Marian Milligan has lived most of her life in Salem, Oregon. From there, she was able to be a political volunteer, have a position of Chair for OWPC Legislative Task Force, and be involved in the Women’s Crisis Service, INC., Salem-OWPC, National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), NOW, Oregon Council for Women’s Equity, and the Oregon’s Women Conference.
Marian Milligan is also very much involved in the Governor’s Commission for Women. In this organization, she started as a commission member then became a part of the Executive Committee as the commissioner-Vice Chairman. Under this organization, she was able to work on projects such as;\ child sexual abuse, rape prevention, and leadership development for women. Her other involvement work includes working with and supporting the issues of abortion, social security, domestic and sexual violence in Salem, child care, displaced homemakers, state legislations regarding women, and the Equal Rights Amendment. For her hard work and dedication, Marian Milligan was nominated as one of the Delegates to Houston.
Milligan served as the founding president of the Greater Oregon chapter of the Society of Government Meeting PRofessionals (SGMP). The work to create the chapter began in 1987 when Milligan joined the Seattle Chapter (now Pacific Northwest chapter) and saw the value of having a forum to meet and connect with other government meeting planners and suppliers. After attending the 1988 SGMP National Education Conference in Chicago and the Seattle/Pacific Northwest chapter's winter conference in 1989, Marian was inspired to start an Oregon chapter. Over the next several months, Marian led the formation of the chapter, with the assistance of Ernie Oakes and a steering committee comprised of planners, suppliers and National Board Member Gary Francis. The first formation meeting was held in May 1989 at the Westin Benson Hotel in Portland with over 50 people in attendance; the chapter was formally organized, with Milligan elected the first president, on November 20, 1989. Since 1989, GOSGMP membership has steadily increased and now has 96 members as of July, 2011.
From the guide to the Marian Milligan papers, 1974-1983, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)
