This Week Of Stories
While I have been away at Klamath Falls for the first class session of the REAL Oregon program, the posts this week have not mentioned how things are going so I wanted to assure all my readers that I am going to fill you in on all my adventures. However, I seriously need some time to organize my thoughts in order to get all the exciting ideas with the intense class time during the first four days of this six month program. I do want to give you a few teasers to hold your attention so will attempt to give you a broad overview.
First off, my 29 other fellow classmates have traveled here from nearly every corner of the state. Some are professionals in the logging sector and range from owners, managers and foresters with some of those wearing all three hats. There are people from the regulatory sectors such as the Department of Agriculture. Several from the various Watershed Districts of the State, one that also is aligned with Trout Unlimited. There is a lobbyist. There are directors from non-profits and those who run several departments and programs. One classmate is running a tourism education center. Specialty farmers including organic and added value products, along with large scale farmers, are in the mix. There are professionals that assess risk and lend money to those farmers. There are specialists that read the data of GIS to monitor and provide information in real time for large timber companies. There is even a Human Resources manager in the bunch. To say the least, I am in the company of an amazing group of people who are not afraid of hard work, long days and finding ways to make Oregon special, profitable and sustainable.
It is impossible to get the first session all into one post, so you will be hearing a series of stories that will range from interviews of some of my classmates, details of many of the individual guest speakers, and impressions from the tours.
This first description is of the facility that hosted the group of us in Klamath Falls. Our accommodations and class time were held at he Running Y Resort. The group of us were very comfortable in the Lodge with the surrounding views of an Arnold Palmer golf course, a large swimming pool complex and an on-site ice arena. I am understating the beauty of the area when I say, nice digs.
While on our tours and not knowing how in-depth they were going to be, I opted to wear my short Muck boots. I had comfy warm tootsies during the diverse excursions!
What an impressive group of folks. Is that you in the back row? And I was surprised by the suits and ties. I’m guessing this was not the attire for the tours where your muck boots would be more appropriate.
This pic was actually from the inaugural group. My group pic will show up soon. There is a dress code, it is one of the more challenging aspects of the program! I did get to wear my low-cut Mucks and jeans during the tours, but for the classroom it is business dress.