ROP Member Groups

As organizers and activists, we have an important vocation, and we take it seriously. Sometimes this means that we have to put our heads down and get caught in a flurry of meetings, actions, and activity. But it is also important to take time to celebrate the cycle of organizing – to celebrate our victories, reinvigorate ourselves, and feed our organizing spirits.

There are a few opportunities – 3 to be exact – for this organizing “food” coming up that we wanted to share with all you ROPers. These are great opportunities to network, meet new folks and learn new skills from some of the best. Please contact amanda@rop.org or call 503-543-8417 to let us know if you’d like to attend any of the marvelous events below!

Rural Caucus & Strategy Session

Albany, OR * April 10th, 2010

This year's Rural Caucus & Strategy Session was a beautiful affair generously hosted by Albany Peace Seekers, with over 130 people, representing human dignity groups in over 26 counties, and an almost electric sense of energy, innovation and possibility. 

We're compiling notes from the day, feedback and reflections from participants, and developing our next steps out of the visioning that happened.  For now, here's a snapshot of the day to whet your appetite...

I adore the Census; for me, filling it out was a snatch up my form, run to apartment and fill it out with a giddiness normally reserved for a beautiful day kind of excitement. It's amazing! People are sent around the country to count literally every single person (281 million people at last count, now...who knows!) And then, funds & political representation are dispersed accordingly. As someone who attempts to establish basic infrastructure for a living, let me say, that is an impressive system. The scope is incredible.

The census is exactly as it appears - an unprofitable, time consuming affair - and we do it anyway, because we value uncovering the face of what our nation looks like. Despite my personal glee, in truth the census is one of many systems used to oppress people of color, queers and the poor throughout our nation's history. This year, we have the opportunity to be counted and to make sure the data collectors are accurately portraying our communities as robust, diverse and evolving.

Is this what YOU see when you look at our movement in rural Oregon? 

·    Scores of people mapped the change that they wanted to see onto Obama’s call for change.  Those people have not gone away.  They are still there, along with their longing for change, but our movement has not yet been able to become the container that can engage them.  What can we do to build this container?  Is the human dignity group still a viable way to structure and hold local movement centers in rural Oregon? 

This is about the future, in two parts: 

Part 1 - you are invited to join our ROP Tech Team & Part 2 - we want to help all Human Dignity Groups out there join the new media revolution!

If you're feeling confused about all the different provisions of the economic stimulus and how you might benefit from them, you're not the only one.  ROP member group Blackberry Pie Society out of Cottage Grove in Lane County decided to sort through the details and figure out which parts of the stimulus regular community members might be interested in knowing about.

They write, "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Obama signed on February 17th, contains provisions designed to help you and your community."

Often it feels like the wheels of justice turn oh-so-slowly.  Sometimes they even seem to roll backwards.  But now, at least one wheel is turning relatively quickly.  With another push or two from all of us in rural Oregon, we can help ensure just a little more justice for victims of hate crimes.

We are planning a garden at the ROP house, 33421 SW Maple in Scappoose,  across from the Middle School. We hope that a community-tended garden  of ornamentals, fruit bearing plants, and raised vegetable beds will be a great way to inspire adults, children, and creatures, and demonstrate the values of cooperation.  Please consider donating materials to this project.