Oregon Rural Action's Annual Gathering is September 26th!

[shaunm...@gmail.com]

Hello Locavores!

I just wanted to let you know that Oregon Rural Action's Annual
Gathering in La Grande is fast approaching on the 26th of this month.
We'd love to have you there, but we'd like to have everyone RSVP so
that we know how many are coming and how many plan to stay for the
delicious local food meal (catered by Chef Merlyn Baker of Foley
Station!). I've included the press release below and you can also go
to our website at http://www.oregonrural.org/annual-gathering-2009 to
learn more and register.

Hope to see you there and keep up the great work of keeping things
local!
Shaun


September 17, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Karl Sutton, Organizer, Oregon Rural Action: 541-975-2411,
ka...@oregonrural.org
Shaun Daniel, Communications Director, Oregon Rural Action:
541-234-6759, sh...@oregonrural.org

Building Wealth in Local Communities: A Program for Change
Annual Gathering to Feature Facilitator Jeff Goebel, Local Food, Live
Music, Dancing

LA GRANDE, OR -- As Oregon wrestles with the second highest
unemployment rate in the country and rural communities search for
solutions to economic hardship, Oregon Rural Action will celebrate the
previous year at its eighth Annual Gathering on September 26, and
anticipate the future with a day of interactive discussion, first
focusing on "Building Wealth in Local Communities."

The program will be facilitated by Jeff Goebel, a veteran facilitator
in consensus-building and an expert in human development. This will be
followed by a locally-grown food feast, silent auction, live music,
dancing, and friendly conversation.

At its gathering in 2008, Oregon Rural Action hosted renowned farmer
and author Joel Salatin and engaged participants in considering the
opportunities and challenges for "Building a Food System that Works."
This year, participants will build on those ideas and take part in
envisioning a sustainable future for our communities, ultimately
developing the practical solutions for achieving that vision.

Goebel's community-based approach involves developing a holistic
vision and using a decision-making process that emphasizes financial
planning for the triple bottom-line: people, profit, and planet. Among
the many success stories, this program has allowed a government at a
large Indian reservation to double land treatments while cutting costs
by $1 million annually; a national forest to attain its goals by 126%;
and a county in Eastern Oregon to have a 93% “new business” success
rate over 5 years. (Source: Goebel & Associates, www.aboutlistening.com)

"I found Jeff Goebel’s help teaching to be invaluable,” says Bill
Thompson, an educator and former manager of the Challenges and Choices
Project, “Combining a thorough understanding of Holistic Management
and of a successful collaborative decision making process, Jeff helped
our people in the field to create positive change in their home
communities."

Oregon Rural Action is a community-based organization with local
chapters in Union, Baker, Malheur, and Umatilla counties. Its mission
is to bring people together to build strong communities by promoting
social justice, agricultural and economic sustainability, and the
stewardship of the region’s land, air, and water.

Date: September 26, 2009
Time: Starting at 2pm and ending with dancing into the evening hours
Location: Riveria Activity Center, 2609 2nd Street, La Grande, Oregon
97850

Additional Information:
Contact Jeff Goebel at 541-610-7084 or email
goe...@aboutlistening.com.
More information on the Annual Gathering – including carpooling,
childcare and lodging – available at www.oregonrural.org/annual-gathering-2009.
The “Building Wealth” program from 2-6pm is free of charge, though
RSVP is still requested.
Registration for the local food dinner and dancing is available online
or by calling 541-975-2411. The cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-
members, and $10 for students.
Free, fun and educational childcare will be available.

###