Building Community on a Strong Foundation
Look up the word “union” in the dictionary, and you will find the definition of a small town at its best: “n. something formed by a coalition of independent individuals for some common purpose.” Union residents pride themselves on being “the biggest volunteer town in eastern Oregon.” One community member observes that when the town’s citizens come together around a common cause, “there is nothing we cannot accomplish.” For another resident, community spirit is embodied in her neighbor’s annual calf branding. Each year, old-timers and newcomers alike gather to lend a hand in this seasonal task. Like the potluck meal that sustains the crew, the work is sweetened by the diverse talents and willingness to assist that each person brings. At the dawn of the 21st century, it is this traditional community ethic that keeps things running in Union.
Many have found in Union’s quiet pace of life and natural splendor a perfect place to retire. Its small-town tradition of caring and its fine school system make it a safe and nurturing place to raise children. Nearby La Grande (population 12,000) provides Union residents with many services, jobs and shopping possibilities, as well as a top-notch educational opportunity at Eastern Oregon University. Yet, La Grande’s vitality is at once Union’s downfall and salvation. While the larger city’s amenities make it feasible to live in Union, the 15-mile commute saps time, energy and consumer dollars away from Union, whose smaller size makes it difficult to compete with its more populous neighbor. It is a catch-22 that has Union citizens looking for ways to grow their population and revenue base, while maintaining their small-town character.
Following closure of the mill in the late 1980s — a long-time and significant employer — a group of concerned citizens began working with the Oregon-based nonprofit Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) to develop strategies for Union’s continued viability. Their accomplishments are a source of community pride and offer residents new services and avenues for economic sustainability. The addition of the Buffalo Peak Golf Course, a medical clinic and Union High School’s Bobcat Athletic Complex have dramatically increased the quality of life for the people of Union. Building on these successes, community members took further steps to diversify and strengthen their leadership base and develop effective strategies for addressing community needs by participating in Horizons, a community leadership development program sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation.
An initiative that sprung from this process focuses on Union’s elderly and homebound populations. In addition to coordinating regular meals and activities for seniors, a group of residents has assigned each of its members a neighborhood block to oversee, to ensure the safety and comfort of those who might need extra help. To care for their neighbors, group members stop by to see that people have current medications, and where necessary, coordinate home visits from a nurse practitioner. This group of caretakers keeps an eye out to make sure they see lights going on in their neighbors’ homes at night. Local business proprietors, attuned to the rhythms of small-town life, also keep track of their elderly customers’ regular errand schedules. At a time in our history when many live far from their extended families, this project weaves a social fabric from community and caring.
Another recent and visible accomplishment is the jewel of Union City Park: a wooden gazebo that sits along the park’s edge on Main Street. When Union resident Robie Vandiver was a child, he worked alongside his grandfather installing hardwood floors and renovating historic buildings. In an era that pre-dated power tools, it took care and craftsmanship to make the pieces fit together — a skill and philosophy that Robie has applied to community life in Union. Combining his passion for historic architecture and a lifetime of experience in carpentry and construction, Robie designed the gazebo from his mind’s eye, and spent a summer working with Union’s high school basketball team to create a gift for the entire community. The project provided young people with invaluable training in carpentry from a master craftsman, but just as importantly it gave them experience in working together toward a common goal and gave them a sense of community pride.
After the work was completed, Robie saw for the first time a photo of a historic gazebo that once stood in Union City Park. Amazingly, Robie’s version closely resembles its predecessor, with one important innovation. The new gazebo has a wheelchair ramp, making it accessible to all who come to enjoy it. The gazebo adds a touch of beauty and grace to Union’s downtown, and has become a focus of community events, from concerts and weddings to summer classes and more. Throughout the summer, the gazebo is alive with activity. During the winter holiday season, white lights sparkle along its form, adding a sense of wonder to Union’s annual Christmas decorations.
For its architect, the gazebo and the process of making it are akin to building community. Robie observes, “One of the things I learned early on in life is when it comes to any construction project you have to build off of the existing foundation.” Directing the gazebo’s design and construction was incentive for Robie to join Union’s Horizons team and become more involved with city activities. From never having participated in the public sector, Robie now sits on Union’s City Council in order to help guide his community in a positive direction.
Robie Vandiver envisions a “pie society,” wherein community members gather informally at ice cream and pie socials and barbecues. Over a piece of pie on a summer day, neighbors can freely exchange ideas and news, find common ground, and develop strategies for Union’s future. As the focus for these gatherings, the gazebo is a first step toward community solidarity and positive growth.
Another simple but potentially far-reaching step toward improving the quality of life in Union has been the organization of a physical fitness program. Three times a week, a group gathers to work out at activities that do not require special equipment, such as tai chi and contra dancing. Building on the idea that positive change starts from within, this group is providing a tool of well-being for all to use.
For Union participants in the Horizons program, leadership training has been an opportunity to see the town’s existing foundation anew, with a broader understanding of the talents and skills each person has to offer and the complementarity of these assets. New leaders and participants have come to the table, bringing fresh ideas and energy, and upping the level of civic engagement in Union. Individuals have experienced personal growth, finding within themselves untapped inner resources and ways to apply newly gained leadership skills to all areas of their lives. Listening, communication, compromise, collaboration, acceptance — these are the tools of good leadership and citizenry that align diverse community members toward common goals. Like neighbors at a barnraising, Union residents are harnessing their talents and tools to build a healthy and prosperous community for all.