★★ June 2025 Newsletter ★★
* Resilience *
These are trying times.
We are distracted by daily descriptions of outrageous behavior on the part of our national leaders. We are confronted with the reality of diminished or destroyed resources that we have held near and dear or that have provided stability and security in our lives.
How do we cope? How do we remain afloat with an even keel? How do we keep from shrinking under the weight of so much divisive activity that may be directed at our friends and neighbors, family members, or organizations that we have relied upon?
In a word, RESILIENCE.
Resilience is that ability to bounce back or resist the influence of all the unpleasantness around us. It is the idea that we have inner resources to keep us going when times are tough. Personal resiliency is developed through a multitude of channels.
A measure of personal resiliency comes from experiences and opportunities. It is enhanced by our relationships with friends and family who stand by us in times of trouble. Resiliency depends on problem solving skills and confidence in our ability to seek help—including the knowledge of how and when to seek help from external sources (like social service agencies).
Cultural traditions within families can certainly create resilience. Family history and lessons learned from others can be a huge help. Examples of strength and resilience are excellent models for the younger generation. Understanding your own role as it relates to others can also be inspirational in developing personal resiliency, rising to needs as they emerge.
Within Villages we can help create, enhance, and celebrate resiliency through person-to-person engagement, group activities and discussion groups, and shared stories that encourage others.
Isolation-busting can help quell fears, reveal unresolved concerns or trauma, and provide links to community resources. We can use Village ingenuity to connect with agencies and organizations that ensure food security, help with adequate housing, encourage good health care, and insist upon fair treatment.
Villages are an essential element in community resiliency and a pathway to recognition of Villagers personal resilience as they give of themselves to others.
Our collective relationships, life skills, perceptiveness, self-motivation, creativity, flexibility, perseverance, positive outlook, humor, spirituality, and our moral compass are all building blocks for personal resiliency that we can use to support others.Our community resiliency leans heavily on the knowledge of other resources that are available and that we can direct Villagers in a direction that will give them confidence, safety and security, and a sense of belonging. Everyone deserves to be able to ask for help—it is equally important to be able to lend a hand, giving freely of our own inner resources. This duality of community living is a symbol of community resilience and a hallmark of Villages.
We are present in the lives of others. We are Villages with a Purpose and a Mission — and we will stand together, as Villagers, in troubled times.
~ Nancy Doty
* Tabling Events *
Beaverton Volunteer Fair
Beaverton City Library
12375 SW 5th St, Beaverton
Saturday, June 7, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Hosted by Viva Village
Oregon City Farmers Market
Clackamas Community College
19400 S Beavercreek Rd, Oregon City
Saturday, June 14, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
– and –
Saturday, June 28, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Hosted by Village at the Falls
Woodstock Farmers Market
Woodstock Farmers Market
4600 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland
Sunday, June 29, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Hosted by Eastside Village
* A Community Day in the Park *
Sellwood Park
SE 7th Ave & SE Miller St.
Portland, Oregon 97202
Saturday, July 12, 2025
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join Villagers and Housecall Providers in the second annual A Community Day in the Park, previously known as Toss for a Cause. This signature event brings together local nonprofits, community members, and supporters for a day of connection, celebration, awareness and friendly competition.
The event features a family-friendly sports game field, live entertainment, food carts, a beer garden, and countless opportunities to connect with neighbors and like-minded individuals dedicated to making a difference — all while having fun! Guests can also explore Nonprofit Row where tournament participants will showcase their services and share ways to get involved in strengthening our community.
A heartfelt thank you to the incredible nonprofits that made last year’s event possible. We look forward to seeing you this year too!
Admission is FREE, family-friendly, and open to all!
* 2025 Annual Garden Art & Tour *
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Ordinary People with Extraordinary Gardens
Visit 10 extraordinary gardens in Oregon City. Several of the gardens will also feature local artists. Each garden will have a raffle for some beautiful baskets of items donated by local businesses.
