Thirty-five people came to our first All Village meeting on Saturday, March 12. 

It was a full agenda. We talked about:
1. Viva Village successes so far in 2016:

• The stability of our hub Villages NW, providing much appreciated support.
• The value of the Affinity Groups (Membership, Volunteer, and Resource Development). These groups connect people from all 7 Villages in the Portland area.
• Viva Village Events – the Forensics talk, Disaster Preparedness for Seniors, Thursday Social Times, Nature Walks, and Book Club.
• The bi-monthly newsletter The Viva Village Voice and the Weekly Update (this mailing).
• Governing Council progress in moving Viva Village towards launch this coming October.

2.  Volunteer needs now and going forward to Launch in October.

3.  Fundraising efforts: past, current, and ongoing.

4.  Reimbursement guidelines.

5.  Membership structure and fees. This generated a good discussion and raised some pertinent questions for consideration.

The Meeting minutes will be available on our website soon. Check in later at VivaVillage.org.

You can contact members of the Governing Council at VivaVillageOR@gmail.com,
or call 503-644-7417.
 

We know this will be a great program.
You can help it be a success for Viva Village by volunteering to:

• Bring Food
• Set Up
• Welcome Guests
• Clean Up

Join fellow Villagers for an evening of food and camaraderie at Giovanni's Restaurant.

RSVP: Email: VivaVillageSocial@gmail.com, or call 503-644-7417
(Giovanni's likes to know ahead if they'll need more wait staff)

Hope to see you there!

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Don't Miss the Big Event of the Month!

EVERGREENS PLUS:
A GARDENING EVENT

March 19, 10:00 a.m. – noon
Leedy Grange
835 NW Saltzman Road
Cedar Mill 97229

See below for details about the panel of gardeners and other presenters.

You can also get more information:
* Email: VivaVillageEvents@gmail.com
* Call: 503-644-7417
* Visit: Viva Village Gardening Event.  Click on March 19 on the calendar to see a map.
 

Evergreens Plus Presenters:

Barbara Blossom Ashmun has written six books on gardening. Most recently she wrote Married to My Garden about her love affair with plants. She writes regularly for the Quarterly, a publication of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon.
 
Mike Snyder has been making (and re-making) his suburban Beaverton garden for 22 years. He has worked toward an autobiographical garden filled with plants and objects that remind him of family and friends as well as places he has visited. Mike is a member of the Hardy Plant Society and Westside Study Group.
 
Doug Barragar has been gardening all his life but really got involved when he bough his own home on 1/3 of an acre. His corner lot overflows with colorful flowers, and stretches all the way to the road, so that walkers often stop to smell the flowers. Doug is a member of the Hardy Plant Society and the Portland Rose Society.
 
Diana Lamb has been gardening at her 1/3 acre for 28 years. Every corner holds clematis, shrubs and flowers of interest for all seasons, especially colorful in the Spring and Fall. Her garden has been open for several Gardening groups including the Cedar Mill Library tours and the Hardy Plant Society.

* * * * * * 
Christine Hughes PT, OCS, CMPT, Cert MDT. An avid gardener and Physical Therapist for 32 years, Christine specializes in helping patients with orthopedic and pelvic health problems return to their activities with less pain and increased confidence. She is trained and certified in multiple modalities and particularly adept in helping her clients learn skills to manage their own well-being.  Chris grew up in Cedar Mill and is excited to be part of our event. Christine is currently working at Advance Sports and Spine in West Linn, Oregon. 

* * * * * * 
Bruna McBride will showcase a table of useful tools. She is the current president of the Beaverton Garden Club. She is a Master Gardener, a member of the Hardy Plant Society, and a gardener since childhood. Bruna tells us, “I absolutely love gadgets, so any that can make my life easier are my fun finds. I will have a few of them to show you.”
 

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Join our great community of volunteers!
 
Come to our next Volunteer Orientation
(Village 101 attendance required)
Sunday, January 17, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Beaverton Community Center, Vose Room
12350 SW 5th Street, #100 (across from library)

RSVP: VivaVillageOrientation@gmail.com
or 503-644-7320
 

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Book Club:
JUST MERCY, by Brian Stephenson. This true story is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of justice.

Tuesday, March 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
at a home in the Westbrook community in Beaverton

RSVP:  VivaVillageOR+RaeColeman@gmail.com or 503-644-7417

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… and in early April
 

Viva Village Nature Walk – Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Vine Maple and Trillium Loop Trails
Saturday, April 2, 2016 - 10-11 a.m.

Park your car at 15655 SW Millikan Way (green arrow) and meet in the Visitor Center at 10 a.m.  

(1) The red paved trail is safest for those with assistive devices such as canes and wheelchairs – you will take the Lupine Trail to the Vine Maple Trail to the Bridge at Cedar Mill Creek. There you will turn around and retrace your steps back to the Visitor Center for a one mile hike.  

(2) Those that can handle a softer, narrower trail with occasional tree roots can take the blue dashed trail from the Lupine Trail to the Big Fir Trail to the Trillium Loop and back for a 1.03 mile hike. Everyone should look for the 3 pointed white Trillium flowers that should still be in bloom in April.

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