This past year has been a challenge; we’ve weathered it quite well, but we still have work to do:

●     Staffing Changes:

We are happy to introduce our new Office Manager, Teri McKenzie, who is quickly assuming the Office Manager role plus other responsibilities. Teri comes with extensive experience and qualifications and is eager to meet all of our Villagers as soon as possible.

Our previous Office Manager, Lindsey Oldani, is now our Programming Coordinator.

●    Governing Council: In September, three new members were elected to our Governing Council (Jon Dickman, Suzanne Silverstein, and Susan Hodge), as well as three renewing members (Anne Lindsay, Neil Malling, and Stephanie Sameh). Departing members were Susan Bach, Nancy Donehower, and Nick Bouwes, who all received “thank you” gifts for their past time of service.

● Membership has remained steady at about 130 people. While some have left our Village, new people have joined. Those few who left either needed more healthcare service than NEV can provide, moved to assisted living facilities, or passed away.

●     Volunteers: Several new volunteers have joined NEV recently, and we currently have 40+ active volunteers to provide help and assistance to our community. Our next newsletter will introduce you to our new volunteers.

●     The CMO (Communications, Marketing & Outreach) Committee kept our Village in the public eye with monthly virtual “101” sessions and several “tabling” events at neighborhood festivals.

●     The Development Committee announced that our 2021 campaign produced over $4,000 in donations … a recent “high” for this annual event. Thanks to all who donated to this campaign.

●     Summer Celebration: In July, NEV held a “Summer Celebration”

-- an in-person affair at Grant Park where over 60 Villagers congregated to re-acquaint with each other, converse, and celebrate a start of our re-opening. That was before “Delta” and now “Omicron” virus variations appeared, which have paused our re-opening plans.

●     Financial Matters: Despite having a budget deficit in 2021, our Village is financially viable, with an annual budget of about $45,000, and adequate reserves for "off-years," and investments for future growth. Our Treasurer, Neil Malling, is doing an outstanding job of managing our finances.

My best to all of you in this holiday season, looking ahead to another year of transformation, opportunities, and challenges for our Village and community.

Member Geri Jacobs and volunteer Susan Hodge had a wonderful time baking persimmon pudding,  which Geri shares with family during the holidays.

Tricia Jett delivers Solstice candles of light just before Christmas. Village members and volunteers were given a light of friendship for the season.

Hello, Villagers. Please consider helping us reach out to potential members and volunteers. We need more of both to remain a vibrant Village. Here are two ways you can help:

1.    Invite a friend or neighbor to attend our Introduction to the Village (“Villages 101”) video meeting via Zoom:

Each person attending can either register for Zoom access, or you can register them with their e-mail address, to receive the Zoom information by e-mail:

●     Go to www.nevillagepdx.org

●     Select EVENTS and select CALENDAR

●     Select “Introduction to Northeast Village PDX” on January 11

●     Select “Register Now”

●     Answer the other questions

●     Finish by selecting “Complete Registration”

And consider taking part in the Zoom meeting with your friend or neighbor by registering yourself, too, as above. You’ll be a friendly face on the Zoom screen, and can share your experience with the Village. You’ll also hear the latest on activities and services in our Village.

2.    Take our poster and information cards to a business you patronize and ask them to display them. Consider coffee shops, retail stores, gyms, dry cleaners, etc. You’re the best ambassadors for our Village. To get the posters and information cards, contact either:

Julie Granger at 971-266-7670 or julebert@g2online.org

Jane Braunger at 503-880-0339 or janebraunger@gmail.com

Over the past two years, five Villagers have passed on. Their lives and gifts made an impact on our community. We fondly remember them.

Byron Spice was an active Village member and volunteer. His friendly manner, knowledge, and many stories were enjoyed--including his appearance in a video for Villages Northwest, his knowledge shared with the Low Vision support group, and his presence at dine-outs and the Village Square. Byron also served on the Membership Team and was a bright spot in the Village.

Ken Kipnis moved to Portland in 2016. He and Leanne Logan knew of the Village from friends and quickly offered their presence and ideas. The Village was Ken's life-line to community, and he loved the social activities, happy to dine out and meet others for coffee and drinks. Ken joined a Village book group and movie group; he enjoyed the Village Square and meeting with other Villagers. We enjoyed his wit and ideas.

Don Robinson and his wife Cathy Robinson moved to Portland to be near their family and joined the Village just before the pandemic. Don was eager to volunteer with the Village and was also looking forward to many days of playing golf. The effects of “staying at home” and his health got in the way of many activities. We will miss getting to know him and enjoy his charm.

Simon Silverstein, husband to Suzanne Silverstein, an active Village member and volunteer. Simon enjoyed painting, photography, and writing. He and Suzanne enjoyed their grandchildren and family, looking forward to their visits.

Louise Blaser was one of our first members when we opened NE Village. She and her sister Kay hold many memories for all of us. From driving Louise to her medical appointments, stopping to get Sees Candy, to working in the yard with her, Louise brought us a ray of sunshine. She was a very positive, energetic, and friendly individual. We will truly miss her.

Next issue of our bimonthly Newsletter: March/April 2022

Submit news, reviews, articles, or photos by February 15. Or inquire with early-stage ideas.

To: jeanne.bear@gmail.com

Teri McKenzie just started on NEV staff as the Office Manager, replacing Connor Magee (and formerly) Lindsey Oldani. In January she will also start to spend some of her hours coordinating our volunteer and member recruiting activities. She told us about her experiences, values, and vision.

Teri raised her family here in Portland. Her two children are now in their 20s. She then lived in Idaho for a few years and just recently moved back to Portland, temporarily in Southwest and now considering the Northeast. She has had her cat Jenga for all 17 years of his life and much of her children’s.

