Oregon Voters Asked to Approve Private Casinos

The ballot measures in Oregon for the November 2012 election are an interesting mix of topics.  There are measures that deal with taxes, legalization of marijuana, regarding gill net fishing, and two about private casinos.

The two measures dealing with private casinos are Measure 82, which would amend the constitution to allow private casinos within the state and Measure 83, which asks if the site of the former Multnomah Kennel Club should be used as space for a private casino.  It should be noted that Measure 83, does not include specifics of a plan, it merely asks whether or not this specific location would be a good place for a casino.  Consequently developers would be free to make changes to the proposed casino.  There cannot be much of a discussion about gambling itself, since there is already gambling in the state.  The discussion must therefore focus on the merits versus negative impacts of the proposed casino.

The idea of a nontribal casino presents a number of issues.  The state of Oregon entered into agreements with each of the tribes that currently have a casino.  These tribes use the profits they make from the casinos to provide social services, such as education, health, housing, elder housing, drug and alcohol programs,  as well as other amenities to their communities.  Whether or not a new casino would seriously impact these casinos is a matter of concern

Another issue is now a new casino would impact the Oregon Lottery, which currently funds K-12 education, parks, wildlife, and economic development.  Out of every dollar spent on the Oregon Lottery, 65 cents goes to these programs.  The proposal for a private casino would give 25 cents of every dollar earned to the state.  It is suggested that the revenue generated by lottery outlets near the proposed casino would decline.

Among other concerns about a private casino is that a casino in the Portland metro area would cause an increase in traffic congestion on the eastside.  Some opponents believe that a casino in the metro area would mean an increase in the crime rate.  There are also concerns that a casino in the metro area would lead to an increase in gambling addiction.

Proponents of the casino plan to have more of a resort than simply a casino.  The proposed complex would also include a bowling alley, a movie theater, a water park, a hotel, and restaurants.  The casino itself would include 2,000 slot machines and between 60 and 100 gaming tables.  Proponents anticipate that after construction there will be 2,000 permanent jobs in the complex.  The complex would be built on the site of the old Multnomah Kennel Club (a former dog track) rejuvenating that facility.  The current casinos do not pay taxes; the estimate is that the new casino would generate $100 million a year for the state.

The private casinos are once again before Oregon voters who rejected them as recently as 2008.  It will be interesting to see if private casinos will finally be approved, since Oregon has allowed tribal casinos for a long time.

Resources:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57499671/oregon-casino-plans-unveiled-ahead-of-vote/

http://www.kptv.com/story/19356679/porposed-casino-planned-if-two-ballot-measures-pass

http://community.statesmanjournal.com/blogs/capitolwatch/2012/08/24/citizens-review-panel-opposes-measure-82-expanded-version

http://www.kpic.com/politics/Casino-proponents-launch-ad-citizen-panel-says-reject-Measure-82-167403605.html

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Design-for-proposed-Wood-Village-casino-Oregon-gambling-167220315.html

Will Fluoridated Water Come to Portland?

According to the Center for Disease Control, fluoridation of public water sources began in 1945 in the United States.  There has been controversy over its use throughout the 65 intervening years.  The question of whether or not fluoridation is safe continues to be raised.

Numerous groups have come forth on both sides of the argument.  Despite assurances of safety by the CDC, the federal government, the American Dental Association, and multiple other organizations people continue to have concerns about fluoridated water.  The NaturalNews Network (a not for profit international news organization), for instance, lists kidney damage, hypothyroidism, bone cancer, and certain disorders of the brain and nervous system as being caused by fluoride in public drinking water.

Statistics and studies show that there is little danger from water that is fluoridated at the recommended levels.  The current recommended fluoride level in public drinking water is between 0.7 and 1.2 milligrams per liter of water.  It is estimated that the toxic level of fluoride for a 155 pound individual would be 10 grams taken all at once.  This is between 10,000 and 20,000 times the amount in an eight ounce glass of water.

There is a valid concern that infants could receive more than the optimal amount of fluoride if they live in a community where fluoridation is on the high end and they are fed certain powdered infant formulas.  These formulas contain fluoride so when mixed with fluoridated water they exceed the recommended amounts.

Dental fluorosis, a condition where the enamel of the teeth is damaged by excess fluoride, is a problem that occurs in a very small portion of the population and usually in areas with naturally high fluoride water levels.  Skeletal fluorosis is something that is frequently mentioned by opponents of fluoridated water.  However, there have only been five documented cases in the past 30 years.  Cancer is also frequently mentioned as a result of fluoridation; however, this has not been shown to be accurate.

