OLCV - Love Oregon / Love the Earth

Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 4 to 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5090 Center St. NE, in Salem: Annual fundraiser for the Marioon County Chapter of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. Featuring Keynote Speaker Ryan Lambert, from Solar Nation, Inc.; Local Willamette Valley Wine, Cheese & Chocolate; and a special screening of Frank Capra's 1956 Classroom Classic "Our Mr. Sun." Click to Read More...

April 10, 2010: Rural Caucus & Strategy Session

Every Spring the members and leaders of the Rural Organizing Project come together from every corner of the state to reflect on our last year and strategize for our next. This year, the Rural Caucus & Strategy Session will be on Saturday, April 10th in Albany. Pull out your calendars and circle this date now and be a part of the planning for Hometown Strategies for Democratic Economies!

The ROP Rural Caucus & Strategy Session is an opportunity to step back from the day to day of our local organizing. It gives us a chance to reflect on what we are seeing locally, across Oregon and nationally. It brings together your peers from every part of the state to discuss what is working for us locally, what is not, and how we want to shape our collective statewide organizing through ROP. As we work hard in these last few weeks for Measures 66 and 67, let's also plan for this opportunity to come together and re-energize ourselves. Regardless of election outcomes, we know we are going to need it.

As Rich Mires, of Crook County says, "My new friends gave me a shot in the arm. After visiting with our senators and representatives in the Capital [at the 2009 Caucus], I realized that I had a job to do in my community. I had recently submitted an application to serve on the Crook County School District budget committee. With the adrenaline still pumping, I was now armed to go back home and get to work. I was appointed to the committee later that evening."

If you need that "shot in the arm"- mark your calendar today for April 10th in Albany. Email cara@rop.org to let us know whether or not you think you can make it, and who will be representing your group this year. (And to receive a registration form!)

Past Event: Martin Luther King Jr. Observance, 2010

Monday January 18 - Rolling Hills Bakery Cafe: Another successful MLK Event for the Silverton People for Peace! We watched two excellent video documentaries of the African-American experience in Oregon. "Local Color" (60 Minutes) and "Beatrice Morrow Cannady" (30 Minutes). A surprise guest was former Oregon Secretary of State and Gubernatorial candidate Bill Bradbury and entourage.

Special thanks to Molly and Rolling Hills Bakery for hosting after-hours!

SPFP Peace & Justice Booth

Past Event: Homer Davenport Days, 2009

The Silverton People for Peace once again hosted our Peace Booth during Silverton's original summer festival, Homer Davenport Days. Starting the First Friday in August, we have become another "Homer Days Tradition!" The Saturday morning Homer Days Parade once again, saw the SPFP Giant Peace Dove descended upon the town and make an appearance. We were joined by our brothers and sisters from Salem and Corvallis! As well as the "usual suspects" here in Silverton.

Poetry at Rolling Hills Bakery
Dan Fleishman & Claudia Berman
read a poem by Langston Hughes

Past Event: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 2009

Thanks of all who attended our sixth annual MLK Observance and thanks especially to those who contributed in one way or another, especially Ann, Virginia and Art, Greg, Gus, our two "surprise" readers, Dan Fleishman and Claudia Berman, and of course, Molly for opening up Rolling Hills Bakery for the night! Thanks also to the Silverton Appeal-Tribune for including a good notice, and although I didn't get a chance to see it, I suspect by the out-of-towners, thanks to the Statesman as well.

The evening got off to a great start, as we ran out of chairs! Always a good sign. We literally had a full house. After racing home, several folks grabbed chairs from their dining rooms, (another benefit of small-town living - many of us are close to downtown). Robert's trusty sound system, veteran of many a march, once again served us well for our readings. This was followed by an excellent documentary about the life and works of Dr. King. All in all, a successful event, and great prelude to the events on the following day!

Past Event: March and Rally at the Capitol - 2009

This year's march and rally took place Sunday, March 15 in Salem, at the State Capitol. Dozens of peace and social justice organizations across the state marched through the streets of Salem to call for an end to the US war in Iraq and to urge Oregon State legislators to stop the Spring deployment of the National Guard to Iraq.

The action, titled "Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad: Keep Oregon's Guard Home from Iraq and Afghanistan" kicked off with a rally at the steps of the Capitol, followed by a march through downtown Salem. The timing corresponds with the Rural Organizing Project's Annual Rural Caucus & Strategy Session which is held March 15th and 16th in Salem. The ROP gathering included a statewide strategic session on Sunday, March 15th, taking place before and continuing after the peace march and rally, and a legislative visit day on Monday, the 16th, with the goal of informing legislators of Oregon's priorities for the 2009 legislature. Thanks to all who showed up! We received excellent front-page coverage in the Silverton Appeal-Tribune weekly, as well as a Letter to the Editor comment about our activities. Read our replies, Here.