THE GORGE BUSINESS NEWS Business, Art, Culture, Outdoors, Travel & Entertainment
Connecting Communities Throughout the Columbia River Gorge Volume 3 - Issue 5
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NOV/DEC 2019
Lisa Farquarson Recieves Chamber Director of the Year Award
By Lori Roach
L
isa Farquharson, The Dalles Area Cham ber of Commerce director, was recently named the 2019 Oregon State Chamber William R. Haas Chamber Executive of the Year at the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce convention in Lebanon. According to the OSCC to be considered for the award, candidates must be nominated by their board and must have held a CEO/Executive Director position for at least 5 years. Criteria for this honor is based on personal character, management excellence, community relations and leadership. The nomination packets meeting these requirements are then sent to a selection committee made up of previous OSCC Executives of the Year. Debi Mollahan, the CEO of the Tigard Chamber of Commerce, said at the conference while announcing the award, “Farquharson has served her community as executive director of the chamber for seven years. When she took on the position membership had been declining and businesses were leaving the chamber because they did not view it as a good return on investment. Businesses and partners reiterated again and again her dedication to the betterment of the community,” said Mollahan. “To quote one of them,
‘she has turned our chamber around, we are seeing growth in membership and she has transformed our chamber into a well-run, respected, service-oriented resource.’” September 2012 Farquharson was living in Pendleton and working as the membership director for the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce when she came across the listing for the Executive Director job opening in The Dalles. She called her husband Jon and asked what he thought she should do. “That’s your hometown…you need to apply…it’s your time to fly” he told her. By the end of October she was making her way to the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce Convention, which was being held in Vancouver in conjunction with the Washington State Chamber of Commerce. She stopped by The Dalles and picked up two of her new employees, and they all made their way to the convention. She knew, after spending a couple days at the convention, her new job was going to challenge her like she’d never been challenged before. November 1, 2012 Lisa walked into The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, took the helm of the organization and has continued to move the chamber and her community forward with a positive attitude, an amazing work ethic, and a vision of collaboration and comradery. “I had no idea Lisa was receiving an award,”
Lisa Farquharson
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Hood River Inn G.M. awarded Oregon Lodger of the Year C
huck Hinman, General Manager of the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, was awarded Lodging Operator of the Year by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) at its annual Hospitality Conference in Seaside. Hinman has worked in the hospitality industry all his life, beginning as a dishwasher at age 16, but mainly in hotel management in Seattle, Portland and Hood River. He’s managed the Hood River Inn since early 1990, shortly after it was acquired by owner group D.M. Stevenson Ranch. D.M.S.R. is made up of family members descended from D.M. Stevenson. The ownership group now operates the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn in Hood River and the Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn in Cascade Locks, as well as their sister restaurants and affiliate properties under Hinman’s leadership. In accepting the honor at an industry awards luncheon on September 17 in Seaside, Hinman credited much of his success in gratitude to dozens who have helped him along the way, including key staff members. “I feel fortunate to be supported by so
many, and I humbly accept on behalf of our entire team,” Hinman relayed. “My message to my peers here is to first and foremost, choose quality when given a choice, even though it may come at the expense of the bottom line. It’s easy to say ‘that’s good enough’ or ‘okay,’ but I try to model this philosophy when running businesses, making improvements, or choosing staff and their benefits.” Often mentioned as an important factor in Hinman’s success is his ability to attract and retain outstanding staff members. A significant number of managers and employees have been with the company between 10 and 30 years, a testament to his respected leadership at the helm. “He’s created a great family culture among staff that feels good every day you come in. He also makes a point of having consistent, daily connections with our guests that make him exceptional at his job,” shares Mark DeResta, Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director. Kathleen O’Connor-McNew, Director of Sales for the Inn, agrees, “Chuck is the quintessential host. When he walks in a room he pays attention to who is present and makes every guest feel welcome and important.” Oregon Hospitality Awards recognize
Chuck Hinman “outstanding individuals who go above and beyond, raising the bar for excellence in performance, service and commitment to the industry.” Hinman served as Chairman for Oregon Lodging Association from 2008-2009 and as a board member on and off for close 12 years, assisting with the merger with the state restaurant association in 2010. For further information about ORLA’s 2019 hospitality awards, or to view the video about Hinman’s award, visit: oregonrla.org/hospitality-industry-awards.
Our View
The Gorge Business News
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elcome to Fall everyone! I hope you are all ready to jump into the holiday season. Be sure to check out our Shop Local Shop The Gorge pages of this issue. With nine kids between us and 17 grandkids spread out from Oregon to Oklahoma Rick and I are not exactly sure when we will be doing our Christmas shopping, but we will happily be shopping locally. The weather has been absolutely amazing lately, so we have been going on as many hikes as we can fit into our schedule. Just today we decided to hike up to Ponytail Falls, just above Horsetail Falls….What a great hike and Ponytail Falls did not disappoint. This issue was a fun one to create. I am proud of my good friend Lisa Farquharson for being chosen by her peers as the Chamber Executive of the Year, she truly earned this award and is a dynamo for not only The Dalles, but for the Columbia Gorge region. Good job Lisa!!! I had a great time visiting with Mike Erland and Sarah Gilbertson of Fun Country Powersports. They are true champions in the outdoor recreation arena and customers come from far and wide to visit their store. Stop in and say hi, you’ll be glad you did. We had a wonderful encounter with some visitors from China. Read all about our adventures with them on page 16. There are so many wonderful businesses that call the Columbia River Gorge area home and we are so blessed to have some of the best among our advertisers in this issue of The Gorge
Volume 3 - Issue 5 Nov/Dec 2019 Publisher Studio 6 Designworks, LLC Rick and Lori at Ponytail Falls
Business News. We appreciate your support and please know that we just couldn’t publish this paper without you. If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to message us on facebook, write us an email, text us, or give us a call. We always love to hear from our readers and strive to make each issue of The Gorge Business News better than the last one. And if you see our sales manager, Angela, please tell her she’s doing a great job… we are so absolutely blessed to have her as part of our team and is a huge reason why The Gorge Business News is a success. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas everyone, and may 2020 bring you much happiness, personal growth and family unity.