This is an opportunity to see beautify and unique private gardens, while supporting Village at the Falls. Your $12 per person ticket helps subsidize the membership cost for some of our elderly neighbors.
Advanced tickets are $12. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at any of the gardens on the tour by cash or check only. Paying with credit card will also be available at the Village at the Falls booth in front of Bliss Bakery, 18946 S Central Point Rd, Oregon City. Please do not call the bakery about this event.
Advanced tickets are $12.00 per person ($15 at day of the event) and can be purchased here. |
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* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village at Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont St, in Portland, to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, June 14 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Free parking; on bus route 15.
Want to know more about RiverWest Village in Southwest Portland and how you can get involved as a volunteer, member or both? No need to wait for a formal presentation. Simply call 503-495-4934 to schedule a conversation with RiverWest’s Program Coordinator. Tailor your participation to your interests and availability.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at our Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, June 16 at 12:00 pm at the Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr. in Gresham.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, June 14 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office (503-746-5082) for the Zoom link.
Viva Village will also be hosting an Introductory Conversation about Viva Village on Thursday, June 12 from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm. The address will be provided when you register. Meet in a Viva Village member’s home. A small group conversation in a casual setting with current members and volunteers. Learn about Viva Village and ask your questions. Limited to 10. RSVP for the address. Register on their website or contact the office (503-746-5082).
★★ May 2025 Newsletter ★★
* Advocacy *
“Advocacy is defined as any action that speaks in favor of, argues for a cause, support or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.”
- There are three main types of advocacy:
- Advocating for the self, wherein the ‘self’ advocates for personal rights or needs.
- Advocating for another individual by creating or using a pre-existing relationship between a supported individual and a system that can support rights or needs.
- Systems advocacy —— also institutional advocacy —— that is designed to assist a larger group via changed policy, law, or systemic infrastructure (like DEI policy).
With today’s chaotic and unrealistic national leadership, what will become of the helping services and agencies we have relied upon to assist and support our older neighbors and loved ones?
Through Villages, we know of the value of a community-based system organizing assistance and the power of local/neighborhood volunteers responding to a call. Whether it is a service (like transportation, assistance with shopping or changing a light bulb) or participating in a locally crafted activity (such as coffee hour, book club, walking group, lecture series, or dining out) we recognize that some of our neighbors are at a vulnerable stage that requires just a little extra assistance.
What can we do? Until Villages NW establishes a policy for advocacy, we must stick to individual efforts. We can advocate for general recognition of causes that protect and serve older adults. We can make a personal commitment to neighbors in our own community.
We can advocate for continued funding! We can advocate for recognition as a cost-saving organization that serves our local residents. We can be assertive advocates to save existing organizations and agencies that are crucial to our community’s well-being.
We can organize and educate our neighbors, getting them involved at any level. We can research and stay informed of what is happening that may threaten the strength of our community. We can mobilize action to support local agencies and inform the electorate of the impact of losing the important support of these agencies. We can create a presence in conferences and other meetings to inform larger management-type representatives of local and regional systems. We can collaborate with other entities that recognize the same challenges of our neighbors’ experiences.
How do we do all that? As Ron Wyden said in a recent Town Hall meeting, “Pick your passion, then make noise every day!”
You can make a personal call to the Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121 to reach your Congressional Senator or Representative and ask State Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, to continue to fight for Oregon’s older community members. Call him at 503-378-4400.
We can make a difference! The very notion of grassroots impact can be exemplified by the existence of Villages. Let’s use our individual grassroots power to ensure that our Older Adult Americans are given the support they need to remain in the home setting that they desire, with supported independence, and community-wrapped connections to keep them engaged and thriving! Even though we cannot formally advocate as Villagers, we can most certainly advocate as registered voters and community members.
“Pick your passion” and go for it with gusto. You will feel less helpless and hopeless if you do something — anything — to deflect the direction the wind is blowing out of Washington DC.
