Clackson Newsletter
September 2009
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Fall Kick-off Luncheon
Yes, we are trying something new this year for our kick-off
event, a Saturday luncheon at the Rendezvous Grill hosted by our
Mt. Hood Unit. This luncheon is for members, potential
members, and guests. We ask that you arrive by 11:30 AM.
Our guest speaker is Darlene Hooley. Darlene will share high
points and funny stories from her time in Washington D.C. and
give us an idea of what her future plans are now that she is once
again a “regular” citizen of Clackamas County.
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: Rendezvous Grill
67149 E. Hwy. 26 at Arrah Wanna Road at milepost 40
Cost: $15 - $18 (includes gratuity)
There are two lunch offerings at $15 and should you wish a
dessert, add $3 to the lunch price.
Option 1: Pumpkin soup, Como bread and butter,
Mediterranean chicken salad, light pesto dressing with sun-dried
tomatoes, served with warm pita bread, and non-alcoholic
beverage.
Option 2: Minestrone soup, Como bread and butter, Flank steak
salad with marinated red onions, and non-alcoholic beverage.
RSVP: Nancy Dougherty at 503-622-4789 or
nndougherty@earthlink.net; Pam Ashland at 503-622-3568 or
misschattr@verizon.net. When you RSVP please indicate your
lunch choice, thank you.
Carpool: We encourage all attendees to carpool. To carpool
meet at the Oregon Trail Shopping Center, near the Oregon City
Exit off I-205, by 10:30 AM. For questions or help getting a ride
contact Lyn Gordon at 503-636-9383 or
lyngordon48@comcast.net.
Following the luncheon, you are invited to the Wy’east Book
Shoppe and Art Gallery (next door to the Rendezvous) for a book
signing by League member, Ardis Stevenson. Facing Age,
Finding Answers is Ardis’ first book. We hope you will stop by and congratulate her. |
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
A NEW YEAR BEGINS
Joan Batten, Executive Committee
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The summer has not been vacation time for your board. In addition to
the two retreat meetings in July, the Executive Committee (EXCOM) has had two meetings. With no
president this year, we will be operating with an EXCOM made up of 5 members of the board. They are
Pam Ashland, Joan Batten, Sherry Finnigan, Lyn Gordon and Karan Kuntz. We are looking forward to
an interesting year. The calendar for the year is included so that you can mark your calendars. Please
join us for as many activities as you are able.
GENERAL MEETING. On Wednesday, September 23, two members of the State Action Committee,
Karen Nibler, on Social Policy, and Peggy Lynch, on Natural Resources, will share with us what the
State League has been doing the past legislative session and throughout the summer. Details will be
found in another article.
KICK-OFF LUNCH MEETING. Our kick-off lunch on Saturday, October 3, will feature Darlene
Hooley, who was our Congressional Representative for many years. She will talk about her experiences
in Washington, D.C. Lunch will be at the Rendezvous Grill in Welches. Carpooling will be arranged. |
Mark Your Calendar for
ACTION
"The 2009 Oregon Legislative Session:
Prioritizing Government Services in
the Face of Massive Shortfalls"
Come learn about the ins and outs behind the
scenes on issues from carbon emissions to
marine reserves, and from housing and
community services to public safety.
Featuring two members of the League of
Women Voters of Oregon Action Team:
Karen Nibler, Social Policy Coordinator
Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator
General Meeting
7:00 PM, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
Mary's Woods Auditorium
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Save Your Gift Cards! Holiday
Silent Auction Takes A New Turn
At the holidays, folks are looking for gifts and
fun. So not surprisingly we are going to make
some changes to the silent auction.
The most popular items at the past two
Christmas auctions have been gift cards! Save
those unused gift debit cards and donate them to
the year’s silent auction at the holiday brunch.
(Please also keep some piece of paper that gives
the worth of the card!). Or, donate fun. Bridge
lessons? A weekend at your vacation home? A
balloon ride? Start thinking now!
Contact Sarah Chaplen
H (503) 635-8729
W (503) 252-2500
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Action
Joan Batten, Action Chair
Action happens when it is needed and we have
been busy this summer. We testified before the
City of Lake Oswego on library funding at the
2009-2010 budget hearings on June 16th. We
suggested that the money from the new County
library tax be set aside for future library needs.
The Council agreed to this proposal.
On August 20th The Lake Oswego Review
published an opinion piece requesting people to"Decline to Sign" the petitions being circulated
for a referendum in January on the two business
tax measures enacted by the legislature to
balance the budget in the face of a $4 billion
shortfall. The article was sent to the other
papers in Clackamas County.
