The drive to Fort Rock turned out to be fine. After twenty minutes, the roads dried out and the sun shone brilliantly. The TWST Tour rolled into the Fort Rock Valley Historical Homestead Museum for our last stop.







Fort Rock has an impressive and long history. The world’s oldest shoe, a 9,000-year-old sandal, was found in 1938 at nearby Fort Rock Cave by archeologist Luther Cressman. It also has a rich Native American and Homestead history, all of which is on display at the museum.

Although Fort Rock was our smallest meeting, it was by far the liveliest. We had a free flowing discussion that touched on a number of topics that included basic information on MMT’s grant application process to questions about specific projects (renovating the grange, refurbishing a Forest Service camp to provide accommodations for birders coming to the area.)

After our discussion, we toured the impressive Homestead Museum where we learned about the colorful characters that inhabited Fort Rock. We toured Dr. Thom’s office, St. Rose’s Church (where people still get married), the one room schoolhouse, and several residences, including the impressive Belletable House, which was one of the largest in the area.











We would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Ronnie Lindsay for guiding us through Lake County. Ronnie was a tremendous help and always had interesting questions for us no matter how many times she heard our presentation. Ronnie, I hope we don’t see that tub of cream puffs ever again!

We can’t thank the communities of Klamath and Lake Counties enough and we hope to see you all soon.

Eric Jones
Sally Yee

The TWST Tour stopped at the Paisley school, which serves 83 K-12 students from Paisley and Summer Lake. We met Superintendent Mark Jeffrey, who gave us a tour of the school and the Meyer funded radio station.











The low wattage radio station broadcasts unique programming to the town of Paisley and the surrounding area with student and resident DJ’s, like Ducky--The Voice of the Valley. One lucky student even got to interview Governor Kulongoski!







We met in the school cafeteria with 14 folks attending. They represented the school district, the rodeo ground, 4-H and the Paisley town council. The main topic of conversation centered on recent discussions the community has been having about renovating the rodeo grounds. They would like to upgrade the facilities and build baseball fields. The discussion brought up several interesting issues, including one that has come up several times during our tour: whether MMT will support multiple proposals from one organization. The Trust’s policy is that we will not accept multiple proposals from one organization, but once the Trustees have approved a request, that organization may apply for another project. Keep in mind however, that the second proposal will be assessed in context of the other proposal and whether the applicant has the capacity to carry out both projects.

Without fail, there were desserts (cream puffs and cookies) and a warm reception. We would like to thank the town of Paisley and if you are driving through the area turn the dial to 103.1 KPAI to hear Ducky spin old-school country hits!



On to Christmas Valley



We drove to Christmas Valley, dropped our stuff at the Lake Terrace Motel and headed off to meet the dedicated staff at the new North Lake Health Clinic. We toured the impressive facility that provides basic health services and limited urgent care. The health clinic is staffed by a nurse practitioner and a physician’s assistant. The clinic’s medical director visits the site twice a month. They also provide massage therapy, acupuncture, counseling and meeting space for community groups. They are currently in the process of bringing dental care to Christmas Valley. This clinic offers a model for integrated primary health care that other communities, especially rural communities, may be interested in replicating.







Christmas Valley was named for pioneer stockman Peter Christman, who grazed his cattle in the area. In 1961, real estate developer, M. Penn Phillips, laid out a town site and promoted lots to young would-be farmers in California. He arranged bus tours and free flights to Christmas Valley’s airstrip and put visitors up at the Christmas Valley Lodge. The lots were mostly sold, but many of the buyers never moved to the area. The town is home to about 1,000 residents today.

After touring the health clinic, we headed for the Community Center to set up for the meeting. Eleven people came to the meeting from several local organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, the Stagerat Players, the Outback Retirement Center, the Christmas Valley Boosters and the Tumbleweed Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market.







We had a healthy discussion about capital projects and the importance of local support for nonprofit organizations. We also explained that the Trust does not fund Chambers of Commerce, but would welcome projects in which the chamber is a partner.

Yet again, we were treated to local baked goods. This time it was banana bread and apricot bread…yum. A blanket of snow that covered the ground and our cars greeted us as we left the Community Center. That should make for an interesting drive to Fort Rock in the morning!

The discussion and questions were wide ranging. One question that also came up in Chiloquin was whether MMT would support multiple projects (capital and service delivery) from the same community at the same time. While there is no restriction on multiple organizations applying simultaneously, the Trust would like to know that applicants are aware of what the other organizations are doing, and that there is collaboration—rather than duplication—for similar projects. For multiple large capital projects, it might be advantageous to prioritize the projects and let us know that each project is important to the community, and the agencies are working together.

