Oregon Rural Action Chapters
Focused on working to solve local issues, Oregon Rural Action works to establish chapters in communities throughout rural Oregon. The following chapters have been established and are currently working on issuse that face their community:
Baker County Chapter
Baker County Chapter formed in 2004. Baker County members have worked on issues ranging from encouraging curbside recycling to producing a regional guide to local food and farm products. These members have also dedicated much of their time to support the development of local renewable energy resources by running members in campaigns for Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) board positions and offering educational seminars.
Join us the second Monday of every month to become involved with the Baker County Chapter. Contact andrea@oraction.org for time and place.
Blue Mountain Chapter
The Blue Mountain Chapter formed in 2001. Union County members have worked on many different issues over the years. Interest has centered around three main topics: healthy local food and sustainable agriculture, locally generated renewable energy, responsible and sustainable land use and planning, land conservation and preservation of open spaces.
Join us at our next monthly meeting at our La Grande office -- 1118 Adams Avenue - first Wednesdays at noon! See calendar for details about issue team meetings and evening gatherings.
Snake River Chapter
The Snake River Chapter formed in 2003. Members in Malheur County have centered their work around social justice issues. Beginning with fair water billing and moving on to language access for Spanish speakers, increasing the donated food supply to area food banks, and improving the participation rates of those low-income individuals who are eligible for food stamps.
Join us the third Thursday of every month to become involved with the Snake River Chapter. Contact andrea@oraction.org for time and place.
Umatilla County Chapter
coming soon!
Grant County Chapter
coming soon!
Blue Mountains Conservancy
Oregon's newest locally-based land trust has been formed as a part of Oregon Rural Action. The Blue Mountains Conservancy desires to create a viable alternative in which vital forest and agricultural land can be saved in perpetuity from development for future generations to enjoy. With no prior locally-based land trust organizations in Union or Baker County, our organization has stepped up to fill this crucial need in preserving our wildlife corridors and habitat, agricultural land, open spaces, public access and recreational opportunities, and our rural setting and way of life. Among other projects, we are working on a conservation based acquisition of 3,700 acres on Mt. Emily in which we are negotiating with multiple conservation funding sources to secure this vital and historical local recreation area.
Oregon Farmers' Market Promotion Project
Oregon Rural Action has partnered with the Oregon Farmers' Markets Association (OFMA) to support the expansion and stabilization of this statewide market association. This project is designed to support OFMA in its transition from an all-volunteer structure to a full-fledged non-profit organization with a paid employee and the capacity to provide programs and services that support Oregon's burgeoning and often tenuous farmers' markets. Through organizational development, new collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the farmers and markets it serves, OFMA will chart a broader course, addressing individual as well as common challenges and opportunities they face. We appreciate this opportunity to develop relationships throughout the state and bring the voice of rural communities to the statewide conversation about the importance of local food systems.
