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.