Spring 2007
*This publication is available in accessible formats upon request*
Contents
2006 Annual Luncheon 3
Portland Impact 5-6
RideWise 7
Safety Corner 8
Writing Contest 8
Word Find 9
Donor Lists 10-11
Did you know?
•
R i d e W i se L e a d Tra ve l
Trainer Chris Hunter
was one of five people
chosen nationally to join
an Easter Seals Project
ACTION program pro-
viding training for other
travel trainers
•
The Sellwood bridge is
nearing the end of its
useful service life. Keep
up with developments at
www.sellwoodbridge.org
Rider Quote:
“Ride Connection gets me to
my weekly therapy and nec-
essary medical appointments.
Couldn't ask for more.”
-
Gwenn G.
www.rideconnection.org
Mr. Morris Goes to Salem
Charlie Morris is a volunteer
driver for the American Red
Cross. After he retired, he was
in donating blood and inquired
about volunteer opportunities.
Having driven military vehicles
over the course of his 41 years
in the National Guard, he de-
cided to volunteer as a driver,
something he has been doing since October of 1991. In nearly
16 years of driving for Red Cross, he has provided thousands of
rides. He says the experience has, “opened his eyes” about the
needs of people with disabilities. Charlie has done a lot of
things in his lifetime, not the least of which is enriching the lives
of others through his volunteer efforts. The one thing Charlie
had not done before is public speaking. However, he has been
speaking quite a bit lately, and doing so very effectively.
Charlie’s public speaking career began recently when he re-
sponded to a request from our Executive Director, Elaine Wells,
Continued on page 4
Spring Renewal
Spring is such an amazing time of year! It is no wonder that we
think of it as the season of fresh starts. Bulky winter coats are
packed away in favor of light jackets, and many of us get the
sudden urge to clean out that cupboard, closet or garage. In
yards all around town, crocuses and daffodils are asserting
themselves, and rain clouds frequently part to reveal a sky that
seems brazenly robin-egg blue after so many months of gray.
Continued on page 2
pg_0002
Page 2
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Spring Renewal (cont.)
This sense of renewal has been swirling around
Ride Connection as well. In October we moved
our main office to a new building in the rapidly
developing South Waterfront district. Our new
space gives staff, volunteers and visitors more
room, more natural light and more access to fresh
air, providing an environment conducive to crea-
tive and innovative ways to think, work and relate
to one another.
Though Ride Connection has been providing service for two dec-
ades now, we never stop looking for ways to grow and develop our
programs. As a model for community transportation nationally, it
would be easy to rest on our laurels. The staff here never lets that
happen. Their satisfaction comes from finding new, innovative ways to
continue our mission of “linking accessible responsive transportation
with community needs”. For example, Ride Connection, through an
agreement with TriMet, gained four new transportation providers
when those agencies agreed to utilize refurbished TriMet LIFT buses
for their transportation programs. We are pleased to welcome Par-
ents for Alternate Support Solutions (PASS), Michael's Place, Savage
Memorial Presbyterian Church and Emmanuel Temple Church to the
Ride Connection family. In addition, we are trying a novel shared ve-
hicle agreement between our East County program and Chestnut
Lane, an assisted living center that serves people who are Deaf and
Deaf-Blind. This win-win situation allows us to maximize the amount
of time this vehicle is in service, the benefit being increased capacity for our customers.
I think what is really thrilling is the revitalized way the agency is looking at transportation.
There is no doubt that an aging population and distance from family and vital services has be-
come the reality in our communities locally and nationally. Ride Connection is uniquely poised
to change the fundamental way in which people view “transportation.” Rather than seeing it as
a choice between car or bus or nothing, we have started a paradigm shift within Ride Connec-
tion that regards transportation as a continuum of service which is uniquely suited to each indi-
vidual’s needs and lifestyle. Looking forward, it seems clear that the future of Ride Connection,
and the future of community transportation in general, lies in both promoting freedom and in-
dependence through transportation options, as well as providing support and training so indi-
viduals can successfully access those options.
