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

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

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

Get your community ready to vote by celebrating the 2026 Civic Holidays! Click the links below to register your event or activity: September 15: National Voter Registration Day | The League has been the number one recruiting partner: let’s keep that trend going! Sign up now to receive free stickers, posters, and resources. October 5-9: National Voter Education Week | Give voters the tools they need to cast their ballots with confidence. October 20: Election Hero Day | Thank the election workers in your community that ensure our elections run safely. This is the second year that LWV is the managing partner. Let’s spread the word to help us reach our goal of 500 partners in 2026! October 27: Vote Early Day | Make sure communities have the tools to vote early!

Lincoln County League Members Support Local Information Study Members of the League of Women Voters of Lincoln County recently partnered with the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication on a community information project focused on how Lincoln County residents access, evaluate, and use local information. As part of the project, League members helped design, distribute, and promote a countywide survey and participated in two community forums. The project gathered 787 validated survey responses, included in-depth virtual interviews, and hosted public listening sessions in Newport and Lincoln City. The resulting report offers a detailed look at how residents stay informed and where stronger civic information systems are needed. The report found that Lincoln County residents are engaged and motivated but that the local information system is fragmented. Residents often rely on a mix of local journalism, public media, government communication, social media, community bulletin boards, neighbors, and word of mouth. The report also identified several areas of concern, including emergency communication, uneven geographic coverage, barriers for Spanish-speaking residents and young people, and the need for more trusted, timely, and representative local information. The study’s recommendations include building a coordinated county information directory, strengthening emergency communication systems, supporting transparent local journalism, expanding civic accountability coverage, recognizing informal community information networks, and improving multilingual access and youth engagement. This work reflects the League’s long-standing commitment to civic participation, public trust, and access to reliable nonpartisan information. By supporting this project, Lincoln County League members helped elevate resident voices and contribute to a stronger foundation for civic life in their community. The full report, Community Perspectives on Lincoln County’s Information Ecosystem, is available through the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon. Photo credit: Linda Brown, League of Women Voters of Lincoln County Photos: Newport community outreach session with University of Oregon journalism students and Professor Andrew DeVigal

Nominations LWVOR welcomed several Board members to join the State Board for terms beginning in 2026. Elected Director: Mark Kendall: President 2026-27 Elected Director: Jean Pierce: 2nd VP 2026-28 Elected Director: Linda Malardi: Treasurer 2026-28 Elected Director: Jodi Gill: Director 2026-28 Elected Director: Evan Tucker: Director 2026-28 Appointed Director: Justin Ludwig, 2026-28 LWVOR Board 2026 Executive Committee President Mark Kendall 1st Vice President Barbara Klein 2nd Vice President Jean Pierce Treasurer Linda Malardi Secretary Mimi Alkire Directors and their Portfolios Development Jackie Clary Youth Outreach Diana DeMaria, Mimi Alkire, Evan Tucker OSME Mimi Alkire Events Eileen Burke-Trent Voter Service Marianne Germond Unit Development Marty Power Human Resources Barbara Keirnes-Young Marty Power Jodi Gill Justin Ludwig Off-Board Specialist Portfolios and their Chairs Nominating Committee Annie Goldner Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice rhyen enger Mentoring, Leadership and Development (MLD) Kathleen Hersh Membership Lindsay LaPlante (Staff Interim) Newsletter Editor Jim Buck Voter Girl Meg Thompson VOTE411 Lindsay LaPlante (Staff Interim) Ballot Measures Peggy Bengry Parliamentarian Norman Turrill Budget AMENDED BUDGET MOTION: The 2026 LWVOR Budget Committee moves that we adopt the 2026-27 Budget as proposed in the 2026 LWVOR Council Workbook (pages 11-13) with the two amendments below. VOTE: Passed unanimously MOTION to AMEND: Increase Class 112 to $1,200 (from $120) VOTE: Passed unanimously MOTION to AMEND: Increase Class 507 to $2,100 (from $1,550) VOTE: Passed with 1 abstention and 1 no vote Strategic Objectives At the 2026 LWVOR Council, the state League leadership shared more information about the LWVOR Strategic Objectives. These eight themes/categories represent current objectives of the LWVOR Strategic Plan, which is a guiding document for the state League's long-term direction. Focused on a five-year horizon, this plan sets the foundation for actionable goals, metrics, and measurable progress and ensures alignment across programs and initiatives. The Eight Priorities: Branding Voter Service Oregon Student Mock Election Youth Advocacy Nonpartisan Outreach Burnout Avoidance Fiduciary Responsibilities Civil Discourse Keynote Speaker Dr. William Smaldone, PhD E.J. Whipple Professor of European history at Willamette University Speech Topic: A Comparison of 1939 Germany to 2026 Washington DC Events Committee Announcement The LWVOR Events Committee is in the process of selecting the location of the 2027 Convention and will make an announcement soon about this.