* Villages NW Welcomes New President *
The Villages NW Board of Directors held its annual election at the April 16 meeting. We are excited to announce that Anjala Ehelebe has been elected President and will begin her term on May 1. Anjala has been a Board member since 2018 where she is currently serving as the Vice President of Leadership Development. A founder and member of North Star Village, she has been active with our Villages since 2016. Anjala serves as the Board liaison to 3 Villages — North Star, Villages Clark County and Viva.
Anjala will succeed Jin Darney, Eastside Village, who has served as President for the past two years. Jin has been an exemplary leader and a joy to work with. Jin has updated orientation materials for Board members, prioritized strong relationships among our Villages and leaders, and focused on work plans to mature our organization and ensure sustainability. Thank you, Jin!
Sonya Norton has been re-elected as Board Secretary and Flavia Youngstrom’s Director position was renewed.
Lyn Trainer, who has completed the maximum 3 consecutive terms as a Director, has been appointed Executive Director and will continue her responsibilities as a Hub volunteer rather than a Board member.
* UpRiver Village Officially Joins Villages NW *
UpRiver Village joined Villages NW as our 11th Village in March. Serving Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village, UpRiver Village will launch on Tuesday, July 1 with a party at the Coho Pavillion at the Main City Park in Gresham from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. UpRiver is currently recruiting and training volunteers in preparation for its launch and will begin recruiting members on May 15. Please help spread the word about our new Village to family, friends, and acquaintances in the Gresham-Troutdale area. The UpRiver Steering Committee, chaired by Jane Foreman, can be reached at [email protected]. Their website is www.uprivervillage.org.
* Saturday Brunch Fundraiser *
Brunch at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church
4028 SE 34th Ave. (at Gladstone St.)
Portland, OR 97202
Saturday, May 17
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Hosted by Eastside Village
Register here, tickets are $20 per person.
Everyone is welcome! Enjoy a hearty buffet of delicious foods and support Eastside Village at the same time. Kenilworth Presbyterian Women have a history of helping others. In 2017 they held their first Tea Party, which was so much fun, it grew into fabulous tea parties. This year’s Tea Party will raise funds for Eastside Village memberships for low-income seniors in Southeast Portland.
* 2025 Annual Garden Art & Tour *
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Ordinary People with Extraordinary Gardens Visit 10 extraordinary gardens in Oregon City. Several of the gardens will also feature local artists. Each garden will have a raffle for some beautiful baskets of items donated by local businesses. This is an opportunity to see beautify and unique private gardens, while supporting Village at the Falls. Your $12 per person ticket helps subsidize the membership cost for some of our elderly neighbors. Advanced tickets are $12. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at any of the gardens on the tour by cash or check only. Paying with credit card will also be available at the Village at the Falls booth in front of Bliss Bakery, 18946 S Central Point Rd, Oregon City. Please do not call the bakery about this event. Advanced tickets are $12.00 per person ($15 at day of the event) and can be purchased here. |
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village at Laughing Planet, 4110 SE Woodstock Blvd. in Portland, to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, May 10 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Free parking; on bus routes 19 & 75.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, May 10 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office for the Zoom link.
Want to know more about RiverWest Village in Southwest Portland and how you can get involved as a volunteer, member or both? No need to wait for a formal presentation. Simply call 503-495-4934 to schedule a conversation with RiverWest’s Program Coordinator. Tailor your participation to your interests and availability.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at our Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, May 19 at 12:00 pm at the Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr. in Gresham.
★★ April 2025 Newsletter ★★
* Recruitment *
Hello Friends of Villages NW:
Today I am not feeling very philosophical. Between current news and the weather, it seems like spring will have to work extra-hard to make up for the overall gloomy mood I’m in.
Thank goodness for Villages! The sunny spot I gravitate toward is the work that Villages do to keep members as steady and happy as possible in their own chosen setting. A shining star is the work of the Board of Directors, the administrative section (and cheering squad) for the activity programming and services that all the Villages provide.
