Environmental Federation of Oregon

Did you know that the city of Portland has saved $350 million by protecting water quality? Since clean river water doesn't require processing through a costly filtration system, economic savings is one of the benefits the Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC) foresees as a result of its new "Oregon Wild Campaign." With the goal of protecting Oregon's last remaining pristine public forests, the campaign will map these healthy forest ecosystems and advocate for their protection. Wild forests provide better water filtration, as untouched, intact forest streams are not as plagued by silt that runs off from roads and landslides, thus maintaining a healthy water supply for people and salmon.

Most of us know well the pleasures of a mountain hike or a stroll on the beach. But for some urban children these simple pleasures are unattainable. The Sierra Club's "Inner City Outings" program reaches out to needy adolescents, inviting them to participate in snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, camping and hiking. These children learn a variety of skills for outdoor activities, gain self-esteem and confidence, develop leadership skills, and gain an awareness of the value of the natural environment. This year's participants have been camping near the Oregon Coast and hiking along the Columbia River Gorge.

Many of us are nostalgic for certain aspects of city life from the "olden days," such as a convenient walk to the corner store, a chat with neighbors in the town square, or a dip in a nearby river. For today's city dwellers, such simple joys are often associated with small-town living, and have been replaced by a frazzled freeway trip to a big box store. Some visionaries, however, hope to take what's best from the past and carry it into the future.

In 1994, Robert Liberty, the executive director of 1,000 Friends of Oregon, invited Myron Orfield to speak to the environmental and planning communities in Portland. A former state representative in the Minnesota legislature, Orfield is a demographer who specializes in the evolution of urban areas. In his talk Orfield outlined a pattern of urban decay resulting in sprawl in outlying areas, a loss of open space and, in the opinion of some, a deteriorated sense of community. From this concern, the Coalition for a Livable Future was born. The goal of the Coalition is "to protect, restore and maintain healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities, both human and natural, for the benefit of present and future residents," explains Zack Semke, program coordinator for the Coalition. "At a certain point it became clear that there were many different organizations and individuals worried about the effects of decay and sprawl, and that our work was connected. We were each working on a different piece of the puzzle, and we all needed to work together," says Semke.

The Coalition for a Livable Future incorporated the ideas and expertise of environmental groups such as 1000 Friends of Oregon, Audubon Society of Portland, The Wetlands Conservancy, Tualatin Riverkeepers and Oregon Environmental Council with social service agencies, churches, neighborhood associations, planners and architects. Mike Houck, an urban naturalist with the Audubon Society of Portland, suggests that the challenges faced by America's cities call for a rewrite of an oft-cited quote of Henry David Thoreau. Rather than pursuing the ideal that "in wilderness is the preservation of the Earth," we should direct our energy to cities. "In livable cities is the preservation of the wild," Houk declares. According to Semke, the Coalition's efforts "are fueled by the philosophical realization that the social problems of the city are often connected to environmental problems; that running away from social challenges in the city can lead to sprawl and, in turn, the depletion of valuable natural resources."

The connection between urban planning and environmental protection became most obvious this spring with the listing of steelhead on the lower Willamette as an endangered species. "It brings the Endangered Species Act to the metropolitan region," says Houck. To live up to its potential to become a sustainable community, the Portland metropolitan region now faces the question of how to protect the wild at its own door. Sustainability is defined by the Coalition as promoting a future "that meets today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs." "Simply put," says Friends of Trees executive director Lin Harmon Walker, "sustainability means learning how we can live in harmony with the environment." "For Friends of Trees," Harmon-Walker adds, "this means looking at how to take care of our part of the urban forest watershed." An urban forest watershed has three components: the hard structure of streets, sidewalks and culverts, the tree canopy, and the watershed itself. "Without the houses and streets, the bones of the city are a network of streams feeding into the Columbia and Willamette watersheds," notes Harmon-Walker. "You can walk along a neighborhood street and see little rivulets that run toward a creek. If you think about it, that's a tributary!" Trees contribute to the health of a watershed by absorbing water, reducing erosion, and reducing the impact of storms on the storm water system. Neighborhoods with trees are not just prettier to look at; they are often cleaner and safer.