Board Members
Bob Ueland,
Board President
Leslie Clark,
Vice President
Rosy Vu,
Treas urer
Patty Brost,
Secretary
Lynn Jolley
Dick Jones
Julie Kennedy
Hank Miggins
Ken Nitta
Stephanie Renzi
Carolyn Rundorff
Andy Szolnoki
Ron Thompson
Honorary Members
Michael Ford
Claire Potter
Grady Tarbutton
Elaine Wells
Executive Director
pg_0003
2006 Annual Luncheon: The Magic of Mobility
More than 130 friends, sponsors, volun-
teers and employees of Ride Connection
attended the 2006 Annual Luncheon,
held at the DoubleTree Hotel Lloyd
Center on Friday, December 1
st
. T he
event was a rousing success.
The theme of this year’s luncheon was
“The Magic of Mobility.” Each day, Ride
Connection provides the magic of mobil-
ity by providing independence for older
adults and people with disabilities allow-
ing them to remain connected to their communities. The need for transportation
grows each year, so a successful event is imperative to the success of our organization.
Rick Huttle, story teller, gave a compelling story to our audience reiterating the impact
Ride Connection has on the community and the vital services we provide.
A special thanks to all of our sponsors; without their support we would not have the
success we’ve had.
•
American Red Cross
•
Bank of the Cascades
•
DoubleTree Hotel Lloyd Center
•
Elite Care/Oatfield Estates
•
Emmett Koelsch Coaches
•
Fred Meyer
•
Julie Kennedy
•
Kern and Thompson, LLC
•
Legacy Health System
•
Claire Potter
•
Providence Health System
•
Carolyn Rundorff
•
Russellville Park
•
Schetky Northwest Sales, Inc.
•
Smyth & Clark
•
Sterling Savings Bank
•
Tri M e t
•
Umpqua Bank
•
Elaine Wells
•
Western Bus Sales, Inc.
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Page 3
The Extra Mile
pg_0004
Page 4
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Mr. Morris Goes to Salem cont.
to testify on behalf of elderly and disabled transportation in front of a house subcom-
mittee in Salem. Charlie wrote no prepared speech, preferring to speak from the heart,
and described his experiences with clients that covered a spectrum of ages and ethnici-
ties and recounted a specific client whom he “transported in an assisted living facility to
see his wife, who was in another facility.” When Charlie finished speaking, one of the
representatives on the committee asked, “What can I do to help?” Charlie, always with
his wits about him, replied, “You can volunteer.” The representative, unable to volunteer
because he resided too far away from our transit district, instead wrote the American
Red Cross a check on the spot for $250.
Charlie’ reason for testifying was House Bill 2422, which will raise the percentage of the
funds that go to transportation services such as ours from the cigarette tax, therefore
enhancing services throughout the state. Governor Kulongoski, conversely, is proposing
to increase the cigarette tax without allocating any further dollars to transportation.
While not directly reducing our funding, the cigarette tax is a flat or declining source of
revenue. If funding does not grow with inflation, we will see a possible 14% decrease in
funds available in our region. Just as a dollar will no longer buy you a gallon of gasoline,
that same dollar will not support an equivalent level of service while inflation drives up
the costs and demand increases.
According to the American Society on Aging, 8,000 people are turning 60 every day in
the United States and most will outlive their ability to drive by 7-10 years! Additionally,
because of advances in medical treatment, more people are surviving catastrophic acci-
dents and illnesses that require special transportation. A much larger concern is cre-
ated when people are unable to obtain needed services, resulting in vastly more expen-
sive emergency transportation and medical care. Without adequate transportation,
older adults and people with disabilities may be prematurely institutionalized. Special
transportation services are not currently able to meet the needs of our citizens and the
situation will only worsen if funding does not keep pace with demand. Now is the time
to increase our state’s investment in elderly and disabled transportation.
Charlie Morris was not a public speaker before, but has proven himself to be a valuable
one now. We ask you to please support House Bill 2422 to continue funding necessary
services like Ride Connection’s throughout the state of Oregon. Contact your repre-
sentatives or come with us to Salem to testify at the next committee meeting and tell
them how important this service has been in your life, or the life of someone you care
about. Maybe you have never been involved with political matters before, but then
again, neither had Charlie.
pg_0005
Page 5
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Ride Connection’s providers
give the gift of mobility in our
communities!
African-American Chamber of
Commerce
American Red Cross
Canby Adult Center
David’s Harp
East County U-Ride
Edwards Center, Inc.
