I hope that you and yours are soaking up the holidays.

My family started the break off with our annual solstice trip to the coast. It’s easy to instill a love of Oregon into our kiddos, now 5 and almost 2, who got barefoot and built a sand-snowman with seaweed for a scarf. We do things differently here, right?

This year was a doozy in our household, where our 5 year old is starting to pick up on all of the things. All of them! In June, mommy and daddy were both in the middle of the legislative walkout over climate change - and we were not able to abide by our usual rule to avoid talking work at home. Instead, when the Senate Republicans cowered in Idaho, we were explaining the Industrial Revolution, climate change, and leadership versus cowardice to our mature, sweet daughter.

Now, it’s something we talk about all of the time.

In the car, looking out over a filled-to-the-brim Salmon River, I found myself talking about salmon, shellfish, and ocean acidification. At the hotel lobby, enjoying a cozy gas fireplace, we talked about clean air and fracking. Visiting local shops, we talked about the need to buy less stuff. She’s definitely NOT ready for this lesson...

Building sand castles and moats, I taught her how easy it is to tell direction at the beach. Pointed north and told her the story of State Rep. Tiffiny Mitchell, who embodies leadership versus cowardice every day from her hometown of Astoria (yes, where the sea lions are). Our little one, nearing two, listens on. Someday, we will have these talks with her, too. For now, we just bark like sea lions.

It’s not easy to think about the future of our Oregon. It’s definitely not easy to do something to change that future for the better. Lucky for me, I work at OLCV. All day long, we work together with other environmental, progressive, and social justice groups to fight for the changes we need. Better policies and better politics, both.

And my job is to raise the resources we need to do this work - the resources it takes to elect environmental champions to office, leaders who put kids and future generations first.

We simply cannot do this work without you, and without your support. Fortunately, between now and the end of the year, you could be eligible to support OLCV PAC and get that money back via the Oregon Political Tax Credit. That’s up to $100 for those filing jointly, and $50 for individuals, right back to you when you file your taxes. It isn’t easy to fight for Oregon’s future - but it is pretty easy to use your Political Tax Credit. Click here and you are well on the way!

I am lucky, to do this work and raise these web-footed Oregon kids... It’s been a rough year, but when we turn the page on the calendar next, it will be 2020. Clearly, it’s going to be a big year. Let’s make it a good one for Oregon’s environment, yeah?

Warmly,

Christy Splitt

OLCV Development Director and Office Mom