july4 2013
free
VERNONIA’S
volume7    issue13
www.vernoniasvoice.com
Elvis Will Be in the
New School Building!
reflecting the spirit of our community
CC Rider Contracts
with First Transit

CC Rider Transportation purchasing process that began in
announced its partnership with March of this year. “Of the three
First Transit, a leading provider proposals received, First Transit
of transit management and con- stood out, and their work with
tracting solutions. First Transit other agencies in Oregon was
will begin managing driver oper- exemplary. They bring a lot of
ations of the county’s fixed route experience to the table and our
and dial-a-ride services on July system can benefit from that ex-
1, 2013, and aims to bring atten- perience,” said Janet Wright, the
tion to customer service, system county’s Transit Director.
development and the overall CC
First Transit, Inc. - a di-
Rider experience, particularly in vision of Cincinnati, Ohio-based
light of the recent service reduc- FirstGroup America - is a lead-
tions that took effect on April 1, ing provider of transit manage-
2013.
ment and contracting services.

First Transit’s onsite With more than 50 years of
Manager Joshua Fully com- experience, First Transit oper-
mented, “First Transit looks ates and manages nearly 11,000
forward to working with Colum- buses for transit authorities, state
bia County staff as a partner in and federal agencies, municipal
providing quality public transit organizations, colleges and uni-
services. We keep our custom- versities, and private companies
ers at the heart of everything we across North America. For more
do and are honored to provide information, visit www.firsttran-
service to the citizens of Colum- sit.com or follow the company
bia County.” First Transit looks on Twitter at http://twitter.com/

Shandor was named “The Ultimate Elvis jewelry and more!

Tribute Artist” by Elvis Presley Enterprises in
Preshow tickets, starting at $15, are forward to fulfilling the high FirstGrpAmerica.
For additional informa-
2010 and recently thrilled a national television recommended and available on line at www. standards of safety and service
audience with his performance on the David BrownPaperTickets.com/event/294028 or by that Columbia County residents tion please contact Janet Wright,
Transit Director at 503-366-
Letterman Show on February 6, 2013. Known calling 800-838-3006. Tickets will also be expect and deserve.

First
Transit
was
cho-
8504 or go to www.columbia-
for his remarkable physical resemblance to the available at the door, cash is encouraged.
sen
as
a
result
of
a
competitive
countyrider.com
King (Graceland once sent Shandor a letter
asking him to stop using Elvis’s image in his
promotional materials; the image was actually
of Shandor!) and his amazing voice and dance
moves, Shandor will perform with a full eight
By Bob Paleck
best when we don’t duplicate their ef- ber resources and how to sustain the
piece band for his shows in Vernonia.
forts. We don’t work for you, they do. efficient, reliable delivery of electric

Shandor’s shows are scheduled for
This article is a personal effort We are your elected representatives; power at the lowest cost drives our
2:00 PM and 6:00 PM in the Common of the
Vernonia School, 1000 Missouri Avenue. The by me alone to truthfully clarify and you don’t employ us. We accept the decisions. WOEC is a registered Not-
early show will feature early Elvis music from inform you about what I think may challenge and, to the best of our col- For-Profit, membership owned entity.
the 50’s and 60’s; the evening performance not be understood or appreciated by lective abilities, act on your behalf. The Board and employees never for-
showcases Elvis’s music from the 70’s. Doors many WOEC members. No other We ask for information, examine the get that we are spending other peo-
member of the Board, staff or any em- facts and make decisions based on ples’ money.
open one hour before show time.
ployee is responsible for its content. the combined desires, opinions, needs
I think that the last topic is
The other Board members approved and requirements - not of any one in- a fundamental reason why we, the
my request to write before I started dividual, faction, district or even our Board, have for some time and seem-
it. This courtesy was granted since individual selves - but the entire 4,000 ingly continue to be at odds with a
I’m one of the Board whose term plus membership.
small but vocal number of our mem-
expires in August and there are in-
If you attend a monthly busi- bership (largely in the Vernonia envi-
nuendoes and rumors circulating ness meeting of the co-op (one other rons) that has published their intention
that need to be cleared up.
than the August Annual meeting), to (my words here) ‘take over and fix’
arts in Vernonia
Normally the Board of Direc- you will observe that even though the WOEC even if it takes three years to
tors depend on our General Man- actions taken by the Board are most do so by electing new Board members
ager, Marc Farmer, or a senior times a consequence of unanimous as the terms of the present incumbents
member of the staff responsible for agreement, often they are arrived at expire. When the same questions are
training your pup
a portion of the co-op’s activities to only after pro and con discussion and asked or explanations are requested
act as WOEC spokesperson for all deliberation. Even when agreement and then answers are provided, over
information provided to the pub- is not unanimous, the results are uni- and over and over and over - yes, at
lic in general and our membership formly represented and enforced - we least four times - it seems to me that
calling all artists
in particular. Why? Because they are a group with no appreciation much the questioners either are not listening
are the professional, contracted and less tolerance for dissension once an or aren’t really looking for answers
paid individuals employed to ex- agenda item is decided. As circum- and information. Instead it appears
ecute democratically decided and stances change and the business of that the whole exercise is an effort to
worth the trip
agreed upon plans, policies, rules, the co-op is conducted over monthly, instigate and then perpetuate an argu-
regulations and bylaws.
annual, triennial and other cycles, ment. This was especially true when
We, the Board, are the mem- subjects are reviewed and the result- the questioners resorted to name call-
bers’ representatives and the staff ing actions taken may be continued ing after about the third time that the
works for all of us. We are a co- if warranted or modified or reversed answers were provided; as in char-
salem report
operative. The fundamental pre- as circumstances and specifics of our acterizing the Board members as be-
cept is to cooperate. In part that current situation dictate a change. ing either lazy, stupid or dishonest as
means that the Board recognizes Cooperation is the foundation to our documented in a letter to the Oregon
that the professionals do their job existence, but consideration of mem-

Elvis is coming to Vernonia!

The “Give Back Bash” is an event to
raise funds for athletic facilities for the new
Vernonia School campus. It will be held on
Saturday, August 3, 2013, and will be one
of the headline events of the “57 th Vernonia
Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show”
weekend. The “Give Back Bash” will feature
two concert performances by Justin Shandor, a
world renowned Elvis Tribute Artist.

The “Give Back Bash” is being
organized by the Vernonia High School Alumni
of 1973. Following the evening performance by
Shandor, the Class of ‘73 invites all VHS alumni
to an all-class reunion in the Commons. Tours
of the new school building will be available.
There will also be raffles and a 50/50 drawing at
the concerts. Donated items so far include
4 handmade quilts, a Beach House Rental,
Gift Cards, a Golf Package, handmade art and
Voices From the Crowd: What I’ve
Learned in Six Years as a WOEC Director
inside
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