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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017
SIUSLAW VALLEY
FIRE & RESCUE
B Y P ETE “B OA ” W ARREN
Recruitment & Retention
Coordinator for SVFR
(Note: What follows is a
correspondence regarding our
recent Upriver Firefighter
Training Academy, which I’m
sharing with permission from
Andrea Still, a Volunteer with
Swisshome-Deadwood Fire
Department)
hree Saturdays of train-
ing doesn’t seem like
much. When you read
about the Upriver Academy
that Siuslaw Valley invited our
local volunteer fire depart-
ments to participate in, you
may have wondered, “How
T
Moving mountains during the ‘Upriver Academy’
much can you really learn in
three days?”
I questioned it myself, when
Boa [Warren] and Jeff
[Larson] from SVFR came to
Swisshome to tell us about the
Upriver Academy and see if
we wanted to participate. I
asked Jeff, “Is it hard?”
His answer scared me and
sticks with me, and probably
will for a long time because
it’s an answer you can apply to
almost any situation you may
find yourself facing.
He simply said, “It’s as hard
as you make it.”
I’m writing this as a volun-
teer who participated, and I’d
like to make sure everyone
knows that over the course of
three days, we moved moun-
tains.
Three local departments
participated: Deadwood Creek
Fire
and
Swisshome-
Deadwood Fire departments.
At first, many of us were
basically strangers. The oblig-
atory introductions ensued,
but even in those brief, awk-
ward moments when we were
almost strangers, there was an
air of acceptance, mutual
respect and the general vibe of
“We’re all in this together.”
And for the next three
Saturdays the most amazing
thing happened. We had a
whole lot of problems! Bad
hoses, malfunctioning equip-
ment. But everyone kept a
level head and our four depart-
ments were able to work as
one group of like-minded indi-
viduals to find solutions to
every issue we found. It wasn't
Deadwood
Creek
or
Swisshome-Deadwood or the
big guys from Siuslaw Valley
— it was just a family.
I asked what felt like a thou-
sand stupid questions and they
were met with answers I
would expect from a brother
or father: gentle, kind, com-
passionate and informative.
Not just, “Do it this way” but
instead, “This helps us when
we do it this way, and here’s
why.”
For all you Backdraft fans, I
regret to disappoint you that
not one of them said “You’re
doing it wrong!” ala Kurt
Russel.
Everyone who came up to
volunteer their Saturdays to
teach our departments were
happy to be there — happy to
teach, eager to help and amaz-
ing people to learn from. They
were a group of people from
all walks of life — military,
college educated, wildfire and
Coast Guard, just to name a
few — and the knowledge
they passed onto our depart-
ments is immeasurable. The
bonds they helped form
between our departments,
everything we learned togeth-
er, everything they taught us
will undoubtedly save lives,
homes and property for years
to come.
We went from being four
separate departments who
barely knew each other’s
names let alone their engines,
tenders, and pump capabili-
ties, to one group of people
who can confidently work
together for the safety and
wellbeing of our communities.
What did it do for me,
specifically? I went from
being a volunteer who has
been too scared of getting in
the way to someone who can
turn the pump on, run a hose
by myself, know where to
attack a fire, which adjust-
ments to make to the nozzle
according to the type of fire I
encounter.
I know how to put on an air
pack and how to use it.
The author of one of my
favorite
books,
Cheryl
Strayed, once said, “Find what
you’re afraid of and do it any-
way.”
I was afraid. I did it anyway
— and it changed me.
Not only did our depart-
Rosalie Johnson (right) is
presented the Peace Harbor
Volunteer of the Year award
by Michelle Diffenderfer of
Peace Harbor hospital (left).
COURTESY PHOTO
to have the quality and number
of volunteers who give of
themselves. I have nothing but
gratitude for the body of volun-
teers that followed my lead for
two years, and the respect they
bestowed during my tenure,”
Johnson said of her award and
her time serving as a volunteer.
“How blessed I have been to
some better than others, but
always with resolutions best
for all concerned.
“This award has been the
most special thank you a per-
son might receive. These 15
years have been such an inter-
esting and challenging period
of my retired life.
“I wouldn’t change any of
it,” Johnson added.
interact with so many folks in
so many situations: some good,
— Andrea Still
Pete “Boa” Warren can be
contacted at 541-997-3212,
or the main SVFR station,
2625 Highway 101, or email
Boa@svfr.org.
Deadlines for press releases
are Mondays and Thursdays
by noon. Email them to:
P RESS R ELEASES
@T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM .
FLORENCE
WINGS
AND
WHEELS
would like to
thank their
sponsors.
Rosalie Johnson named Peace Harbor ‘Volunteer of the Year’
Rosalie Johnson was recent-
ly named the PeaceHealth
Peace Harbor Medical Center
Volunteer of the Year.
The PeaceHealth Peace
Harbor Medical Center volun-
teer team consists of 117 mem-
bers who volunteer in a variety
of areas at Peace Harbor: the
lobby, same day surgery, hospi-
tal gift shop, patient advocacy
and more.
Johnson has served as a vol-
unteer at Peace Harbor since
2002.
She has served in many
areas: counseling, medical
records, the gift shop, chair of
fundraising, chair of the
Gallery Hall, Co-Chairing the
duties of the Roster, and cur-
rently co-chairing In-Service.