Thank you K Falls! We were overwhelmed by your hospitality and designer cookies. If you are in need of some great bakery items for your next event, check out the WoodShack Bakery’s website!

On To Malin!

From Klamath Falls we head south through fields of onions and hay to the community of Malin. Founded in 1909 by Czechoslovakian immigrants, Malin is primarily a farming community. We met at the Community Center, which had been a dairy (as evidenced by the sloping floors) before the community renovated it to be home to the library and community meeting space. The Community Center also houses an impressive collection of Czechoslovakian cultural items from the town’s history.







Another source of pride for Malin is its impressive park located next to the Community Center. We learned about a number of exciting projects the community is planning to further enhance the park, including adding a slide to the pool or building a bandshell.







About 10 folks attended the meeting, including the Mayor of Malin. The organizations that were represented included the Malin parks department, Try Unity, and an organization that utilizes horses to treat children. We had a great discussion about funding for government agencies, such as parks, and what makes a good proposal.
The Malin meeting makes three straight gatherings with representation from the Humane Society, or animal welfare organizations, and we thought that this would be a good time to remind you about MMT’s policy. At the moment, the Trust does not fund Humane Society’s or animal welfare organizations. We would, however, consider a project in which animals are part of therapy or treatment.
Thank you to the city of Malin for spending your time with us and introducing us to chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting… no, really.

We met at the Sprague Community Center, which opened in 1986 and serves as the nonprofit hub for the community. The Lions Club, Lionesses, Homemakers, the Calvary Christian Fellowship and many other groups hold their meetings here.







Upon entering the Community Center, we quickly realized that our limited snack offerings (water, chips and brownies) paled in comparison to the variety of homemade goodies brought by everyone attending the TWST. Brownies, scones, cinnamon rolls, cookies and coffee, covered the Community Center’s tables.
We had amazing turnout for the meeting. Overall, 26 individuals from Sprague River, Bly and Beatty filled the Community Center’s chairs (purchased with a grant from MMT). Many of those in attendance represented more than one organization and most were active in multiple groups. We wondered what they did in their free time!











High on the list of issues important to the group was providing safe activities for Sprague River’s youth. Since there is no school in Sprague River, most of the students are bused to Chiloquin or Bonanza or are home schooled so finding safe constructive activities for them outside of school is important. Other issues that emerged were recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, watershed restoration, services for seniors, and assistance for low-income residents.

We greatly appreciate to hospitality of everyone in Sprague River and their willingness to share about their community and the great work they are doing. When we visit again we will be sure to bring our fly rod and go for some big trout!

We now follow the Sprague River 25 miles northwest to the town of Chiloquin. See you there!

The drive from Sprague River to Chiloquin follows the spectacular Sprague River. We arrived at our next meeting spot; the beautiful new MMT-supported Chiloquin Community Center where we immediately noticed the amazing mural across from the Community Center. The mural was painted by local youth and depicts the history of the area from its Native American roots through the present day.







We met Chuck Well, who gave us a tour of the Community Center. The Center, which was completed in 2005, houses the Chiloquin Branch Library, the Two Rivers Village Arts Gallery, an office for Klamath County Community Corrections, and a substation of the Klamath County Sheriff. It also provides office space for a number of social services agencies including the Klamath County Health Department’s Women, Infants, and Children program, Klamath Youth Development Center, and Klamath Alcohol and Drug Abuse counseling program.







We had another incredible turnout for our meeting. A number of local organizations were represented including Chiloquin Visions in Progress, the Food Pantry, Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance District, The Humane Society, the Klamath and Western Railroad, Inc., and the Klamath Tribe Economic Development Corporation. We learned about various working groups and projects of Chiloquin Visions in Progress, a community effort to prioritize project that contribute to the overall health of the community.

The group in Chiloquin noted some of the same issues that were important to the folks in Sprague River, such as youth activities and services to seniors. Some of the other issues we learned about in Chiloquin were economic development and business retention.

We would like to thank everyone in Chiloquin who made our visit, although brief, a memorable experience.

Before heading to Cloverdale, we spent part of the day at the new Tillamook County Library, a beautiful space with tons of natural light, bright murals, and Wi-Fi. It was a pretty busy place, especially the computer area where patrons appeared appreciative of Internet access.

We made a detour to the Blue Heron French Cheese Company for lunch (turkey, brie, and cranberry panini – yum-o!). We didn’t have time to check out the petting zoo, but did make a quick tour of the shop; Sally was pleased to come away the proud new owner of crab-shaped pasta. Who comes up with these things?

