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8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL June 10, 2015 Amy Callahan of the Nonprofi t Association of Oregon addressed a gathering of repre- sentatives of several of Cottage Grove's nonprofi ts Monday. www.shoppelocal.biz photo by Jon Stinnett Former Grover returns to talk nonprofi ts BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel A former Cottage Grove resident and nonprofi t em- ployee came back to town Monday to share information about her new employer and gauge the need for resources for the Cottage Grove area’s not-for-profi t organizations. Amy Callahan worked for the Cottage Grove Commu- nity Hospital Foundation until about a year ago and previous- ly served as publisher of the Cottage Grove Sentinel, but on Monday, Callahan appeared at the Healing Matrix down- town to talk about her work in Portland with the Nonprofi t Association of Oregon, which works to “strengthen the col- lective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofi ts to enrich the lives of all Oregonians,” according to its website. Callahan was joined by about a dozen representatives of several Cottage Grove-area nonprofi ts, including Sus- tainable Cottage Grove, the Be Your Best campaign and the Cottage Grove Museum. While fi rst sharing details about her position with the organization, the meeting later became a more informal dis- cussion of the obstacles facing many nonprofi ts, including those in Cottage Grove. “I wanted to check in with Cottage Grove, to talk about what nonprofi ts might need and help bring resources to the table,” Callahan said. She explained that the NAO works to support all nonprofi ts in Oregon. The organization is membership based, she said, with organizations paying dues priced by their size, to the tune of about 1000 mem- berships statewide. The NAO offers the services of con- sultants to its members, and it also operates training net- works in Medford, Portland, Bend and Eugene. Callahan said her visit to Cottage Grove was part of a larger effort to involve the NAO in the devel- opments of rural communities like Cottage Grove. “I know we have a great group of people here that are doing a lot of good, and I also know the diffi culty of needing something and trying to gain access to it,” she said. Nonprofi ts are the second- largest sector of the Oregon economy, Callahan pointed out, second only to manufac- turing. In gauging the needs of the nonprofi ts present on Monday, many participants stated that a comprehensive look at what nonprofi ts are operating in Cottage Grove, in addition to the potential economic impact those orga- nizations provide, could be a key to the future success of the nonprofi t sector. “All of us are on different boards, and it would help us to know what sector we’re a part of,” Jim Gilroy said. “I don’t think many people are used to thinking of nonprofi ts as an economic sector.” Rob Dickinson pointed out the need to attract funding from outside Cottage Grove to its nonprofi ts, adding that sev- eral community organizations sometimes fi nd themselves vying for those dollars. “Most of these groups are doing good work but strug- gling fi nancially,” he said. Cathy Bellavita pointed out that many organizations are also unaware of proper bud- geting processes. Callahan pointed out that nonprofi ts may also need to envision new ways to measure their impact on their communities. Jody Rolnick said that the issues facing local nonprof- its were “universal” and “not unique to Cottage Grove.” “We just have fewer resourc- es to deal with them,” Rolnick said. Callahan agreed, saying she is often frustrated with trying to educate Portlanders about the needs of Oregon’s rural communities. If you want to golf with me, bring a hardhat BY NED HICKSON News Media Corporation T hough I’ve only been golf- ing a few times in my life, it was clear that my reputation had preceded me at the course last weekend. I know this because golfers immediately traded ball caps for hardhats, then scurried down into the sand bunkers like allied forces preparing for heavy fi re. As I took a practice swing, the surrounding trees emptied of all bird species — not in a smooth, organized pattern, but in a fren- zied explosion of fl apping and panicked birdsong that left three Canada geese lying unconscious in the rough. (Speaking of which, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize once again for the tragic death of that swan near the putting green. Had I known the difference be- tween a putter and a pitching wedge, things might’ve turned out differently for that majestic creature.) Because of my past experi- ences, I was determined to make things different this time. How? By becoming more comfort- able with the game. I immediately went online for help and, thanks to the power of the Internet, found myself on a pornography website after typing in the fi rst term on my list: Mixed foursome. For anyone else who might be looking to the Internet for golf- term clarifi cations, I’d also sug- gest avoiding scotch foursome, shag bag, hooded club, loose im- pediments and (this really goes without saying) woodie. While these are all legitimate golfi ng terms, try explaining that to your editor after she fi nds you on a web page linked to the golf term double-d. (Which, by the way, means when a driver is used on the fairway after it has also been used to tee off—so THERE, Ms. Smarty Pants!) After getting a handle on the game’s terminology, the next thing on my list was golf eti- quette. For a lot of people, one of the things that keep them from actually trying golf is the fear of unintentionally doing something that, as a result of not knowing the proper etiquette, gets them clubbed to death by someone with a 9-iron. That’s because, to the outside observer, things that seem to warrant a good clubbing are actually no big deal. You want to swing your club and take a six-inch gouge out of an otherwise perfect lawn? Fine. Want to drink a beer AND drive an electric go-cart through the woods? Perfectly