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Wednesday, May 1, 2013
John Francis, the Planetwalker, strums away on his banjo at one o f the Sustainability Weekfestivities to create happy rambling melodies. Francis was silentfor years before he began speaking again
on the 20th anniversary o f Earth Day.
PLANETWALKER: Struts and strums
Continued from Page 1
Francis seemed thrilled to be
back in Oregon. Aside from his
many memories walking, meeting
people and camping throughout the
state, he was drawn here in the ’70s
when he heard Southern Oregon
University in Ashland had a new
course in environmental studies,
where he received his first degree.
He then continued onward north
until he came to Port Orford, Wash,
where he stayed through a winter
to work as a boat builder. When
he heard there was a program in
science and environmental studies
in Missoula, Mont., he continued
his journey and there completed his
master’s.
He was required to first get per­
mission from all involved profes­
sors to accept his silent ways. For
many more years, Francis contin­
ued, through the heat o f deserts,
over mountain ranges, through
national parks.
He became one with his envi­
ronment. On foot and in silence,
he found rhythms in nature and
became in synch with them. He
saw our county and he heard our
country. When he made it to the
University o f Wisconsin-Madison
he completed a PhD in land
resources. He had earned his doc­
torate book by book and his wis­
dom step by step.
W hen
Francis
reached
Washington, D.C., in 1989, he
was greeted with an offer to work
for the United States Coast Guard
writing pollution regulations for
our inland waterways, follow­
ing the Exxon Valdez oil spill in
Alaska. He was also appointed
Environmental Ambassador for the
United Nations.
With his new responsibilities,
schedule and after 21 years, it was
time he needed to commute. He
decided to utilize transportation for
six months o f the year and only
walk the other six. He didn’t want
to lose touch with that part o f his
relationship with the environment.
He didn’t want to just talk the talk
'-T- he wanted to walk the walk.
He has since spent two years
walking through the jungles and
cities o f South America. Francis is
author o f the books: “Planetwalker:
How to Change Your World One
Step at a Time” and “The Ragged
Edge o f Silence: Finding Peace in a
Noisy World.”
Along his journey to change the
world by changing himself, Francis
being a man o f convictions, also
had some simpler commitments.
He decided to do a painting every
day and always played his banjo.
Not surprisingly, he is quite accom­
plished at both. He shared inspiring
music, playing his banjo, several
times during his presentation here
atCCC.
His music had happy rambling
melodies, often slowing and quiet­
ing to a Zen-like silence. He played
again at his workshop which was
also in the Gregory Forum, along
with showing examples o f the pro­
gression o f his nature and land­
scape painting from his journey.
Sha Spady attended both the key­
note lecture and the workshop and
took a lot from his messages and
journey.
“I love the way John has gone
through life with purpose and
cause, but often went forward with­
out concern about the destination,
similar to how he painted simply to
paint,” said Spady. “What I bring
from this, and believe, is that we
need to listen and care for each
other, and need to listen to nature
and the environment and care for
it”
CCC’s Sustainability Week is an
annual event held the week of Earth
Day. It has been coordinated by the
college’s Environmental Learning
instructor Allison Heimowitz and
her assistants. Heimowitz is also
on the board of the Earth and Spirit
Council which had many members
very active in this year’s events.
“We are very pleased to have
John Francis as a guest at this event.
I feel a connection in our passion
about connecting people back to
the Earth,” stated Heimowitz. “We
are fortunate to have him as our
keynote speaker.”
Possibly not by coincidence, the
day Francis began speaking again
was the 20th anniversary o f Earth
Day.
Glorify golden years with new fangled know-how
David Beasley
General Associate Editor
There’s no such thing as a per­
son that is too young or even too
old to go to school; the learning
experience never has to stop. Even
the most experienced o f the com­
munity can benefit from continued
education and social interaction.
Each school term, county elders are
invited to take part in an engaging
variety o f classes and presentations,
provided by local aficionados.
Reasons people continue
their education:
• Develop new skills
• Exercise their minds and bodies
• Pursue a special interest
• Make new friends
• Experience new things
• Be a part o f the community and
interact with it
According to the press release
by public affairs specialist Janet
Paulson, the Seasoned Adult
Enrichment Program (SAEP) pro­
vides seniors in Clackamas County
with an educational experience
which, is designed and administered
by “seasoned adults” (seniors/retir-
Upcoming classes:
ees). SAEP’s website states that last
May 8 - “Up the Capitol
year, the program provided nearly Steps: A Woman’s March to
40 sessions and served more than the Governorship” presented by
100 people.
Barbara Roberts
Instructors include SAEP mem- *
The former Oregon Governor
bers, community leaders, college Barbara Roberts will talk about her
faculty and guests from the com­ most recent book, “Up the Capitol
munity. Most o f the instructors Steps: A Woman’s March to the
volunteer their time and actively Governorship,” a highly readable
participate in all aspects o f the pro­ account o f Roberts’ path to becom­
gram: student, discussion leader, ing Oregon’s first female governor.
May 15 - Field Trip to
committee planner or host. All pre­
senters have the expertise in the Schreiner’s
Iris
Gardens,
subjects they teach with a willing­ Silverton.
In business since
1925,
ness and ability to share with others.
Classes are held at the Harmony Schreiner’s is the nation’s largest
Campus on Wednesdays at 9:30 retail grower o f iris, with 10 acres
a.m. The class can be found in o f fabulous display gardens with
room 191 o f the Oregon Institute of 500 named Iris varieties. Travel by
Technology building, unless other­ CCC vans to the beautiful gardens
wise indicated. A single session is to enjoy the flowers at the peak of
$3. The cost for a 7 session term is their season.
$15 or an entire year for $30.
May 22 - “Un-Dam It” pre­
For those using public transpor­ sented by Mark Gamba & Greg
tation, TriMet buses routes 28, 29, Baartz-Bowman
31 and 79 stop one to two blocks
Greg and Mark hope their film
from the Harmony/OIT cam­ “Un-Dam It!” will spur action on
pus. For more information about the long-standing project to remove
the Seasoned Adult Enrichment Kellogg Dam and restore Kellogg
Program, please visit http://depts. Creek as a passage for salmon. Join
clackamas.edu/saep/ or call 503- them when they share and discuss
594-0620.
their 30 minute documentary film.
CCC
Spring
Theatre
Production - “Schemes of
Scapino”
There will be two Sunday
shows, May 23 and June 2.
In Naples, Italy, leading charac­
ter, Scapino, a fast-talking, quick­
thinking scamp cleverly manipu­
lates and cajoles everyone into
doing what he wants. He plots to
help two pairs o f lovers against
parental opposition that, it turns out,
does not exist.
Osterman Theatre in the
Neimeyer Center; 2:30 p.m. cur­
tain. For ticket pricing and reserva­
tion information visit the Theater
Department website at: www.
TheatreCCC.org.
Classic
Cycle Inc.^
(Jlepairi, JlcMiorieA -
812 Molalla Avenue
Oregon City, Ore. 97045
Office: 503-557-1977
Cell: 503-970-6711
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classiccycle@yahoo.com
www.oregoncityclassiccycle.com
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