Rick and Lori Roach
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
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The Gorge Business News
Chamber of Commerce
Lisa Farquharson - Chamber Executive of the Year
The chamber office was built in 1936 and has remained the chamber office since it was built. said Katie McClintock, Lisa’s executive administraIn 2017 they completed a $90,000 tive assistant. “The Board of Directors and her family façade project, which would have did a good job at keeping it secret. Until about 15 cost $100,000 had Farquharson deminutes before she received her award when someone cided not to act as general manager let it slip... And then of course I had to keep calm and over the project. She did quickly maintain composure. There is never a day where she learn that she is cut out to be a doesn’t give it her all and it never slows her down. chamber director and has no desire From the day she started at the Chamber there has to go into the construction trade been nothing but growth and stability and her dedicaanytime in the near future. tion shows that she is willing to go the extra mile to When she’s not advocatmake sure that our members are successful. Someing, promoting or supporting the times the Chamber can be a thankless job (although Lisa Farquharson prepares one of the tables people who own local businesses, at the annual Farm to Fork event that is never her words) so I’m very happy that she or helping her team to do the same, and give staff members paid time off to attend the received the award and on such a big scale. I mean out she is likely out on the water… class.” of over 100 Chamber Executives in Oregon Lisa won! you know the one, the Columbia River, which is in Her role in the community isn’t always easy That’s something to brag about!” constant motion not far from where her desk sits. she admitted, “I heard this quote this week… ‘do it…. The job did not come without its challenges. “I like to do anything on the water,” said “The biggest challenged I face when I started Farquharson. “I like to fish if I catch the biggest fish.” afraid’, sometimes, that is what we have to do,” said Farquharson. “I mentally have a dinosaur suit, and put was the budget. I had two Her and her husband Jon it on when I need thick skin.” But she wouldn’t trade weeks to get a budget to the are avid fishermen. “The Chamber Board of Direcbiggest fish I caught was a it, “I have an amazing community to promote. I have Wow. Who would have thought all those years a passion for people and for business. We are here to tors. I printed every Quick- ago when this energetic young person came over 29-pound Salmon on the take a stand on legislation if needed and advocacy is books report I could think from that other eastern Oregon city on the map called Columbia at the mouth of Pendleton that she would instantly begin pouring all our number one priority. I want to be that voice for our of, sat in the middle of my the Klickitat. There is just members, and unify all the voices in our community floor with them all spread that energy into her newly adopted wonderful little nothing like fishing the out before me and created city of The Dalles. Taking care along the way to make Columbia in the Fall in the so we can have a stronger message. We are the first stop for information for businesses, tourism, resources the budget. I’ll never forget staff feel important again, to make the board of direc- Gorge.” tors aware that the organization was going somewhere and information. We can help get people connected to that first week.” During my interand to do one heck of a job in promoting business in Now, seven chal- and around town. And now…Chamber Executive of view, she received a phone the right spots. In her acceptance speech Farquharson reclenging, productive, hard, the Year!!! Why not. You’ve been acting like one since call, I could tell she was joyful, tenacious, years later, you got to town its about time that you were recogexcited about the news she ognized her mentor Silverton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stacy Palmer. she is the recipient of the nized!! Congratulations Lisa! was getting on the other Bob McFadden “My mentor is not here tonight, Stacy PalmWilliam R. Haas award. end of the line. er, I understand she is not feeling good, but I couldn’t “My board is all “We’re open for Congratulations!!! back there,” said FarquCoho,” she said enthusias- have done some of the things that we did without You have spearheaded the transformation of our her. She gave good council and advice, so find one of harson in her acceptance tically as soon as she had Chamber of Commerce in The Dalles and surroundspeech, “and my family and hung up the phone. A fish- those if you are brand new in this room. And to the ing Gorge. Thank you for your consistent insight, I couldn’t have done it witherwoman at heart for sure. rest of you thank you. And to this team back here right creativity, deep sense of community, and desire for now, thank you so much,” Lisa said in her speech. out them and all I can say is each business participation and empowerment. I am #fishpink #fishlikeagirl Palmer had plenty to say about her friend as persevere, don’t give up, and so proud of you! She also enjoys well. “Lisa is an amazing Chamber Leader that has with your members take on scrapbooking, is a card Sarah Querfurth Pickette grown tremendously over the last 6 years I’ve known a whole personification of maker and most recently her. Lisa and I met and really got to know each other mama bear. You are there to I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Lisa and has taken up wine tasting, I’m very happy that she was able to get recognition as we bonded over dealing with difficult issues in protect them and if you hate however her two greatest for what she does and how hard she works. She really our work place. I’d had a public official that was politics, think about how loves are her husband Jon very critical of our chamber, yet I had to work with you are the only person that does care about our community and the people in it. and her son, Quinn. Katie McClintock them for several years. Lisa reached out when she can be the voice for them. Farquharson was had struggles of her own, to seek guidance on how That’s my drive. I want to also recently nominated to Her hugs are warm and inviting and her laugh is intake care of my community fectious, you can’t help but be happy around her. We the Oregon State Chamber to work in tough situations with the grace and comand make it successful, so should all be lucky enough to call Lisa our friend. of Commerce Board of Di- passion necessary in small towns. Lisa’s drive and determination to do what’s right for her community is roll up your sleeves, take a rectors as well as the East Stacy Palmer deep breath, find a mentor Cascades Work Investment evident in everything she does - I’m proud to call her a peer - but even luckier to call her a friend. In the years amongst us, there’s someBoard of Directors serving I’ve know Lisa - she’s shown herself to be dynamic, one here who has gone through what you are going Wasco County. compassionate, and very driven. I’m impressed with through I guarantee it. Find them, latch onto them, and “None of this would have happened without don’t stop.” the support of my board members, my staff, my fami- her tenacious desire to make her community the best it can be and to be as welcoming to the business com Over the past seven years Farquharson has ly and my rock-star husband,” said Farquharson, who munity as it can be.” implemented many positive changes at the Chamber. over the years has learned how to be a good superviOregon has 110 Chambers of Commerce, 82 “We changed the inside,” said Farquharson. sor, use proper HR, has gained confidence and thrived have paid staff and 28 are run by volunteers. “We created a lobby, branded the building with our in leadership. “I have three requirements of my staff. “Each community is different,” said Palmer, colors, put in a cubicle and we changed our bookOne, get to work on time; Two, do your best; Three, “you have to do what works in your community, that keeping system. We changed the way we collect dues communicate. Supervisors have to learn their staff’s means knowing your community, its needs, its wants by implementing a tier system that lets our members language, we have weekly check-ins and I ask them, choose the package that most suits them, we added ‘is there a road block? How can you do your job to the and who can help you further your mission. If you Coffee Connection, a morning networking event and best of your ability and how can I help you get there? I associate with people that have the vision of what we changed Cherry Fest from just one day on Fourth try to show my staff value in different ways, one thing chambers can do for a community – then you can do anything.” Street to three days downtown.” we do is the chamber will pay for one class per term
