Can You Volunteer for a Nonprofit? We’re Bringing The Standard’s 2015 Volunteer Expo to You!

Can You Volunteer for a Nonprofit? We’re Bringing The Standard’s 2015 Volunteer Expo to You!

Portland, September 10th, 2015. If you couldn’t join the thousands who flocked to Pioneer Courthouse Square for The Standard’s Annual Volunteer Expo, you’re in luck. We’ve got all the information and website links to explore over 125 local nonprofits that could use your time.

A full list of links of nonprofits is at the bottom of our story.

R. Richard Crockett, (left) is the Program Operations Director & Volunteer Coordinator

R. Richard Crockett, (left) is the Program Operations Director & Volunteer Coordinator at Chess for Success.

Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.

Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.

The Standard’s Volunteer Expo has repeat participants year after year, here’s a look at some nonprofits which continue to recruit volunteers:

Jenny Bedell-Stiles and Andy Meeks from Friends of Trees

Jenny Bedell-Stiles and Andy Meeks from Friends of Trees

PHAME Academy's Katie Farewell talks with Casey Rhodes and Clark Hays.

talks with Casey Rhodes and Clark Hays.

Jenny chu from Literary Arts

Jenny Chu from Literary Arts

New Avenues For Youth were a hit because they dished out the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream!

New Avenues For Youth volunteers are a hit every year because they dish out the free Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream!

Rachel Rundles from Oregon Historical Society

Rachel Randles from Oregon Historical Society

The Volunteers of America recruited some new volunteers!

The Volunteers of America recruited some new volunteers!

Special Olympics Oregon was recruiting volunteers.

Special Olympics Oregon has room for coaches and event volunteers.

Newspace Center for Photography

Newspace Center for Photography promoted its multidimensional photography resource center and community hub for students, working artists, professional photographers, educators, and photo-enthusiasts of all types.

Latino Network's Edgar Ortega

Latino Network’s Edgar Ortega

Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area had a colorful display.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area had a colorful display.

Donations to Work for Art’s Community Fund and Arts Education Fund support more than 80 vital arts and culture organizations every year—encompassing dance, visual arts, music, literary arts, media arts, theater, cultural arts, and arts education

The Work for Art’s Community Fund and Arts Education Fund support more than 80 arts and culture organizations every year—encompassing dance, visual arts, music, literary arts, media arts, theater, cultural arts, and arts education.

IMPACT NW drew interested prospective volunteers who learned that each year over 60,000 low-income children, youth, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities participate in Impact NW’s comprehensive anti-poverty programs.

IMPACT NW drew prospective volunteers who learned that each year over 60,000 low-income children, youth, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities participate in Impact NW’s comprehensive anti-poverty programs.

The YMCA was handing out information about programs.

The YMCA was handing out information about programs.

People who stopped by The Q Center booth were met with a friendly smile.

People who stopped by The Q Center booth were met with a friendly smile.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter staffers promoted their many volunteer options.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter staffers promoted their many volunteer options.

Reps from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon explained their work on behalf of local cats and kittens.

Reps from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon explained their work on behalf of local cats and kittens.

American Red Cross volunteer recruiters had the trademark red vests!

American Red Cross volunteer recruiters had the trademark red vests!

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Oreogn Foundation® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Oreogn Foundation® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Northwest Pilot Project began in 1969 as an all volunteer agency to provide basic supports for seniors at risk of losing their ability to live independently.

Northwest Pilot Project began in 1969 as an all volunteer agency to provide basic supports for seniors at risk of losing their ability to live independently.

Miracle Theatre Group is The Northwest's premiere Latino arts and culture organization.

Miracle Theatre Group is The Northwest’s premiere Latino arts and culture organization.

Camp Fire offers opportunities for volunteers who like to work with kids.

Camp Fire offers opportunities for volunteers who like to work with kids.

Kathy Pienovi from Bridge Meadows

Bridge Meadows is a multi-generation housing community serving Oregon’s vulnerable populations; foster youth, adoptive parents and elders (55+).

Here’s a list of links to charities at the The Standard’s Volunteer Expo. Please consider donating your time, and tell them PortlandSocietyPage.com sent you!

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Human Services

Education

Environment, Animals

Health

Public/Society Benefit

 

Oregon Zoo Officials say Rose-Tu’s Calf Will Stay

Oregon Zoo Officials say Rose-Tu’s Calf Will Stay

Portland, December 4th. “It was never in question for this calf,” explained Oregon Zoo director Kim Smith. “(She) was always going to live here.” The calf is the property of a private company, Have Trunk Will Travel, of Perris, California. But, zoo officials says they will retain possession of the country’s newest baby elephant, a 300-pound female pachyderm that hasn’t yet been named, though it won’t own the animal.

