New slogan for the City: ‘Volunteer City of the West’

Now that most people who live in town weren’t here to remember the great dogwood felled by the Columbus Day Storm, the time might be right to consider a slogan to replace “Dogwood City of the West.” Given how residents give of their time, “The Volunteer City” might be a candidate.

The council and staff were privileged to host a gathering at Milwaukie’s wonderful new restaurant, Hartwell’s, to honor the people who donated more than 62,000 hours of their time to the City this past year: residents who serve on boards and commissions, lead Neighborhood Associations, and don gloves to clean up our parks.

The City is blessed to have residents like Dion Sheppard and Val Hunter who will spend hours on a weekend to spruce up the Downtown. Like Bob Hatz, who, after almost 90 years in this town, at a time when you think he’d sit back and relax, accepted another term on the Citizens Utility Advisory Board. Like Ed Zumwalt, a spring chicken compared to Bob, for whom retirement means putting on the popular concerts in Scott Park. Like Tom Hogan, who organized the Milwaukie Poetry Series that’s helping to put the City on the region’s cultural map. (A special pitch for Vern Rutsala’s reading on May 14th: He’s a local boy made very good. A star quarterback and student body president at Milwaukie High back when the Niedermeyer Dogwood was famous, today he’s the most acclaimed poet in Oregon.)

If you too would like to volunteer, look for opportunities on the city’s web site, especially at www.cityofmilwaukie.org/community/volunteers/volunteeropps.html.

In addition to doing good, you’ll get to meet some awfully good people.

This month’s Councilor Column is written by Councilor Greg Chaimov. To contact Greg call (503) 786-7511 or send him an email at chaimovg@ci.milwaukie.or.us.