Join a TeamWorks team of volunteers for a series of done-in-a-day projects                 led by a Hands On Greater Portland volunteer leader.    

No advance training or experience required, so sign-up today!

TeamWorks offers volunteers the opportunity to make a slightly longer-term commitment to volunteering, delve into a topic or issue-area, and get to know other volunteers in the process.

This unique “sampler” team will focus its attention on the NE Portland region to better understand this part of our city through the eyes of the nonprofits that serve its communities. We’ll sort food for hungry families at the Oregon Food Bank, plant trees with Friends of Trees, promote literacy by mending books at the Children’s Book Bank, help weatherize homes with the Community Engergy project, and engage in a discussion of the history of Northeast Portland over dinner!

Whether you live in Northeast Portland and want to delve into your neighborhood, or live in another area and hope to learn more about the NE quadrant, please join us! It’s a great mix of projects and should be a lot of fun.

What is TeamWorks? TeamWorks teams consist of approximately 10-15 individuals, led by a Hands On trained volunteer leader, who commit to volunteering for every project in the series, so please carefully check the schedule below before signing up! Signing up for the FIRST session will sign you up for the entire TeamWorks. If you know in advance you’d have to miss one of the projects, let us know and you might still be eligible to join the team. Questions can be directed to Melia Tichenor, melia@handsonportland.org or 503.200.3370.

TeamWorks Schedule:

Saturday, January 14th: Stock the Pantry at the Oregon Food Bank for MLK Weekend of Service
9:00am-12:30pm

Saturday, January 21st: Planting with Friends of Trees
9:00am-1:00pm

Wednesday, January 25th: Get Books to Children at the Children’s Book Bank
6:30-8:30pm

Wednesday, February 1st: Northeast Portland History – Dinner and Discussion
6:30-8:00pm

Saturday, February 4th: Weatherize Homes with the Community Energy Project
8:45am-2:00pm

More information, and signing up, can be found here!

King Neighborhood Association General Meeting

King Neighborhood Facility, 4815 NE 7^th Avenue

http://kingneighborhood.org

January 11, 2012 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm

KNA General Meeting: A Draft Agenda

6:30    Welcome and introductions;  approval of minutes and agenda; announcements.

6:40    An update from our district officer with the Portland Police Bureau.

6:50    King Neighborhood Land Use/Economic Development study and action.

7:00    Food & our neighbors: a food security initiative for King. An introduction to the idea, and a re-invitation to participate in shaping its mission.

7:10   The Portland Playhouse, and its application for a conditional use permit to use the building at 6^th & Prescott: the Playhouse is requesting the NA to appeal to Portland City Council on its behalf, if its permit application is denied.

7:30    Movie in the Park 2012: is KNA ready to commit to putting this event on, and fundraising for it? Are there ideas for other summer events we’d like to see?

7:45     Katy Asher updates us on the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhood’s work in the larger inner N/NE neighborhoods.

7:55    Reaching our neighbors: our KNA communications team and its work. What are we doing, and what comes next? What does outreach look like?

8:05    Safety and livability update, and thinking about youth violence and how we can help confront it.

8:15    Updates/continuing the discussion:

• the weeding & planting project at the King facility parking lot, 7^th & Wygant, as organized by Diego Gioseffi: next steps.

8:25    Closing thoughts.

The King Neighborhood Association meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 in the King Neighborhood Facility at 4815 NE 7th Avenue, unless another location has been designated ahead of time. Our next meeting will be held on February 8, 2012.  Child care is provided on site if requested 24 hours in advance by email to info@kingneighborhood.org or by calling 503-823-4575. You can subscribe to our electronic newsletter and check out our community calendar at www.kingneighborhood.org. You can send us an email at info@kingneighborhood.org.

Are you interested in learning more about Portland’s land use and development process?

Neighborhood associations and leaders often are asked to respond to land use notices or to help neighbors who are struggling with a land use issue. Many neighborhoods have a land use chair or other volunteer who is the point person for responding to these requests.

It can really help to learn more about how the land use system works and how to advocate for the community’s interests most effectively. Also, it’s often comforting and helpful to share experiences with other neighborhood activists facing the same challenges.

The ABCs of Land Use workshops were designed to meet this need. The neighborhood coalitions, the Planning Bureau, and ONI have teamed up to host ABCs of Land Use workshop in different parts of the city a few times each year.

The next ABCs workshop is being hosted by Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition on Sat. January 28, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southeast Uplift office.

Learn the basics of how the City of Portland’s land use and development review processes work. Get hands-on experience with a land use review case study, including review of a development proposal and site plan, identification of relevant issues, and effective ways to respond to the approval criteria.

You can register for the workshop on line at: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?&c=57317

We are having a second round on the invasive species removal at the King Facility Parking Lot, next Jan 16th, for MLK day. I talked with Americorps and they seem very interested in helping us in the project. Hopefully they will send some hands the 16th.

I estimate that now we are around 20 volunteers, but some will come on the 14th and others the 16th. We would love to have 20 more folks helping us. Please join us!

The land we’re clearing of invasive species, and prepping for later installation of native plant species, borders the King Facility parking lot, at 7th & NE Wygant.

We are also looking for someone to watch kids so we can provide day care for the volunteers.

Let me know if you can help.

Diego Gioseffi
808-779-3435

Portland Parks & Recreation will soon submit their proposed budget for the next fiscal year.  As directed by Mayor Adams, their budget reflects cuts of up to $3 million.  This impacts important programs and services including: community centers, park garbage and restroom service, street trees, and SUN Community Schools.

Learn more about the recommendations at www.portlandparks.org and then join us:

WHAT: An opportunity to share your thoughts about the proposed budget with Commissioner Nick Fish and Director Mike Abbaté

WHEN: Monday, January 9^th, 2012 6:30pm-8:30pm

WHERE: Multnomah County Boardroom @ 501 SE Hawthorne (at the corner of SE 6^th Ave.)

Childcare and translation are available, please call Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong at 503-823-5113 by January 4^th.