acceptable. However, walk between some- one’s ball and a small hole in the ground, and there’s a good chance you’ll be found fl oating in a water hazard. The thing to remember is that you will undoubtedly make some mistakes your fi rst time on the course, and that’s to be ex- pected. What won’t be expected is a hollowed-out golf club that can be loaded with tees and used as a blow gun should you need to de- fend yourself. But you didn’t hear that from me. This brings us to the actual fundamentals of playing golf — which begins with fi nding your “natural swing.” Ask any golfer the secret to doing this, and they’ll tell you its all about having the proper grip. To achieve this, make sure the back of your left hand and the palm of your right hand are both facing your target. Then, in a smooth arc, bring them up to your mouth while making sure not to spill your beer. After a couple of practice swigs, place your beer back in the cooler and you’re ready to tee-off. This may not improve your swing much, but it will provide you with a legitimate excuse as to why you shot a 167 on a par 72 course. And if that isn’t enough, you can always claim that playing in a mixed foursome was just too darned distracting. Is it time for a security check? I n today’s society, insecu- rity is an epidemic. Too many people—including many Christians—walk around timid, afraid, lacking confi dence and feeling bad about themselves. But when Jesus died on the cross for us, something hap- pened that I like to call “the di- vine exchange.” He took away our sins and everything we are not, and then He made us per- fect in Him. God wants you to be confi - dent, bold, fearless and free. He wants you to be healthy and whole—fully able to pursue your destiny. And He desires for you to feel good about yourself and your relationship with Him. There’s no comparison Insecure people tend to com- pare themselves with other peo- ple and feel a need to “keep up” with them. For years I tried to be like everybody else. I tried to be steady and easy-going like my husband, Dave. Then I tried to be like my pastor’s wife, who was super sweet and sensitive. But the truth is that we are only anointed to be ourselves! For example, it’s amazing how excited you can be about your prayer life until you happen to compare notes with someone else who gets up before daylight each morning and prays for four hours. Now, if you don’t know who you are in Christ, you suddenly feel like your prayer life is noth- ing. Then, just to keep up, you frustrate yourself trying to do What are you looking at? Too many times we look at ourselves when we should be looking at God. We focus on all of our own weaknesses, and be- fore we know it, we are timid, fearful, and convinced that ev- erything is too hard to accom- plish. If this is you, then Philippi- ans 3:3 can change your life. It says to “…put no confi dence or dependence [on what we are] in the fl esh….” Some people look at their weaknesses and think, I could never do something great for God. Then there are others who look at their own strengths and think, I don’t need help…I can do this on my own. Regardless of what we can or cannot do, God wants all of our confi dence to be in Him. Because the truth is, apart from Him, we can do nothing! David was one person who knew who he was in Christ. The entire army of Israel was too frightened to fi ght the giant, Go- liath. But David wasn’t. Why? Because he was looking at God and not himself. He knew that his God could do anything. As a result, he walked straight out to the battlefi eld and killed Goliath with a stone and a slingshot. You, too, can have this “Da- vid” kind of confi dence. You can become a giant-killer when you learn who you are Christ. Make a bold move lieve Him for big things. Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able to “…do superabundant- ly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infi nitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].” I believe God is just waiting for some of you to boldly step out and ask Him for things that go beyond your mind or what you think is possible. Our in- securities will make us feel like we’re not worthy to even ask. But remember, in God’s econ- omy, you don’t get what you deserve—you get what Jesus deserves! Wherever you are in your journey with the Lord, He wants you to know that you are right with Him. You may not be per- fect, but God sees you as per- fect because of His Son. And because of this, you can go for- ward with boldness, joy and the divine confi dence you need to fulfi ll your destiny. God wants you to feel good about yourself. He wants you to be bold, to be fearless — to be- Protect your world Auto • Home • Life • Retirement Call me today to discuss your options. Jfd\ g\fgc\ k_`eb 8ccjkXk\ fecp gifk\Zkj pfli ZXi%Kilk_`j#8ccjkXk\ZXeXcjfgifk\Zkpfli_fd\ fiXgXikd\ek#pfliYfXk#dfkfiZpZc\$\m\epfli i\k`i\d\ek Xe[ pfli c`]\% 8e[ k_\ dfi\ f] pfli nfic[ pfl glk `e >ff[ ?Xe[j# k_\ dfi\ pfl ZXejXm\% ERIK BENSON 541-942-2605 (*'>8K<N8P9CM; :FKK8><>IFM< \i`bY\ejfe7XccjkXk\%Zfd Insurance subject to terms, qualifications and availability. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co. Life insurance and annuities issued by Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Lincoln, NE, Allstate Life Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. In New York, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Hauppauge, NY. Northbrook, IL. © 2010 Allstate Insurance Co. 113896 Gain the confi dence of knowing who you are in Christ what they are doing. How do I know? Because this happened to me years ago. As a result, I got myself a clock, locked myself in a room and declared to everyone, “I’m go- ing to pray for four hours a day! I’m not coming out of here, and you can’t come in!” Everything went well until I fell asleep fi ve minutes after I began. God made you an original, and He has a unique plan just for you. Comparing yourself to others just leads to frustration. But having the confi dence and freedom to be yourself leads to peace and joy.
