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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
B2 Hood River News, Wednesday, January 14, 2015 CASCADE Observations By PEGGY DILLS KELTER Where charity begins I N 1978, JUST AFTER GRADUATING from college, I began pounding the pavement in the city of Boston looking — or, better said, begging — for a job. Armed with my degree in Studio Art, and surrounded by thousands of other, more talented college graduates seek- ing employment in that hip city, I had little hope of landing anything more engaging than mini- mum wage employment in the service industry. I persevered. After weeks of visiting a myriad of art institutions in quest of a job, I landed an “administrative assistant” position in the Develop- ment Office of the Boston Ballet. It paid worse than a minimum wage job in the service industry, and I wasn’t sure what a devel- opment office did, but it sounded classy and impor- tant. No longer begging for a job, my assignment in the development office utilized my new skills as a beggar. Instead of groveling for employment, though, now I groveled for con- tributions. The non-profit Boston Ballet needed cash, and my job was to help find it. ■ Fast-forward 36 years and 3,000 miles away from that first grown-up job, I’m now the target for all those development folks hoping I’ll con- tribute to their meaningful causes. This last year my husband and I contributed to 90 differ- ent charities, but I’m sure we received at least 300 solicitations. On a daily basis we receive three to five re- quests in our mailbox, and we’ve stopped an- swering our telephone if we don’t recognize the phone number. While many of the charities that solicit us are gracious, there are two types of charitable organizations that are just annoy- ing. The first are the ones to which I’ve never contributed. I don’t know where they get my name and address. They send me a “gift” and then expect me to be so delighted with the “Made in China” junk that I immediately send them back a check. Recently, I received the ulti- mate in this category — a huge desk set, includ- ing a giant calculator, notepad and pen — wrapped in a gold plastic envelope and mailed to us a few weeks before Christmas. Yesterday I got a follow-up “calculator and planner receipt verification form” from this organization. The letter began “I hope you enjoy the calculator and planner I sent you, honoring the heroes who defend America and keep us safe!” Are they kid- ding me? How does a plastic calculator honor America’s veterans? The other annoying charities are the ones that receive a contribution from us, and then de- cide to solicit us monthly for additional contri- butions. The amount of postage, paper and labor used up in harassing us regularly must cancel out any funds we gave them initially. Several of these organizations have received my “cease and desist” letters. Most haven’t complied. Those charities that raise my ire end up in the “Never Again” column of my Charities Table. I created this chart years ago when my memory started fading, and I found myself du- plicating some contributions and neglecting oth- ers. It shows three years of giving history. Each time we make a contribution to a charity, I fill in the amount and the month in which we made the donation. When the charity sends me a note asking me to renew my support, I quickly glance at my chart to see if it indeed is the appropriate time to renew. If so, we do so willingly. If not, I set the request aside until the renewal is appro- priate. ■ ‘INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH’ Hear the Hood River County Reads book on Radio Tierra Would you like to get a Hood River County Reads ti- jump start on the Friends of tles represent the diversity the Hood River County Li- of the Hood River County brary’s 2015 Hood River community and are shared County Reads book? Radio widely throughout the area. Tierra will be Some previous broadcasting a books include RADIO TIERRA reading of this “Stubborn Broadcasts on 95.1 year’s selec- Twig” by Lau- tion, “Into the ren Kessler, FM in Hood River, Beautiful “The Circuit” 107.7 FM in The North” (Rumbo by Francisco Dalles, and 95.9 FM al Her moso Jiménez, and in Stevenson. Norte) by Luis “Ricochet Ur rea. The River” by book will be read in both Robin Cody. English and Spanish weekly Hood River County Reads on Fridays from 8-9 p.m. by is sponsored and supported DJs Alejandro Cano and by the Friends of the Hood Gale Arnold. The show will River County Library, with continue until the book has additional support from the been finished. Starseed Foundation, Hood Hood River County Reads River County Education is a community reading pro- Foundation, Hood River gram where readers of all County Library Foundation, ages read and discuss books. Hood River County Cultural Trust, Gorge Community Foundation, and generous individuals. Radio Tierra is a commu- nity radio station based out of Hood River. Its mission is to provide high quality, in- novative programming to the Gorge area and the world, which will bring to- gether diverse populations in order to promote mutual understanding, community support, and opportunities for community develop- ment. A significant amount of its prog ramming is broadcast in Spanish. For more information, contact Radio Tierra 541- 387-3772, main@radiotier- ra.org, or visit their website at radiotierra.org. More in- formation about Hood River County Reads will be avail- able in the coming weeks on Cover photo by Nicole Waite 2015 HOOD RIVER Reads se- lection starts with radio read- ing. Hood River County Library District’s website, hoodriverli-brary.org. Free discussion about cross-cultural ideas of life and death Contemporary American culture is commonly portrayed as death-denying or death-defying. However, other cul- tural traditions understand our mor- tality as a teacher about living a pur- poseful life. Can acknowledging our mortality bring greater meaning to life? This is the focus of “Grave matters: Cultural Diversity on Life and Death,” a free conversation with Courtney Campbell on Saturday, Jan.17 at 2 p.m. at Hood River Library. This program is hosted by Hood River County Library District and sponsored by Oregon Hu- manities. Campbell is the Hundere Chair in Re- ligion and Culture and a professor in the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion at Oregon State University. He has been on the faculty at OSU since 1990 and has received numerous awards for teaching and scholarship. Campbell serves on the board of directors for Benton Hospice, the ethics committee for Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, and coordinates the program in medical humanities at OSU. Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free pro- grams that engage community mem- bers in thoughtful, challenging conver- sations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state’s future. For more information about this free communi- ty discussion, please contact Hood River County Library District at 541- 386-2535, info@hoodriverlibrary, or hoodriverlibrary.org. Oregon Humanities (813 SW Alder St, #702; Portland, OR 97205) connects Oregonians to ideas to change lives and transform communities. More in- formation about Oregon Humanities’ programs and publications, which in- clude the Conversation Project, Think & Drink, Humanity in Perspective, Idea Lab, Public Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Ore- gon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National En- dowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust. HOW TO HELP Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea WARMING SHELTER volunteers prepare for guests to sign in and spend the night at one of the rotating shelter locations. Community choir forms for MLK observance Recently, my school had the good fortune of being the recipient of an unsolicited fundrais- ing project when Gorge area music lovers Katie Scarbor- of all ages are invited to ough, a former stu- join in a community wide dent of mine, ap- Gospel Choir that is form- proached me to ing to celebrate the birth- ask if she could day of Martin Luther King raise money for Jr. on Jan. 19. Mid Valley Ele- The choir, under the lead- mentary School’s ership of local musician art program. Tim Mayer, will participate Katie, an HRVHS in a musical celebration of junior and mem- Dr. King that will take place ber of the Nation- in Hood River at Riverside al Art Honors So- Community Church on the ciety, organized a evening of Jan. 19 — the benefit art auction MLK holiday. The celebra- as her EA Project. tion, which will be preceded Katie Scarborough EA stands for “Ex- by a potluck dinner, is spon- tended Application.” It’s Oregon’s terminology sored by Gorge Ecumenical for a senior project. Every high school student Ministries. must create and complete an EA project before Those interested in they can graduate. The project should be some- singing with the choir for thing that the student is interested in, and en- this event are invited to a courages critical thinking, planning, and evalu- r e h e a r s a l a t R ive r s i d e ating. Church on Thursday, Jan.15 Katie’s poster for her EA project auction stat- at 7 p.m. ed, “The newly established Hood River Valley ■ High School National Art Honors Society will be To learn more, please con- presenting unique pieces of art for sale at this tact Paul Thompson at auction to benefit the Mid Valley Elementary paul@copperwest.com. School art department. The students have worked hard create this art, and a strong Katie to Scarborough Junior EA have Project desire to help promote art in elementary schools.” Weather interfered with her event when an ice storm cancelled all school activities. Katie, undiscouraged by this setback, persevered and rescheduled the event. On Dec. 12, she and her industrious friends and family transformed the A son, Yohan Rodriguez school’s cafeteria into a beautiful art gallery. Rodriguez, was born Nov. 1, Soft music played and refreshments were of- 2014, at Providence Hood fered. Katie was poised and mature, even when River Memorial Hospital to it appeared that her anticipation of a crowd was J av i e r a n d B i a n c a Ro - a bit of an over estimation. Nonetheless, the vol- driguez, of Hood River. unteer auctioneer arrived, the small group took He weighed 6 pounds, 13 our seats, and with all the enthusiasm we could ounces and measured 20 muster began bidding in earnest. An hour later, –and-three-quarter-inches. Mid Valley’s coffers were over $500 richer. The He joins a brother, Eden funds will be used to help pay for our school’s Xavier Rodriguez, 5. annual “Art Week” program, March 3-6. Grandparents are Juan A personal thank-you to all those generous M a n u e l Ro d r i g u e z a n d souls who came out on a dark winter night to Mar tha Gonzale z, of El support a deserving program. Even more, they Grullo, Jalisco, Mexico, and came out to support a young woman with a vi- Florencio Rodriguez and sion and a cause. At 17, Katie’s graciousness and Rob Norton auctioneer volunteer with Katie Scarborough Imelda Guzman of Garcia passion show that she already understands more de la Cadena, Zacatecas, about fund raising than many seasoned develop- Mexico. ment professionals. B irth ■ Warming Shelter — A training erans to the Portland VA Medical Cen- session is planned Jan. 15 from 7-9 p.m. ter. Oregon drivers must have a valid at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ninth driver’s license and a good driving record. CDL is not and State streets. The needed. For more in- training is open to formation, contact the anyone 18 or older. WANT IN? DAV Coordinator at 1- Visit hoodriver- If your non-profit is 800-949-1004, ext. 57804 cares.org for details. looking for volunteers or or ext. 56957. Hood River Warm- has other needs, send ■ HR Care Center ing Shelter is open at brief information to — The Family Council Riverside Community hrnews@hoodrivenews.com at the Hood River Care Church, Third and Center is seeking do- State, this week until nations for wild bird- Jan. 18, and then for a seed, to be used in filing the residents’ week at Immanuel Lutheran Church. From 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly, home- birdfeeders. This is an activity which less people can find a warm place to is enjoyed all year round. Donations sleep, bedding, meals, and connection may be dropped off at the Hood River to community resources, all at no Care Center, 729 Henderson Road. For charge. The service is offered nightly delivery or pick-up, call Debbie Medi- na, 541-490-1575 or Carol Daniel, chair- at rotating locations. ■ Volunteer drivers from the Mid- man, 541-490-6136 or hrc- Columbia area are needed to take vet- cfc551@gmail.com.l life planning GUIDE 2015 Smart money tips for tots to retirees. retirement • financial planning • investing • budgeting & more! Back Page: (10.125” x 10.125”) $429 Full Page: (10.125” x 9.625” ) $369 Half Page: (v. 5” x 9.625”) or (h. 10.125” x 4.75”) $189 Quarter Page: (5” x 4.75”) $119 Eighth Page: (v. 2.25” x 4.75”) or (h. 5” x 2.25”) $79 FULL COLOR + $75 (save $225) Yohan Rodriguez Reserve ad space by Wed, Jan 14. Final proofs by Wed, Jan 21. Publishes Sat, Jan 31. Call today! 541.386.1234 Ask for Liana, Kirsten, Chelsea or Jody. LAST CHANCE
