Board of Directors || Staff || Chapters
Oregon Rural Action Principles
- Democracy -- We believe that decision making should adhere to democratic principles, both in our organization and our government.
- Participation -- If democracy is to flourish, it is both the right and responsibility of people to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. All people should have access to the political decision making processes, regardless of race, income level, language, age, ability or citizenship status.
- Leadership development -- We are committed to helping individuals develop the skills necessary to organize successfully around issues at the local, regional, national and global levels.
- Diversity and Cooperation -- If we are to be a truly democratic society, our decision-making bodies must reflect the diversity of our communities. Our members come from diverse racial, cultural, regional, economic, and occupational backgrounds and rarely agree on everything. We believe people still have the capacity to respect one another and work together on issues.
- Justice -- We believe all people should have access to services providing for our basic needs, such as health care, and allowing for full participation in society, such as education.
- Stewardship -- We have the responsibility to ensure our natural resources are used sustainably so that future generations will have a plentiful and healthy environment.
Oregon Rural Action Board of Directors
Richard Minogue (Chair): Richard moved to La Grande over twenty years ago with his wife and two daughters. He was an Internal Medicine Physician and has recently retired, giving him time to devote to working on local community issues.
Randy Joseph (Vice-Chair): Randy Joseph is a self-employed custom window and door manufacturer. He moved from the mid-west in his early 20's and has been working in rural communities perfecting his trade for over 30 years. Over the past few years, Randy's interest in communities taking responsibility for their own energy generation resulted in his involvement with Oregon Rural Action and the Power Generation Task force in Baker County, Oregon. Randy and his wife, Linda, presently raise grass fed cattle. His interests also include fishing and his three grown children.
Nancy Gledhill (Secretary): Nancy has been involved with community organizing off and on since the early 70's when she was a member of the Idaho Citizens Coalition, focusing on stopping Idaho Power's attempt to put a coal fire plant in Boise, and attempting to get a bottle bill passed in Idaho. She is married to a potter, George, and they have a teenage son living at home and daughter living in Spokane, Washington. Nancy is interested in augmenting her leadership skills in order to address critical issues for the Snake River Chapter.
Ramon Lara: Ramon was born and raised in Eastern Oregon where he worked many years for the Forest Service and as a site manager for the Nature Conservancy. He is married with five children and 10 grandchildren. Ramon is an involved member of the Baker Food Cooperative and is on the Baker City Farmers Market Board of Directors. His hobbies include vegetable gardening, house remodeling, wood working/carpentry, hunting, and fishing.
Cori Brewster: Cori is one our original members who returned to La Grande after earning her Doctorate in English Rhetoric from Washington State University. She teaches English at Eastern Oregon University.
Staff
Andrea Malmberg:
Andrea Malmberg joined our staff as director in 2008. She was raised on the land, with animals and real food in the western United States. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, a Master of Science in Natural Resources, and is a Certified Educator with Holistic Management International. Andrea is a board member for Holistic Management International and is active in the Slow Food movement. She has twice been a delegate to Terra Madre, Slow Food's gathering of over 5000 food producers from nearly 150 countries and created Wyoming's first Slow Food chapter. She and her husband, Tony, will be relocating their family's cattle ranch from Lander, Wyoming to North Eastern Oregon. Their enterprises, including raising grassfed beef, pastured poultry, making goat cheese and running an agritourism guest business, tie together her passion for great, locally-grown food and conviviality as well as her love of the land and animals and her interest in agrarian traditions.
Karen Wagner:
Karen joined our staff as project manager for the Oregon Farmers' Market Promotion Project in 2006. The goal of this project is to support the Oregon Farmers' Markets Association by developing appropriate programming and services to further their effort toward getting "more Oregon food on more Oregon tables". Karen holds a masters degree in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University and employs a holistic perspective for community development projects and sustainability work. Her past-times for pleasure include virtually anything outdoors, romping, stomping, skiing and biking over hill and dale with friends, loves and pets, and, of course, cooking.
Shaun Daniel:
Shaun joined our staff as organizer in early 2008. He is originally from the small town of Metaline Falls (pop. 250) in the extreme northeastern corner of Washington State. In addition to working for both Washington State Parks and the Forest Service, Shaun has been involved in a number of nonprofits including the Tenant Resource Center in Madison, Wisconsin, as well as Northwest Nations Upward Bound and Amnesty International in Moscow, Idaho. He holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Idaho. Beyond work, Shaun enjoys travel, outdoor activities with family and friends, wine and coffee, and he is an avid reader and accomplished musician.