Two of the groups in the Portland area that are opposed to fluoridation are Oregon Citizens for Safe Drinking Water and urbanMamas.com – two groups from opposite ends of the political spectrum that believe that Portland should not fluoridate its water.  The concerns seem to center around fear of being harmed and economic concerns.

The estimate is that it will cost $5 million to add a fluoridation plant to the water system.  The cost thereafter will be about $575,000 a year, a rather large amount for our community.  A program that makes fluoride available to students, if they want to rinse their mouths out with it, in the public schools could be ended to provide some of the needed money.  This program probably should be ended anyway, since fluoridation is most beneficial before birth through age five years.

Oregonians and Portlanders in particular enjoy being “weird” and individualistic.  Having the choice to have their children receive fluoride taken from parents does not sit well here.  Over 70 percent of Americans drink fluoridated water, less than 25 percent of Oregonians do.  Being “weird” is hurting children’s teeth and health.  As things are now, parents who can afford to do so give their children daily doses of fluoride.  On the average, the children in Oregon have much higher rates of tooth decay than children in neighboring states.  Most low-income parents of preschool children do not have the funds to provide their children with dental care.  Having fluoride in the water would dramatically reduce the number of cavities in this group.

The safety of fluoridation will probably continue.  Scientific evidence indicates that a low level of fluoridation is not only safe, but cost effective as well.

Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/

http://www.naturalnews.com/030123_fluoride_babies.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_fluorosis

http://www.health.gov/environment/ReviewofFluoride/default.htm

http://www.fluoridedebate.com/question21.html

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Group-trying-to-stop-fluoridated-water-in-Portland-3807798.php

http://www.urbanmamas.com/urbanmamas/2012/08/water-fluoridation-in-portland-not-the-parents-choice.html

http://www.katu.com/politics/Adams-supports-adding-fluoride-to-Portland-water-166618366.html

 

Power Sources of the Future

Americans have become huge consumers of energy.  Our lives rotate more and more around activities that use electricity.  The question is, “Where will the energy we have come to depend upon come from in the future”?

The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) was established in 1975 with a daunting mission.  ODOE is supposed make sure that the people of Oregon have affordable, uninterrupted sources of energy.  It is to help the people learn to conserve energy, develop clean renewable energy sources, and clean up waste generated by past power sources.  Currently ODOE supports the exploration of several new sources of energy: solar, wind, wave, geothermal, and biomass.

Wave Energy
Capturing wave energy is in its infancy in the United States.  Europe is much farther along at developing this energy resource than the U.S.  Beginning in 2000, interest in harnessing wave energy began growing in Oregon.  More than $15 million has been spent on preparing to utilize this resource.   It appears to be a nearly perfect renewable resource; yet it is rapidly becoming a source of contention.  The areas required are enormous – one company asked the state for the use of 7,000 acres to search for a place to locate its converter.  Not only that, but the converter would stand three stores above the ocean’s surface and occupy a space 70 feet by 1,400 feet.  These converters need to be located within a few miles of the coast, causing difficulties for fishermen and eyesores for tourists.

The development of wave energy is surging ahead without having guidelines and rules in place.  There are many unknowns at this point such as how will the magnetic fields produced by the converters effect migratory birds, fish, and animals.

A site two and a half miles off the coast of Reedsport has already been prepared.  A PowerBuoy is in the final stages of assembly, and will soon be towed to Coos Bay where it will be rigged for deployment.  When that is complete it will be moved to its destination and connected to the system already in place.  During a trial period of unknown length, the PowerBuoy will use its computer system to adjust to the changing wave motion and provide data to engineers.  Eventually the company wants to have ten buoys in a ‘wave park’ at this location.  Interestingly, hearings will be held on the project beginning Oct. 25 at Reedsport City Hall.

Biomass Energy
Everyone is familiar with this type of energy.  We use it when we burn wood to heat our homes.  Biomass is actually any type of organic material: wood chips, pulp sludge from wood-processing facilities, agricultural crops, and animal manure just to name a few.  Biomass can be converted into electricity, steam, or gas.  It can be used to produce methane, ethanol, biodiesel, or methanol to run machinery.  Most exciting is the fact that it can be used in place of petrochemicals to make clothing and plastics.