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2026 The 2026 Oregon Student Mock Election Primary election was hosted again by the League of Women Voters of Oregon. For this election, we had 22 teachers registering about 3,400 students from 17 different Oregon communities, including (in alphabetical order) Albany, Corvallis, Dayville, Dufur, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Lake Oswego, North Bend, Oregon City, Pendleton, Pine Eagle Portland, Roseburg, St Helens, West Linn, and Winston. In some cases, a teacher registered for just one class and in others they registered for their whole department or school. Registration does not require that student names or party affiliations are included. Teachers register with their own name, the name of their school, and the approximate number of students who will be voting. Our primary objective for the mock election is to provide students with an authentic Oregon voting experience. In this election, students voted for US Senator, Oregon Governor, and Ballot Measure 120. Their mock ballots were designed to make them choose a party before voting – just as we do in the state of Oregon. With that in mind, the ballots had three columns: Republican, Democrat, and Nonaffiliated. Students were required to select just one column for voting. The hope was that they would see that the two-party closed primary system allows only those registered for one of the two major parties to vote in partisan races. The nonaffiliated column allowed voting only for the ballot measure. With the school calendar for the month of May being tightly packed with end-of-year activities and events, several teachers let me know they were not going to be able to get the election done. For those who were able to participate we had the following results: > Republican US Senate: David Brock Smith won the primary with 27% of the total vote. > Republican Governor: Chris Dudley won the primary with 22% of the total vote. > Democrat US Senate: Jeff Merkley won the primary with 87% of the total vote. > Democrat Governor: Tina Kotek won the primary with 48% of the total vote. > Measure 120: Passed with 76% of students voting yes. Teachers were also offered alternative ballots that included each of the US House of Representatives Districts. Only a few teachers used that option, including for District 2 (CD2) and District 5 (CD5). For other US Districts, the data was too small to consider valid. > Republican CD2: Cliff Bentz won the Republican primary with 72% of the student vote. > Democrat CD5: Janelle Bynum was elected with 66% of the student vote. > Republican CD5. Johathan Lockwood was elected with 61% of the student vote. One school requested the addition of the Multnomah County Measure 26-261, which passed with 79% of the student vote in that school. As part of the results process, teachers were asked to share how their voting activities went. One teacher reported that students failed to follow the one-column directions and cast votes for multiple parties. She used the opportunity to help her students understand the closed primary and held a revote. Another teacher had individual students pick one candidate to study and then to represent that person for the class. They then held a “mixer” with students presenting the views of their candidate, wearing name tags that identified their candidate by name and party. The students asked each other questions and shared their thoughts as their candidate, while everyone took notes about the candidates they “met.” The teacher reported that students really enjoyed the experience. Contact: lwvor@lwvor.org 503-581-5722 League of Women Voters of Oregon

