Full Year of League Activities But Short by Covid-19 by Ruth Kistler

This has been a good year for the LWV of Lincoln County (LWVLC). We’ve added several active new members. We’ve been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters and 100 years of women’s suffrage at each of our events: dual kick-off meetings, legislative update/preview from Sen. Arnie Roblan and Rep. David Gomberg, Community College presentation, holiday luncheon at Sylvia Beach hotel, Cybersecurity study presentation, and Census 2020. Then the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic hit home. On March 8, Governor Brown declared a State of Emergency. Shortly after that the City of Newport closed the library meeting rooms. On March 23, Governor Brown issued an executive order directing Oregonians to stay home except for essential needs. Our planned ice cream social/planning meeting scheduled for March 17 was cancelled. All we could plan for was uncertainty. The planned April Candidates’ Forum was cancelled, replaced (in part) by candidates’ videos on our new Facebook page. LWVOR Council 2020, planned to be held in Newport, was cancelled and replaced by a Zoom meeting. We expect to postpone our planned Annual Meeting until the Fall.

Before our group activities were halted, we were able to engage in some special celebratory activities. On February 19, members attended the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners’ meeting where they issued a proclamation recognizing the League of Women Voters on the occasion of our 100th Anniversary. (See photo above.) On March 7, members travelled to Salem to celebrate the League’s 100th birthday. (See photo below.)