Author: egronert

Tidings from Titus | February 2024

Posted on by egronert

Tidings from Titus graphic, featuring a head shot of smiling Titus!

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

Tidings From Titus | October 2023

Posted on by egronert

Tidings from Titus graphic, featuring a head shot of smiling Titus!

Dearest RARE Family,

Sure hope this message finds each and every one of you amazing humans in the best of spirits. It’s been a little while since you have received one of our newsletters and I am personally excited about the opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and share a few of programmatic updates with you folks!

I can’t help but start by looking back to 2022-23 service year, which offered up another impactful experience for all involved. The list of accomplishments from the 32 current members who served throughout our 29th year of service is extensive. Whether it was launching a digital directory and online marketplace, updating an array of long-range planning documents, supporting small businesses and famers looking to increase use of renewable energy technologies… it’s clear that our members continue to “get things done” for rural Oregon, all while growing personally and professionally throughout the service year. I am proud to say that we continue to hit the mark with our dual mission of providing critical capacity to rural Oregon communities, all while building up the next generation of leaders.

Having been involved with RARE for over 15 years, well, I have watched this program go through a lot of change. Now here we are, having just embarked on our 30th year of service, which we kicked off early September with RARE Orientation. It’s been a wild ride getting to this point, one that has come with many ups and downs, but I truly believe we as a Program are in better place then ever before. We have updated systems, expanded the program, new funding streams in place, developed (and actively apply) an equity lens, work with an array of new statewide partners, and so much more. We have a lot to celebrate and are already looking forward to hosting a 30 Year RARE Reunion in August of 2024… More to come!

Finally, I want to give a massive shout out to my colleague, friend, and all-around amazing human, Victoria Binning, who served as Program Coordinator over the last 3.5 years. It’s all about the people we meet along the way, and I am forever grateful to have gotten to serve rural Oregon alongside that amazing human. You can read more about her next adventure in this month’s newsletter. Wishing Victoria nothing but the best as she opens a new chapter with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Forever honored to be part of this wonderful network!

In Service,

Titus Tomlinson, Years 13 & 16
RARE Program Director

Tidings from Titus | January 2023

Posted on by egronert

Tidings from Titus graphic, featuring a head shot of smiling Titus!

Dearest RARE Family,

I can’t help but start by wishing each and everyone of you the best as we all get moving and grooving with 2023! It remains an honor to be affiliated with such an amazing network of individuals who are dedicated to making positive change happen across Oregon and the country as a whole. It’s this network, those whom I have met along the way, that continue to keep me inspired and motivated to make sure the RARE AmeriCorps Program is doing the best we can be for our members, host sites, alums, and the communities we serve.

It’s amazing to think we are already through the most challenging stage of the 2022-23 service year. We are just over 4-months in, and our members are settled, trained up, and positioned for success. As you might recall, it’s those first few months of service that tend to be the most challenging; to be expected when you pick up everything and move to a new community. Our 32 members have risen to the occasion every step of the way, illustrating grit, tenacity, and an unbelievable willingness to “get things done” for rural Oregon. I am grateful to be surrounded by such a passionate and driven cohort.

The last few months have also come with a good bit of change here at RARE HQ. We wished our previous Program Assistant, Kate Coenen, a hardy farewell at the end of October. Kate was a wonderful addition to our team, and we truly wish her the best as she opens a new chapter. After a few months of that positioned being vacated (thank to Julie Foster for stepping up!), I am proud to announce that we have hired Ken Ward as our new Program Assistant. Ken comes to us with a Bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Oregon and several years of experience within the software development arena. In addition, he is a 2x AmeriCorps Alum, bringing a strong passion for service to the table. We already feel like Ken is a stellar fit for the job at hand and are extremely excited to have him on the team.

Lastly, I can’t help but note that recruitment season is somehow upon us once again! If there is one thing I know, well, it’s that word of mouth remains to be our best method of recruitment. With that, I can’t help but ask a favor to all who are reading this newsletter! Please help us spread the good word by reaching out to prospective members who might be interested in the life changing experience that is truly unique to serving rural via the RARE AmeriCorps Program. Share a copy of our flyer, pass along the link to our website, share a social media post, etc. Every little bit helps ensure continue to have topnotch members serving our rural community partners!

In Service,
Titus Tomlinson, Years 13 & 16
RARE Program Director

Tiding From Titus | September 2022

Posted on by egronert

Tidings from Titus graphic, featuring a head shot of smiling Titus!

RARE Family,

I sure hope this message finds each and every one of you amazing humans in the best of spirits. It’s one of the most exciting times of the year here at RARE HQ as we welcome a new cohort of change agents to the RARE AC Program. I still can’t believe that we just kicked off our 29th year of serving rural Oregon. This new cohort is something special and and it’s is bound to be an amazing year.

It’s during times like these that I find myself thinking back to when I first came out to Oregon to serve with the RARE AC Program. I vividly remember all of the excitement and anticipation that surrounded me as I made my way up the McKenzie River to open up a new chapter. Little did I know that experience would forever change my life! Not only did I walk away from RARE Orientation with a new network, I walked away feeling that I had found my place in Oregon… with likeminded, passionate, and driven individuals looking to give back, and with a Program whose mission resonates deeply with me to this day.

