS National Convention 2008: Reaching New Heights Together

By Carol Cushman and Debbie Kaye, Personnel Committee

June 13 – 17. Mark those dates on your calendar! Have you sent your volunteer form? Do you need more information?

Below are descriptions of some of the volunteer positions. You can check the tentative convention schedule at the national web site: www.lwv.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ForMembers/Council/conv_preview/Convention2008_Preview.pdf"

Convention Floor: Volunteers working “on the floor” at one of the five plenary sessions must be there from an hour before the session until about ½ hour after. The job titles are self-explanatory (door keeper, time keeper . . .), but task flexibility will be appreciated. (i.e., the door keepers are also asked to hand out materials as delegates enter; a time keeper might be asked to help to speed the entry process.) NOTE: If you are a delegate, you cannot volunteer here!

Registration needs more volunteers the first two days, with only a few on successive days. The Credentials committee needs volunteers the first two days and again the day ballots are distributed for electing the new board. Both of these groups will work with national staff, and have their own location/work station. Personnel volunteers maintain the location/work station for the many volunteers.

Hospitality will be in varied locations, giving on the spot assistance to our many guests!

The information desk, which includes “lost and found”, will be staffed at the same times the Wares Market is open. Our organizing committees will provide all the information you need: we ask volunteers to provide cheerful interaction with attendees seeking information. The Dine Around, Tour and Fundraiser committees will each need a volunteer at the information desk to answer questions about their respective events. Volunteers will also escort groups to dinner on Sunday evening, escort groups for tours (there will be a “guide” but you will accompany the group to assist), and help during the fundraiser on Saturday evening. NOTE: These are great activities where delegates can help!

A volunteer form is on line at www.lwvpdx.org or www.lwvor.org. Please email or mail your response today. Together, we will offer a terrific national convention!

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LWV Members *
SAVE THIS DATE!
JUNE 14, 2008!

If you’re going to attend the National Convention in Portland you won’t want to miss Saturday Night’s Comic Relief with Joan Freed* in

The Hilarious One-Woman Musical Comedy
CHOCOLATE CONFESSIONS
$30/person
Enjoy a taste of chocolate with the performance!

*Joan has delighted audiences in over 25 cities across the country with her popular one-woman musical comedies. *The national convention local fundraiser is to raise money for voter service projects for the state education fund. A very good cause in this exciting election year 2008!! Please check out the state League website www.lwvor.org for a flyer and coupon to buy tickets.

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Calendar

March 14 - LWVOR/Education Fund Board Meeting, Salem
March 24-28 - State office closed for spring break
April 18 - LWVOR/Education Fund Board Meeting, tentatively in Eugene
April 29 - Last day to register to vote
May 5 - Ballots mailed to voters
May 17-18 - State Council, Corvallis
May 18 - LWVOR/Education Fund Board Meeting, Corvallis
May 20 - Primary election
May 26 - State office closed, Memorial Day
Link here to the full calendar

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