Search Results

Read the latest All-members newsletter here. Find our printable version here.

Date: October 28, 2025 To: All LWVOR Members From: Mark Kendall, LWVOR President Jean Pierce, LWVOR Advocacy Chair TAKE ACTION:   1.  Contact your Congressional legislators  to end the shutdown while protecting Healthcare: Fight to end the government shutdown and at the same time extend  Affordable Care Act subsidies (affecting more than 340,000 Oregonians) Pressure the USDA to release the SNAP contingency funds Congress approved for November and to supplement it with other funds. Hunger should not be a political tool (affecting 757,000 Oregonians) Feed our neighbors who are affected by the shutdown: Find Oregon Department of Human Services food resources  or Oregon food bank  near you and learn what they need now – money or food – to address unmet needs from SNAP. DEADLINE: end of October BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The shutdown is about a disagreement on the budget bill which has largely been about whether to extend the set-to-expire Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits to protect health insurance coverage for millions of Americans. While outside of the budget itself, if Congress doesn’t extend these subsidies, an estimated 7.3 million people could lose their ACA coverage, 4.8 million of whom could become entirely uninsured in 2026. Millions of others would have to pay more for insurance coverage, resulting in financial hardship for many. This will extend the hurt that many families are already feeling. If the shutdown continues into November, Oregon has warned that benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) could be delayed to 757,000 people. LEAGUE POSITION:   Persons who are unable to work, whose earnings are inadequate, or for whom jobs are not available have the right to an income and/or services sufficient to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and access to health care.

Read the latest All-members newsletter here. Find our printable version here.

PORTLAND AND WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of Oregon and the League of Women Voters of the US issued the following joint statement in response to the deployment of the National Guard in Portland.    “Portland — a city recognized nationally for its civic activism, creativity, and commitment to democratic values — is now subject to an unjustified deployment of federal troops. This action undermines local authority and threatens the very freedoms our democracy is meant to protect.    “Neither the Governor of Oregon nor city leaders requested this intervention. No emergency exists in Portland that warrants federal deployment. Instead, this move represents yet another instance of political retaliation aimed at silencing diverse, engaged communities who exercise their right to free expression.    “The presence of the National Guard will not bring safety or stability to Portland. Instead, it escalates fear, erodes trust, and places communities — particularly Black, brown, immigrant, and Indigenous residents who have historically borne the brunt of state overreach — at greater risk.    “Portland has long been a city where people gather to speak out, advocate for justice, and demand accountability from their government. To answer civic participation with militarization is a dangerous misuse of federal power. What Portlanders need is investment in community safety, affordable housing, and public health — not troops in their streets.    “The League calls on the Oregon congressional delegation to condemn the weaponization of the federal military and stand up for the people of Portland. We commend Oregon government officials for taking legal action against this unjust occupation."  Contact: lwvor@lwvor.org 503-581-5722 League of Women Voters of Oregon

Dear League members, In the first three weeks of my tenure as President of the League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) , there have been no fewer than four legitimate concerns which call for a timely, accurate, clear and principled response which conforms with our state and the national League of Women Voters’ (LWVUS) adopted positions.  Amicus Brief: Measure 114 for Gun Safety Last week, I authorized signing on to an amicus brief on Oregon Ballot Measure114, pending before the Oregon Supreme Court, expressing our strong interest.  This summer the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of Ballot Measure 114, a gun safety measure approved by Oregon voters in the November 2024 general election.  That decision is being appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court.  LWVOR published an amicus brief in the first challenge in the Appeals Court.  The Brief submitted this week, with the exception of the court to which it's addressed, is identical to its predecessor and supports Oregon voters’ initiative petition rights.  In this case, time is of the essence to respond  to the Court, and to maintain solidarity with allies protecting Oregonians’ voting rights.  Defending Voter Rights in Oregon The three federal matters include a voter’s right to privacy, legal authority of the executive branch to deploy military on US soil, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS) denying the League of Women Voters and other non-governmental civic organizations the right to register and inform new citizens of their voting rights at administrative naturalization ceremonies on USCIS properties.  In this case, LWVOR worked with LWVUS to determine that the policy does not restrict our ability to register newly-naturalized citizens at other locations.  Oregon’s Governor, Hon. Tina Kotek, and our Secretary of State, Tobias Read, were sued on September 16 by the US Department of Justice to compel them to submit to the federal government detailed voter registration records which the State has no authority to release and the Federal government has no Constitutional basis to request.  Voters in Oregon and across the nation have a constitutional right to privacy. Protection from such an inquiry in violation of the Constitution is a national issue that deserves our full attention.  The Action Committee has formed an issue statement and, with my approval, sought advice on next steps from LWVUS Litigation.   Letters to State Leaders: National Guard Deployment In addition, the Executive Branch of the federal government has deployed the US military in the form of several states' National Guard units to police Los Angeles, the District of Columbia, and Memphis.  The Executive Branch is allowed such deployment decisions under specific legal authority.  The Executive Branch has targeted a number of cities across the nation in which a similar deployment is being considered, including Portland, Oregon.  In this case, states’ rights appear to be abridged by the violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.  This is a matter both of states’ rights and also possibly of military suppression of free speech. LWVOR has asked the Governor and the Attorney General to ensure that the state has strong guardrails regarding the deployment of the National Guard.       It is the League’s right and obligation to challenge any and all insults to civil and voting rights in this country.  Voting rights are a cornerstone, if not a pillar, of democracy for which the League of Women Voters is uniquely positioned to be a non-partisan voice of citizens in support of our constitutional democracy.   In League, Mark W. Kendall LWVOR President Consulted and Other Resources: https://www.lwvor.org/post/action-alert-oppose-hr-9495-protect-nonprofit-free-speech-and-due-process https://www.lwv.org/blog/what-you-need-know-about-national-guard-insurrection-act-and-martial-law https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-denounces-national-guard-deployment-memphis-dangerous https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-statement-uscis-policy-restricting-voter-registration

Our new LWVOR President, Mark Kendall, began his term on September 1. We’re happy to share his introductory remarks to League members below. Dear members, It is with humility and honor that I have accepted this opportunity to coordinate the efforts of and provide leadership for the League of Women Voters of Oregon.  As a League colleague said, these are “very unprecedented times”.  My motivation is derived from concern for the viability of our democratic system of governance, seeing decades of progressive social reform overturned and looking into the eyes of my 12 year-old granddaughter as I see her civil rights being eroded and abridged on a daily basis.  This unconscionable transformation of our democracy must not stand. It is contrary to the League's core principles and adopted positions.   My objectives in this appointment are to; 1) amplify the League's voice both in Oregon and as empowered nationally, consistent with the “one voice” condition supported by rigorous consensus positions, 2) faithfully and vigorously implement the Oregon LWV Board strategic plan that focuses on eight priorities many of which are of perennial interest to our members across Oregon, 3) champion the ongoing excellence of the League of Women Voters of Oregon core mission contributions to voters rights, equity, inclusion, civil rights, social justice, and 4) provide leadership of transparent, nimble, accountable and actionable governance.    I can’t promise more at this juncture.  We have daunting tasks ahead.  It's not that we have to do more, we define principled social justice action in all our works, we simply need to grow alignment, grow our ranks, amplify our very resonant messages, and engage in strategic meaningful influence with allies, of which there are many.  With that I can help. Mark Kendall began serving as LWVOR President on September 1, 2025. LWVOR is up to these tasks and challenges.  In just a couple weeks of networking and stepping into this role, I am buoyed by our remarkable capacity.  The Board and committees are wrapping up the planning and preparation of a multi-year strategic plan.  What serendipity to begin to lead from our best thinkers’ new plans.  LWVUS is just now initiating the Unite and Rise campaign to broaden our reach.  And the Oregon Membership and Communications committees are already well coordinated and underway. And how opportune that LWVOR is now recruiting for a state-wide membership chair! With Unite and Rise underway, increased interest in membership, and a new unit in Union County, our new Membership chair will start with the tools and momentum to be successful from the start.   Ongoing work is vibrant as well.  Our able Action committee continues to rigorously study state-level legislation and support coalition partners in statewide campaigns. Our Voter Service team engages candidates and researches measures all while informing our electorate in our trusted nonpartisan way.  Nonpartisan voter registration work is being challenged nationwide and we are stepping up commensurate to those challenges.  The Oregon Youth Council is vibrant, growing and its leadership recognized nationally.  Allied associations with common interests, complimentary capabilities and influence of their own are reaching out and inviting our council and collaboration.    We have reason for hope.  We can, we will, we are.  With that I too can help.   Mark W. Kendall, President, League of Women Voters of Oregon

Save the Date for Fall Workshop The LWVOR Voter Service Committee is proud to sponsor the 2025 Fall Workshop! This event will take place from 10am to 2:30pm on Saturday, November 1st in-person in Eugene, OR, and virtual on Zoom.  Registration and agenda details coming soon . Learn from speakers and each other about: Voter engagement Youth outreach LWVUS's Unite & Rise Engaging underserved communities in voting How to maximize Vote411 Preparing for the 2026 elections Questions or comments? Reach out to Marianne Germond at  voterservice@lwvor.org . We invite you to join this informative event to gain insights into Voter Service news, resources, and training!

