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Local
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Many areas in the state
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LOCAL LEAGUE REPORT January 7, 2010
Rose Lewis, LWVOR Liaison Coordinator
After a flurry of holiday parties and celebrations, League members around the state are hard at work trying to educate voters about ballot measures 66 and 67 for the January 26 vote. A variety of panel presentations, public forums, Unit meetings etc. are taking place - some as Advocacy events, and some following the balanced Voter Service format. Program Planning meetings are also receiving careful thought and preparation. Learning about other League’s program plans and studies is a good way to get ideas for one’s own League - such as the current Local Food Security study in Corvallis. In a state with such a high level of hunger, this sounds like a subject for all local Leagues to consider.... Several Leagues are planning local 90th Anniversary celebrations for February, including a film showing in Corvallis and a special Brunch Buffet to recognize Past Major Donors and LWV Volunteers in Portland.
CLACKSON VOTER. Lunch and Learn for January will deal with a big issue for 2010 - the census. Pamela Whelden and Shirley Sweetland of the US Census Bureau Partnership Program will talk about the nuts and bolts of this massive undertaking. How is the census conducted? Who does the work? How long does it take? How do we know that it’s accurate? Why does it matter? This is a good opportunity to invite a friend for an informative presentation.... Reporting in her Clackamas Commissioners’ Corner, Pam Ashland describes a briefing by Secretary of State Kate Brown about the election system, stressing three points: restore integrity to the initiative process, increase and improve civic engagement, and conduct performance audits. The Parks Department is working on the coordination of the Trolley Trail and the Light Rail in the Milwaukee area. They are also considering a fee increase to help pay for increased enforcement of conduct on the Clackamas River.... The Clackamas League will testify to Metro on the proposal for the Stafford area to be put in the Urban Growth Boundary. Based on its 1993 study, the League supports “the Stafford area remaining outside the UGB”....Grapefruit sales as a fund-raiser set a record this year, bringing in over $1100. The Holiday Winter Brunch, with a silent auction, raffle, tea sales etc. cleared $919. ..... Included in the Program Planning section of the newsletter is a listing of all of Clackamas League’s present positions. These go back to 1958, and I counted 86 local studies on a wide variety of subjects. Quite an impressive list! What would this democracy do without the League of Women Voters?
COOS COUNTY VOTER. The Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers is the venue for the League’s Public Forum on Ballot Measures 66 and 67, with Attorney Roger Gould speaking in favor and Publisher Jim Bice speaking in opposition. . Newspaper, radio and TV coverage of the November public forum on Health Care was good, and the five panelists were candid and informtive about problems delivering health care locally. However, attendance was low, so the Board is considering alternative ways of reaching people, using technology–such as broadcasting live on a radio show, doing an interview on the radio or TV....Coming up in February is a General Meeting on Climate Change, with a speaker from the Coquille Tribe, Don Ivy.
CORVALLIS. For its Election Forum on Measures 66 and 67, Corvallis League has invited five speakers to present a Forum at the public library, “Learn the Facts about Measures 66 and 67" - including the president of a marketing company, a state representative, a county commission member, OSU director of Government Relations and the chair of the school board, with former state Representative Tony Van Vliet as moderator. “Come and learn the facts about where tax dollars are used, what services might be affected, and why the LWVOR advocates for a YES vote. Become an advocate for these measures and help get out the YES vote. The LWVOR supports these measures, based on our Fiscal Policy position (see p. 4), developed through years of study and member consensus.”.... A copy of their study Local Food Security: Are Current Efforts Sufficient to Meet the Need?” was also included with the newsletter, in preparation for consensus meetings at January Units. “The Consensus Questions pose an opportunity for League members to consider and recommend a Corvallis LWV food position that will enable us to influence local governmental and community agencies in seeing that our community becomes food secure.”.... The Corvallis League is active in the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, composed of 150 organizations in the area working to create a sustainable community, whose Annual Meeting will be held January 8, with a Sustainability Fair and Town Hall meeting coming up in March.... For the League 90th Birthday Party, a showing of the film Iron Jawed Angels is scheduled for February 9.
