Dear Friend,

Can you believe it's already the middle of November? The election is finally over, the holiday season is just around the corner, and the next Oregon legislative session will be here before we know it. You can expect to receive our preview of the upcoming session soon. In addition to continuing to work to advance policies that will help with wildfire recovery and increase public participation in land use planning processes, we're gearing up to help welcome newly-elected representatives in Salem and elsewhere, and to orient them to Oregon's land use planning program.

Some of them won't need our orientation, though, because they are already graduates of our Land Use Leadership Initiative (LULI). In addition, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District's newest board member is none other than our very own Working Lands Engagement Coordinator, Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky. Congratulations, everyone! Speaking of LULI, as this year's Southern Oregon cohort wraps up its course of study, we're busy finalizing the curriculum for our next two cohorts, one in the Willamette Valley and one in the Portland Metro region. Keep an eye out in early 2021 if you're interested in participating.

We're also just about a month away from opening up the application window for our one-of-a-kind Gerhardt Internship. Our current wildfire and farmland reports and action plans were the result of two of those recent internships, and we'll be completing the circle with a ranch lands report in the coming months, produced in large part by this year's Gerhardt Intern, Haley Dallas. I hope you'll take the time to read the work of these incredible young people. If your internship years are long behind you, but you are a forester, farmer, or rancher, please consider joining our Farmer Advisory Committee. (If you're already a FAC member, thank you!)

Wildfire, farming, ranching. Transportation, housing, infrastructure. Public participation, natural resources, the economy of the state. As we begin to approach the end of this very unusual year, land use issues abound on every side of Oregon's urban growth boundaries, touching on nearly all of Oregon's 19 land use planning goals. For 46 years, 1000 Friends of Oregon has been there to uphold them all, and we'll continue to be there in the years to come. Last but not least, then, I want to take a moment to say thank you for the abundance of support you provide. Our work is possible because of you, and the impact you make is extraordinary. You can see how in our brand-new, revised-and-expanded 2020 Annual Report. Scroll down to the articles below for a special link to have a peek before the official public release.

Thank you for being a Friend!

For Oregon,

Executive Director

P.S. Please note that our offices remain closed while my staff and I remain fully accessible by phone and email from our home offices. Please feel free to contact us at any time.