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The Gorge Business News
Business
Apollo Drain and Rooter - Building a Legacy
By Karen Johnson
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ith nothing more than an old used van, a dream and a desire to do great work, a young and eager Scott Bird and his bride Jody began a journey that would turn into a legacy. If someone were to ask Scott if he was raised on a farm, he could emphatically reply, “Yes!” He grew up in the Tri-Cities and worked with his dad until the age of 19 when he left to the land of Germany to serve a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. After his return he attended Rick’s College (now BYUI), where he met his sweetheart Jody and they married in 1983. The Apollo journey... Scott was told by the bank that they didn’t think he was a “good investment.” Boy were they wrong. After procuring a small loan he was able to purchase a business to call his own. Apollo Drain & Rooter was on it’s way. Their mission statement, “Big enough to do the job, but small enough to care” would carry them through many years of hard and difficult work. Using their own apartment as their headquarters and Jody being navigator with the large and cumbersome Thomas Guide Map Book, they offered a flat rate of only $26.50, no matter how long it took or how challenging it was. In 1985 Scott and Jody were blessed with their first baby boy, Brandon. Baby Brandon was continuously by Jody’s side as she answered phones, scheduled jobs and handled the paperwork. Over the years juggling work, marriage and parenthood the Birds eventually grew to become
a family of 5 with 3 energetic boys! With discipline, hard work and a good sense of humor, the young family survived many ups and downs. Tough economic times challenged their survival in the industry, but they kept going. No matter what challenges they faced, they did so with strength and integrity, always willing to help out their fellow members of the community. As the Bird Boys have grown into men, they have fully immersed themselves into the family business which has become one of the fastest growing full service plumbing companies in Oregon and Washington. In 2014 the family became the first in this area to invest in the latest technology of plumbing called Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP). It is their
dedication to a growing industry that instilled in them the desire to share this with an area where it is so desperately needed. CIPP, a trenchless lateral drain line repair, is the perfect answer to the root intrusion problem that is so prevalent in the NW. Old pipes aren’t getting any younger and the degradation is a serious problem. Luckily, Apollo is a leader in the installation of LMK’s CIPP technology. Today Scott and Jody revel in the joy of a family of 17, which includes 9 grandchildren. Their company of two has grown to over 50 employees. Their mission statement, standards and love of the work are a testament to their trade. They have great appreciation for the community and their continued support because they wouldn’t be where they are today without them.
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The Gorge Business News
HEALTH
Skyline Foundation Receives $500,000 State Grant for Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion he State of Washington recently showed its support of Skyline Hospital’s Emergency Department renovation and expansion through a capital budget award of $500,000 to the Expanding on Excellence campaign. “We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift and the inspiration it provides for others to support this project and Skyline Hospital’s mission,” said Elizabeth Vaivoda, Skyline Foundation executive director. “This incredible gift to our community – along with many other generous donations – will allow our physicians and clinicians to provide the highest quality of patient care in a state-of-the-art Emergency Depart-
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ment.” The newly enhanced and expanded Emergency Department will help to better serve the community through increased access to emergent care, improved patient privacy (with all private treatment rooms) and increased efficiency. Additionally, the new space will have specific rooms focused on unique populations including survivors of assault, people experiencing a behavioral health crisis, families and children, and those in trauma who may need to be air-lifted to a hospital in the Portland-Metro area. “We anticipate breaking ground on the Emergency Department project in the spring of 2020,” said Robb Kimmes, Skyline Hospital’s CEO.
“This project will benefit our entire community by providing much-needed space, as well as expanded access and modern resources for an exceptional health care delivery.” The Expanding on Excellence Capital Campaign is the hospital’s initiative to renovate and expand its Emergency Department, create a centralized lobby and relocate laboratory services. The campaign, launched in July 2017, is in response to Skyline’s due-diligence in identifying what the hospital needs to expand and revitalize services to attract its full market share, as well as continue providing quality care to people in Klickitat and Skamania counties.
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MEDICAL CLINIC Serving Gorge Communities
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The Gorge Business News
Sports
SBTech Launches “Scoreboard” Sports Betting Offering in Partnership with Oregon Lottery SBTech powers the first on-line sports betting platform operated by a US Lottery SBTech, a global leader in sports betting technology and solutions, today launched the first online sports betting offering in the State of Oregon, in partnership with the Oregon State Lottery. Oregonians can now place bets on a broad range of events through “Scoreboard,” the Oregon State Lottery’s new sports betting platform powered by SBTech. Players will have access to markets across all major leagues and sports including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, PGA, NASCAR and more, with a variety of bet types on offer including live bets, futures and prop bets. Fans may wager via the Oregon Lottery Sports website and Scoreboard app, with land-based sports betting kiosks set to launch in 2020. “We are thrilled to be working hand-
in-hand with the Oregon Lottery to launch this exciting new form of entertainment in the state. The Oregon Lottery is true a pioneer in this space, being the first lottery in the US to launch on-line sports betting. We look forward to providing our innovative and experience-driven products, alongside our full range of managed services, to make this endeavor a huge success for the state of Oregon and its citizens.” said Melissa Riahei, President of SBTech US. “This is an exciting time for the Oregon Lottery, as we leverage technology to enable Oregonians to legally and safely bet on their favorite sports. SBTech is an invaluable partner to us, and we look forward to using SBTech’s innovative products to provide an engaging, entertaining and seamless experience for our players.” Said Oregon Lottery Director Barry Pack. While the Oregon State Lottery is SBTech’s first lottery partner in the US, the award-winning company has extensive experience working with tier one lotteries around
the world, including in Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Azerbaijan, and most recently entering into lottery partnerships in South Africa, Finland and Sweden. Since PASPA was repealed in 2018, SBTech has established a strong foothold in the US, partnering with leading US operators such as Churchill Downs, Resorts Casino Hotel, and the Golden Nugget. The company has quickly become the ‘go-to’ multi-channel sports betting supplier for market leading brands, providing its partners with best-inclass, regulation-ready, flexible technology and software to power sports books, self-service kiosks and mobile devices.
