Tag Archives: Marcy Westerling

Survive February (barely). Review Legacy in March.

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As news first circulated that I was terminally ill, many colleagues surfaced who wanted to insure that my work was documented and to offer their skills to the process. Little did they know, I am a hoarder. Few papers were ever discarded by me and many were carefully filed. And then another colleague decided to get a degree in documentation, Sarah Loose, and when she returned from Columbia University she set to work.I am still alive and this project is ready to go public.Most of you live far, far away but if you are near and curious feel welcome to join us this Sunday in Portland, Oregon.

Rural Organizing Voices House Party — Sunday, March 1st

2:00 – 4:00pm

Peace House (2116 Northeast 18th Avenue – Portland, OR 97212

Please RSVP: sarah@rop.org503-367-0157

Over 20 years ago, Marcy Westerling’s passion for organizing sparked a statewide movement for human dignity. Today, that movement continues to break new ground, building county-by-county organizing infrastructure that evolves to reflect the ever-changing face of rural Oregon. Because of Marcy’s work within Oregon and beyond, the Rural Organizing Project’s model has become an inspiration to organizers and communities around the country.

Join us on Sunday March 1st to celebrate and support the launch of Rural Organizing Voices! A project dedicated to expanding knowledge and strategies that advance rural organizing.

Rural Organizing Voices makes Marcy’s organizing wisdom and the stories and lessons learned throughout ROP’s 23-year history publicly available. Funds raised will support the completion of the Rural Organizing Voices Oral History Project and the establishment of a permanent “Marcy Westerling Collection on Rural Organizing” at the University of Oregon, featuring Marcy’s personal papers, case studies on the ROP model and a county-by-county archive. This cache of materials shares lessons from over two decades of organizing in rural Oregon and will be a touchstone for future rural organizers and leaders for decades to come.

We hope you can join us on March 1st! Drinks and light appetizers will be provided. Bring your checkbook!

Host Committee: Barbara Dudley, Cathy Howell, Sarah Loose, Suzanne Pharr, Sandy Polishuk, Ramon Ramirez, Dianne Riley, Deb Ross, Kathleen Saadat, Cara Shufelt, Dave Toler, Kelley Weigel, Elli Work, Thalia Zepatos

The Peace House is ADA accessible; however, if you will be coming in a wheelchair it would be helpful if you could let us know in advance (sarah@rop.org or 503-367-0157).

Not able to attend the House Party but still want to support ROP and these legacy projects? Donations can be made on the ROP website at: http://www.rop.org/rural-organizing-voices-donations/ or by sending a check to: ROP, POB 1350 Scappoose, OR 97056. Include “Rural Organizing Voices” in the memo line.

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Welcome to Livingly Dying

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Welcome to a space dedicated to the process of livingly dying – staring at imminent mortality and yet residing in the world of the living. More and more of us are finding the words terminally ill and chronic illness co-mingle. We are living longer and better despite a dire diagnosis/prognosis. But the path is not easy.

We bounce between denial, deep despair, and sheer optimism. All the while, many of us face treatment regimes that whittle us down and a current culture in the United States unfamiliar with sitting with death and dying. These writings will be of most value for:
a. people navigating the balance of living when told you are dying
b. people pursuing creative approaches, especially those stimulating our immune systems to fight back the diseases trampling us
c. people interested in witnessing one person living each day with terminal illness.
Livingly Dying Essays, Clinical Trial & Creative Approaches,  and Medical Industrial Complex Woes make up the three categories on the lower right column of the front page allowing you easy access to content that most interests you. To receive new posts click the follow button in the upper right column. I share my journey to support collective efforts to live well while dying. I am feeling my way out loud. Thank you for joining me. Comments are always welcome, in fact, they cheer on the process. If you scroll below this welcome, you will find the running narrative with most current post on top.

For those who like seeing and hearing more than reading, click for the YouTube film of me explaining the concept of Livingly Dying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=365W0sJq8BE 

Alive! Three years into the cancer journey

Alive! Four + years into the terminally living journey.

Marcy Westerling – marcy@rop.org