A second invitation to join OSME went out to teachers the first week in April who participated in the past. With it came a few more registered teachers. At the time of this writing, we have about 3,300 students registered from 22 schools and/or districts. Compared to the 33,000 who registered in fall of 2024, this is a small turnout. Spring is very busy for high schools so it is understandable that many teachers just can’t give class time to a mock election. Our participation for primary elections has been historically low. Still, we have a lot of participation from rural communities this election. Our represented towns include, Albany, Corvallis, Dayville, Dufur, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Lake Oswego, North Bend, Oregon City, Portland’s David Douglas School District, Pendleton, Pine Eagle, Roseburg, St Helens, West Linn, and Winston. The voting window for students is May 1-10. The press release will go to participating schools and our press pool on, or before May 12. Once again, Lakeridge HS has registered for the whole school to vote! We have an endorsement letter from the Secretary of State’s office for the 2026 mock elections. In this election, students will vote for Governor and Ballot Measure 120 (M120) at the state level and US Senator at the federal. I was skeptical about whether M120 (a referendum to increase payroll tax, gas tax, and vehicle registration fees) would be of interest to students, so I polled the teachers about what they thought. They convinced me to include it. They also have the option of having their students vote for their US Representative. For this election, I have created seven ballots: six ballots with each of the US District races and one without. Teachers decide which ballot(s) they would like to use. Some are opting to use multiple US district ballots since their students’ home addresses fall into more than one. Results and a press release will be available on or about May 12. Mimi Alkire LWVOR Oregon Student Mock Election Coordinator

The mid-year season is upon us and our LWVOR Council is only a couple weeks away, coming up 15-16 May. It’s not too late to consider attending in person. Marion-Polk League members are offering to lodge guests from across the state should you choose to come to Salem. What a great way to meet members you may have only been acquainted with! This year, we are going to review the status of our eight strategic objectives: clear and vocal branding, highlighting our voter service, grow Oregon Student Mock Elections, grow non-partisan outreach through new affiliations, redouble our fiduciary responsibilities, grow the Leagues future with youth outreach, address burnout, and all the while modeling civil discourse. We will hear from a professor of history about the similarities between 1939 and 2025 and why knowing history is crucial to defending democracy and empowering voters now. This year the proposed budget is quite different. The Board and Budget Committee pose a question to us at an inflection point with a serious choice. They are asking us to consider helping our volunteers by adding new staff roles dedicated to the operation of our busiest and most demanding portfolios. In these stressful times, we have experienced a reticence to take on leadership - that in turn taxes our volunteers and staff. The Human Resources Committee, Budget Committee, and Board have done their best to create a budget that continues to support our volunteer leadership, with a new model designed to address the stress and burnout so prevalent in these times. Please join us either in person or online - this will be a big choice about our future. On April 25th, the League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) and ACLU of Oregon filed a “friend of the court” brief in United States v. Oregon, in support of Oregon voters’ privacy and Oregon state privacy law. The brief opposes the United States Department of Justice’s unlawful demand for disclosure of Oregon voters’ private information (such as driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers). The League is represented by Campaign Legal Center and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law. The ACLU of Oregon is represented by the ACLU. And here’s my observation of our support for that action, “The League of Women Voters of Oregon is determined to protect the private data of Oregonians from the overreach of the federal government,” said Mark Kendall, President of the League of Women Voters of Oregon. “We are proud to support our state’s strong state privacy laws against the federal government’s fishing expedition. The League will continue to protect our members and Oregon voters from this intrusion that erodes trust in the very institutions that we expect to uphold our highest democratic principles and values.” On April 30th, the League of Women Voters chapters of Deschutes, Klamath, and Union Counties and the Rogue and Umpqua Valleys held a joint, bipartisan Congressional Candidate forum for Oregon’s Congressional District 2 (CD2). That district is the sixth largest in the country and larger than 22 states. These chapters worked closely with one another to select questions from voters in the district to best represent the needs of citizens in this geographically wide-ranging area. Moderated by award-winning journalist Les Zaitz, this live Zoom webinar featured live local watch parties by each host across the district. Eight of the nine candidates for the U.S.House of Representatives participated including Peter Larson of Union County; Andrea Carr of Klamath County; Mary Doyle of Deschutes County; Patty Snow, Rebecca Mueller, Peter Quince, and Chris Beck of Jackson County; and Dawn Rasmussen of Wasco County. The moderator Les Zaitz has been a journalist in Oregon for more than 50 years and is editor/owner of Salem Reporter. He is a two-time Pulitzer finalist who lives and works from his ranch in rural Grant County. What a great way for our rural Leagues to collaborate in empowering voters! In League, Mark Kendall LWVOR Interim President