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Business
OnPoint Community Credit Union Donation to Oregon Food Bank will Support 120,000+ Meals Across Oregon and Southwest Washington
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nPoint Community Credit Union an nounced it made a $40,200 contribution to Oregon Food Bank following the credit union’s successful Refer a Friend campaign throughout the summer of 2019. The donation will help to provide more than 120,000 meals for individuals and families throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Sarah Berwick, OnPoint’s Marketing Partnerships Specialist, Kyle Hummel, Oregon Food Bank’s Corporate & Community Relations Officer, Rob Stuart OnPoint’s President & CEO During the two-month campaign, OnPoint members invited friends, family and business associates to join OnPoint. For every new member who opened a personal or business checking account, OnPoint pledged to make a $50 donation to the Oregon Food Bank. As part of the campaign, both the referring member and the new member also each received $50 from OnPoint. “At OnPoint, we believe in building strong communities by not only supporting financial growth, but also well-being,” said OnPoint President and CEO Rob Stuart. “Our members
are active supporters of this community and their participation in our campaign meant we could all help further Oregon Food Bank’s essential work to end hunger.” Rooted in a firm belief that no one should be hungry, Oregon Food Bank works to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Its network of 21 regional food banks and 1,200 community-based partner programs helps people access nutritious, affordable food today – sharing 54.5 million meals’ worth of food to clients in the past year alone. The organization also works to eradicate the factors that lead to hunger and poverty, engaging thousands of supporters in actions that protect key investments and sustain vital food resources OnPoint presented the check to the Oregon Food Bank at the University of Oregon homecoming game against Washington State University on October 26. OnPoint has supplemented the Refer a Friend donation with an additional $2,500 donation to the local Eugene food bank, FOOD for Lane County. “At a time when one in nine of our neighbors faces food insecurity, partnerships with
Sweet Cherry Consumption Improves Sleep, Sleep Patterns Studies show cherries are great source of melatonin, perfect for Daylight Savings With Daylight Savings coming to an end, sweet cherries are the perfect superfood to help your body adjust to the time change and ensure a great night’s rest. Amongst other studies, the comprehensive “A Review of the Health Benefits of Cherries,” published in March 2018 in the journal Nutrient, shows sweet cherries are a natural source of melatonin which helps control the body’s internal clock while improving and regulating sleep patterns. Along with being a natural source of melatonin ideal for the upcoming time change, sweet cherries have been found to offer other health benefits in recent studies as well. Cherries can help reduce inflammation. Cherries are full of anthocyanins, antioxidants that help fight inflammation by shutting down the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation – similar to the action of ibuprofen and naproxen. Cherries may help gout sufferers. Gout is a painful form of arthritis, associated with elevated levels of uric
acid. A University of California at Davis study showed participants had reduced levels of uric acid after eating sweet cherries. Cherries may help fight diabetes. Research at Michigan State University found anthocyanins in cherries lowered blood sugar in animals. Researchers speculate that the same effect may occur in humans. Cherries contain agents that may help fight cancer. The flavonoids isoqueritrin and queritrin, and the phenol, ellagic acid, were verified in cherries. The flavonoids are known antioxidants, and ellagic acid appears to be a potent inhibitor to the growth of cancer cells. Cherries boost your fiber quota. Americans are at a fiber deficit, falling far short of the 25-35-gram daily recommendation. Dietary Guidelines recommend two cups of fruit daily, and cherries help meet that target. Cherries may promote weight loss. Cherries have a glycemic index of only 22. Foods with GI above 70 cause blood glucose to soar, then quickly crash, causing hunger; foods with a low GI release glucose slowly and evenly, leaving you feeling full. For more information on sweet cherry health benefits, visit www.nwcherries.com
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organizations like OnPoint are incredibly important,” said Oregon Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan. “Our shared commitment makes a tangible difference in communities throughout the region, and I want to thank OnPoint members for coming together in such a big way to help end hunger.” Oregon Food Bank’s work includes a host of health care partnerships, advocacy and equity initiatives, and client-led education programs – including cooking and nutrition initiatives like Cooking Matters. Taught in a hands-on kitchen environment, this six-week course challenges participants to reconsider food preferences, habits, nutrition, food safety, practical shopping and meal planning. To learn more about the Oregon Food Bank’s work, visit https://www.oregonfoodbank. org/. For OnPoint members who would like to join in on giving back, OnPoint has a new Refer a Friend campaign going on right now; this time benefiting OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. To learn more, visit https://www.onpointcu. com/rates-rewards/refer-a-friend/.
The Men Beyond the Stones Stonehenge: Klickitat’s WWI Memorial tanding as a silent sentry above the Columbia River, Maryhill’s Stonehenge serves as a memorial for the 14 brave young men from Klickitat County, who served and died during World War I. More than just names and basic information, this book details their service and sacrifice. Included is a short biography of the visionary behind Stonehenge, Samuel Hill. Also included is a soldier from the community who was inadvertently overlooked during construction. Andretta Schellinger, author of The Men Beyond the Stones, holds a dual bachelors in history and sociology from Pacific University and a Master’s degree in Diplomatic and Military Studies from Hawaii Pacific University. While working towards her Master’s degree, Ms. Schellinger worked at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command which assisted in her love of the military and culture. She owns her own writing and research business Schellinger Research. Moving to The Dalles has brought her passion for history to a local level which prompted her to write “The Men Beyond the Stones”. She has also authored “From Knights to Skulls” and “Aircraft Nose Art: American, French and British Imagery and Its Influences from World War I through the Vietnam War“. Andretta currently resides in The Dalles Oregon with her husband and daughter. In her spare time, she reads, makes cross stitch patterns, and plays World of Warcraft. The Men Beyond the Stones was published in March, 2019. For information on how to purchase please email: schellingerresearch@gmail. com
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Business
Fun Country Powersports By Lori Roach
F
un Country Powersports has been a part of The Dalles landscape for more than 50 years and is the 4th oldest Honda dealership in the northwest, so 15 years ago when Mike and Lisa Erland purchased the business from George Hazel, who had owned it for 40 years, they knew they were buying more than just a motorcycle dealership, they were buying into a way of life. Before purchasing Fun Country Powersports Mike taught special education programs and was a part of the administration at the Goldendale School District, the same place he went to school and where his parents had also taught. “I even promoted motor sports when I was teaching,” said Mike, who has raced motorcycles from time to time throughout his life.. Fun Country Powersports has a full line of ATV’s, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. The store is filled with all types of accessories including riding gloves, helmets, goggles, clothing, safety gear, parts, tires…you name it they have it if it has to do with powersports. They also have the trained technicians to fix whatever type of trouble you run into in regards to your ATV, motorcycle or snowmobile. Mike attributes much of his success to his wife, his grown children and their 15 employees. According to Mike, Lisa is very skilled in the parts department and does a great job keeping all the finances in order for the business. She is recognized as a leader in the industry and in the past Honda had requested she teach classes for them. “I am blessed with my staff, they are like a well-oiled machine and they are part of the decision making,” said Mike. His sons, Alec and Aaron, have both worked at the store, Alec started working there right out of high school and is now the general manager. Recently Erland’s daughter Sarah also started
working with them as the marketing manager in charge of events and promotions. The 7th Annual Snow Show is the next event of their agenda. November 16th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fun Country Powersports at 1318 W. 2nd Street in The Dalles. There will be vendor demos, product specials, and preseason deals on accessories, apparel, safety gear, plows, snowmobiles, timbersleds and more. “We believe in shopping local, right down to my knee replacement,” said Mike, who believes in supporting the community as much as possible. “It’s been a lot of fun growing this company. We truly care about our customers and want to give them the ‘family owned business’ feel when they walk through our doors.” Their biggest customer base comes from Portland, but customers also come from Washington, Idaho and even Montana. “We take time to hear our customer’s stories,” said Sarah, “We truly care about them and want them to have a good experience when they come here. Over the years we have created a business model that revolves around treating customers and employees just like family,” said Sarah. “It is a very special thing to say that we, as a family, work day-to-day with
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Sarah Gilbertson and Mike Erland each other and those that work alongside us have become part of the family too. We have a responsibility to ensure that anyone who walks through our doors feel taken care of and know we appreciate them. Without our customers, our community, or our employees we would just be a powersports store. But when all of these weave together we give meaning to being a true “family business,” and as our company moves through generations I hope that people will always refer to Fun Country as such.” At one time Fun Country Powersports was housed within a 3,000 sq. ft. building, their newest
building is 12,000 sq. ft. “Always treat people with respect.” said Mike. “Give them the time of day! Learn to work for what you need; be modest; truly be part of the solution in all of your actions. Honesty, integrity, respect & benevolence--these are words that my family and staff hear with regard to interacting with others.” Next time you are in The Dalles stop in at Fun Country Powersports, even if you don’t need a motorcycle, an ATV or a snowmobile. Their showroom is absolutely impressive, the staff is welcoming and the family values feel is undeniable.