Our Cloverdale meeting was held at the new Nestucca High School, which is perched high on a hill with an awesome view. We were happy to have Shelley Hanson, executive director of the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, participate in the conversation.

About 15 people joined us, coming from Cloverdale, Pacific City, Hebo, Neskowin, Tillamook, and Manzanita. Like our previous stops, we were impressed as many folks listed off the multiple organizations and community projects in which they are involved. This was also the first group we’ve met with that brought props to the meeting!

We had a great discussion. Two themes emerging from this group were needs related to children (e.g. child care, afterschool care, recreation, and schools) and emergency preparedness. We heard about the budget challenges facing the Nestucca School District and got a construction update on the Meyer-supported Cedar Creek Child Care Center. Folks told us about the importance of emergency preparedness given the area’s storms, floods, tsumani concerns, and limited road access. Seems that one good storm can leave some coastal communities isolated for days. Other needs that came up related to mental health, recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, and services for seniors.

It was a nice evening and a perfect ending to our tour! Thanks to all of you who came out to meet with us on such a beautiful Friday evening.

We would be remiss if we didn’t take a minute to thank Marlene and Donna from the Tillamook County Children and Families Commission. They have been gracious hosts in arranging meeting locations, getting the word out, and organizing impressive displays of refreshments. Many thanks to you both for your assistance and hospitality! And thanks also to Lane, Dia, Marie, and Nanc for your help with this tour.

What a great trip we’ve had. Thanks to Tillamook County and Spirit Mountain Community Fund for joining us in three great days of conversation.

Until next time,
Sally Yee & Candy Solovjovs

Our tour has two stops in Tillamook. We were happy that Louis King, program officer with the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, could join us for both.

At noon, about 30 people gathered in the awesome community meeting room in the Tillamook County 911 Center (the purple walls and coastal photos were very cool!). A smaller crowd joined us in the late afternoon at the beautiful Oregon Forestry Center. We have to say how impressed we are with these community meeting rooms - we know these are a treasure in rural Oregon.

No surprise, the loss of timber payments and, with winter approaching, flooding concerns are big issues currently on this community’s mind. Basic needs such as living wage jobs, childcare, transportation, affordable housing, and hunger are also major challenges facing Tillamook. Echoing our earlier stop in the north county, access to arts and culture and local food systems are also hot issues.

We heard, both here and in Nehalem, about the blessings and challenges of the area’s recent growth. As the area has grown, the community is finding itself stretched to maintain the quality of life that has attracted so many tourists and second-homeowners. We also learned more about the challenges of engaging the area’s many part-time residents as community members and contributors to the work of local nonprofits. Another reminder that maintaining great quality of life doesn’t just happen and how important it is to be involved in community!

It was a treat to meet the people involved in the nonprofits Meyer and Spirit Mountain have partnered with over the years - and the many, many others who are doing such important work here. We were also inspired hearing about unique community collaborations such as Friday Brown Bag where junior high students work with the Regional Food Bank and the Salvation Army to distribute sack lunches to the hungry and cultivate community involvement among the next generation.

On a more personal note . . . we must confess that we are foodies, and we were looking for some local advice about where to catch a bite. Good advice should be shared, so next time you are in Tillamook, try the awesome sandwiches at The Blue Moon Café in downtown Tillamook across the street from the Pioneer Museum. Who knows? We might go back tomorrow for those awesome-looking scones.

Several well-informed locals directed us to Oceanside for dinner and we have to say that the crab cakes and Marionberry cobbler at Roseanna’s Café did not disappoint! And how about that sunset view??





There sure is a lot to like about Tillamook – we think we’re really beginning to understand why people are so enthusiastic about living here!

See you at the next stop!
Sally Yee & Candy Solovjovs

Luckily, we arrived a few minutes early so we had a chance to take in the beautiful river view from the Nehalem dock and poke around the shops lining the highway. If you get a chance, we recommend that you duck into Nehalem Harbor Clothing and Gifts and check out the great black and white photos of Oregon from the early 1900s (the homemade fudge looked pretty good, too).

But, back to our tour. . . We are adding a new twist to this TWST (two-way street tour). Our colleagues from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund are joining us and we can’t be more pleased.

Shelley Hanson, director of SMCF joined us in Nehalem and sums up our experience well:

“Who would have thought that the tidy little coastal town of Nehalem would have so much energy and enthusiasm! We had 28 dedicated community members, and many of them are volunteers, that attended our session. It was exhilarating to see the level of community spirit and commitment in the room. I enjoyed seeing the number of projects in the area that are underway to better the lives of local coastal residents. My hats are off to all of you for your vision and hard work.”

