by Josie Koehne, Coordinator Since the close of session in June and our Sine Die report on September 14, there is little to report since the Legislature has not been in session, and the committees that were to convene on September 22-25 were canceled due to a case of Covid in the state Legislature, as well as an extension of the Special Redistricting Session, not yet concluded due to disagreements concerning the CD maps. However, the Department of Revenue (DOR) has put out a draft Revenue’s 2021-2027 Strategic Plan , and is seeking public input in a virtual open house as part of its Strategic Plan Update from September 23—October 6. The plan includes a description of its mission, vision and values. The DOR is “committed to bringing in the revenue that Oregon counts on, whether it's through tax programs we administer, supporting our partners’ revenue collection efforts, or collecting on debts owed the state of Oregon. Our mission, vision, and values define our purpose and guide our work. The plan has four priorities for 2021-2017: 1) ensuring dignity and inclusion for all, 2) making it simpler to work with us, 3) training and preparing our workforce for the future, and 4) enhancing data access and use. It describes where the 54 revenue streams come from (31 tax programs, 8 fee programs, and 15 administrative or pass-through programs) that the department administers, and where the revenue goes to provide services to Oregonians. To do the planning, DOR conducted numerous surveys and workshops and developed metrics to evaluate and measure success over time for each of its 13 goals. These are: Goal 1: Create and implement a Racial Equity Plan. Measure success according to guidance from the Governor and DAS for state agency racial equity plans. Goal 2: Create and use Racial Equity Impact Statements. Measure success according to guidance from the Governor and DAS for state agency racial impact statements. Goal 3: Upgrade to modern call center and phone systems. Measure success based on incoming call data, and customer service satisfaction ratings. Goal 4: Improve online services. Measure success based on incoming call data, customer surveys, and GenTax analytics. Goal 5 : Improve website features and functionality. Measure success based on incoming call data, customer surveys, and Google Analytics. Goal 6 : Improve the quality of correspondence. Measure success based on customer surveys and customer service satisfaction ratings. Goal 7 : Accept all payments for all programs regardless of a customer’s access point. Measure success based on customer surveys and customer service satisfaction ratings. Goal 8 : Enhance employee training. Measure success based on employee training data. Goal 9 : Ensure new managers have the tools they need to succeed. Measure success based on employee training data. Goal 10 : Facilitate knowledge transfer and cross-training. Measure success based on employee training. Goal 11 : Improve data literacy. Measure success based on surveys of customers' perception of their ability to read, work with, analyze, and communicate with data. Goal 12: Develop data governance. Measure success based on surveys of customers' perception of whether data is usable, accessible, and protected. Goal 13 : Create and execute a data strategy. Complete and adopt a data strategy and implement a data strategy lifecycle. The department seems to have gone through a rigorous self-evaluation process. We think the plan is excellent, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. “The State of Oregon is committed to establishing strong leadership to eradicate racial and other forms of disparities in all aspects of state government. We look to center equity in budgeting, planning, procurement, and policymaking. We work to strengthen public involvement through community engagement, access to information, and decision-making opportunities. We work to improve equitable access to our services, programs, and resources. We work to foster an inclusive workplace culture.”

by Norman Turrill, Coordinator Redistricting The special session of the Legislative Assembly concluded Monday, the deadline, with passage of the legislative and congressional maps proposed by the supermajority Democrats. The session dragged on without agreement for almost a week! The drama was all about the congressional redistricting bill, SB 881 , which the Senate passed along party lines. The original version would have produced 4 safe Democratic districts, one Democratic leaning district, and one safe Republican district. The most egregious district would have been CD 3 stretching from the Willamette River in Portland to Bend in central Oregon. Four CDs would radiate from the Portland area, clearly a gerrymander. Republicans were clearly unhappy with the original bill, but a possible walkout was made moot when an undisclosed person in the Capitol tested positive for COVID-19, delaying a House session until Saturday morning. In the meantime, Democrats tried to lure Republicans with a -3 SB 881 amendment , which would have produced 3 safe Democratic districts, one Democratic leaning district, one swing district, and one safe Republican district. This plan’s most egregious feature was that three CDs crossed the Cascade Mountains, Oregon’s largest geographic barrier, and four CDs would still radiate from the Portland area. After a game of chicken where most Republicans did not show up and denied a Saturday session quorum, the -3 amendment ultimately passed the House Monday on party-line votes. The Senate had to repass SB 881 with a party-line vote before final adjournment. The legislative redistricting bill, SB 882 , was by comparison relatively non-controversial; although, all Senate and House Republicans and two Democrats still voted against it. Various redistricting evaluation services rated the proposal as fairly well drawn. The People Not Politicians coalition decided Monday to go ahead with gathering the first 1000 signatures to qualify IP 34 for the ballot title process. Lawsuits have been threatened, so stay tuned! Campaign Finance Reform Because the legislature failed to adopt any campaign finance reform bill to implement the Measure 107 constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2020, a collaboration of organizations, including the LWVOR and organized by Honest Elections Oregon , have been meeting with stakeholders to draft an initiative petition for the 2022 ballot. Election Topics Two referendums to repeal HB 2681 about cleaning voter rolls and HB 3291 to repeal the election day postmark bill failed to collect enough signatures.

