Acting Executive Director’s Report
A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST YEAR by Sarah Bradham, Acting Executive Director
O
ur Annual Meeting occurs on the first Monday in October and is when we officially usher in our new year, announce our incoming board members, and take a pause and reflect back on the “year” that was.
Despite our inability to gather in person, we still held our Annual Meeting, going virtual for the first time in our 126-year history. While it is a lot of work every year to pull together an Annual Meeting, there are two things I really love about this event. One, it forces us to take the time to reflect on the year that was—we analyze data, we write reports, and we take stock of our accomplishments and challenges over the past 12 months. And two, we have the opportunity to interact with a full spectrum of Mazama members. This year, while we couldn’t share a meal, handshake, or hug, we could see faces and smiles thanks to video conferencing, and share a few jokes before we got into the heart of the meeting. I can truly say, the last 12 months are one for the record books. We kicked it off with our new Executive Director, and there was a vibe of excitement and change in the air. We were in the process of reframing the work of the Mazamas around our three core areas— Education & Activities, Advocacy, and Community—and we were setting the groundwork for a strong year of programming. Little did we know that we would soon face a global pandemic, followed closely by the departure of our new Executive Director, a change in staffing at the Mazama Lodge, and unprecedented wildfires that filled our skies with smoke, drove people from their homes, and burned thousands of acres that we know and love. To say this past year has been unprecedented, would be an understatement. Yet through all of the challenges, there have been new opportunities and shared experiences. So what did we do in the before-Covid (BC) phase of the year? Well, as it turns out, quite a bit! We operated multiple youth outreach climbs with our partner organizations and hosted Unclimb Nights with Wild Diversity. We continued our work with Oregon Outdoors and Outdoor Alliance, keeping the Mazamas connected to advocacy initiatives, both locally and nationally. We collaborated with The Mountaineers, American Alpine Club, and the Colorado Mountain Club on our long-standing project of creating national training standards for volunteer leaders, and piloted several courses. We held our biggest Portland Alpine Fest to date, with climbing legend Lynn Hill capping off a week of clinics, seminars, and evening presentations. We taught core programs, including Nordic, Backcountry Skiing, Families Mountaineering 101, and Intermediate Climbing School. We held an AIARE Avalanche Level I course, we hosted weekly Evening Travel Programs with record crowds, and we ran a successful Used Equipment Sale just one week before the world shutdown due to the coronavirus. Our hike and ramble leaders led members and nonmembers on trails and roads, creating joy and camaraderie while racking up the miles. And our climb leaders had a few successful winter climbs on our local peaks.
4 MAZAMAS
The Mazamas mission is to inspire everyone to love and protect the mountains. Never has our mission been more important than it is now. People are discovering, or rediscovering, their need to spend time outside and in nature, and are looking for ways to explore, gather, and learn—in a safe environment. The Mazamas can meet this need.
