Governor Launches State's Participation in the Oregon 150 Celebration

The Oregon Sesquicentennial will begin in February 2009

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Governor Kulongoski is inviting Oregonians to join in the state’s 150th birthday party, the 2009 Oregon Sesquicentennial.

“This celebration will be a chance for Oregonians to share with each other — and with the world — what defines us, and the mosaic of lifestyles, cultures, interests, histories, experiences, and dreams for the future that make us Oregon,” said Governor Kulongoski.

The Governor also announced the Oregon 150 Official Partnership Program which invites Oregon civic groups, businesses and community organizations to participate in the sesquicentennial celebration.

The partnership program is a call to groups to submit projects that capture the spirit of Oregon as part of the celebration and if approved would be able to use the official Oregon 150 logo.

“The breadth of whom we are, what we’ve accomplished, how we’ve changed and where we’re heading over the next 50 years will be seen in the hundreds of project from communities across Oregon,” said Governor Kulongoski.

Other statewide activities being planned for the Oregon 150 Celebration include:

• Take Care of Oregon Day – A statewide day of volunteerism and giving back to Oregon.
• OregonStories – A statewide oral history project to document average Oregonians and Oregon’s history.
• OregonMinutes – A brief, daily feature on Oregon’s history and people broadcast by television and radio sponsors and printed in newspapers throughout the state.
• The Children’s Future Vision Project – A project to engage Oregon’s youth on the state’s history.
• Travel Oregon 150 – A joint project with Travel Oregon to encourage Oregonians to travel 150 miles from home in 2009 and enjoy the diverse landscapes and people of Oregon.
• An Oregon Dreamers Blog - To collect ideas from Oregonians on how they would like to see their state evolve in the next 50 years.

To prepare for the sesquicentennial, Governor Kulongoski created Oregon 150 in 2007. Oregon 150 is a nonprofit organization with volunteers from across the state serving on the Board of Directors. The Governor serves as the Honorary Chair of Oregon 150.

“A remembrance and celebration this big only comes along once every 50 years,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Let’s make the most of it.”

For more information on Oregon 150, or to sign up for the Official Partnership Program please visit: www.oregon150.org.
Source: Governor's Press Office