3 results for tag: 50th Anniversary

Art and Oregon’s “Good for Nothing” Land

Next time you pour a glass of Oregon pinot noir, consider offering a toast to “SB 100” (Senate Bill 100) – the 1973 law that created Oregon’s land use planning program. Why? Back in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Oregon’s population was growing rapidly. Would-be developers and land speculators were eyeing the rolling hills between Newberg and McMinnville for expensive “large-lot” “view” subdivisions. The soil, they said, was good for nothing. But a guy named David Lett and a couple of young dreamers on the property next door  – Susan Sokol Blosser and Bill Blosser – saw a different future: Vineyards, not home sites. ...

Larry Williams

In January, 1970, Larry Williams became the first Executive Director and staff member of Oregon Environmental Council, following President Maradel Gale who served as a volunteer. Williams served as Executive Director during a time of change and growth in Oregon’s environmental movement. As he writes in this memoir, many organizations, such as Oregon League of Conservation Voters, SOLVE and others, were sparked in the months following the founding of Oregon Environmental Council. Larry is now retired, living in Washington, D.C. and is excited to return to Oregon for OEC's 50th Anniversary Celebration. Memories of an Oregon Conservationi...

Oregon’s environmental legacy

Guest blog by Farrah Fatemi, OEC Volunteer I spent the past decade hopping around the Eastern United States and Canada.  During that time, I immersed myself in the study of natural ecosystems as a graduate student, and later as a professor.  But after struggling to feel at home in New England, I decided change was in order.  Drawn to the beautifully diverse landscape and cultural ethos of the Pacific Northwest, I packed up and headed West this past summer. I then connected with Oregon Environmental Council (OEC), about a volunteer research project. For their 50th anniversary, the communications team is working to characterize the ...