A final piece of action was in response to a
National Call for Action. On August 24 our
League responded requesting our Senators to
support signing the CEDAW (Convention to
Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women) Treaty. The United States is
the only democracy that has not signed it.
One of our goals for the year is to respond to the
action requests from State and National. There
is also much action locally that we could do, but
we need members who are willing to help. At
our Program Planning meetings, we all agreed
that we need to take action on the positions we
have, but it will take more people participating.
I would like to have an Action Committee. If
anyone would be willing to join us, please let
me know by calling or e-mailing Joan Batten,
503 639-4064 or joanbatten@msn.com.
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Clackamas County
Commissioners Corner
Pam Ashland, Observers
The Commissioners have been reviewing
many projects. They have completed their
goals and missions for the coming year.
These can be found on the County website.
Reports were made regarding progress in the
following areas: sustainability initiatives,
housing authority projects, stimulus grant
projects, Community Corrections, the
legislative debriefing, rural and urban
reserves, behavioral health plans, and
tourism plans. The work sessions have not
occurred every week and the commissioners
have not used the entire time scheduled for
these sessions. The commissioners are
involved in learning about how the county
operates and are attending many other work
sessions and meetings with the various
departments.
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Care to Observe?
Pam Ashland, Observers
One of the main goals of the League of Women
Voters is to make sure that government is being
transparent. To reach this goal, our members
need to be present at open meetings and work
sessions. We need to observe government
starting with our local school boards and move
on up to local and county governments. There
are city meetings, CPOs, Villages and Hamlets,
and many more to observe.
With the electronic age, this can be
accomplished from your home! Watch the
process on cable television or read or listen to
the reports on the Internet. If you appear at the
meetings, please remember to identify yourself
as a League member – this can be done by
wearing one of our buttons. It is important to
remember that you are an observer, not a
spokesperson. You are there to take notes and
report back to the membership, not to comment
at the meeting. If you are asked your opinion, a
simple answer of, “I will check with the
membership and get back to you”, will suffice.
Having observed the Clackamas County
Commissioners for several years, I can say that
it is a great learning experience. You are able to
see the “hands on” workings of our government.
If you are interested in being an observer, please
call me, Pamela Ashland at 503-622-3568 or email
me at misschattr@verizon.net. |
Corporate Affiliates: Accessories from the heart
Colleen Bennett
For new members I should explain that
Corporate Affiliates are businesses who support
the work of the League of Women Voters and it
is the League's way of connecting with the
business community.
This is an exciting time for one of our very first
Corporate Affiliates, Accessories from the heart,
as owner Carol Winston is moving her store.
Carol joined us as an Affiliate in December
1998. I first met Carol Winston when we shared
a commitment to Clackamas Women's Services
(CWS).
Carol strongly believes in the work that the
League does and right away she offered to sell
our Voters Choice Tea" in her store. She is
involved in the community having served as
presidents of the Lake Oswego Chamber of
Commerce and Rotary and will soon be serving
on the City Arts Council.
Previously located on McVey Avenue,
Accessories from the heart is moving to the
corner of 2nd and A Avenue in downtown Lake
Oswego. The store will be in the former "White
and Black" store beneath the Windermere
offices. The store features wonderful gift items
as well as great things for yourself.
Please stop
in, say hello and tell Carol how much we
appreciate her support.
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New Member Profile:
Nancy Pratt
Sylvia Smith, Membership
Nancy Pratt is joining League of Women
Voters of Clackamas County. She first joined
league in 1954 in New Jersey! She is a 50
year member, joining Nancy Tassock, Virginia
Campbell and Peggy Oliver.She is the mother of Betsy Pratt, who is the
Portland League President this year.
The list of offices she held is long. She was
President of the Needham, Massachusetts
League in the 60s, and was on the
Massachusetts state board. The Boston area
had a state League office where she
volunteered and later became their director
for seven years. Nancy was also coordinator
of the Needham League and UN Chairman.
We celebrate her long years of service to the
league. Please welcome Nancy to our
meetings!
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A New Unit: Causey Group
A new unit is forming for League of Women
Voters of Clackamas County. Lenora Young
and Jeanne Pulliam, both long time league
members, lead the unit.
The unit will meet in the Chapel room of the
Terrace building (8605 SE Causey, near
Clackamas Town Center) at 10:30am on the
3rd Wednesday of the month.
