Spring 2006
*This publication is available in alternate formats upon request*
Contact Bryan @ 503.528.1721
Two decades of giving the gift of mobility!
Here are some of the major events in our history:
What would we do without Ride Connection? Since its inception, Executive Director
Elaine Wells has watched community organizations collaborate to provide
coordinated transportation service. It is one of the strong highlights of Ride
Connection’s first 20 years of service.
As we continue to grow, our challenge is always to meet
the need. The need for accessible transportation
increases dramatically each year. In the coming years, we
must adapt to our changing customer base and continue
to work collaboratively to strengthen and broaden our
network of support. We are 20 years and growing!
1984 Citizens committee advised TriMet about the need for coordinated transportation to increase service
1986 TriMet began a special transportation project. There were six providers who provided just
under 12,000 rides that first year of service
1988 Volunteer Transportation Inc. (VTI) was incorporated as a private non-profit organization
1989 VTI started coordinating funding applications for providers
1999 VTI changed its name to Ride Connection
1999 Oregon legislature increased funding for Elderly and Disabled Transportation
2000 Rural Washington county General Public & Job Access services began
2000 Ride Connection hosted its 1
st
Safe Driver event
2001 King City and Gateway shuttles began
2001 In December, Worklink Travel Training began
2003 In January, rides began in Clark County, Washington
2004 In May, centralized rider screening established for community based programs
2004 In May, RideAbout began service
2004 In November, the RideWise travel training program began accepting referrals
2006 Our fleet of vehicles has grown to 86
2006 Service is exceeding 300,000 trips per year
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Page 2
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Clark County U-Ride: Working Together
Human Services Council, Catholic Community Services, RSVP, the American
Cancer Society and The Arc of Clark County in partnership with Ride Connection
offer transportation for people in Clark County. Clark County U-Ride hopes to
increase the number of medical rides in this first year of expansion. Clark County
U-Ride is pleased to announce the establishment of a satellite office, generously
provided by The Arc of Clark County.
Clark County U-Ride’s office is located at:
6511 NE 18
th
St, Vancouver, Washington.
We look forward to increased services and many new
supporters.
Help share the vision…
Give the gift of mobility.
Our riders tell us that being a part of
their community is important. Help
keep our network of transportation
alive and thriving! Ride Connection
and its community providers offer
transportation that people rely on
and value. Please make a contribu-
tion to Ride Connection. We appre-
ciate your donation very much and
we need your assistance. You can use
the enclosed contribution envelope,
or donate online at
www.rideconnection.org
.
Welcoming Wapato Shores
Ride Connection welcomes Wapato
Shores Inc. as its newest commu-
nity provider. Brandon and Olga
Hundley and Kirk Foster started
Wapato Shores Inc. in 2002 with one
van. They now have a total of six
vehicles. Most of their drivers have
been with them for a year or more.
Wapato Shores Inc. is located in
Forest Grove, Oregon with a satellite
office in Portland, and they provide
door-to-door service for customers
in wheelchairs.
We are pleased to announce our new Mission & Vision statements.
Ride Connection Mission
To link accessible, responsive transportation with community needs.
Ride Connection Vision
To create independence and community connections through the gift of mobility.
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Page 3
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
East County U-Ride
Ride Connection is pleased to announce
Leslie Garth as the Transportation
Coordinator for East County U-Ride. Leslie
is a native of Oregon and grew up in North
Portland. She joins Ride Connection with
eight years of experience working in the
non-profit sector. She manages one full-time
and one part-time driver along with several
volunteers. Leslie is quickly learning the
“language of transportation.”
