VOTER 2025 Convention Edition
- Lindsay LaPlante
- Jun 20
- 8 min read
Greetings Members and Friends,
The 2025 Oregon State Convention was held in Salem this past May. Please join me in expressing our sincere gratitude to the host League of Marion/Polk, State Events Chair Eileen Burke-Trent, and all of the people that made it happen.
You will get a flavor for the event in this newsletter and I hope you can take a bit of time and listen to some of the Workshop and Presentation links.
In these turbulent times, we know that being in community and partnering with like-minded organizations is crucial to survive and thrive. As such, in this edition of the VOTER, I am also excited to share about our new connection through the VOTER GIRL Project with the Girl Scouts, who participated in our Convention this year.
In League,
Lisa Bentson
President
League of Women Voters of Oregon
Contents:
Convention 2025:
Convention Overview
League of Women Voters of Oregon members gathered in Salem in early May to vote on League business and enjoy the company of like-minded people dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy.
LWVOR Convention is a biennial event to network, brainstorm, attend caucuses and workshops, and vote on business proceedings. The event focuses on local, state and national issues. The theme for the event, “Navigating Democracy’s Next Wave,” spoke to the continued determination of League members to forge ahead in uncertain times, and that spirit was reflected in the conversations that took place at tables and in hallways throughout the venue. League members shared smiles and hugs as they gathered together to discuss the business at hand or catch up on each other’s lives.
The event kicked off with a lunch cruise on the Willamette Queen, a historic riverboat moored on the Willamette River in Salem. League members then met in small groups for the traditional dine-around event, where attendees visited local restaurants and explored the host city. The dine-around was followed by the first annual wine, cheese, and chocolate social, where League members were invited to meet in the Presidential suite for an informal evening gathering.
The Saturday Convention business sessions began with a grand opening ceremony, commencing with a color guard flag march conducted by Girl Scout troops. League members enjoyed professional floral displays put together by the Garden Club and Capitol Design Guild, who were partners for the event. Local dignitaries for the cities of Salem and Keizer, Mayor Julie Hoy and Mayor Cathy Clark, offered brief remarks to round out the opening ceremony.
The business session was followed by a series of afternoon workshops, which covered topics from the State Library of Oregon partnership to K-12 Concurrence information and a review of the Oregon State Courts. League members enjoyed dinner from a local caterer as the evening keynote speaker, Alexis Juday-Marshall, spoke about Oregon’s successes and shared a call to continue the work to defend democracy.
The final business session was conducted on Sunday morning, where spirited debates took place as the votes commenced on bylaws amendments, concurrence adoptions, program positions, and approving the state budget. Levity prevailed as the business session drew to a close, with one League member standing to proclaim “May the Fourth be with you” (in honor of the May 4th date) to laughter and applause.
Laughs, smiles, and enthusiastic conversations were hallmarks of the event, signaling the most important aspect of the Convention: Spending time with like-minded League members and event partners, engaged in the vital work to defend democracy but also in building community with one another. As Alexis Juday-Marshall shared in her keynote speech, “collaborating with others who care deeply about our democracy is essential to fulfilling our mission.” Working together with each other and with communities and coalitions across Oregon, League members continue the vital work to secure the future of our country. While political perils of great magnitude persist, the attitude at the 2025 Convention was one of determination and hope.
Community Partnerships:
VOTER GIRL Project
In an expansion of partnership, the LWVOR Board recently approved the purchase of the LWVUS-approved VOTER GIRL program for statewide use with all league members. LWV members attend troop meetings and Girl Scout camp events to help troop leaders and train Scouts to earn several types of badges. Girl Scouts can also participate in many different LWV activities and priorities, including with their proprietary version of VOTE411.org together with their “Promote the Vote” national service project.
VOTER GIRL is a badge program with age appropriate civics activities and projects for Girl Scouts in K-12 levels developed by LWV Ohio and approved by LWVUS. For more information on VOTER GIRL in Oregon, please watch out for more details in our upcoming monthly newsletter as well as for future outreach to Local Leagues and Units.
Advocacy: Lobby Day
League of Women Voters of Oregon members were invited to join a Lobby Day event at the Oregon State Capitol on the Friday before the Convention. Lobby Day attendees met with legislators and advocated for the issues the League cares about. League members met legislators virtually via laptop stations at the State Library of Oregon in addition to attending meetings at the Capitol.
Jean Pierce, organizer and Action Committee Chair, provided scripts for League members to engage with legislators on a variety of topics.
After the interviews, League members gathered at the State Library for hybrid meetings with federal legislators’ staff members. Aides from the offices of Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley spoke to League members about federal legislation impacting Oregon constituents.
Please contact advocacy@lwvor.org to learn how you can help the League track and advocate for legislation in the following areas. Training is available!
League Business: Business Session Summary
Proposed Program
MOTION to accept 2025 Program: Retain all current positions, including Recall and Childcare.
Vote: Passed unanimously
MOTION to adopt consensus study (K-12 Education):
Note: There are 30 LWVOR members interested in working on this study, representing every local League. It was suggested that we have a video or other visual aids that can help members understand the process and results when time comes for local Leagues and units to review the study within their membership.
Vote: Passed
MOTION to accept five concurrences (voting separately):
Assessment and High Stakes Testing PA 2015, Attracting and Supporting Well-qualified Teachers NM 2021, Charter Schools IL 2015, Civic Education KY 2013, Using Public Funds for Non-Public Schools NJ 1995, 2007
Vote: Passed
Proposed Budget
MOTION to amend budget line Class 101, Coalitions, to make the number $950.
