WAVELENGTHS

League of Women Voters of Lincoln County, Oregon November 2015

“The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization which encourages the informed and active participation of citi-zens in government in order to build better communities statewide.

Visit our web page at www.lwvlincolncounty.org

LWVLC Board of Directors

President Ruth Kistler

Vice President Joan Haffner

Secretary Lida Prchal

Treasurer Jack Kistler

Committee Chairs

Voter Services Ruth Kistler

Membership Marilyn Podesta

Ruth Kistler will complete the

presentation of the LWV Constitu-

tional Amendment Study and con-

sensus discussion.

Joan Haffner will lead a discussion

of a League Observer Corps.

We'll discuss what subjects/issues

we would like LCSD Superinten-

dent Steve Boynton to address

when he speaks to us at our De-

cember 17 luncheon.

WAVE LENGTHS 2 November 2015

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS By Marilyn Podesta, Membership chair

Last May, at the LWVOR convention, our (Lincoln County) League was presented with an award from the national League of Women Voters for our 10% increase in membership from 2013-2014.

We were pleased with the participation of so many members at the Spring Workshop with John Baker and are starting to implement some of the ideas that you, our members, generated that day.

At our next meeting, November 19, Joan Haffner is taking the lead in discussing the starting of an "Observer Corps," in which many of our members were interested. It is an excellent way to learn about the governing groups in our communities; many Leagues have been participating in such groups for many years, but this would be a beginning for us here in Lincoln County. Come to our Nov. 19 meeting to discuss how League members can participate in this future activity.

We will also be finishing up our discussion on the Constitutional Amendments Study. Even if you were not able to participate in the October discussion, there will be a quick review on those questions which gar-nered "consensus" and those that did not.

Steve Boynton, Lincoln County School District Su-perintendent, has graciously agreed to speak at our December 17 holiday luncheon. Many of you brought up education and children's issues at the spring work-shop as being a major interest/concern. What would you like to ask Superintendent Boynton? Come to the Nov. meeting and help us decide on some of the is-sues we'd like him to address!

January is our month for further program plan-ning. Your board has more ideas than there are months, or time for them all. We will be busy with Primary and local non-partisan office election activi-ties in March and April, so there will be many oppor-tunities in which you can be involved.

We have a great group of people who make up our membership, and we will try to continue to present programs and activities that will interest and educate you. Our treasurer, Jack Kistler will send our official membership list to the National and State LWV offic-es at the end of January. This list becomes the base membership list for the following year, starting in July 2016.

So....if you have not sent in your 2015-2016 dues, it is not too late!!

LWVOR Fall Workshop, October 31

by Ruth Kistler

Joan Haffner and I (Ruth Kistler) carpooled together to Eugene on Saturday, October 31, to participate in the LWVOR Fall Workshop. The weather cooperat-ed; the predicted torrential rains held off until we had returned to the Coast that evening. Workshop meet-ings were held in three rooms at the Center for Meeting and Learning at Lane Community College. The venue afforded many opportunities to connect with other League members who were also lost while trying to get from one room to the next.

The first morning session featured Jim Williams, Di-rector of Oregon's Elections Division and Codi Trudell, Deputy Director of Voting Services, speak-ing about Oregon's new Motor Voter Law. Codi is directly involved in managing the Oregon Central-ized Voter Registration software system. Several League members asked pointed questions about the readiness of the system for its January 1, 2016 startup. (We can't forget the Cover Oregon fiasco.) We were assured that all checkpoints were made; the software is already being used; and the roll-out should be smooth.

Morning breakout sessions followed. Joan went to the Action meeting. I participated in the Consolida-tion meeting (both as LWVLC President and LWVOR Treasurer). In this meeting Norman ex-plained the status of LWVOR/LWVOREF consoli-dation -- only a few details remain to be cleaned up. He also covered the implications of that consolida-tion on local Leagues and discussed possible actions in support of local Leagues that would like to con-vert their tax status from their current 501(c)(4) to 501(c)(3). He promised to follow-up with a note de-tailing plans for the state League to assist tax status conversion for those local Leagues that choose to do so. (That note is included in this newsletter under the article title "Consolidation: Current status, and local League options".)

Afternoon breakout sessions followed a conversation-filled networking lunch. I went to the Outreach meeting, Joan to Voter Forums. Joan says, "The in-formation [from the Workshop sessions] was helpful, but most valuable was talking to people from other local Leagues and finding how they approach their Action and manage their forums." I, too, found this Workshop extremely valuable; I was very pleased how the various meetings facilitated exchange of ex-perience, problems, and solutions among the differ-ent local League members.

