Category: 2022

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

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