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The Gorge Business News
Empowering a Community Google Brings High-Speed Wifi to the Community of Celilo Village
By Vincent Schilling Indian Country Today
T
he Google partnership grant gives all 16 homes in the village, the Celilo Education Center and the longhouse, access to high-speed internet History has been tough on the residents of Celilo Village. Once a community of Native residents thriving to overcome the disruption of their waterways and lands by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the residents of Celilo Village, located roughly 90 miles outside of Portland, Oregon, have just received high-speed access to the world wide web. In 1952, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began working on the infamous Dalles Dam, a massive two-mile-long concrete structure that took the Army five years to build. The aftermath caused the bustling waterways, including Celilo Falls to be submerged. In the place where generations of tribes — who had traveled from as far away as the Great Lakes, Great Basin, and Great Plains areas — would gather, the loss of the Celilo Falls was devastating. The great horseshoe-shaped Celilo Falls was a waterway once lauded as “the Wall Street of the river,” by Ed Edmo, a Shoshone-Bannock poet and storyteller raised at Celilo Village. Much to the disappointment of tribal leaders, tribal residents who saw their businesses sold, condemned and torn down — On March 10, 1957, the dam was completed, and the flood gates closed. Within six hours, the floods had buried the Celilo Falls underwater. An outbuilding of the historic Gulick Homestead in The Dalles, Oregon, United States, with the Columbia River and The Dalles Dam behind. The homestead is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the name “Indian Shaker Church and Gulick Homestead”. An outbuilding of the historic Gulick Homestead in The Dalles, Oregon, United States, with the Columbia River and The Dalles Dam behind. The homestead is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the name “Indian Shaker Church and Gulick Homestead”. Celilo Village is now home to an approximate 100 Native residents, including 35 schoolaged youth that will be benefiting from a grant from Google and the local Dufur School District. As part of the grant, all 16 homes, the Celilo Village Education Center and the community longhouse now have access to high-speed internet. “More than anything, this wifi represents opportunity,” Celilo Village Chief Olsen Meanus said in the Google release. “From entertainment to taking online classes, to growing businesses, our residents now have the power of the Internet at their fingertips, and are more connected to opportunities throughout the state, the region, and the world.” In the release, Dufur School District Superintendent Jack Henderson said, “Students today need reliable access to the Internet to compete on a global scale. We’re pleased to continue partnering with Google to bring educational opportunities
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to our students throughout the Columbia River Gorge.” In addition to the high-speed internet service provided to residents, a computer lab was built in the education center complete with Google Chromebooks, new furniture, in an attempt to provide access to things such as paying bills, online schooling and more. “Google strives to ensure all people have access to everything the internet has to offer,” Google’s Suzanne DePoe said in the release. “With this project, our hope is that Celilo residents can expand their educational opportunities, grow their businesses and achieve greater connectivity through the online world.” “Google employees are proud to have worked to make this computer lab a reality, as it aligns with our commitment to education and connectivity in the region that we call home,” said Google Data Center Site Manager Richard Stillwell in the release. “We applaud the efforts of school district leadership and the Celilo Village
and are looking forward to volunteering on future efforts.” Celilo Village unveiled its new wifi and computer lab with Congressman Greg Walden, Google representatives, and Dufur School District Superintendent Jack Henderson. Attendees celebrated this community milestone with a tour of the space and interactive demonstrations. “Kudos to Google for helping the families in Celilo get access to high-speed internet,” Congressman Greg Walden said. “The addition of high-speed wifi to Celilo Village will help shrink the urban/rural digital divide and bring residents greater access to telemedicine, remote learning, news, next-generation emergency services, video streaming, and more.” Follow Indian Country Today’s associate editor Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk) on Twitter - @VinceSchilling and Instagram - @ VinceSchilling Email - vschilling@indiancountrytoday.com
Celilo Falls 1957
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SHOP LOCAL
The Gorge Business News
SHOP THE GORGE
Celebrate the Holidays in Skamania County! Wednesday, November 27 Tree Lighting and Holiday Village Fair Celebrate the Season with the lighting of the Christmas tree at Skamania Lodge. Enjoy live music, cookies and warm beverages as you shop for gifts from local merchants and artisans, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. www.skamania.com Friday & Saturday, November 29 – December 28 Gift of music Relax and enjoy a variety of live music performances in the Gorge Room at Skamania Lodge, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. www.skamania.com Saturday, November 30 Shop Small Saturday Support independent businesses by shopping local for the holidays! For gift ideas and specials, visit www.facebook.com/StevensonWA Nov 30 – Dec 20. Friday – Sunday, December 6-8 Christmas in the Gorge Kick off the holiday season with a starlight parade, arts and craft bazaars, nativity displays, cookie faire, open houses and other community events in Stevenson. www.facebook. com/ChristmasInTheGorge Saturday, December 7 Christmas in Carson Visit downtown Carson for the annual tree lighting with Santa, cookie, coco and other festivities from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. www.facebook.com/Wind-River-Business-Association Saturday, December 14 Christmas on the Farm Enjoy a warm cup of cocoa and shop for cozy alpaca gifts at Cedar Creek Alpaca Farm. Visit the gentle alpacas and maybe spot St. Nick too, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFiberArts
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Page 10
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OUTDOORS
The Gorge Business News
Secretary Bernhardt Announces $170.6 Million to Support State Parks and Outdoor Recreation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund .S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt re cently announced $170,623,713 in grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to all 50 States, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia for state-identified outdoor recreation and conservation projects. LWCF funds are non-taxpayer dollars derived from Outer Continental Shelf lease revenues and are awarded through federal matching grants administered by the National Park Service. “Using zero taxpayer dollars, LWCF invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help rehabilitate and improve infrastructure at state and local parks and other recreation areas,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “Funds will also be used to maximize access by opening up landlocked public lands. A small investment in a little strip of land can open up thousands of acres to outdoor recreation enthusiasts.” “We are pleased with the permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which came as part of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act earlier this year,” said National Park Service acting Deputy Director for Operations David Vela during remarks today at the National Association of State Park Directors conference. “Investing in high quality outdoor recreation space has proven to increase the public’s physical, cultural, and spiritual well-being. We look forward to continuing our work with state and local partners in the implementation of this important program.” The LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to ensure public access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations, and to provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the benefit of all Americans. Funds are also used to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment. The funds enable state and local governments to improve parks and other recreation areas in their communities by rehabilitating and upgrading existing parks, creating brand new parks in places that have none, and developing and expanding trail systems to link
U
communities together and create recreation opportunities. Since the inception of the LWCF, more than $4.4 billion has been made available to state and local governments to fund more than 43,000 projects throughout the nation. The allocation for the State and Local Assistance grant (stateside) program is determined based on a formula set in the LWCF Act, and includes funds appropriated from the LWCF by Congress as well as revenue derived from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/lwcf.
