Staffing ChangesIn September, Oregon 150 said a fond goodbye and sincere thanks to executive director Barbara Allen, while welcoming on board our first director of development, Sharon Leighty.
Allen informed the Executive Committee that she is leaving Oregon 150 for other pursuits. “As executive director she did an effective job organizing the operation of our enterprise, establishing our offices, hiring and supervising staff and contractors, and getting our website running. Barbara’s experience and connections – and her ability to tap her vast network of contacts – helped us achieve ‘organizational lift-off’ quickly and cost-effectively,” wrote Oregon 150 chair Barbara Sidway and vice chair Lee Weinstein in an email to the Board. Thanks for everything, Barbara! The leadership position has been changed to Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director and is now posted at www.oregon150.com. “As we move into Phase 2, our executive director position will focus 75 percent on marketing and 25 percent on administration,” says 150 chair Barbara Sidway. “We hope to find a candidate with terrific marketing skills, political know-how, and broad vision. As Oregon’s 150th birthday approaches, we think this is the best job in the state!” Oregon 150 is pleased to welcome Sharon Leighty as director of development. Sharon brings 20 years of non-profit management and fundraising experience to Oregon 150. She has extensive experience administering all aspects of an integrated development program, from startup operations to mature development programs. Building relationships and collaborations between all sectors of the community has been a signature of her work. “I'm so excited to help make our sesquicentennial projects and programs a success,” says Leighty. Oregon 150 issues a Request for Qualifications for a Project Team to Manage Oregon 150's Take Care of Oregon DayOregon celebrates its 150th birthday in 2009. Take Care of Oregon Day will be a time when Oregonians across the state roll up their sleeves to give back to their communities. A project team is sought to plan, organize, and implement county- and community-based volunteer projects statewide in 2009. Deadline for submission is October 12, 2007. The Project Team will be chosen by 11/9/07. Oregon 150 In The NewsJust how do you pronounce “sesquicentennial”? Jessica Robinson from Jefferson Public Radio found out—listen to board member Lee Weinstein's interview http://www.ijpr.org/audio/Sesquicentennial%209-6-07.mp3 “Oregon’s 150th to be about more than cake” article summaryAs reporter James Sinks noted in the September 16th, 2007 issue of Bend’s The Bulletin, bakeries across Oregon “will have a pretty good year in 2009.” On February 14th of that year Oregon will turn 150 and the volunteer panel charged with planning the celebration is already hard at work. The Oregon 150 board of directors, amongst whom are former Governor Barbara Roberts, retired Chief Justice Wallace Carson, and Bend poet and author Ellen Waterston, are planning to engage Oregonians by hosting parties (the 2009 State Fair), by encouraging citizens across the state to lend a hand to a volunteer civic or environmental project, but most importantly, to “learn—and to talk” about Oregon’s varied legacy. Ellen Waterston posed the question “[h]as Oregon been resting on its laurels, and what are some issues that this can bring to the surface? We could start a conversation about our legacy and moving forward.” “What have we done,” she asked, “since we set the beaches aside?”
Sinks drew attention to Oregon 150’s new logo, “Sustain the Spirit,” and reported that members of the board would be meeting with media executives and community leaders shortly to “spur excitement.” In 2008, members would also “be asking lawmakers to earmark some public funds” for special events in 2009. As explained by member Lee Weinstein, “[t]hese things only come around every 50 years—so for many of us it’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal.” As important, Weinstein noted, the sesquicentennial “will be a great time for Oregonians to come together as a state and as communities. We have had a rough ride economically in the past 20 years, and maybe this is a time for Oregon to come together, get our confidence back and remind ourselves of who we really are.” A Challenge From Echo, OregonDear Oregon Cities: Sustaining the Spirit. As we approach Oregon’s 150th birthday, which has an emphasis on sustaining the spirit that makes our state so great and unique, and our interest in making our environment secure and our cities more livable, the City of Echo is issuing a challenge to all Oregon cities that are not now Tree City USA cities to become Tree Cities by 2009. Currently there are 45 Tree Cities in Oregon and the state forestry office would like to encourage at least “50 for 150.” At 705 people, Echo is currently Oregon’s smallest Tree City and we have been since 1989. Come on folks, if we can do it with our limited resources—so can you. We also challenge you to participate in a beautification/livability Program such as America in Bloom by the 150th Celebrations. Please let us know and the state Sesquicentennial committee if you are up to the challenge.
