Dearest RARE Family,
I sure hope this note finds each and every one of you kindhearted humans in the best of spirits as we settle into 2024 and all the wonder it will bring. If the beginning of your year has been anything like mine, well, it is already off to an exciting start!
It is a milestone year for the RARE AmeriCorps Program as we celebrate 30 years of giving back to rural Oregon. Such an accomplishment is absolutely cause for celebration. We are so excited to be hosting our RARE Family Reunion at Havenroot (just outside of Veneta) during the first weekend in August. Shoutout to our amazing Program Coordinator, Liz Gronert, and our wonderful planning committee who have been dedicating a ton of time and energy into the planning of this year’s RARE Family Reunion. I cannot wait to celebrate our longstanding legacy alongside fellow members of the RARE Family. We hope to see you onsite for what is bound to be fantastic time for all involved.
When I think about RARE’s legacy, it is the people we have impacted that matters most. As I reflect on my tenure with the RARE AmeriCorps Program, well, I cannot help but think of the countless lives that have been changed. First as a Member, then as Coordinator, and finally as Director, it is the people – members, site supervisors, and partners alike – that always keep me coming back for more. To those who I have had the honor of engaging with, please know that I hold our connection dear, and that each of you have a special place in my book.
As a network, as a family, may we find the ability to embrace all that life throws at us throughout the year ahead. May we harness the grit, tenacity, and dedication illustrated by our thirty-two active members, who are out there giving back on a daily basis. And may we never forget what our RARE experience taught us… Together we can make a difference!
P.S. – It is recruitment season here at RARE HQ and we could use your help spreading the good word! Please do so by sharing a copy of our flyer, passing along the link to our website, and/or sharing a social media post within someone who might benefit from serving with the RARE AmeriCorps Program 😊.
In Service,
Titus Tomlinson, Years 13 & 16
RARE Program Director