As you may know, Villages NW is the 501(c)(3) umbrella under which the Villages serve their members. The Board is the anchor of the Hub with the Villages being spokes in our unique Hub and Spoke model.
The spokes are very soon to number 11 conceptual Villages—from the newest, UpRiver Village in far east Multnomah County (scheduled to launch in July) to Village Without Walls in far west Washington County. Village at the Falls serves members in Oregon City and the path is unbroken all the way to the north with Villages Clark County in SW Washington. There’s even a Village in Manzanita on the North Coast!
There are over 800 Village members and they interact with over 600 volunteers. That’s impressive!
Now, however, through natural attrition and the age-related complexities of life, our Board is down to seven directors and officers. Some Village leaders are aging out or rotating off their governing councils after serving their maximum terms.
If you have interest and skills relevant to the business of fundraising, creative ideas for community engagement, organizational development, experience with developing policies and procedures, logistics or technology, or other talents that are not being fully utilized and appreciated, consider joining Villages NW or your neighborhood Village!
Learn more about the Villages Hub & Spoke structure. See how you might enhance the programming and services that we provide to Villagers and volunteers. Bring us your ideas for public-private alliances and sustainable growth.
Are you newly retired? Are you looking for your next adventure in working with people, learning what it takes to remain at home while aging with grace? Are you a neighbor helping neighbors stay neighbors? If so, contact us and think about joining the team!
Contact us at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to tell you everything you want to know about Villages NW as a dynamic organization that provides reasons to stay at home, aging in place while surrounded by a community of activity, support, and information/referrals to other community organizations. Perhaps you need us and we need you. Let’s explore a mutually rewarding opportunity. We’d love to get acquainted with you!
~ Nancy Doty ([email protected])
* 2025 Annual Garden Art & Tour *
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Oregon City Garden & Art Tour Oregon City, Oregon Thursday, June 21 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Hosted by Village at the FallsVillage at the Falls will be holding its annual Garden Tour on June 21. Registration opens in April. The 10 featured gardens reflect a wide variety of design and plant choices ranging from cleverly planned smaller urban lots, to a beautiful front yard garden landscape designed as a replacement for grass, to a historic tree farm with garden spaces throughout. Advanced tickets are $12.00 per person ($15 at day of the event) and can be purchased here by the beginning of April. |
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* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village at Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont St. in Portland, to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, April 12 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Free parking; on bus route. Tabor Spaces’s phone number is 503-954-2610.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office for the Zoom link.
Want to know more about RiverWest Village in Southwest Portland and how you can get involved as a volunteer, member or both? No need to wait for a formal presentation. Simply call 503-495-4934 to schedule a conversation with RiverWest’s Program Coordinator. Tailor your participation to your interests and availability.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at our Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, April 24 at 12:00 pm at Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr. in Gresham.
★★ March 2025 Newsletter ★★
* Who are you? *
In a recent TED TALK, the presenter made a comment that “we are each 20 selves.” An intriguing notion! What does that mean? If you were asked to stand in a room full of strangers, how would you introduce yourself?
Who are you?
What would make a difference in the twenty (or more) selves that you would introduce to a particular audience? Are you thinking beyond the obvious physical attributes and wanting to tell something of your formative experiences? How would your introductory description change if it were presented on paper rather than in front of an audience with the convenient, empowering visual cues? Are you trying to impress or trying to connect?
Are you wanting to find common ground through your special talents and skills? Your educational and professional preparation? Common experience? Do you have an interest in the outdoors, the environment, and wildlife? Do you enjoy dramatic films or documentaries? Do you read sci-fi or other fiction or do you like the verifiable facts in history and biographies?
Do you prefer to work with your hands rather than intellectual pursuits? Are you a much-needed plumber, electrician, roofer, house painter? Do you garden for the love of beautiful flowers, or do you mow lawns to pay the bills? Do your interests lie in art, architecture, or photography? Music or literature? Are you a gourmet cook or a gourmand diner? Are you a fierce advocate or a docile observer?