CURRY COUNTY COASTLINES. Special speaker for their Holiday Luncheon in Gold Beach was LWVOR first Vice President Robin Wisdom reporting on the progress of the current state Water Study. The second phase of the study is under way, looking at pollution control, allocation between multiple users with conflicting needs, etc. ... League members in Curry County face geographical challenges by scheduling three Program Planning meetings—in Brookings, Gold Beach and Port Orford. Helpful summaries of all Curry County League positions are included in their newsletters..... Work is continuing on the Workforce Housing Project, including preparing a list of questions to ask of pertinent county employers and other citizens with a stake in this project.... The League’s Observer of County Commission meetings reports on a request that Commissioners support a mapping project of the Lower Rogue Watershed Council which uses laser beams to map land and water. The impacts of filling road construction plus commercial activities such as mining and logging impact the river and need to be documented and evaluated. The vote was 3 - 0 in support. Approval was given to a plan to implement home health telemonitoring services in Curry County in conjunction with Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass. Also approved were two Homeland Security grants, one allowing purchase of a portable command vehicle and one providing citizen emergency training.
DESCHUTES COUNTY CASCADE ECHOES. Sad news has been received that Co-President Marie Naidis died December 26 from injuries suffered in an accident near Sacramento just before Thanksgiving. Her husband was also severely injured and passed away several weeks earlier. Our sympathy goes out to the family, and the League family in Deschutes County..... The speaker for the January First Thursday Luncheon is Scott Langton, County Tax Assessor, who will speak about how home and commercial property values have changed in the past couple of years, and related issues. With a staff of 33, he is responsible for generating tax statements for some 100,000 accounts. Their main work deals with three areas: Appraisal, Cartography and Assessment...... In preparation for Program Planning, two program items are being examined for possible updates or re-studies: Carl Elliott is reviewing their local Education position, adopted in 1996, and Don Hartsough and Conrad Ruel are looking at the Hazardous Materials Transportation position, updated in 2003. Summaries of other local positions are included in their newsletter, including: Affordable Housing for Low Income Families, 1992; Corrections Facilities and Programs, 1977; County Charter Government Position, 1997; Juvenile Study Position 1971; Land Use - General, 1995; Land Use - Deschutes National Forest 1981.
LANE COUNTY ARGUS. A Field Trip to learn more about Lane Transit District’s EmX service and its planned extension to West Eugene is scheduled for January 23. This will replace January Unit meetings, and give background information for February Units on transportation issues.... Time for Action on Measures 66 and 67 calls for help from members with phone banks set up for four separate days, as well as canvassing. A “Neighborhood Walk for Schools and Tax Fairness” is planned.with door to door canvassing to let the community know how important Voting Yes on these measures is to the future of public education in Oregon.....”To Shred or Not” is being explored by the League, to decide whether this would be a good fund raiser. They are asking members to give feedback about this idea for a secure, confidential and professional “shredding event”, with a small fee charged per pound of paper.
MARION-POLK COUNTIES FOCUS. The Winter Party was a happy time of visiting, enjoying good food and reminiscing, with musical entertainment. Special appreciation was expressed to Founders’ Award recipients present, and Past Presidents shared highlights of their time in office..... January Unit meetings will focus on Homeless Youth, with presentations by Jean Lasater, who has been a children and youth program director and system development advocate for the past 15 years.... Action chair Roz Shirack has put together an effective time to make presentations for our own Unit meetings as well as for other groups. She urges members to help the Vote Yes for Oregon Campaign by assisting with phone banks, and emailing their information to friends and relatives, encouraging them to vote for both measures. ... Sandra Gangle and Dr. Satya Chandragiri will present a program co-sponsored with the UN Association on “Observations of India’s Cultural Tapestry” on January 30. Sandra recently traveled in India and will share her observations and photos of modern life in India, focussing on the cultural rights and lifestyles of women. Dr. Chandragiri, who is a psychiatrist, was born in South India and came to Salem in 1996..... The Oregon Foundation for Reproductive Health has created the Emergency Birth Control Access Project, with the goal of decreasing barriers to accessing emergency contraceptives and reducing high rates of unintended pregnancies. League members are urged to contact this Access Project for more information or to arrange for a speaker about their work.....The Governor’s Affirmative Action Office has invited the local League to present a workshop on the topic 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage for state agency Affirmative Action representatives. These monthly workshops are intended to raise awareness, share information and encourage ideas for reducing discrimination in Oregon.
