For those who are not able to attend in-person, watch the livestream at 12:00pm on our LWV Deschutes YouTube Channel.
SEPTEMBER 2026 - JUNE 2027 SEASON
SEPTEMBER 3
DEFENDING OREGON'S ELECTION PROCESS: An Up-to-date Report Speaker: Tobias Read
Oregon Secretary of State *Deschutes Central Library Community Room 1 More Information
OCTOBER 1
AN OPEN Q&A FOCUSING ON DESCHUTES COUNTY'S ELECTION PROCESS Speaker: Steve Dennison
Deschutes County Clerk Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
More Information
NOVEMBER 5
MEET THE FIVE NEWLY ELECTED COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Speakers: Panel of Newly Elected Commissioners
Deschutes Co. Commission *Deschutes Central Library, Community Room 1
For years, First Thursdays have been our League's signature public speaker meeting event. Together, the First Thursday Team Leads and members keep abreast of current hot topics in Central Oregon and invite local experts to be our host speakers. All events are free and open to the public. Nonmembers are encouraged to join us for an always interesting presentation, an opportunity to socialize and learn more about LWV membership options. Donations to the LWV General Fund are greatly appreciated.
11:15 am - Venue opens and Sign-in 11:45 am - League announcements 12:00 pm - Presentation and Q&A
Monthly meetings are scheduled on the first Thursday of the month (except July, August and December). NO RSVP NEEDED
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd Bend, OR 97703 MAP
* SEPTEMBER 3 & NOVEMBER 5 (location change) *Deschutes Central Public Library 61956 SE Santorini St. Bend, OR 97702
PREVIOUS SEASONS ~ SEPTEMBER 2023 - JUNE 2026
WATCH SEPT 2025 - JUNE 2026 SEASON
BRAVER ANGELS
Anne Wieman Ambassador and Co-Chair Central Oregon Braver Angels Alliance
CORE3 CO Ready Responsive Resilient Shelby Knight Resilience Planner Community & Economic Development Cllr. John Nielsen Redmond City Council
OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Emily Cureton Cook OPB Central Oregon Bureau Chief
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES
(CASA)
Laura Fitzgerald Training & Recruitment Coordinator Kinsey Turnsplenty Senior Program Coordinator
OPEN PRIMARIES
FOR OREGON
Cheri Helt Former State Representative Andrew Kaza Co-Chair Independent Party of Oregon
PROTECTING WILD
PUBLIC LANDS FOR CURRENT & FUTURE GENERATIONS Mary Fleischmann
Eastern/Central Oregon Bitterbrush Chapter Great Old Broads For Wilderness
WATCH SEPT 2024 -JUNE 2025 SEASON
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: FOUR ASPECTS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE Amy Sabbadini Regional Program Manager, Civics Learning Project
ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IN CENTRAL OR
Cassi MacQueen Fletcher Chamberlin Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM: THE CONSTITUTION AND YOU
Emily O'Neal Technical Services Librarian - Deschutes
WILDFIRE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Ashley Volz Emergency Management Deschutes County Sheriff's Office
LATINO COMMUNITY
Catalina S. Frank Executive Director Latino Community Association
WATCH SEPT 2023 -JUNE 2024 SEASON
DESCHUTES COUNTY GROWTH PANEL
Brent Bybee, Prin. Planner, LaPine Rachel Vickers, Assoc. Plan., LaPine Jon Stark - CEO, EDCO BreAnne Gale, Senior Planner, Bend Elyse Vukelich, Assoc. Plan., Bend
COUNTY GOVERNMENT ROLE IN POLICY MAKING Nick Lelack - Deschutes County Administrator
DESCHUTES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Steve Gunnels - Deschutes County District Attorney
FOOD SECURITY IN DESCHUTES COUNTY Donna Berclo - Program Director, Family Kitchen Carly Auten - Neighborimpact
CURRENT STATE OF HOUSING IN DESCHUTES COUNTY Racheal Baker - Deschutes Co. Affordable Housing Manager Scott Woodard - Sisters Linda Cline - Redmond
COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM Rebecca Battleson Josh Gage Deschutes County Stabilization Center
JUNIPER RIDGE DEVELOPMENT PLANS Matthew Stuart - City of Bend Erik Kropp - Deputy County Administrator
AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION IN THE DESCHUTES BASIN Phil Chang - Commissioner Phil Fine - North Unit Irrigation District
CENTRAL OREGON LANDWATCH
LAND USE 101
View all First Thursday Recordings on Our YouTube Channel LWV Deschutes YouTube