April 30, 2026 Our Nation Today, our League community is sitting with a great deal of both sadness and resolve following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. With its ruling in this case, the Court has struck the final blow to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, rendering it inoperable against racial discrimination in redistricting. The League responded with a strong statement, warning that the decision “will turn back decades of progress toward securing a multiracial democracy” and making clear that efforts to silence Black voters and other voters of color will not go unanswered. This moment demands action—and together, we have the power to meet it. The fight for an inclusive, multiracial democracy is far from over, and we will continue moving forward, side by side, to ensure every voice is heard. For those interested in learning more, please register for this upcoming webinar and stay tuned for an educational blog on Callais from our Litigation team. Our League This week’s Supreme Court ruling further emphasizes the importance of the people to unite and rise in defense of democracy and in pursuit of voting rights for all. The League is proud to announce that the Power Playbook #5: People Power Summer, the next phase of Unite & Rise 8.5, is now available. This playbook is designed to support Leagues in leading a powerful 90-day push toward the 2026 midterms. Together, we’ll build momentum through the August 8 National Day of Action and strengthen the connection between primary engagement and long-term voter participation in our communities. To support your planning for the National Day of Action, key resources are available on the League Management Site, including a Menu of Activations with flexible options based on your League’s capacity, and a Planning Toolkit with step-by-step guidance for organizing, executing, and tracking your efforts. I invite you to join us on May 4 for the Introduction to Playbook #5 and the August 8 Day of Action webinar to connect, learn more, and get your questions answered. And when you’re ready, please register your League’s participation by May 15 so we can support your efforts and lift up the collective impact we’re building together. In League, Dianna Wynn President League of Women Voters

📅 New Event Tracking Feature A new Events feature has been added to the portal to help track League participation in nationwide initiatives and better understand our collective reach. Leagues can now register activities (such as the Day of Action) directly in the portal instead of using external forms. Officers can submit events by clicking the new Events icon and entering the event type, contact, and email. Additional event detail fields (date, time, location, etc.) will be added soon. 🛒 Checkout Language Clarification A new explanatory page has been added to the portal checkout screen to clarify the “in accordance with their terms” language that some members found confusing or concerning. The page is linked directly from the checkout screen. 🔁 Auto-Renewal Notifications Update Members with failed auto-renewal payments will now receive an email notification with instructions to retry payment and update their saved payment method if needed.To reprocess payment, members should: Log into portal.lwv.org Click the in-tray icon next to their name Select Checkout Pay the remaining dues balance in their cart In addition, the Auto-Renewals page now allows members to: Update future renewal amounts Change payment methods Cancel upcoming auto-renewals directly in the portal Helpful Links 📌 LWVUS Member Portal Resources 📌 LWVUS Membership Portal Updates 📌 LWV Member Portal Administrator’s Guide 📌 Automatic Emails from ChapterSpot (PDF) For specific membership questions, contact membership@lwv.org.

The League of Women Voters of Oregon invites you to join us in Salem, OR for our 2026 Council! The event will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Salem, Oregon on May 15-16. This year, we will be offering a complimentary dinner reception with pizza and salad on Friday, May 15, at 5pm for all registrants. This networking event will also include a variety of topics or caucus tables. The business session, including voting, will take place from 9am-5pm on Saturday, May 16. Your registration ticket covers both days. Both in-person and virtual attendance are available. For those who would like to attend the Friday reception and stay overnight, we are happy to work with you on accommodations. Please contact Abby Hertzler for more information about hotel accommodations or the possibility of staying with a League member in Salem. Although hotel room availability is now limited, League members can still receive the discounts on available rooms by calling the Grand Hotel at 503-540-7800 to inquire about room openings. Please refer to the "League of Women Voters of Oregon Council" when making your inquiry. We look forward to seeing you there! Register Here!

