June 16th, 2015
Dear Friends of ROP,
There are so many of us who have been touched by ROP’s Founder, Marcy Westerling, who died of ovarian cancer on June 10th, 2015. A fierce organizer, a visionary and a movement leader, Marcy brought many of us into justice work or inspired us to lead in our communities. This past weekend at the Rural Caucus & Strategy Session, we shared stories and inspiration that we draw from Marcy and her life’s work and committed ourselves to carrying this work forward.
At ROP, we are deeply committed to carrying on Marcy’s legacy. There are four ways you can join us:
Share your story of how Marcy made a difference
Make a financial contribution to the Marcy Westerling Legacy Fund
Attend the Memorial for Marcy later this summer
Most important: Continue the work for justice in our communities!
Tributes to Marcy: Honoring Marcy’s legacy begins with honoring her countless contributions to her community, to rural Oregon, to organizing, to movement building. ROP is collecting and compiling tributes to Marcy for publication and to share on our website. Please send us your stories, however simple or elaborate, about how Marcy has made a difference in your life and your organizing.
How did she inspire you to become engaged in justice work?
What difference has she made in your community
No contribution is too small or big. Email cara@rop.org to share your tribute to Marcy Westerling.
Marcy Westerling Legacy Fund: ROP is proud to announce the creation of the Marcy Westerling Legacy Fund. Over 20 years ago, Marcy Westerling’s passion and organizing brilliance sparked a movement for human dignity. The Marcy Westerling Legacy Fund honors Marcy’s life work. It will extend Marcy’s legacy here in Oregon through ROP’s county-by-county organizing, building and growing the grassroots network of pro-democracy human dignity groups.
In addition, projects of the Marcy Westerling Legacy Fund will document and share lessons from over two decades of organizing in rural Oregon, serving as a touchstone for decades of future rural organizers and leaders. Initial projects include Rural Organizing Voices, a resource of rural organizing stories and strategies, and the establishment of a Marcy Westerling Collection at the University of Oregon.
ROP and the human dignity network around the state are a living legacy and testament to Marcy’s work for justice. The Board and staff of ROP are humbled and honored to continue the work in Marcy’s name. If you would like to make a memorial donation to the Marcy Westerling Legacy Fund, do so online here. Or send a check to: ROP PO Box 1350 Scappoose, OR 97056 **Please include Marcy Westerling Legacy Fund in the memo.
Memorial for Marcy Westerling: A Memorial for Marcy will be planned for later this summer and all who have been touched by her are invited to join us as we celebrate her life and honor her leadership and her organizing. More details to come soon.
Continue the work for justice: Thank you to all of you who have shared your thoughts, memories, condolences and inspirations. The work we do together in our communities for justice is how we can best honor Marcy and her legacy. Thank you for all the ways you move forward a vision of democracy and human dignity in your community. Marcy Westerling presente!
With love and gratitude,
Cara & Jessica
PS – If you want to let others know about Marcy and how they can support her legacy, send them to www.rop.org/legacy.