We couldn’t agree more. The 28 people joining us came from Nehalem, Wheeler, Manzanita, and as faraway as Astoria. One thing that clearly stood out in this group was that organizations have been busy planning and working together. People came with some very specific ideas about how they might partner with Meyer Memorial Trust and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund.

Issues of sustainability –food, land, economic development - were front and center in our conversations. Affordable housing, health care and access to arts and culture are also concerns in these communities. Many folks spoke to particular challenge of funding the North County Recreation District and its central role in this community. We also got some great questions about our respective grant-making programs and processes.

We appreciated the opportunity to connect with people here and experience the distinct flavor of north Tillamook County. Thanks so much for taking the time to meet with us and for the friendly welcome to your community.

See you at the next stop!
Candy Solovjovs & Sally Yee & Shelley Hanson

We had strong attendance at this meeting from representatives of the area’s educational institutions, from individual public schools, the school district, a charter school, as well as the local high school’s ASPIRE program, which seeks to prepare students to attend college. As Meyer doesn’t fund single school projects per se, we discussed what we do fund--projects specifically targeted to special need and/or high need populations and district-wide projects that provide enriched services to students. This strong showing from educational organizations, both paid staff and volunteers, tells us that this community really values its youth. One teacher even showed up very briefly (and slightly out of breath) between her classes to introduce herself and her project to provide support services for struggling students. Now that’s dedication!

We heard again about the overarching issue of health care access, even for those who have health insurance. The lack of available medical providers makes health care access much more than an income issue for smaller rural communities. Most of the few existing providers are not taking new patients, and even if you have a provider, the wait for an appointment can stretch up to six months. We also heard again about the need for workforce housing in addition to the need for low-income housing. Those making middle-class wages still struggle to afford rents in the area and can’t even begin to consider purchasing a house.

We fielded a lot of questions about how small, volunteer-run organizations fit into Meyer’s giving preferences: Do we look at these small organizations in the same way we look at larger, staff-run organizations? This topic led to a discussion of the importance of board development regardless of the size of your organization and a principle area Meyer will look at no matter how big an organization is. Do board members understand their roles? Are they so busy volunteering to run the organization that they’re not spending enough time as a group planning for and overseeing the work of the organization to meet its mission?

Gerry Livingston from the Wild Rivers Community Foundation, which serves Curry and Del Norte counties, expressed strong interest in partnering with Meyer and other foundations to provide more technical assistance to local nonprofit organizations, and they will be developing a resource lending library similar to the one provided by Ford Family Foundation. This gave us another chance to plug our new colleague, Barbara Bauder from Oregon Community Foundation’s new Coos Bay office. In fact, this group was quite interested in networking with each other to the point of orchestrating a five-minute break so they could connect the dots among their organizations (and eat a few of those delicious muffins). Some of the networking lasted well beyond the conclusion of the meeting, reinforcing to us that the real power and knowledge lies inside communities themselves, and sometimes they just need an assist in gathering themselves together in one place long enough to connect.

Our last stop before the long drive back to Portland (in the brilliant sunshine—and just so you know, it’s raining again in Portland) was for a delicious lunch at Rancho Viejo Mexican Restaurant. Almost made us not want to leave….so that means we will be back!

Signing off for now,

Sally and Kim

The Garden consists of nine raised beds, and its purpose is to demonstrate how residents of Port Orford can grow some of their own fresh food year-round. Two different neighbors across the street from the garden were so impressed that they started their own raised beds after studying how Jennifer constructed the beds at the demonstration garden. Jennifer hopes to spread the word about growing healthy food throughout Port Orford and perhaps partner with area food banks in the future to help people in need access fresh food and experience healthier diets.

What we learned from our meeting in Port Orford, where 15 nonprofit representatives took time to attend, ask great questions, and share insights, is that these people wear A LOT of hats at one time, a common occurrence in Oregon’s rural communities. One woman wore about six hats and still had the energy to attend our meeting and connect with her nonprofit colleagues. We were exhausted just listening to all the organizations she listed during the introductions!

An even smaller number of hands went up when we asked how many had applied to Meyer in the past (only five). Again, of those who applied, the majority received grants, so we did our best to answer as many questions as possible to help demystify the grant application process. And did these people have great questions! The first question was the most basic: How do we get money??? We then learned that some residents have issues with online applications because they don’t have access to DSL and still must rely on dial-up service for Internet access. What if you have to call your bookkeeper while you’re filling out the financial information online and your phone line is tied up by the application? A very good question.