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

⭐LWV of Clackamas County LWV of Clackamas County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Coos County LWV of Coos County Events Calendar April 8 - 4pm at Sprague Community Theater in collaboration with LWV of Curry County A Conversation with Tobias Read, Secretary of State ⭐LWV of Corvallis LWV of Corvallis Events Calendar April 18th - 10am at Albany Riverfront Community Center and April 25th - 11am at Corvallis Community Center The NAACP is presenting two town halls exploring the impacts of federal actions on Oregonians. This event is co-sponsored by Indivisible, Rural Organizing Project, and the LWV of Corvallis. Concurrent sessions will address issues including health care, housing, voting integrity, support of veterans and more. Click here for more information on both sessions. ⭐LWV of Curry County LWV of Curry County Events Calendar April 8 - 4pm at Sprague Community Theater in collaboration with LWV of Coos County A Conversation with Tobias Read, Secretary of State ⭐LWV of Deschutes County LWV of Deschutes County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Klamath County LWV of Klamath County Events ⭐LWV of Lane County LWV of Lane County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Lincoln County LWV of Lincoln County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Linn County Unit LWV of Linn County Unit Facebook page ⭐LWV of Marion and Polk Counties LWV of Marion and Polk Counties Events Page ⭐LWV of Portland LWV of Portland Website ⭐LWV of Rogue Valley LWV of Rogue Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Union County Unit LWV of Union County Unit Events Calendar April 27 - 6pm at La Grande High School Auditorium Election Integrity Town Hall with Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read ⭐LWV of Umpqua Valley LWV of Umpqua Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Washington County Unit LWV of Washington County Unit Facebook page

Jean Pierce, Action Chair You can review the status of the LWVOR testimony submitted in the 2026 Legislative Session by clicking  here . Fourteen of the bills which we supported passed, and five which we opposed did not advance. LWVOR issued Action Alerts for 17 bills this year. A major focus this session was on legislation addressing issues that arose with recent ICE raids. The Governor signed a bill requiring public schools in Oregon to educate immigrants ( SB 1538 ). The League is also pleased that bills concerning the following issues passed both chambers and await the Governor’s signature: Public schools need to inform people when ICE is present on the campus ( HB 4079 ) Hospitals need to designate areas where healthcare professionals and patients are safe from ICE ( SB 1570 ) Law enforcement agents must display an ID and cannot cover their faces except in certain circumstances ( HB 4138 ) A person can sue a law enforcement agent who comes on their property without a warrant or an exception ( HB 4114 ) Two of the healthcare bills which the League supported and passed both chambers stipulate that insurance coverage must be provided for required immunizations ( SB 1598 ) and that people seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care have legal protections ( HB 4088 ). A “partial disconnect” bill which passed both chambers ensures that some Oregon taxes no longer mirror the federal tax structure ( SB 1507 ), so our state does not lose so much revenue due to provisions of HR1 (the “Big Beautiful Bill”). Despite constant pressure from the League and Honest Elections, a bill was passed which undid provisions and delayed implementation of campaign finance reform legislation passed in 2024. With other good governance organizations, the League is urging the Governor to veto the bill ( HB 4018 ).

A report is now available for League members describing issues regarding the education of exceptional learners in K-12 education. This is the first of three parts of the K-12 study. You can find the materials  HERE  or click on the Studies tab on the LWVOR.org website. It is anticipated that printed copies of the report will be shared with local Leagues in 2-3 weeks. Studying the reports and reaching consensus regarding issues is essential for the League’s advocacy efforts. Every action that the League takes is based on a League position. Current LWVOR positions can be found in  Issues for Action . Here is the timeline for the Exceptional Learners part of the study: Local Leagues are being asked to hold consensus meetings and submit reports from those meetings by June 30 Then a Member Agreement Committee will take those reports and use the feedback to craft the final wording for position statements regarding Exceptional Learners The LWVOR Board will be asked whether it agrees with the wording. When it does, the Action Committee will be able to begin using the new position for advocacy. Finally, delegates to the 2027 LWVOR Convention will vote whether to accept or reject the position statements. Materials for the K-12 School Safety study will be shared with Leagues by July and consensus reports will be due September 30.  Materials for the K-12 Career and Technical Education study will be shared with Leagues by November and consensus reports will be due January 31.

