Board members Pam Conley, Kim Elton, Jack Greenman, and Liz McLellan welcomed Rachel Cairns as a special guest. Sarah Greenman could not attend.
Rachel Cairns Brings Dark Sky Vision to UCP
Rachel Cairns presented her Dark Sky Halfway project to the board. Her goal is preserving night skies so people can still see the Milky Way. The project also hopes to bring astronomy tourists to the area.
Liz McLellan moved to approve Dark Skies as a UCP project. Jack Greenman seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to welcome the project with startup funding for a community meeting.
Record Breaking Community Cleanup
What a cleanup day! Ninety-three vehicles brought items to the October 21 event. Volunteers collected 21,336 pounds of trash and 8,960 pounds of scrap metal. The community really showed up.
These cleanup events cost between six and seven thousand dollars to organize. This was the last one funded by current grant money. The huge turnout proves people value this community service.
Fall Fuels Reduction Work Wraps Up
Crews worked three weeks from October 1-27 finishing jobs the June crew could not complete. The thorough approach helps protect homes and businesses from wildfire risks all around the valley.
Village Fund Reaches New Supporters
Nine generous donors responded to the nineteen Ask Letters sent in August. They contributed forty and fifty dollars to the Village Fund. The fund now holds forty-seven hundred seventy-four dollars.
Twelve neighbors applied for Village Fund help during 2023. Since the program started in April 2020, forty-nine people have received assistance through tough times.
PV2050 Committee Changes
Three steering committee members stepped down. Craig Norman, Gail Kimberling, and Becky Kaaen resigned from their positions. PV2050 stays a UCP project with new leadership taking over.
Debi Lorence finished her contract work and rejoined the steering committee. Rachel Cairns and Pam Conley round out the team. They will recruit new members in January.
Pam updated the Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement to make roles and responsibilities clearer for everyone involved.
Grant Writing Shows Results
Grant writer Susy Lacer continues working on USDA Rural Energy grants. These grants will help two businesses improve energy efficiency. The liquor store and tri-color building will benefit from the improvements.
Susy also completed school track funding research. UCP will wait for the school to clarify its facility improvement grants and bond results before moving forward.
End Of Year Letter Campaign Gets Board Approval
Board members reviewed the draft End of Year Letter for the annual fundraising campaign. They approved printing and mailing the letters to community supporters.
Past Ask Letter campaigns have exceeded fundraising goals. The money provides unrestricted funds that support all UCP projects and daily operations.
QuickBooks Setup Nearly Complete
Todd Smitherman from Sun Coast Bookkeeping Solutions finished setting up QuickBooks. He provided Annual Report forms for the past two fiscal years. Board members can find the forms on the Google Drive.
The board still needs to schedule training sessions with Todd. At sixty dollars per hour, the training investment will help everyone learn the new financial system.
Board Recruitment Plans Continue
Pam and Jack have a list of potential board members. They need to schedule conversations with candidates. New board members bring fresh ideas and help share the workload. If you are interested in contributing your skills, community love for Pine Valley and know- how contact any board member.
Strong Financial Foundation
Treasurer Jack Greenman reported solid finances in his budget report. We are in good health fiscally.
Got a Community Project Idea? We’re Here to Help!
Looking at everything we accomplished together this year, we’re reminded that every successful project started with someone who had an idea and wasn’t sure where to begin. If you’ve been thinking about a project that could benefit Pine Valley – whether it’s big or small – UCP is here to help you figure out the next steps.
We Can Help With:
**Fiscal agency or sponsorship** for community projects that align with our mission – this means we can handle the money management and paperwork while you focus on making your project happen.
**Small grants** to get projects started – we’ve funded everything from the $500 Chautauqua Music Festival to the $5,000 MainStreet Stage project. Every idea deserves a chance!
**Project development support** – help turning your idea into a plan that works, finding the right people to work with, and figuring out what resources you’ll need.
**Training and workshop access** – connecting you with the skills and knowledge that make projects successful.
**Networking within our community** – we know who’s doing what in Pine Valley and can help connect you with people who share your interests or have complementary skills.
