8 Great Things that ORA Is Working on Right Now

Psst! Did you know it was our birthday in September? We turned 8! Don't worry if you missed it because it's not too late to help us celebrate. How about giving Oregon Rural Action a birthday gift? In fact, a donation is a gift to your neighbors and to yourself because the money is put back into locally-developed campaigns in order to build strong, thriving communities.

Give $8, $16, $24, or more to keep Oregon Rural Action strong and sustainable.

Oregon Rural Action was officially kicked off eight years ago, in the fall of 2001.  Born of community interest in an organization that would work around locally identified issues, and assisted greatly through the skill and experience of the Western Organization of Resource Councils, Oregon Rural Action has grown in scope and influence from a fledgling group of a dozen or so members to a regional presence with four county chapters, almost 400 members, and a large number of community supporters. As the only community organizing nonprofit based in Eastern Oregon, we believe the work that Oregon Rural Action is doing - the work that you are doing - is essential to developing the kinds of communities in which we want to live. 

This is your organization. Help celebrate its birthday with a gift!

8 Great Things ORA Is Working On Right Now

1. Seeking Food Security

Oregon has one of the highest rates of hunger in the nation. This food insecurity pervades all aspects of life for those impacted by it and ripples into our communities. Oregon Rural Action has helped pass legislation to continue WIC/Senior food benefits and reduced price lunches for children in Oregon. The Snake River Chapter, based in Ontario, has partnered with St Matthews Episcopal Church and the Southeast Oregon Regional Food Bank to create the Four Rivers Community Garden, where the produce goes to the food bank. The Blue Mountain Chapter has continued its successful La Grande Community Garden project, adding additional beds and empowering families and individuals with a plot of land and the ability to grow their own healthy food.

2. Promoting Regional Farmers' Markets

We continue the work begun in our Statewide Farmers' Market Promotion Project to strengthen the Oregon Farmers' Market Association. Farmer's markets continue to grow, fast becoming hubs of culture, commerce and community, keeping money local and leading to the revitalization of downtowns. Thanks to the work of volunteers, this year saw an addition to our website: the creation of an online home for regional farmers' markets in Northeast Oregon.

3. Building a Local Meat Campaign

In Oregon, regulations prevent meat from being sold by the cut unless it is slaughtered and processed at a USDA facility. There are few USDA facilities in rural Oregon, and none east of Prineville, meaning a drive of 150 miles or more (often out of state) to get to a certified facility. Oregon Rural Action is partnering with diverse organizations and mobilizing ranchers, producers, restaurateurs, and concerned eaters to develop solutions. Download and read a fact sheet. (PDF)

4. Keeping Pharmaceuticals Out of the Umatilla and Columbia Rivers

The Columbia Basin Chapter, based in Hermiston, is working to draw attention to the dumping of pharmaceuticals down the drain, where they wind up in the region's waterways, such as the Umatilla and Columbia Rivers. The chapter will publish an informational guide and highlight disposal alternatives, culminating in a Pharmaceutical Disposal Day in conjunction with Earth Day 2010.

5. Supporting Energy Efficiency and Community Scale Renewable Energy

In February, the Blue Mountain Chapter began discussion on the possibility of a Solar Access Ordinance to encourage small-scale solar energy use, bringing the idea before the La Grande Planning Commission. The Columbia Basin Chapter expressed its support for the Umatilla County Commissioners' efforts to make public buildings more energy efficient and  was invited to participate in the county's Climate Change Focus group meetings. In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting in June, Executive Director Andrea Malmberg said,  “The history of rural Oregon has been that we are very dependent on exporting our resources, whether it be timber, or beef, or now wind. We need to have a voice in what are our resources, and how are they going to benefit our communities, here."

6. Calling for Food Safety Policy that Is Sensitive to the Needs of Small, Local Producers

Recent well-publicized incidents of contamination have led to the introduction of food safety legislation with a "one size fits all" policy that would be burdensome to small, local producers. Oregon Rural Action members Phil and Diane Greif comment, "As small, direct-market farmers, we're concerned that a one-size-fits-all approach to federal oversight of even the smallest of direct-market farms and processors will have a chilling effect on local food producers and processors." Oregon Rural Action has acted as a leading voice in Oregon, with members contacting legislators, talking with neighbors and local farmers, publishing an op-ed in the Oregonian, writing letters to the editor, and sending postcards to our Senators. We are working with Senator Merkley and his staff to examine possible amendments to the bill, S.510 the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Learn more and contact your senators.

7. Opposing a Mandatory National Animal ID System

Like one-size fits all food safety legislation, a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is being put forward as a disease tracking and security program. Yet NAIS would cause undue liability to livestock producers, unnecessary costs to ranchers, no additional information provided to consumers, and further profiteering by the corporations that dominate the livestock market. Along with the Western Organization of Resource Councils and its other member groups, Oregon Rural Action has been calling for NAIS to remain voluntary, for the USDA to focus on preventing disease, and for addressing the problems caused by factory farms. Presently, NAIS has had its funding stripped thanks to the work of two Western senators, Tester (MT-D) and Enzi (WY-R). Though the program appears stalled, Oregon Rural Action will continue to monitor the situation. Download and read a fact sheet. (PDF)

8. Holding Our Public Officials Accountable, Engaging Citizens

We believe deeply in the importance of an engaged citizenry in the health of a thriving democracy. To that end, we have brought you twice-monthly action alerts to keep you informed and give you the opportunity to take action. In this way we've mobilized hundreds of individual actions, which add up to make an impact on our communities, our counties, our state, and our country.

So there you have it: 8 good reasons to celebrate and 8 good reasons to help keep Oregon Rural Action strong and sustainable.

Give Oregon Rural Action a birthday gift today!