<i>Focus</i> newsletter for September 2008 - LWV of Marion and Polk Counties

League of Women Voters^®
of Marion and Polk Counties

Focus newsletter for September 2008

Focus is the monthly newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties.

President's Column. Constitution Day Celebration. Unit Meetings: Highlights of LWVUS Convention. Voter Service. New Education Interest Group. Water Study. Solid Waste Study. David Phelps--Publicity. Founders' Award to Sandra Gangle. Annual Meeting Highlights. Report on Field Trip: Salem YWCA and SOS. LWV Mission Statement Explained.

President's Column

Kathy Reed
Be sure to mark your calendar! This year we have a full schedule of unit and general meetings planned that includes consensus on the state studies on Election Methods and Water Resources as well as our local studies on Poverty and Solid Waste.
The upcoming presidential election has energized a large number of new and younger voters to become involved in exercising their civic responsibility, some of them for the first time. To reach out to all voters through candidates' forums and ballot issues, we are co-sponsoring three Voter Service programs with the City Club. September 18th is a Candidates' Forum focused on the Oregon House races (6:30 p.m., Louck's Auditorum). October 2nd will be the candidates for Secretary of State and the Marion County Clerk. October 16th will be a program on the bond measures for Schools, Streets, and Transit. Unit meetings on the twelve state ballot measures are also planned for October. Be sure to invite newer voters to attend these election-related events. Encourage them to get informed and vote on ALL candidates and issues, not just for the office of President.
Encourage new and seasoned voters to join the League as a way to ensure they are informed voters. Invite them to come to our Constitution Day Celebration on September 17 (7:00 p.m., Anderson Rooms A&B, Salem Library) to learn more about the Constitution, the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights on freedom of religion, and the Second Amendment on the right to bear arms.
Be sure to invite new and seasoned voters to the Membership Brunch on October 4. Judge Pamela Abernethy is our speaker and she will talk about Courts and Community: Working Together to Break the Cycle of Abuse and Neglect, a topic that relates directly to our study on poverty.
I look forward to seeing you all at these various events.

Constitution Day Celebration

Sandra Smith Gangle, Chair
Celebrate the Constitution!
The League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties invites you to celebrate the 221st anniversary of the United States Constitution on Wednesday, September 17. The program is co-sponsored by the Salem Library and is supported in part by a grant from the Program on Constitutional and Legal Policy of the Open Society Institute; the grant is being used for printing, mailing and advertising in the hope that many non-League members will attend the event.
The Constitution, ratified in 1787, is the highest law of the land and provides the framework of our national government. The first ten Amendments to the Constitution were passed in 1791. Known as the Bill of Rights, those Amendments guaranteed certain basic freedoms, including:
freedoms of speech, assembly and religion;

the right to bear arms;

protection against unreasonable searches and seizures;

just compensation for property that is taken for public use;

the right to trial by jury in criminal court cases and most civil cases; and

the right to be confronted with prosecution witnesses and have the assistance of counsel in criminal matters

Over the past 220 years there have been many conflicts over the proper interpretation and application of those rights. The U.S. Supreme Court has resolved those conflicts by issuing opinions that clarify the intent of the law.
The League's celebration program on September 17 will focus on the Bill of Rights and what it means to Americans today. Confirmed speakers include Willamette University College of Law Professor Steven Green, an expert on freedom of religion, and Corban College History Professor John Scott, who will discuss the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) and how it affects colleges and communities today.
Please come and bring friends with you.
Grant Received
As stated in the previous article, LWVMPC received a grant for the Constitution Day Celebration. The grant is from the Program on Constitutional and Legal Policy of the Open Society Institute. On the recent Leaders' Update from LWVUS, it was announced that 16 of the 21 Leagues that applied for Constitution Day grants had been awarded grants. Some did not receive the full $500. I find it noteworthy that LWVMPC received one of the 16 awards, and we received the full $500!
Constitution Essay Contest
As part of the Constitution Day project, the League will kick off an essay contest for middle and high school students throughout Marion and Polk counties. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three essays at each school level.
The students are told to pretend that creatures from another planet have invaded the U.S. and want to take away some of our Constitutional rights. The students must rank ten of the rights that are found in the Bill of Rights, then defend their choice of the five rights that they consider most important to them.
If you were a student, how would you rank these rights and how would you defend your choices?
___Right to bear arms
___Right to a jury trial
___Freedom of religion
___Right to legal counsel
___Freedom of press
___Freedom of speech
___Right to peacefully assemble
___Freedom from self-incrimination
___Protection from cruel and unusual punishment
___Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

