Annual Meeting Update 2024-2025

Celebrating Our Community: UCP’s 2024-2025 Year in Review

What a year it’s been! We’re thrilled to share the incredible work our Pine Valley community accomplished together through United Community Partners this past year. From supporting local organizations to managing major projects, every success story has community members like you at its heart.

Supporting Our Local Organizations

This year, we had the privilege of supporting six amazing organizations that make our community stronger every day. Through our grant program, we distributed $3,750 to help these groups enhance their vital work:

The Chautauqua Music Fest and Cornucopia Arts Council each received $500 to upgrade their equipment, ensuring better sound and performances for everyone who attends these beloved events. Our Halfway Farmers Market got $500 for essential furnishings that make shopping there more comfortable for vendors and customers alike.

The Lions Club received $500 for their Senior Meals Commercial kitchen project – what a wonderful way to support the folks who feed our seniors with such care. Brisks got $750 for their Farm Show, celebrating the agricultural heritage that defines our area. And the Pine Valley Fair Association received $1,000 for carnival expenses, bringing joy to families throughout the region.

Each of these grants represents something bigger: neighbors supporting neighbors, community members investing in what matters most to all of us.

Our Fiscal Sponsorship Projects: Where Community Dreams Take Flight
The Village Fund: A True Safety Net

Sometimes life throws unexpected challenges our way, and that’s exactly why The Village Fund exists. This year, we helped three families facing urgent needs, continuing the fund’s mission that started during the uncertainty of 2020.

Since we launched The Village Fund, 58 families have reached out for help, and we’ve been able to award $26,446.50 in direct assistance. With $3,794.10 still available, we’re ready to continue providing up to $500 every six months to neighbors who need a helping hand. It’s beautiful to see how our community takes care of each other.

Pine Valley Firewise: Protecting What We Love

Pine Valley Firewise had an absolutely outstanding year, and the results speak to the dedication of our 110 participating property owners. Using the $240,000 Oregon State Fire Marshal grant, crews completed fuels reduction work on 35 properties and organized two Community Cleanup Days that brought neighbors together while making our area safer.

The community’s generosity for our fire station project has been overwhelming – $11,000 in direct donations, plus $6,000 from the Roundhouse Foundation and an incredible $15,600 from the Oregon Community Foundation specifically for radio equipment. These radios will help keep our volunteer firefighters connected and safe while they protect all of us.

With $75,803.71 still available from the state grant and $1,239.70 in community donations, Pine Valley Firewise continues building the fire-resistant community we all want for our families.

PV2050: Where Big Dreams Meet Practical Action

PV2050 secured a new Ford Foundation grant in August, and what they accomplished with it shows what’s possible when we work together. The second Mentor Match Teen Entrepreneur program graduated five young people, each launching their own business – imagine the economic energy these young entrepreneurs will bring to our community!

The Main Street team organized the magical Parade of Lights Christmas event, complete with tree lighting and Santa visits that brought pure joy to our downtown. They also continued the flower basket program that makes our main street bloom with color all summer long.

The roof replacement project represents something remarkable: $121,000 in grants helping five local businesses strengthen their infrastructure. When our businesses thrive, we all benefit from the jobs, services, and community gathering places they provide.

PV2050 also supported the community track project through the Halfway Half Marathon and hosted meetings where nonprofits shared their needs and found ways to collaborate. With $7,410.65 in flexible funds and $29,449.88 designated for specific projects, they’re positioned to tackle even more community priorities.

Dark Skies Over Halfway: Protecting Our Spectacular Night Sky

Our night sky is one of Pine Valley’s greatest treasures, and the Dark Skies Over Halfway committee is working hard to keep it that way. Led by dedicated volunteers Rachel Cairns, Pam Conley, Tom Nash, Michael Ross, Sally Robaugh, Diana Adams, Liz McLellan, Kim Jones, and Shannon Nielson, this project is making real progress toward official Dark Sky International certification.