Read the latest All-members newsletter here. Find our printable version here.

Read the latest All-members newsletter here. Find our printable version here.

Read the latest All-members newsletter here. Find our printable version here.

Date:  June 25, 2025 To: All LWVOR Members From: Lisa Bentson, LWVOR President Norman Turrill, Governance Coordinator TAKE ACTION: Please contact all your House and Senate members, particularly members of the Senate Committee on Rules , to urge them to oppose HB 3392 on campaign finance reform , as amended. A last-minute backroom deal has apparently been made to exchange Republican votes for the Transportation Bill for Democratic votes to delay the implementation of HB 4024 (2024) for four years (and probably kill it in a future legislative session). Recall that HB 4024 was the CFR bill passed last year in exchange for dropping Initiative Petition 9. Request: We are asking all Oregon League members to ask their legislators to oppose HB 3392 as amended, and particularly ask members of the Senate Rules Committee .  It would be better to pass no bill on this subject rather than break the historic 2024 deal that was made among the Honest Elections Coalition (of which the LWVOR is a member) , union leaders, business leaders and legislative leaders. Honest Elections Oregon agreed during the 2024 session to drop Initiative Petition 9 in exchange for the passage of HB 4024. In the longer term, we fear this may be the first step to gutting or repealing HB 4024. House Rules held a public hearing at 8 am on June 25. Testimony is important to show that the public is watching, even if you file it within 48 hours after the hearing . The bill will still need to go through the Senate Rules Committee in the next few days, and written testimony will also be important there. “We appear to be confronted with a secret, literally last-minute backroom deal to avoid all campaign contribution limits – and requirements for disclosure of the sources of campaign funds—until 2031, if not forever,” said Jason Kafoury, of the group Honest Elections Oregon. “This is against what the vast majority of Oregonians have voted for at every opportunity.” House Bill 3392 was scheduled to get its first public hearing in House Rules Wednesday at 8 a.m., less than 24 hours after any actual bill language was posted to the Oregon Legislature’s website for the public to review. The committee had also scheduled a work session for the same day, which means that they are not serious about listening to any input from the public. See OPB and Capital Chronicle articles on this bill. Find your legislators here . League Position: See the LWVUS Position on Money in Politics, page 48, Impact on Issues . Deadline: ASAP Contact lwvor@lwvor.org with questions or to volunteer to support legislation like this.

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 Community Partnerships: VOTER GIRL Project Advocacy: Lobby Day League Business: Business Session Summary Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Renewed Commitment to DEIJ Convention 2025: Workshops Convention Highlight: Membership Grants Keynote Speaker: Alexis Juday-Marshall 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 201 5, 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 2025 League of Women Voters of Oregon Urges Guardrails on National Guard Deployments Salem, OR — The League of Women Voters of Oregon has called on the Governor’s office and Attorney General to support improvement to Oregon National Guard procedures. The League has urged lawmakers to examine and support HB 3954, now amended, outlining when the Oregon National Guard can be activated by the Adjutant General. “In light of recent military deployments to U.S. cities, including the use of National Guard troops during peaceful protests, Oregon must act to ensure civilian safety and democratic oversight,” League president Lisa Bentson stated. The League supports policing and military practices that promote public trust, eliminate systemic bias, and ensure community safety.  We have urged lawmakers to look at legislation in other states requiring state-level approval for external Guard deployments. “We need a protective guard rail,” the League emphasized. “This moment appears to be laying the groundwork for more expansive use of the military to suppress dissent—completely unprecedented under any legal authority.” With growing concerns about federal overreach and potential misuse of the Insurrection Act, Oregon must establish clear guardrails. The League affirmed that “a functioning democracy must allow people to hold their government accountable without fear of violence.” Media Contact: Barbara Klein, Communications Chair League of Women Voters of Oregon media@lwvor.org lwvor.org

Read the latest All-members newsletter here. Find our printable version here.

TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Report First Call to Convention Youth Outreach Update Voter Service Update Nominating Committee Program Planning Update Development Update In Memoriam - Willie Richardson PRESIDENT’S REPORT Dear LWVOR Members and supporters, This is my last President’s column for The VOTER. I will complete my second 2-year term this May at our Convention in Eugene. I hope you can join us in-person, our first membership-wide convening since our Centennial Celebration lunch on March 7th, 2020. Our future looks bright! No one asks any more if we are relevant. Come to the Convention to meet each other, for training workshops, and to hear our exceptional speakers. Come and meet our powerful slate of Officers and Directors. Meet your “lateral communication” networks in person! I look forward to seeing you! Our stormy political climate is now much more challenging. MDM, for Mis-, Dis-, and Mal- Information poses a serious threat to our democracy, as we anticipated in our Privacy and Cybersecurity work. Powerfully manipulative AI, artificial Intelligence, is with us on uncertain terms and may further destabilize our political landscape, thinking here of ChatGPT and Google Bard. This is one reason for our Convention theme, Free Press and the Survival of Democracy. When I began as President, I didn’t foresee the SCOTUS Dobbs decision and didn’t expect to be defending our overwhelmingly successful automatic voter registration, Oregon’s #MotorVoter . Now we have grown considerably: Our YO! Youth Outreach is not just promising but already hard at work building a Youth Council, supporting and extending our Student Mock Elections. The Action Committee had five stalwarts when I began on the board as Secretary in June 2011. Now we convene year-round with a network of 30 advocates. Voter Service has grown with virtual outreach, newly adding Vote411.org to this odd-election year, still needing a Chair . Program / Study coverage is under strong leadership. The Membership /HR/ and MLD hats worn by one board member ably have been shared. Our Nominating Committee has stepped up to the “lateral communication” that is strengthening most of our work, from local League Leaders to Treasurers. The LWVOR Nominating Committee Task Force is bringing together voices from across Oregon, with LWVOR Membership guidance. What an intense time this has been. We may find that *human induced climate disruption* has played a part in the COVID pandemic that has both separated us and brought us together virtually. Drought, wildfires, and floods were with us before, but not to this extent. The February “polar vortex”, as I write this, is a recent addition to my lexicon. Our work is more needed than ever! Thank you for helping! Please subscribe and manage your preferences to League communications. Thanks to Office Manager, Abigail Hertzler, for covering as this edition’s VOTER Editor. And Thank You to all of you for carrying part of our League efforts! FIRST CALL TO CONVENTION 2023 CONVENTION Is the biennial State Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Oregon, alternating years with the State Council. First Call is issued so that local Leagues can plan and discuss matters that will be presented at the convention. TIME & PLACE The 2023 State Convention will be held Friday through Sunday, May 19-21, 2023 in Eugene, OR at The Graduate Hotel. HOSTS League of Women Voters of Lane County PURPOSE The convention shall consider changes to the Bylaws; shall consider and authorize for action a program; shall elect the president, first vice-president, secretary, three directors (two-year terms), and a chair and two members of the nominating committee; shall adopt a budget for the ensuing year; and shall transact such other business as may be presented. DELEGATES The convention shall consist of the LWVOR Board of Directors and delegates chosen by members of local Leagues. Each local League shall be entitled to two delegates for the first 40 members or fewer. If possible, one local League delegate should be the President. An additional delegate is allowed for every 20 additional members or major fraction (10 or more) belonging to the local League as of January 31, 2023. Each approved State Unit of members-at-large (MALs) shall be entitled to one delegate. For those MAL’s not in an approved unit, MAL representation at convention shall be one delegate for every 20 MALs or major fraction (10 or more) thereof. If there are fewer than 10 MALs, the interest of the MALs shall be represented by the LWVOR Membership Chair. OBSERVERS Any member of the LWVOR (in a local League, a State Unit, or as a general MAL) may attend as an observer. Observers may not vote, but may, upon recognition of the Chair, have the privilege of the floor. All League members are urged to exercise this privilege, and members are encouraged to register as observers. BASIC COSTS Registration fees will be announced in the next update. Hotel reservations can be made online or by phone: Call 844-888-4723. Use BOOKING CODE: 0519WV. Use this booking link: League of Women Voters of Oregon – Guestrooms YO! YOUTH OUTREACH AND YOUTH COUNCIL WELCOME CHRIS WALKER | LWV of OREGON YOUTH LIAISON We warmly welcome Chris Walker, a sophomore Legislative Scholar at the University of Oregon studying public policy, political science and business management as a LWVOR Member At Large. On Friday, February 10th, he was appointed to a ground-breaking role as a strong, influential voice for the Board as the League of Women Voters of Oregon Youth Liaison. Chris feels a definite stake in the commitment of our state and local Leagues to encourage youth leadership, and is mentoring a new LWVOR Youth Council inviting youth across Oregon to get connected and involved by emailing him at youthcrew@lwvor.org or messaging on their Instagram at @lwvoryouthcouncil WELCOME CELINE IOFFE | LWV OF OREGON YOUTH COUNCIL Celine is a high school junior in Portland and LWV Washington County member who is passionate about reproductive justice and our legal system. She is actively involved in Columbia Willamette Teen Council, a peer education and leadership program where members learn medically accurate and inclusive sexual health information, lead classroom presentations and organize events in schools and their communities around sexual health awareness. Celine interned for a DUI and domestic violence law firm last summer, and plans to attend university and law school after graduating in summer of 2024. She will lead a diverse team of Youth Council members to build effective power in their communities to achieve their goals. Spring Special District Elections will be here before we know it. OSME Committee will be offering to customize mock ballots and share supportive materials for any League who wants to offer to their local students. LWVPDX Voter Service Committee Chris Cobey and Mimi Alkire will be trying a new League Neighborhood School Partner program with already designed quarter-sheet postcards with space to add local League contact information. They can share with local Leagues to drop off with key administrative personnel at each school. We view this as a relationship-building connection to strengthen into the 2024 primary and general elections. Please check out the free civic ed curriculum and the mock election webpage at lwvor.org/mock-election and email mockelection@lwvor.org Mimi Alkire, Diana DeMaria and Chris Cobey attended the PNW Junior State of America Winter Congress on Sunday, February 5, 2023 to present LWVOR's 2023 launch of Youth Council to impressive young high school civic leaders from all over Washington and Oregon. We invite any League members interested in Youth Outreach to attend Weekly Wed 8am YO Mtg Link as we are still building our outreach plan, content and contact list to share our expanding resource. Drop by anytime! If not able to attend, please email to connect. LWV of OREGON YOUTH OUTREACH | youthoutreach@lwvor.org OREGON STUDENT MOCK ELECTION (OSME) | mockelection@lwvor.org VOTER SERVICE NEWS General Election 2022 The 2022 midterm election is generally considered a win for democracy in the U.S., and Voter Service volunteers around the state can justifiably feel they were responsible for some of that in Oregon. Nearly 31,000 Oregon voters accessed Vote411 for candidate information, and 25,000 of them received a printed Voter's Guide . Local leagues are increasingly using online technology to inform voters. At least five local leagues produced one-on-one interviews with candidates, available on YouTube and posted to Vote411 and league websites. Candidate forums were also available online for an extended time during the election season. Our long history of giving voters candidates' answers to unbiased questions about important issues continues to pay off in better government for all of us! Special District Election 2023 Odd-numbered election years are often overlooked but School District and Special District Elections that happen in the spring of odd-numbered years elect people to oversee the services and infrastructure that are closest to our everyday lives. These are directors (members of the Boards of Directors) of school districts, fire and emergency services districts, water and public utility districts, park and recreation districts and many more, from Port Districts overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets to tiny road districts serving a few families. They are not part of state, county, or city government, although they are audited by the Secretary of State and must "follow state laws for public meetings, public records, public contracting, bonded debt, and elections"[i]. Not all special districts have elected directors. Some are appointed. The County Commission may serve as the Board in some cases (but the District remains separate from the County). Importantly, almost none of the positions are paid. It's fascinating to me that so much of the business of governments is done by volunteers! The challenge for Voter Service in covering the election of these directors is that, because almost all the positions are unpaid, almost all candidates run unopposed and are not interested in our help in mediating between them and the electorate. Some of the positions, however, particularly for school boards, are becoming more contentious in today's partisan climate. Local league Voter Service leaders have decided that local leagues will decide which local district races will be covered in Vote411 for the May election, although we will make an attempt to cover all school districts throughout the state. [i] "What is a Special District", Special District Association of Oregon, www.sdao.com , accessed 2-26-23. NOMINATING COMMITTEE Your state nominating committee still has LWVOR Board vacancies to fill for this May’s Convention. Please let us know if you are ready to serve or have suggestions for potential nominees. On February 23 there was a meeting for local League representatives discussing successes and challenges in the nominating process. It was a very productive and fun meet up. Another meeting will occur in March. Come join in and see what you missed. Watch for a Doodle poll to choose a date and time. ANNOUNCEMENTS Caring for Our Children March 22, 7:00pm Please register for the Zoom webinar here. Join us for a webinar on the state of child care in Oregon! The topics will include: Why affordable, quality child care is critical for Oregon; challenges and successes of childcare providers; and a report from the nascent Oregon Department of Early Learning and Childcare. Our moderator will be Terry Styner from the League of Women Voters. We are looking forward to an informative panel discussion from our knowledgeable speakers: Martha Brooks , Oregon State Director, Western Region States Regional Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and ReadyNation, Council for a Strong America Julie Hurley , Co-Leader of the Child Care Coalition, Douglas County and Executive Director Early Learning, Douglas ESD and Heather Freilinger, Co-Leader of the Child Care Coalition, Douglas County | Program Coordinator Douglas ESD | Care Connections and Education Program David Mandell , Chief of Policy & Research, Early Learning Division, Oregon Department of Education State Legislator TBD PROGRAM PLANNING 2022 As the LWVOR recently appointed Study Chair, I’m sharing my plan to bring our attention to what causes our league heart …to beat. Our interest in issues leads to League Study which results in writing our positions on issues, ultimately leading to ACTION and ADVOCACY. In the past, the League has encouraged our members to write and present a Study because this is the only way to create issue positions and, thus, the only way we may take action with ONE VOICE! League members pledged 103 years ago to participate in government and defend democracy and to do so ONLY with accurate, balanced, shared, and nonpartisan understanding. That understanding comes from Study that was created by and shared with league members, and with our community and public policy makers in our government. How does Study begin? A local League(s) will identify an issue or topic that is or will be addressed by the government through the creation of public policy, action, or legislation. A study committee forms with a designated leader. A title is declared, a time frame committed to, and ultimately, presentation, and approval for Study by their Board. Once a Study is completed, consensus from members is given, and positions are created, it is archived and reviewed annually, usually in January. These Studies and their positions are neatly stored and accessible on our websites as tools for us to use when taking Action or Advocacy. Local, State, and National Leagues have created Studies and positions. Let’s pause here to recognize that our interests in a particular issue by League individuals or as a group could also result in a white paper or a discussion group or a public forum. We recognize the truth that our eyes, ears, hearts, and brains may hunger for information, yet not always with the ultimate goal being…STUDY. The League encourages interest in various topics and interests, recognizing that the end goal may not be a Study. Study will be an important topic during our LWVOR Convention, May 19-21st . Read the studies and concurrence to be presented to our league delegates on the Convention tab on our website. Please contact me by email or phone if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. Annie Goldner LWVOR Interim Study Chair 541-389-9660 a.goldner@lwvor.org DEVELOPMENT UPDATE We are most grateful for the generous donations we received in January of this year: $1,000 from the Dicentra Fund of Oregon Community Foundation, and $5,000 from Norman Turrill, former president of LWVOR, and one who has a vast understanding of the needs and potential of our League. Thank you! Our outstanding staff is a most important part of our budget, and we could not function as a state League without their availability and professional skills. There are multiple ways you can help sustain the LWVOR operational costs. Convenient monthly giving through your bank’s auto-pay A charitable contribution from your IRA to benefit the LWVOR - tax neutral! A donation in honor or memory of a loved one A bequest to our League - please consult an attorney or estate planning professional Consider legacy giving to build our endowment for increased annual returns Our Youth Outreach (YO) committee is working with Development to apply for a Community Challenge Grant from AARP to enhance civic engagement. Our proposal will be a short-term project in which our Youth Council and senior-aged League members will form a team for an essay-writing contest to be held this fall in selected districts across Oregon. The program is designed to foster intergenerational communication and help amplify the voices of our youth on issues affecting their communities and their future. Jackie Clary, Freddi Weishahn LWVOR Development IN MEMORIAM Marion-Polk welcomed Willie Richardson as a new member of the League of Women Voters in October. From the Statesman Journal: Willie Richardson, a champion for minority education and respected voice for racial equality in Salem for more than four decades, has died. She was 74. Service arrangements are pending. The family told the Statesman Journal it will be open to the public. Richardson in 1987 was the first Black person elected to the Salem-Keizer school board and is the past president of Oregon Black Pioneers, whose board and staff posted condolences on Facebook : "Willie's immeasurable impact on the organization, the city of Salem, and the state of Oregon will be felt for many generations." Salem Art Association also posted condolences and celebrated Richardson's impact on its organization.