While Leslie continues to coordinate drivers
and schedule rides, she is also out making important connections in the rural
communities of East County. She is presenting to area businesses and agencies,
making them aware of the volunteer opportunities and the service available to
them. One long standing supporter and advocate of the transportation program,
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, has supported East County U-Ride with a
generous donation of $2500.00. Fran Walsh, Development and Community
Relations Coordinator for Mount Hood Relations recently stated,
“this service reaches into the many pockets of our service area and
connects with seniors, the disabled, and many others who would
otherwise be isolated from our community and helps them either
retain or regain some semblance of independence, by allowing them
to get out of their homes and go grocery shopping, attend doctor
appointments, visit with family - all of which is good for their health
and well-being in the long run. For these reasons Legacy Mt Hood
Medical Center supports this transportation service”.
East County U-Ride is looking for new members for its Advisory Committee
that meets at the East County Office. Individuals from East Multnomah County
area businesses, non profit agencies, faith groups or community groups are
welcome to join. If you are interested in joining, please contact Leslie Garth at
503.988.3840 ext 29981 or by email @ lgarth@rideconnection.org.
Please help us save paper - Try a new way to receive our newsletter:
If you would like to receive a copy of our newsletter electronically, please send
an email to ride@rideconnection.org with the subject “Subscribe.”
Fran Walsh & Leslie Garth pose in front of
a U-Ride vehicle
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Page 4
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
RideAbout Makes Community Connections
As you walk through the doors of Reflections Café and Talking Drum Bookstore,
you enter a room filled with the aroma of fresh brewed coffee and delectable
pastries. There is a quiet buzz of conversation coming from one of the many
tables. Many of the café’s customers are from the neighborhood and others are
just passing through. No matter where you are coming from or where you are
going the community connection is alive.
Gloria McMurtry opened Reflections café about 10 years ago along with two other
business partners. At that time, Gloria stated, “the neighborhood was a whole
different area; there were not many retail stores around.” So when the
“opportunity knocked” for Gloria to be a part of this new venture she gladly
accepted. She has been able to meet the demands of her changing clientele and
now offers a small and delicious lunch menu as well as many community events.
Starting in February 2006, on the second
and fourth Thursday of each month,
Reflections and the Talking Drum
Bookstore hosts dramatic readings, for
seniors from Passin Arts Theater. The
series is called “Thanks for the shoulders,
a tribute to our elders.” Harvey Rice,
one of two concierges for the RideAbout
shuttle service coordinates these trips.
The collaboration started shortly after
their first meeting. Harvey contacts
seniors in the area to encourage them to attend the dramatic readings and
participate in open discussion after the program.
The RideAbout Shuttle offers a variety of activities throughout the week. Sponsors
include African American Chamber of Commerce, Urban League of Portland,
American Red Cross, Project Linkage, Safeway, Fred Meyer, TriMet and Ride
Connection. For questions regarding the RideAbout shuttle program or calendar
of events please contact 503.226.0700.
Stop by the Reflections Café and Talking Drum Bookstore at 446 NE Killingsworth
in Portland and listen to the buzz of conversation along with the community
connection Gloria started with a simple cup of coffee.
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Page 5
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Travel Training – What Chris thinks you ought to know…
It’s important to know that using the buses or MAX trains
does not preclude you from using other modes of
transportation. Learning how to use other modes of
transportation is a positive thing…it takes nothing from you,
but may be the key to true independence. For many, the use
of public transportation is the difference between isolation
and independence.
For you to get the most out of travel training, you need to have a couple of desti-
nations in mind. The destinations are of your choosing, so be sure to choose
places that you’ll visit frequently. If you pick a place that you rarely visit, then
what you’ve learned may be forgotten by the time you take the same trip again.
Travel Training doesn’t have to be “all business”…people are encouraged to pick
at least one destination for fun.
All training is provided free of charge and done when it’s most convenient for
you. We can provide training to just about any destination whether you’re going
to work, shopping or medical appointments. What does that really mean? It
means that we work when you work, we shop when you shop, and we go to the
doctor when you go the doctor.
Sound like fun? Call 503-528-1743 today! Enrolling in the program is simple.
Give us a call and tell us your transportation needs.