Estacada Community Center
Forest Grove Senior Center
Gladstone Senior Center
Gresham Senior Center
Hoodland Senior Center
Lake Oswego Adult Community
Center
LifeWorks Northwest
MFS Project Linkage
Milwaukie Senior Center
Molalla Senior Center
Neighborhood House
Northwest Pilot Project
Northwest Portland Ministries
Pacificab
Pioneer Community Center
Port City
Portland Impact
Providence Elder Place
Sandy Senior Center
Transportation Reaching People
(TRP)
Urban League of Portland
Volunteer Chore Services
Wapato Shores Transport
Thank you for your support!
In the Headlights: Portland Impact
Portland Impact Multicultural Senior Center is a
hub for senior and adult services in Southeast Port-
land. In addition to being a Multnomah County Dis-
trict Senior Center, they
manage the Multnomah
Project Independence
program through Mult-
nomah County ADS and
manage the Congregate
Housing Services Pro-
gram through Housing
Authority of Portland,
and provide case man-
agement services, transportation, activities, informa-
tion and assistance to seniors and designated adults
with disabilities. They offer all but case manage-
ment services to seniors and adults with disabilities
from the Southeast Portland community at large.
Portland Impact’s Transportation Program serves
seniors and people with disabilities who have mobil-
ity impairments, are unable to drive, and who do
not have anyone to rely on for their transportation
needs. The program brings seniors and adults with
disabilities out of isolation, promotes their inde-
pendence, improves their quality of life and health,
keeps them out of nursing homes, and supports
caregivers who cannot provide regular transporta-
tion.
Portland Impact provided direct escort service for
approximately 1000 rides per month. During the
first 7 months of FY 2005-06, we have provided 6,374 escorted rides to 557 undupli-
cated riders. Their staff of five paid program assistants/drivers, along with several vol-
unteer drivers provide the escorted rides each month along with special services such
as assistance with groceries, filling out documentation, picking up prescriptions. They
also have a full time dispatcher, a half-time volunteer coordinator and a program super-
visor. Their fleet consists of 4 mini-buses, 2 mini-vans and a sedan.
The faces of Portland Impact
pg_0006
Page 6
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Making an Impact with Portland Impact
Jody Case wasn’t surprised to find that driving for Portland Impact was a good fit
for her. After all, she had always loved road trips.
Jody was sent to Portland Impact through an AARP program, and began two years
ago by working in the reception area. She was looking for a permanent job, and
really liked the mission and staff of Portland Impact and hoped to continue working
there. When a driving position became available, she found her niche driving Port-
land Impact’s senior clients to medical appointments and other destinations.
The role of a community transportation driver can be a difficult one at times, chal-
lenging on even the best days, and it is hard to please everyone. However, the an-
gry riders are few, and the delightful, funny, and touching stories are many. When
asked to share a favorite story about a client, Jody
was quick to smile at the thought of one particular
person. “I have a rider who lives in Sellwood. She
and her husband moved there when he first began
showing signs of dementia. They liked the place be-
cause it had a wooded backyard, and they had a
deck built so that her husband could still safely en-
joy the outdoors that he had always loved so much.
As a young couple, they had been big dancers, and
that love of dance had stayed with them throughout
their long marriage. A few times a week, they would take the boombox out onto
the deck, load it with their favorite dance music, turn it up and dance! Her husband
has now passed away, and she has shared this story with me a few times. It is so
easy to imagine them waltzing and fox-trotting together on the deck, reliving their
long life together. I think one of the biggest rewards of being a driver is having peo-
ple share stories like this with me.”
In her off time, Jody relishes spending time with her family, which includes three
grown children and three grandchildren. Road trips, hikes to Larch Mountain and
family barbeques all top her list of fun things to do. When her children were
younger, she would pack them up into the car for spontaneous family road trips;
ostensibly to go in search of the “best milkshake in Oregon” or other Oregon
“best”, but with the benefit of sampling the mountains, beaches, deserts and other
amazing locales. She encourages everyone to make the time to see all that Oregon
has to offer.
Jody doesn’t hesitate for a moment in recommending that others become commu-
nity transportation drivers. “It’s fun to get out, meet people and feel the rewards of
contributing by assisting others.” Jody, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Jody showing off her ride.
pg_0007
Page 7
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Public Transportation IS an option
As individuals age, changes in vision, hear-
ing, physical strength and cognition may
contribute to a loss of self-confidence and,
consequently, the ability to safely operate a
motor vehicle. For some older adults, the
choice to reduce, restrict or even eliminate
driving all together can create an over-
whelming sense of loss in terms of their
independence and freedom. Given the
choice, some older adults may continue to
drive and risk personal injury rather than
give up their driver’s license.