All-Members Newsletter - October 2023 Happy October! As we embrace the crisp and colorful Fall season, we are excited for the upcoming local and statewide events that promise to bring us together once again, both in-person and virtually. First up is the LWVOR Fall Workshop on October 7 (details below!). We are renewing our commitment to empowering our communities through voter education activities that will ensure our voices are heard in the 2024 elections. Read on to discover some of the exciting events on the horizon. Upcoming Events Fall Workshop 2023 Register Now Oct 07, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 155 High St, Eugene, OR 97401 Register for virtual tickets by October 6. In-person registration is now closed. Join us in Eugene and online on October 7, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We are excited to bring you this voter education focused event, filled with great guest speakers, new tools for voter outreach in 2024, plans for upcoming Oregon Student Mock Elections, and more! Don't miss our keynote speaker, Molly Woon, Oregon Elections Director and a special workshop hosted by the LWVOR Youth Council on youth voter outreach. We hope you’re able to join us! More Upcoming LWVOR Events Legislative Process Day 2023 Registration open soon Nov 07, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Hybrid Event 250 Winter St NE, Salem, OR 97301 Youth Voter Summit Registration open soon Jan 19, 2024, 10:00 AM Hybrid Event 250 Winter St NE, Salem, OR 97301 Local League Events ⭐Event Highlight: Tour the Oregon Supreme Court Building with the Marion/Polk League From LWV of Marion and Polk Counties: "Join us on Thursday, October 19, to tour the Oregon Supreme Court Building. We haven’t received confirmation of the time yet. The tour will last about 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours and will require standing, although there will be chairs available when we are in the courtroom. Paid parking is available along State St. If the weather is nice, we will also visit the Women’s Suffrage memorial in Willson Park, about ½ block from the Supreme Court Building. At our get-together at Willamette Mission State Park, 10 members signed up to go on the tour. We have space for 10 more. The 119-year-old building is one of the state’s oldest continuously operating government buildings. To preserve the three-story structure and its historic features, the building recently went through a seismic retrofit. It features terra cotta, marble, and mahogany, with classical detailing, a grand staircase, and stained-glass lighting in the courtroom. We will learn what changes have been made, see the Percent for Art installation and hear about the workings of Oregon’s appellate court system." ⭐Event Highlight: National Voter Registration Day (9/19) at Rose Haven Women’s Shelter By LWVPDX Voter Service Chair Chris Cobey LWVPDX celebrated National Voter Registration Day (September 19) at Rose Haven, a Portland women’s shelter, where we registered voters, distributed voter registration forms to women who wanted to register later, answered questions about voting and upcoming elections, and provided links to information on Portland’s new government and online voter registration. We averaged a new paper voter registration every 15 minutes -- a robust rate of public voter registration in a period of no imminent elections! As a result of this activity, we have learned of and received inquiries from Rose Haven's youth outreach group, have provided additional information to them, and look forward to including them in future LWVPDX-Rose Haven on-site voter registration events. More Upcoming Local League Events Local League events coming up in the next few weeks. Have events to add? Please send them to us at lwvor@lwvor.org : ⭐LWV of Coos County September Voter Registration Stations Tuesday, October 10, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Coos Bay Public Library ⭐LWV of Deschutes County DEIJ Discussion Group: Do the Work Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm ⭐LWV of Marion and Polk Counties Fall Membership Get-Together Thursday, October 12, 10 am - Tea & Talk - Taproot Old Mill Cafe Wednesday, October 18, 7 pm - Being Nonpartisan - Zoom Link here ⭐LWV of Lane County Annual Fall Luncheon Thursday, October 19, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm - The Shedd Institute, Eugene Oregon 97401 ⭐LWV of Portland Programs/Events – Free and Open to the Public October 11, 2023, via Zoom, panel discussion on progress in creating a Community Board for Police Accountability ⭐LWV of Umpqua Valley A Year of Education Events Tuesday, October 17 – Sarah McGregor, the Feeding Umpqua Program Manager at UCAN, will teach us about efforts to alleviate hunger in our communities and how we can help. Tuesday, November 14 – Thomas McGregor, Executive Director of Phoenix Charter School, will inspire us with “2031: Let’s Define the Future for East Roseburg”. Phoenix turns 50 in 2031. How can we help dream, develop, and actively create what the community wants Phoenix to be on its 50th birthday? Register for Member Section The new LWVOR website features an improved Member’s Section including an exclusive Member’s Forum, where League members can engage in discussions on a variety of topics: Voter Service, Communications, DEIJ, Membership, and more. We’re adding new topics all the time, so please feel free to explore what is there and suggest new topics if you see a need. 👉 Register to Access LWVOR.org Member’s Section We welcome all current League members to join the forum and check it out! It is a great place to share ideas, links, resources, and anything you think your fellow League members will find useful. Please contact s.andrews@lwvor.org with any questions about getting started. Volunteers Needed LWVOR Board Opportunities Voter Services Chair Welcome our LWVOR Voter Service leads: Abigail Bok (Vote411), Marianne Germond (Voter’s Guides), and Peggy Bengry (State Ballot Measures). LWVOR is still looking for a Voter Service Chair to represent this work as a liaison to the LWVOR board. With the reduction of work off the shoulders of the VS Chair into these other lead positions, the VS Chair will be able to activate, coordinate, and manage the various efforts to closure across Voter Services each year. Read the full position description here . League Voter Services makes election information available to the public to encourage citizen participation in government. The Chair inspires Voter Service volunteers and dedicated professionals to produce clear, unbiased information for tens of thousands of Oregon voters. The VS Chair directly contributes to making democracy work. Please contact us at nominating@lwvor.org or lwvor@lwvor.org if you are interested in the VS Chair role. Advocacy Team Opportunities Natural Resources What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. The 2023 legislative session is over, but 2024 is just around the corner. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator. Training will be offered. Dept of Environmental Quality Air Quality Programs Dept of Environmental Quality Land Quality Programs Dept of Environmental Quality Recycling and Waste Prevention Dept of Land Conservation and Development Coastal Programs Dept. of Agriculture Programs (any or all) Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Programs (any or all) Columbia River Gorge Commission Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries Oregon Marine Board Oregon Dept. of Parks and Recreation Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Climate Emergency Natural and Working lands, specifically Agriculture/ODA (Oregon Dept. of Agriculture) Transportation, I-5 Bridge and ODOT state agency Environment/Climate Related Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust Public Health Climate Adaptation (OHA, Oregon Health Authority) Regional Solutions/Infrastructure (with NR team) State Procurement Practices (DAS: Dept. of Admin. Services) CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment Please contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org if you are interested in helping out in any of these areas. Social Policy Human rights Immigration, Refugee & Asylum Seekers/Migrants GLBTQ+ Basic Human Needs Please contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org if you are interested in helping out in any of these areas. DEIJ: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Toolkit for local Leagues LWVOR Youth Council DEIJ Chair Deenie Bulyalert and LWVOR Youth Council DEIJ mentor Elizabeth Kirby have produced a DEIJ Toolkit for League members! This Toolkit is a collection of resources and tools to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in your organization and community. You can find it linked in the Knowledge Base in the Member's Section of the website. Once you've clicked on the Toolkit link be sure to check out the READ ME document first to get a snapshot view of all of the enclosed folders. If you're looking for a good place to start, feel free to check out pronouns.org , where you can learn about personal pronouns and why they matter. Please reach out to Elizabeth at deij@lwvor.org if you have any questions! Youth Outreach Update LWVUS Mobilizing Young Voter Pilot Program Launch Nile Blass, LWVUS DMV Community Organizer, is thrilled to announce the Young Voter Pilot Program is officially launching. Over the coming weeks and months, you can anticipate a wide array of updates, resources, and supplementary materials designed to support our young voter outreach initiatives. We have a lineup of workshops, training sessions, and special speaker events in the pipeline, and we are committed to making these accessible both virtually and in person whenever possible. To keep you in the loop, LWVUS will feature these special programming updates in the monthly League Update, on LWV's event website, and across various LWV informational forums. Thank you once again for your commitment to this important cause. Email Nile at nblass@lwv.org to request your email be added to the listserv, and make sure to sign up for LWVUS League Updates at lwv.org ! Membership Update Everyone is invited to drop in to the Membership and DEIJ Special Interest Group Wednesday, October 11⋅1:00 – 2:00pm Meets Monthly on second Wednesdays Join Zoom Meeting This month's meeting will begin with an interactive tour of the LWVOR website functionality by LWVOR Digital Director Sarah Andrews, including the members only side, and how to sign up for newsletters and Forums. The next topic is discussion with local League examples and ideas from around the state for new member orientation since the pandemic, a question submitted by LWV of Corvallis member Laura Evenson. Diana DeMaria is interim LWVOR Membership for Lisa Bentson, who has stepped up to co-President our state league while the nominating committee works on Board vacancies. Count on LWVOR Membership as a local League resource! Diana DeMaria (she/her-- Why do pronouns matter? ) call/text 503.319.8601 Interim Membership Chair membership@lwvor.org Recommended Reading From LWVOR Advocacy Chair, Becky Gladstone: This month's book is THE HANK SHOW , about Hank Asher, “the pioneering computer programmer known as the father of data fusion”. This new-release is timely, coming shortly after Oregon’s first in the nation Data Broker Registry signing, HB 2052 Enrolled (2023) . Here's LWVOR testimony . The author, McKenzie Funk, is from Oregon. We cited his 2016 NYTs Magazine article, Should We See Everything a Cop Sees? in our Privacy & Cybersecurity study and alluded to in LWVOR public records advocacy. The official release date is October 3 and it can pre-ordered through Bookshop.org , for delivery to your favorite independent local bookstore -check for your favorite! The freely shared advance excerpt , The Man Who Trapped Us in Databases , was in the Sept 24 NYTs Magazine. From the author, McKenzie Funk: “Recently, I spent a half-decade writing a book. It’s called The Hank Show . As you can imagine, it’s about a guy named Hank—in this case the pioneering data broker and onetime cocaine smuggler Hank Asher. It’s sort of about him, at least. I always told myself it was really about what he left behind for us when he died in 2013: hidden tracking numbers that will stalk each of us for the entirety of our adult lives. Data and database systems that still course through the computers of the FBI, the IRS, the CIA, and ICE and through most American police departments, most Fortune 500 companies, and most of the world’s biggest banks. Digital dossiers that increasingly determine who among us gets loans, who gets insurance, who gets job offers, who gets arrested, who gets deported, who gets what healthcare, who gets ahead in life, and who’s left behind.”