by Anne Nesse LWVOR would like to clear up some media mis-information about temporarily revising Oregon’s High School graduation requirements, with a more accurate OPB report . “So what has actually changed since signing SB 744 in the 2021 Legislative Session? The short answer is, not much.” “Senate Bill 744 orders a review of state graduation requirements and suspends a requirement that Oregon 2022, 2023, and 2024 students show proficiency in Essential Learning Skills in order to graduate. Oregon students still have to pass their high school classes and earn 24 credits to graduate. State tests are coming back this year after two years' absence, with state summative assessments scheduled for early 2022. But with the removal of the Essential Skills requirement, high school students no longer have to reach a certain score, or turn in a portfolio of work samples.” We are now on hold till our Department of Education works on better guidelines than just one test or set of materials , to determine our student’s abilities upon graduation. “Districts have already started sharing ODE’s notice form to alert parents.” Several legislators pointed out that the Covid Pandemic provided us with an “opportunity” to re-assess how we were actually evaluating student’s basic abilities.

Public Hearings Sept. 22, 23 and 24 Date: September 16, 2021 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator The League of Women Voters of Oregon supported SB 762, the omnibus wildfire bill. Now agencies are writing the rules to implement the bill. The Board of Forestry has opened a public comment period, from now through October 1, on whether the state should adopt the WUI definition that is most commonly used throughout the United States, especially in the West, and by the federal government - the “International Wildfire Urban Interface Code” definition: “that geographical area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with wildland or vegetative fuels”. As a reminder: on the final day of the 2021 session, the legislature passed Oregon’s first comprehensive, forward-looking wildfire preparedness and resiliency bill, Senate Bill 762. This bill is a critical step for Oregon to increase community preparedness, reduce future wildfire risk, and build resiliency to withstand the increasing severity and frequency of wildfires in Oregon. Now it is time to implement SB 762 – the bill requires several state agencies to take actions and make investments towards achieving that wildfire resiliency. The Oregon Board of Forestry is currently in the process of adopting a definition of “wildland urban interface” (WUI) – this is the foundational definition on which much of the state’s wildfire preparedness investments, regulations, and guidance will be based. The Board needs to hear from you – how have Oregon’s recent wildfires impacted your life, and what do you expect from the state to better prepare Oregon & all Oregonians for the future? Right now, the Board especially needs to hear that: Oregon should adopt the International WUI Code Definition: “ that geographical area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with wildland or vegetative fuels” . Adopting a scientifically sound, comprehensive, and nationally recognized WUI definition based on best practices is essential to protect life, property, and firefighter safety in the wake of increasingly extreme and dangerous wildfire conditions. The International WUI Code definition is nationally recognized and used in professional applications at the local, state, and federal level. Nearly every western state, and many states across the nation, have already adopted all or part of the International WUI Code. The International WUI definition is recognized by the Council of Western State Foresters, federal agencies, fire managers, and other government and professional bodies. The 2020 wildfire season in Oregon burned over 1 million acres and destroyed more than 4000 homes. One-sixth of Oregonians were under evacuation orders! Oregon must improve our wildfire response systems, and the status quo of unfunded and inconsistent WUI approaches is no longer acceptable. IN 2021, over 850,000 acres and over 160 residences have already burned in Oregon, and the fire season is not yet over. Oregon needs a consistent and clear definition that is recognized by scientists, fire managers, and government bodies, not a one-off definition that risks unintended consequences and could allow interests to game the process. Having a nationally recognized WUI definition is important to ensure Oregon is eligible to secure federal funds for programs related to the WUI. Customized issues will be addressed in the extensive WUI criteria development process that will follow the adoption of the WUI definition, to account for unique local circumstances and features. Adopting this definition is simply the foundational starting point, which will be detailed and refined in additional public processes over the next 5 months. This rule is the first step in implementing SB 762. Another rulemaking committee is developing the set of specific maps identifying which properties are most at risk. Look for opportunities to comment on those maps in the coming months. For now, we support this foundational definition as work continues to refine the work specifically for a diverse Oregon. Send your experiences and comments to the Board of Forestry at: sb762.rulemaking@oregon.gov You can also speak at one of three public hearings by logging into the below zoom links and indicating you want to testify: Sept. 22, 2021, 2 p.m ., Zoom meeting Sept. 23, 2021, 7 p.m., Zoom meeting Sept. 24, 2021, 9 a.m., Zoom meeting To learn more about this WUI rulemaking process, go to: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/board/Pages/rac. aspx