WAVE LENGTHS 3 November 2015

Calendar of events Nov 19 -- 12 Noon - Newport Library -- Membership meeting

Discussion of the LWV National Studies -- Constitutional Amendment Study. Dec 7 -- 1:30 - Columbia Bank in Newport -- Board Meeting. Dec 12 — 2:00 PM — Bijou Theater, Lincoln City — “Suffragettes”. Dec 17 -- 12:30 - Sylvia Beach Hotel -- December Luncheon - Speaker: Steve Boynton, Lincoln County Schools Supervisor. Jan 5 -- 1:30 - Columbia Bank in Newport -- Board Meeting.

Annual Fruit Sale About to Close

by Jack Kistler

LWV of Lincoln County's fundraiser fruit sale is reaching its climax. Again this year our local League joined with the Corvallis and Lane County Leagues to get the best possible prices from our supplier, Texas-based River Royal. In October, I sent members packets containing details of the sale, posters, and or-der forms. At the time I am writing this (November 15), I have received order forms from 6 members to-taling 79 boxes. We sold 168 boxes last year. I hope some members have sent me order forms in the mail, which I will pick up on Monday, November 16. I have to have our order in to the Corvallis League on November 17.

As yet, at the time I am writing this article, we do not know exactly when the fruit will arrive, but we expect it to be the first week of December. When it arrives Ruth and I will pick up the fruit we have ordered in Corvallis, bring it to the Kistler home garage, and un-load and store it there. I will notify members/deliverers when the fruit has arrived and is ready for pickup.

After you hear that the fruit has arrived, phone the Kistler home, 541-574-8145, to arrange to pick up your fruit for delivery. Please leave a message if no one answers and I will get back to you to arrange a mutually convenient time for you to pick up fruit. Please bring a copy of your order list.

WAVE LENGTHS 4 November 2015

DECEMBER 17 LUNCHEON AT THE SYLVIA BEACH HOTEL

by Marilyn Podesta This year again our December membership meeting will be a holiday luncheon at the Sylvia Beach Hotel. It will take place on the third Thursday of the month, but note that the time is 12:30 pm, later than our usual meeting time. Steve Boynton, Lincoln County School District Superintendent, will speak to us, and we've asked him to allow enough time for audience questions.

Interior of Table of Contents.

You won't want to miss out on this year's Holiday Luncheon! Chef Nancy Courtney has a spectacular sounding menu for us to try:

--Tossed Green Salad with Fall Vegetables, served with the hotel's homemade breads

-- For the main course, Beef Bourguignon with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable

-- For dessert, "Frozen Black Forest Roulade" (Nancy explained this as being a chocolate cake roll filled with house made ice cream, and topped with cherry sauce.)

-- Coffee and tea come with the meal.

The cost for the complete meal, including tip is $20.50. (Wine or beer are available at additional cost.)

We will gather at 12:30 at the upper level of the hotel or at the side door at street level. Jack Kistler will be waiting downstairs for you to check in. You will need to send your check to: LWVLC, P.O. Box 1648, New-port, OR 97365, by Saturday, Dec. 12. You may also pay for the luncheon at our next meeting on Nov. 19.

If you think your check may be late in arriving at the mailbox, call Jack Kistler (541-574-8145) to confirm your reservation.

"Suffragette" at the Bijou Theater by Marilyn Podesta

Join us for "Suffragette" - Bijou Theater, Saturday, December 12, 2:00 pm

The owner of the Bijou Theater, Betsy Altomare, and League members Nancy Mead and Marilyn Podesta have arranged for a "non-hosted" 2:00 pm showing of the new movie, "Suffragette," starring Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, and oth-ers. This film shows the struggle for women's rights in England in the early part of the 20th century. It was produced in the United Kingdom and is the first film in history to be shot in the Houses of Parliament, done with the permission of MPs. The film has gotten good reviews.

We will be attending the 2:00 P.M. matinee on Satur-day, December 12 at the Bijou Theater in Lincoln City. Members of NOW, our League and AAUW are all being invited. Since it is also open to the public as a regular Saturday afternoon matinee, you may want to get there to claim your seat and have your popcorn in your lap before the movie begins!! Bijou Theater mat-inee tickets are $7.00 each.

Nancy will lead a short discussion of the film after it ends. There is another late afternoon showing, so the discussion will be 30-45 minutes at most.

See you at the movies!!

