RARE Friends

This past weekend we celebrated 15 years of the RARE program that Kevin served as an AmeriCorps through in 1998-99 PD (Pre-Darcy). RARE stands for Resource Assistance For Rural Environments and is organized by the University of Oregon as a service-learning opportunity statewide. Kevin served his year in Talent, Oregon where we were later married, just north of Ashland. It was a great chance for him to dive into the day-to-day life of small town planning after years of studying.

After finishing his Master's in Community and Regional Planning at the UO, he was lucky enough to land the job of his former manager at the City of Talent. So that's why after a brief year of living together in Portland we moved down to Southern Oregon for a few years. During Kevin's year as a RARE volunteer (participants get a meager stipend), he met some exceptional people who were equally dedicated to public service. Among them were Chris and Shareen, and when they moved down to Southern Oregon we became very close friends. We were together almost every weekend, and they were the type of friends you could call up on a moment's notice to take a hike or grab some food. Not really a short story, but that's the story...

Fast forward a few years, and we both have young kids...not quite able to run off on hikes anytime we like, but still enjoying a new pace of life. Chris and Shareen stayed at our place for the RARE celebration/reunion, and we enjoyed a night out on the town (while my cousin's daughter, Jessica, patiently babysat our three kids!) Then we got up early for a morning service event out in the Gorge at Cascade Locks. The guys painted while Shareen and I prepped for the lunch-time bbq and were entertained by our kids. It was great to see and meet other RARE friends, and it feels great to be part of such an organization.

Kevin and I both agree that we want to raise our kids to give back to the community, and to show them the tremendous positive impact our actions can have on a place, even small ones. I may not have served in RARE, but as a girl from rural Douglas County, I certainly see its need and put in my share of community service growing up. Individuals do make a difference. And RARE shows us that together we can impact communities and create life long friendships.