Our Village will serve apartment and condo dwellers, too.
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| Don't Miss Our Summer Picnic Wednesday, July 8 |
Next month, we are skipping our July meeting and instead having a
Village Picnic in Wilshire Park.
Plan to join your Village friends and neighbors for an evening of good company and delicious food. And while you're at it, invite your neighbors so they can find out what our Village is all about.
Bring a dish to share, a non-alcoholic beverage, and chairs or blankets. Paper goods and utensils will be provided. The party begins at 5:30 p.m. at Area B on the south side of the park, which is located between NE 33rd and 37th avenues and Skidmore and Shaver streets.
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The New Volunteer Committee Is Launched
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Kudos to Jonathan Harker, who has agreed to lead our Village's new Volunteer Committee. After two preliminary meetings with a host of supporters willing to serve on the committee, work is about to begin. With some help from a Villages NW affinity group comprised of volunteer committee leaders from the various Villages, our new committee will define every aspect of our volunteer program, including recruitment procedures, background checks, training, forms, a volunteer handbook - the list goes on. Those who signed up are: Margaret Baldwin, Carolyn Buan, Ann Cason, Vonnie Condon, Helena Lee, Anne Lindsay, Patty Linde, Judy Loney, Susan Roberts, William Roberts, Marcia Tate, and Walter Quade.
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The Temperature Is Rising
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Since our last report, the following individuals have made donations to our fund-raising campaign, bringing the total of individual donations raised to date to $3,810:
Ronald Laster (Visionary)
Margaret Bell (Sustainer)
Jean Powers (Friend)
In addition, the Grant Park Neighborhood Association just awarded our Village $500, so we now have $4,310.
If you haven't added your contribution, you can still help us meet our $7,500 goal by sending a check in the following categories:
Visionary ($250+)
Sustainer ($100 - $249)
Partner ($50 - $99)
Friend ($10 - $49)
Please make your check payable to Villages NW fbo NE Willage PDX and send it to:
NE Village PDX
c/o Margaret Baldwin
P.O. Box 18175
Portland, OR 97218-0175
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September General Meeting
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Please note that there will be no general meetings in July or August.
Our next general meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 9, at Rose City Park United Methodist Church, 5830 NE Alameda, just east of NE Sandy and NE 57th. Please plan to attend and bring a friend or neighbor.
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What's Happening With Other Local Villages?
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Many of you have asked about other Villages developing in and around Portland, so here's the scoop. In all, seven Villages exist and are working to provide service within the greater Portland area. In addition to Northeast Village PDX, they are:
Eastside Village PDX, the area's first and the first to launch its services (on September 30 this year). After a recent merger with RISE Village, Eastside's service area now stretches from I-84 to Portland's southern boundary. Membership is open to residents 18 years and older so that handicapped individuals can be served.
North Star Village, our neighbor to the west, which will serve North Portland, Sauvie Island, and bordering neighborhoods in the Northwest and inner Northeast. Two recent Village events that raised start-up funds were a workshop entitled "Naturescaping - It's for the Birds & Bees" and "Lift a Glass & Fork for North Star Village" at Oregon Public House.
Viva Village! Serving Beaverton and Beyond, which began in January 2014. During the year a planning group was formed and a logo, Website, and marketing and fund-raising strategies were developed (the latter with the help of PSU business students). In April, Viva Village! held it's first event, "Gardening Into Your Golden Years," and began work on a volunteer handbook.
Village Without Walls, the first Village to form in Washington County. Currently, set to open for business in 2016, it will serve Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and Aloha-Reedville. The Village helps raise funds through Fred Meyer's Community Awards program, and in February it held its first fundraiser, "A Taste of Heaven: Chocolate Sampling and Live Music."
Three Rivers Village, begun in the fall of 2013. This Village will serve the Southwest Portland area, including Multnomah Village, John's Landing, Hillsdale, and Garden Home. In the coming months the group will tackle fundraising and marketing, define services, identify partners, recruit volunteers, develop a database, and expand membership.
River West Village, which will serve the Southwest Portland area, including Multnomah Village, John's Landing, Hillsdale, and Garden Home.
Outside the greater Portland area, there are two Villages, Ashland at Home and High Desert Village in Bend. Nationwide, the Village to Village Network lists 110 existing Villages and another 120 in development.
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For Jane Braunger, It's All About Reaching Out
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A year ago this past winter, Jane Braunger, who now sits on Northeast Village PDX's Coordinating Council (CC), attended a 101 presentation at the Hollywood Library and saw a chance to put her years of experience in education to good use. After working as an English teacher and reading specialist, Jane became a teacher educator at Lewis & Clark College, Portland State University, and the University of Portland. Later, she worked in teacher professional development and educational research at WestEd in Oakland, California.
"I see teaching as a profoundly social enterprise, and so much of what we in the Village are doing is reaching out and inviting people to join us in this venture. I think my preference for social engagement helps me in this work." Last year Jane and her husband John headed up the community events committee, creating a Village presence at street fairs and farmers' markets. Currently the couple is heading the Village 101 team, which gives talks around the Northeast about the Village and its work.
In addition, Jane volunteers at the North by Northeast Community Health Center, enrolling people for health care under the Affordable Care Act, and at the St. Andrew's Catholic Church Food Pantry. She is also taking piano lessons and admits, "Now I practice more willingly than I did as a kid."
In Jane's view, our Village's biggest challenge at the moment is increasing membership in the Coordinating Council. "These are the people who must take on the greatest responsibilities to make our dream a reality," she says. "We know there are some wonderfully talented folks out there. Now we need them to say, 'I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and help.'" (If you are one of those folks, please contact Margaret Baldwin at 503-895-2750 and offer your services.)
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One problem with staying in your home: someone may send you a flock of flamingos instead of a birthday card !
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Volunteer Opportunities That Will Take Only Two Hours of Your Time
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Marcia Tate, who has stepped forward to coordinate Northeast Village PDX's presence at two summer street fairs (many thanks, Marcia!), is seeking volunteers to donate just two hours of their time to hand out literature and answer questions at Fremont Fest on August 1 and the Alberta Street Fair on August 8.
Veteran tablers from last summer are encouraged to apply. It's lots of fun and you'll be helping spread the word about our Village. Small time commitment, great service! To volunteer, contact Marcia at meptate@comcast.net
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