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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2016)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 Corgis: Event benefi ted the Oregon Humane Society Continued from Page 1A “They’re lovable,” said Jenni- fer Robinson, the organizer of the Portland Corgi Meetup Group who hosts the yearly event. “It’s hard to look at a corgi and not smile.” Famous Instagram accounts like @corgnelius, @aquacorg, @corgin- stagram and @ralphthecorgi, range from 80,000 followers up to nearly 700,000. There’s no doubt that cor- gis have stolen the heart of many. “It’s the fact that they’re so happy with their people,” said Donna Newton, the breed rescue contact for the Columbia River Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club. “They’re smil- ing all the time. I think that’s why they appeal to people.” The interest shown on social media has translated well in reality. Started in 2007, the Portland-based corgi meetup group has grown from 30 members to more than 500. This year the group cordially hosted an estimated 700-plus people, dou- bling last year’s attendance. Even though it was a corgi beach day, all breeds could participate. With more than 700 people sign- ing in at Cannon Beach, the Oregon Humane Society estimated at least 350 corgis attended. “Everyone I’ve seen has had one or two or three,” said Christy Bla- hutka, who worked at the Oregon Humane Society booth, in regards to the number of corgis people brought with them. On Facebook, there were more than 2,000 people “interested” in the event and another 1,000-plus RSVP’d as “going” to the event. As the event grew larger each year, the group decided to reach out to the Oregon Humane Society. This is the second year the event has benefi ted the Oregon Humane Soci- ety. Last year’s event raised $1,500. “As our event started growing we wanted to do something to help the community as well,” Robinson said. Combining a love for corgis with a dedication to giving back, the group also participates in events like Dogtoberfest, Walk in the Pearl, Doggie Street Fest and Strut Your Mutt. See photos from OPB at http:// bit.ly/2au0IQJ and from people at the event at http://bit.ly/2aq8jBL. Photos by Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Corgis and their owners walk up and down the beach during the Oregon Corgi Beach Day benefiting the Oregon Humane Society on Sat- urday at Cannon Beach. The event included a costume competition, raffle and other activities. More photos online at http://bit.ly/2aHkvis Justin Moore, dressed as a corgi, kneels beside his dog Baron during the Oregon Corgi Beach Day on Saturday benefiting the Oregon Hu- mane Society at Cannon Beach. Corgi is Welsh for “dwarf dog.” Maverick Harper throws a football as corgis chase it during the Oregon Corgi Beach Day benefiting the Oregon Humane Soci- ety on Saturday at Cannon Beach. Corgis and their owners walk up and down the beach during the Oregon Corgi Beach Day in Cannon Beach. The event included a costume competition, raffle and other activities. Tweedie: ‘Any success is the Lord’s. I’m a shepherd. I just sustain and feed the sheep.” Continued from Page 1A The family calling His father, uncle and grand- father were Presbyterian min- isters in his native California, but Tweedie insists he did not plan to emulate them. Armed with humanities degrees from San Francisco State University, and consid- ering a college teaching career, he worked in a public library for six years fueled by his love of literature. A rejection letter from the University of Califor- nia Berkeley graduate school led to gloomy refl ection. “I was devastated. I spent one Christmas vacation try- ing to settle my life down,” he recalled. “At the end of that week, I ‘surrendered.’ I said, ‘OK, God. You are going to work on me until I’m done.’” He trained for the ministry, married the day after graduat- ing from seminary (his wife, Jeanine is a nurse educator), and embarked on a one-year fellowship in Edinburgh where he worked as a Scottish hospi- tal chaplain. He returned to serve a church in Logan, Utah, and neighboring Preston, Idaho. There Tweedie pioneered a hospice program and forged links with the Mormon com- munity. A year in which he exchanged jobs with a pas- tor in Adelaide, Australia, was another highlight. Eight years in Weed, Cal- ifornia , at the foot of Mount Shasta, was followed by 17 years in Mililani, Hawaii. The church, outside of Honolulu on Hawaii’s most populous island, Oahu, was Tweedie’s longest assignment. It offered a settled base while he and Jeanine raised three daughters. “It was one of the most amazing congregations ever,” he said. “It’s the melting pot of the Pacifi c. We had 14 to 16 different language groups in the congregation — that meant great potluck suppers!” Asian and Polynesian cul- tures were well represented. “It was a pretty cool place. I thrived on cross-cultural communication.” He enjoyed working with other Christian faiths, Buddhist groups, Jewish and Islamic leaders and others. “I t was mind-numbingly exhilarating.” Long Beach was a perfect fi nal posting, said Tweedie, who just turned 65. “It has been a very welcoming com- munity for an outsider — an instant embrace, and that’s not always true. We are glad to be retiring and staying here.” Tweedie is proud of incor- porating music into worship — including pieces he writes himself. Bringing the young along His church attracts young Christians from other con- gregations. “I have enjoyed working with the members of the church and building a sig- nifi cant youth ministry, even though the congregation itself is older,” he said. Youth mission trips have included the impoverished Yakama Indian Reservation, helping the homeless in Seat- tle, Portland and Spokane, and a visit to Puerto Rico. “We also try to have them experience different universi- ties, especially Christian uni- versities, and inspire them to higher education in a Chris- tian environment. “We set goals high and inspire them with the good news of God’s saving love through Jesus Christ,” he said, delighting in the phrase. “That’s a good saying and what I’m all about. As well as meeting spir- itual needs, Tweedie high- lights the church’s practical role as a safety net for the less fortunate. He will continue as board president for His Sup- per Table, a church-inspired community group which feeds the needy and operates a thrift store. He has provided leadership for Food4Kids Backpack food program for Long Beach Ele- mentary School and for Over- night Winter Lodging, which serves homeless people. Tweedie is busy as a writer, having just published a book of p eninsula stories. A cou- ple of his plays have been per- formed by Peninsula Players, with whom he has acted and directed, and another, “You Never Know,” will be per- formed in August. His pho- tography is displayed at the Bay Avenue Gallery in Ocean Park. In retirement, he antici- pates more writing and music composition, plus family activities. The Tweedies have two grandchildren. The search is on The church’s clerk of the session, Ardell McPhail, recruited Tweedie and has begun another search. She said Sunday speakers likely will fi ll in during August until an interim minister can be hired. A committee will hire a perma- nent replacement. McPhail commended Tweedie for his contribution. “He has worked in the com- munity to get our congregation to expand out,” she said, not- ing his successes in helping the homeless. “He has brought in a lot of new people, and he has brought a lot of music to the church, his own and also inspiring others,” she said. Tweedie passes on the credit. “I don’t know if I have been successful,” he said. “Any suc- cess is the Lord’s. I’m a shep- herd. I just sustain and feed the sheep.” — Patrick Webb