Dear LWVOR Members, Welcome to fall, with cooler weather and harvests. There is plenty for League members to do this September despite being between major election cycles. You can virtually attend and testify in redistricting hearings next week! Join the Pesticides study discussions. National Voter Registration Day 2021 is September 28. A virtual October Fall Workshop is in the works. Please read on for details and more news: Oregon’s redistricting is our current Top Priority Issue Studies updates, and Pesticide consensus links Voter Education, Ranked Choice Voting, and National Voter Registration Day Reserve your evenings October 13-15 and part of Saturday the 16th for the Fall Workshop Please welcome our new VOTER editor--Connie Bozarth--from Corvallis! Action is wrapping up the post-session Sine Die report Recommended reading: Six Grandfathers Mountain, (aka Mt Rushmore). Please keep in touch, be well, stay safe. Let’s dig in and get back to work! Becky Gladstone, LWVOR President Redistricting Important redistricting events are happening right now that may alter the power of our votes for the next decade. If that sounds like overreaching, please watch the LWVOR Redistricting webinar and see our Redistricting page for details, including the timeline. Act now! Midnight, September 2, tomorrow, is the deadline. Apply here . If the legislative redistricting process fails, the SoS may convene a Secretary of State’s Redistricting People’s Commission . This is not the Independent Redistricting Commission we tried to get on the ballot. Legislative (virtual) redistricting hearings are next week! Attend your congressional district’s hearing and testify; register on the Oregon State Redistricting Page . The Brennan Center offers 6 Tips for Making Effective Comments at a Redistricting Hearing . Catch up by reading the August LWVOR Redistricting news . Studies Update The Election Systems study update is ready to begin expert interviews. The committee has sent a proposed scope to the board for adoption. Email our staff to join the committee for the 1985 Child Care position study update . Please read the LWVOR Pesticides and Biocides study . It’s posted with consensus questions and the study timeline. The goal is to complete consensus by the end of October. Local leagues have paper copies to borrow to read or copy, and our office has a few extra print copies which you can request from lwvor@lwvor.org . Please check with your local League for your consensus meetings or join Portland’s consensus meetings, summarized from Judy Froemke , LWVPDX Discussion Units Coordinator: LWVPDX will hold a Pesticides panel discussion on Sept 14th (attendance limited). They will post the video by Sept. 17th at LWVPDX.org . Any Oregon League members are welcome to participate in one of the Portland League’s six (ZOOM) Discussion Units for the LWVOR Pesticides and Other Biocides study . Review the consensus questions before discussions. Contact these Leaders to participate in a consensus meeting: Thursday, September 16th, 1-3 pm - Lynn Baker , DU 4 Leader Dr. Amelia Nestler, study chair, will attend Monday, September 20th, 1-3 pm - Tia Wulff , DU 7 Leader Dr. Amelia Nestler will attend Wednesday, September 22, 7-9 pm - Jean Trygstad , DU 1 Leader as of 8-16-21, awaiting speaker confirmation Monday, September 27th, 10-noon - Barbara Bryd , DU 2 Leader Paula Grisafi, study co-chair will attend Monday, September 27th, 7-9 pm - Olivia Smith , DU 3 Leader as of 8-16-21, awaiting speaker confirmation This DU will continue to meet on Zoom (not in someone's home post-pandemic). Some regular participants live outside the Portland area. Tuesday, September 28th, 9:30-11:30 am - Carolyn Buppert , DU 6 Leader Paula Grisafi, study co-chair will attend Voter Education/Service News LWVOR seeks a Voter Education Chair. The Voter Education Chair leads strong teams: local League Voter Ed Reps, Vote411.org, Voters’ Guide and Video Voters’ Guide production, social media campaigns, and Ballot Measure Researchers and Editors. If you have organizational skills, please contact me, b.gladstone@lwvor.org . Initiative campaigns are evaluating timing for the critical 2022 elections. We need to be organized now. Check out the great social media Voter Service news coverage, links at the bottom of this newsletter. Register NOW to help and get free materials for this year’s September 28th National Voter Registration Day . Washington Monthly reports on America's Best Colleges for Student Voting . I urge members to contact local colleges to learn what our schools are doing and to push for improved voter registration and GOTV. Hats off to the Washington County Unit for its work on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Read about it in the Fall VOTER! Fall Workshop Please reserve time for the Fall Workshop, October 13-16. We are thrilled to announce that our Keynote speaker will be Professor Garrett Epps, LL.M, J.D., returning after headlining our 2015 LWVOR Convention. The LWV of Oakland, CA will present a workshop on volunteering, and Will Miller will speak about Oregon’s native communities. We are discussing arrangements for how to deal with civil discourse and intervening and redirecting polarized conversations. Our usual one-day workshop is being reconfigured to reduce Zoom fatigue. The virtual sessions are spread over several evenings and culminating with Saturday’s workshop and keynote address. Look for more information and registration in the next few weeks. LWVOR Communications Welcome our new VOTER Editor, Connie Bozarth, from the Corvallis League. We hope you will enjoy it! We will take a serious look this year at the effectiveness of our communications for members and other audiences. I have learned that some members feel very disconnected, which is of deep concern because we are also a social organization. My sense is that with all of today’s stresses, members miss the personal connection we all need and value. We gather online communications analytics and are exploring new ways to improve communications and information access. Expect short surveys to assess member needs; we hope you will participate. We look forward to hearing from you. Action News Our Action team is completing the 2021 Oregon legislative session Sine Die report, held until after the Governor’s final actions. Our advocates will be attending this month’s special session. We continue ongoing campaign coalition work for campaign finance reform and redistricting, and participate in numerous state Task Forces, Work Groups, and Commissions. Please see our website for news from our more than 25 advocates. Recommended Reading This month we’re looking at several articles and a video to prepare for the Fall Workshop. Take Another Look! In case you missed it and can use a refresher, this is Professor Epps, our Fall Workshop Keynote speaker. He has a dry sense of humor. I almost missed his aside about US Constitution authors referring to “Congreff.” 😊 The 14th Amendment: The Framing of America’s Second Constitution . Finally, some thought-provoking reading offers perspective on the less well known history of Mt. Rushmore (from three online friends). It reminded me that we must be open to questioning our veneration or tolerance of memorials as we learn of their complicated contexts. From National Geographic: “ The heartbreaking, controversial history of Mount Rushmore . Tourists flock to South Dakota’s massive presidential portraits. How they got there is a complex tale of land grabs, egos, and foiled movie scenes. ” From Washington Post: The creator of Mount Rushmore’s forgotten ties to white supremacy . Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was deeply involved with the Ku Klux Klan while designing a Stone Mountain, Ga. Confederate memorial. From Native Hope, The Six Grandfathers Before It Was Known as Mount Rushmore . “ Part II in a series of articles that attempt to give more perspective into the truths our history books are avoiding.” It has been fun recommending reading from members and local League book groups, along with mine. Please send your recommendations! In closing, I saw a social media comment about President Biden’s Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, praising her “Intellect, confidence, empathy, preparation, patience, wit, a straight razor woman.” With this in mind, let’s commit to renewing our energy, with hope that our challenges will ease as we address them intelligently, especially during COVID and the current fire season. Thank you for reading this newsletter. Please be safe and keep in touch. Becky Gladstone President, LWVOR

