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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2012)
16 Spring 2012 Applegater A few words from Applegate Valley Fire District #9 The wonderful person behind Jo’s List BY BrEtt fiLLiS BY PAtSY kiNG Jo Larsen of Jo’s List The town of Williams is known to be a very special community: helpful, friendly, concerned with each other and with things that affect us all. One of the great aspects of Williams is its electronic community bulletin board known as Jo’s List. Jo’s List isn’t just a perk of living there; rather, it’s one reason for our strong community. Using Jo’s List, people can ask for help and advice, e.g., on how to keep compost secure from bears; let others know that they spotted a cougar on a certain road; spread the word that they are available to work; ask for recommended dentists; let people know that they’ve seen a loose cow, pig, goat, wandering dog, etc. What a wonderful resource. But what’s the story behind Jo’s List? How does it work and who’s behind it? I found out a couple of days ago when I met with Jo Larsen, the generous and caring person who started it all. I was curious about how the service started and asked Jo what gave her the idea. She explained that it actually started because of three different Williams-area people who were forwarding information about musical events to their friends. They realized that they were sort of duplicating things, and when they combined lists of people, Jo just naturally ended up doing the information forwarding. It started with just 50 people receiving the information and has grown to 950 subscribers. Wow. When I asked how much time Jo spends each day, she said that she had been spending as much as three hours daily until recently, when her Internet provider, Outreach Internet, helped set up a system that could handle that many messages and do it more efficiently for Jo. Now when people receiving an email want to reply, they can hit the reply button, and their message will go to the person who wrote the original notice. Before the recent change, if a person hit the reply button, Jo herself would get the message and then have to forward the answer to the right person manually. Even with the improvements, Jo is often online four times a day forwarding information. She’s been doing this service for so long that she’s not even sure just how long, but somewhere between six and ten years. I was curious how it actually worked and what Jo did each time she set out to pass along the information. First she checks to see who has requested to be added or deleted to the list or who has email address changes or has gone on vacation, and she updates all of that. Then she deals with all the incoming messages that people would like posted. Jo reads every single one to be sure it is not derogatory or political, and also to be sure it’s not over one megabyte, which would be unworkable for all the subscribers on dial-up Internet service. The few messages that still come to her on the old system must be forwarded to the new system. Then out they go to the email accounts of the subscribers. All sorts of diverse information has been shared over the years, but what Jo loves the most is being able to reunite lost pets with their owners and helping find homes for animals. Also quite rewarding is connecting people with the services they need. It certainly helps create a sense of closeness and helpfulness in the community. Jo says, “One aspect I particularly like is that it unites such a broad spectrum of the community. All have a common love of rural life, and it’s people helping other people. It’s a bit like standing and chatting over the back fence.” I could certainly feel Jo’s enthusiasm and generosity even after all these years of her spending hours at the computer! Of course, this is Jo’s community and has been for the last 25 years. She and her husband bought their south-facing hillside property 25 years ago around the spring equinox. While living in the somewhat rainier Willamette Valley and visiting a friend who had moved here, they blundered upon a notice for a house for rent in Williams. They rented it, then sold their old place and eventually bought acreage here. Gardening, and roses in particular, are Jo’s passions, and as time passes, massive gardens have grown in raised beds all over their hillside. Most of the plants have stories and meaning behind them because they came from friends and relatives over the years; some tiny cuttings are now full-grown thriving plants. So even Jo’s garden is about people. People matter, community matters and animals matter—I think that’s why she has kept up the marvelous Jo’s List all these years. We in the community are so lucky to be connected in this way. Jo doesn’t charge for her time or service, but contributions are always welcome and can be mailed to Jo Larsen, PO Box 286, Williams, Oregon 97544. Patsy King pking888@gmail.com I always appreciate the opportunity • 85% or better drill attendance: to communicate with the public regarding Bill Dunlap, Jack Lynch various topics that are important during Spouse of the Year: Debbie Ziegler the course of the year. The following are District Employee of the Year: several topics that are important. Carey Chaput Recruiting new volunteers Officer of the Year: Jeff Hoxsey If it seems like we are always recruiting Firefighter of the Year—Joint Winners: new volunteers, we are. In the last several Lindsey Evertt and Anthony Ryan years we have put forward more effort Chief ’s Award: Greg Gilbert in recruiting volunteers because our Years of Service: numbers have been declining, and in some • 5 Years: Daniel Boyajian and areas declining to the point where it was Greg Paneitz beginning to affect operations. I am proud • 10 Years: Greg Gilbert, Bill Dunlap, to say that this last recruiting drive near Jeff Vinyard, Rick Koppen the end of the year was very successful— • 15 Years: Fred Secco perhaps the most successful campaign ever. • 20 Years: Cody Goodnough Volunteer numbers in the west end of the Friends of the Applegate Fire District district, particularly Provolt and Applegate, This is our version of the Fire were reaching critical levels. Department Auxiliary. This group was We just concluded this year’s basic started in the mid-1980s and has been firefighter academy. We began with primarily responsible for organizing and 13 recruits and ended the academy preparing the fine food we have had at our with 11 new firefighters. Historically we annual awards banquet, summer picnic end up graduating and Christmas around half of the party. The Friends ecruiting is never really over. applicants. This was also provide support we will always be looking an excellent effort for new volunteers every year to in the way of food and we appreciate compensate... during larger-scale those individuals emergencies of who came forward and have taken this longer-than-normal duration. This group important first step in helping their has also raised a tremendous amount community. of money over the years to buy certain So with all of that, are we done equipment that the district couldn’t recruiting? Recruiting is never really afford from its normal budget. By my over. We will always be looking for new estimation, this group has purchased in volunteers every year to compensate for excess of $85,000 worth of fire and rescue normal turnover as it occurs. We also have equipment since their inception, raising a few stations that can use more help. Our most of the money through the annual newest station, Station #7 on Griffin Lane, yard sale in September, and in the early and several of the eastern stations are in days running Bingo both at the Grange and need of additional volunteers as well. at the Josephine County Fair. Although 2011 Awards Banquet the group has curtailed a lot of the old Our awards banquet was held on fundraising methods, they continue to February 3 to honor those who made work on ways to raise funds and provide above-average contributions to the district support to the firefighters throughout the in 2011. It was held at the Applegate year. Community Church and the awards T h e Fr i e n d s a r e l i k e m o s t ceremony followed a nice meal that was organizations—they need new members to provided by our auxiliary organization, the keep them strong and viable. The majority Friends of the Applegate Fire District. The of the group has been involved for over 25 following awards were presented: years and newer members are a minority. Hall of Flame Inductee: Fred Secco The group currently meets once a month Spirit Award: Rob Underwood and is looking to change to an every-other- Rookie of the Year: Dick Rodgers month format. If you have an interest Medical First Responder of the Year: in becoming a member, don’t hesitate to Cris Usher contact the district office at 541-899-1050 EMT of the Year: Tailese Goodnough and find out more information. Activity Awards: Brett Fillis • 541-899-1050 • Over 100 Alarm Responses: Bob Fire Chief Ettner, Dick Rodgers, Rick Koppen Applegate Valley Fire District #9 R Award winners at Applegate Valley Fire District #9 annual banquet.