Others told us that it would be nice to preview the entire application (through a preview function) so they could see all the information they will need to answer in advance, specifically the financial information (so they could talk to that bookkeeper in advance). Others want to be able to print out drafts of their application while it’s in process as they move around from location to location while they work on it (remember all those hats?). This group really focused on the specifics of the application process. While we don’t know if we can address all of these issues, we really appreciated the detailed feedback and will pass it along to our wizards at MMT who might be able to address these issues (or might not), but we’ll keep you posted.

We had only a small window of time to scoot down the coast to Gold Beach where we held our afternoon session at the Educational Service District offices, with our gracious host Myrna Barber, Executive Director of the Curry County Commission on Children and Families. About 18 people showed up from around the Gold Beach area, with the prize for distance traveled going to the representative from Southern Oregon Girl Scouts, based in Medford.

This group really took advantage of making connections with one another, and we welcomed 81-year-old community volunteer Jeanne Gamnell, who told us she lives seven months of the year in a tent for the U.S. Forest Service, “doing whatever needs doing,” including cleaning toilets! That made us all sit up straight and pay attention. No complaints about lacking energy or being tired from this group, not after listening to Jeanne.

Once again, we heard about the struggles of many community residents to find family wage employment that can pay wages to cover housing and other costs. This part of Curry County is becoming a haven for people looking to retire or live in a setting of exquisite natural beauty and fairly mild climate. Such an influx helps strengthen general livability for those who have resources, but makes life difficult for those who work in the service economy. Yet several attendees reinforced the importance of grassroots fundraising, even in seemingly distressed communities. People want to give and will give when asked. One woman cautioned that we shouldn’t assume what people’s level of giving will be in advance. It’s important to ask and let them determine what they can afford to give. And we might be pleasantly surprised.

A strong echo from earlier community meetings was the importance of public libraries in these rural towns, as sources of enlightenment, as gathering places for the community, particularly for seniors and youth, and as beacons of hope and progress that these communities can survive and perhaps thrive once again. We drove past or met in libraries in virtually every town we visited (the meeting tomorrow is in the Chetco Public Library in Brookings), and, after the meeting, we were given the grand tour of the newly constructed library in Gold Beach, where director, Gil Chavez, told us about the amazing level of public support that went into that campaign. The new library is set to open its doors in late June, and boy is this community excited!

We also stopped by to visit Jami Roybal and her colleagues at Christian Help of Gold Beach, recent recipient of Meyer grants to help renovate parts of the Thrift Store and Food Bank. Members at the community meeting called Christian Help the angels of the community for all the emergency and social service assistance they provide to people in extreme need.

Finally, Pat Barnett, one of the women in the group who wore several hats, including long-time volunteer for the local food bank, invited us to visit the Jetty Cats site just north of town. We had to break the news to her that Meyer doesn’t fund animal welfare groups, but no matter. She told us to visit just for the experience of seeing what dedicated volunteers do for stray cats in Brookings. They’ve build a miniature coastal town for the cats, and volunteers come out to feed and water them, get them medical attention and shots, spay and neuter them, and try to find them adoptive homes. Several members at the community meeting had adopted Jetty Cats. We never cease to be amazed at the resourcefulness, compassion, and commitment members of these communities have for both their fellow human and animal residents.

Next stop, Brookings….
Sally Yee & Kim Thomas

As we prepared for the meeting at the Coos Bay Library, we and our host, Judy McMakin, from the Coos County Commission on Children and Families, were pleasantly surprised, astonished really, at the large turnout—almost 70 people representing nonprofits throughout the Coos Bay/North Bend area (and a few beyond the Bay area)! This was one of those meetings were the time spent on introductions was significant but well worth it as we learned about the wide variety of groups in attendance, from the City of Lakeside to Klamath Common Ground (an all-volunteer group, represented by a passionate and articulate fisherman, whose work stretches across several counties as they seek consensus on contentious water and fishing issues) to Grandparents Rock to government representatives to city and county commissioners. Such a large group could have easily overwhelmed two meager Meyer representatives were it not for their desire to learn all they could about Meyer Memorial Trust as well as provide us with a picture of life in Coos County. And they asked some great questions, such as

“How much is too much?”
“How much should a grant application weigh” (referring to how much information to include with an application)?
“How do all-volunteer organizations raise other community support?”
“What role should board members, who are also those key volunteers, play?”