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Page 12
GRANTS NW Natural Awards $500,000 in Grants for Five Northwest Nonprofits
NW
Natural has selected five local organizations to receive multi-year grants totaling half a million dollars in support for children and families at risk. These five groups are chosen as NW Natural’s Programs of Focus and will receive the company’s highest level of philanthropic support. Recipients will receive $35,000 per year for three years from NW Natural shareholders’ Corporate Philanthropy Fund, as well as in-kind resources and volunteer support from NW Natural employees. The recipients of NW Natural’s Programs of Focus for 2020-2022 include the following: 1. A Village for One empowers each member of the community, or village, to unite to heal the impact of commercial sexual exploitation on our youth and community. It provides a safe and healthy environment for our impacted youth to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually. As part of its efforts to heal youth and our community, it also provides training, outreach, and advocacy. 2. Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s “Clean Energy. Bright Futures” program is focused on supporting educator leadership,
illuminating energy career pipelines, eliminating opportunity gaps and inequitable access to these careers, and bringing energy education to life in classrooms. 3. Community Warehouse is the only furniture bank serving the greater Portland area. Its mission is to provide essential household furnishings to neighbors in need, creating stronger homes and brighter futures for all. Organized in the mid1990s to support refugees from the former Soviet Union, it has grown dramatically over 18 years. 4. Janus Youth Programs serves more than 6,000 at-risk children, youth and families each year, providing a second chance to kids who have few resources and no place to turn for help. Since 1972, Janus has grown to become one of the largest nonprofits in the Northwest, operating more than 40 different programs that span Oregon and Washington. 5. Portland Homeless Family Solutions empowers homeless families with children to get back into housing and to stay there long-term. It envisions a community where no family experiences homelessness and where every family receives the support and compassion necessary to thrive. NW Natural’s Programs of Focus are selected through a review process that’s led by a
diverse representation of the company’s employees – from IT and human resources to operations. “We are grateful for NW Natural’s support, but more than anything we were humbled by the experience,” said Brandi Tuck, executive director at Portland Homeless Family Solutions. “In all of my years, this was the first time I’ve seen grant decisions made by the employees who run the day-to-day operations.” “Partnerships are key to strengthening our communities, which is why it’s so important to NW Natural that our employees help determine where we can have the most impact,” said Mary Moerlins, corporate citizenship manager for NW Natural. Each year, NW Natural gives nearly $1 million to local nonprofits as part of its Corporate Philanthropy Fund, made possible by shareholders. The company’s Programs of Focus are part of this effort. Additional grants are awarded to organizations that support the arts, environment, and especially children and families at risk. In 2018, NW Natural dedicated nearly half of its grants to the alleviation and prevention of homelessness in the region. More information about NW Natural’s Corporate Philanthropy Fund is available online.
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Page 13
The Gorge Business News
Taking Care of Business with Jordan Improving Communications through Policy, Procedure and Process By Jordan Horn Communication in its most simplified form is the sending and receiving of information. We have all heard of the childhood game telephone. Where a group forms a line and the first player whispers a secret message to the person next to them and the message gets passed down the line to the end through word of mouth. By the end the message is generally altered. This is due to human interactions and how senders and receivers hear different messages sometimes at the same time. As a business grows turnover will occur and the ability to communicate a message that lasts to each employee will determine the effectiveness to operate. Companies utilize a variety of techniques to communicate to employees through use of policies, procedures, and processes. Business policies are the overall broad guideline. Procedures are the detailed instructions to accomplish a specific task. And processes are the activities or set of activities required to complete an individual’s job duties. Not every task will be documented because it is unrealistic yet, utilizing technology will improve your documentation. And it’s important to determine what tasks can allow variation in completion and what cannot. Even the most basic checklist to remind employees of opening and closing procedures can provide consistency to operations. Variation in service or product will affect your customers. It’s what builds your reputation and develops brand loyalty. If you were to eat lunch at three of the same fast food chain restaurants in different physical locations, you should have similar experiences. They each have different owners, managers, staff, and physical appearances although, they have the same food and greetings exactly. That is a sign that their organization is properly communicating to employees through explicit policies, procedures, and processes. There are five steps to improve communications with employees when utilizing policies, procedures, and processes are: 1. Have well developed and tested written instructions 2. Provide visuals when possible (a picture
is worth a thousand words) 3. Provide personal training and instruction 4. Update continually 5. Establish accountability Each employee will learn differently, have varied backgrounds, and communicate differently. By testing written instructions through such a manner to have cross training allows someone with zero knowledge with only the instructions to follow to accomplish the task. We forget that when you complete a task so many times the items you take for granted as common sense might not actually be common sense and require further detailed instruction. Only when a novice can complete the task without additional input do you know your instructions are developed enough to guide and establish a baseline standard of operation. Communication is both verbal and non-verbal. Having the most well-established policies, documented procedures, and procedures outlined is only as efficient as the ability to establish accountability. If you have the opening and closing processes outlined in a checklist although, management does not spot check to verify processes why would you complete the list every shift each day? The simple task of requiring employees to maintain standards is a form of communication that what they do matters and enforces the overall policies, procedures, and processes to accomplish their job and be successful doing so.