The idea of urban sustainability reaches across many disciplines. "Think globally, act locally" is a popular aphorism with roots in the sustainability movement. This fall the Solar Energy Association of Oregon (SEAO) will host the man who coined that phrase, David Morris, the founder and president of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. His presentation is part of SEAO's annual conference, this year titled, "Solar and Renewable Energy: Coming of Age." "The conference has a dual mission: to keep moving forward on policies promoting renewable energy and to provide hands-on tools for what to do at home," explains Glen Friedman, an architect, solar designer and member of SEAO. "Sustainability is not just about energy. It's about looking at the community holistically," explains Friedman. "Did you know that eastern Oregon receives 85% as much solar radiation as New Mexico? We could be a state that is energy independent if we took advantage of this reality." "It's not a question of the environment versus jobs," says Friedman. "It's the environment and jobs. We're creating new kinds of jobs when we develop renewable energy sources."

Why are people making a mad rush for Oregon? Why, despite the rain--which used to be a deterrent--are more and more people flocking to this state? When asked, people often give answers such as, "It's so pretty here," or "I came to visit and got a taste of the mountains and rivers and just couldn't leave," or "Traffic just got so unbearable in New York." Livable cities just don't happen by accident, however; as Oregonians have discovered. It takes a vision and the will to implement it. One of Oregon's most celebrated tools in the effort toward livability has been Metro, a regional governing body whose authority comes from the state's land use laws. "One of our primary values is to avoid sprawling growth into precious land and farmland," states Pam Wilson, public relations officer for Metro. Created by public vote in 1978, Metro opened its doors in 1979, and today stands as the only elected regional government in the United States. It provides the 24 cities and 3 counties within its jurisdiction an extraordinary tool for regional planning.

Metro's positive impact has not gone unnoticed, as other states across the country grapple with how to remain livable under the mounting pressures of growth, particularly in the West. Portland, the largest city within Metro's scope, is often upheld as a model in its approach to handling growth, illustrated in a 1996 New York Times article:

"...as 6 of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the nation come of age in the West, spilling into forests, deserts and mountain valleys, the only urban area that appears to be most consciously trying to shape itself as a new kind of American city is Portland."

It was, in fact, the existence of Metro that helped spur the collaboration between environmental and social service agencies in the Coalition for a Livable Future. "We recognized that we had an on-going governmental process to plug into," recalls Zack Semke, program coordinator for the Coalition. "Metro is special because it's the only planning authority in the nation that's accountable to the voters." As the Portland area struggles to reach sustainability in transportation, housing, energy, and environmental protection, Metro will act as the regional authority overseeing and guiding each of the local jurisdictions within its boundaries. In December 1997, the Metro Council adopted the Regional Framework Plan, which delineates the objectives and guidelines for the area's future growth and resource management. "The framework is really a blueprint for the region's livability, setting out how people will work together in the region and how they want the region to grow," says Wilson.

Metro's reach extends beyond land use planning to encompass a broader scope of projects affecting community livability. If you have been to the zoo lately, the Memorial Coliseum, or the convention center, you've benefited from a Metro project. Wherever you turn in Portland, you'll find a building, a transfer station, or an open space managed by Metro. "We're responsible for everything from the zoo to garbage, landfill to green spaces," says Katie Dowdall, the coordinator of Metro's charitable giving campaign. "Metro's mission is 'helping build livable communities,' and even our charitable giving campaign-which has a goal of healthy people living in healthy environments-is an extension of that."

Although livability can be defined many different ways; and what is good planning for some is another person's eyesore; one thing is clear: what Oregon's got, other people want. The challenge ahead will be to maintain the very beauty and uniqueness that draws people here in the first place.

You've guessed it. As soon as you see those yellow school buses rounding the corner, and begin to think about raking leaves, it's about time to expect the Environmental Federation of Oregon to visit your workplace, whether it be in the form of posters and brochures, or a personal presentation to update you on the important work that EFO's member groups are doing throughout Oregon. Through your workplace's charitable giving campaign, EFO makes it easy and affordable to support a range of community organizations working to preserve Oregon's natural heritage, livability, and the health and well-being of its citizens. Campaigns will open in over 60 workplaces this fall. Your record level of giving to EFO last year supported our member groups' efforts to:

Thank you for contributing to these efforts. We look forward to your participation again this year.