Unit Meetings: Highlights of LWVUS Convention

Diana Bodtker
LWVMPC was very well represented at the national convention in Portland on June 13-17. In addition to LWVMPC delegates Kathy Reed and Diana Bodtker, Rose Lewis and Sandrea Gangle acted as voting delegates for Indiana and Mississippi respectively. Our League also had numerous volunteers doing the jobs so necessary to the success of such a large meeting. In addition, the Awesome Aunties, led by Rose Lewis, entertained the convention delegates.
There were keynote speakers, work sessions, many caucuses, and a program adopted for the 2008-2010 biennium. At the close of the convention in-structions to the board were presented by delegates.
One of the highlights of the convention was a strong presentation by LWV Oregon and LWV Virginia to adopt a national concurrence on redistricting. It did not succeed primarily because LWV California thought the position could put a California ballot measure on redistricting at risk.
This was an exciting convention for the future of LWVUS, LWVOR and LWVMPC. Please come to one of the unit meetings on September 8 or 10 where Kathy Reed and Diana Bodtker will present their general impressons as well as the important actions that came out of this convention.

Voter Service

Dorothy Eberhardt
The next few months promise to be exciting, dynamic and challenging for those who choose to be where the ACTION is!
First, everyone should plan to attend the

Candidate Forum for Oregon House Districts 19, 20, and 22 on Thursday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m. in Loucks Auditorium

Candidate Forum for Oregon Secretary of State and Marion County Clerk on Thursday, October 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Chemeketa Community College

LWVMPC is a co-sponsor of these City Club forums.
A forum on three local bond measures on schools, streets, and transit on Thursday, October 16, is planned by City Club. Details will be in the October Focus.
Second, we need LOTS of people to take roles in implementing our Voter Service plans.

For the forums we need timekeepers, questions screeners, and other helpers.

For video taping sessions at CCTV we need timekeepers and moderators. We will do question-and-answer sessions without audience for Oregon House candidates, Polk County District Attorney candidates, and Marion County Clerk candidates. (We'll try to have the show dates in the next Focus, and you can get them at www.cctvsalem.org; click on Programs, then Schedules.

For Voters' Guide distribution we need people to deliver the guides.

For our Voter Service Speakers Bureau we need people who will attend a late September briefing session led by Deanie Anderson on the 12 state ballot measures and then speak to one or more of the numerous groups who are calling to request information from us as well as at the October 13 and 15 Unit meetings.

Voter Service is the League's most valuable effort, and I hope you are excited about helping with it. To join our Voter Service Committee, please contact me.
I look forward to meeting and working with many of you this election season!

New Education Interest Group

Kathy Reed
At the Annual Meeting it was proposed that an Education Interest Group be formed to consider the topic After-school activities for teenagers and funding for them. If you are interested in participating, please let me know and also indicate if you would be willing to chair the interest group.
Interest groups may choose their own agendas, activities, and meeting times. Interest groups are encouraged to recommend actions to the board--actions that are premised on LWV positions--but may not take public action on their own initiative. Non-League members may participate in an interest group but may not serve as its chair.

Water Study/Local Survey

Janet Adkins
The 2007-09 State League Water Study is well under way. The Phase I report is scheduled to be mailed with the December Voter, and Unit meeting on the topic are scheduled for January.
As part of the next phase, the state committee has asked local Leagues to participate by providing specific information on local water and wastewater systems and needs. We will concentrate on Salem, Keizer, and Dallas.
If you would be willing to help in this limited effort--to be completed by November 30--contact me by mid-September. Much of the information is available through local government websites, and we may arrange a few brief interviews.

Solid Waste Committee Monitors SWMAC

Susann Kaltwasser
The League's study group on Integrated Waste Management is monitoring meetings of the Marion County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWMAC) as it updates the county's Master Plan for municipal waste.
Working with the consulting firm of JR Miller Associates, SWMAC has completed its review of the county's mission statement, goals, current practices, and areas for improvement in recycling and processing of waste materials. Over the next few months the committee will look at the waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, new technologies, and ash and leachate issues. This is in preparation for the renewal of the contract that expires in 2014 with PGE and Covanta for the WTE facility at Brooks.
SWMAC will hold a public workshop in September to get public input. Check out http://www.co.marion.or.us/pw/es/swmac for more information.

Meet New Board Member David Phelps--Publicity

Dave retired as a professor of public health at Oregon State University. Since retirement he has been active in volunteering with the Marion-Polk Food Share, is president of the Salemtowne Civic Association and is active in the Oregon State University Retirement Association (OSURA). He recently finished a four-year appointment on the Marion County Solid Waste Management Advisory Council (SWMAC).