Who are you?
What is the image of your self that you would most like to portray in a new-to-you group setting?
The exercise of identifying your twenty selves, may surprise you! Think ahead to a social situation and imagine finding the common ground. The shared ideas and experiences between acquaintances is far more compelling than the differences that might divide us. Do not let today’s chaotic and divisive influences lock you into a narrow view of yourself.
Do not hide in uncertainty. Find certainty in your expanded knowledge of your many selves. Our communities need cohesion and the ability to work toward a stronger network of support for one another. Remember the adage, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Then there’s the advice of our grandmothers: “Never discuss personal finance, religion, politics, or sex at the family Christmas dinner table.”
But what’s left to safely discuss? You will find it in your twenty—or more—selves!
Think of yourself as one star in a constellation rather than a burning sun that blazes brightly with the power to burn and blind those who get too close.
Enjoy your many selves and use them as building blocks, not stumbling blocks.
~ Nancy Doty ([email protected])
* Organizing the Organizations that Support Our Villages *
The idea of gathering a community of community-based organizations was sparked last summer by Housecall Providers’ Community Day in the Park (formerly known as Toss for a Cause). Since that event, there have been two other opportunities to meet with CBOs and their representatives. Now, Villages NW is co-hosting another gathering, this time with Friendly House, to assemble service providers with like-minded missions and values. We hope to get better acquainted and discuss ways in which we might support one another and the communities we serve.
For now, AARP, Habitat for Humanity Home Repairs, Homeshare Oregon, Housecall Providers’, PSU Institute on Aging, Store to Door, Urban League and many more organizations have been invited to the informal get-together where we will discuss standing together in turbulent times, and how to best address community needs by sharing the best of each respective organization.
Mark your calendars for Housecall Providers’ Community Day in the Park on Saturday, July 12th from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm in Sellwood Park, where 30 or more community-based organizations will be present to tell you about their services. There will be another Corn Hole Tournament to add to the fun. Plan to be there to enjoy the information, food trucks, and corn hole game that will make it an all-around fun afternoon! (P.S. Villages NW needs a corn hole team! Sign up now for a fun tournament.)
~ Nancy Doty ([email protected])
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village at Laughing Planet, 4110 SE Woodstock Blvd. in Portland, to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, March 8 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Free parking; on bus routes #19 and #75. Laughing Planet’s phone number is 503-788-2921.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, March 8 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office for the Zoom link.
Want to know more about RiverWest Village in Southwest Portland and how you can get involved as a volunteer, member or both? No need to wait for a formal presentation. Simply call 503-495-4934 to schedule a conversation with RiverWest’s Program Coordinator. Tailor your participation to your interests and availability.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at our Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, March 17 at 12:00 pm at Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr. in Gresham.
★★ February 2025 Newsletter ★★
* Healthy Homes, Happier People, Stronger Communities *
In 2021, the Oregon Legislature initiated a landmark program designed to provide more sustainable housing to low-income families: Through the Healthy Homes Grant Program, Oregon Health Authority has been charged with making grant funds available to third-party organizations which, in turn, provide funds to eligible homeowners and landlords to repair or rehab buildings for suitable, sustainable housing.
Private citizens may not apply directly but are invited to explore options through one of the participating third-party programs such as utility companies, Coordinated Care Organizations, local housing authorities, Community Action Agencies, manufactured dwelling park nonprofit cooperatives, and Indian health centers.
Who might benefit from this program? Although the figures for 2025 have not yet been defined in time for publication of this article last year’s formula will carry forward. That means that individuals and families with an income below 80% of the median household income in Portland-Metro, Hillsboro, and Vancouver area are eligible for this help. For example, as of May 2024, the median income for a family of four was $114,400. So, for a family of four, the eligibility criteria would sit at about $91,200 gross income. For a single individual, the income requirement would be 80% of $80,080 or $64,064 annual income and below. Furthermore, the program would require that the ‘housing burden’ not be more than 30% of the gross income. For one person, 30% of $64,064 divided by 12 months would mean that individual would be making rent or mortgage payments of less than $1,600 per month.