If your city takes Echo’s challenge, let us know! Oregon State Fair: 2009 Will Celebrate The Sesquicentennial!The Oregon State Fair has announced its theme for 2008 will be "The Best of Oregon," and the Oregon State Fair will celebrate Oregon's sesquicentennial in 2009. This year, the fair set a modern day record for single-day attendance, with 49,000 people on Sept. 1. State Fair Manager Dave Koellermeier said overall attendance for 2007 was up 2%, following a 10% increase in 2006 over 2005. 
New Oregon 150 Brochure Available OnlineDownload Oregon 150’s early birthday invitation here. Proposed Sesquicentennial Program to Preserve Oregon’s State SymbolsA proposed sesquicentennial project is being developed between the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) with possible contribution by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The proposed grant program would focus on Oregon's symbols: the Western Meadowlark, Beaver, and Chinook Salmon. OWEB staff is proposing that $1 million be dedicated to fund grants to restore habitat for Oregon's natural symbols. ODFW would provide staff for the effort, select the projects, and oversee implementation. A decision by the OWEB board should be made toward the end of September. Please call the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, (503) 986-0182, with any questions. Birthdays in 2009The year 1859 was a big one. Not only did Oregon achieve statehood, but many businesses were founded, including the Northwest Natural Gas Company. In 1859~
In 2009~
Looking back at the last time our state celebrated its statehood -- our centennial celebration in 1959 – it’s interesting to note that the new Portland Zoo was opening as well as the Portland Airport; Interstate 5 on the east side of the Willamette was still under construction. If you are aware of other 1859 – or 1959 – Oregon milestones, email aschreiner@oregon150.org. We want to include you! Visit the Oregon History ProjectLink: www.ohs.org Curious about Oregon history? Visit The Oregon History Project, an online resource for learning about Oregon’s past. There, historians and writers help visitors explore the history of Oregon through the perspectives of the people who helped shape Oregon. Supported by a growing on-line archive of historical records from the Oregon Historical Society collections, the Oregon History Project focuses on the themes and regions important to Oregon, and provides a sense of the diverse people and events that make up the history of Oregon. Read historical narratives and biographies, search through sources from the Oregon Historical Society Research Library and Collections, or visit the Learning Center for digitized lesson plans, guidelines for teaching with primary sources, and interpretive essays. Send your feedback to orhist@ohs.org .
First Lady Mary Oberst Recognized For Work On The Kam Wah Chung & Co. MuseumBoard member Mary Oberst, who is also Oregon’s First Lady, was recently honored by the Oregon State Parks Trust (OSPT) for her work in raising $1.5 million to restore the Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum in John Day. Dave Eshbaugh (OSPT executive director) and Ted Herzog (OSPT board chair) presented Oberst with a scrap of original wallpaper from a bedroom in the museum, beautifully framed. Oberst’s fundraising campaign committee for the Kam Wah Chung museum included three people who are now serving on the Oregon 150 board: Barbara Sidway, Lee Weinstein, and Norm Locke. Oregon 150 Board Visits Salem’s Mission Mill Museum For Its October MeetingMembers of the Oregon 150 board of directors will meet at Salem’s Mission Mill Museum on October 10th from 2:45-4:00 pm. The Mission Mill Museum interprets the history of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill - designated an American Treasure by the National Park Service - which produced wool products from 1889 to 1962 and represents one of Oregon’s earliest and strongest industries. Mission Mill also interprets the history of Jason Lee's Methodist Mission to Oregon, which settled in the Willamette Valley in 1834 before the major Oregon Trail migrations. The museum’s two histories are shared with visitors through individual and group tours, interpretation, speakers, living history, children’s programs, hands-on activities, special events, the museum store and rental facilities. A direct link to this newsletter is available at www.oregon150.org. |
