CELEBRATIN’ WITH A CAPITAL C Once again summer has arrived and that means the Oregon Country Fair can’t be far behind. It also means that many of us will return for our favorite celebration of the year. As we get ready for our 44th year of gathering together, I find myself asking the question...why do we celebrate? Taking that a step further, why is this particular celebration so important to so many? TheFreeDictionary.com defines celebration as “to observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity or rejoicing”. In a loose sense that tells us basically what celebration is but it does not begin to grapple with why we are driven to do so. In an era that venerates corporations yet actual human beings are considered commodities to be used up to maximize profit, celebration can help remind us of many things easily forgotten as the pace of modern life continues to accelerate. In a society where neighbors seldom know or interact with other neighbors and get-togethers and family reunions do not happen as frequently as they used to, celebrations bind us together. They connect us as families and communities. They also help us feel connected with something larger than ourselves. This is more important than ever in an era of technological connectedness that ironically leaves more and more of us further isolated from each other. We each have individual reasons for, and ways of, celebrating and there can be great power in celebration. Power to heal, to grieve, to remember, to release or let go, to change, to grow, to play, to acknowledge, to connect, to share, to
explore, to love. Many even find the power of joy in celebration to be transformative. Celebration can also be a very private thing, but I believe that the power found in celebrating is multiplied when we join in celebration together. Whatever your reason for joining in may be, when people come together to celebrate here at the Oregon Country Fair they seem to do so in a way that eschews prejudice, forgets shyness and encourages freedom of expression. Our celebration strives to bring people together regardless of who they are, where they come from or what they look like. Even on solemn occasions, when we remember past tragedies or the loss of beloved friends and family, we come together as a collective to support one another as we remember and celebrate those who are not with
us today. Celebration can be an expression of so many things. A way of staying connected to our environment and each other. A way of expressing gratitude for simply being alive and awake. A critical expression of a healthy community. It is also a way of achieving one of the goals of Article II of our non-profit by-laws; psychospiritual rejuvenation. Ultimately, I believe that as human beings we celebrate because it is an expression of our human spirit rising above the difficulties and challenges of our day to day lives and our need to share that with one another. It is with that thought in mind that I invite you to join us as we come together to manifest this most unique collective expression of celebration, the Oregon Country Fair. an nage ger Charlie Ruff, General Manager
Southwest parking lot next to the bike bridge. You can ride to and from those locations for free from anywhere in the LTD system. You will need a ticket to the Fair to access the Fair site and the event. Remember, the LAST BUS LEAVES THE FAIR SITE AT 7:30! Give yourself plenty of time to make all your bus connections. LTD schedules are available at the downtown station, at www.ltd.org or by calling (541) 687-5555 So, get a free fare on the Fair and please make 2013 the year you get back on the bus...on us!
SHARE THE RIDE
LTD FARE ON THE FAIR GET BACK ON THE BUS...ON US! As Fair approaches this year, it is my great pleasure to announce a new era of collaboration and community building between the Fair and our long-time partners at the Lane Transit District (LTD). Historically, the OCF has funded a service where ticketed participants who are coming to the Fair have been able to ride from anywhere in the LTD system to one of two shuttles that would deliver them to our front door. This year you can still get to the Fair site for free but now anyone (including you) can also ride LTD, anytime and anywhere for FREE. The OCF is purchasing the fare for the entire LTD system on July 12, 13 & 14. You don’t need a ticket and you don’t have to be going to the Fair (although we don’t know why you wouldn’t!) to get a free fare on any bus. It is our pleasure to be able to give back to our community, which has helped support our event for over forty years, in a tangible way. For decades, the Fair has been working with LTD to provide safe, efficient and affordable access to the Oregon Country Fair. This has
helped us manage and mitigate the impact of cars, on both our site (lessening parking demands) and the environment, as well as helping to foster and maintain public safety by easing congestion on the two main vehicular arteries to the Fair, Highway 126 and Clear Lake Road. It has also helped us toward our goals of social equity by providing cost free travel to the Fair site during the days of our event for folks who cannot or choose not to travel by car. It is also important for the Fair to support and invest in the continued success of LTD, our local gem of a resource, that provides a critical public service for the entire community. Even if you have never taken a ride on a LTD bus, their services and impact on our community touches us all. Supporting public transportation in our region makes good sense from an economic, social equity and environmental perspective and helps us build and strengthen our community. You can catch the bus at LTD’s downtown station at 10th and Willamette or Valley River Center’s
THE GREEN TORTOISE RIDES AGAIN Coming from the Bay Area? Catch the Green Tortoise. For Tortoise info: www.greentortoise. com or the Fair website at: www. oregoncountryfair.org.
SAVE THE PLANET AND YOUR WALLET The Oregon Country Fair is committed to making our Fair more sustainable and to helping you reduce the cost and hassle of traveling to our event. Ridesharing is very convenient and cheaper than driving alone. By riding together we reduce traffic and congestion, and our carbon footprint. Start bonding with other Oregon Country Fairgoers even before the event begins! One tool to offer and find rides is Zimride. Zimride uses Facebook integration to create a safe and fun way for friends to share rides to the Fair. It’s a great way to join together to make new friends, save money and reduce our carbon footprint. You can find a link to our Zimride ride board at www.OregonCountryFair.org/ transportation.php. Make new friends, save money and gas, and share rides!
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