Public transportation can be a viable, user-
friendly transportation option for older
drivers who, on occasion, find themselves
saying “Whew, that was close!” or “Where
did that car come from?”
When you combine the new Portland Ae-
rial Tram with the Portland Streetcar and
TriMet’s 91 bus lines (16 of which run
every 15 minutes), there are 7,625 bus
stops, 44 miles of light rail track, and 18
major transit centers. It’s becoming diffi-
cult to find destinations that one cannot
reach using public transportation.
Choosing to either drive less or not at all
does not have to lead to a life of isolation
and dependence on others. Learning how
to make public transportation work can
restore the lost freedom, independence
and spontaneity that we all deserve.
Whether you need personalized trip plan-
ning, bus schedules and other written ma-
terials, or individualized, one-to-one travel
assistance, the RideWise program is here
to help. RideWise provides access to free
information, support and training for older
adults who have decided to give up or re-
duce driving. Getting started is easy! Sim-
ply call 503-528-1743 to speak with one of
our RideWise staff members. RideWise
staff will discuss with you all of your trans-
portation needs and options and develop a
transportation plan tailored to fit your life-
style.
pg_0008
Page 8
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
Safety Corner
Spring is a great time to take fall pre-
vention seriously. Among older adults,
falls are the leading cause of injury
deaths, and more than 1/3 of adults 65
and older fall each year in the US.
You can reduce your chances of falling
by doing these things:
1. Make your home safer
Remove things you can trip over
from stairs and places where you walk.
Remove small throw rugs or use
double-sided tape to keep the rugs
from slipping.
Keep items you use often in cabi-
nets within easy reach.
Use non-slip mats in the bathtub
and on shower floors.
Improve the lighting in your home.
Have handrails and lights put in on
all staircases.
Wear shoes that give good support
and have thin non-slip soles.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Review all of your medicines
(including OTC medicines) with your
health care provider. This can help
reduce side effects and interactions.
4. Have your vision checked by an eye
doctor. Poor vision can increase your
chance of falling.
For more information on falls and fall
prevention, a good website to visit is:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/
preventadultfalls.htm
Writing Contest
Ride Connection is a network of 27
providers serving
the tri-county area and Clark County Washington.
Ride Connection has 89
vehicles and drivers, both paid
and volunteer, who supplied over 358,500
rides last fis-
cal year. But Ride Connection and our community
partners are much more than sheer numbers suggest; it
is really about meeting the needs of individuals who
need this transportation to get to medical appoint-
ments, go shopping, or meet up with friends and loved
ones that they would otherwise be unable to see.
Here at Ride Connection, we are eager to hear your
story. If you have had a wonderful experience using
our service or the service of one of our providers, we
hope you will take the time to let us know about it.
If we select your letter, you will have your picture and
story published in our next newsletter. To get those
creative juices flowing, we would like to offer a $25 gift
card to the writer we select.
Please mail your stories to:
Ride Connection
c/o Admin
3030 SW Moody Ave, Suite 230
Portland, OR 97201 or
Email: ride@rideconnection.org
Staff Updates
Ride Connection has also experienced spring-like re-
juvenation in our staff. The outreach department is
blooming once more with two new people, Josh Net-
zer, Outreach Specialist, and Juliet Parrott, Volunteer
Coordinator. The service center gained a new Ser-
vice Specialist, Bret Roske. In addition, James Uyeda
has been promoted to Development Manager, and
Christina Turner has moved up into the position of
RideWise Outreach Coordinator.
pg_0009
Thank you Peet’s Coffee
Ride Connection and its partner organizations would like
to extend a big thank you to Peet’s coffee and their won-
derful staff. To date, Peet’s has donated more than 275 lbs
of their sumptuous coffee for Ride Connection and our
community partners to partake of. So, if you happen to be near one of their cof-
fee shops, pop in for a quick pick-me-up. After going through so much of it, we
can assure you it is delicious.
