November 7, 2011 -  Volume 44, Issue 6

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This program in our Lunch with Leaders series will offer insight into the nature of the mayoral position and its challenges in today’s turbulent political and economic times. Mayor Anna Peterson of Salem and Mayor Lore Christopher of Keizer provide an interesting tandem perspective on civic leadership at the medium- and small-size city level, and the perspective of a veteran of six terms (Christopher) contrasted with that of a first time mayor (Peterson). The mayors will speak about the delights and complexities of their jobs, which may not always be fully understood by the public. They will also address policy issues of particular significance to mid-Willamette Valley residents. This is the first time that the mayors of both cities have appeared on stage at Salem City Club.
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Anna Peterson
Mayor Anna M. Peterson took office on January 11, 2011, and is serving her first term as Salem’s mayor. Salem is Oregon’s third largest city and the largest in the mid-Willamette Valley region.
      Anna Peterson has been an active leader in business, civic and community organizations in Salem for over 25 years. She has served on the board of directors of SEDCOR, owned her own marketing/public relations firm, managed Capitol Press Printing, served as marketing and development director at the Garten Foundation, and was the first woman director for the Commercial Bank (now West Coast Bank).
     Anna has led arts and civic organizations, including Salem Rotary Club, the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem, the Historic Elsinore Theatre, the Salem Public Library Foundation, and is a founding director of the Oregon Artists Series Foundation to bring art to public spaces in Salem. 
     Anna co-founded, and was chair of NO METH – Not in My Neighborhood, and chaired the Governor’s Task Force on Methamphetamine. She served four years on the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. 
     Anna Peterson has twice received Salem’s highest volunteer recognition, the Willard C. Marshall Award and was named Salem Area Chamber of Commerce First Citizen in 2003. 
      Anna graduated from Roosevelt High School in Portland and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon.

 
Lore Christopher
Mayor Lore Christopher took office on January 2, 2001 as the first woman Mayor of Keizer, and was elected to a sixth term in 2010. Keizer is Oregon’s 14^th largest city and the second largest within the mid-Willamette Valley Area.
     Beyond her mayoral responsibilities, Lore Christopher has actively served in extra-council leadership roles including president of the Oregon Mayors Association, member of the HR Advisory Committee of the League of Oregon Cities, member of the SEDCOR board of directors, and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments. She also served as an executive officer for the Oregon State Personnel Managers Association.
     Her numerous community volunteer activities prior to council office include serving on the Keizer Parks and Recreation Citizens Advisory Board and the Keizer Little League  Board of Directors.
      Lore has worked in the public and private sectors for over 30 years employed in the management of human resources. For the past fourteen years she has worked for the Oregon Legislative Branch. Her private sector experience includes work with a national (350,000 employees) organization and a small local HR company (25 employees) working with over 200 private employers.
      Lore Christopher holds a BA in Human Resource Management, and a Master of Public Administration (Portland State University).

Our thanks for sponsorship of this program to:

    
Please join us November 18, 2011 as we continue our series, Lunch with Leaders.  Lunch and program will be hosted in the Dye House at Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill.  For those not on our “continuous attendee” list, you may e-mail lunch reservations to: rsvp@salemcityclub.com or call 503-370-2808 by Wednesday noon, November 16, 2011. SCC members lunch cost is $12, all others $15.   Doors open at 11:30 AM.  The community is welcomed and encouraged to join us!   There is a $5 charge for visitors who would like coffee and a cookie.  For more information on upcoming programs, and directions to this event please go to www.salemcityclub.com

 

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