Creative Writing opportunity!

From a fellow Field Team member, Joel Caris!

For my CAP this year, I'm putting together a literary journal based solely on the contributions of current and past AmeriCorps members who have served sometime during the 2005-2007 calendar years, to be published this fall. I'm looking for fiction and creative nonfiction entries for publication. The entries do not have to be based on your service; this is an opportunity for you to delve into your creative side with a subject of your choosing, rather than having to base it around something predefined. However, entries based on your service are certainly accepted, as well.

Submission Guidelines
Entries should be approximately 5000 words or less.
The deadline for submissions is August 20th.
Entries are NOT guaranteed to be published in the final product, though efforts will be made to include as many as possible.
Please send entries in Word (.doc) or Open Document (.odf) format, double spaced.
Include your name, email address, phone number, date of AmeriCorps service, placement position, and organization in both the email and on the title page of your submission.
Entries should be emailed to oregonwhite@gmail.com .
Entries specifically endorsing a particular religion or political affiliation will not be able to be published. For questions or clarifications about this guideline, please email oregonwhite@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or want more details, you can send an email to oregonwhite@gmail.com. Please don't hesitate to pass this on to other current and past AmeriCorps members who have served since 2005. Thanks!

Seed collecting

This summer Metro's Native Plant Center will be collecting seeds from several natural areas including Cooper Mt., Clear Creek, Mt. Talbert, Hooten, Multnomah Channel, Willamette Narrows and Gotter Prairie. This considerable endeavor will involve multiple collection trips throughout July. On-site training will be offered on plant/seed ID; transportation, driving directions, and/or meeting place is available; and, there will be variable schedules to connect our needs with volunteer availability.

Currently we are collecting Wednesday, Fridays and projecting a couple of Saturday collections in July. If you would like to visit some of these natural areas and are interested in learning more about the native herbaceous species on Metro's properties or would like more information please contact me at kingsleym@metro.dst.or.us at your earliest convenience. Let me know which days you are available either weekly or specific days throughout July. Generally we start from the plant center (2661 SW Borland Road) at 8 AM and return by 2 PM at the latest. A long-term commitment is not required, but collecting on several dates is preferred. Hope to hear from you soon.

Best Regards,

Marsha Holt-Kingsley

Native Plant Center Coordinator
Metro Regional Parks and Greenspaces
kingsleym@metro.dst.or.us
NPMC Office 503-638-7240
Cell 503-701-7554

Willamette Challenge!

Hey guys, please spread the word about our really cool event. And all of you should come too!

Sunday, July 8
Oaks Amusement Park
9-12

The Willamette Challenge is a 6-mile cloverleaf paddling relay race benefitting Willamette Riverkeeper.

If you think that you are the best paddler that there is and can race with the best of them, you should register!
pre-registration (by July 6th) is $30
day of registration is $40
check it all out at: http://www.willamette-riverkeeper.org/Challenge/

But it doesn't cost anything just to show up and watch. There will be food and possibly beer!

There is also a service project on Saturday, July 7th from 9 to 12 in Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.

Need Volunteers??

Are you in need of volunteers?

The Boys and Girls Teen Camp is looking for volunteer opportunities on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 3:30. Do you have a job for them? The youth will be from 13 years to 15 or 16 years old and they are interested in volunteer with your organization more than once if that can work for you.

For more information or questions, please contact the camp coordinators Tori or Julia at 503-238-6868 or at jriffle@bgca.org

team bonding event.....?!

hi.
i understand we just had our monthly team building/bonding event, but if any of you are looking for some more uninhibited bonding, please join me as i participate in my first ever 'world naked bike ride' this saturday at midnight. apparently this event takes place in numerous world city, but portland hosts one of the largest in north america every year. there's a pretty sweet kickoff party on madison and 6th afterwards, as part of pedalpalooza 2007.

for more information and other awesome bike related events from pedalpalooza 2007! check it out at http://www.shift2bikes.org/pedalpalooza/pp2007.php#22

Ok team, let's pull it together.

POTLUCK.

Yep, that's what I said. Throw me your schedules for June. Good, bad, ugly. It's gonna happen. It's summer-time - the time of bbqs and margaritas (regular or virgin, your choice) and free-wheeling good times. Who's in?

imrivers.com

Team mates who do river stuff, check it:

So I went to the River Rally this weekend (river nerds everywhere, and I am one of them because I bought a t-shirt), and I learned about this REALLY COOL new website called imrivers.com.
Apparently a bunch of computer nerds got together and volunteered to create a website based in GIS and google maps that any small river-related organization can use to easily and clearly display information and sites. It is perfect for Willamette Riverkeeper purposes and might be great for you too!

Here's the catch (and this is not a pyramid scheme). The computer nerds themselves do not charge anything for their time and effort, but licensing fees make the site a bit of an expensive enterprise. Right now you can sign up for free and play around with the site until July 31st. After that, if things stay the same, it will probably cost about $100/month to have one of these sites. However, the more people who build sites, the less expensive it will become - so the more the word spreads, the cheaper it is for everyone. Also, if there is enough interest and hub-bub about it they may be able to find a sponsor and make the whole thing free (or a hell of a lot cheaper).

So go check it out and see if your organization could use it. And spread the word to other people who may care. Please? For Willamette Riverkeeper?
Also check out my sweet site-in-the-making at www.imrivers.com/willamette