Many people are concerned about the carbon that is released when biomass is processed.  However, if new plants are planted to replace those processed, they will remove the carbon from the atmosphere.  Producing biomass energy is considered carbon neutral for this reason.  The concern for scientists is that crops to produce biomass energy will replace crops needed for food in underdeveloped countries.

Additionally, care must be taken to reduce the impact harvesting these crops have on the land.

There are several biomass converters in Oregon that together produced over 27 trillion Btu.  There is only one plant in Oregon that converts municipal waste to electricity.  It has been operating since 1986, in Brooks.  It is estimated that the facility produces about 1.7 trillion Btu and generated 99.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Geothermal Energy
There are several places in the state where geothermal energy is used to heat to buildings, swimming pools, and resorts.  Currently, there is no electricity being generated from geothermal energy in Oregon.  It appears that will be changing in the near future.  U.S. Geothermal Inc. plans to complete a 26 megawatt plant at Neal Hot Springs near Vale.  In 2013, Nevada Geothermal anticipates having a 30 megawatt plant at Crump Geyser near Adel.

Wind Energy
Wind energy seems like it would be a clean energy source.  During 2011, over ten percent of the state’s energy came from wind farms. However, some pollution is produced in the manufacture of the turbines that produce the energy.  The turbines mar the landscape and produce a great deal of noise. Worst of all, winds are unpredictable; sometimes they are storm strength and sometimes they are still.

The turbines, when located on raptor migration routes, confuse the birds and they become lost.  A small number of bats are killed by barotraumic stress (reduction in air pressure that damages their hearts and lungs).  Unfortunately, bats are killed by the white noise produced by the turbines, over 300,000 bats in a single cave.

Solar Power
Solar power seems to be the cleanest of the emerging power sources.  Environmental groups would like Oregon to be getting ten percent of its energy from solar sources by 2025.  This seems entirely possible since Germany, which produces more solar power than any other country, has less sunlight per year than Oregon.  While Oregon leads the nation in solar manufacturing, it does not implement this technology on any meaningful amount.

However, solar energy does have downsides.  Although solar units can be installed on top of existing buildings and built into new constructions, true solar farms take up a lot of space.  It would take a 100 mile square of land in a place like Arizona or New Mexico to provide enough solar energy for the nation.  The environmental impact would be tremendous, unless land already damaged by mining or other such functions could be utilized.  Strategies need to be developed to deal with the inevitable damage to solar panels, which contain oils and molten salts that are hazardous, before any large-scale production of solar energy can be undertaken.

New ways of producing energy are being developed that have the potential to replace the use of fossil fuels in the production of energy.  In our everyday lives Americans consume tremendous amounts of electricity.  In order to maintain our standard of living into the future, Americans need to develop conservation methods and utilize other methods of producing energy as soon as possible.

Resources:
http://forcechange.com/29507/harness-oregons-solar-energy-potential/
http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/positive-negative-effects-solar-energy-2684.html
http://cms.oregon.gov/energy/RENEW/Pages/about_us.aspx
http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/wind8.htm
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-biomass-energy-works.html
http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/articles/advantages_and_disadvantages_of_wind_energy.html

Click to access Reedsport-Newsletter_Jul-2012_Vol-2.pdf

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/wind_power_makes_gains_in_oreg.html
http://www.crbizjournal.com/news/article_006b1184-d83e-11e1-a199-0019bb2963f4.html
http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/07/wave-energy-controversy-swells-in-oregon.html
http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/02/oregon-wave-energy-trust-opens-grant.html
http://www.oregonwave.org/

Vegetable Farming in the Willamette Valley in Danger

Canola, originally named rape, has been grown for human use for hundreds if not thousands of years.  It is grown for the oil in its seeds, which can be used for food, to produce bio-diesel and other industrial products and even be added to animal feeds.  There are arguments about its safety when used for cooking, these may or may not be valid.  However, an indisputable danger comes from its pollen.

An Oregon State University study published in 2006, “Outcrossing Potential for Brassica Species and Implications for Vegetable Crucifer Seed Crops of Growing Oilseed Brassicas in the Willamette Valley,” (http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/6304/SR%20no.%201064_OCR.pdf) makes it clear that growing canola for seed would be a disaster for the farmers growing vegetable seeds in the Willamette Valley.   Canola can cross breed with many vegetables, such as radishes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, kohlrabi, kale, and other crops.