The committee has prepared a draft outdoor lighting ordinance for Halfway City Council, based on the successful ordinance approved in Antelope, Oregon. In July, Michael McKeag from Dark Sky Oregon visited to help with the outdoor light survey that’s required for certification. This builds on Jean Fennern’s detailed survey of all the light fixtures maintained by Idaho Power and the city.

The most exciting news? Our July night sky survey confirmed what we all knew – our skies are incredibly dark, with the Milky Way clearly visible on clear nights. The committee will continue monthly measurements to document this natural treasure we’re working to preserve.

The Dark Sky parties at the Fairgrounds have been wonderful community gatherings, especially for families with young children discovering the magic of a truly dark night sky. Once certified, the project will change its name to Dark Sky Halfway, marking our official recognition as protectors of this amazing resource.

Growing Our UCP Support

Our UCP membership grew to 28 paid members this year, with 137 people following our Facebook page and 88 contacts staying connected through our email list. We’re so grateful for each person who chooses to be part of this work.

Board Elections: Continuity and New Leadership

At our annual meeting, the board voted by acclamation to accept our board slate for the coming years. We’re thrilled that Pam Conley will continue leading us as President through 2027, bringing her steady guidance and deep community connections to another term. Our friend Jack Greenman continues as Secretary through 2027, and Jenn Berg will be our fiscal major domo for the foreseeable future, where her careful attention to our finances keeps everything transparent and well-managed.

Liz McLellan continues as Board Member and Tech Lead through 2027 – she has big plans for the site and tools for the community. Michael Ross, who joined us informally in March, now serves officially as an At Large member through 2026.

This year we lost two longtime board members whose contributions shaped UCP into what it is today. Steve White, who served alongside us since 2012, brought steady leadership and institutional memory that helped guide countless decisions over the years. His quiet wisdom and commitment to our community’s wellbeing will be deeply missed around the board table.

Kim Elton was truly the voice of wisdom and deep experience for UCP. His thoughtful perspective and ability to see the bigger picture helped us navigate complex decisions and stay true to our mission. Kim’s guidance made us all better at this work, and we are forever grateful for the years he dedicated to building a stronger Pine Valley community.

Amari Fauna’s term expires in 2026, and while we hope she’ll consider running again, she’s leaving the area which makes that unlikely. We will miss you and all you bring to the community, Amari! Your energy and fresh perspectives have made UCP stronger, and wherever you land next will be lucky to have you.

We still have two important positions to fill: we need one more At Large board member and we’re actively seeking someone ready to step into the Vice President role. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved in community leadership, we’d love to talk with you about what these positions involve and how you could help shape UCP’s future. Please get in touch with any board member.

Monthly board meetings remain open to everyone because transparency and community input make everything we do stronger.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Our Community

Three priorities will guide our work in the coming year. First, we want to welcome that seventh board member and find someone ready to serve as Vice President. Second, we’re excited to keep growing our membership as more neighbors discover the impact we can make together. Third, we’re building connections with skilled community volunteers who can help even more projects succeed.

We’re also working on website improvements to better serve our members and make it easier for community groups to connect with the resources they need.

Beyond the Numbers: The Heart of Community Development

Here’s what these numbers really represent: Pine Valley area residents choosing collaboration over isolation, choosing to invest in shared prosperity instead of going it alone. When we pool resources through UCP’s four major projects managing over $115,000, when we support six local organizations with targeted grants, when nearly thirty neighbors become paid members, we’re building something larger than any individual effort could achieve.

Every monthly board meeting, every grant application review, every project check-in represents neighbors who believe in working together. This past year proved that belief continues creating real, meaningful change in our community.

Our annual meeting for 2025-2026 will be held in July 2026, where we’ll review the period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Until then, we’ll keep meeting monthly, keep the doors open to everyone, and keep building the Pine Valley area we all want to call home.

Thank you for being part of this work. Thank you for believing in what we can accomplish together. And thank you for making UCP a reflection of the very best of our community spirit.

*United Community Partners is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization serving the Pine Valley and greater Panhandle area. We’d love to have you join us! Contact us through our monthly board meetings, visit our Facebook page, or reach out to any board member to learn more about membership, grants, or fiscal sponsorship opportunities.*