Jordan Horn is an accomplished accountant and financial expert with experience in multiple industries. She holds an MBA in Finance from Keller Graduate School of Mangement and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Accounting from DeVry University. She enjoys helping others succeed by providing clear and accurate financial information to key stakeholders and by offering innovative solutions to problems. Jordan is adventurous and enjoys outdoor activities, such as motor sports, camping and exploring. Jordan lives with her husband Dustin, and their two boys, near beautiful Astoria, Oregon. Follow along on her adventures at www. discoverpines.com and on Instagram @discoverpines
Car Free Travel in The Gorge
By Renee Tkach
Exploring the Columbia Gorge without a per-
sonal vehicle is getting easier this fall with the expansion of the Columbia Gorge Express connecting from Portland to The Dalles, seven days a week, starting in early November. Consider skipping the parking hassle and lessening your carbon footprint by having Columbia Gorge Express do the driving! It is an affordable and convenient option for traveling between Portland and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Originating at Gateway Transit Center in Portland (eastbound) and Lewis & Clark Festival Park in The Dalles (westbound), the expanded service will make stops in Hood River, Cascade Locks, and Multnomah Falls. Hop on the bus and enjoy your comfortable seat and views as you’re taken into the heart of the Gorge. It’s a wonderful time to take in the vivid colors of the landscape, enjoy a peaceful hike, or attend one of several festivals in Hood River. The Columbia Gorge Express stops near several trails and paths that will be particularly scenic in October and November. At Multnomah Falls, hikers can access several trails along the waterfall corridor, including the popular Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls Loop. Cascade Locks is home to Dry Creek Falls (either going to Herman Creek or on the Herman Creek Pinnacles extension), which is part of the Pacific Crest Trail and a must-see for hikers and waterfall enthusiasts. The bus accommodates bikes! From Hood River, ride the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail to Mosier and visit a winery or hike on Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust’s Mosier Plateau trail. The Dalles hosts the Riverfront Trail, connecting downtown to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum, a beautiful walking or biking experience on the sunny side of the Gorge. For more car-free options and itineraries for hiking, biking and visiting other Gorge locations check out Columbia Gorge Carfree, which offers step-by-step instructions on how to use different transit options.
We find comfort among those who agree with us – growth among those who don’t. – Frank Howard Clark, American Screenwriter www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
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The Gorge Business News
Self-Improvement with Preston 8 Ways to Overcome a Lack of Motivation but that’s why we have to use our brain to overaacome those emotions and keep pushing. By Preston Roach 2. Eat the elephant Sometimes we are scared to start something because we know how big of a task it is. Break it down into bite sized chunks as if re you sitting there staring at your you were eating an elephant. Just take it one bite at phone right now? You know you’re supposed to a time. If you look at the size of the thing, you will be doing something productive, but you can’t find never believe that you can get it done. the motivation so you’re googling it to see if other Take your task and turn it into easy to people have the same problem and what they have accomplish steps. It shouldn’t take too much effort done to fix it. to break it down into manageable tasks. I get it. Motivation is a crazy thing that 3. Turn to your inner fire comes and goes as if it has a life of its own. You turn to yourself. You know there’s Once you find it, nothing can stop you. something deep inside of you that is going to carry Once you lose motivation, you just want to scroll through Instagram for 30 minutes until your news- you to great things, but you are just lacking motifeed runs out of new stuff. vation right now. So how do you capture that magical Dig deep and uncover that internal hunger feeling? Where do you turn when the motivation for more. It’s in there somewhere, you just have to is so far gone from your soul that you can’t picture find it. putting any effort towards anything? Don’t let this momentary lack of motiva I developed this list of 8 ways to help you tion knock you off the path that you are on. Beto overcome a lack of motivation. You may have cause you know how easy it is to turn this single seen some of these before, but they’ve all helped day of wanting to be lazy into a week of being lazy me at one point or another to get something done and then a month of being lazy. that I really didn’t want to. Push yourself to be the person that you are 1. Understand why you are doing what really wanting to be. you’re doing. 4. Check your mindset Take a look at your foundation. What is Why are you lacking motivation right internally driving you to be great? Have you devel- now? Is it because you are worried about failing whatever task it is that you really should be doing? oped your whys? Failure is OK. It’s important to understand If you haven’t taken the time to know the that. You need to have a growth mindset if you reason why you are working towards your goals, want to turn yourself into the person that you’re then it’s going to be really hard to get anything dying to become. meaningful done. We aren’t designed to stay moti Being afraid of failure is natural for us. vated all the time. We have ups and downs. Our emotions are We don’t want to look stupid in front of people. We powerful and they can knock us off course if we let don’t want people to think less of us. But what do you think of yourself? You’ll them. Our emotions will tell us to stop sometimes, feel better for trying and failing than you will for sitting there and doing nothing. Turn yourself into a person who tackles every task with courage. 5. Quit avoiding things The more you avoid, the more you will continue to avoid. It’s a learned habit. This goes back to number 4 and your mindset. If you’ve been avoiding certain things in your life, then you will tend to avoid other things as well. It doesn’t matter how important the task at hand is. It could be life altering or just scheduling your day. If you avoid one thing then you’re likely to avoid others. Tackle the task that you’ve been putting off for the longest time. Tackle it right now. It’s going to give you the momentum and motivation to take you through to the next task. 6. Be proactive when dealing with change How many times have you caught The Alliance is a medieval-themed rock band that plays yourself dealing with change by just all original music. Their message, production, and driving putting it off? You really aren’t sure rock sound is great for all ages to enjoy! how to deal with it, so you just do nothing, and then before you know it
A