A scene from the movie

WAVE LENGTHS 5 November 2015

Consolidation: Current status, and local League options LWVOR President Norman Turrill's 11/14 email to local League presidents.

As I explained during [the consolidation] workshop, the consolidation of our two Oregon LWV corporations is now

all but complete with the exception of some automatic payments from our bank accounts. The LWV of Oregon

(LWVOR) is now our 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation lead by your elected Board of Directors. The LWV of Oregon

Advocacy Fund (LWVORAF) is now our 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation lead by a separate board of four directors

mostly appointed by the LWVOR Board. All functions of the state League are consolidated into the LWVOR. The

LWVORAF is now a shell organization waiting for a need to lobby on some issue. Most assets and all employees

have been transferred to the LWVOR. Although we still have two websites (one for advocacy and one for education),

both are owned by the LWVOR.

Back in the 1970s the state League applied to the IRS and received a 501(c)(4) Group Exemption for all our local

Leagues that relieved them of applying separately to the IRS to become 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporations. There was

no other good option at that time. This Group Exemption continues and is now held by the LWVORAF. Local

Leagues do not need to do anything to continue as they are now as 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporations!

However, if local Leagues want to follow the lead of the LWVOR and become tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit cor-

porations, then there are three paths to achieve this goal: (1) Each local League could apply separately to the IRS for

501(c)(3) status, which would cost $400. (2) The LWVOR could apply to the IRS to create a new 501(c)(3) Group

Exemption, which I learned this week would cost $3000. (3) The LWVOR could apply to the IRS to convert our exist-

ing 501(c)(4) Group Exemption into a new 501(c)(3) Group Exemption; however, this would still cost $3000. (I

learned this after some two hours on telephone hold with three different offices of the IRS.)

Becoming a tax-deductible nonprofit is not all roses. The downside would be that any expenditures for lobbying or

grassroots lobbying (in the technical definition of the IRS, not all advocacy) would need to be recorded and tracked.

Each local League would probably need to notify the IRS that they are taking the "section (h) election" so that you can

measure lobbying by expenditures instead of effort.

Option (2) seems to be the best option, and most attendees at the consolidation workshop seemed to think that too.

This option has the advantage that the LWVORAF could maintain the c(4) Group Exemption as long as any local

League wanted to keep their c(4) status. Option (3) seems less viable since one or more local Leagues may want to

maintain their c(4) corporation status. Furthermore, options (2) and (3) cost the same and would be about the same

amount of work.

None of this will happen quickly. If all or most of the local Leagues want option (2), then the LWVOR Board will

have to create an equitable plan to accomplish that goal. That plan may include a special PMP assessment to offset the

$3000 cost. This implies a 3/4 vote of delegates at our next LWVOR Convention in 2017. Alternatively, the LWVOR

could solicit contributions from members (tax-deductible) or local Leagues (not tax-deductible) toward this goal.

This is not the complete plan since it only deals with the IRS part. Each local League would need new Articles of In-

corporation, converted bylaws, new EIN and BIN numbers, filings and $50 fees for the Corporate Division of the Ore-

gon Secretary of State, and notices to their vendors. Other notices may be needed for the Oregon Department of Jus-

tice and the Oregon Employment Department if you have employees.

Let's start by each local League board discussing these options and deciding what they would like to do. When you

complete those discussions, please send your decision to me and to the office. When we have a response from all local

Leagues, then the LWVOR board will plan what to do next.

League of Women Voters of Lincoln County P. O. Box 1648 Newport, OR 97365

Membership Form Name____________________________________ Phone___________________ E-Mail________________________ Address__________________________________________ City______________________________ Zip_________

League of Women Voters of Lincoln County

For information call Marilyn Podesta Membership Chair, 541-765-4422

Individual Household Low income: Individual Household Annual Membership Dues (Circle one.) $60 $90 $40 $60 ___I am a new member

___I am renewing my membership The membership year begins October 1.

___I am interested in working with the League.

___Please call me.

I wish to make a contribution to LWV Lincoln County in addition to my dues $______________

Total Member Dues and contribution Make check out to: LWV of Lincoln County $______________ I wish to contribute to the LWV of Oregon (Separate Check Required. Make $______________ check out to “LWVOR”. ) Only contributions to LWVOR are tax deductible. These contributions assist LWVLC’s Voter Service activities and education projects. (Tax deductible Contributions to LWVOR must be on a check separate from payment of dues and LWVLC contributions.) Total Enclosed: $______________ Please mail to: LWVLC P. O. Box 1648, Newport, OR 97365