Author: LWVUV

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Call Your Senators ASAP!

H.R.38 – Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017

HR 38 passed the United States House of Representatives yesterday. This is a dangerous bill, and it is on its way to the Senate.

It’s imperative you call your Senators today.

  • Senator Merkley’s Washington D.C. Office –> Phone: (202) 224-3753
  • Senator Wyden’s Washington D.C. Office –> (202) 224-5244

Here’s a link to the text of the bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/38/text

Why, You ask? Read this letter by a League member to Rep. DeFazio:

My name is Sandra Huffstutter, I live in Roseburg, Oregon, and I’m calling today to urge Congressman DeFazio to NOT SUPPORT reciprocal approval of out-of-state concealed carry permits.

I believe that reciprocal approval is a bad idea because a number of other states do not have the kind of sensible public safety restrictions on gun ownership and use that Oregon has.

For example, Oregon is one of only nine states that require universal background checks at point-of-sale for ALL gun purchases, including purchases at gun shows. Why would Oregon want to allow someone from another state who has never passed a background check to carry a concealed weapon in Oregon?

In addition, only half the states in the United States require concealed carry permit holders to have ANY live-fire training, with mandatory range time. Why would Oregon want to allow a gun-owner who has never practiced shooting the ability to carry a concealed weapon and engage in a live-fire situation on the streets of Oregon?

Finally, thanks to our last legislative session, Oregon is now one of only five states that allow families of emotionally disturbed gun owners to obtain an “Extreme Risk Protective Order” requiring emotionally disturbed family members to surrender their guns until their mental health crisis is resolved. Why would Oregon want to allow out-of-staters suffering mental breakdowns to carry concealed weapons while traveling in our state?

Reciprocal approval of out-of-state concealed carry permits will make Oregonians — who benefit from our state’s sensible gun safety laws — much, much less safe.

Please Call Today!

#GivingTuesday

If you care about Democracy and care about access to truth in Douglas County, Oregon, then perhaps a ..

#GivingTuesday — November 28, 2017 — donation is for you.

Please consider making a special donation by mailing a check made out to LWVUV for any amount you are inspired to give to:#GT Heart

LWVUV
PO Box 2434
Roseburg, OR 97470

If you would like to give a tax-deductible donation, write your check out to LWVOR, which will also benefit your local League, the League of Umpqua Valley as the funds are deposited in an account specifically for our educational use.

Better yet, we’d love to have you join us as members! It only costs $60 per year for an individual or $90 for a couple. We also have a discounted rate at $30 per year. Here’s a link to our membership form that you can print and mail with your check to us at the address above.

thankyou

Religious and Cultural Diversity

Religious and Cultural Diversity

… As seen through the eyes of 3 Muslim, Hindu, and Christian exchange students

Roseburg, Ore., Nov 21st, 2017 — The Umpqua Valley chapter of the League of Women Voters will present a program on Religious and Cultural Diversity on Tuesday, November 21st, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center, 1624 W Harvard Ave, Roseburg. This meeting is open to the public.

Do you know which country is the 2nd most populous country iGlobe with Flagsn the world, and where Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism all originated? Which country is comprised solely of islands, and is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation? Which country has the world’s only city that spans two continents? What does it mean to be a devout Hindu? How do Muslims, Christians, and members of other religions interact in Indonesia? How does it feel to be an American Christian living in a majority Muslim country?

If these questions interest you, you’re invited to attend a presentation on Nov 21st hosted by the League of Women Voters Umpqua Valley about religious and cultural diversity. The program will feature two of our exchange students who are in Douglas County as part of the State-Dept. sponsored Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. Also featured will be a U.S. person who went on an AFS exchange to Turkey in 1991.

Presenters will be: Akhilesh Jhawar, 17 year-old student from Kolkata, India, who is currently a senior at Sutherlin High School; Akhilesh is passionate about quantum physics and hopes to be an astronaut someday – last year, his school team from Kolkata won a space shuttle settlement design contest and received an all-expense paid trip to NASA.

Refina Puspita is also a 17 year-old student; she hails from Kalimantan, Indonesia, and is a senior at Roseburg High School. Refina has placed on her country’s debate team, and her passions are history, political science, and writing fiction.

And Amy Nash, a student from Roseburg, who went on exchange to Turkey after graduating high school, and can describe the cultural and religious interactions that she had.

Please attend and bring a friend.

ACTION ALERT! WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Help Clean Energy Jobs (CEJ) Climate Change Legislation over the finish line in 2018.

The legislation would establish a program which will cap climate pollution, price all qualified greenhouse gas emissions under the cap, and invest the proceeds in clean energy, while addressing the needs of vulnerable communities and investing in training workers for new, growing opportunities in a clean energy economy.

Renew-Oregon-logo-horizontal-FINALThe League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) joined the Renew Oregon Campaign Coalition in 2015 to support legislation to price emissions. At the LWVUS Convention 2014, the following resolution was adopted by a large margin:

“The LWVUS should support a price on carbon emissions that will increase in stages, as part of an overall program to improve energy efficiency and to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, fast enough to avoid serious damage to the climate system.” LWVOR has supported legislation each session to reduce greenhouse gases. A CEJ bill is being worked on for the 2018 legislative session based on SB 1070 from the 2017 session. CEJ Legislative Work Groups have been meeting to improve that bill.

ACTION NEEDED: Hold a house party or attend a local rally on November 4th. Renew Oregon is planning a statewide DAY OF ACTION November 4. League members and/or local Leagues can support this Day of Action in a number of ways. Please consider hosting or co-hosting a house party (materials and statewide Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RenewOregon/)  livestream are provided by Renew Oregon) and/or a Community Clean Energy Jobs campaign party.

