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The State League pays monthly for a Pro Zoom account, which lets us host meetings of up to 100 participants with no limit on meeting time. State Zoom account is available on a first come, first served basis. Default meeting time is one hour - please contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org if you need more time.

Spring raced right on by in my garden, along with nearly half of the year! The seeds of change are now planted there and with the League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR). Our Council business meeting, held in Salem this year, was attended by delegates from every local League with only one of our smaller Units not represented. Council is where we conduct League business that our bylaws require decisions by a majority of representatives of our entire LWVOR membership. We had a quorum and the requisite votes to pass a remarkable budget, select new board members and officers, and to review and refresh our Strategic Plan goals and objectives. We were motivated by an academic review of the dire nature of these political times and had our hopes rekindled by hearing the aspirations of our youth. The 2026 -2027 budget draws on our reserves like at no other time in this leagues history. If reserves are held for a rainy day, currently it's pouring. The membership spoke and we have united and risen to the challenges arrayed against democracy. We reviewed the eight LWVOR 2025 - 2030 Strategic Plan objectives to get a sense of our progress since September of last year and what the outcomes of our work are shaping up to be. We addressed branding, voter service, youth advocacy, Oregon Mock Student Elections, fiduciary responsibility, strategic alliances and yes, civil discourse and burnout. Our working groups are identifying how we address those needs within the framework of our Leagues positions and principles and grow them into the fabric of our everyday work with our new budget and Board. Dr. William Smaldone, a PhD in history at Willamette University is a double Fulbright scholar and world expert in German and European history. He provided a detailed comparative analysis between the societal, cultural, political, economic, technical and industrial aspects of 1939 Germany and 2026 Washington DC. Chilling to say the least, but motivating just the same. Evan Tucker, a league member from Lane County and member of the LWVOR Board, gave a rousing presentation about his experience as an early member of LWVOR’s Youth Council and why that engagement matters for youth. Georgia Livny of Portland spoke of her life’s goal of becoming a public health physician. It is outstanding and uplifting to hear such a clear, compassionate and informed voice of reason and care come from one as young as 17 years old. She spoke of how her tenure with the Youth Council shaped and informed her academic and social pursuits. Georgia is most definitely one of us and some of you have rubbed off on her. In our youth I see the promise of the future, here and now. Our devoted Action Committee, headed by Jean Pierce, produced an outstanding video that summarizes the myriad issues members advocate from our held positions in the Oregon legislature and with the public at large. This is a great introduction to the people and their dedication to the Action Committees work. Please show it to your leagues or the general public as a recruitment tool for league or Action Committee membership. Action is always looking for both experts and generalists familiar with specific natural resource, societal, political, academic or cultural arenas of our work. Want to learn what it means to be a lobbyist, how to give legislative testimony or present research findings to decision makers? Then our Action Committee can provide you that training and use your enthusiasm and help. The largest LWVOR budget in history was passed for 2026 -2027. Starting in July, LWVOR is authorized to invest $393,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 from revenues and over $160,000 of our three quarters of a million in savings. With that budget, we will retain our one permanent full-time staff and have four contract employees for a total of 3 full time equivalents. A doubling of historical staff resources! It’s essentially a lot