However, those numbers are figured on gross income and, as we all know, gross income does not mean ‘spendable income’. The dollars on paper are not the same as dollars in one’s purse or pocket! To extrapolate, the actual available income that can be applied to rent may be far less than it appears from these figures.
One might ask about the overall value of such a program. Why would the Oregon initiate the Healthy Homes grant funding? It has been determined that low income, poorly housed or unhoused community members have an impact on a community’s ability to be proactive and participate in public processes. Individuals who meet the program’s financial criteria tend to be at risk of displacement and have increased health problems that impact economic imbalances in our community.
To continue reading the rest of the story, please visit: https://villagesnw.org/docs/healthy-homes-grants.pdf.
~ Nancy Doty ([email protected])
* Envisioning My Future: “From Here to Eternity” *
Vancouver Innovation Center (VIC)
18110 SE 34th St, Vancouver WA
Wednesday, February 12
10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Hosted by Villages NW
Join Villages NW Villagers (members, volunteers and interested parties) for an opportunity to learn more about End-of-Life Issues and Planning.
Questions abound regarding Death with Dignity, death doulas, palliative care and hospice, final disposition options, and more! Let’s get some answers and reduce the pain of final planning when pressured by changes or crisis.
There is plenty of parking at the Vancouver Innovation Center. Carpooling is encouraged because it will be more fun to come together as a group. For those who may want to use mass transit, Villages Clark County is recruiting drivers to shuttle from the transit centers. To arrange for a shuttle ride, contact [email protected].
RSVP required, online at https://evite.me/p6xvqQrCJu or call 503-515-1948. Include your Village name in the comments as well as any dietary limitations.
Directions from I-5 or I-205
- Go east on WA-14 East.
- Take Exit 8 from WA-14 SE 164th Ave. Turn left onto 164th Ave.
- Get in the right lane on 164th. At the traffic light, turn right onto 34th Street.
- Go about a half mile or so to the traffic signal at SE Hiddenbrook Drive.
- Turn left and immediately turn left again onto the road that parallels 34th. Immediately turn right into the Blue Parking lot. As you face the buildings, the Vancouver Innovation Center is in the building to the far right.
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village at Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont St. in Portland, to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, February 8 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Free parking; on bus route. Tabor Spaces’s phone number is 503-954-2610.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, February 8 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office for the Zoom link.
Want to know more about RiverWest Village in Southwest Portland and how you can get involved as a volunteer, member or both? No need to wait for a formal presentation. Simply call 503-495-4934 to schedule a conversation with RiverWest’s Program Coordinator. Tailor your participation to your interests and availability.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at our Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, February 17 at 12:00 pm at Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr. in Gresham.
★★ January 2025 Newsletter ★★
* New Year’s Resolution: Embody ‘Civility’ *
The notion of living one’s life and conducting business imbued with civility seems to have been blown out the window. However, what exactly are we missing? Is it like favorite genres of art and music that we can’t quite describe but we know and feel its absence? How can we recapture civility if we’re not too sure what it is?
We certainly know what civility is not—it is not intimidation, ridicule, imperiousness, belittling, criticizing, or subterfuge. It is not mocking the physical attributes of others. We miss civility when we see the negativity so prevalent today in the ever-present documentation of physical and blatant verbal rudeness on social media. We see the lack of civility in the impact on fractured relationships. We are distracted by the very public bad behavior of others. Outrageous behavior has been normalized.
If we examine civility and better define it, can we promote it more purposefully in everyday actions and interactions close to home?
To begin with, the very word, civility, comes from the Latin civilis—relating to the people. It denotes the state of being a good citizen who demonstrates orderly, acceptable behavior. While civility is akin to the external manifestations of politeness and good manners, civility runs deeper. It is the respect for others that grows from the very heart of who we are as members of a family, a community, and general society. Civility is crucial to our living, breathing, glowing Villages.