Founders' Award to Sandra Gangle

At the May Annual Meeting the Founders' Award was presented to Sandra Smith Gangle. After serving as LWVMPC president for the 2006-2007 year, Sandra applied for and received a grant to bring five Ukrainian women leaders to Salem in early August 2007. Sandra and her committee arranged an intensive week of activities to show the women how democracy works here, how non-profits contribute to society, and how immigrants can become entrepreneurs. Sandra and her husband Gene, who drove the van, accompanied the Ukrainian group all week, showing them how friendly Oregonians are and what a beautiful state we live in. After that exhausting week, Sandra served as LWVMPC Membership chair during 2007-2008. Congratulations, Sandra!

Annual Meeting Highlights

Program Adopted:
Retain: All current local positions.
These are on the League webpage under "Positions"

Continue studies:
Integrated Waste Management
Poverty

Updates:
Capital Improvement Financing

Civics Education

County Commission--3 or 5 Members?

After-school activities for teenagers and funding

How will we prepare for the world-wide reduction in the supply of oil?

Action priority: Homeless Youth
New Board Elected:
Officers
President: Kathrine Reed
1st V.P./Program: Susann Kaltwasser
2nd V.P./Focus: Sally Hollemon
Secretary: Kristin Heath,
Treasurer: Elsa Struble
Directors
Action: Roz Shirack
CCTV: Lloyd Kumley
Fundraising: Alice Phalan
Membership: Geraldine Hammond & Janet Markee
Program Arrangements: Tina Hansen
Publicity: David Phelps & Jeanine Grater
Voter Service: Dorothy Eberhardt
Nominating Committee Chair: Diana Bodtker
Bylaws Change: Added to Article 4. Board of Directors: The Immediate Past President shall be a voting member of the board and shall act as an advisor to the President and board.
Budget Adopted: as amended: Line 603 was increased by $200 to fund the Civics Education essay contest, and a like amount was added to Line 1600, transfer of reserves, to balance the budget.
Minutes of the Annual Meeting are on the League webpage under "Board Minutes" (Read minutes) and will be printed in next year's Annual Meeting Workbook.

Report on Field Trip: Salem YWCA and SOS (May 2008)