Please visit this new unit and join in the
discussions. We welcome them to our
League. Contact Jeanne Pulliam – 503‐594‐
2539, or Lenora Young – 503‐594‐2321
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Save the Date! LWVOR Fall
Workshop
On October 17, 2009, the League of Women
Voters of Oregon will be having a workshop in
Eugene. Please mark this date on your calendar.
Learn about what other Leagues have done in
the last year – especially special events and
fundraisers. Get hands on instruction to learn
about all the information your computer can
provide. Bring your laptop or use a computer at
the workshop. This will be a great opportunity
to learn right at the computer!
We will be working on carpooling for those who
will be attending. A reservation form can be
found on page 6. Details will follow in the
October newsletter and via e-mail notices.
Additional information and a reservation form
can also be found in the LWVOR Fall Voter.
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Help Needed!
The State League can always use helpers in the
office. Sign up for a regular schedule or you
can be on-call. There are many different
projects to work on, and Rebecca and Kathy are
wonderful to work with. Call Rebecca at 1-
503-581-5722 for information. A bonus is that
our local League earns $5 per hour for every
hour you volunteer – plus you learn more about
the League.
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Our LWVOR Raffle Results
Lorie James
LWVCC sold a total of 245 raffle tickets prior
to the LWVOR convention in May. We received
a check for $369.00 - the largest amount in the
state. This rewarded us for selling more tickets
than our PMP (per member payment) count of
121.
Fifty-nine members, including our two State
Board officers Marge Easley and Libby Medley,
sold or bought tickets. This is 48% of our
membership.
Heather and Peter Drake, Sherry and Matt
Finnigan, Robi Ingram-Rich and I all sold 20 or
more tickets per family.
Thanks to all who helped support the State
League and also benefit our League. This year's
winner was at last a League member.
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Facing Age Finding Answers
Facing Age Finding Answers, the newly
published book by Leaguer Ardis Stevenson,
draws on lessons from the League and ideas
from members for her “Stories for Positive
Aging”. Ideas on how to “Communicate &
Connect” is most reflective of League knowhow
and the book’s acknowledgements list
some of the assistance and ideas from the
LWVCC.
Reliable information sources and ideas for
concerns of the 50+ generations and their
caregivers are intertwined with ideas about
aging, “boomers”, retirement lifestyles and
money.
Details about the book, more information and an
opportunity to order it are on the web page,
www.facingagefindinganswers.com. The new
book also is available at a reduced cost directly
from Ardis (503.620.2265) and at coming book
signing and talks, including the League’s
October 3 event at Welches.
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2009 – 2010 Calendar
September 2009:
7 Constitution Day
22 Board Meeting
23 General Meeting
October 2009:
3 Fall Kickoff
17 LWVOR Fall Workshop
20-24 Unit Meetings: Topic: Special Project(s)
27 Board Meeting
November 2009:
3 Local Election Day
17-21Units: Topic: Jan. Special Election
24 Board Meeting
December 2009:
12 Winter Holiday Party
January 2010:
19-23 Units: Topic: Program Planning
26 Special Election (tentative)
26 Board Meeting
29 Lunch & Learn
February 2010:
14 LWV 90th Birthday
16-20 Units: Topic: Local Libraries
23 Board Meeting
26 Lunch & Learn
March 2010:
14-20 Sunshine Week
16-20 Units: Topic: Unit Choice
23 Board Meeting
26 Lunch & Learn
April 2010:
20-24 Units: Topic: LWVOR Water Study
24 Lunch & Learn @ Mountain
27 Board Meeting
May 2010:
1 LWVCC Annual Meeting
15-16 LWVOR Council
18 Primary Election
June 2010:
5 Patio Party
12-15 LWVUS Convention
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Thank You Corporate Affiliates!
Lake Oswego
Accessories from the heart | 1171 McVey Ave.
Backyard Bird Shop, Inc. | 352 B Ave.
Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce | 242 B Ave
Lake Oswego Review/West Linn Tidings | 400 Second Street
Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst | 17400 Holy Names Dr.
Otak, Inc. | 17355 SW Boones Ferry Rd.Sandy
Sandy Funeral Home | 39551 Pleasant St.
Strand Tea Company | PO Box 580
Synergy Consulting Inc. | 729 NE Oregon St., Suite 125, Portland
Welches
Wy’east Book Shoppe and Art Gallery | 67195 E US Highway 26
West Linn
Words Count – Editing & Writing | 2555 Dillow Drive
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