Volunteer of the Year Award:
Each year at our Local Convention, we recognize a volunteer who has done an outstanding job carrying out a project or projects that advance the mission of the League of Women Voters. The honored “volunteer of the year” is given a framed certificate, flowers and a standing ovation from the members.
Our 2018 Volunteer of the Year:
Voters’ Guide Editor and Nominating Committee Chair, Peggy Bengry, was named the 2017-18 Volunteer of the Year for the League of Women Voters of Portland!
Peggy joined the League of Women Voters of Portland in 2008, shortly after retiring from IBM as a software engineer. She became involved right away as a member of the LWV of Oregon 2008 study committee on Election Methods. She says she was delighted with the welcome she received and the talented, competent people she found in the League.
In 2010, Peggy agreed to be the editor for the LWV of Portland’s Multnomah County Voters’ Guide. She was the Voters’ Guide Editor for the 2010 Primary and General elections and the May 2011 and 2013 elections. In 2012, she was elected to the Portland League Board. From 2013 to 2017, she served as Voter Service Chair and Second Vice President, as well as Voters’ Guide editor.
In 2015 and 2016, when the Portland League lacked an elected president, Peggy was one of the three vice presidents who shared leadership of the League. Her role was to plan and conduct the board meetings. At the same time, Peggy co-chaired the 2015-16 LWVOR Election Methods Study Update and organized the Portland League’s November 2016 Civic Education Program on Election Methods. She also served on our Budget Committee. She did all this while living in Yamhill and farming hazelnuts. Although her board term ended a year ago, Peggy remains our 2018-19 Voters’ Guide Editor. She also chairs the Nominating Committee.
Clearly, Peggy is a responsible, dedicated and well-organized leader. She has done a great job spotting and recruiting talented League members to do each part of the important work of Voter Service. She is kind and generous, but also very competent and strong.
Peggy’s Volunteer of the Year Certificate said:
As Voter Service chair for four years and Voters’ Guide and VOTE411.org editor for every election cycle since 2010, Peggy Bengry has provided candidate and ballot measure information to tens of thousands of Oregon voters. She offers discerning judgment, a collegial approach, an eye for detail and accuracy, and a great spirit.
How is the League governed?