The League of Women Voters of Oregon is still hard at work with statewide redistricting efforts. Look for these important developments and events in the next several weeks. The August 12 (Early) Census Data Release The U.S. Census Bureau will release the first local level results from the 2020 Census on August 12, ahead of the previous target date of August 16. States use these data on race, Hispanic origin, the voting-age population, and other demographic characteristics to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts. A federal census news conference on August 12 will provide initial analysis of the first local level 2020 Census results including: population change, race, ethnicity, voting-age population, and housing occupancy status. Learn more about the conference and find access links here. Secretary of State Shemia Fagan Announces “People’s Commission” Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has announced a new “People’s Commission” to advise her on redistricting. This People’s Commission will convene only if the Legislature misses its September 27 legislative redistricting deadline, imposing the Oregon Constitutional requirement for Secretary Fagan to conduct redistricting. If convened, the Commissioners can advise Secretary Fagan and her staff as they conduct public hearings and fulfill the Secretary of State’s constitutional duty in legislative redistricting. Quoted from Secretary Fagan’s August 5 press release: “Today, redistricting is the Legislature’s job. While I am optimistic they will pass a redistricting bill by the September 27 deadline, I owe it to Oregonians to be ready to go if they don’t,” said Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. “I made a commitment to Oregonians to convene a People’s Commission to advise me on redistricting and that is exactly what I am preparing to do.” Oregonians seeking to serve on Oregon’s People’s Commission must complete the application at the Oregon Secretary of State’s website by September 2nd. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and must be an Oregon resident since at least April 1, 2020. Additional information and the application for Oregon‘s People’s Commission can be found here . Redistricting Webinar on August 25 Oregon’s redistricting process is underway and we’re days away from receiving the population data to build our new state legislative and congressional districts for the next decade. Are you and your organization ready to engage in the process to create fair districts? Are you ready to testify or submit written testimony, critique the legislature’s draft redistricting maps, and even submit your own maps, at the early September hearings? Join us for a virtual information session . We will answer your questions and discuss what you need to know, including key deadlines coming in the next few weeks, your opportunities to be heard, an explanation of ESRI (the free publicly available map-drawing tool), the impact of “differential privacy”, and more. Be involved, be ready, and be there on Wednesday, August 25 to learn more. Event sponsored by LWVOR, Common Cause and other coalition members. Hearings on Proposed Redistricting Maps Once the needed redistricting data arrives on August 12, legislative committees will spend several weeks developing draft congressional and legislative maps. Starting in September, the committees plan to embark on a statewide tour to gather feedback and learn about communities of interest. The following meetings have been tentatively scheduled, though they are subject to change. Locations to be determined. September 8 – Bend at 5:30 PM September 9 – Eugene at 5:30 PM September 10 – Salem at 9:00 AM September 10 – Oregon City/North Clackamas County at 3:00 PM September 11 – Central Portland at 9:00 AM September 11 – Hillsboro/Beaverton at 3:00 PM September 13 – Oregon Capitol at 9:00 AM and 1:00 and 5:30 PM Check our frequently updated redistricting page for location updates and related news on Oregon’s upcoming legislative redistricting hearings.