Lucy Vinis's relationship with EFO and its fortuitous beginning has brought vital opportunities to EFO's Lane County conservation community. When first asked in 1992 to coordinate Lane County's campaign activities, Vinis, then a week away from delivering her second son, happily agreed. On the day of her first meeting with EFO's Eugene-based member groups, Vinis called with a late-breaking report: "The good news is that I have just given birth to a healthy baby boy. The bad news is that I can't chair a meeting for EFO this afternoon." Under this good omen, Vinis set about making things happen in Lane County, wearing many hats in the process. Her involvement has ranged from managing volunteers and coordinating charitable giving campaigns to planning marketing activities and building new corporate partnerships, to say nothing of writing EFO's newsletter!

As an entomologist, writer and consultant on agricultural and natural resource issues, Vinis came to EFO through the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP). "NCAP was looking for someone to fulfill its volunteer commitment to EFO, and I was eager to get to know the environmental community, having just moved to Oregon from the east coast," explains Vinis. The work suits her. "Working with EFO has given me a chance to collaborate with a tremendous group of local volunteers, and has provided me with a great vehicle for getting to know Eugene," says Vinis. "And EFO has made a lot of progress along the way."

With her EFO corps in Eugene, Vinis has succeeded every year in adding at least one new workplace to EFO's campaign, and she has periodically brought the organization into media spotlight. In 1995, upon Lucy's suggestion, EFO entered the Eugene Celebration parade. "With dozens of costumed representatives from environmental organizations twirling inflatable globes and singing, 'We've got the whole world in our hands,' we attracted applause from the crowd and the lead in the front page story of the Eugene Register-Guard," Vinis laughs. "It was our most successful PR move." Vinis notes, "There's so much potential support for EFO here in Eugene. Our biggest problem is that the more we do, the more opportunities present themselves, and the more there is to do! More campaigns means more presentations and more marketing. It's great to be part of it." EFO is lucky to have her. "Lucy's contribution to EFO's Lane County campaigns has been invaluable," says Sandi Scheinberg, campaign director at EFO. "And she not only gives to us, she gives to her family, her school system, and the environmental community at large. She manages it all with such energy and ease. It's inspiring," Scheinberg adds.

In July, Milot Kelly, EFO's new administrative assistant, joined Sarah Sameh, Sandi Scheinberg, and Jim Jacks in the EFO office. Milot is taking over as a part-time administrative assistant responsible for keeping EFO running smoothly, while her predecessor, Jim Jacks, moves into a full-time role as volunteer coordinator and campaign assistant. "Milot comes to us with great organizational skills, experience working in a team setting, and a dedication to conservation," says Sarah Sameh, EFO's executive director. Jim will take over responsibility for coordinating and motivating EFO's volunteer network and supporting the fundraising campaigns. "It's a great opportunity," Jacks explains. "I get to work with 28 different environmental groups, while facilitating the involvement of volunteers from the workplace who want to get involved with conservation."

All this exciting change is not without loss. EFO is sad to say farewell to Betsy Toll, who is leaving to commit herself more fully to her family and her individual role as an activist. "I still want to stay connected to EFO," she explains, "but the varied needs of my multi-generational family are driving me to reprioritize what I'm doing." Betsy is credited with expanding the EFO volunteer program into an effective and professional force supporting EFO's work. We thank her for her important contribution and look forward to crossing paths in the future.

This year, please consider making a leadership gift to EFO's campaign. With an annual contribution of $500 or more (the equivalent to a cup of coffee a day!), you will be recognized as a Leadership Giver and, more important, know that you have made a significant contribution preserving Oregon's natural heritage for today and future generations. If you have ever enjoyed a stroll in a park, a rafting trip down a wild river, or the call of birds in an ancient forest, you appreciate the value of our natural landscape and the importance of preserving it. Call EFO at (503) 223-9015 for more details.

1000 Friends of Oregon, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, Audubon Society of Portland, Central Oregon Environmental Center, Corvallis Environmental Center, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Friends of Opal Creek, Friends of Trees, Headwaters, National Wildlife Federation, Native Plant Society of Oregon, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives of Pesticides, Northwest Earth Institute, Oregon Environmental Council, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Oregon Natural Resources Council Fund, Ospirg Education Fund, Oregon Trout, Pacific Rivers Council, Recycling Advocates, River Network, Solar Energy Association of Oregon, The Nature Conservancy of Oregon, The Sierra Club Foundation, The Wetlands Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Tualatin Riverkeepers, WaterWatch of Oregon