Nearly a thousand people – including 682 voting delegates
– met in Portland, Oregon, from July 13-17 for the 48th
National Convention of the LWVUS. With minimal dissent, the
delegates increased per member payment amounts ($28 for FY 2008-2009
and $29.20 for FY 2009-2010), approved the FY 2008-2009 budget,
and elected the nominated slate of LWVUS officers and directors.
Decisions relative to Program and Resolutions took much
longer, not only because of the number of issues raised, but
also because of concern that resolutions at convention
might circumvent the Program Planning process at the local
level. Ultimately the LWVUS Board was directed, by
resolution, to come up with a “resolution procedure”
before the 2010 Convention. Delegates also approved a resolution
directing the LWVUS to “redesign its fundraising requests
so they cannot be misconstrued as membership recruitment or
dues notices.”
Plenary sessions were enlivened by two excellent speakers,
both of whom were past governors of Oregon: Barbara Roberts
spoke from personal experience on “Women as Political
Leaders,” and John Kitzhaber, a doctor as well as a
politician, discussed “Health Care for the 21st Century.”
Delegates also heard, much too briefly, from a Panel on Climate
Change, including an expert who explained some “new”
scientific considerations, and an Oxfam policy advisor who
discussed the effects of climate change on the developing
world.
Outside of the big Plenary sessions delegates could choose
among a variety of LWVUS Workshops, as well as Caucuses sponsored
by local or state Leagues, on topics too numerous to mention.
Nevertheless, the prevailing themes of this Convention
were Health Care and Climate Change. Delegates, keenly
aware of current Presidential politics, seemed optimistic
about the enactment of our positions in these two key areas.
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