A minority of hands went up when we asked how many had applied for a Meyer grant in the past (around 10), but the good news is that of those who applied, most had received grants. And some wonderful connections happened: We had a new colleague join us—Barbara Bauder, hired by Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) to staff their new office in Coos Bay. As we discussed the need for more technical assistance training for nonprofits outside the Portland metro area, Barbara announced that OCF and Technical Assistance for Community Services (TACS) will be hosting a joint training for area nonprofits in May. Cindy Beding from the Coos County Fairgrounds volunteered to research and help organize a “webinar” at a public place like the library, where several groups could pool resources to purchase technical assistance training via the web.

While the County has seen its hard times economically (affecting the level of charitable giving in the county) and still faces daunting challenges with loss of federal timber funding, those in attendance would no longer accept the negative image often portrayed of their county. One member felt as if the Coos Bay area was at a turning point—people want to work and live there and much of the city looks better. Another member mentioned the fact that Coos County recently had the highest percentage of high school graduates going to community college, and Coos County Commissioner Nikki Whitty mentioned the strong public support for projects in Coos County, such as restoration of the Egyptian Theatre (used by the Oregon Music Festival), and the Dora Community Center, which has raised over $1 million. The meeting ended on the comment that in Coos Bay, “We don’t dream big enough, but we really can do amazing things here.” Seeing close to 70 people leave the library, we had to agree. What an amazing show of community strength and support!

Our next stop was Bandon, Oregon, a quieter beach town that provided another spectacular sunny afternoon for these rain-weary Portlanders.

While we didn’t have a whole lot of time for lunch between community meetings, we did have time to stop at the Cranberry Shoppe and purchase Sally’s favorite candy, a strange concoction called chocolate licorice.

This community meeting at the Bandon Library was once again hosted by the amazing Judy McMakin (shown here with Sally Yee) who managed to turn out another record crowd, close to 50 people representing all types of nonprofit and government organizations. And once again, one of the best parts of the meeting was the introductions. A friendly competition for attendance broke out between representatives of the Bandon Swimming Pool Project and the Lakeside Library Foundation.

When asked how many had applied for Meyer grants in the past, a small number of hands went up (less than 10), but, again, of those who applied, most had received grants--more evidence that connecting Meyer with rural communities is critically important. This group expressed a lot of interest in organizational capacity building, wondering what does capacity building look like in small organizations, how do organizations in small towns find new board members, and how do they find someone who will work hard for them but who isn’t already on three other boards?

One of the biggest concerns expressed in this group was the need to generate affordable housing, specifically workforce housing for those earning lower to middle incomes who are providing basic supports for the community—teachers, law enforcement officers, service industry workers. It was also clear that public infrastructure projects such as swimming pools, libraries, parks and other quality-of-life improvements were critically important but hard to fund, given all the financial pressures on rural cities and counties. We had a spirited discussion about how philanthropic dollars can support and leverage other funding for public projects and how communities can build a base of individual and business support for these projects, even during hard economic times.

Once again, as we watched over 50 passionate, engaged people file out of the Bandon Library, we felt a high level of community strength and a can-do spirit to improve the quality of life in Coos and Curry counties.

Until the next stop...
Kim Thomas and Sally Yee

Our largest turn out on the tour; we shared time with 39 individuals from the surrounding areas. When asked to “share some of the things you love about living here,” it is obvious that the welcoming community and beautiful landscapes win every time. The large group setting allowed individuals to network but also brought to light the common concerns and struggles that exist within Josephine County.

Many of the organizations are already operating within partnerships to address poverty, equal access to quality education, libraries and programming central to the community, including the environment. The Clean Forest Project is busy working to keep the area clean. They have partnered with the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service to organize cleanups, education programs within the schools and increased community awareness. While the illegal dumping in forest and back roads continues, this group is hopeful that with increased capacity they will be in the position to expand the work and continue to keep Josephine County a place that residents love.

Education also remains as a high priority. There were several representatives from various schools present with great concern for the public school system and one individual from a local Christian school. The concerns are timely and relevant and while our K-12 strategic initiative is not immediately addressing the problems for individual schools in this community, we believe Meyer's education initiative will impact the entire state. This news did not discourage the groups in attendance but challenged them to continue pressing for opportunities in the now, to increase resources for the children in their schools.

Overall this segment of the TWST allowed us to connect with a handful of the organizations who have received funding from the Trust over the years. The tour also allowed us to meet groups who look forward to the opportunity to submit a proposal to the Trust. We definitely felt challenged by the numerous questions and scenarios posed but all and all we were honored by the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and to experience the passion and determination they have to improve quality of life within their communities.

We have one more thing to share. On our way out of town we passed by the art deco styled Rogue Theatre that is now a performing arts music center that showcases national, regional and local artists.

