President’s Message
“A good deed will make a good neighbor.” –African proverb
The daily deluge of news floods us with crises, problems, disputes, dysfunction—consequential matters we can’t ignore. That’s why you’ll find BWNA working on neighbors’ concerns about big issues like houselessness, air quality, economic suffering during the pandemic, traffic headaches, crime and community safety, and racial discrimination. But while paddling slowly against this torrent of big troubles, we can’t forget all the small good deeds that surround us every day, keeping us afloat by uncountable acts of kindness that don’t make the headlines: folks checking in with neighbors during the heat waves, lending a hand to clean up the middle school grounds or Alameda stairwells, planting new shrubs at Wilshire Park, and offering other gifts of time and talent.
One prime example is this newsletter. It arrives every other month—for free—at the doorsteps of 2,600 Beaumont-Wilshire homes and commercial establishments. (There’s a colorful online version, too, at www.bwnapdx.org/newsletters). As you know, it’s packed with interesting and useful information about local happenings, projects, people, businesses, opportunities, garden and recycling advice, activities for kids, recipes, historical tidbits, and more. And by what magic does this happen? Through the unsung deeds of over 60 of your neighbors—volunteers all—who produce and distribute this community lifeline.
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Foremost is editor Al Ellis, who spends innumerable hours shepherding resources, organizing, writing, crafting headlines, proofreading, and guiding the newsletter. This would not be such a quality project without his labors over the past several years.
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The lively and readable layout and graphic design is the work of Jane Feinberg.
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You aren’t distracted by errors because of the sharp eyes of copy editor Myrna Sheie.
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There’s the team of crackerjack regular writers and columnists, including Mark Mohammadpour, Barbara Strunk, Susan Trabucco, Polly Webber, and Elizabeth Erickson. Other frequent contributors include John Sandie, Gary Hancock, and Peter Mogielnicki. Many other writers have added their occasional perspectives.
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Georgina Head and John Sandie are the two distribution gurus who organize the teams of people who deliver the newsletter.
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And finally, here are those volunteers who actually pound the pavement to get this publication to your doorstep:
Dave Anderson, Linda Atlas, Kerry Aude, Sam Balto, Sela Barker, Kurt Burkhart, Gregory Carich, Matt and Roberta Carter, Diane Charlton, Mary Collet, Tim Cooper, Joanne Dean, Jewel Derin, Theresa Didier, Erin Dirks, Liz Ehrsam, Diane Eklund, Liz Erickson, Amy Evans, John Fox, Jo Fraser, Paula Frechen, Angela Frome, Elaine Furlong, Jean Furlong, Nancy Gierut Wicker, Jan Giske Gillespie, Heather Green, Michael Grey, Janet Hanus (Williams), Georgina Head, Christine Heijenga, Sarah Hertlein, Joe Hudson, Jim and Bette Johnsrud, Liz Johnston, Linda Kunrath, Karla Lenox, Courtney Lobo, Robin May, Lynette Meadows, Frances Moore, Ted Perkins, Kim Ralphs, Eric Rosewall, Curt Salada, John Sandie, Steve Scheel, Sally Sincic, Deena Stach, Helen Stewart, Diane Storer, Audene Walraven, Ginger Walter, Allan Wesemann, Ann Whitson, John Wire, Paula Young, and Sarah Zakreski.
Here’s a shout-out to all these good folks who work together to bring you this newsletter: Thank you!