📝  New Default Member Question A new default registration question has been added:  “What motivated you to join the League?” Members answer this the first time they log into the portal, helping identify trends in recruitment. Leagues can  edit, remove, or add questions  under  Member Registration Questions . Existing members won’t see new questions unless LWVUS resets them (contact  membership@lwv.org  if needed). 🔁  Auto-Renewal Notifications Updates and fixes to auto-renew reminders: Reminder emails (sent 30 days before renewal) are now working correctly; missed reminders for members within 1–29 days were sent retroactively. Notifications for  failed auto-renew payments  are not currently sending. Payments will retry automatically, but members are not being alerted. In the meantime, treat affected members as  active —renewal dates can be adjusted once payment issues are resolved. 📘  Admin Guide Update The latest Admin Guide includes a new section on the  Finances screen , along with minor clarifications throughout. 💵  Shortfall Mitigation (“Make-Whole”) LWVUS is issuing payments to Leagues that received less dues revenue under the new model than they would have previously. Eligible Leagues’ treasurers should have received an email. If you believe your League qualifies but did not receive notice, contact  membership@lwv.org  or submit the provided form. More details are available in the Admin Guide. Helpful Links 📌   LWVUS Member Portal Resources 📌   LWVUS Membership Portal Updates 📌   LWV Member Portal Administrator’s Guide 📌   Automatic Emails from ChapterSpot (PDF) For specific membership questions, contact membership@lwv.org .

I have been back for three weeks from Europe. I took a personal retreat of over a month with my bride of 49 years, Roseann.  Agreed to prior to my interim appointment, the purpose of this trip was the pursuit of personal health, refreshment of perspective and to spur motivation.   To enhance wellbeing, my gracious hosts insisted on a complete separation from social media, news or any attachment to outside obligations.  They have experienced first hand the scientific evidence that overwhelmingly supports such periodic and complete respite.  It was successful! I have been out of touch and now I'm back refreshed, renewed, invigorated.  I am so very grateful for all my colleagues' patience and support during this time.  What a tribute to this league's able leadership, resiliency and very principles! I was deeply moved by the graciousness, empathy and curiosity of the European people we engaged with.  The overwhelming interest was to understand rather than condemn, critique, or judge. They predominantly share our fears and concerns.  When I relayed all your works through the League they responded with obvious relief and hopefulness.  In these last couple weeks, I’ve re-engaged with the League and the public sphere and I see more and more reasons for us to hold on to hope as well.  Our planning for the future effectiveness of LWVOR proceeded with a landmark Budget Committee proposal that will be deliberated by all members at Council May 16.  The 2026 - 2027 LWVOR budget and new staff proposal can position us to deliver on the promise of each of the eight priorities in the LWVOR 2025 - 2030 Strategic Plan.  Keep an eye on your e-mail for the 2026 Council Workbook  -  Managing Through Currents of Change - Continued.  Although a dizzying pace, the short legislative session was successful for many of the issues our outstanding Advocacy members followed and weighed in on.  Membership and especially youth participation continue to grow.  Our voter registration at judicial naturalization ceremonies continues unabated.  Each year our state and local leagues Observer Corps attend and report on more and more public meetings statewide.  One local League has separated its Observer Corps reports from monthly newsletters so it wouldn't become a book.  As I write, Voter Services is populating the VOTE411 platform with over 20 statewide ballot measures and a myriad of candidate profiles for the May primary Voters Guide.   Nationally the League is mobilized to push back on the unconstitutional federal overreach into the states rights to register voters and conduct accessible, safe, fair, and efficient elections.  Our local Leagues and the LWVOR Board are prepared to send a full complement of delegates and observers to the national LWVUS Convention in Columbus Ohio, June 25 through 28. Here and across the country, we continue to work effectively to defend democracy and empower voters.  If it feels like a lot, it is.  We should be proud of our efforts and the outcomes, another great reason for us to have hope, because our work clearly brings hope to many others.  In League, Mark Kendall LWVOR President