While much has changed over the years, well, the foundation of RARE remains intact and stronger than ever. We remain committed to providing a topnotch service-learning experience, all while providing critical human capacity to our rural community partners. Matching said capacity with the tools, resources, and expertise found on campus at the University of Oregon and within each of our statewide partners is a recipe for success. It an honor to serve rural Oregon via a program with such a strong track record, and alongside a team of individuals (staff, members, supervisors, etc.) who are beyond committed to making positive change happen. Together we can make a difference!

I often say that “it’s all about the people we meet along the way”. Here at the RARE AC Program, we are privileged to serve alongside and engage with so many wonderful individuals, folks who are out there giving their all to “get things done” for rural Oregon. It’s the people, the relationships, getting to be part of someone’s story, that always keeps me coming back for more. If you feel the same, I invite you to help us welcome our 34 members by joining us at one of our trainings for an alumni dinner, participating in a regional alumni happy hour, or signing up to be a RARE mentor. Because really… it’s all about the people we meet along the way!

In Service,

Titus Tomlinson, Years 13 & 16
RARE Program Director

Tidings from Titus | July 2022

Posted on by egronert

Tidings from Titus graphic, featuring a head shot of smiling Titus!

Dearest RARE Family,

I sure hope this message finds each and every one of you wonderful individuals in good spirits. Change is in the air as we close in on the end of the 2021-22 service year. It’s during these times of transition that I find myself pausing for some much-needed reflection. Taking time to consider how far this year’s members have come and how far RARE has come in general brings me joy, perspective, and inspiration.

The team and I are so proud of the 25 individuals in this year’s cohort that have given their all to serve rural Oregon. At the end of the service year, these individuals will have provided over 40,000 hours of service, each leaving their mark on the communities we serve. Weather it’s a mural in downtown Cave Junction; the creation of an interactive planning map for the City of Roseburg; development of a Climate Action Plan for Lane County; or design and installation of a kayak launch on the South Coast… talk about “getting things done” for rural Oregon!

As we know, community impact is only part of the story. Over the last few weeks, I have found myself asking our current members about their experience serving rural Oregon, curious to know if it’s the “transformative experience” that I rant and rave about. Based on these conversations I am happy to report that we are still changing lives and building up the next generation of leaders, one placement at a time.

Having been with the RARE Program for over ten years now, well, it has truly been an honor to watch this program continue to take shape. While RARE’s foundation will always remain intact, there has been ample change taking place throughout the last few years. We now have a team of 4 individuals fully dedicated to supporting the RARE Program and our members; 10 statewide partners providing technical expertise and resources; financial support from The Ford Family Foundation; an adopted equity plan that we are implementing; development of a successful mentor program; and new systems in place that increase effectiveness and efficiency, all while maintaining compliance. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I stand here today honored and proud of where the RARE Program is at and where it’s headed. Onward and upward!

It’s easy to keep the wheels spinning, never slowing down enough to fully realize the impact we have on those who serve and those we serve. Reflection helps to better recognize and celebrate the many positives that result from this program that many of us hold so dear. As you read through this month’s newsletter, I hope you find time to reflect on your RARE experience and how it helped shape who you have become.

Titus Tomlinson, Years 13 & 16
RARE Program Director

Tidings from Titus | February 2022

Posted on by egronert

Tidings from Titus graphic, featuring a head shot of smiling Titus!

Dearest RARE Family,

I sure hope this message finds each and every one of you fabulous humans faring well. As we work through the grey days of Winter, well, I can’t help but shed a little light on what we have going on here in Eugene and across rural Oregon. We are a service-learning program on the move, in transition, and there is rarely a dull moment around these parts!

Embarking on our 28th year of service offered another round of change as we moved back to some of our old ways of serving, training, and adventuring in-person. Making this move back to an in-person setting hasn’t come easy, especially with member and host site safety being paramount. We have risen to the occasion every step of the way, requesting all members are vaccinated, testing before and after trainings, and following the most up-to-date safety protocols coming from the CDC. I am so darn proud of the team, our members, supervisors, and community partners for working through these challenging times with such grace.

Speaking of big change, I am happy report the RARE AmeriCorps Team is continuing to grow! Finally, this capacity building program has the capacity we need to be the best we can be for our members and community partners. Not only have we hired a new Program Assistant, Kate Coenen, we also have brought on a second Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Gronert, who has been really upping our game within the realms of alumni engagement, member support, and social media management. It’s hard to explain how rewarding it is to have a legit team of amazing humans backing the RARE AmeriCorps Program. Onward and upward!

As you know, we also have been actively engaged in an equity planning process that is being led by Capacity Building Partnerships. This process has been long overdue and is sure to result in significant modifications to our processes and procedures in the months and years ahead. I can’t help but acknowledge all who have been involved in our equity planning process; it’s been an eye-opening experience and one that has resulted in an array of much needed, yet very difficult conversations. The work isn’t easy, it’s not meant to be, and now it’s time for us to step it up and move towards implementing the array of recommendations we will soon be receiving.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all that we have at play here at RARE HQ. Other noteworthy items include further development of our RARE Mentorship Program (thanks to all who are involved!); improved engagement with our community partners via delivery of hybrid trainings; and, gearing up to receive the Oregon Tourism Industry Partnership Award at this year’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Again, never a dull moment around these parts.

Lastly, I can’t help but note that we are back to recruitment season here at RARE HQ. We are in the midst of looking for new community partners and the best and brightest to follow in your footsteps. If you know of a community in need of capacity or someone looking for a life changing experience in rural Oregon… send them our way!

Titus Tomlinson, Years 13 & 16
RARE Program Director