Dear LWVOR Members and friends, Here’s to celebrating April, everyone! As we look forward to our LWVOR 2023 Convention in Eugene, May 19-21, I am also looking back to my first April as President, in 2020, when we were just beginning to face COVID’s public health implications for the League. We met with LWVUS to advise on “social distancing” with Oregon Vote-by-Mail and we were writing ZOOM how-tos. We were using our new Privacy and Cybersecurity position in the Legislature and wondering how COVID might affect our 100th Anniversary plans for events all around the state, the issue forums, the suffrage quilt competitions, the parades, and all of our general operations. Now we have our work cut out for us to defend legislation accomplishments, newly resurfacing repression, pushing us to reach for reinforcements. Our membership and YO! Youth Outreach efforts are truly promising. Let’s welcome and mentor them! The League is all about citizen engagement and civic education. As Thos Paine said, “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way!” Now it is time to prepare for your own Certified League Member status, renewable for free, every April 1st. To prepare, you can you can use this Legislative Glossary to study, thanks to the Oregon State Legislature website. We recommend you Review Our History: What makes the League Special? For extra credit, read this newsletter and find more ways you can help! Your help as a committee member can make a board member’s work realistically manageable. See you at Convention? I hope so! Thank you for being part of the team by reading and helping as you are able! Yours In League, Becky Gladstone LWVOR President _________________________________________________ Here’s an overview: Second call to LWVOR CONVENTION, in Eugene, May 19-21, 2023 Nominating Committee – see gaps Voter Service news, Spring primary Vote411 & OSME Youth Outreach, OSME wrap, moving forward! Action, legislative update Announcements Recommended reading SECOND CALL TO CONVENTION The biennial State Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Oregon is held on alternate years to the State Council. First Call is issued so that local Leagues can begin to plan and discuss matters that will be presented at the convention. TIME & PLACE The 2023 State Convention will be held Friday through Sunday, May 19-21, 2023, in Eugene, OR at The Graduate Hotel. HOSTS League of Women Voters of Lane County PURPOSE The convention shall consider changes to Bylaws; shall consider and authorize for action a program; shall elect the president, first vice-president, secretary, three directors (two-year terms), and a chair and two members of the nominating committee; shall adopt a budget for the ensuing year; and shall transact such other business as may be presented. DELEGATES The convention shall consist of the LWVOR Board of Directors and delegates chosen by members through the local Leagues. Each local League shall be entitled to two delegates for the first 40 members or fewer. If possible, one delegate should be the President. An additional delegate is allowed for every 20 additional members or major fraction (10 or more) thereof belonging to the local League as of January 31, 2023. Each approved State Unit of members-at-large (MALs) shall be entitled to one delegate. For those MAL’s not in an approved unit, MAL representation at convention shall be one delegate for every 20 MALs or major fraction (10 or more) thereof. If there are fewer than 10 MALs, the interest of the MALs shall be represented by the LWVOR Membership Chair. OBSERVERS Any member of the LWVOR (in a local League, a State Unit, or as a general MAL) may attend as an observer. Observers may not vote, but may, upon recognition of the Chair, have the privilege of the floor. All League members are urged to exercise this privilege, and members are encouraged to register as observers. Make your Hotel reservations: Call 844-888-4723. Use BOOKING CODE: 0519WV. Use this booking link: League of Women Voters of Oregon – Guestrooms The cutoff date to book rooms at the discounted group rate is April 28th. Act quickly to book yours! NOMINATING COMMITTEE NO NOMINEES? MLD coaching to the rescue! THE MLD RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: Identify your strengths, evaluate your assets, focus on our League values: What is it that only the League can do? Membership and Leadership Development (MLD) was introduced to our LWVOR by the LWVUS at the Oregon State Coaches’ Training in 2012. One of our MLD state coaches just happens to be a co-chair of our nominating committee, and her training led to the solution: apply an intentional combination of our LWVOR leadership’s willingness to serve with our bylaws to meet the challenge. Alice Bartelt, 2nd VP, stepped up and accepted responsibility to be President, recognizing the bylaws provision for an executive committee to guide the board through this challenge. Lisa Bentson, our Board Director in charge of Membership, volunteered to become 1st VP and add Events to her portfolio while retaining Membership. Becky Gladstone, who had dreams for the LWVOR during her terms as President, but was confronted with the impact of Covid, found a way to stay for one more year, filling Alice’s second year of her position as 2nd VP and providing a means to maintain the Action portfolio with the needed strong leadership until June 2024. The current board vacancies are an extraordinary opportunity FOR YOU as a member to experience working with dedicated and inspirational leaders to complete the leadership team for the coming year! Don’t hesitate – join Alice in the Adventure and experience what Wonderland is really like! PROPOSED SLATE OF NOMINEES for two-year terms : President: Alice Bartelt (Washington Co. Unit) First Vice President: Lisa Bentson (Lincoln Co.) Events, Membership, and HR Secretary: Mimi Alkire (Portland) Members of the Board of Directors: Annie Goldner (Deschutes Co.) Program Jackie Clary (Coos Co.) Development Chair Freddi Weishahn (Lane Co.) Development Nominating Committee Chair (off-board) Betty Coe De Broekert (Lane Co.) Nominating Committee Members (off-board) Judy Froemke (Portland), Jeanne Taylor (Lane Co.) Officers continuing or changing position on Board through 2024 to complete a second year of term: Second Vice President: Becky Gladstone (Lane Co.) Action Treasurer: Kermit Yensen (Deschutes Co.) Board of Directors: Filling 3 vacancies through 2024 to complete second year of term: Voter Editor: Jim Buck (Rogue Valley) Vacant: Two additional Board Directors are needed now to complete the 2023-24 slate Off-Board chairs: Budget Chair: Kathleen Hersh (Washington Co. unit) MLD Chair: Kathleen Hersh (Washington Co. unit) Youth Outreach: Diana DeMaria (Clackamas Co.) Youth Liaison: Chris Walker (MAL) BOARD VACANCIES: Board of Director Portfolios represent areas of work that need to be covered, sometimes with an off- board chair. Portfolios currently vacant are: Voter Education/Voter Service Chair. Also needed are assistance with Events, Membership, Action, Voter Education/Voter Service and TBD. If you or someone you know would be a good fit for one of these vacant positions please let the LWVOR nominating committee know. VOTER SERVICE Thanks to our strong local League network and Chair Peggy Bengry, Voter Service is gathering candidate and local ballot measure information for the May 16, 2023 primary election! Next we look forward to gearing up for the So Important 2024 Elections! We need your help and now is the time to learn the ropes! Contact Peggy to help now, contact the Nominating Committee (above), or ask our staff, lwvor@lwvor.org . YOUTH OUTREACH The Youth Outreach Committee meets weekly and is running a Student Mock Election this spring, focusing on the Portland area. The new Youth Council is establishing parameters and adding members. See details for the LWVOR Youth Liaison, Chris Walker, and Youth Council supporting the Student Mock Election, led by Celine Ioffe, in the March newsletter and in the VOTER, both in our Newsroom . ⭐ To help develop an active Student Mock Election presence in your local schools, contact: LWV of OREGON YOUTH OUTREACH | youthoutreach@lwvor.org OREGON STUDENT MOCK ELECTION (OSME) | mockelection@lwvor.org ACTION We have completed week 11 (out of 24) of the 2023 long Legislative session. Limited bill introductions are still being seen, to Rules and Ways and Means Committees. Watch for Action Alerts by email, on relatively short notice, please! We have reviewed and approved almost 130 testimonies submitted so far. Subscribe for the weekly briefs linking to full Legislative Reports in our Newsroom ! ⭐ Action can use all kinds of help. If you can help, please contact our staff, lwvor@lwvor.org . 📣 SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE ROADSHOW The Oregon Legislature announced this session’s set of hearings away from the capital sponsored by the Ways and Means Committee. They will be asking for input on the budget and, except for the last one in the capital, they will be in person only. They would like to hear from everyone. Save the date for the one nearest you. Saturday, April 8, 2023 o 10:00 AM Portland Friday, April 14th o 5:00 PM Newport Friday, April 21st o 5:00 PM, Roseburg Friday, April 28th o 5:00 PM Ontario Wednesday, May 3rd o 5:00 PM Salem at the capital REDISTRICTING The People Not Politicians campaign is back with Initiative Petition 14, which would create an independent commission to draw Oregon legislative districts. This effort is supported by a broad coalition including the League, Common Cause, Forward Oregon, business groups, and many everyday Oregonians. This good governance effort needs our support! This effort is large, and every volunteer will be needed to collect signatures and to database those signatures. Sign up to help here , and donate here . Download the signature petition . Contact Betsy Schultz for further information. Stay informed on League happenings at the state and local levels! You can sign up and manage your LWVOR newsletter subscriptions directly. Don't miss our event updates, Action Alerts, newsletters, and other important information. Questions? Contact our staff at lwvor@lwvor.org . ANNOUNCEMENTS 📣 Caring For Oregon's Children See Caring for Oregon’s Children , a webinar from March 22, 2023, with thanks to the LWVOR Study Committee for bringing experts together to discuss issues and answer questions. 📣 Spring Clean & Affordable Energy Conference , 2023 This information comes from the NorthWest Energy Coalition. LWVOR is a member and attends quarterly regional meetings. We're excited to have Sonia Aggarwal as our keynote speaker! Sonia is the CEO of Energy Innovation and formerly with the Biden Administration, serving through the development, passage, and initial implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. 📣 Let’s Talk About: Digital Threats to Democracy **This is the Reading Recommendation for this month, see below for the prep link! To prepare for Dr. O’Neil’s talk, visit her blog, Mathbabe . From LWV Maine, LWVME in partnership with LWVAK has been presenting this (mostly) monthly discussion series, and the one coming up for April promises to be one of the best ones yet. I hope you will share this invitation with friends and colleagues in your state. Best, Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine 📣 What are Algorithms? And are They Undermining Our Free Will? Hosted on Zoom. Register now for this important conversation Computer algorithms are manipulating us all the time, whether we know it or not. They determine what social media content and search results we see. They may impact our buying decisions, and they may also push us toward disinformation and conspiracy theories. Join us for a conversation with Cathy O’Neil, a leading expert on algorithms and the CEO of ORCAA, an algorithmic auditing company. Please share this invitation with anyone you think might be interested. Register here . RECOMMENDED READING Weapons of Math Destruction: How big data increases inequality and threatens democracy Cathy O’Neil earned a Ph.D. in math from Harvard and worked as a math professor at Barnard College before switching over to the private sector, working as a quant for the hedge fund D.E. Shaw and as a data scientist in the New York startup scene. She is a regular contributor to Bloomberg Opinion and in 2016 wrote the book Weapons of Math Destruction: how big data increases inequality and threatens democracy. She is the CEO of ORCAA , an algorithmic auditing company, and is a member of the Public Interest Tech Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School. She is the author of Weapons of Math Destruction: How big data increases inequality and threatens democracy . Her new book The Shame Machine: who profits in the new age of humiliation came out in March 2022. My best to all of you. I look forward to seeing you at Convention! Step up, we welcome you! It is your turn. Thank You for reading and be sure to smell the flowers. Becky Gladstone President, LWVOR