The Willamette Valley is one of the best places on earth that is ideal for growing specialty seeds and maintaining seed purity.  The seeds produced here are sold to farmers all over the world.  Seed production brings over $32 million into the state each year, if the invasive canola is planted, it would end organic seed productions in the Valley.  Not only that, but it would make fresh market vegetables unacceptable to markets that do not permit genetically modified crops.  It would be nearly impossible to restrict the pollen to the designated areas.  Two things are possible: 1) pollen could be spread by bees, birds, cars, animals…into the protected areas 2) in the nearly the same ways seeds could migrate and begin growing along roadsides and with crop areas.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has agreed with all of this in the past.  Canola could not be grown in an area approximately 48 miles wide by 120 miles long – 3.7 million acres.  Without following the required practice of holding hearing and receiving public input, ODA simple announced a “Temporary Ruling” reducing the protected area to only two million acres (http://cms.oregon.gov/ODA/Pages/canola.aspx).  This will allow canola to be planted before the temporary ruling expires.

ODA claims that this sudden change is necessary so that canola farmers can make plans to get their crop in the ground during September.  Since the State has waited ten years to allow canola into the Valley, what is behind this sudden rush?  What is the source of the pressure that caused ODA to dramatically reverse its previous position?

An ironic twist to all of this is that Monsanto could then sue farmers with contaminated, unmarketable crops.  Monsanto has previously successfully sued farmers for patent infringement when their crops tested contaminated.  This is an intolerable result for someone who has already lost an entire season’s crop.

A large group of Oregon farm organizations, corporations, and individuals filed for a stay of the temporary order.  On Thursday, August 16^th the Oregon Court of Appeals granted a temporary stay.  It will make a final ruling the week of August 27^th.  It is imperative that those who care about the future of agriculture in the Willamette Valley contact Governor Kitzhaber immediately.  This decision will have a lasting effect of the lives and livelihoods of many people without the world.

Resources:

http://cms.oregon.gov/ODA/Pages/canola.aspx

Click to access SR%20no.%201064_OCR.pdf

http://www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org/?p=1596

the last thing we need: gmo canola oil in the willamette valley

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/08/oregon_defines_acreage_where_c.html

Government Overregulation

Some people believe that government occupational regulations are for the protection of the public.  Some regulations protect industries.  Sometimes it seems that government intervention is excessive.

Most people will probably agree that during the 1950s, when only 1 in 20 occupations were regulated, government regulation was not sufficient.  Today just short of 1 in 3 occupations are subject to government regulation.

A three way struggle is going on in Oregon over braiding hair.  Oregon requires anyone who works with hair in any way, must be a licensed cosmetologist.  It takes 1,700 hours of classroom instruction to get a cosmetology license, at an average cost of $15,000.  Many girls learn to braid hair while still in elementary school.  Yet Oregon requires people to invest more time than to become an emergency medical technician or pest control applicator.

Braiding hair does not require the use of chemicals or scissors.  However, on the cosmetology exam in Oregon, approximately one-third of the questions are about the use of chemicals.  It appears that the state of Oregon is protecting cosmetologists rather than the public.  Cosmetologists believe anyone who works with hair should be a licensed professional.

The conflict came to light when an African American woman who volunteers as a big sister to girls in foster care, wanted teach these girls and the white parents of  adopted black girls how to deal with their hair and how to braid it.  The Department of Human Services supported the idea, but wanted the approval of the State Cosmetology Board.  What she discovered when she investigated was that it is illegal to braid hair in Oregon without a cosmetology license – not even if you do it for free.  (Watch out all you middle school girls – I know that you secretly braid each other’s hair.  I remember my friends and I doing it.)

Compromises have been proposed; perhaps braiders could take classes in hair care sanitation or work under the oversight of the cosmetology board in some way.  Cosmetologists find this unacceptable.  For now women can slip across the border into Washington and braid their hair where it is legal.

The Board of Cosmetology consists of seven members appointed by the governor – six certified practitioners with valid Oregon licenses and one member of the general public. A term is four years in length, but all serve at the pleasure of the governor.  In May, 2012, the Oregon State Board of Cosmetology provided clarification that braiding, combing, brushing and applying hair spray – unless done for a professional photograph or theater performance – must be done by a licensed professional.

To me this regulation borders on being silly.  It doesn’t require more than ten minutes of training to braid hair.  Portland-area lawmakers pledged to file a “Natural Hair Act” during the 2013 legislative session.  I wonder what the wording of the bill will be like and if it will pass.

