News Archive - September 2006

CELEBRATING RAY

by Kitty Piercy
Mayor of Eugene

If you just say the name Ray to local Democrats, especially those who have long attended Central Committee meetings or who have worked to elect candidates, they immediately know who you are referring to. I know that's true for the River Road/ Santa Clara neighborhood associations and for Oasis which offers excellent programs for older members of our community.

Ray Eveland was quite a giver. He was never so happy as when busy and giving to others.

Were all going to miss him and the mention of his name brings a smile to our lips. Ray, with his jaunty hat and great smile and easy going ways. Ray, who used to scour garage sales for just that right thing for family or friends. Ray, out there loading his pick-up with lawn signs to put up, finding just the right equipment to make those signs by the hundreds for Democrats. Ray, licking stamps, filling envelopes, representing you at campaign events and inquiring how you are doing and what you are thinking. Ray, comforting someone or encouraging them, or simply being company.

How did I get so fortunate as to have Ray for a friend and mentor? When I ran for State Representative, he just introduced himself and asked if he could help and he kept on helping me for a decade. I loved the stories of when he was a farmer in Iowa, when he was a state legislator, and when he represented the United States in matters of world trade in New Orleans and Canada. I admired the way he loved his children and his wife Ruthie and the pride he had in all of them.

He advised me many times and always reminded me to leave I out of my campaign materials and letters. He reminded me often that it was really all about the people the people who needed representation, access to health care, civil rights, jobs, education, clean air and water. He reminded me to be humble and to be grateful for any opportunity I had to serve others. He reminded me to smile and laugh and share. He reminded me to live fully and without reserve.

He told me when he thought I was doing something good, passed on the times when he thought I might be making a mistake. He encouraged me to try again. He was my pal and my fondness for him is huge.

There are many people Ray touched. I thank Ruthie, his children and his grandchildren for sharing him with all of us. He had that knack of making you stand a bit taller because he was there with you.

I miss you Ray. Thanks so much.

LOCAL DEMS FIND UNITY AT 2005 PLATFORM CONVENTION

"We have much more that unites us, than divides us," said DPLC Platform Committee Chair George Grier in his opening remarks to the 2005 DPLC Platform convention on December 10th. Close to a hundred attended the convention held at the Cottage Grove High School.

Former State Legislator Tony Corcoran presided over the session, which began just after nine in the morning. The event was hosted by an organization he founded, The Blackberry Pie Society - a non-partisan progressive PAC based in Cottage Grove. In addition to arranging for the facilities, BPS volunteers decorated the auditorium and provided lunch for attendees.

The main business of the convention, approval of the revised DPLC platform document came early in the proceedings. (Read the platform.) The platform passed by acclamation. One attendee commented on the unity. "It proves just how well the Platform Committee did their task," she said. "Instead of trying to haggle a platform together in a single afternoon - as we've done before - this is a document that was developed over many months, and is the work of many hands."

Conventioneers spent the greater part of the day in break-out sessions, discussing topics ranging from "Protecting Our Children's Future" to "Ending Second-Class Citizenship." The day closed with reports from the break-out committees, outlining legislative goals for the next term of the State Legislature.