Neighborhood Connections: Feb 2008

City of Gresham News, Community Activities & More...

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue...

• Mayor Shane T. Bemis to Deliver Annual State of the City Address
• Enter the City’s Photo Contest – Entries Due April 11
• Trainings, Workshops & Volunteer Opportunities
• Gresham Art Advisory Committee Artist’s Reception: Con-tem-po-ra-ry — Birth of the New II
• Gresham Art Advisory Committee 2008 Juried Art Exhibit
• Gresham City Council Meetings
• Have a Question? askGresham
• Community Events
• Free Child Safety Seat Check-up!

For more information contact City of Gresham Communications & Community Outreach, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway, Gresham, OR 97030 www.ci.gresham.or.us

Mayor Shane T. Bemis to Deliver Annual State of the City Address

Gresham Mayor Shane T. Bemis will deliver the annual State of the City address before City Council, community leaders, and citizens on Wednesday, February 20 at 3:00 p.m.

This year’s address will detail the challenges and progress of the past year and chart a course for the year to come.

The State of the City will be televised live on MetroEast Community Media Cable Channel 22. For replay times on MECM visit www.metroeast.org. A transcript will be available at www.ci.gresham.or.us after the address.

The event is open to the general public.

Enter the City’s Photo Contest – Entries Due April 11

Amateur, professional and school-age photographers are invited to enter their best images in the first City of Gresham Photography Contest. The contest is part of the City’s Web site redesign project.

First in category winners will receive a $50 gift card to Fred Meyer, recognition at a special photo exhibit at City Hall on June 17, and publication with credit in a special section of the summer edition of the City’s newsletter and on the City’s redesigned Web site.

Selections will be based on illustration of theme or category, evoking a sense of place, the use of color, quality and clarity, telling a story and depicting Gresham. Contest categories include:

Category 1 – Life in Gresham: Photos should reflect what you do or see
everyday – photo examples include people taking a walk, children playing, raking leaves, City crews at work, street scenes, having fun, or work.

Category 2 – Places in Gresham: Photo examples include Gresham’s neighborhoods, shopping districts, streets, parks, trails and green spaces, businesses, etc.

Category 3 – Gresham’s Events and Activities: Photo examples include sports, parades, block parties, special events or community celebrations held in Gresham.

Category 4 – People of Gresham: Photos should reflect the wide range and diversity of individuals and families, who live, work and play in Gresham.

Category 5 – Potpourri: Surprise us! Use your imagination and creativity to represent Gresham.

Category 6 – Youth (entrants must be under the age of 18): Photos can reflect any subject matter the entrant would like to submit.

Full contest details are available on the City’s Web site call Laura Bridges-Shepard at 503-618-2247 with questions.

Trainings, Workshops & Volunteer Opportunities

Quarterly Neighborhood Leadership Training
March 1: Secrets to Successful Volunteer Recruitment & Management

Successful volunteer recruitment depends on understanding what motivates today’s volunteers.

1. Learn who is volunteering and why
2. Find out what you need to do before you begin recruiting
3. Tips for finding volunteers and keeping them motivated

The class will be taught by the City’s Communications and Community Outreach Manager Laura Bridges-Shepard. Laura will bring techniques learned through her experience recruiting and retaining volunteers while working for American Red Cross and years of experience leading organizations and efforts that depended on volunteers to carry out most of the work.

The City provides quarterly workshops on a variety of subjects to assist neighborhoods and interested residents on topics relating to building their skills and capacity of their neighborhood association. These trainings are available at no cost and are open to the general public.

The two-hour class begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Gresham City Hall Conference Center. Coffee, juice and bagels will be available at 8:45. Space is limited so registration is encouraged. RSVP to Linda Kidby at linda.kidby@ci.gresham.or.us.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training

Seven classes on comprehensive disaster preparation and response including emergency medical; light search and rescue; fire suppression.

Class begins February 20 for seven consecutive Wednesdays, concluding April 2.
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Gresham Fire Training Center
19204 NE San Rafael

Call 503-618-2567 or e-mail landavazo@ci.gresham.or.us to sign up.

Community Restoration Events

Saturday, February 16th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (2 Events)
Native Planting on Fairview Creek
Directions: Burnside heading west from 223rd, right on 209th, first left on Main, first right on 208th, park near intersection of 208th and Morrison, site access is on Morrison between 208th and 207th. Contact: Jamie Stamberger at 503-618-2793 or jamie.stamberger@ci.gresham.or.us.