We need your Support! Here are a few ways you can support the Clean Energy Jobs (CEJ) statewide campaign:

* First and foremost, Renew and LWVOR would like to encourage you to hold a house party. You can direct any questions or plans about house parties to Sonny Mehta with Renew, sonny@reneworegon.org. We hope to have a party in every county. Some groups are using larger spaces in their communities (churches, schools, libraries, etc.)

* Second, you can post on social media on November 4 (or any other day!) about Clean Energy Jobs using the attached social media toolkit.

* Third, you can attend the rally in Portland on November 4, 12 noon to 2 pm at the PCC Cascades campus student union building, 2nd floor. More rallies are being planned for Salem and Eugene as well as other communities.

* Fourth, please sign up for Renew Oregon emails to get the latest information.
The League of Women Voters believes that climate change is real and we all need to do our part to reduce greenhouse gases. We have joined Our Children’s Trust to require government to address this serious threat to our world. Here is one small way you can help. Host a CEJ house party on November 4th!

If you have any questions please contact LWVOR at lwvor@lwvor.org.

Home Rule Charter vs. General Law County Government

Over 100 people attended a forum last night held by LWV Umpqua Valley at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center. Thank you to all who attended the County Government Options meeting.

Thanks also go to our speakers, Joe Leahy and Bill Van Vactor, who traveled from Eugene to discuss a current ballot measure 10-159 – Changes Douglas County Government to “Home Rule” Under County Charter versus the current form of Douglas County government, general law.

Joe Leahy (on the right) teaches Local Government Law at U of O Law School. Bill-Van-Vactor-Joe-LeahyHe was City Attorney for the City of Springfield and is Legal Counsel for the Springfield Utility Board.

Bill Van Vactor (on the left) was Lane County Legal Counsel for 15 years and then Lane County Administrator for 15 years. Lane County operates under a Home Rule Charter.

Remember to mail in or drop off your ballots by Nov. 7. Be sure to VOTE!

Links Galore!

Home Rule Charter proposal – http://www.co.douglas.or.us/clerk/documents/10-159HomeRule.pdf

Here are a few video links to a bit of last night’s information. Please ‘like’ the videos!

This is a link to the News-Review coverage

Our Facebook page

And here are some photos from last night, 10/17/17, too! Enjoy!

Speakers to Explain Different Types of County Government

Are you confused about the difference between a General Law county and a Home Rule county?

On Tuesday, October 17, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center, 1624 W. Harvard Ave. in Roseburg, the League of Women Voters of Umpqua Valley will feature Joe Leahy and Bill Van Vactor speaking about different forms of county governance.

Mr. Leahy teaches Local Government Law at U of O Law School. He was City Attorney for the City of Springfield and is Legal Counsel for the Springfield Utility Board.

Bill Van Vactor was Lane County Legal Counsel for 15 years and then Lane County Administrator for 15 years. Lane County operates under a Home Rule Charter.

The League is nonpartisan, and encourages informed voting.

The meeting is free and open to the public. There will be time for questions. For more information, call 541-672-1914.

Voter Registration Season Begins!

League of Women Voters to Host 300+ Voter Registration Drives Across the Country

Yesterday was the National Voter Registration Day and the League of Women Voters was proud to participate in the sixth annual National Voter Registration Day 2017 (NVRD), a nationwide, nonpartisan effort to register hundreds of thousands of voters on a single day.

As a founding partner of NVRD and the single-largest on-the-ground participating organization, the League and partner organizations will register thousands of voters in person and online Tuesday.

“The League is hosting more than 300 local voter registration drives across the country this week,” said Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters. “Our volunteers will be out in force, reaching new voters at bike races, supermarkets, transit stops, gyms and at new citizen ceremonies.”

“There are important elections in many states this year, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to register and vote,” Carson continued. “Local elections matter. Now is the time to make sure your registration, and that of your friends and family, is up to date.”

Voters nationwide can find out if they have elections, their states’ voter registration deadlines, and more information at VOTE411.org. Voters in more than 100 communities will find customized information about who is on the ballot in their area.

Read more here –> LWV.org

Off To A Good Start

Thank you to everyone who attended our first membership meeting of the year last night, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.

The meeting of about 30 was interesting and fun in our new meeting room at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center, 1624 West Harvard Avenue, Roseburg. We had great speakers followed by a delicious ice cream social.

Betty Sparks, a new member, native Oregonian, and retired education teacher, spoke about kidney disease and how prevalent it is. She herself needs a kidney transplant and is on the list for one. However, many are also in line, nationally over 122,000 people. Betty explained how diabetes and high blood pressure contribute to the likelihood of the disease. In other words, we are all susceptible. For more information here are a few resources:

The Blue Zones Project representatives for the effort in Douglas County also spoke. Juliete Palenshus and Jessica Moore informed us about the project which is also seeking supporters and volunteers. Bluezones-tshirts.jpgThe three-year goal is to support well-being improvements in multiple areas here in Douglas County. For more information, see the website and contact Juliete Palenshus by emailing her.

They’ll even give you a t-shirt!

Welcome to new members who joined last night!

Here’s some familiar faces of a few of our lovely members:

 

Martha&Diana

Welcome, Members and Those Interested

Please attend the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

We will be holding an Ice Cream Social, getting back together to kick off the new League year. Join us!

We are fortunate to locate our new meeting venue this year at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center. Bring your ideas for programs and focus for the year.

We hope to see you there!

Jenny Carloni
LWVUV President