Click below to read the President's Message.

Use the Download link below to view the President's Message for June 1, 2021.

Written by Dr. Ron Jarmin, U.S. Census Bureau Acting Director Since releasing the apportionment results in April, we’ve had several teams working hard on the next set of 2020 Census data — the redistricting data. These data play an important role in our democracy and will begin to illuminate the changes to the local and demographic makeup of our nation over the last decade. These data include the first sub-state population counts and demographic characteristics from the census, information that states typically use for redistricting — the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries based on where their populations have increased or decreased. Although redistricting is a state function, the U.S. Census Bureau performs an important role in the process — providing quality data to the states from the census that states may choose to use in redistricting. Read full article here.

At Convention in May of this year, LWVOR adopted a forestry position adapted from the League of Women Voters of Washington State. Read here: https://www.lwvor.org/forestry-position

Written by Barbara Klein, Action Chair of League of Women Voters of Rogue Valley. In criticizing the idea of creating an independent redistricting commission, Oregon House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner recently said “The most representative body is a 90-person Legislature, elected and accountable to the people, rather than a hastily convened 15-20 person commission” (“ Top Democrats unlikely to allow public hearing on Oregon independent redistricting proposal ,” June 10 ). My personal experience during 2001 and 2011 redistricting efforts in Arizona show that Smith Warner appears to have the wrong idea of how independent redistricting commissions work. Read the full article here.

Contact your State Representative to oppose SB 16, a bill that allows housing with septic systems and wells in farmland Date: June 12, 2021 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Please email or phone your representatives requesting a NO vote on the House floor against SB 16 ASAP. The League’s testimony is here to help explain our reasons for our opposition. LWVOR has strong positions in support of our land use planning program and water quality and quantity. SB 16 would allow 100 homes somewhere among 55,000 acres of farmland outside of the City of Ontario. In recent years, Ontario has expanded its Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) to bring in about 600 acres from its urban reserve, leaving about 1500 acres still available in the Ontario Urban Reserve, in addition to vacant residential lands already in the Ontario UGB. Advocates argue that Idaho’s doing this so Oregon needs to do the same. That’s not the Oregon Way! We are in a severe drought in all of Oregon. These homes would be allowed to have water wells that will draw from a groundwater which we don’t know exist. Certainly, the limited water in farmland should go to their vital agricultural industry—critical to Malheur County’s economy. As mentioned in our letter, the taxpayers in Oregon are being asked to help domestic well owners in Harney County this session—to the tune of $500,000! Will we be setting up that same need in a few years for these homes? You can access the testimony of all sides here . This bill will have a Work Session on Monday, June 14 , in House Rules . It is likely to move to the House floor with a vote as early as Tuesday, June 15. A NO Vote is needed. We are now in the final weeks of the session. The Oregon legislature 2021 regular session must end by June 27 and this bill only needs to pass the House chamber to be enrolled. Please email or call now and ask your Representative to Vote NO!

By Lisa Medway Jun 13, 2021 01:00 AM - Reposted from Mail Tribune When I moved to the Rogue Valley in the summer of 2018, the only person I knew was my Realtor. Within one month of my rebirth as an Oregonian, a familiar name from my way-distant past began popping up in the news every day: Jeff Golden. Jeff moved to Oregon 50 years before I did. He was running for state senator to represent the 3rd District — my district. Jeff and I went to high school together. Or, to be more accurate, we attended the same high school. He had triple the IQ, double the GPA, was student body president, and was voted “Brainiest” in his senior year. I was in the Spanish Club and school plays. We never met. I voted for Jeff Golden for student body president at Beverly Hills High School and again in 2018 for state senator. He won both elections. Besides his top-notch education (Harvard, Stanford), Jeff is an author, outdoorsman, producer, TV host (PBS series “Immense Possibilities”), husband, father, conservationist and protector of Planet Earth. Senator Golden holds virtual town hall meetings (the first Thursday of the month at 5 p.m.), and it was during the February 2021 town hall that he touted the League of Women Voters: a venerable, nonpartisan, can-do organization that’s been around for 101 years. When the town hall ended, I joined the LWV of Rogue Valley. The “League” (its short-hand nickname) was founded by a key leader of the American suffrage movement, Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947), as a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit and educational organization to celebrate women getting the right to vote in 1920. Her vital role led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Today, the LWV has thousands of members in all 50 states and 700 communities across the USA. My first encounter with the LWV of RV was in a ZOOM meeting in March. My reaction was: “OMG! These overachievers are super-smart and more well informed than most hosts on MSNBC. “Energizer Bunny” Margie Peterson is the president of the LWV-RV and our spokesperson. She reminded us that “we are one voice.” Brilliant Barbara Klein is the action chair and head of local issues. Lovely and patient Jackie Clary, membership coordinator, was my LWV “doula” who introduced me to the whirlwind world of the LWV. Sage member Bill Walsh (yes, there are many male members — it’s 2021 people!) summed-up the No. 1 goal of the League: “Our job is to urge lawmakers to do what’s best for the common good.” The way in which the league succeeds cannot be better illustrated than by the indefatigable work of Shirley Weathers, climate change coordinator for the LWV-RV and LWV Oregon, along with a team of league members from Klamath, Coos Bay and Umpqua. I love a good David and Goliath story — this one’s fantastic. Shirley and her team of superheroes helped get the Canada-based energy behemoth Pembina to drop its application to build a natural gas pipeline. The Jordan Cove Energy Project was, thanks partly to Ms. Weathers and the other leagues, thwarted after 10-plus years of dogged effort and unrelenting persistence. Along with everything good, fair and kind it stands for and strives to accomplish, the League of Women (and men) Voters continues, among a litany of other important issues, to protect and defend Oregon: its beauty and natural resources. And I still have never met Jeff Golden. Lisa Medway lives in Medford.