-and-

Native Planting at Vance Park (1400 SE 182nd)
Directions: Powell Blvd. west, right on SE 182nd, park is on the right. Park on 182nd. Meet at park entrance. Contact: Rachel Zarfas at 503-618-2789 or rachel.zarfas@ci.gresham.or.us.

Saturday, February 23rd, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (2 Events)

Native Planting on Kelly Creek
Directions: Powell Blvd east, past Burnside, left on Greenway, left on SE Paloma. Park on street near first bend in Paloma. Site access varies, call to confirm. Contact: Jamie Stamberger at 503-618-2793 or jamie.stamberger@ci.gresham.or.us.

Gresham Art Advisory Committee Artist’s Reception:
Con-tem-po-ra-ry — Birth of the New II

February 19, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Gresham City Hall Visual Arts Gallery, Council Chamber Foyer
Exhibit dates: January 29 through February 28
For more information call 503-618-2360.

Gresham Art Advisory Committee 2008 Juried Art Exhibit

The Gresham Art Advisory Committee invites artists to enter its 11th Annual Juried Art Exhibit. All media will be considered. All entries must be received by March 1.

The selected works will be on display in the City of Gresham Visual Arts Gallery and on City’s Web site.

For information on how to submit entries contact Connie Otto, 503-618-2360 or connie.otto@ci.gresham.or.us.

Gresham City Council Meetings

Gresham City Council Agendas are available on the City’s Web site.

Regular Business Meetings: First and Third Tuesday of every month
First Tuesday meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.
Third Tuesday meeting beings at 3:00 p.m.

Policy Development Meetings: Second Tuesday of every month
Second Tuesday meeting begins at 3:00 p.m.

Council Roundtable Meeting: Fourth Tuesday of every month
Forth Tuesday meeting begins at 3:00 p.m.

Redevelopment Commission: Third Thursday of every month; meeting begins at 4:00 p.m.

Planning Commission: Second and fourth Monday of the month

Neighborhood Association Meetings

February

18 Central City, 6:00 p.m., Metro East Community Media, 503-491-0463
21 Mt Hood, 7:00 p.m., Mt. Hood Christian Center, 503-492-8949
21 Rockwood, 7:00 p.m., HB Lee Middle School Library, 503-666-2776
25 Wilkes East Board, 7:00 p.m., Call for location 503-255-7685
27 Centennial, 7:00 p.m., Portland Adventist Elementary, 503-669-1588
27 ASERT, 6:30 p.m., Dexter McCarty Middle School, 503-539-7005
28 Northeast Gresham, 7:00 p.m., Hall Elementary, 503-661-3020

Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations
Monthly every second Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
Gresham City Hall, Springwater Trail Room

Have a Question? askGresham

To meet the expanding information needs of Gresham residents, the City launched askGresham in December 2006. askGresham is an interactive Web-based tool designed to help citizens access information and make service requests from the City.

1. Find Answers
2. Ask a Question
3. Make a Request
4. Use “My Gresham” to check the status of your request
5. Browse through Frequently Ask Questions

Check it out! www.askGresham.com

Community Events

Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Distinctive Accents
Styles and sounds from Britain (Wales), Spain, and Austria overwhelm the senses in this sensitive and artful concert.

Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. (refreshments following)
Good Shepherd Community Church, 28986 SE Haley Rd, Boring
Box Office: 503-234-4077
E-mail: cso@pacifier.com

Mt. Community College Performing Arts Department Musical

“Drood”
MHCC College Theater
February 29, March 1, 7 & 8 at 8:00 p.m.
March 2 & 9 at 2:00 pm

For ticket information:
Box Office: 503-491-7154
E-mail: tickets@mhcc.edu

Free Child Safety Seat Check-up!

Child safety seat check-up events find 85% of seats checked need correction! 4 out of 5 child safety seats are incorrectly used. Is your child riding safely? Local Child Passenger Safety Technicians and volunteers will help you install your child’s safety seat correctly at this free event.

Saturday, February 23, 2008
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Gresham Fire Station #71
1333 NW Eastman Parkway

For more inforamtion, contact the Child Safety Seat Resource Center at 503-643-5620 or visit their web site.