more help to address the ongoing achievement of LWVOR strategic objectives and to support the work of our local leagues and units. Abigail Hertzler will continue as our expert Administrative Director and Lindsay LaPlante will continue on as ½ time contractor focusing specifically on Membership and VOTE411. Our newest contractor, Andrea Capere, will help implement our Communications and Marketing portfolio objectives under the guidance of first Vice President and Communications Chair, Barbara Klein. Over the summer our Human Resources Committee, headed by Barbara Keirnes-Young, will add two more half - time specialists. A new Development Coordinator will address fiduciary responsibility and help share best practices for fundraising with our fifteen local leagues while developing relationships with the philanthropic communities aligned with our mission. A new Youth Outreach Coordinator will help us grow our reach into the ranks of youth motivated to shape their own and societies collective futures. Together, these new staff will sustain our growth in membership, maintain our fiduciary responsibility, and help us develop the strategic alliances called for now to defend democracy and empower voters. To cap off the Council weekend, the membership elected and appointed six Board members. Our very dedicated Nominations Committee, led by Annie Goldner of the Deschutes League, brought us a slate of excellent candidates. Three Board members terms were renewed and three brand new Board Members joined us. I, Mark Kendall was elected President of the League after having served six months as Interim. Jean Pierce, our 2nd Vice President, was re-elected to another two-year term to continue her leadership of our Action Committee. After having served as a Youth Council member of the Board, Evan Tucker was selected to serve another two years on the Board. Justin Ludwig of Lane County League was Board appointed in April. Jodi Gill of the Corvallis League was elected and Lin Mallardi from the Deschutes League was elected to the position of Treasurer to follow in the footsteps of our dedicated outgoing treasurer, Kermit Yensen. Take a look at the Council Workbook for details of these new members qualifications. We are in good hands. ________ Is it Council or Convention this year you ask? Well, it depends on whether you’re talking LWVUS or LWVOR. The LWVUS Convention is coming right up in Columbus, Ohio, June 25 -28th . If any Oregon local Leagues or Units will not have delegates representing them at the national LWVUS Convention, please let the LWVOR office know if you haven't already. We may have colleagues in attendance as observers that can carry your proxy. We want our voices heard! There are a number of workshops required of delegates in advance of the LWVUS Convention. Registration is now closed for in person LWVUS Convention Attendance. However, you can register for these pre-convention educational workshops regardless of your Convention registration status. You need to register and can attend them in real-time on ZOOM in person or view them at a later time but only if you registered for them in advance. Do register and participate, these are designed to improve your participation and effectiveness engaging your colleagues from across the nation, and they’re required of delegates. These are excellent workshops if you plan to attend Convention virtually as an observer or even in future years. Those workshops include: Monday, June 1 at 2pm PT 2026 Convention Rules and Parliamentary Procedure​ Wednesday, June 3 at 2pm PT 2026 Convention Bylaws Q&A​ Monday, June 8 at 12pm PT 2026 Convention: Debate and Voting for Virtual Delegates Tuesday, June 9 at 3pm PT Your Future Leadership: Meet the 2026–2028 LWVUS Slate of Nominees Wednesday, June 10 at 1pm PT Resolutions Committee Office Hours​​ Monday, June 15 at 12pm PT 2026 Convention: Budget Information Pre-Convention Webinar​ Tuesday, June 16 at 2pm PT 2026 Convention: Debate and Voting for In-Person Delegates Ongoing league governance requires planning, attention to detail and process, time- commitment, and effective organization. Our local, state and national leagues Council and Convention events are our vehicles to just and effective governance. Thank you for all your dedicated service. In League, Mark Kendall LWVOR President