How to Get Started:
The easiest way is to come to one of our monthly UCP meetings and share your idea during our Open Discussion time. This is when community members bring projects, ideas, needs, or plans to the group. Don’t worry about having everything figured out – we’re here to help you work through the details!
You can also join the conversation on our Facebook page to get your idea out there and maybe find people willing to roll up their sleeves and help make it happen.
**Remember:** This list isn’t exhaustive. If you don’t see exactly what your project needs, please get in touch anyway. We may be able to point you in the right direction or help you find the resources you need.
From Ideas to Reality:
Some of our most successful projects – like the Village Fund, Pine Valley Firewise, and Pine Valley 2050 – started as conversations at UCP meetings. Someone said “What if we could…” and the community said “Let’s figure out how!”
Whether your project needs $250 or $2,000, so long as it fits within our mission we want to hear about it. Pine Valley grows stronger when community members step up with ideas that make this place even better.
OUR MISSION
United Community Partners facilitates access to organizational assistance for citizen-led initiatives which stimulate economic activity, foster goodwill and fellowship, and enhance Pine Valley and Panhandle communities as rural places to live and work.
**Questions?** Contact any board member. We’re excited to hear what you’re thinking about!
Until next time, keep making Pine Valley proud!
Your friends at United Community Partners
United Community Partners connects community members with resources, funding, and support for local projects that improve life in rural Baker County.
Related
Last Updated: August 3, 2025 by Liz
Board Minutes Updates from November 2023
Board members Pam Conley, Kim Elton, Jack Greenman, and Liz McLellan welcomed Rachel Cairns as a special guest. Sarah Greenman could not attend.
Rachel Cairns Brings Dark Sky Vision to UCP
Rachel Cairns presented her Dark Sky Halfway project to the board. Her goal is preserving night skies so people can still see the Milky Way. The project also hopes to bring astronomy tourists to the area.
Liz McLellan moved to approve Dark Skies as a UCP project. Jack Greenman seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to welcome the project with startup funding for a community meeting.
Record Breaking Community Cleanup
What a cleanup day! Ninety-three vehicles brought items to the October 21 event. Volunteers collected 21,336 pounds of trash and 8,960 pounds of scrap metal. The community really showed up.
These cleanup events cost between six and seven thousand dollars to organize. This was the last one funded by current grant money. The huge turnout proves people value this community service.
Fall Fuels Reduction Work Wraps Up
Crews worked three weeks from October 1-27 finishing jobs the June crew could not complete. The thorough approach helps protect homes and businesses from wildfire risks all around the valley.
Village Fund Reaches New Supporters
Nine generous donors responded to the nineteen Ask Letters sent in August. They contributed forty and fifty dollars to the Village Fund. The fund now holds forty-seven hundred seventy-four dollars.
Twelve neighbors applied for Village Fund help during 2023. Since the program started in April 2020, forty-nine people have received assistance through tough times.
PV2050 Committee Changes
Three steering committee members stepped down. Craig Norman, Gail Kimberling, and Becky Kaaen resigned from their positions. PV2050 stays a UCP project with new leadership taking over.
Debi Lorence finished her contract work and rejoined the steering committee. Rachel Cairns and Pam Conley round out the team. They will recruit new members in January.
Pam updated the Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement to make roles and responsibilities clearer for everyone involved.
Grant Writing Shows Results
Grant writer Susy Lacer continues working on USDA Rural Energy grants. These grants will help two businesses improve energy efficiency. The liquor store and tri-color building will benefit from the improvements.
Susy also completed school track funding research. UCP will wait for the school to clarify its facility improvement grants and bond results before moving forward.
End Of Year Letter Campaign Gets Board Approval
Board members reviewed the draft End of Year Letter for the annual fundraising campaign. They approved printing and mailing the letters to community supporters.
Past Ask Letter campaigns have exceeded fundraising goals. The money provides unrestricted funds that support all UCP projects and daily operations.
QuickBooks Setup Nearly Complete
Todd Smitherman from Sun Coast Bookkeeping Solutions finished setting up QuickBooks. He provided Annual Report forms for the past two fiscal years. Board members can find the forms on the Google Drive.