What does it look like? Civility allows us to disagree without disrespect. We can accept without judgment and consciously override preconceived notions and biases. We share common understanding and seek common ground for building consensus. Civility requires attention to our behaviors as they are perceived by others. It is the skilled use of positive behaviors that facilitate relationships and interactions in the interpersonal environment.
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) Physician Health Program lists five important elements of civility that are necessarily cultivated in physicians’ education.
- Respect for self and others. In this arena, we must learn to protect our own identity and values without demeaning the inherent qualities of others. It requires deep respect for our own values as well as those of others.
- Awareness of our own thoughts, moods, and actions and how they impact others. Using others as a mirror to ourselves, we read their reactions and perceptions of our actions and adjust our mood or attitude to respect the impact on others.
- Effective communication. This means communicating in a way that invites mutual dialog and understanding. It is also the basis for honest self-appraisal of feedback from others.
- Taking good care of the self. How can we reduce stress, and physically/emotionally feel good to a degree that exudes positivity and thoughtfulness in the presence of others?
- And finally, accept responsibility and be accountable for ourselves rather than shifting blame or minimizing our impact on others. We are responsible for our own behavior.
Thus, it becomes apparent that bullying and arrogance are the very antithesis of civility. And it follows that civility will be the antidote for bullying and arrogance.
Through the thoughtful application of the OMA’s five pointers, we might find ourselves feeling more ‘in control’ of our own lives and our ability to combat rampant incivility. There is hope in civil behavior. There is hope in fighting against bullies. There is hope in keeping our communities alive, indeed thriving in the presence of civility.
It requires thought and purpose. Civility reflects our better humanity and gives simple kindness and compassion a greater foothold without being buried by negativity.
Be a beacon of civility in your family, among your neighbors, and in your Village. Make your whole community shine with civility! Then, one by one, block by block, Village by Village, grassroots civility will enrich and empower our place in the world.
~ Nancy Doty ([email protected])
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village at Laughing Planet, 4110 SE Woodstock Blvd. in Portland, to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, January 11 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Free parking; on bus routes #19 and #75. Laughing Planet’s phone number is 503-788-2921.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, January 11 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office for the Zoom link.
Want to know more about RiverWest Village in Southwest Portland and how you can get involved as a volunteer, member or both? No need to wait for a formal presentation. Simply call 503-495-4934 to schedule a conversation with RiverWest’s Program Coordinator. Tailor your participation to your interests and availability.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at its Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, January 20 at 12:00 pm at Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr, Gresham.
★★ December 2024 Newsletter ★★
* Vespers *
I have been reflecting on the past. It’s that time of year again, and I hope you’ll bear with me.
When I was a small child, my mother occasionally went to Vespers at the church where she was raised. It was the same church where my siblings and I went to Sunday School while our mother played piano or sang in the choir. We watched our mother among her church friends and felt that this was a very warm and welcoming place to spend Sunday morning.
In retrospect, we laugh about how Sunday mornings also gave our Papa a little break, as we perceived that he was slightly inept at managing four children of a four-year age span. Sometimes, on an occasional evening, our Papa would tell us, in a pseudo whisper, “Your Momma is going to Vespers. So, let’s see if we can surprise her and have you all ready for bed when she gets home.” Then, we were happy to buy into the plan that seemed like a ‘secret’, a strategy that was reserved for special occasions. (Perhaps he was not so inept after all!)
Somewhere along the line, I equated Vespers with whispers. It made us all want to do something nice for our Momma. It was our secret way of showing her how good we could be. We would plot and plan in whispers, even when she was out of the house, beyond hearing.
Fast forward 70 years. Our Momma and Papa are gone, but I can still hear the whisper about Momma going to Vespers, and how it made us want to be good.