Notes by Kathy Pugh
YWCA
Carol Green, Director of the Salem YWCA, greeted local League members for a May tour of the Salem YWCA that opened at 1255 Broadway NE on January 18, 2008.
Carol showed us the Women's Health Resource Center room where the women's breast cancer support group meets. The Avon Foundation pays for the coordinator of the 20-year-old program, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation pays for the program in Spanish. In the health resource center will be a computer with a McKesson medical database. The goal is for volunteers to keep the center open four hours a day.
A 138-person social room with a separate kitchen is available for rent. The YWCA now has a board room seating 20 to 24, an accounting office, print room and office for the development director. For the first time the YWCA employees have a break room to use. Community artists have donated beautiful art work shown throughout the building.
Janeen Baker and Terra (Ashford) Naught continued the tour. Janeen is Resource Assistance and Peace and Racial Justice Coordinator. As a Western Oregon University student, Terra was the LWVOR intern. She is now the YWCA's housing specialist working on grants from the Arches program for homeless people and those at-risk of homelessness.
Housing is on part of the second floor and all of the third and fourth floors. Twelve rooms house women in the new "It's My Life" program. The remaining 42 rooms are rented through the nonprofit Housing Northwest, Inc., and men may live there also. An apartment is $235 minimum, $535 maximum, varying from 30 per cent of the medium income up to 70 per cent. A community room is also provided for those in housing. (Terra also plans the Sno Ball and runs the after-school program!)
Currently (May 2008) "It's My Life" has eight women of the twelve allowed in the program. The 18- to 24-year-old women are in transition or have aged out of foster care and are motivated to continue their educations and change with mentoring. The coordinator, who is borrowed from Northwest Human Resources, teaches a Monday-night class. A lab with sixteen computers is used for classes and research.
A community room with round tables is designed for "Coping with Divorce," a four-hour free class mandated by the courts for divorcing parents. A large-screen TV was donated to show the class videos. The weekly class of thirty is full each time. While the parents are in class,their children may come to a playroom next door for child care. Another program, Roller Coasters, is available for older children in two age groups, 2nd to 4th grades and 5th to 8th. A facilitator works with eight children for eight weeks. The children work through anger, sadness and the transition of divorce.
Wendy Laudette, a former Salem Outreach Shelter (SOS) house manager, writes grants for SOS. Wendy asked for our guesses of the average age of an American homeless person. (Please guess! and then look for the answer** at the bottom of this column.) She and Terra said there is not enough affordable housing. A family must make much more than the minimum wage to afford housing. Some people have to spend so much of their limited income on housing that they cannot afford utilities.
One program (different from Section 8 through the Housing Authority) is TBA (Tenant Based Assistance) in which dollars go directly to an agency such as Marion County TBA. The Arches program refers clients to Terra. Terra finds an apartment that will accept a person based on his/her history including parole, probation and evictions. The "fair housing" limit by HUD is $475 for the total of one-bedroom rent and utilities; $625 for two-bedroom rent and utilities. Terra also makes referrals to get furniture, etc. A client may be on a TBA grant for one year only. Terra says there needs to be a one-stop place for all the needs of the homeless.
Three caseworkers share a large office. Lesya Chira works with Russian families and coordinates the interpreting program. The languages of the twenty interpreters include Vietnamese, Cambodian, Chinese, Russian and more. Maria Lopez and Mary Lou Garcia are Spanish-English caseworkers with 40 people on each of their caseloads.
The YWCA is an "essential resource center." They have applications for all the agencies, including help with eye-glasses, clothing, furniture, bus passes through United Way plus Legal Aid. Any client who comes in looking for assistance is given a case manager who does the referrals. Immigrants must have five years of legal residency before receiving government services even though their children who are born here are eligible. The only food resource is the food bank (Marion-Polk Food Share). However, many people do not have the proper IDs to get services.
450 clients + men and women, children to elderly - are helped each year. Funds come from HUD, Community Action, a Block Grant, monies for chronically homeless and donations and every two years from United Way for clients who do not fit into other programs, such as clients in Polk County. This spring the City of Salem defunded $50,000 in YWCA programs: family programming, a caseworker at SOS, part of Jeanine's position, and the mailing "What's Happening" that explained all the children's programs available in the city and county. Later the City restored part of this funding. If more funds were available, the YWCA would hire more caseworkers.
Salem Outreach Shelter
We also toured the Salem Outreach Shelter (SOS) at 2933 Center Street NE. SOS moved there Oct. 15, 2007. The building is the converted St. Rita's Nursing Home, and the front half of the building is Catholic Community Services, which rents to foster youth who are aging out of the system. Head Start has its program in SOS, and space is always left for 3- and 4-year olds among the homeless families.
SOS provides Transitional Housing, not emergency housing nor a drug/alcohol program. 15 families who are motivated to work on job search and life skills may stay at SOS up to 6 months. The waiting list has 30 or 40 on it at times. Case manager Kathy stays in touch with families as long as they wish. Five staff are full time; two, part time with two bilingual. SOS is a training site for Jobs Plus employment, a 6-month program through Dept. of Human Services. SOS pays $1.00 per hour of the salary and the state of Oregon pays the rest. Three positions including the receptionist, a nutritionist and a family assistant are Jobs Plus. Portland State University and Willamette University students intern in the Capstone program for social work. Kathy teaches "Make Parenting a Pleasure," a 12-week program. A Chemeketa instructor teaches skills for job interviewing.
Rooms generally have a double bed and bunk bed with the possibility of adding another single or toddler's bed. One room allows up to eight family members and can include a grandparent. Every two rooms share a bath, and the families share five showers. A Kuban Grant provided new beds and bedding. In a conference and employability room, families have Internet access. They cook together in a large commercial kitchen and share a living room with couches and TV, a playroom with outside patio, and a dining room. Families have to work on compatibility in communal living. A few clients have cars; most take the bus. Volunteers work with children in the library. A volunteer sorts donations. Since animals are not allowed, Kathy's mom brings in her dog.
Donations from individuals and businesses account for 53% of funding. Some funds are from grants and the city. The director and advisory board oversee the budgets, along with the YWCA accountant. Families pay $105 per adult for food, usually from their food stamps card. Some food comes from the Food Bank. One church provides chicken each month.
One family that recently moved out was a couple in their 30's with three children. They got an apartment in Polk County after five months at SOS. The dad did work outside Oregon and quit so he could be with the family. Kathy helped him apply for a federal grant to attend college. The mother had earlier drug use and is doing well now; she has interviewed for a job at McDonald's.
We talked with three women from the families. Two are in their 20s and one is 52. The older women has 10 children although only two are with her. The youngest has one 7-month-old baby and wants to be a caregiver or beautician. The third has children 5 and 6 years old and her husband is working at a dairy farm. She is hoping to attend college. Trina Fowler from the Salem-Keizer School District Homeless Program works with SOS. A bus picks up school-age children and takes them to schools all over the city so the children may remain in the same school when they change housing. The federal McKinney-Vento Act requires this.

The average age of an American homeless person is 9 years.

LWV Mission Statement Explained

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League carries out its mission in two ways: 1) Education of voters with unbiased, factual information on issues and candidates appearing on a ballot, so citizens can cast an informed vote; and 2) Advocacy for public policy issues only after members have studied each issue and reached a consensus position. The League never supports or opposes any political candidate.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 22, 2008 14:09 PDT.