Good-bye for now to the Rogue River and its beautiful Valley; the journey home will be long, with no regret for time well spent…

-Kim Sheng & Sally Yee

Tucked between Medford and Ashland, Talent was our last stop in Jackson County. It has a population of 5,589 and was incorporated in 1910, but was homesteaded by early settlers in 1852.

There were 33 individuals in attendance at the Talent meeting, some of whom were representing multiple groups. We found the diversity and complexity among the projects the groups are taking on to be astounding. In a group setting of this size, it is often difficult to address everyone’s questions; in this instance many of the groups voiced similar concerns making the process beneficial for most everyone in attendance.

We met in Talent at the Community Center, which is adjacent to the new library and the Talent Museum and Historical Society. The positioning of these three buildings tells a story of their own; the Museum building is actually the old library—history in the making. One of the individuals in attendance at the meeting is a" Friend of the Talent Library" and board member for the “Historical Society". With assistance from the Meyer Memorial Trust, the library was built and opened its doors a year ago, but faced closure two weeks later due to the loss of key funds.

The Talent community was the third community in Jackson County to share their concerns regarding the status of the Libraries due to the loss of ONC funding. The library reduced operation hours to 16 per week as a result of losing the ONC funds. Talent has since been successful in passing a library ballot that has reaped in the financial support to extend the library hours from 16 to 36. What we have seen is that the libraries in southern Oregon are much more than a place to come read. Libraries are often the center of the community and a place where people can come and interact with one another. The Talent library is representative of this, with a park nestled between the library and museum, this hub serves a great purpose in the community. It is not clear to us if the Jackson County system consist of 13 or 15 libraries, we have received conflicting accounts, but what is clear is that the system as a whole can not function properly if the branches can’t find an inclusive and sustainable solution to the funding challenges they all face.

The dialogue for sustainable community programs began well before our arrival; it will be interesting to see where these discussions land.

Cave Junction

We have left Applegate Valley and are now heading west through the beautiful Illinois Valley to get to Cave Junction. The roads are lined with amazing Madrone trees. These trees shed their bark and, depending on the season, they reveal a green or rusty orange underlining. We photographed one earlier in the week in Ruch, and learned today that, “the Madrone only grows where it wants to grow."

Cave Junction is a scenic, small town of 1,225 residents about 30 miles southwest of Grants Pass. Cave Junction is considered the "Home of the Oregon Caves". Visitors come from around the world travel to the Illinois Valley to see the unique geologic phenomena.

We arrived at the Illinois Valley Family Coalition with no time to spare: translation we were late. In fact, JanTaylor, the Community Mobilization Director at the United Way of Jackson County, started the meeting for us. I need to do a little bird walk here to explain that Jan attended this meeting in Josephine County because the United Way of Josephine County has closed and services will now be provided from Jan’s office to both counties. Back to our meeting.

There were 14 in attendance at this gathering and like the other meetings we quickly learned that many of the people around the table wear multiple hats in the community. Although the projects vary greatly, it is interesting to note that the majority of the organizations either engaged or affect youth in their programming and outreach. Over the course of our conversation we learned that there are very limited resources for youth in Cave Junction. This creates a constant challenge to keep youth engaged but also to identify appropriate activities, with little funding. We learned that the Boys and Girls Club has been instrumental in serving youth in the community, whereas the Illinois Valley Headstart has provided resources for younger children.

Thanks for following along with us on the road! We have more stops in much more of Oregon to come!
- Kim Sheng and Sally Yee

Tuesday morning we headed westward in search of the Ruch Library. Our journey took us through Jacksonville, a town that sprang up during the 1850’s gold rush. It is a registered national landmark with a restored downtown that maintains a mining town feel, but today those streets are lined with small shops, such as the Country Quilt, that carry goods for the tourists and residents that support the local economy. We found the quilt shop’s mascot quite charming and thought we would share it with you.

Ruch is nestled in the Applegate Valley, home to a cluster of towns situated primarily along the Applegate River. It was a beautiful drive past farm fields, pastures, and rolling hillsides. It would have been fun to keep exploring but we were also eager to get to our next stop on our TWST.

In the entryway to the Ruch Library we found an amazing mosaic mural and got to meet the local artist, Marvin, when he came to our meeting. We had a lively conversation with a group of eight residents; Marvin is the one wearing that great woven hat.

These people came to share their concerns for community, progress, and preservation. Their organizations’ work included historical preservation, emerging therapies for mental health treatment, environmental protection, community development, and providing community voice through local newsprint.

We were happy to hear that most attendees had visited the MMT website, but only one individual had actually completed the on-line inquiry process. This was exciting news for us because our aim was to reach individuals who were new to the process and yet there was an experienced individual in the room to lend a different perspective. The size of the group made it possible to have deeper conversations and really get to the heart of the projects taking place in and around Ruch.