I had to explore, having lost all connection to our family church. I learned that the Latin word ‘vesperalis’ refers to evening and the Roman god, Hesperus, personified the evening star. Both have meaning in the common term of ‘Vespers’. Interestingly, even the early editions of the Oxford English Dictionary referred to ‘Vesperal’ in the 1623 writings of theologian, Henry Cockeram.
Vesper services have been celebrated for hundreds of years in the Catholic and Orthodox religions. The term ‘Vespers’ now refers to the evening prayer service held in Protestant denominations as well. A similar call to evening prayer is also important in other religions such as Jewish Ma’ariv or Arvit, Hindu Sandhya, or Muslim Maghrib (evening), or Isha (night). It appears to be a universal concept that is steeped in the ancient history of many cultures and religions.
While thinking about all this, I came upon the notion that perhaps we should all celebrate an evening service, a sunset service for 2024. Our meditations and prayers, silent or shared, might reflect hope for the tomorrows looming large for 2025. We don’t know what will happen. The uncertainty might be how we can frame our deepest personal ideas or concerns about the future and the lessons learned from the past. A prayer service, by any name, could give us communal strength and offer a quiet way to say goodbye to 2024 while we anticipate the value of friends, family, and community for the coming weeks, months, and years.
Plan a goodbye party for 2024, a special contemplative service. Consider it an homage to a year that was unlike any in our memory. Think about ways to heal the rift that was rendered by vitriol and untruths. Find your Evening Star and take time to quietly ponder the ways we can make a beautiful life under that star. Peace, love, hope, charity, compassion, collaboration, generosity, and a welcoming spirit are all qualities that build strong communities. So, take a little time in the evenings to contemplate the goodness in your community, Village, family, and friends.
Whisper thoughts that will make us all want to be our best selves.
So, with whispers and wishes, I am sending all good thoughts your way for an inspiring and hopeful look forward, to 2025.
Enjoy the beauty of the holiday season.
~ Nancy Doty [email protected]
* Your Gift this Holiday Season Supports Villagers Aging at Home *
After she was widowed, Ellen moved back to Portland to be closer to her family. She was the very first member of our first Portland area Village and proudly remains a very active member. “The more actively I participate, the more I get out of my membership,” she says.
“The genius of the Village is we can contribute according to our abilities and receive from it according to our needs. These days I like to think of myself as the Village Cheerleader.” Cheer on, Ellen!
Our senior population is growing. In just 5 years, 20% of the population will be over 65, and 80% of us want to age in place. Your donation to Villages NW or your favorite Village will help elders like Ellen realize their wish to remain in their chosen homes and communities.
It’s easy to donate online. If you want to designate your gift to a specific Village enter the Village’s name in the Comment box. We also accept checks. Make your check out to “Villages NW” or “Villages NW f.b.o. and mail it to Villages NW, PO Box 33642, Portland OR 97292.
If you need to take a required minimum distribution from your IRA before the end of the year, you can reduce the taxable portion of your distribution by having your financial advisor send your contribution directly to “Villages NW” or “Villages NW f.b.o. ”, PO Box 33642, Portland OR 97292. For information on how to make this type of gift, contact [email protected] or call 503-515-1948.
* Online Quilt Auction *
Sunday, December 1 – Friday, December 13. Hosted by UpRiver Village
Six beautiful handmade quilts will be auctioned online starting December 1. The auction will conclude at UpRiver Village’s holiday gathering on December 13 at 1:45 pm. Bids will start at $40 and subsequent bidding will be in increments of $5. For more information about the auction, go to https://www.uprivervillage.org/main.tpl?menu=auction.
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village virtually to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Registration is recommended.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office for the Zoom link.
RiverWest Village invites anyone interested in aging better and learning more about how to become involved either as a member or volunteer to have a one-on-one conversation with a RiverWest volunteer. Call their office and request an Introductory Chat (503-495-4934 to leave a message), or email [email protected]. You will be connected with a volunteer from their Outreach Team. Include your name, phone number, and email address in your message and RWV will be in touch with you soon.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at its Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, December 16 at 12:00 pm at Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr, Gresham.