Jean Pierce, Action Chair Occasionally I am asked why the League engages in advocacy. Right from the start - when the League was first created, women were demanding the ability to vote in order to make their voices heard about issues important to them. At that time, the issues included child welfare, education, the home and high prices, women in gainful occupations, public health and morals, and independent citizenship for married women. LWVOR Action Committee members hold portfolios for the issues they address. They attend committee meetings, track legislation, and write legislative reports. In addition, they draft and present testimony supporting or opposing legislation based on positions approved by the League membership and published in LWVOR’s Issues for Action and LWVUS’s Impact on Issues. Currently, there are 25 active members of the committee but more are needed! Please contact advocacy@lwvor.org to learn how you can help make the League’s voice heard on issues important to you. Be sure to watch the video summarizing League work during the 2026 legislative session and describing our needs for volunteers.

If your League has local events that you would like listed here, please send them to Lindsay LaPlante to be included below. ⭐LWV of Clackamas County LWV of Clackamas County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Coos County LWV of Coos County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Corvallis LWV of Corvallis Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Curry County LWV of Curry County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Deschutes County LWV of Deschutes County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Klamath County LWV of Klamath County Events ⭐LWV of Lane County LWV of Lane County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Lincoln County LWV of Lincoln County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Linn County Unit LWV of Linn County Unit Facebook page ⭐LWV of Marion and Polk Counties LWV of Marion and Polk Counties Events Page ⭐LWV of Portland LWV of Portland Website ⭐LWV of Rogue Valley LWV of Rogue Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Union County Unit LWV of Union County Unit Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Umpqua Valley LWV of Umpqua Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Washington County Unit LWV of Washington County Unit Events Calendar

The League of Women Voters of Oregon seeks to empower voters to understand governmental issues and to participate in the political process. STAY INFORMED! Sign up for all League communications and newsletters here! Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. Youth Civic Engagement Join the League Legislative Reports Read Our Studies Latest News League Promotional Items For Sale League Updates June 2026 Local League and State Unit Events Voter Newsletter 2026 Civic Holidays Voter Newsletter Read More LWV Urges Congress to Exercise Its Authority Read the Letter To become a member, join one of 15 local Leagues and Units in Oregon. Learn more about join ing Oregon's Sanctuary Law: Know Your Rights Learn more Attend An Event See Events Check out upcoming public events happening around the state. Events are hosted by LWVOR and other Oregon Leagues.

LWVOR Event Recordings. An archive of past events and meetings. / Event Recording Archive / Event Recording Archive LWVOR Events and Webinars Sign in LWVOR Events and Webinars Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... All Categories All Categories Council/Convention Nonprofits & Activism Outreach Circle People & Blogs Tutorial Unite and Rise Voter Service Webinar Now Playing 05:30:54 Play Video LWVOR Council 2026 Now Playing 55:29 Play Video Communications Cafe: How to Raise a Citizen Now Playing 59:41 Play Video Statewide Voter Service Meeting - 3/18/26 Now Playing 53:06 Play Video Communications Cafe - Black Voters Matter

Learn more about Oregon's safe and secure Vote-By-Mail process. / Voting / Vote By Mail / Vote By Mail Best Practices In Oregon Oregonians love Vote By Mail! 💌 Oregon was the first full Vote by Mail (VBM) state. Of course, we can vote in-person at Elections offices. LWVOR encourages voters to save Oregon taxpayers the prepaid postage cost. Use the ballot dropboxes (Oregon Drop Box Locator ) 🗳️ when you can! The League posts this map on our site during election seasons. Put in your address to find your nearest ballot dropbox, and find your ballot information on Vote411.org . See Oregon’s Vote By Mail Procedures Manual . It is posted with other elections’ manuals and tutorials . We hope these videos and FAQs will help you! Please contact us if we can help, lwvor@lwvor.org . Watch Election Security With Vote by Mail This video is about Election Security with the Vote-by-Mail process in Oregon. Watch Now FAQs about voting in Oregon BIPOC Support & Voter Turnout Measuring Effectiveness Best Practices Counting Timelines Securing Ballots Public Messaging Who are key allies for supporting VBM? Do they include BIPOC groups, the disability community, etc.? The ACLU, Common Cause, and political parties are regulars, and they may not work directly with LWV. Disability Rights Oregon is very active but strictly advocates for their limited constituency, not to benefit voters overall. The State Library, TBABS, Talking Books and Braille Services, works directly for vision-related concerns. Keep in mind those advocating for current ballot measure issues, eg League of Conservation Voters, education communities, etc. What research or data can you share to show that voting by mail actually increased turnout, especially among underrepresented groups? See The SoS Election Statistics page for general, primary, special election turnout, and ballot return history since 2000. OR VBM statistics, a comprehensive history, from 1981 up to 2006. Watch The Path of a Ballot in Multnomah County Have you wondered what path your ballot takes from being produced, cast and counted? Here are some answers. Watch Now More Resources 🎥 Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess talks Voting Security 🎥 How Lane County Elections Processes Your Ballot 🎥 LWVM-P & Oregon's Elections Director on VBM