Oregon Rural Action News
Executive Director Transition
Andrea Malmberg transitioning from Executive Director to active Oregon Rural Action member.
Job Opening for Executive Director
Oregon Rural Action seeks an Executive Director with a proven record of success in fundraising; exceptional leadership and communication skills; and supervisory experience. As the lead fundraiser for the organization, the Executive Director will develop, sustain, cultivate, and identify new sources of philanthropic support, including major donor gifts, foundation support, planned giving, and business donations. In addition, the Executive Director will supervise and support organizing staff and work with the Board of Directors in strategic campaign work, member recruitment, leadership development, and internal fundraising. Oregon Rural Action is a grassroots organization that brings people together to address issues, find solutions, and build strong communities. The full-time position is based in the picturesque small town of La Grande, Oregon, surrounded by the Wallowa and Blue Mountains.
Community garden begins to take shape
Lisa Britton writes for the Baker City Herald on the initial workday in the new Baker City Community Garden. The project is a collaboration between the Baker County Fair Board, Oregon Rural Action, and members of the Master Gardener's program.
Union County Farm to School: May Is Spring Greens Month
Oregon Rural action, in partnership with OHSU School of Nursing, is kicking off the new Harvest of the Month program. The goal of Harvest of the Month is to expose students to seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as to the people who grow them. Each month nursing students, local farmers, and community volunteers will visit schools during lunchtime and serve samples of a featured fruit or vegetable.
Local Youth Is Delegate to National Rural Youth Assembly
Twenty-five year-old Nella Parks is representing Oregon at the National Rural Youth Assembly in New Mexico. She was nominated and selected as one of three delegates from Oregon. Participants in the National Rural Youth Assembly will engage on key policies including rural health, natural resource stewardship, local economies, and quality education.
Building Community Wealth in Grant County
Oregon Rural Action is sponsoring a community-based process for homegrown prosperity on Saturday, April 17th in John Day. All are welcome at the Building Community Wealth assembly, an event to bring together local people for local solutions. Participating community members will develop a plan for attaining short- and long-term sources of revenue and employment by identifying local resources, engaging local initiative and talent, and designing a locally-endorsed and sponsored vision of community quality of life.
Eastern Oregon Local Foods Gathering
Oregon Food Bank is partnering with Oregon Rural Action to sponsor a regional networking and strategy event where farmers, retailers, hunger advocates, and community members will be assembling in Cove at the Ascension School on April 13th from 10am to 4pm for a Community Food Systems Gathering. The event will be an opportunity for community members who are interested in building a robust local market for local agricultural products and ensuring that everyone has access to a sufficient amount of nutritious food.
Farm to School Workshop Coming to La Grande
Oregon Rural Action is organizing a free workshop on increasing the consumption of and education on locally produced agricultural goods in Union County schools. Producers of local foods, school administrators, food service personnel, teachers and, of course, involved parents or community members that want to help with the success of the first Farm to School program east of Bend are welcome to attend.
Farm to School Program Starts!
Lisa Britton writes for the Baker City Herald about Eastern Oregon's first Farm to School program, a three-year collaborative project with Oregon Rural Action and Union County Fit Kids Coalition and made possible by a grant from Meyer-Memorial Trust. Students at Powder Valley School and five other schools in Union County will soon see the vegetables they grow on their lunch trays.
Grassroots Coalition Urges Senate to Improve Food Safety Bill
Oregon Rural Action joined with twenty other grassroots farm, ranch, organic producers and consumers, and holistic health organizations signed a joint letter urging U.S. Senators to make changes in pending federal food safety legislation to ensure that the option to select fresh, wholesome, locally produced and processed foods is not denied to consumers.
Food Safety: One Size Doesn't Fit All
On Aug. 10 the Oregonian editorial board wrote in support of HR 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. Small farmers and Oregon Rural Action members Phil and Dianne Greif recently published their own response in the Oregonian, pointing out the shortcomings of the current food safety bill and its burdensome impacts on small producers.
Northwest's Biofuel Boom Goes Bust (And Why Community Scale Production Is Better)
The Oregonian reports that, in two short years, the Northwest has gone from biofuels boom to biofuels bust. Meanwhile, the Western Organization of Resource Councils released a study on the viability of community scale biofuels projects and their importance in a larger sustainable energy policy.
BPA Fee Increase Could Quash Community Wind - Your Comments Needed
-- Deadline Passed -- Bonneville Power Administration is proposing rate hikes that include a fee increase on wind integration that may severely undercut small-scale community wind development. May 15 is the deadline for public comment on the proposal.
Building a Sustainable Food System Together
An article by Oregon Rural Action organizer Shaun Daniel from the Spring 2009 issue of Sprout Magazine.
Rural Counties Losing Jobs Faster than Cities
Recession hitting hard in rural counties with manufacturing and farm dependent jobs.
Training the Green Collar Workforce: A Role for Community Colleges
Xarissa Holdaway writes for Worldchanging about the role community colleges can play in training the workers for a green energy economy.
Peace of mind, and a piece of pie
Oregon Rural Action member Karen Wagner writes about local food activism in Umatilla County
AP: JBS, National Beef call off deal
Two of the largest beef processors in the U.S. call off their proposed merger. Family ranchers and supporters proclaim victory.
ODA: Cost share reimbursement for certified organic growers
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is offering reimbursement for some of the costs to become organically certified by a USDA accredited certifier.
