She’s giving forward by promoting community and connections in Central Oregon.
Linda is active in the City Club of Central Oregon and also leads KPOV 88.9 FM High Desert Community Radio in Bend as its executive director. As a volunteer, she is drawn to the City Club because it is so collaborative. She also highlights her involvement with SAGE because “SAGE helps find the MATCH.” “There are so many organizations that survive because of volunteers,” Linda says.
Like many living in Oregon now, Linda is not originally from here, but Oregon is where she feels at home. Linda moved to Bend from Wisconsin 28 years ago, and she has been engaged in the Central Oregon community ever since.
“Enjoying the outdoors, whether camping, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing or just ‘being’ with my lump-of-love, goofy golden retriever, Enzo, fills me up,” says Linda. “My greatest joys in life are smiling and laughing, enjoying a beverage with friends at any time and helping people make connections.”
Linda has a lot of community nonprofit experience including working with United Way, the Deschutes Historical Museum, Bend Chamber, and Humane Society of Central Oregon. She recognizes that an organization like City Club is tackling important community issues that many people may not feel comfortable addressing. “At City Club, we want to be welcoming to the community, to promote civil dialogue, and to offer programs for people in Central Oregon that aren’t already being duplicated,” she says. “We focus on civility and respect.”
Linda enjoys writing, and she helps organizations with donor relations events and marketing. Owning her own business, Orcelletto Communications, puts her in front of a lot of Oregon businesses, and the radio station is a natural outlet. SAGE is an organization that supports so many initiatives, but education is at the root of them all, and that matters to Linda. Through the efforts and collaboration with Pat Nadon, SAGE’s Central Oregon lead, and Linda’s own network, they can reach even more people.
“Collaborating” is a key word for Linda. “My super power is creating community connections by linking people and their passion to volunteer with their preferred organizations,” she says.
Giving Forward
Linda is motivated by empowering others to meet people of all ages and help them find a way to connect. “It’s all about relationships,” Linda says. “It’s not necessarily about WHAT we have in our lives, but WHO we have. My hopes are that I am able to help people reach out of their comfort zone and learn to look at varying perspectives while being respectful, plus contributing to their communities. It’s hard to put a number on how much time I spend developing relationships. Doing so is a part of my being. My mind is continually moving and allowing people to have a sense of belonging.”
Linda has been in Central Oregon for more than 25 years, and those long-term connections are certainly valuable. But the more important metric is not length of time but opening yourself up to find what you have in common— and it may be someone you have just met. On the surface, it could be easy to assume that you and another person don’t have many shared values. But if you are willing to dig a little deeper, and listen, you can find commonality.
“Everyone has commonalities,” she says. “Realizing that we are all the same in a different way leads to a more thoughtful, respectful, and kinder world.”
For example, she helped the City Club host a forum on gun safety with a female physician who works in the emergency room and who also owns guns. City Club is a non-partisan organization, so the forum was not about gun control, nor was it about removing people’s access to guns.
Involving people with different viewpoints, such as those who attend City Club events, is rewarding to Linda because when people feel welcome, they feel safe, and they are willing to see things in a new way.
“When people attend those events, they almost have an ‘ah hah moment’ where they realize they really learned something and hopefully pass it along.”
This is important to her, because to her, knowledge is power. This belief stemmed from her educator parents, who stressed the importance of education and being a lifelong learner.
“The more you know about something, the less you’ll be intimidated or afraid,” Linda says. “Often times, people make decisions based on fear, and often that is because they don’t know about it.”
Without knowledge, it’s all too easy to make decisions based on fear, or believe misinformation and disinformation, which divides. “Ongoing education is key,” she says.
In a world where people tend to dwell on problems and shortcomings, those who actively seek solutions stand out and can accomplish more. “Get involved, search for answers and put yourself out there,” Linda says. “Be open to other people’s viewpoints and suggestions.”
She added an example about a local cemetery with open space where some people envision a housing development. “Emotions are running high and when that happens people have a hard time hearing other people’s viewpoints,” she says.
At City Club, Linda encourages people who have differing viewpoints to just listen, and keep “the Golden Rule” in mind.
Linda’s greatest reward comes from enriching others’ lives through fostering connection and belonging. “Knowing I have given people more joy in their lives by helping them to belong and be a part of their community, whatever that may be, makes my heart happy.” she says.
Linda’s Tips For Getting Started Volunteering
1. Find your passion. “Everyone needs to find their passion that fills their heart and gives them purpose and drive.”
2. Find what you can do. “Many people want to volunteer, but have the perception the time commitment may be more than they are able to offer,” Linda says. “Often times, this isn’t the case! Most organizations are grateful and thankful for ANY time you are able to give. Just ask!”
3. Develop relationships. You never know where a relationship will take you or what may happen over time. “We can all learn from and teach one another,” Linda says.
4. Give forward. “Be curious, ask yourself why, be willing to offer a solution.”
For those inspired by Linda’s story and looking to make a difference in their own communities, SAGE offers numerous opportunities to get involved as a volunteer.
If you would like to learn more, contact SAGE.