All-Members Newsletter - September 19, 2023 Yesterday (September 19) was National Voter Registration Day! We don’t need to remind you to take 30 seconds to register to vote or check your registration status at oregonvotes.gov. But maybe some outreach tools would be helpful? Find all the content you need to spread the #NationalVoterRegistrationDay news in the NVRD Vote Ready Social Hub . Click through the tabs near the middle of the page for Voter Registration Reminder Graphics, #VoteReady Memes, Infographics, and more. Co-President’s Message Dear Members and Friends, Please pardon the scheduling hiccup as we resume with first-of-the-month news, adapting to sharing Co-Presidency. We will highlight more committee and local League news features. Please let us know what you appreciate reading and want to hear more about! Suggestions can be sent to lwvor@lwvor.org . Here’s to pulling together to accomplish so much more! Lisa Bentson and Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR Co-Presidents Upcoming Events Fall Workshop 2023 Register Now Oct 07, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 155 High St, Eugene, OR 97401 This 2024 Election Season League Voter Service Event is open to League members and the public for in-person or virtual hybrid participation. Invite your friends and family for a great lineup! On the agenda: League In Action/Outreach Circle Presentation (LWVUS is funding this expensive voter and community outreach tool, so FREE to us!) Download the app to your desktop computer and phone to start learning and using the call to action and other features for member communication. Keynote Speaker: Elections Director Molly Woon Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME) LWVOR Coordinator: Mimi Alkire on Spring 2024 Primary Election school involvement in local League community activities and Civics Learning Project collaboration. Email mockelection@lwvor.org if you can help update your local area school contacts to get ready for Spring 2024 OSME! Youth Council: Overview, DEIJ Resources and Social Media Strategies for local League Young Voter Outreach plus Social Media workshop schedule for later October. Meet the Youth Council . Looking to book a LWVOR Youth Council Member at a meeting or event? Book a speaker here . Plus special guest speakers and a boxed lunch. Promo available - bring your friends! We are offering a promotional ticket rate for League members and their non-League guests! Bring a friend who is not a current League member and your tickets will be $20 each. Please email lwvor@lwvor.org with the name and contact email of your non-League member. You need to email for the code prior to your ticket purchase, then use the registration code we email you when purchasing your tickets. Promo codes are limited to two tickets at $20 each with a member purchasing the tickets for both individuals. More Upcoming LWVOR Events Legislative Process Day 2023 Registration open soon Nov 07, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Hybrid Event 250 Winter St NE, Salem, OR 97301 Youth Voter Summit Registration open soon Jan 19, 2024, 10:00 AM Hybrid Event 250 Winter St NE, Salem, OR 97301 Local League Events Local League events coming up in the next few weeks. Have events to add? Please send them to us at lwvor@lwvor.org : ⭐LWV of Coos County September Voter Registration Stations Wednesday, September 20 - Coos Bay Visitor Center, 50 Central Ave., Coos Bay Friday, September 22 - Bandon Farmer's Market, Farm & Sea, 250 1st St. SW, Bandon Saturday, September 23 - Myrtle Point Harvest Festival, Downtown Myrtle Point ⭐LWV of Deschutes County DEIJ Discussion Group: Do the Work Tuesday, September 26, 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Zoom ⭐LWV of Marion and Polk Counties Fall Membership Get-Together Saturday, September 23, 10 a.m. - noon - Willamette Mission State Park. Coffee, tea & finger food will be provided. Please RSVP to Amy Vandegrift, 503-364-0492. ⭐LWV of Lane County Annual Fall Luncheon Thursday, October 19, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm - The Shedd Institute, Eugene Oregon 97401 ⭐LWV of Portland Programs/Events – Free and Open to the Public September 19, via Zoom, Portland is Changing! Charter Implementation Successes and Challenges October 11, 2023, via Zoom, panel discussion on progress in creating a Community Board for Police Accountability ⭐LWV of Umpqua Valley A Year of Education Events Tuesday, September 19 – Jared Cordon, Superintendent of Roseburg Public Schools, will speak about the state of our schools, a vision for the future, and how our community can support the best for our students. Tuesday, October 17 – Sarah McGregor, the Feeding Umpqua Program Manager at UCAN, will teach us about efforts to alleviate hunger in our communities and how we can help. Tuesday, November 14 – Thomas McGregor, Executive Director of Phoenix Charter School, will inspire us with “2031: Let’s Define the Future for East Roseburg”. Phoenix turns 50 in 2031. How can we help dream, develop, and actively create what the community wants Phoenix to be on its 50th birthday? Register for Member Section The new LWVOR website features an improved Member’s Section including an exclusive Member’s Forum, where League members can engage in discussions on a variety of topics: Voter Service, Communications, DEIJ, Membership, and more. We’re adding new topics all the time, so please feel free to explore what is there and suggest new topics if you see a need. 👉 Register to Access LWVOR.org Member’s Section We welcome all current League members to join the forum and check it out! It is a great place to share ideas, links, resources, and anything you think your fellow League members will find useful. Please contact s.andrews@lwvor.org with any questions about getting started. Volunteers Needed LWVOR Board Opportunities Voter Services Chair Welcome our LWVOR Voter Service leads: Abigail Bok (Vote411), Marianne Germond (Voter’s Guides), and Peggy Bengry (State Ballot Measures). LWVOR is still looking for a Voter Service Chair to represent this work as a liaison to the LWVOR board. With the reduction of work off the shoulders of the VS Chair into these other lead positions, the VS Chair will be able to activate, coordinate, and manage the various efforts to closure across Voter Services each year. Read the full position description here . League Voter Services makes election information available to the public to encourage citizen participation in government. The Chair inspires Voter Service volunteers and dedicated professionals to produce clear, unbiased information for tens of thousands of Oregon voters. The VS Chair directly contributes to making democracy work. Please contact us at nominating@lwvor.org or lwvor@lwvor.org if you are interested in the VS Chair role. Advocacy Team Opportunities Natural Resources What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. The 2023 legislative session is over, but 2024 is just around the corner. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator. Training will be offered. Climate Emergency Natural and Working lands, specifically Agriculture/ODA (Oregon Dept. of Agriculture) Transportation, I-5 Bridge and ODOT state agency Environment/Climate Related Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust Public Health Climate Adaptation (OHA, Oregon Health Authority) Regional Solutions/Infrastructure (with NR team) State Procurement Practices (DAS: Dept. of Admin. Services) CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment Please contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org if you are interested in helping out in any of these areas. Social Policy Human rights Immigration, Refugee & Asylum Seekers/Migrants GLBTQ+ Basic Human Needs Please contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org if you are interested in helping out in any of these areas. DEIJ: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Toolkit for local Leagues LWVOR Youth Council DEIJ Chair Deenie Bulyalert and LWVOR Youth Council DEIJ mentor Elizabeth Kirby have produced a DEIJ Toolkit for League members! This Toolkit is a collection of resources and tools to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in your organization and community. You can find it linked in the Knowledge Base in the Member's Section of the website. Once you've clicked on the Toolkit link be sure to check out the READ ME document first to get a snapshot view of all of the enclosed folders. If you're looking for a good place to start, feel free to check out pronouns.org , where you can learn about personal pronouns and why they matter. Please reach out to Elizabeth at deij@lwvor.org if you have any questions! Youth Outreach: Youth Civic Leadership Opportunities Members of the LWVOR Youth Council attended the Convention in May. We believe the promotion of democracy relies on organizations with similar goals working together to share ideas and resources. Each month beginning October 1st we will share opportunities for young people across Oregon from LWVOR and other great organizations to increase intergenerational civic involvement in our communities. Please email youthoutreach@lwvor.org to contribute great ideas, requests, and to stay informed. Oregon’s Electronic Portal Advisory Board (EPAB) News A CYBER alert from Oregon’s Electronic Portal Advisory Board . Do not give your personal information to anyone who calls you. They may spoof your caller ID as official government agencies or as our merchants, with their actual names and phone numbers showing on your phone. State agencies are seeing increasing “ authorization testing fraud ” in the last few months, where bad actors call, claiming they are trying to verify stolen credit card information. The defensive push now is to help various agencies understand and address needed measures. They explain that this is not a breach of state systems & data, per se. These people use other websites, passing data on to third party fraudsters or actually working on the fraud themselves. This is being seen not only by our state agencies and state portals but also by many merchants, now collaborating to mitigate these threats, and building higher walls to keep fraudsters out. Did you know that LWVOR advocates are appointed to state groups? The League is represented in the EPAB ( roster ) and the DWAC, Drinking Water Advisory Committee ( members ). Our LWVOR Advocacy Team welcomes your help, meeting year-round, including for Cybersecurity and Privacy legislation. Recommended Reading Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome – America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing Our September Recommended Reading is from UO Professor Randall Blazak, required reading every term for his classes. He is Chair of the Oregon Coalition Against Hate Crimes and LWVOR is an attending member. In Memoriam: Alice Bartelt We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear colleague, Alice Bartelt, who has been President since May 2023 and long-standing Action Chair, trusted informally as Parliamentarian for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. Lisa Bentson, our First Vice President, and Rebecca Gladstone, Second Vice President, are Acting Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters of Oregon until a replacement is found. Please contact lwvor@lwvor.org with any questions or messages you would like to share. A Celebration of Life for Alice Bartelt has been set for 4pm October 13. Responses from members (More can be read on our website ): I knew Alice as a dedicated, knowledgeable, respectful, and generous League leader. She was committed to helping the Oregon League achieve its advocacy priorities. She also kindly shared her time and expertise to serve as a parliamentarian and a speaker for local Leagues as well as LWVOR. Her death is a sad loss for all of us who knew her and who benefited from her service to the League and to Oregon. -Margaret Noel Alice was a model for many of us. She could be responsible to groups, keeping up with her political commitments, but also keep an individual life. She could be generous and kind, and also keep things in order with Robert’s Rules. One of the lights in the room we were blessed to know. -Jody Wiser My deepest sympathies on losing Alice. She was a guiding light in our League as Chair of the LWVOR Action Committee and newly elected President. Her contributions and work ethic were an inspiration to us all. It was an honor to be a member under her leadership in the state Action Committee. She was a remarkable woman and her work will live on both in the League and in our hearts. My sincere condolences, she will be dearly missed. -Nancy Donovan, member of the LWVOR Action Committee, and Chair of the LWVPDX Education Committee