Ride Connection Word Find
i l e v a r t i n c r n a e o
n t e r c a r i n g b n c b n
d n r n r e e t n u l o v m y
e e b c n m s i s c l t t t e
p m l s e c t s c l e g i s e
e t l a c c e p a r t n e r s
n i i n e s n b g e u i o m i
d m g n s p o i m m c h s u w
e m n c s r r i m p s s e l e
n o i t a t r o p s n a r t d
c c n t r t c t v n r w v n i
e l i k y r r e v i r d i o r
e o a g e n c y d k d v c m r
n n r r i r l e n i b e e a p
m t t e k t n i s p l o r h s
s e e e d c l a c k a m a s m
agency busses caring Clackamas
Clark collaboration committment community
connecting driver independence link
Multnomah necessary partners providers
ride RideWise service training
transportation travel TriMet volunteer
Washington
Page 9
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
pg_0010
STEWARD
($1,000 - $2,499)
Bible Students Retirement
Centers
Gresham Station Apartments
Legacy Health Systems
Ken Nitta
Oregon Community
Foundation
Providence ElderPlace
SUPPORT
($500 - $999)
American Red Cross
Bank of the Cascades
Fred Meyer
Julie Kennedy & Daniel Theda
Peet's Coffee And Tea
Schetky NW Sales, Inc.
Smyth & Clark
Sterling Savings Bank
Ward Gibbons Souza
Elaine Wells
Western Bus Sales, Inc.
FRIEND
($1 - $499)
Archdiocese of Portland in
Oregon
Dorothy Armstrong
b. happybags
Justin & Ann Berlureau
Beverly Foundation
Mary Birdsall
Amber Bottorff
Ver n a Br ae me
Chris Brenhuber
Patty Brost
Martin and Anne Butler
Janice Catino
Linda Chudzik
Fern Cohen
Craig Critchley
Betty Crowthers
Velma & Horace Davis
Aaron Deas
Suzanna Dessauer
Nola Drazdoff
Elite Care/Oatfield Estates
Nancy Elliott
Emmett Koelsch Coaches,
Inc.
Barbara English
Glenna English
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Bessie Epperson
Patricia Evey
Mary Fetsch
Leslie & Eric Foren
Anne & Russell Gant
Leslie Garth
Shana Garvey
Scott Gates
Angie Gilmore
Joyce Gimbel
Mary & Christopher Graham
Bonny Groshong
Renita & Kent Hansen
Joan Heinemann
Joyce Hockenberry
Glenn & Alexis Hoffberger
Crystal Huber
Rick Huddle
Estle Hummels
Wilbur Huntington
Paul Iarrobino
Richard & Dorothy Jones
Norma & Gene Kelly -
Woollen
Denise Kent
Kern & Thompson, LLC
Cindy Larvick
Karen Lee
Gracie Leigh
Life Church
Roger Martin
Marlys Mayer
Marion Smith & Jane
McCarrel
Michael McCarthy
Ruben & Luz Merino
Charles Morris
Suzanne Nelson
Gareth Nevitt
Peggy Norman
Irene Oberg
Deborah Oester
Dale Olsen
Barbara & Dennis Peterson
Portland Area Bible Students
Claire & Darell Potter
Cora Potter
D'Norgia Price
Julie & Michael Proksch
Harvey & Trudy Rice
Thank you for your support! We are deeply grateful to the many individuals, businesses and
foundations that support Ride Connection. Your generosity and support are critical in helping
our mission to link accessible responsive transportation with community needs. In this issue, we
are pleased to recognize all cash gifts received between July 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007. We
kindly request you notify us of any corrections to this list by calling us at 503.528.1720.
Page 10
The Extra Mile
“We connect people with where they need to go”
pg_0011
FRIENDS cont.
Evelyn Riggs
RMG International LLC. -
Pacific Tire Distrib.
Carolyn Rundorff
Russellville Park
Herlinda Sanford
Mary Scheidt
Ruth & Fred Scheller
William & Hazel Sefler
Shannon Selby
Kate Sheofsky
Louis Simpson
Betty Smith
Norma Smith
Kari Stanley
Audrey Steinhoff
Ardis Stevenson
Bob Stillings
Judy Strand
Leann Stumpo
Jerrie Sundermeier
Linda & Sam Talluto
Grady & Lana Tarbutton
Marissa & Louis Taylor
Cecilia Thomas
Ron & Donna Thompson
Tr i M e t
Susan Triplett
Tsuru & Richard Tuenge
Patty Turner
Umpqua Bank
Rosy Vu