Workshops

Oregon State Organization Convention 2023 Workshops

Workshop Session I: 9:30 am - 10:20 am

Edna Rose Brown

#1. Estate Planning 101: Brief Overview of Wills, Trusts, and Probate.
Presenter: Eden Rose Brown, Attorney & Counsellor at Law, Estate and Legacy Planning
It’s not just about saving taxes or avoiding probate! A thoughtful, comprehensive estate plan will promote harmony within the family, maximize control during incapacity, and provide a lasting legacy that will reflect your values and ideals for generations to come. Learn about the three “must have” legal documents, differences between a POLST and an Advanced Directive, and why a living trust is superior to a will. Bring your questions and concerns to contribute to the dialogue in this workshop led by Eden Rose Brown.

Nikii Murtaugh

#2. Cruising the Norwegian Coast with Arne and Carlos
Presenter: Nikki Murtaugh
Nikii Murtaugh, an avid knitter and lover of adventures, was able to combine her two passions on a September 2022 cruise of the Norwegian coast. Arne and Carlos are knitwear designers located in Norway. Since 2017 they have led Norwegian knitting cruises. Arne is pronounced “R-nough,” but answers to any- thing because most Americans called him “R-knee.” These designers have a YouTube® channel and sell both knit and crochet patterns on their website. My best friend and I took their tour in 2022. The tour offered two days in Oslo, including an all-day guided tour of the city; a train ride in our own car to Bergen; a guided tour the next day in Bergen; and finally boarding the ship for a northbound cruise of the Norwegian coast. At the end of the cruise, we boarded a chartered bus to the Kirkenes airport where we flew back to Oslo, and then returned to Oregon. Nikii promises to bring souvenirs of the trip to show us, along with a PowerPoint® of her adventure.

#3. Engaging and Retaining Members Through Mentorship
Presenter: Darlene Cook, Membership/Expansion Committee chair
Presenter: Dr. Wendy Hacke, Membership/Expansion Committee Member
Participants will learn the basic principles of mentorship and how mentorship helps our state organization and chapters retain and increase membership. The workshop will explore the importance of each member being responsible for mentoring the women leaders in her chapter. Through activities and handouts, participants will be guided though the process of sketching out mentorship plans of their own.

Dr. Wendy Hacke is a career educator. A twice Nationally Certified teacher,
she has taught every level from preschool to university teaching courses. Throughout her nearly 40-year career, she has mentored new teachers, teachers earning National Board Certification and, as an administrator, teachers acquiring new skills through professional development. Come to learn how you can retain members and encourage leadership through mentoring.

Darlene Cook served as Oregon State Organization President from 2019-2021 and as a member of the Executive Committee for the past six years. She is currently Chair of the state Membership/Expansion Committee and Chair of the US Forum Steering Committee. Darlene believes every member is a potential leader; and a strong mentoring program at both the Chapter and State levels can help retain membership and encourage leadership for the future.

Dr. Wendy Hacke

Darlene Cook

Workshop Session II: 10:30 am - 11:20 am

#4. Think, Then Ink! The League of Women Voters
Presenter: Marjorie Maxwell, Lambda Chapter
Marjory is a retired Family and Consumer Studies teacher with 34 + years’ experience teaching middle and high school. As she said, “When I retired I became active in DKG, including serving as secretary, co-president, and committee work. Wanting to be informed and know what was going on ‘behind the curtain.’ I joined and became an active member of LWVLC (Lane County) eventually serving as secretary and chairing a fundraiser.” Please her with any questions/concerns. Marjorie Maxwell 541-521-3051

Marjorie Maxwell

#5. SB 407 and HB 2872: Will the Dolly Parton Imagination Library be approved statewide with funding?
Presenters:
Kathy Martell, Alpha Epsilon Co-President, Ambassador for Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub
Working with the Marion & Polk Early Learning, Kathy was instrumental in launching the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Marion and Polk Counties in 2022. In this workshop, Kathy will share the extensive planning prior to the launch of the program. She will share progress toward expanding to all of Marion and Polk Counties
Rev. Dr. Senator Deb Patterson, Oregon Senator
Senator Deb Patterson, who is co-sponsoring SB 407 this legislative session to make the Dolly Parton Imagination Library a statewide program, will discuss what that means for all communities in Oregon if they are interested in the program.
Deb Patterson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, a master’s in health administration from Washington University School of Medicine, and a master’s and doctorate from Eden Theolog- ical Seminary. Patterson’s career experience includes working as a healthcare administrator, with the senior management team of a multi-hospital health system, as executive director of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, and executive director of Northwest Parish Ministries. She has served as a member of the Salem Rotary Club, Healthcare for All Oregon, and SEIU 503.

Kathy Martell

Rev. Dr. Senator Deb Patterson

Workshop Session III: 11:30 am - 12:20 pm

Erin Clubb

#6. Bouncing Back From Burnout
Presenter: Erin M. Clubb, Health Educator, Salem Health, Hospital and Clinics
Stress happens. What matters is how we deal with it. What are our stressors? There are ways to prioritize our activities to lessen stress, and caring well for our bodies and minds can strengthen us when stress is coming—and it will come! Consider befriending stress. Stress, when it’s your friend, might help you focus and be stronger while you also recognize that you don’t have to be perfect. What social interactions can help you deal with stress? Is there a way to quickly reduce stress when you are facing a tense situation?
Erin will offer a resource list and a way to assess your mood.

#7. Aging into Poverty: The Looming Crisis for American Women
Presenter: Kathy Sharp, Author
While one in five of us will need significant assistance with the activities
of daily living or long-term care for more than five years, costing as much as $100,000 per year, about 50% of women ages 55 to 66 have no personal retirement savings. Kathy Sharp will cover material from her book, Aging Into Poverty - a compelling personal narrative drawing from the experience of a caregiver who scrambled to put supports in place as her mother outlived her savings and her deteriorating health needs required an escalating level
of care. Kathy will describe the framework for evaluating options for senior housing and healthcare which can maximize autonomy and community. Her presentation provides practical solutions and program eligibility requirements.

Kathy Sharp

Dr. Wendy Hacke

Barbara King

#8. Writing Memoirs for Empowerment and Personal Growth
Writing a personal memoir will allow you to explore a fuller, richer understanding of yourself, all while documenting your thoughts and experiences and leaving a legacy. Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to find your truth and find yourself as you tell your story.
* What is a Memoir and why is a personal memoir empowering
* Great memoirs by Women: Books To Empower Women
* Great memoirs by Women: Books To Empower Women
* Table and group discussion of questions such as “What would you want to record for your family?” “Do you think you might want to share your story with the world.”
* What to include and not include in a memoir?
Koren Zailckas, a best-selling writer and memoirist (Wikipedia) says, “When you are writing a memoir, you have the advantage of knowing how it all ends. It’s just taking your life apart and putting it together again.” Consider learning how to share your stories and keep your memories alive for your family and friends to treasure.
Presenter: Dr. Wendy Hacke, Beta Beta/5
Dr. Wendy Hacke is a career educator. A twice Nationally Certified teacher, she has taught every level from preschool to university teaching courses. She is a published author who enjoys reading memoirs.
Presenter: Barbara King, Beta Beta/5
Barbara King is a storyteller. A published novelist and short story writer, she has taught various writing classes for adults and young adults. “We write in order to know what we think,” an old adage, is closely followed by, “We write to make sense of what we remember.” Everyone has a story. Consider finding out how to tell yours.