Oregon Zoo elephant keepers are asking the community to help them choose a name for the week-old female elephant calf. Keepers have come up with five names and are asking people to vote for their favorite on the zoo’s website: www.oregonzoo.org.

•Jaidee (Thai for “good-hearted”) •Sirikit (name for Thai royalty, literal meaning is “glorious”) •Rakhi (Sanskrit for “love/bond between siblings”) •Lily (following the flower theme of mom’s name, Rose-Tu, or Rose for short) •Siddhi (Sanskrit for “perfection”; wife of Ganesha)

•Jaidee (Thai for “good-hearted”)
•Sirikit (name for Thai royalty, literal meaning is “glorious”)
•Rakhi (Sanskrit for “love/bond between siblings”)
•Lily (following the flower theme of mom’s name, Rose-Tu, or Rose for short)
•Siddhi (Sanskrit for “perfection”; wife of Ganesha)

 

“The outpouring support for the zoo and its newest resident has been incredible,” said Kim Smith, zoo director. “Rose-Tu and her calf are doing well. They’re bonding and comfortable with each other. Now it’s time to give the calf a name that suits her.”

Keepers are considering the following five names:

  • Jaidee (Thai for “good-hearted”)
  • Sirikit (name for Thai royalty, literal meaning is “glorious”)
  • Rakhi (Sanskrit for “love/bond between siblings”)
  • Lily (following the flower theme of mom’s name, Rose-Tu, or Rose for short)
  • Siddhi (Sanskrit for “perfection”; wife of Ganesha)

Votes will be accepted through Sunday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. The zoo will announce the winning name on Monday, Dec. 10. Here’s a video of the mother and daughter.

The Asian elephant calf, born Nov. 30 at 2:17 a.m., weighed a hefty 300 pounds at birth and has been described by zoo animal-care staff as a “spitfire.”

“The calf is beautiful, healthy, tall and very vigorous,” said Kim Smith, Oregon Zoo director. “As soon as she hit the ground — before she was even out of the amniotic sac — she was wiggling. And she’s vocalizing loudly. The first time we heard her, the sound was so deep and loud that we thought it was Shine. She’s definitely got a great set of pipes, and it looks like she’s going to be a real pistol.”

Smith said the calf is nursing well, and that Rose-Tu has been very attentive to her — great signs that their bond will be a strong one.

“Our keepers and veterinary staff have put an extraordinary amount of work and care into helping Rose-Tu bring her baby into the world,” Smith added. “The time spent training and preparing has paid off, and the outcome is exactly the one we’d hoped for: Rose is safe and healthy, and she has a beautiful newborn calf. Now that the baby’s here, we’re all excited to watch her bond with Rose-Tu and take her place in the herd.”

It might still take a little time before the new baby is ready for visitors though.

“The main thing determining that will be the strength of the bond between Rose-Tu and the calf,” said Bob Lee, the zoo’s elephant curator. “Rose should allow the calf to nurse regularly, sleep, play and generally act like a calf without trying to stop it and control its movements. Then we’ll determine whether she’s calm and comfortable with staff around. And finally, we want to make sure the calf has had a chance to bond with the rest of the herd.”

The Oregon Zoo is recognized worldwide for its successful breeding program for Asian elephants, which has now spanned 50 years. Rose-Tu’s mother, Me-Tu, was the second elephant born at the zoo (just months after Packy in 1962), and her grandmother, Rosy, was the first elephant ever to live in Oregon.

Asian elephants are considered highly endangered in their range countries, threatened by habitat loss and conflict with humans. Perhaps fewer than 40,000 elephants remain in fragmented populations from India to Borneo.

The Oregon Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, whose species survival plan for Asian elephants is striving to establish a self-sustaining population in North America.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission of inspiring the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot and Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Oregon spotted frogs. Other projects include studies on Asian elephants, polar bears, orangutans and giant pandas. The zoo relies in part on community support through donations to the Oregon Zoo Foundation to undertake these and many other animal welfare, education and sustainability programs.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General zoo admission is $10.50 (ages 12-64), $9 for seniors (65 and up), $7.50 for children (ages 3-11) and free for those 2 and younger; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo’s Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $4 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.