Happy Holidays from the Browns!
Paul and SJ in Banff in January
Although this year has been a challenge for us and many of our friends and colleagues, we have both coped with the new political reality by “leaning in” and doing our parts to better our community. Needless to say, we’ve been very busy, including having to cancel camping trips and vacation plans because of “work emergencies.” Oh, and we also built a house... :).
Recognizing that there’s plenty of bad news coming at you from every direction, we’re adding a bit of levity to this letter with some fun facts and bonus pictures!
You can view all of these pictures and many more at this link.
With activists Billy, Wayne, Candice and actor Isaiah Washington
We had great weather for our Utah trip!
Let’s start with the house: we decided on a “triple wide” manufactured home and it fits nicely on our one-acre lot. We love having a beautiful view of both the Strawberry Mountains and the John Day River valley that runs just north of them. The house was delivered in April and we had our house-warming party in July (SJ’s parents even came out for it!). We have been regularly hosting guests since then, including work colleagues who travel to Grant County for collaborative group meetings. We love hosting parties, and have enjoyed making new friends in Grant County.
Enjoying a chilly seat in Banff
Fun fact: Baby pandas are the size of a stick of butter!
Portland had a huge snow storm in January
John Day was in the “Path of Totality” for the solar eclipse this summer and we had a great time hosting friends for the weekend leading up to an awesome viewing experience. We definitely now understand why one would travel the world chasing total solar eclipses - amazing!! In between our trips to John Day, we have our house on Airbnb.com (including more pictures!) at a great rate, so think of us if you know anyone looking to travel to Eastern Oregon. Paul had help from many friends to complete the deck and we can’t wait to use it next summer!
Fortunately, the yard bounced back in time for the garden party
River feeding Lake Louise - still flowing in January
Eclipse viewing party
Susan Jane’s work with the FACA committee has begun to wind down, and the committee itself will sunset in January 2018. While the committee has developed great working relationships over the past 5 years and will issue formal recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture early next year, it’s not clear how or whether those recommendations will be used to improve forest management across our national forests.
SJ at her first Timbers game with Billy
Paul with niece Evan
Fun fact: Otters hold hands when they sleep so they don’t float away from each other
First Christmas tree in John Day
FACA Committee 2017
In addition to her FACA committee work, SJ has been very involved in several of the prominent national conservation campaigns, including defending national monuments from changes by the administration. In Oregon, the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument has been targeted by the timber industry, some county governments, and the administration, which have proposed reducing National Monument protections on this unique example of biological diversity. Susan Jane represents a number of conservation groups that are in court to ensure that the Monument’s protections stay intact.
SJ celebrated her 43rd birthday in John Day
Paul's new friends in John Day took him bow hunting
SJ speaking at a Monument protection event
SJ has also been in court on a number of other issues this year, including arguing cases to save forests in Oregon and California. Susan Jane has been spearheading another campaign to protect forests in the Pacific Northwest, focused on science-based and solution-oriented forest and fire management: you can check out the campaign website at www.forestfirefacts.org.
Susan Jane’s reputation for forest advocacy continues to grow. This year, she was invited to testify before Congress! (jump to minute 27 for her opening testimony). This was an excellent opportunity for SJ to talk about collaborative conservation as well as litigation, as Congress has considered a number of bills this year that would seriously and adversely affect both public policy tools. As you can see from the video, however, Congress isn't too interested in creating informed policy.
Even Susan Jane’s work with the forest collaborative in John Day has seen more conflict this year. The 2016 election results emboldened a small minority of Grant County residents who are critical of government generally, and of collaboration with the Forest Service and the Blue Mountains Forest Partners specifically. Despite this distraction, the collaborative group continues to be highly successful and a model of large landscape forest restoration for the entire country. Here is another great article about an international group from 11 countries visiting John Day specifically to learn about successful collaboration.
Susan Jane continues to enjoy excellent support from her law firm (Western Environmental Law Center)! WELC was pleased to hire a second attorney to work with Susan Jane in her collaborative work in eastern Oregon, which will help the organization foster more civil discourse in this part of the state.
In addition to all of that work, Susan Jane continues to teach Forest Law and Policy at Lewis & Clark Law School, her alma mater. She also continues to speak on some of her favorite topics, including the National Environmental Protection Act and the Oregon and California Lands Act, and still has high hopes of writing a Forest Law & Policy textbook!
The dogs continue to amuse us with their antics - seen here in a rare moment of peace
Friend Sarah came to visit in October
Bonus picture: Paul's 93 year old grandmother with 8 month old Evan
Paul and SJ's mom
Team Cinder shining in their ugly sweaters
Front yard garden
Several friends answered the call to help at the Oregon Food Bank Harvest Dinner (and wear silver hats :). We raised over $750,000!
Being "the fun uncle" is exhausting!
The views in Banff are incredible!
Paul’s work has been going well. Cinder had its 5 year anniversary this year and continues to enjoy healthy growth - marking our 3rd year among the Fastest Growing Companies in Oregon. Paul particularly enjoys integrating his philanthropic work with his professional work. This year, Cinder volunteered and sponsored activities with the local CASA program, the American Heart Association, HomePlate Youth Services, Habitat for Humanity, and the Oregon Food Bank.
Cinder was proud to launch their Community Building referral program - rewarding successful business referrals with $1,000 in non-profit donations. Paul also enjoys his outreach work to workforce retraining projects and efforts to expand employment opportunities to more people. In December, Paul began work to expand his business to Boise, Idaho and has been impressed with how friendly and helpful other members of the Boise business community have been.
