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The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2011
Between the Bookends
by Nancy Burch, Librarian
Vernonia Public Library
It’s been an exciting and rewarding
year for those of us associated with the li-
brary. The two grants (Columbia County
Cultural Coalition for expanding our Com-
munity Reads 2012, and Meyer Memorial
Trust for converting newspaper microfilm
to digital format) will both significantly
benefit the community in ways that would
not have been possible without the gen-
erosity of these two organizations. The li-
brary was delighted to have been able to host two lively discus-
sions (Controversial Ballot Initiatives of Oregon and Censorship
in Literature) through the Conversation Project of Oregon Hu-
manities. Author Robin Cody honored us with a visit to discuss his
book, Another Way the River Has, for our Community Reads for
2011.
Summer Reading was a huge success this year due to the en-
thusiasm and creativity of Jennifer Moloney, Linda Johnston and
all of the parent volunteers. This program receives significant
funding through a Ready to Read Grant from the State Library.
The After School program continues to have a large attendance
of excited youngsters.
We gratefully acknowledge the vital role played by the Friends
of the Library. Their support of programs with supplies, refresh-
ments, overnight lodging (when needed), and more, makes it
possible for these activities to continue in our community.
For the first time in many years, librarians in Columbia County
have been meeting to discuss and plan for the future. These
meetings have resulted in a County-wide Read for 2012 with a
western theme. Books have been chosen for the various age
ranges, and readers will be encouraged to read these choices —
Hearts of Horses, The Devil’s Paintbox, and The Captain’s Dog
— especially during the months of January and February. A flyer
with the activities taking place in the various libraries will be avail-
able shortly. We are pleased to announce that author Molly Gloss
(Hearts of Horses) will be visiting with us on Monday, February
27, 2012, in conjunction with this county-wide event.
Patrons have been generous in “adopting” books to be added
We wish
Wishing
you all
a very
Merry
Christmas
and a
Joyous New Year
✠☎✡☎✠☎✡☎✠☎✡☎✠☎✡☎✠
Vernonia Dental
Christopher M. Scheuerman, DMD
622 Bridge St., Vernonia • 503-429-0880
to the library’s collection. There are a few remaining on the dis-
play table for anyone wishing to give to the library during this hol-
iday season.
Regular programs for youngsters will be suspended until after
the first of the year, but movies will be shown on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, December 20, 21 and 22, and on
Tuesday, December 27. All of these movies will begin at 3:00 p.m.
The library will be closed on Saturday, December 24, and Satur-
day, December 31, and will be open on Monday, December 26
and Monday, January 2. The Friends of the Library will be meet-
ing Tuesday, January 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Book discussion group will meet Monday, January 30, to dis-
cuss Addition by Toni Jordan. Also, copies of Molly Gloss’s, The
Hearts of Horses, are available to read prior to her visit in Febru-
ary.
New acquisitions include Stephen King’s 11/22/63, Patricia
Cornwell’s Red Mist, Stephen Hunter’s Soft Target, and Michael
Connelly’s The Drop.
Library staff expresses our thanks to everyone who continues
to make the library and its programs a success, and we wish each
of you a peaceful, rewarding holiday season.
“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the
present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may over-
flow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to
peace.”
— Agnes M. Pahro
Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Avenue
Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tues., Thu. 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m.
when school is in session.
Phone: 503-429-1818
Internet: library@vernonia-or.gov
Attorney general releases list of
Oregon’s 20 worst charities
Oregon donors should avoid
giving to charities that spend
most of their funding on tele-
marketing and administration
Attorney General John
Kroger issued the annual list of
Oregon’s 20 Worst Charities on
December 14.
“Most charities in Oregon do
important work, helping the
needy and supporting worthy
causes,” said Attorney General
Kroger. “But generous Oregon
donors should be aware that
some non-profits are little more
than scams that provide little if
any help to the causes they
claim to support.”
In order to avoid being
duped by unscrupulous non-
profits, donors should review
the Department of Justice Tips
for Charitable Giving at www.
doj.state.or.us/charigroup .
State law requires charities
to file periodic financial reports
with the Oregon Department of
Justice disclosing how much
money the organization raised
and how the funds were spent.
The Department’s Charitable
Activities Section has identified
20 organizations that spent
more than 70% of the dona-
tions they collected on adminis-
trative costs and professional
fundraising.
While guidelines issued by
the Better Business Bureau
(BBB) suggest that charitable
organizations should spend at
least 65% of their funds on
charitable programs, every
charity on the Department of
Justice's list devoted less than
30% of their expenditures on
charitable program activities.
The Department of Justice
previously identified the state’s
20 Worst Charities in 2010 and
2009.
For the second year in a
row, Shiloh International Min-
istries topped the list. Shiloh In-
ternational Ministries claims to
solicit money to provide med-
ical necessities and moral sup-
port for needy children and to
provide assistance to the
homeless. According to its
most recent financial filings, the
California-based
non-profit
spent an average of $846,340
per year, 96.8% of which went
towards management and
fundraising.
No. 2 on the list is American
Medical Research Organiza-
tion, which claims that it raises
money to support medical re-
search on the cause, cure and
treatment of macular degener-
ation. The Florida-based non-
profit spent an annual average
of $783,217, just 4.2% of which
went towards its charitable pur-
pose.
The full list is available at
w w w. d o j . s t a t e . o r. u s / c h a r i
group/pdf/oregons_20_worst_c
harities_2011.pdf
There are currently more
than 17,000 charities regis-
tered with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Justice, and many of
them are actively seeking do-
nations. By law Attorney Gen-
eral Kroger cannot dictate how
charities spend your money,
but he is arming Oregonians
with some basic advice to en-
sure your gifts go to a worthy
cause.
Before donating to a charity,
it is important to make sure the
organization is registered with
the Attorney General’s Office
by searching the Department’s
online database or by calling
971-673-1880. You can also
visit www.guidestar.org, a na-
tional clearinghouse of infor-
mation on charities and their
performance.
Attorney General Kroger
also cautions Oregonians to
watch out for charities that
send solicitations thanking you
for your previous support or in-
voices claiming you made a re-
cent pledge when you didn't.
These methods are intentional-
ly confusing and dishonest
ways to obtain donations.
Consumers are advised
against giving out their person-
al information over the phone.
Legitimate charities will accept
contributions by check, which
should always be made
payable to the organization and
never the individual collecting
the donation.
The Oregon Department of
Justice Charitable Activities
Section is responsible for en-
suring that organizations solic-
iting funds in Oregon register
and file periodic financial re-
ports showing how donations
are spent. The section also
protects the public against or-
ganizations that attempt to mis-
lead Oregon donors or that
misuse charitable assets.