She has worked with volunteers in organizations all her life. We call them “nonprofits” but she prefers the positive orientation of what they are for rather than not: “social benefit organizations: humans are social beings, interdependent, made for connection.” She is all about community, uplifting and supporting one another. She is like us all, eager to jump into being together, and, like us, notes our frustrations and remarkable success in maintaining community and social ties through the long pandemic.

Click here to read more about Teri’s connections to other people and activities that are highly related to numerous experiences in our NEV community, such as the Peace Corp, the social benefit organization she founded and ran in Idaho, with its familiar challenges, and her book club. And note that you can reach Teri by e-mail at officemanager@nevillagepdx.org or through the NEV office phone 503-895-2750.

--Jeanne Bear

Lisa Wylie has been a NE Village volunteer for about five years, as our previous newsletter profiled her. She just joined as a Village member, and here’s another photo.

Lisa is a very handy person. She loves “fixing things” and provides help in the Village doing that! Lisa also knits, has a passion for cooking, and loves walking her dog, Sam. She hopes to meet more Villagers now that she is retired.

Would you like to help Afghan or other refugees? Northeast Village member Abe Cohen shows us a way we can help refugee families in our neighborhood.

Abe joined with friends to form the Cully Welcome Circle back in August. They spent a couple of months developing a plan to welcome an Afghan refugee family to Portland.

The Cully Welcome Circle greeted the family of seven when they arrived at the Portland airport in October. They took the family to a house they had rented in the Cully neighborhood. The husband had worked at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, but no one in the family spoke English. Two of the kids are now enrolled in school; the 10-year-old daughter is picking up English.

Abe said the Welcome Circle is comprised of friends that have done various social support activities. Helping refugees is perhaps the most complicated one, and the group is taking it a step at a time.

The refugees enter as humanitarian parolees but need to apply for refugee status and then continue the pathway to citizenship. There are organizations that help refugees navigate the system and provide some resources. In our area there are the Lutheran Community Services, Catholic Charities of Oregon, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization.

Donations and other help would be appreciated. The Cully Welcome Circle has a website where you can make donations and learn of other ways to help: www.leaven.org/cully-welcome-circle

--Craig Lindsay

The Oregonian in October profiled their accomplishment in “Fleeing chaos, Afghan family finds open arms and a home in Portland’s Cully neighborhood” (see their photo above ). Note the Welcome Circle furnished the home and had Afghani dinner waiting for the family, and they helped them with practical tasks after arrival.

--Editor

OK Boomer 

“OK boomer.” Often said or written with a sigh of impatience. When I first heard it, I was offended. No one has ever said it directly to my face, but according to a recent survey it is the one expression that drives us baby boomers mad. In retrospect, who can blame young people for their audacity?

White boomers were the most blessed generation as a result of the New Deal, expansion of higher education, and a host of other benefits heaped on us from a generation who survived a depression and WWII. So, it is not hard to imagine why younger Americans are frustrated with us. Since 1980 we have elected Presidents and Congresses who fueled economic growth while expanding national and international income inequality, intensified global warming, impeded social justice and racial inequality, and allowed unfettered growth of social media, which has exacerbated the conflicts.

I know, many boomers have done their part to address society's ills, but on the whole we have left the world in worse shape than the one we inherited. Literally, we have paved the road to hell with good intentions. Those younger than us are dealing with problems and inequalities that grew on our watch, while many of us boomers are benefitting from pensions and savings that they can only dream of because of higher prices, lower wages, and staggering student debt.

In trying to understand this generational disdain, I have delved into writings, TV shows, and conversations to get a sense of what young people's lives look and feel like.

Sally Rooney burst onto the literary scene in 2015 and wrote three novels which capture the joys and mine fields of young adults. In her essay “Even if you beat me” published in the Dublin Review, 2015, widely available on the Internet, Rooney makes astute observations in her role as a young woman in the throes of championship international debate. Of her three novels, I would start with Normal People, a searing analysis of social class through the relationship of working class Connell and wealthy Marriane, from their early encounters in high school through college.

When I was in high school, faux pas and foibles were confined parochially. With the growth of social media, even small indiscretions can make one the butt of international jokes. The Netflix comedy/drama Never Have I Ever explores Devi Vishwakumar's freshman and sophomore years as she navigates a Sherman Oaks high school, an immigrant household, and friendship.

Census data shows U.S. neighborhoods have become more segregated as our social interactions in business, health care, and entertainment have become more diverse, leaving most of us to live in two worlds. This teen-centric show avoids most of the clichés and tropes to take on some hot button issues and offer a sensitive portrayal of the adult-like pressures encountered by teenagers.

When I hear or read, “OK boomer,” after an initial twinge of resentment, I can feel their frustration with the problems we boomers have left unresolved. I hope Rooney's essay and novel and the TV show Never Have I Ever will crack open a door to help understand this frustration a little better.

Please send comments and insights to mark.oldani@gmail.com

Lindsey referred me to a form on the Village website for scheduling an event with a click on the heading "Events." Later on, I learned that each month I had to do the form to schedule it. I didn't mind that, since I may need to make changes to some events.

“It’s All About Us” has met three times, twice outside and once masked and socially-distanced in my living room. Even my husband was able to attend that one. This group is definitely what I imagined, and then some! I am so grateful to spend time with such fascinating, heart-centered people. (Incidentally, due to uncertainty about the Omicron variant, the group is on hold until further notice.)

Thank you, Northeast Village, for allowing me this opportunity. I encourage anyone considering to head up a group or event to contact Lindsey Oldani and to go ahead and do it. I’m sure glad I did.

--Jon Dickman

The group will organize in January, with help from Kathryn Hansman-Spice. If you are interested, please contact Kathryn at kathrynhs@gmail.com or 850-766-0652. You may also call the NEV office at 503-895-2750.