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you are overwhelmed by the change which totally kills any motivation you might have had. One of the best tips I have ever received was to be proactive. Jocko Willink calls it “default aggressive.” The more aggressive and proactive you are, the less things will take you by surprise. Change is something that we all have to deal with at different times in our lives. There are 6 categories in your life that should be on the top of your mind, and any one of them can throw you off if there’s major change. 7. Keep your goals in mind It’s really easy to be motivated to create goals. It’s fun. There’s something about it that just makes it really attractive to do. But when it comes to follow through on those goals, sometimes we fail because we aren’t motivated. That’s when your time creating goals will really help you push through. You can look back at your goals and get yourself up and moving. You can make short term goals and long term goals. Then refer back to them any time you need an extra boost. 8. Have discipline with your time We all have a finite amount of time left on this earth, and we’re not getting any more of it. It doesn’t matter how much money you have. You can never get more time. Time management is one of the most important skills to develop. Even if you lack motivation, if something is on your calendar then you just do it. You’ll feel better for having it done. Learn to value your time. We all waste too much time doing the things that we are “motivated” to do like scrolling through our social media or binge watching Netflix, but we lack motivation when it comes to the things that we know we need to do. Discipline helps with so much more than being productive. It helps you build confidence and turn yourself into the person that you were meant to be. Wrapping it up Motivation is not always going to be there, but you still have to do the things that you need to do. That’s why we all need to have our own ways to overcome a lack of motivation. These 8 ways to overcome a lack of motivation have helped me personally to make it through tough times. Do you have any ideas to add? Let me know in the comments below! Preston is a personal finance, self improvement, and mental health blogger. His passion is to help others make choices that will help them be more fulfilled, happier, healthier, and educated about money. He strives to write with honesty and integrity. His hobbies include reading, writing, traveling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and spending time with his wife and dogs. Contact Preston at progressninja.com
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The Gorge Business News
Rambling Wanderer
Chasing Waterfalls & Finding Friends Along the Way By Lori Roach
“W
e have company,” my husband Rick hollered to me down the hallway. I stepped out of my office expecting to see our next-door neighbors, instead I was greeted by a young Chinese man standing in my kitchen. He wore a Ralph Lauren sweatshirt, smiled and nodded a greeting toward me. “They’re picking our apples,” Rick said. I could tell he was happy about it because the trees were loaded, and we had been talking about giving some away. I must admit, I was a bit curious about how in the world a Chinese man, Liu Hui (pronounced Ha-Whay), came to be picking apples in my back yard and was now standing in my kitchen. I smiled back at him and quickly realized he didn’t speak English. The three of us made our way out to the back yard where his two other friends, Kammy Lai and Lushan Tang, were plucking apples from our trees and putting them in the Wal-Mart grocery sacks Rick had offered them just moments before.
Hui, Kammy, Lushan Kammy, who spoke fluent English, explained that they had been driving along and came across a sign that said Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. They had planned on eating at Beacon Rock Golf Course but passed the turn and ended up on the road behind our house in North Bonneville, WA. When Kammy saw our bright red apples, she asked Lushan to stop the car. He didn’t want to stop, he wasn’t sure what kind of reception they might get, but she insisted. She explained to us they don’t have apple trees in the province where they live, so it was a real treat to see one so close to the road. She took a chance and picked one, this is when Rick noticed, and he decided to take them out some bags so they could take all they wanted. “Where is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?” Kammy asked after we introduced ourselves. “Well, you are kind of standing in it,” we replied. Then we started trying to explain the geography and sights to see in the Gorge.
Hui, Kammy, Lori, Rick and Lushan Hui pulled a small digital translator out of his pocket and we quickly began communicating. Between Kammy, and Hui with his translator, we made all our introductions and began making small talk back and forth, Hui in his native tongue and us in ours. We learned that Hui and Lushan manufacture fireworks in China, Kammy helps to market them. The town they live in manufactures 80% of the world’s fireworks. They had been at a fireworks convention in Branson, Missouri and decided to head west on a two-week journey to explore the U.S. and visit the National Parks. They plan on visiting all the National Parks in the United States in the next ten years. They had already stopped at Yellowstone and were heading to Crater Lake in the morning. It was early in the afternoon and we could tell they wanted to explore as much as possible while they are here, so we asked them what it was they wanted to see exactly…we made a couple of suggestions, and when we suggested seeing waterfalls, they all got excited. I began to explain they would need to cross the Columbia River at the Bridge of the Gods, which was just a few miles from where we stood. I stopped explaining and looked at Rick… ”should we just show them?” I asked. Afterall, we love waterfalls, love exploring, and we were already enjoying visiting with our new friends. Hui rode along with us and we took turns talking into his translator, learning about each other’s families, friends, home and culture. At one point on the trip he called his wife and children on a video chat and we got to meet them as well. Our first stop was Horsetail Falls, which is located on Hwy. 30 in Oregon. We took pictures of the three of them, then asked new strangers if they’d mind taking a photo of all of us, they happily obliged. Next, we drove to Multnomah Falls. They loved it. Smiling and laughing we once again asked a stranger to take our picture. After the picture we started talking to the stranger, Mark, who was enjoying some free time, after a Luis Palau conference in Portland, before heading home to Indiana the next day (add another new friend… lol!) I stayed behind as everyone else in the group, which now had grown by one Mark, made their way to the bridge that spanned the lower portion of Multnomah Falls. I took their picture from below as they all waved at me from the bridge. We asked Mark to join us as we continued our jour-
ney since he was also interested in exploring the Gorge. Next up was Wahkeena Falls and then Crown Point State Park and Vista House. They insisted on taking us to dinner as a thank you for showing them the Oregon waterfalls. They said they wanted to take us to the finest dining and best food in the area. Lori and I looked at each other and said, “Red Robin”? Although not exactly fine dining it definitely fit as an American experience, so we ended up at Red Robin in Gresham and before we knew it the dinner table was filled with our dinners and baskets upon baskets of ‘endless fries’, ‘bottomless root beer floats’, and even a ‘Mile-High Mud Pie’. Wow! I hope they don’t think we eat like this all the time. We talked about how special it was that something as simple (or complex, depending on how you look at it) as an apple on a tree brought all of us together. It was one of the sweetest chance encounters I’d ever had. Kammy and I talked all through dinner, learning even more about each other and sealing our friendship that much more. I know in the world today there is chaos, division, anger, hate, war, etc., etc., but there is also love, friendship, camaraderie, trust and a willingness to make the world a little brighter. Life isn’t about the chaos, it’s about dropping everything for an afternoon, so you can show new friends some beautiful, natural sights. It’s about that human interaction that comes down to more than just flesh and blood…Paulo Coelho wrote, “Really important meetings are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other”. There is no doubt in my mind, our souls had had a meeting long before we met on that sunny September day in North Bonneville, Washington. Our paths could have easily just crossed briefly, but the day was meant for so much more. This was a life changing encounter that none of us will soon forget. It’s been a month and we recently heard from Kammy, now back in China, and she said every week when they meet, we are the ‘hot topic’. It is so interesting that we played such a big role in their visit to the U.S. when all we thought we were doing was being a friend and showing them the natural beauty of our home, the Gorge. We are all already looking forward to the next time we get to spend an afternoon with each other. Maybe next time they will take us to see waterfalls in China... to be continued for sure!!
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