Resources:

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/braiding_african_american_hair.html

http://cms.oregon.gov/ohla/cos/Pages/index.aspx

http://cms.oregon.gov/OHLA/COS/docs/issue_response/starks_final_letter_5-8-12_with_signature.pdf

Care of the World’s Resources

Whether or not you are a religious person, I hope that we can all agree that we need to take care of the of the world’s resources.  We should use them in a sustainable way so they will be available for future generations.

Human history is strewn with examples of what happens when we forget that.  From passenger pigeons to dodo birds and American ginseng to New Zealand mistletoe, humans continue to overuse plants and animals until they are gone.  The knowledge that some of wild plants should always we left to ensure further plants is disregarded.  The short-term economic value of plants and animals seems to override common sense.

In the Pacific Northwest currently there is a situation that illustrates how our priorities get confused.  For over one hundred years people have been aware that salmon numbers were in decline.  Fish ladders were built to help them go upstream to spawn, and many other measures have been undertaken to ensure their survival.  That is great up to a point.

The next step was to begin taking action against the creatures that are the natural predators of salmon.  Sea lions that go to the Columbia River to eat salmon are harassed or captured and taken elsewhere.  If one becomes a repeat offender the Federal government has given the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho permission to kill up to 92 sea lions a year through 2016.  Beginning in 2002, the Federal government has been keeping track at Bonneville; fishermen take approximately 37,000 salmon per year, sea lions about 3,200.

This summer (2012) the Army Corps of Engineers initiated a program to control the numbers of Double-crested cormorants.  This is a little tricky since they are a protected species.  Flashing green lights were used to try to keep the birds away from the salmon smolts; however the birds became accustomed to them and returned to eating salmon.  Next an eight foot high fence was built cutting off more than half the birds’ nesting area. It is estimated that the cormorants eat about 22.6 million juvenile salmon per year.

Power companies in the Pacific Northwest spend about 30% of wholesale rates they charge lessoning the impact of their operations on salmon and wildlife.  It is estimated that $1 billion is spent each year to protect salmon.  People have begun demanding that the Federal government take action to control the birds.  Remembering that cormorants are a protected species, the state of Oregon has requested that we be able to destroy cormorant eggs and kill adult birds.

Officials are also looking at ways to control protected Caspian terns.  Even though the terns did not manage to fledge a single nestling this year, plans are being developed to reduce the population of terns to one-third of the current population.  It is estimated that terns eat 4.8 million smolts per year.

Meanwhile, efforts continue to be made to protect the endangered birds.  Fireworks for the city of Depoe Bay were canceled this year to protect several species of birds such as Brandt’s cormorants after two years of research showed that fireworks disrupted the birds that nest near the fireworks site.

The largest consumers of salmon, next to humans,  are orca.  Roughly 96% of an orca’s diet is made up of Chinook and Chum salmon.  Each adult orca eats about 500 pounds of salmon each day.  They also eat cod, herring, and occasionally even other mammals.  In 2010, it was estimated that 90 orcas lived off the Pacific Coast.  That means that orca eat about 16,425,000 pounds of salmon each year.  Commercial fishermen off the Pacific Coast of North America harvest an estimated 750 million pounds of salmon each year.

It seems to me, that a more rational way of dealing with the decreasing salmon population, is to suspend the harvest of salmon by humans for three to five years.  The money saved could be used to reimburse established commercial fishermen and Native Americans for the losses during the recovery period.  After that, with limits on the annual harvests, hopefully, salmon would be able to survive on their own.  Humans should be responsible and repair the damage we cause whenever possible.

Resources:

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/energy-environment/birds-killing-off-salmon-population-in-the-northwest/

http://www.examiner.com/article/oregon-town-cancels-fireworks-show-to-protect-sea-birds

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/who_takes_more_wild_salmon_on.html

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/07/national-wildlife-federation-report.html

http://whalecity.com/news/pacific-northwest-orcas-are-eating-chinook-salmon

Conservative vs Liberal

On Facebook and other social media sights recently there have been an increasing number of posts and remarks dividing and labeling people negatively.  One example of this is “Some in the media are complaining that Gabby Douglas is “so, so, so into Jesus.”  LIKE if you are tired of liberal attacks on Christians.”  I find these remarks increasingly distressful.

We Americans are dividing us against ourselves.  This is not good for the country.  A growing unease and distrust of our differences from each other now invokes fear and hatred.  Instead of seeing differences as strengths that they are, filling in the spaces between us, we fear them.  If we do not agree with someone on a particular topic, we label that individual and throw him or her in a category without taking the time to find out more about the person.