Contact your Senator and Representative to support SB 762 A, the omnibus wildfire bill! Date: June 9, 2021 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Josie Koehne, Forestry Portfolio Claudia Keith, Climate Emergency Coordinator Please email, or phone your representatives requesting support for SB 762 A ASAP. SB 762 A will prepare Oregon for the future related to wildfire preparedness and will provide appropriate resources to fight fires when they happen. The bill provides a section-by-section roadmap to help Oregonians prepare for the future of Oregon’s forests and our nearby cities and towns. Requires electric utilities plans Requires development of a statewide map of wildfire risk Addresses the need for defensible space around homes at risk Addresses the need for wildfire hazard mitigation building codes on new construction Recognizes the need to support communities impacted by smoke Requires an update to our statewide emergency plan for wildfire emergencies Includes a treatment program to reduce wildfire risk by targeted thinning Creates a NEW Wildfire Workforce Corps to train youth and young adults for future careers in a variety of important outdoor opportunities Establishes a Small Woodland Owners Grant Program Addresses the need for wildfire response capacity Requires rules to identify the wildland urban interface in Oregon as is done in all other western states (See map .) Establishes a Wildfire Program Advisory Council and State Program Director Because this is a big bill, the Staff Measure Summary might be helpful. And the League is part of a larger group providing a website with a list of other advocates for this comprehensive but very important wildfire bill. We are now in the final weeks of the session. The Oregon legislature 2021 regular session must end by June 27 and bills must be heard in both chambers to be enacted. Please email or call now!

Contact your representative to request a public hearing for HJR 7! Date: June 3, 2021 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Norman Turrill, LWVOR Governance Coordinator Chris Cobey, LWVOR Redistricting Specialist Please write, email, or phone members of the House Rules Committee and your representatives requesting a public hearing for HJR 7 ASAP. HJR 7 calls for the establishment of an independent citizens’ redistricting commission (ICRC). An ICRC would let voters select their representatives, instead of the other way around, and would eliminate one of the most basic conflicts of interest for our legislators – drawing their own districts. Does the current system, allowing politicians to draw their own district lines, need to be changed? Well, for the last twenty years, incumbent legislators have won more than 97% of their general election races! Over 60,000 Oregon voters endorsed independent citizens’ redistricting commissions for last year’s ballot. Please also ask your representatives to support this concept during their virtual coffee hours, town halls, or constituent office hours. We are now in the final month to schedule public hearings. The Oregon legislature 2021 regular session must end by June 27 and bills must be heard in both chambers to be enacted. Please write now!

