OREGON RURAL ACTION CHAPTERS & PROGRAMS
Chapters and Programs within Oregon Rural Action
Focused on working with local community members to solve local issues, Oregon Rural Action looks to establish chapters in communities throughout rural Oregon. The following chapters have been established and are currently working on locally-identified issues.
Please refer to our Upcoming Events page for chapter meetings and other exciting happenings.
Baker County Chapter
The Baker County Chapter formed in 2004 (originally as the Baker County Grassroots Alliance). Baker County members have worked on issues ranging from encouraging curbside recycling to producing a regional guide to local food and farm products. These members have also dedicated much of their time to support the development of local renewable energy resources by running members in campaigns for Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) board positions and offering educational seminars.
Join us the second Monday of each month to get involved with the Baker County Chapter. Contact nella@oregonrural.org for the time and place.
Blue Mountain Chapter
The Blue Mountain Chapter formed in 2001. Union County members have worked on many different issues over the years. Interest has centered around three main topics: healthy, local food and sustainable agriculture; locally generated renewable energy; responsible and sustainable land use and planning; land conservation and preservation of open spaces.
Contact nella@oregonrural.org if you are interested in attending a meeting or otherwise getting involved.
Columbia Basin Chapter
The Columbia Basin Chapter was kicked off in November 2008 and anticipated a first issue campaign to expand local recycling options. Due to the economic downturn and its effect on the recycling market, the chapter has focused its
attentions on establishing a community garden in Hermiston and working to safeguard water resources.
The chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm at Stanfield City Council Chambers, 150 West Coe Avenue. Contact katie@oregonrural.org for more information or if you are interested in getting involved.
Snake River Chapter
The Snake River Chapter formed in 2003. Members in Malheur County have centered their work around social justice and sustainable agriculture issues. Beginning with fair water billing and moving on to language access for Spanish speakers, increasing the donated food supply to area food banks, and improving the participation rates of those low-income individuals who are eligible for food stamps. The chapter is currently working on a local community garden project in partnership with Oregon Food Bank and other local organizations.
Contact nancy@oregonrural.org for the time and place of Snaker River Chapter meetings.
Oregon Rural Action has partnered with the Oregon Farmers' Markets Association (OFMA) to support the expansion and stabilization of this statewide market association. This project is designed to support OFMA in its transition from an all-volunteer structure to a full-fledged non-profit organization with a paid employee and the capacity to provide programs and services that support Oregon's burgeoning and often tenuous farmers' markets. Through organizational development, new collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the farmers and markets it serves, OFMA will chart a broader course, addressing individual as well as common challenges and opportunities they face. We appreciate this opportunity to develop relationships throughout the state and bring the voice of rural communities to the statewide conversation about the importance of local food systems.
Blue Mountains Conservancy
In 2007, Oregon Rural Action helped create the Blue Mountains Conservancy, a locally-based land trust that is currently seeking to become its own independent nonprofit organization. The Blue Mountains Conservancy desires to create a viable alternative in which vital forest and agricultural land can be saved in perpetuity from development for future generations to enjoy. With no prior locally-based land trusts in Union or Baker County, the organization stepped up to fill a crucial need to offer stewardship, education, and advice for the conservation, preservation and enhancement of agricultural lands, private forestlands, and natural, scenic and open space lands. Among other projects, the Blue Mountains Conservancy is working on a conservation-based acquisition of 3,700 acres on Mt. Emily in which it is negotiating with multiple conservation funding sources to secure a vital and historical local recreation area.