Date:  February 25, 2026 To: All LWVOR Members From: Barbara Klein, LWVOR Acting President Jean Pierce, LWVOR Action Chair Take Action Contact your Legislators about important bills this Legislative Session! Click here to find your legislators DEADLINE: ASAP Action Items Contact Your Legislators Find Your Legislators Here! Talking Points Many important bills have been approved in the first chamber of the legislature and are now in the second chamber. Bills are moving quickly in this short session, and your legislators could be asked to vote on them SOON . Please click on the links to learn how you can advocate concerning bills which LWVOR is supporting or opposing this term. Bills are organized by  LWVOR Legislative Priority .   Click on a bill for details and talking points . ⬇️   ASSURE ADEQUATE REVENUE   ​ SB 1507 A:  Partial Disconnect from Federal Taxes - SUPPORT   PROTECT DEMOCRACY   ​ SB 1509:  Replacing Faithless Electors in the Electoral College - SUPPORT HB 4018 : A “Technical Fixes” to Campaign Finance - OPPOSE   SUPPORT HEALTHCARE/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SB 1598:  Health Benefit Plans cover recommended vaccines - SUPPORT HB 4088 A:  Legal Protections for reproductive or gender-affirming care - SUPPORT   SUPPORT FUNDING FOR EDUCATION SB 1538 A:  Provide Education for Immigrants - SUPPORT HB 4149 A:  Enroll and Provide Services for Homeless Students - SUPPORT   SUPPORT NATURAL RESOURCES   HB 4134 A:  Increasing State Lodging Tax to Protect Wildlife - SUPPORT SB 1586:  Omnibus Land Use, Tax Credits and Changes in Permitting - OPPOSE HB 4153 A:  Use of farm land for commercial stores – OPPOSE HB 4105:  Set Timber Harvest Levels on State Forestland - OPPOSE   ADDRESS THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY   SB 1526 A:  Fund for Oregon Resilience, Growth, and Energy - SUPPORT SB 1541:  Make Polluters Pay - SUPPORT   PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY  SB 1530:  Threatening a Public Official is Harassment - SUPPORT HB 4114 A:  Rules for Operations of Federal Agents or Agents from Another State in Oregon - SUPPORT HB 4145 A:  Modifies Firearm Permit Provisions of Ballot Measure 114 - SUPPORT HB 4138 A:  Requires IDs and Prohibits Face Coverings for Law Enforcement Agents - SUPPORT For questions and to volunteer, please contact  lwvor@lwvor.org .

Our 2026 League of Women Voters of Oregon Council Meeting is scheduled for a single day, Saturday May 16, at the Historic Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 661 in Salem, Oregon. Battlefield Veterans Post Commander Rick Breen, Vice Commander Dean Howes, Women’s Veterans Outreach Coordinator Margaret Estella Garcia and Veterans’ Services Representative Rosy Macias will be enthusiastically welcoming us all at opening ceremonies. We again hope to have the Girl Scouts Color Guard, which may be joined by the Boy Scouts this year. This is an important addition, since one focus of our new President Mark Kendall and Board Member Evan Tucker is to feature the importance of male members in our organization.  Several items of importance:   Hosting:  We are developing a local LWV-Marion Polk and friends “Host B & B” option, to provide members traveling long distances with friendly accommodations. Travel is expensive.  Local hosts are so much appreciated.  To offer to host, please contact me with your particulars at eileen.lwv@gmail.com .  Please put 2026 LWVO COUNCIL B&B HOST OFFERING  in the subject line.  Need Hosting:  If you need hosting, please contact me at eileen.lwv@gmail.com  with NEED HOSTING: 2026 LWVO COUNCIL Hotel/Motel Accommodations : I will also be working on researching hotel/motel accommodation close to our meeting site for discounts for those of you traveling with families, etc. Please stay tuned. Eileen Burke-Trent LWVOR Events Chair