Dear Friend, Welcome to our Fall Voter Newsletter! Read on to learn about our youth-led efforts to empower the next generation of voters through a series of dynamic youth voter service events, plus opportunities to get involved in impactful initiatives that will shape the future of our communities in Oregon. LWVOR Advocacy Fund Promotes Both IP 14 and IP 9 By Norman Turrill, President, LWV of Oregon Advocacy Fund The LWVOR has endorsed both Initiative Petition 14 (IP 14) and Initiative Petition 9 (IP 9). IP 14 would end gerrymandering in Oregon by creating an independent redistricting. You can learn more about IP 14 by going to the People Not Politicians (PNP) website. IP 9 would end big money dominating candidate campaigns in Oregon by setting strict contribution limits and revealing dark money sponsors of campaign advertising. You can learn more about IP 9 by going to the Honest Elections website . To qualify for the 2024 general election ballot, IP 14 must collect some 160,000 valid voter signatures by July 5, 2024, less than a year from now. IP 9, because it is a statutory measure, must collect some 120,000 signatures by the same deadline. This signature gathering phase is well underway. These petitions will accomplish their goals next year with your help, provided that they have more petition circulators and more money . The LWVOR Advocacy Fund is now organizing county coordinators who will identify volunteer petitioners and send them to events like street fairs and markets where many people gather. Please volunteer at a link below if you would like to help. Also, you may now download and print your own IP 14 petitions by carefully following the instructions here . If you will be petitioning in public, then you must also print and carry a complete copy of the IP 14 text . You know the drill to have an initiative succeed in Oregon: • volunteers and more volunteers • gathering of qualifying signatures by circulators • signature validators (at home and online!) • donors! PNP is a broad coalition of organizations covering the whole political spectrum. The coalition organizations comprise together some 400,000 members. If each of these members just downloads, prints, signs and returns a petition with their family and friends, then IP 14 would have more than enough signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot! Do that today! Recall Study Team Opportunity by Annie Goldner, LWVOR Issue Positions Director LWVOR 2023 Convention delegates voted to undertake a study on recall elections. LWV of Lane County proposed the two-year project, and now works with LWVOR support and resources. Why do we want to study recall elections? A recall election enables voters to remove an elected official from office through a referendum before the official's term of office has ended. LWV Oregon supports the recall process as provided in the Oregon Constitution. However, the studies leading to our position on Initiative, Referendum, and Recall (Adopted 1988; Revised 1996; Educational Update 2001) did not specifically examine the recall process itself. This means we are not able to weigh in on whether or not the process is working as it should. The state-mandated timeline for recall elections has implications for voter education and turnout, which directly ties into the League’s goal of protecting and expanding voting rights to ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. How will we work on this issue? There will be small tasks and larger ones, including: Research relevant League positions and actions in Oregon and across the country Research the history of recall in Oregon. Survey articles and research by legal and policy organizations focused on democratic processes. Interview election officials and topic experts. Discuss and learn with League colleagues. Synthesize, write, and edit results. Becoming part of a study committee is a great way to learn about an issue, gain a better understanding of League process, and make a positive difference. We hope you will consider joining the folks below in this effort and they will help you find a right-sized task. Contact Keli Osborn to join the team. Youth Council Spotlight: Chris Walker By Chris Walker, League of Women Voters of Oregon Youth Council Vice President and Off-Board Liaison I’ve just finished my internship in the U.S. House of Representatives, and it is a wonderful opportunity for civic-minded youth. My experience with the League of Women Voters of Oregon Youth Council helped prepare me for the role by inspiring me to think critically about why people, especially young people, vote or care about politics. Also, it has made me care even more about Oregon voters, who I was delighted to hear from while interning. My tasks included: Answering constituent calls, hearing the important beliefs, opinions, and questions of the district's constituents. Attending briefings and writing up memos that are used by members of the office for forming policy. Performing outreach for bills and letters— calling up other offices and sending emails to do so. Guiding tours for people living in the congressperson's district who were visiting. I showed the capital building, one of the beautiful centers of American democracy. Becoming familiar with Microsoft Office - which really, I had not used very often before my internship. Learning all I could (everyday, full time). Thank you for your support of the Youth Council! OSME Update for October 2023 We are excited to share that the League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) will be hosting Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME) for both the May Primary and November General Elections in 2024. The League is partnering with educators across the state to provide nonpartisan information and materials, giving students a greater understanding of participation in the Oregon electoral process, now and in the future. OSME helps students recognize the real world relevance of civics education. Are you interested in helping us contact educators in your area? Can you help us find civic education volunteers in your area? Email mockelection@lwvor.org . Since spring school schedules always fill up quickly, we ask that you mark your calendars with these important dates and deadlines for the upcoming May 2024 OSME: Monday, April 8 – OSME registration begins Tuesday, April 30 – Last day to register to vote in the Oregon Primary Election Tuesday, May 5-10 – Student Mock Election Week Friday, May 17 – OSME results released to the public Tuesday, May 21 – Oregon Primary Election Day Please share them with potential participating educators along with the following information: On the LWVOR.org website, educators can access the free, year-round, and award-winning Civics Education Curriculum. In addition, we will provide the following two lesson plans, which are specifically relevant to the 2024 May Primary: Parties and Primaries – Introduce your students to each of the 10 recognized Oregon parties and help them understand the impact of a closed primary on minor-party voters. Ranked-Choice-Voting (RCV) – Introduce your students to the process of RCV. This is appropriate for students in either social studies or math classes (requires an understanding of using percentages). The lessons include several suggestions for classroom activities, many links to resources, and information about how to prepare students for the election. We are looking for LWV members across the state to put us in contact with classroom teachers and administrators, both public/private and middle/high schools, along with charter school and homeschool educators. We need a name and email address for a contact person in each school and they need to have ours. If you are able to drop off materials to local schools, we will provide you with flyers to take to schools, along with information for how they can register their students for the mock election. October 7 Fall Workshop Youth Council Panel Presentation By Diana DeMaria, LWVOR Youth Outreach Director Email Diana DeMaria at youthoutreach @ lwvor.org to be added to the local League contact listserv, request printable materials for your voter registration activities or newsletter articles, and be invited to drop in on youth outreach meetings when your schedule permits. Review this year’s Youth Council Panel slideshow here on our Fall Workshop resources page . Meet the Youth Council . Looking to book a LWVOR Youth Council Member at a meeting or event? Book a speaker here . LWVOR Events: Fall Workshop The League of Women Voters of Oregon held its first hybrid Fall Workshop event on the first Saturday in October. This Voter Service-oriented event was held to prepare League members for the upcoming election work in 2024. Workshop attendees heard from a wide array of speakers, including LWV Liaison Alexis Juday-Marshall (an Oregonian now living in California) and Luana Chaires, Digital Relational Organizing Manager from LWVUS who spoke of the benefits of Outreach Circle/League in Action as a tool to further member engagement and voter education efforts. The Membership and Leadership Development group (MLD) offered an overview of their work in using MLD coaches to make a difference in addressing membership goals while Peggy Bengry (former Voter Service chair and current Vote411 Ballot Measure chair) spoke to the exciting work involved with engaging in Voter Service activities. Molly Woon, Oregon Elections Director, served as the workshop’s keynote speaker and offered an engaging and informative perspective on the Oregon election office’s efforts to serve voters in Oregon. The Elections Director is responsible for the administration of the Oregon vote-by-mail system as well as overseeing state initiative, referendum, and candidate processes. Woon spoke to the current efforts of the election office’s efforts to improve transparency and greater education across the state. LWVOR’s Youth Council held a panel to conclude the event. They spoke to the challenges facing young voters today and the goals to create a young LWV member pipeline in local and state Leagues nationwide, connect League of Women Voters to existing youth civic engagement around the country, and create more opportunities for young LWV members to participate in League activities. For an overview of the program and a copy of the recording, as well as copies of the Youth Council slide show and other information, please visit our LWVOR Fall Workshop resource page. Upcoming Events Legislative Process Day 2023 Registration open, get your tickets today! Nov 07, 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM Hybrid Event 250 Winter St NE, Salem, OR 97301 Youth Voter Summit Registration opens soon Jan 19, 2024, 10:00 AM Hybrid Event 250 Winter St NE, Salem, OR 97301