Mountain views abound in Banff
No one said they were smart... laying on hot rocks instead of nearby raised beds
Cinder's write-up in the Portland Business Journal
Cinder had great turnouts for our November volunteer activities with the Oregon Food Bank!
Outside of work, Paul served as the network coordinator for the newly created Oregon Outdoor Coalition. The Coalition is a statewide organization founded to help protect Oregon’s outdoor natural resources from the many threats coming their way (40+ members include Mazamas, Oregon Wild, REI, Keen, and Columbia Sportswear). Paul joined the Development Committee for the Oregon Food Bank to help raise money for food-insecure families throughout Oregon. He also hopes it will increase his understanding of large scale fundraising efforts and enhance his fundraising skills so that he can help more nonprofits. Paul even wrote his first (successful) grant application this year.
Expanding his engagement with the Oregon Community Foundation (the largest nonprofit foundation in Oregon), Paul was invited to join the Eastern Oregon Leadership Council in addition to already being a member of the Portland Metro council. As a member of the Leadership Councils, Paul gets to learn more about the needs of communities around the state and assist with funding decisions. We were very happy to make the first grants from our very own “Catalyst Fund” at OCF this year and look forward to many more in the future!
Bonus picture: Team Cinder dressed for Halloween
The dogs love all the sun in John Day!
We finished the deck just in time for the winter. Oh well, it will be ready for next year. Thanks to Bubba, Doug, Andrew, Richard, and Dave for their help!
SJ and Paul built the stairs to the main entrance in John Day during Memorial Day Weekend - while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary. And enjoyed the time together in a very busy year!
Larch leaves changing in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Indy likes to keep an eye on things without exerting too much energy
Cinder team celebrating at the Fastest Growing Companies party (the same day that SJ testified before Congress in DC)
Recognizing the need to develop tools for resilience during these trying times, Paul has worked to spend his free time more effectively. He has continued his interest in meditation, participating in a 12-hour meditation retreat in April. He made several dietary and exercise improvements this year, significantly reducing his TV and alcohol consumption, and reducing his weight to a 13-year low. Paul has also been running a peer support group for other business leaders in Portland for the past two years and enjoys a great network of talented friends in Portland.
Susan Jane’s parents spent Christmas 2016 with us and we had a nice visit, including a trip to the Warhol exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. We flew to Banff early this year and really enjoyed the scenery, and we’re already planning to return with SJ’s parents in 2018. Our big trip this year was to Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon and the Paunsaugunt Plateau in Utah. This was our first trip to Utah - the landscape was like nothing we’ve seen before and the famous “hoodoos” are even more impressive in person, as it is easier to see all the unique details in each formation.
John Day gets some beautiful sunrises!
SJ and friends hiked to Strawberry Lake for her annual Women's Weekend in November
Niki can't bare to watch any more bad Thursday night NFL games
Fun fact: A group of pugs is called a “grumble”
Fun fact: A group of cats is called a clowder
Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon
We were all disappointed (you could say “dismayed”) when the President recently reduced protections for National Monuments in Utah, given how much of a natural treasure these lands are. We encourage you to visit and show public support for your public lands!
Fun fact: Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch TV for 3 hours
We also managed to organize our annual June garden party again this year, which allowed us to reconnect with current friends and to meet new ones. We had beautiful weather and our garden was in full bloom! And we rode in our favorite Portland event, the annual Bridge Pedal, which is a great way to see the city (even if it was a bit damp). Paul also traveled to Chicago to visit his family, including his sharp-as-a-tack 93 year-old maternal grandmother (healthy eating habits, daily exercise and community engagement - truly a role model for everyone)!
Our two dogs, Niki and Indy, are doing great! Paul has been taking them to the Sandy River Delta to run around and swim every morning since May and they love it! The dogs also really enjoy the house in John Day, as there is plenty of sunshine and open spaces to run and play. :)
Indy bundled up for football Sunday
Indy and Niki can tell the time very accurately. Here they are reminding us it is time for dinner.
Riding across the new Sellwood Bridge for the first time during the Bridge Pedal
Hiking in Kolob Canyon
Paul's new headshot
Indy and Niki playing at sunrise at the dog park
Bonus picture: In case our dogs don't do it for you - PUPPIES!
We are currently working on our travel plans for 2018, which we vow will not be interrupted by the political machinations in Washington, DC! :) In addition to our return trip to Banff in summer 2018, we are considering a fall trip to the Iberian Peninsula or Scandinavia. And SJ is already planning some camping trips to reconnect with all that nature that she’s busy saving :)
In closing, we would like to use this space to recommend Yes! Magazine to anyone who wants to read about the good things that are happening instead of always reading the bad news; we can all use a little more good news! Their unique "solutions journalism" reports on a variety of powerful grassroots efforts that are proving effective in communities throughout the country. It is inspiring and also might give you some new ideas on things you can do in your community. Paul has several projects in the works thanks to the optimism in Yes! magazine.
If you have any "resilience tips" for how to stay engaged and optimistic in the current environment, send them our way!
Bonus picture: Our backup resilience tools in festive attire
We wish you the best during this holiday season, and here’s to a plethora of good news in 2018!
Love,
Susan Jane and Paul (& Niki & Indy)
Past letters are available here