PORTLAND VOTER. Speakers for Portland League’s Ballot Measure Forum will be Steve Novick of Defend Oregon for the Pro–view, and Bernie Bottomly, Portland Business Alliance giving the Con–side..... Dave Mazza, Co-host of KBOO’s “Voices from the Edge” will speak at the Meet the Press luncheon meeting. He is an independent journalist, feee-lance writer and communications professional who has served as managing editor of The Portland Alliance and The Oregon Public Employee, as well as a former private investigator..... Debbie Aiona gives a good report on Portland’s Urban Renewal Policies and Their Impact on Multnomah County, including a recent presentation by Action Committee guest Rhys Scholes, policy and communication director for County Chair Ted Wheeler. “The League has expressed concern in recent testimony that Portland Development Commission is focusing too much on high-end development opportunities rather than on basic blight conditions that directly affect peoples’ lives.” The January Action committee meeting will feature Tom Linhares, Executive Director, Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission.... In 1983 the Portland League studied “Nonprofit Corporations associated with City Government” in response to concerns that this kind of special purpose entity was removed from public oversight and control. Now, preparing for 2010 program planning meetings they have researched the current status of 11 nonprofits and city government, and have prepared a detailed table showing their findings. “The original League concern about questionable legal standing appears to have been justified, but the position no longer seems necessary.
DESCHUTES COUNTY CASCADE ECHOES. The topic for the First Thursday Luncheon is County Health Services, featuring Scott Johnson, director of Deschutes County Mental Health. The agency has about 100 staff and provides help to low income people with mental illness or addiction, people in crisis, Oregon Health Plan members and people with developmental disabilities....League members will participate in the third annual Project Homeless Connect on September 19 at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond. 2500 people are expected to attend, and League volunteers will have a Voter Registration table. Over 2200 Central Oregonians are currently homeless, including 900 children; 79% of homeless adults are working; many desperately need medical treatment and other care..... The First Thursday speaker for October will be Central Oregon Community College President Jim Middleton, speaking about the COCC bond measure on the November Ballot, and a change of zone request.
LANE COUNTY ARGUS. President Pat Hocken has been researching the history of the local League, and came across the “startling information that during the 1947-48 program year the League made presentations to an estimated 5,500 people.” She feels the League continues to speak to the public on ballot measures, sponsor debates and forums and other public meetings. “What we haven’t done recently is share our comprehensive research with community groups.” To help with this they are acquiring some equipment and developing power point presentations on several recent studies.... Speaker for their Fall Luncheon will be Secretary of State Kate Brown on the topic “Making your Mark: New Development in Oregon Election Law.: Members are collecting an array of tough questions for her. Everyone is encouraged to invite their friends to this Membership event....The League will again have a booth at the Eugene Celebration, with League materials available, and they will also conduct a straw ballot on various issues of interest, including the continuation of the 5 cent gas tax in Eugene. Kappy Eaton reports on the recently adjourned legislature “The League Action team agreed that it was a satisfactory session in terms of what was accomplished in our areas of interest. Not everything we supported or opposed came out as we hoped, but overall it was productive.” See their Sine Die Report for details.
