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ROP staff and board members have put
together a five-year plan to help everyone stay
focused. The broad-based goals include:
• Build statewide power for democracy.
• Build local group capacity.
• Improve statewide database of activists
and supporters.
• Educate
members about
links among
oppressions, orga
nizing and power.
• Clarify the
membership structure
and roles.
• Break isolation
through communica
tion.
In addition, ROP lists 1
14 different objectives
that have grown from the
group’s mission and that
support its goals.
One of the key facets of
the organization’s work is the
communication process. It
isn’t easy keeping people in one
rural area in contact with others
across the state.
The group already has a
newsletter, The ROP Report; a
unique e-mail communication net
work, ROPNET; a monthly project
of short actions, Kitchen Table
Activism; and an annual conference, the Rural
Caucus and Strategy Session. Among the
objects. is to huild on those communication
systems already in place and make them better.
Another key objective for the group is find
ing a way to improve Oregon’s infrastructure
for addressing and preventing hate crimes.
ne of the key upcoming projects of
ROP affecting the gay and lesbian
community is “Decline to Sign,” which
counters the OCA’s attempts to gath
er enough signatures for yet another
anti-gay ballot initiative. A similar
campaign waged several years ago
was successful, and supporters
hope to prevent yet another divi
sive fight in 2002.
Other upcoming efforts
include “Project Fishbowl,” in
which ROP will coordinate
• local actions to expose politi
cians’ stands on issues. In
addition, the group hopes
to establish Anti-Bias Task
Forces in all Oregon
counties.
Westerling says
activists from through
out the state will
gather together for a
strategy session July
10 to discuss exact
ly what they don’t
want see on the 2002
ballot. “And if they don't
want to see it,” she notes, “what
are they willing to do to make sure they
don’t have to?”
O
None of that work ever would get done
without the support of those who believe in
ROP’s efforts. And like all nonprofit organi
zations, there is always a need for additional
assistance.
Westerling says ROP is seeking people who
are willing to say, “I support this, and I am will
ing to do this and this to make it happen.”
Maybe that means something as simple as stop
ping by the Scappoose office to mow the lawn
or work in the yard. (All of the plants, flowers
and mulch have been donated.)
“Maybe that’s saying, i have an hour a
month, and I will give it,’ ” Westerling says.
There is always a need for addition funds.
ROP receives money from a number of differ
ent sources, including state and national foun
dations, groups around the state and tax
deductible donations from individuals who
believe in the work that is being done. The
Denver-based Gill Foundation just awarded
$15,000 for general operating support during its
latest grant cycle in May.
Other suggestions Westerling has for those
who might wish to lend a hand include going
door to door and signing up 10 people to vote
or simply “being a responsible voter.”
When asked whether she ever could have
imagined how much ROP would accomplish
when she got that first check 10 years ago from
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