She served for two years as
Volunteer President of the
Board, and has volunteered
close to 1,000 hours of her own
time this calendar year.
“PeaceHealth is so blessed
ments move mountains, but I
moved mountains within
myself. If you still find your-
self asking how much can one
accomplish in three days, I am
here to tell you — with the
right people by your side —
you can do a lot.
It’s really only as hard as
you make it.
Major Sponsors:
Th ree Rivers Casino Resort
and City of Florence
Sponsors:
C & M Stables, Les Schwab, Heceta Self Storage, Car Wash & Shine, Tony’s
Garage, Johnston Motors, Coast Pavement Maintenance, Florence Yamaha,
Valvoline, Mo’s Restaurant, Chad Clements DDS, 1285 Restobar, Florence in
Bloom, Coast Radio, First Baptist Church, Burns’s Riverside Chapel, Dutch
Bros, Sears, Pacifi c Pines RV Resort, Apex Heli, A&W Family Restaurant,
Bucks Sanitary Service, Sherwood Like A Tow.
NO N-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF FLORENCE OR
541•999•6078
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
FACEBOOK.COM/PETERSENAUTODETAIL
Dr. Mark Immel,
Naturopathic
Physician
your source for natural medicine
Patricia Immel,
Lic. Acupuncturist
& Herbalist
Feel your best!
541-902-8860
1845 Hwy. 126, Suite H, Florence, OR 97439
TheWellspringClinic.com
Q: Describe your organization.
A: Soroptimist of Florence was founded February 14, 1972. Over the years
our club has helped found the Senior Booster Club, Th e Florence Events Center,
funding commitment for Peace Harbor Hospital, and the Siuslaw Public Library.
Our international organizational focus is to improve the lives of women and girls,
which we support locally as well. Th is focus is highlighted by our holding three
Human Traffi cking information seminars. Our scholarship programs are Dream
It Be and Live Your Dream Awards and graduating high school girls. Five HS
Girls received fi ve thousand dollar scholarships each, another two received three
thousand dollars each and one for two thousand dollars for college or technical
school education. Our annual sponsored Christmas Basket food and toys
distribution has been helping disadvantaged families in the Florence/Mapleton
area for over thirty years. Th e Mother’s Day gift baskets are fi lled with personal
care items for new moms given through the Caring Pregnancy Center.
Th e fi nancial support we give to SOS, Boys and Girls Club, Senior Center,
and other local service organizations, helps make their programs a reality. Th e
community building projects include: Peace Harbor Hospital, the Siuslaw Public
Library and Florence Events Center, which are a benefi t to all citizens, making
our community a safer more pleasant place to live.
Q: What are your greatest accomplishments so far, this year?
A: Our club year runs July thru June, so during that time this club year,
we’ve held two fund raisers that make our projects possible. Th e annual Rose
Sale incorporates sales of a dozen roses to recipients that are hand delivered
throughout the Florence and sometimes Eugene areas. Th e Bras for a Cause
event was a rousing success that promoted businesses who paid for a table the
event night, created a bra to be sold live auction and in some cases a gift basket
to be sold at silent auction. Dinner for those attending is included in the ticket
price as is a bottle of wine to share among those at each table. A dessert auction
capped off the evening with numerous delicious off erings that were auctioned
by table. Th ese two projects funded several of our other projects and three of the
scholarships given out in May.
Q: What is your current greatest need?
A: New Members; Members make the impact on the community and create
the atmosphere that makes our projects a reality. I’ll host any woman who is
considering membership to lunch during the club year. Just call me!
Q: Describe your organizations personality in three words.
A: “Comradery”, “Compassion”, “Impact”.
Nancy Bosket (LYDA Chair) with Christine Newlan
and Kayla Stenke, and Shasta McMullen (President)
Q: Do you have a personal story that describes the impact your organization
has had in the community?
A: Our club participates in Live Your Dream, a monetary assistance awarded
to a woman who is head of household and pursuing education to further her
career or obtain a degree for a new career that would help support her family.
One recipient used the money to purchase a car so she could get to Eugene
for class, one used money to pay for child care and another used the funds to
purchase a computer. We were able to make these women’s lives a little bit better.
Buying or Selling? I can help.
Soroptimist International of Florence OR
P.O. Box 1209, Florence, OR 97439
541-997-2233
Jan Jagoe
Broker
541 999-0879
4837 Summit Ave – Gorgeous panoramic Silcoos
Lake views! Enjoy the incredible views from the
living room, master bedroom and deck. 2 bdrm, 1
bath cabin on .34 acre in Westlake! Huge two by
shop for your boat, ATV’s or RV w/plenty of room
for parking. $339,000. #2731-17565185
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
Carol Bennett(SI), Brandy Dalbeck, Korina Shipstad, Destinie Tatum,
Celie Mans, Claire Waggoner, Taylor Coolidge, Elyssa Rose and
Nancy Bosket, (SI Chair)
All Creation’s Construction
Florence Pharmacy
Chad Clement, D.D.S., P.C
County Transfer & Recycling
First Baptist Church
SPONSORED
BY:
Jack Mobley Construction Inc.
Oregon Pacifi c Bank
Swanson Pest Management
Florence Heating & Sheet Metal, Inc