We also heard more stories of how individual residents of Jackson County take care of communities. When reduced funding for the public libraries threatened closure they made a difficult decision to bring in a new management team and reduce operating hours. The folks in Ruch and Applegate raised money and volunteered time to expand those hours. We sometimes don’t remember what a valuable resource libraries are to rural communities.

In a similar incident when the local school district announced plans to close the Ruch elementary school the residents took up the challenge and found a way to keep the school open. The community assisted in the expansion from a K-6th grade school to a K-8. Volunteer now staff much of the after-school activities. While much has been accomplished with the dedication of this team there is still much more to do.

United Way

The United Way of Medford hosted a funders meeting at the facility on Main Street, home of one of the largest Pez collection we have ever seen! The attendance was great and similar in size to the community meetings, allowing us to engage in thought provoking conversations about funding issues in Southern Oregon. Equally as important as variances in funding, we were able to discuss the reality of how MMT is perceived in the community by grantseekers and grantmakers.

An in-depth discussion ensued about the strategic planning process the Meyer Trustees conducted a year ago. The group appreciated the Trustee’s intent to assess MMT’s grantmaking impact and the designation of our three Strategic Initiatives, but the two-month pause in accepting grant applications created confusion and concern for the organizations. Although MMT never stopped making funding awards during that period, the perception in Southern Oregon communities was that our entire operation shut-down for two-months. Nonprofits groups worried about what MMT’s reorganizations would mean for them. Would we restrict funding to certain communities? Or, would we stop funding them completely? While it was difficult to hear that we caused so much distress, we realize that this is a necessary part of this process and have great respect for the area funders who fielded calls about the changes at MMT and were willing to speak with us honestly.

In sum, this stop on the TWIST underscored our need to get out into the field regularly with community organizations and local funders just to chat. This meeting validated many of the discussions we had at other TWST stops and demonstrated the pulse that area funders have on the heart issues that exist within Oregon as a whole. It was truly a privilege to meet with this group and engage in frank conversation about the role we all play in providing options for the people within the communities our organizations serve.

See you at the next stop…
-Kim Sheng & Sally Yee

The Upper Rogue Region is in the Northern part of Jackson County, Oregon where the Rogue River begins its journey from Crater Lake through the valley on its way to the Pacific Ocean. The Upper Rogue communities of Eagle Point, Lake Creek, Butte Falls, Shady Cove, Trail, Prospect and Historic Union Creek are clustered within a 100-mile radius.

This area has long been known for its salmon and steelhead fishing, river rafting, hiking and biking trails and even an eighteen-hole golf course. But the people who live here see small close-knit communities who have existed for generations or have formed by travelers who journeyed from elsewhere and made the Upper Rogue their home. People told us they loved the beauty of the landscape with its waterfalls, wildflowers, and wildlife. They like the friendly people, the diversity of the people, and the quietness that comes with rural living.

This is also a region with its challenges. The poverty rate is high with the median income for families at $37,800. Limited financial resources complicated access to quality healthcare professionals and services. There is a great need for English language literacy among immigrant residents to increase employment opportunities. The lack of jobs and job training coupled with cuts in federal and state funding has increased the numbers of youth who are identified as at risk, not to mention the number of families who are going hungry.

But, like the communities we talked with on our Eastern Oregon TWST stops, nonprofit groups work together to finds ways to better serve the folks who live here. Many of the representatives of the organizations, we met with, have partnered together to create a holistic approach to serving the area residents. An informal partnership between the Hispanic Learning Resource Center and the Literacy Center of Jackson County has enabled residents to work on developing their reading skills in conjunction with computer training, and in one instance preparation for GED testing. The organizations are so passionate about meeting the area needs, they are challenged by programming gaps, that they all work together to mend.

Seven of the nine people who joined us represented 14 nonprofit groups, including:

• Historical Society of Jackson County/Jackson County Historical District
• United Way of Jackson County
• Jackson County Community Service Consortium
• LADPC – Local Alcohol and Drug Treatment Plan for Jackson County
• Cascade Community Pool
• Upper Rogue Library Park
• Incorporation of White City
• White City Community Improvement Association
• Area Health Education Center of Southwest Oregon (Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties)
• Butte Falls Community School Partnership
• Capital Campaign for the Community Center
• Literacy Council of Jackson County
• Hispanic Learning Resource Center
• Hermano Program – Food Bank

See you at the next stop!
- Sally Yee & Kimberlee Sheng