This article was originally posted on OregonLive. By The Oregonian Editorial Board There are two bills in the Oregon House proposing campaign contribution limits. One, House Bill 3343 , proposes clear, modest limits and has the support of good-government groups that have long fought to cap donations. The other, House Bill 2680 , does little to curb the massive contributions that corporations and labor unions have long donated to candidates and political parties. So, guess which bill has the momentum? Unfortunately for Oregonians who want to get big money out of politics, that would be HB 2680, which is scheduled for a work session in the House Rules Committee on Friday. The bill, in its current version, does impose some limits. Candidates for a statewide office – such as governor or secretary of state – could not accept more than $2,900 per election from a person or $40,000 from a political party caucus committee. Candidates for state house and senate seats face lower limits. Local governments could set their own caps, provided they do not exceed the state’s. The range of per-person contributions are much higher than the $500 to $1,000 caps contemplated by HB 3343, but more important, HB 2680 would have little effect on changing the dynamics set by the same players who have long dominated the political landscape – corporations and unions. Loopholes and design flaws abound in the legislation, which is opposed by League of Women Voters of Oregon, Common Cause Oregon, OSPIRG, Honest Elections Oregon and several other groups that have pressed for meaningful contribution caps. Among the flaws: A “person” who can give to a candidate is defined as an “individual, labor union or corporation, including any corporation operated for economic gain or any not-for-profit corporation.” Entities can easily skirt the limit by forming new corporations, which takes $100 and a couple of minutes, as campaign finance reform activist and lawyer Dan Meek has said, noting that many exploited a similar campaign contribution loophole in New York before the state closed it. There’s more. The bill would allow corporations – for-profit and nonprofit – to provide a candidate with $50,000 a year in paid staff time, such as a political consultant. That gives the donor considerable influence in a candidate’s campaign. It would permit Democratic and Republican caucus committees to amass and redirect donations at levels far higher than most other political committees. And it would continue to bless game-changing donations by public-employee unions and other so-called “membership organizations” that would still be able to indirectly steer massive sums to candidates through “small-donor committees,” as The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Hillary Borrud reported . Corvallis Democratic Rep. Dan Rayfield, the bill’s chief sponsor, deserves credit for wading into the campaign finance morass. But even he can’t support the current version without changes, telling The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board that he would want the amendment allowing donation of staff time to be narrowed, though not eliminated. He said the provision furthers a legitimate policy objective ­­­– helping organizations that have been historically left out of the political process to participate on behalf of candidates. That’s a worthy consideration. But legislators should look for other avenues to support that goal that don’t allow the same old players to keep playing the same old game. Nineteen states ban contributions from corporations and unions outright, according to Meek, who helped author the successful campaign finance limit initiatives in Portland and Multnomah County. Another 23 states have limits far stricter than those under consideration in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Polluted by Money series in 2019 exposed how Oregon’s lack of campaign contribution limits has translated into weaker environmental laws and lower standards than neighbors with stricter campaign-finance requirements. Oregonians responded by overwhelmingly supporting a constitutional amendment last year to allow the setting of campaign limits. And voters in Portland and Multnomah County have already enthusiastically embraced ballot initiatives establishing strict caps. The only part that’s missing is the Legislature. While it’s an admittedly difficult challenge to divorce campaigns from the limitless cash infusions that have fed them, lawmakers across the Capitol need to summon their political courage to do what Oregonians elected them to do. They should start by scrapping HB 2680, embracing the straightforward approach in HB 3343 and committing to pass meaningful campaign finance reform this session. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board

Voting Rights and Election Integrity A Talk by Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan The 2021 Governor Tom McCall Memorial Lecture in Public Affairs The School of Public Policy in the College of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University presents the 2021 Governor Tom McCall Memorial Lecture in Public Affairs, featuring Secretary of State Shemia Fagan speaking on voting rights and election integrity. Thursday, May 27 at 6:00 PM via Zoom Register here to attend the webcast.

Office Support Specialist Part-time position serving as member liaison/membership manager, event manager, project manager, and administrative staff for key statewide program areas. Coordinator is responsible for coordinating communication between state and local League offices and project teams; arranging and overseeing League events, both virtual and on-site; and providing staff and office support for various committees and committee project work. Provides administrative, technical, and scheduling support for a small office while reporting to multiple remote volunteer project leaders. Part-time position, 20-30 hours/week, varies with project scheduling needs. Office location: Salem OR; position is currently remote, when office opens some on-site work will be required. Qualifications: 3 years relevant experience or education; non-profit experience preferred. A multi-tasking position that requires excellent office management, organizing, and interpersonal skills; attention to detail and time management; work independently and on team; written and verbal interpersonal communication; business and technical writing; strong computer, data, and internet content delivery skills; and commitment to League of Women Voters mission. Successful candidate will be flexible, cooperative, self-directed and able to set priorities and follow through in a timely manner. Experience with Office Suite, Google/G-Suite, database and website management, video conferencing, and social media. Work schedule: flexible with occasional weekend and evening hours; may need to adjust schedule to meet key deadlines. Pay: From $15.00 per hour Send your resume and a cover letter to lwvor@lwvor.org to apply by 5/25.

Sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Rogue Valley May 20, 2021 at 11:30 AM PST Oregon Secretary of State, Shemia Fagan, has made a video for us, to specifically address the current redistricting situation in our state. Scheduling did not allow her to attend but in lieu of her appearance, she is sending Kathy Wai, who has been appointed by Secretary Fagan to be her point person for redistricting. Secretary Fagan is also sending her Chief of Staff, Emily McClain. Both women will be available for the Q & A. Redistricting is on our minds as a result of the 2020 Census data. New lines will be drawn. Politics, geography, population, and culture will all play their part! What will your district look like and how will it be formed? Register for Redistricting Update Webinar here!

