August 2026 President's Update

The excitement of the League of Women Voters of the United States Convention has settled, and now it's time to turn inspiration into action.

Our new national president, Sania Irwin, has reaffirmed the League's commitment to taking bold action in defense of democracy.

LWVOR President Mark Kendall poses with LWV National President Sania Irwin at the 2026 LWV Convention.

During our conversations at the Convention, she praised LWV Oregon's leadership in expanding youth membership, challenging federal overreach through the courts, and making the strategic decision to strengthen our capacity by doubling our staff. Just as importantly, she committed National's support to help amplify our work, improve collaboration among state Leagues, and share successful strategies so we can spend less time reinventing the wheel and more time advancing our mission.

That momentum continues August 9-10, when the LWVOR Board of Directors and portfolio leaders gather for our annual Board Retreat. This year's theme, "Not More, But How?", reflects our focus on working smarter, building stronger systems, and preparing the League for the future.

Together, we will develop a succession planning framework modeled after the national League, review our organizational structure, and clarify roles and responsibilities across every portfolio. We'll also tackle important questions that will shape the future of LWV Oregon:

• How do we consistently uphold our statewide brand?

• How do we recruit young members and keep them engaged?

• What does it take for local and state Leagues to model civil discourse?

• Which leadership roles need stronger succession plans and recruitment strategies?

• How do we better prepare Board members and volunteer leaders for their fiduciary responsibilities?

• What tools and practices can reduce volunteer fatigue and burnout?

  
  

Just as importantly, we'll define how we measure success. We'll identify key performance indicators that allow us to track our progress, including:

• The number of Oregon high schools participating in the Student Mock Election.

• Member retention rates.

• Growth in youth membership year over year.

• Additional metrics that reflect the health and impact of our organization.

  
  

We're also excited to share a few staffing updates.

LWV Oregon recently welcomed Andrea Capere as our new Communications Coordinator. Andrea has quickly immersed herself in the League's work, bringing fresh ideas, strategic communications expertise, and a thoughtful approach to strengthening our outreach. As she continues to learn the many moving parts of our organization, we appreciate your patience and partnership during this transition.

We're also pleased to announce that Lindsay LaPlante has accepted the role of half-time Development Director. Lindsay has served as our half-time Membership and VOTE411 Director, and during the search process for a Development Director, the Human Resources Committee recognized that her deep relationships with local Leagues and strong understanding of LWVOR's fundraising needs made her an outstanding fit. We look forward to the leadership she'll bring in this expanded role.

There is tremendous energy across the League of Women Voters of Oregon. Thank you to our local Leagues, volunteers, and members for welcoming our new staff, supporting one another, and continuing to stand together in defense of democracy and the empowerment of voters.

In League,

Mark Kendall

LWVOR President