That said I am a Christian, a liberal, a Baby Boomer, and not in favor of gun control.

How did being mostly liberal or mostly conservative become negative?  Neither word should be threatening.  Liberal used to mean in favor of change or tolerant of differences.  Conservative meant a person was a traditionalist, preferring things to stay the same.  I have no idea what they mean in today’s world.

In truth, I think that most people are not completely one or the other.  I personally have areas in my life where I am very traditional minded.  Ideas and beliefs generally should not be threatening.  Why should we assume that if a person is liberal they want gun control or are anti-Christian?  A conservative might hold a belief with which I disagree.  That does not threaten me (unless of course the belief is something like, “Baby Boomer liberals should be shot”).  It should not change my world.  The fact that I am liberal should not make a conservative feel threatened.  I am not interested in forcing change in general on anyone.

As is probably apparent by now, somehow in my 60+ years of life, I have retained my idealism.  I still hope that somehow we find a way to get along with each other and live together in peace.

My Biography

I grew up in a small town in the desert of Eastern Oregon.  Our house was toward the edge of town with a small bit of property.  We had an old McDonald’s farm: horses, sheep, goats, ducks, geese, rabbits and sometimes chickens and ducks.  My family was into outdoor activities: hunting, fishing, rock hunting, horseback riding, and pickup sports in our back field.  One of my earliest memories is of going fishing with my father.

Life was easier then.  People did not worry about children being kidnapped or harmed.  We would wander off and be gone for hours at a time and no one was concerned.  We were “out playing.”  We had a wide variety of grand adventures playing and exploring our surroundings.

When I graduated from high school I attended Eastern Oregon College (now University) where I met my future husband.  He eventually became a professor and we spent the next thirty years associated with university campuses.  We have two daughters who on their own.  I was fortunate in that I was able to travel to many interesting places with my husband when he gave lectures and attended conferences etc.  I have traveled the world, seen, and done much more than I ever imagined someone from small-time Oregon could.

Through the years I have had a wide array of employment experiences, since every time we moved I began a new career.  As a result I have an extensive administrative background with both academic and private sector employers.  For six years I was the program coordinator for a United Way agency that provided services to international students and their families who were attending The Pennsylvania State University.  It was a wonderful time for me.  I enjoyed interacting with the students and their families.  I participated in the National Association for International Student Affairs, and was elected to a Regional Representative position.  During the time I served in that position I participated in one local workshop, seven regional conferences, and four national conferences on various aspects of managing and programming of a volunteer based community organization.  I also presented or co-presented at four regional conferences and one national conference.

Eventually we left Pennsylvania and moved back to Oregon where my husband had an administrative position with Oregon State University.  I became the program coordinator for the Art About

Agriculture program run by the College of Agriculture.  This was another great experience.  I organized the annual art competition, obtained judges for the show, encouraged the establishment of endowments for cash prizes, and maintenance costs for the program.  The art selected to be in the show was exhibited in various locations in Oregon.  With limited funds it was imperative to recruit volunteers to transport and set up the show as well as many other tasks.  I managed the permanent art collection and found locations in public buildings to exhibit pieces of the permanent collection.

My husband and I divorced after thirty-two years of marriage and I moved to the outskirts of Portland Oregon where I live with my daughter and son-in-law.  I am a voracious reader, usually going through a couple of books each week.  I love to cook.  I’m always trying new recipes and have a collection of over 300 cookbooks.  I love outdoor gardening (and houseplants too).  I spend a lot of time working (playing) in the yard.  The antics of the birds and squirrels who visit my seven backyard feeders are fascinating.

Computers have become not just a tool as they were in the early 1990s, but a great way to spend time.  I enjoy researching various topics, playing games, shopping, and talking on Skype.  I spend several hours each day doing things online.  I am particularly fond of hidden object story games, which I play daily.

I enjoy trying new things and going to new places, both exploring locally and internationally.  I’ve been to Japan twice and China once.  I visit museums, antique stores, historic sights, gardens, and whatever else sounds like fun.  However, the Oregon Coast is still my favorite place to be.

About

Welcome to my Blog!  My name is Mary Boyer.

Writing was always an important part of my career, ranging from my work with internationals, who came to the U.S. to further their education to my work organizing a multimedia art competition.  Now I am a freelance writer, having published articles on topics, from religion to travel.  I am available to accept assignments, and can be contacted at mary_boyer@yahoo.com.