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Meet Trails Pioneer Ezra Meeker
OCTA is a co-sponsor of the 100th anniversary observance of emigrant pioneer Ezra Meeker’s cross-country trip to commemorate the trail to Oregon that he first traveled in 1852.
Included will be a series of activities – featuring Ray Egan as Ezra Meeker – at about 20 sites along the trail from Washington state to Missouri. The commemorative event begins July 22 in Puyallup, WA and includes a visit to the OCTA Convention in St. Joe August 8-12.
Meeker was 75 years old in 1906 when he left Puyallup with two oxen, a wagon, a driver and a dog to mark the Oregon Trail, making sure it remained a monument to the pioneers who settled the West.
A schedule for the commemorative trip can be found on the Ezra Meeker Mansion home page.
Updates will also be posted on the OCTA website, so check back often.
OCTA Starts Work On Long-Term Plan
Work on a long-term strategic plan for the Oregon-California Trails Association highlighted the Mid-Year meeting of the OCTA Board of Directors held in Phoenix, AZ March 17-19.
The Board was joined by OCTA officers, Chapter Presidents, Committee Chairs and others, all guided by facilitator Sharon Brown of the National Park Service. The purpose was to identify preliminary goals that will guide the organization for the next decade.
The goals adopted following a day-long planning session include:
1) Ensuring that OCTA is the preeminent guardian and promoter of the inspirational story of 19th Century westward American migration;
2) Preserving the historic emigrant trails and their legacy;
3) Establishing OCTA as a leader among historic trails partnership organizations;
4) Improving organizational and management effectiveness; and
5) Keeping the base of members and volunteers energized.
The planning session also identified a long list of strategies to help achieve the goals, including the identification of ways to increase public awareness of the trails and the importance of preservation; expanding research capabilities; increasing membership and revenues; better communications both inside and outside of OCTA; and using technology to promote OCTA and preservation.
Using information developed during the work session, a draft strategic plan will be presented to the Board at its August 8 meeting held in conjunction with OCTA’s annual convention in St. Joseph, MO. The plan then will be circulated for general comment and discussion among members and stakeholders before being considered for final approval at the 2007 Mid-Year meeting, scheduled the first weekend in March in Independence, MO.
New Treasurer Named
The OCTA Board of Directors has elected Turner Rivenbark, a retired accountant from Wallace, North Carolina, as the Association’s new treasurer. He replaces Doug Brown, who resigned when he recently moved to New York state.
Rivenbark has a degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina and spent 40 years as a professional accountant. He also has been the treasurer, accountant or auditor for a number of non-profit organizations.
In addition to overseeing all of OCTA's financial standards, Turner will chair OCTA’s Investment Advisory Committee, which is charged with tracking OCTA’s Endowment Fund and other investments.
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