90th LWV Anniversary: Thanks to Our Many Volunteers!

Many thanks are owed to many Portland League members for the successful and well attended 90th LWV Anniversary celebration brunch at the elegant and spacious banquet room at the north Portland Riverside Golf and Country Club on Saturday, February 13, 2010. At this festive event, sixty-six men and women came together to recognize and honor donors to the Portland League and the volunteer efforts of League members.

Guests were greeted by Alan Osborn near the front door and directed to the cloak room and our archival display from the Portland League office arranged by Debbie Kaye. Leeanne MacColl added to the display studies done by LWV Columbia River Region during the many years that she was involved. Esther Lewis brought a picture of herself with the Oregon Constitution Revision Commission she served on 50 years ago. After writing the League publication on this, she was invited by the Governor to serve on the commission. Their recommended changes missed passage in the legislature by one vote.

Carol Cushman helped guests find their name badges with the 90th LWV logo and a Rose Festival rose. Pat Osborn guided everyone to their table for which Carol and Kris Hudson had figured out the seating arrangements. Primrose flower baskets with red gauzy ribbon festooned each of the round tables prepared by Debbie Kaye with the assistance of Jan Wolf. A lucky person from each table took a centerpiece home with her or him.

A slide presentation of LWV national history beginning in the pre-1920s and ending with pictures of events in our own League this past year, prepared by Mary McWilliams, was supposed to quiet the attendees down from their table discussions before the program began, but everyone was so engrossed in their conversations that that didn’t happen. Perhaps these can be shown again at the May Local Convention.

Our president, Betsy Pratt, began the program by reading Mayor Sam Adams proclamation that declared Saturday, February 13, 2010, the 90th LWV Anniversary day in Portland, OR. This was followed by a funny musical skit on membership by Debbie Kaye and Bev Wilson, accompanied on the piano by Ted Kaye. Afterwards Lifetime Portland League members were recognized. Those present included: Jewel Lansing, Esther Lewis, Leeanne MacColl, and Jeanne Steed.

Kris Hudson, former LWVUS Board Member, LWV Oregon President, and LWV Portland President, provided illuminating introductions about our two speakers, Norman Turrill, current LWVUS Board Member, and Jane Cease, former LWV Portland President and State Senator and Representative, Oregon Legislature. Both have impressive credentials and enjoyed speaking to us.

Christine Vernier, of Vernier Software and Technology, was recognized for their long time support of the statewide Voters’ Guides with the ubiquitous, but practical League umbrella bearing the logo “LWV…be informed and VOTE.” Other donors were asked to stand to be recognized for their inclusion in the following gift categories:

• Legacy Circle – Recognizes a person(s) who designates the Portland League as a beneficiary in his/her will.
• $1,000 and above – Abigail Scott Duniway. She lived from 1834-1915 and was a woman’s rights advocate, Oregon publisher and editor of the New Northwest. Her efforts led to women’s voting rights in Oregon in 1912.
• $500-999 – Effie Simmons. She lived from 1874-1961 and was the Honorary First President of the League of Women Voters of Oregon. She presided at a lunch at the Benson Hotel, Portland, August 28, 1920, to celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which made woman suffrage (right of vote) the law of the U.S.
• $250-499 – Consensus. This is the general agreement of League members following thorough study and discussion. League positions are based on member consensus.

Betsy Pratt acknowledged all donors, large and small, and thanked all for sustaining the Portland League’s work. She then went on to thank the Portland League underwriters of the 90th Anniversary Portland League celebration.  Standing included:  Barbara Hansen, Mary Hepokoski, Kris Hudson, Mary McWilliams, Pat Osborn, Jan Wolf (especially for the Majestic Chocolate truffles), Florence Hinchliff, and Joella Werlin.  Underwriters not able to attend included Ann Porter Ridenhour and Barbara Stalions.

After Jane Cease’s remark, Kris Hudson recognized the LWV Portland Members who were former or current appointed/elected officials and asked those present to stand.  These included Jane Cease, former State Senator and Representative, Oregon Legislature; Barbara Clark, former Portland City Auditor; Judy Davis, Columbia River Gorge Commissioner; Amanda Fritz, Portland City Council Member; Jewel Lansing, former Portland City and Multnomah County Auditors;  and Mary Nolan, State Representative, Majority Leader, Oregon Legislature.

The final event of the morning was the volunteer recognition of all the Portland League Members for LWV United States, LWV Oregon, LWV Columbia River Region, and LWV Portland. Practically the whole room stood.

Betsy Pratt concluded the program by thanking all for their attendance and reminding them to take home their boxes of two truffles from Majestic Chocolate, a special Valentine Day treat for the actual February 14th date of the 90th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters.

The Development Committee served as the 90th LWV Anniversary committee and included: Carol Cushman, Kris Hudson, Debbie Kaye, Mary McWilliams (Chair), Margaret Noel, Pat Osborn, and Jan Wolf.  Kris Hudson was the person securing all the underwriters. Jessica Sweeney aided us with publicity. Margaret Noel fine-tuned the invitations. Pat Osborn organized a calling committee to personally invite Portland League members to the 90th event.  They included: Joyce Borgwardt, George Bingham, Claire Corwin-Kordosky, Rita Fawcett, Bill Harris, Elizabeth Joseph, Leeanne MacColl, and Pat Russell.  We appreciate Phil Thor taking photographs during the celebration. We are gratefully to Heather Drake for the supportive assistance to the 90th LWV Anniversary committee and for the program layout.