Vote: Pass unanimously
MOTION to adopt the 2025-26 Budget, as amended.
Vote: Passed unanimously
Proposed Bylaws
Two motions to amend the proposed 2025 LWVOR Bylaws: Becky Gladstone
MOTION to amend Article VII, Sec 1: Change responsibility for filling a Nominating Committee vacancy to the board.
This change will require some Policies and Procedures information to support it about whether the vacancy is for a board or non-board position. Perhaps this whole sentence should go to P&P?
Does this apply to a vacant chair or committee member? Nominating Committee Chair is selected by the committee and that selection is not a formal one.
Suggested that the wording should include a second by a member of the Nominating Committee.
MOTION to amend the amendment to read “Any vacancy mid-term on the Nominating Committee shall be filled in accordance with the LWVOR Policies and Procedures.”
MOTION to further amend Article III Section 2 and 3 bullet point, (and 11 other related instances): Change the terminology for “non-affiliated” members to more clearly define the group of LWVOR members who belong to neither a local League nor a state unit. The term “non-affiliated” is also used to describe a type of voter registration. We don’t want this to be confused with whether the LWVOR members are affiliated with a political party or not. The intention here is to distinguish between the three different types of members of LWVOR: local League members, state unit members, and those who belong to neither. This is usually because there is no LL or unit available in their region but sometimes it is a personal choice of members to only join the state.
MOTION to amend the current amendment on the floor for Article III Section 2 to define “non-affiliated” members in the text of the 2025 LWVOR Bylaws using this terminology… LWVOR members may belong to local Leagues, state units, or neither. (And to replace the 11 other related instances to reflect that change.)
MOTION to adopt the Proposed Bylaws as twice amended.
Vote: Passed unanimously
Election of Officers and Directors
MOTION to elect officers and directors for 2025-27 as listed in the slate presented by the Nominating Committee.
Vote: Passed unanimously
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Renewed Commitment to DEIJ
Approved 4/14/25
Shared at Convention by Elizabeth Kirby, Outgoing LWVOR DEIJ Chair
As our nation grapples with increasing polarization, including recent executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion, it's natural to feel uncertain about what lies ahead.
In 2020, LWVUS renewed its commitment to DEI and continues to stand by that commitment now. LWVUS has made it clear: attacks on DEI are attacks on democracy itself. DEI is not a partisan issue - it is foundational to a representative democracy where every voice is heard and every vote counts.
The League of Women Voters of Oregon, in alignment with LWVUS, stands ready to support local Leagues and members in their continuing work to promote equity, foster inclusion, and cultivate diverse voices.
Although the future may seem murky, our purpose remains bright. Together, we'll continue to uphold our values and carry out the League’s mission of empowering voters and defending democracy - for everyone.
Convention 2025: Workshops
Six workshops took place at the 2025 LWVOR Convention:
Workshop 1: Future-Proofing The League as organized by LWVOR Youth Council Panel/Presenters
Workshop 2: Oregon’s State Courts: Checks, Balances, and Ethics, presented by Mark Kendall and Amy Vandegrift
Workshop 3: Proposed Study: K-12 Education’s Five Concurrences, presented by Advocacy Chair Jean Pierce
Workshop 4: State Libraries and Our League Partnership, as organized by Alice LaViolette
Workshop 5: Growing Together: Recruiting New Members and Engaging Our Membership. Presented by Joyce Durban, LWV of Deschutes County, and Diana DeMaria, LWVOR Membership Coordinator
Workshop 6: Making the United Nations Part of your Local League Program. Presented by: Robin Tokmakian - LWVUS UN Observer
Copies of all the event recordings, including workshops and the Saturday evening speaker, are available in the Event Recording section of the LWVOR website.
Convention Highlight: Membership Grants
LWVOR was thrilled to announce that the state League initiated a membership dues grant program for the 2025-26 year.
What does this mean? It means each League will receive a $200 check sent from LWVOR (Units will have $200 in your account in the LWVOR books) to sponsor up to ten league memberships in your community at the minimum $20 pay-what-you-can sliding scale. This does not mean just students, it can be for anyone who is facing a financial barrier to becoming a member in the League. We do not need to know their basis of need, just that they are interested.
Recipients will be registered for a one-year annual membership in your League or Unit. Membership in a local League or Unit includes membership with the League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) and the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS).
Your $200 will remain with you until used for accessible memberships and Leagues/Units will be reporting to the LWVOR Board in January 2026 and July 2026 on the number of memberships sponsored in each League and Unit.
If any League or Unit needs support with media messaging or process, please contact Lindsay LaPlante.
Keynote Speaker: Alexis Juday-Marshall
League members welcomed Alexis Juday-Marshall to the Convention on Saturday night as the event’s keynote speaker. Juday-Marshall serves as an LWVUS Board Member and liaison to the Oregon Leagues.
Juday-Marshall spoke to Oregon’s strengths in supporting voter service efforts among its constituents, particularly in the areas of redistricting, automatic voter registration, and advocacy for rural and tribal voter participation.
In a speech that celebrated Oregon’s successes while also encouraging League members to rise up to the challenge of defending democracy, Juday-Marshall thanked those attending for the work they have been doing and encouraged them to continue forward in the efforts to shape democracy for generations to come.
To view the Keynote speech, please click here.
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