The board still needs to schedule training sessions with Todd. At sixty dollars per hour, the training investment will help everyone learn the new financial system.
Board Recruitment Plans Continue
Pam and Jack have a list of potential board members. They need to schedule conversations with candidates. New board members bring fresh ideas and help share the workload. If you are interested in contributing your skills, community love for Pine Valley and know- how contact any board member.
Strong Financial Foundation
Treasurer Jack Greenman reported solid finances in his budget report. We are in good health fiscally.
Got a Community Project Idea? We’re Here to Help!
Looking at everything we accomplished together this year, we’re reminded that every successful project started with someone who had an idea and wasn’t sure where to begin. If you’ve been thinking about a project that could benefit Pine Valley – whether it’s big or small – UCP is here to help you figure out the next steps.
We Can Help With:
**Fiscal agency or sponsorship** for community projects that align with our mission – this means we can handle the money management and paperwork while you focus on making your project happen.
**Small grants** to get projects started – we’ve funded everything from the $500 Chautauqua Music Festival to the $5,000 MainStreet Stage project. Every idea deserves a chance!
**Project development support** – help turning your idea into a plan that works, finding the right people to work with, and figuring out what resources you’ll need.
**Training and workshop access** – connecting you with the skills and knowledge that make projects successful.
**Networking within our community** – we know who’s doing what in Pine Valley and can help connect you with people who share your interests or have complementary skills.
How to Get Started:
The easiest way is to come to one of our monthly UCP meetings and share your idea during our Open Discussion time. This is when community members bring projects, ideas, needs, or plans to the group. Don’t worry about having everything figured out – we’re here to help you work through the details!
You can also join the conversation on our Facebook page to get your idea out there and maybe find people willing to roll up their sleeves and help make it happen.
**Remember:** This list isn’t exhaustive. If you don’t see exactly what your project needs, please get in touch anyway. We may be able to point you in the right direction or help you find the resources you need.
From Ideas to Reality:
Some of our most successful projects – like the Village Fund, Pine Valley Firewise, and Pine Valley 2050 – started as conversations at UCP meetings. Someone said “What if we could…” and the community said “Let’s figure out how!”
Whether your project needs $250 or $2,000, so long as it fits within our mission we want to hear about it. Pine Valley grows stronger when community members step up with ideas that make this place even better.
OUR MISSION
United Community Partners facilitates access to organizational assistance for citizen-led initiatives which stimulate economic activity, foster goodwill and fellowship, and enhance Pine Valley and Panhandle communities as rural places to live and work.
**Questions?** Contact any board member. We’re excited to hear what you’re thinking about!
Until next time, keep making Pine Valley proud!
Your friends at United Community Partners
United Community Partners connects community members with resources, funding, and support for local projects that improve life in rural Baker County.
Share this:
Like this:
Related
Category: Board Recruitment, Board Training, Building Skills, Events, Financials, Grants, Meeting Minutes Tags: 21336 pounds trash, 8960 pounds scrap metal, 93 vehicles participated, annual fundraising campaign, Ask Letter campaign, astronomy tourism, Baker County Oregon, Becky Kaaen resignation, board recruitment, certificate of deposit, community cleanup, community grants, Craig Norman resignation, Dark Sky Community status, Debi Lorence steering committee, financial reserves, fuels reduction crews, Gail Kimberling resignation, grant writing services, Halfway Oregon, liquor store energy efficiency, Milky Way visibility, money market account, night sky preservation, nonprofit board meeting, Pine Valley Firewise, PV2050 committee changes, QuickBooks setup, Rachel Cairns, record cleanup success, rural community development, school track funding research, Todd Smitherman bookkeeping, tri-color building improvements, UCP board minutes November 2023, United Community Partners, USDA Rural Energy grants, Village Fund support, wildfire cleanup
Recent Posts
Post Categories
Our Community
Eastern Oregon Connections
Localize It
Rural Focused Organizations
Grants and Fundraising
Internet and Technical Resources
Nonprofit Resources
CONTACT INFO
P.O. Box 545
Halfway, Oregon 97834
Phone 541-742-4065
president@unitedcommunitypartners.org
Site Design - Liz McLellan Strategy