Delegates and observers, Thank you for your diligence in setting the course for our next two years and beyond, by attending Convention, addressing profound issues, proposed studies, and board elections. Please report back to your Leagues, and tell them we loved the photos and videos you sent! Look for the June All-members’ letter for a review of recommended reading from the past two years. It is almost summer and I hope we all have a chance to catch our breath, rejuvenate, and Reset, Reboot, and Reconnect! Convention Evaluation In Ashland, we committed to improving communications. How are we doing? Please fill out the evaluation form. It is a quick series of questions, mostly for this past week, but the final question can be answered broadly. We called for guidance to the board at Convention. And if something occurs to you afterward, please let us know. Board Thank You Dear outgoing board members, Please accept my deep thanks for your service as you go off the board. My comments in the Saturday business session to each of you are heartfelt! I look forward welcoming Connie Bozarth and Kermit Yensen! I’m looking forward to retreat, maybe reconsidering meeting in-person? Friday morning staff meetings have had a sunny agenda item we’ve had fun with, how to thank board members, but that’s been delayed by the intensity of the Action support, the Primary election this Tuesday, this convention, and a staff transition. Thanks to the Convention Events Committee! Thank you to Robin Tokmakian and to all of the presenters for the workshops and caucuses. You have raised the bar and we need to act on these! Staff Thank You! Thanks to staff for making the Convention VIRTUAL! Recordings are on our website so we can refresh and work on those volunteer suggestions, etc. Amazing Amanda was the tech guru of the day, managing the polling, etc.! Please sign Sarah Andrews’ Farewell card! It has been a happy six year span of competence, above and beyond at every turn, Thank You! We wish you and your family all the best as your husband starts grad school in Stockholm! The freedom to VOTE (Election Day tomorrow!) Check VOTE411.org! As legislative voting restrictions loom around the country, we must protect them here. We want voters to be well-informed and properly represented by those they elect. Does that make you think of fighting gerrymandering with an Independent Citizens Redistricting Committee? I hope so! And spread the word for everyone you know to share to VOTE by Tuesday! Local Elections matter! All politics is/are? LOCAL! Our STUDY and Position Development Process For studies, now you know it really isn’t too early to start issue searches for Convention 2023! Weigh topics, rally support for them, and bring your study committee rosters! One member noted that our program adoption prioritized process over study content. LWVOR Bylaws call us to vote to consider studies, concurrences, and resolutions, deferring substantive content discussion to a separate business session for content debate and voting to adopt. This intermittently causes consternation. This process is intended to protect our League brand. We must ensure vigorous wherewithal, that local Leagues will be able to process the roster of studies’ consensus, to maintain the reputation of the trustworthy League voice. We cannot spread ourselves too thinly by adopting too many studies and demand too much of our local Leagues and volunteers. I was floored by Jane Cravens volunteerism comment, that asking more than 5 hours a week of our volunteers is too much. We have a true need for the positions we get from studies. Our entire study process has become daunting to the degree that LWVUS has seriously slowed down with national studies and we will be addressing that. LWVUS Council I want you to know and I’m very pleased that our Program Chair, Sheila McGinnis, wants to push next month’s national Council to take a hard look at fixing the problems we have with our study structure. And Alice Bartelt wants to review how member agreement committees edit new study positions in the context of earlier positions that might be contradictory. That’s a daunting process and we need to address it! Thanks to you both! Robin Tokmakian will also represent Oregon at the US Council, bringing her strong Oregon voice for Climate Emergency and perspective from League UN work. I love meeting leaders from around the country at the national councils and suggest to you that it is a hidden benefit to membership on our state board! DEI We are all thinking more of DEI now, thank heavens. From the tribal lands of the Kalapuya. We are celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander and Wildfire awareness month. Look at the composition of our new board, we aren’t getting far with diversity. Let’s expand from our obvious similarities. and consider: 1. Ability/disability 2. Age 3. Appearance. One legislative concept this session proposed eliminating candidate photographs because of the proven track record of discrimination they enable in the military. 4. Empowerment 5. Ethnicity, Race, & Nationality 6. Gender, sex, and sexuality 7. Spirituality, religion, + Atheism 8. Socioeconomic status Oregon needs to work on inclusion. I am so pleased with the Portland League study on Police Reform and hope that this summer our Leagues will have a strong voice of Civil Discourse that we so need. The Dept of Homeland Security sends alerts. A couple of years ago, the US Civil Rights and Civil Liberties person who keeps in touch told me they were trying hard to shift focus from foreign terrorists to domestic violent extremism. As we look forward to another Oregon summer, I got another heads’ up last week about the creation of a New Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships. Looking ahead, new board Are we optimistic about the future? It is a relief to be coming out from under the pandemic. It will take determined optimism to catch up. I am thrilled to welcome new board and members around Oregon! You make the future bright. You, our delegates and observers, and the members you represent, are a big part of my confidence in the future. I am so proud of you and the work we’re accomplishing. Thank you! Please pace yourselves and pull in help! Mentoring is necessary, welcome new energy to share the joy. We have our work cut out for us. Please keep in touch, and thank you. Becky Gladstone President, LWVOR