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, April 7, 2023 Contact: Mimi Alkire, LWVPDX lwvpdx.org www. lwvor.org/mock-election 503.680.4184 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF PORTLAND ANNOUNCES STUDENT MOCK ELECTION AS PART OF THE MAY 2023 SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS This is an opportunity for Multnomah County students, in grades 6 through 12, to have an authentic Oregon voting experience. They will learn to vote with realistic mock ballots containing two of the same ballot measures that will appear in the May 16, 2023 Special Election in the cities of Portland and Gresham. The number of registered students, along with the Spring 2023 Special District Elections mock ballot results, will be released prior to Election Day, May 19, 2023. Invitations to participate in this year’s Multnomah County Student Mock Election have been extended by phone, mail, or delivered in person to all Portland and Gresham public middle and high schools by local neighborhood League of Women Voters member volunteers. Educator and classroom registration, lesson plan distribution, and training on ballot measure analysis followed by mock ballot distribution are commencing. City of Portland Student Mock Ballots will include: ● Multnomah County Measure 26-238 (establishes residential tenant resources program, eviction representation, capital gains tax), and ● City of Portland Measure 26-240 (renew Portland Children's Levy investment for five years). Gresham Student Mock Ballots will include the Multnomah County Measure 26-238 along with: ● City of Gresham Measure 26-239 (five-year operating levy for police, fire, homeless and crisis response) Registered educators will receive access to the free League of Women Voters of Oregon award-winning “ Civics Education ” curriculum, a comprehensive lesson plan with linked resources, additional website resources, and instructions to prepare students for an informed and authentic voting experience on mock ballots. These free and open civics resources are available to educators YEAR-ROUND on the mock election website LWVOR.org . Teachers report their students take researched analysis and ballot measure explanations from mock election lessons home to their families and start thoughtful, effective, issue-centered discussions that benefit their communities. The National Association of Student Councils and National Association of Post- Secondary Principals also recommend mock elections to provide leadership roles for students. Mock elections are very popular with educators and students, and the press can bring welcome visibility to civics in action. The League of Women Voters of Portland is a 103-year-old grassroots nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. We envision informed Oregonians participating in a fully accessible, responsive, and transparent government to achieve the common good. The League never supports or opposes any candidate or political party.