LINCOLN COUNTY WAVELENGTHS. The subject of the Fall Meeting at the Newport Library will be “Let’s Talk Health Care. Based on the national League position that quality, affordable health care should be avawilable to all US residents, it is important to understand what is happening with the various bills etc. “This is a conversation we must join.”.... In a newsletter article, Ava Maria Esparza-Smith asks: “What do we mean when we discuss “Immigration Are we talking about numbers, data, the others, those people? Or are we really talking about our neighbors, children, women, men, grandparents, mothers, students?...It is easy to dehumanize this topic so when decisions are made we don’t feel guilty. She quotes the League’s position on Immigration and urges members to learn more about how current policies are affecting real lives....Along with Deschutes League, Lincoln County is involved with the Project Homeless Connect, and will offer Voter Registration at the event in Newport. Project Homeless Connect is a nationwide movement, a one-day, “one-stop” event offering assistance with housing, health care, legal issues, etc. In past years services in Lincoln County have included free haircuts, pet food, clothing, hygiene products, immunizations, dental check-ups, eye exams and a good meal..... President ruth Kistler has included in their newsletter a very informative report about this year’s Oregon Shores conference which was devoted to the coastal climate change caused by global warming. She points out that action is needed to slow the pace of global warming and to adapt our coastal communities to the changing climate.
MARION-POLK COUNTIES FOCUS. The League took action in support of the Legislature’s budget including some two tax increases by preparing a Guest Opinion which was published by the Statesman Journal, including our advice to Decline to Sign..... The second annual Constitution Day Celebration is coming up on September 17, with retired Supreme Court Justice Susan Leeson speaking about “The Courts from Inside and Out.” The evening’s program at the public library will also feature a debate between students from West Salem and McNary high schools, who are members of the Mock Trial teams at their schools, debating about the selection processes for judges in federal and state courts. .... The Fall Membership Brunch speaker will be Secretary of State Kate Brown, speaking about Oregon’s election and campaign systems, and her goals in office. Cost of the brunch is $15, and members are invited to bring guests for a reduced charge of $5 each. as a way to include more prospective League members. Silent Auction items for the brunch include a pie service (one a month for 6 months), gardening advice, a cooking lesson, Pentacle Theater tickets, a beach house weekend at Yachats and an evening of stargazing with a local astronomer at his own observatory. ...Long-time League member Polly Hare died on July 28 at age 91. She first joined in southern California in the 1940's, and was active in the local League since moving here in 1969, receiving our Founders Award in 1989.... The first Summer Social for LWV MPC was a very enjoyable occasion with members and guests enjoying a potluck picnic , lots of good conversation and several selections by the Awesome Aunties. Plans are under way to publish the League lyrics as a fund raising project for the local League.
PORTLAND VOTER. For their September General Meeting the Portland League has invited Robert Liberty, Metro Councilor, to speak on “Issues in the Metro Area.” A resident of the Richmond neighborhood, he was elected to the council in 2004 and again in 2008, and his interests include promoting redevelopment in town centers and along main streets, increasing transportation and housing choices, conserving natural areas inside and outside the urban growth boundary, and giving citizens a stronger role in regional planning decisions. Metro has the distinction of being the only regional government agency in the US whose governing body is directly elected by the region’s voters. .... The Action Committee will have a Kick-Off meeting this month to review activities over the summer, discuss strategy and make plans for the coming year. The Portland Plan Study Circle will be reactivated this fall, and is inviting members to join it.....Many contacts have been made and detailed arrangements are in place for welcoming visitors from Russia as part of the Open World Civic Hosting program October 10 - 18. .... League members continue to take part in naturalization ceremonies for new citizens, welcoming them and inviting them to fill out voter registration cards. At the July ceremony there were 76 new citizens from 39 different countries. .... “A Primer - Where Does the Web Fit In? - At the September Unit meetings League members will be shown how to use the internet to get the most out of League membership and assist in individual political advocacy.
ROGUE VALLEY VOTER’S VOICE. Steve Neuberger, Southern Oregon organizer for the nationwide group Health Care for America Now (HCAN) will be the speaker for the September meeting on Health Care Reform at the Medford Library. HCAN is a national grassroots campaign of over 1000 organizations representing 30 million people dedicated to winning quality, affordable health care in 2009....Porter Lombard, in his “Land Use Update” reports on a couple of bills: HB 2001 was a comprehensive transportation package to raise revenue while addressing climate change. However it also included road building projects that will increase sprawl and green house gas emissions, and cut transit and bike funding; HB 3099 will require that schools sited in the Exclusive Farm Use zone must serve primarily a rural population.
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