New Partners
Many thanks to our new and existing community partners for assisting individuals
to become more independent and self sufficient by providing access to informa-
tion, training and support. Since January 2006: Oregon City High School, Portland
Public Schools, Tigard Vocational Rehabilitation, Lake Oswego School District, Inclusion,
Inc., Multnomah Educational Service District, and Reynolds Youth Transition Program.
If you are interested in getting involved with RideWise, would like to refer an
individual for travel training or would like a presentation
about the services available, contact James Uyeda at
503-528-1748 or juyeda@rideconnection.org.
RideWise is a collaborative effort between TriMet and Ride Connection to promote
independent travel of seniors and people with disabilities by providing access to
information, training and support.
Chris Hunter
RideWise Travel Trainer
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Page 6
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Heart of Transportation
Ride Connection’s “Heart of Transportation” Safe
Mobility and Volunteer Recognition Event was held
February 21, 2006 at East Portland Community Center.
The event honored drivers, concierges, and other
volunteers from our network of providers. The event
was a small token of the thanks and esteem that Ride
Connection has for each and every one who gives the
gift of mobility in our communities.
Congratulations to this year’s “Heart of Transportation” award winners:
Eileen Hilgren
Canby Adult Center
Marty Butler & Vern Stark
Catholic Community Services
Fraser Rasmussen
Northwest Pilot Project
Mike Bascuti, Howard Rasmussen, & Mimi Smith
Northwest Portland Ministries
Mardell Baessler, Verna Braeme, Bill & Linn Hiett, & Bill Staples
Transportation Reaching People
Pam Heman
Ride Connection
Bobbie Nunn
Ride Connection Board of Directors
Harvey Rice
Urban League
Donations generously provided by:
?
Disability Art and Culture Project (DACP)
www.dacphome.org
?
Heffernan Insurance Brokers
www.heffgroup.com
?
Peet’s Coffee & Tea 508 SW Broadway Portland, OR 97205
www.peets.com
?
Resource Revival PO Box 440 Mosier, OR 97040
www.resourcerevival.com
?
Joan Heinemann, Ride Connection
?
Susan and Emma Tingley, Ride Connection
?
Julie Wilcke, Ride Connection
Award recipient
Fraser Rasmussen
Susan Tingley presenting a
“Heart of Transportation”
award to Verna Braeme
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Page 7
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Changing Lanes
Ride Connection is pleased to announce three new members to its
Board of Directors:
?
Hank Miggins brings skills in group interaction, internal auditing, budgeting
and political knowledge of state and local government.
?
Grady Tarbutton represents Multnomah County on our Board. Grady
brings skills about how to provide service to our elders and people living with
disabilities.
?
Andy Szolnoki was actively involved in Ride Connection’s Quality
Improvement Committee, former provider of Providence ElderPlace, and his
service experience will serve our Board well.
Our Current Board Members
Ride Connection Staff update
We continue to grow, and as we grow, we’re fortunate to have talented people
join us. Welcome to these new Ride Connection staff members!
?
Leslie Garth, East County U-Ride Transportation Coordinator
?
Mike Garvey, Administrative Assistant
?
Bryan Kauffman, Administrative Assistant
?
Patty McNally, Volunteer Recruiter/Outreach Specialist
?
Cora Potter, Service Center Supervisor
?
Heather Roberts, Fiscal Assistant
?
Heidi Svec, Service Representative
?
James Uyeda, RideWise Outreach Coordinator
• Patty Brost
• Leslie Clark
• Patrice Goodman
• Lynn Jolley
• Dick Jones
• Julie Kennedy
• Ken Nitta
• Bobbie Nunn
• Carolyn Rundorff
• Ron Thompson
• Bob Ueland
• Rosy Vu
pg_0008
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PORTLAND, OR
PERMIT 495
3220 N Williams Ave
Portland, OR 97227
503.528.1720
Fax 503.493.7431
To link accessible, responsive transportation with community needs
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