Charbonneau Villager Newspaper August 2020 | Page 10

10 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER August 2020
Charbonneau Arts
Association
By ERIC HOEM
Committed to a
fabulous virtual arts
festival in October
The COVID-19
crisis has deepened
my sense of gratitude
and appreciation
for the support
we receive for our
fundraising efforts
HOEM
on behalf of public
art education. As I
write this, we are beginning to reach
out to former sponsors of our annual
Festival of the Arts because they contribute
about half of what we are able
to donate to art programs in local
schools. Although 2020 has been a very
challenging year for them, many are
responding favorably, and that is both
humbling for our organization and
very motivating.
Virtual art gallery registration
In addition, it is gratifying that we are
getting very positive feedback from artists
registering for our virtual art gallery
that will be featured the entire month of
October. For any artists and musicians
interested in being part of the 2020 Charbonneau
festival, registration information
can be found on our website: https://
charbonneauarts.org/2020-cta. The deadline
to enter is Aug. 21, 2020.
Fundraising more important than ever
The prospects for the reopening of
schools continue to be in limbo: will it be
regular classrooms, web-based learning
or some combination? Will the schools
need to cut back on programs not considered
most essential, such as art education?
Will teachers have heavier loads
both in class size and the demands of instructional
technology?
However all that develops, it is clear
that art supplies will be an issue. Whether
in class or online, students will not be
allowed to share supplies as the COV-
ID-19 crisis continues, but funds for them
will be more limited than ever.
To me, all this underscores ever more
strongly the need for whatever financial
support we will be able provide through
the fundraising efforts of our virtual
Charbonneau Festival of the Arts in October.
In past years, teachers have used our
funds to support student participation in
regional exhibits, take on special community
projects, replace outdated equipment
and thereby enrich the educational experiences
of their students. This year our
support will be even more critical as
schools cope with the new reality brought
on by COVID-19.
Benefits to high school art programs
Jennifer Dorsey, visual arts teacher at
Canby High School, says this about the
support their programs have received
from Charbonneau Arts Association:
“Canby is a smaller school district in
Oregon. Our school district has suffered
severe cuts over the years and unfortunately
the elective programs are some of
the first departments and supply budgets
impacted. When our school district
eliminated all field trip funding, the donation
from Charbonneau Arts allowed
the art teachers to bring students to exhibits
at the Portland Art Museum and
local galleries. For many of these students,
this was their first
experience at a museum.”
Prior to his retirement at the end of
the 2019-2020 school year, Christopher
Shotola-Hardt served as artist-teacher
and art director at Wilsonville High
School. About the assistance his school’s
art program has received from us over
the years, he says:
“The benefits of the Charbonneau Arts
Festival are manifold, from providing an
annual venue for appreciating and promoting
the arts, to supporting art education
budgets in the schools, to supporting, celebrating
and encouraging the work of young
artists for so many years now.
“Think of the ripple effect over all of
these years. The track record of this volunteer
organization, and the heart behind
it its mission, are truly moving. I
encourage you to support their efforts.”
Donations of both cash and items for
silent auction needed
If you would like to help, there are
two avenues you can follow this month.
Tax deductible donations can be made
directly to us. We are also collecting
items for the silent auction portion of
our festival, which is a major fundraiser
for the art programs at Wilsonville and
Canby high schools. Information about
these opportunities can be found at
https://charbonneauarts.org/donate.
Sponsors stepping forward
As of the deadline for this article, several
sponsors have already made their
commitment to support our 2020 Charbonneau
Festival of the Arts: William
and Nancy Hall; Lynda Huber, Equity
Oregon Real Estate; Roof Masters, Canby;
and Robert Bennett, CPA, Wilsonville;
and Canby Smiles, Dr. Joshua
Wieland, Family Dentistry. Let me express
my gratitude to their generosity.
Let me also express gratitude to our
partners: Charbonneau Country Club;
Mediaphysics, Wilsonville; The Charbonneau
Villager; and Charbonneau-
Live.org; and Pamplin Media Group.
TVF&R
By CHRISTINA LENT
Enjoy the health benefi ts
of swimming
Swimming offers many health
and fitness benefits. It works
your entire body, enhances
your cardiovascular conditioning,
builds muscle strength and
endurance, and improves your posture
and flexibility.
It’s also a low-impact exercise that
protects your joints from stress and
strain, making it an activity that can be
enjoyed at any age.
This summer, as people head to area
pools and local waterways to cool off
and enjoy the outdoors, TVF&R advises
you to plan ahead for possible risks,
learn about water safety and know how
to respond to a water emergency.
A drowning or near-drowning can
happen in a matter of seconds. It typically
occurs when a child is left unattended
or during a brief lapse in supervision.
Some may be surprised to learn
that drowning is silent — there can be
very little splashing, waving, or swimming
to alert parents and bystanders to
a swimmer in distress.
Make safety a priority when in or
around water by following these tips:
� Always supervise children, giving
them your undivided attention. Keep
young kids within arm’s reach of an
adult and make sure older children
swim with a partner.
� Use the buddy system — even
adults should never swim alone, especially
in open water such as lakes, rivers
and streams.
� Know your swimming limits and
keep an eye on weaker swimmers.
� Watch for the dangerous “toos.”
Take frequent breaks if you are feeling
too tired, too cold, too far from safety,
exposed to too much sun or experience
too much strenuous activity.
� Don’t dive in shallow water or unfamiliar
areas. The American Red Cross
recommends 9 feet as a minimum depth
for diving.
� Young children should always
wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life
jacket when in or around open water.
Weak or non-swimmers should also
wear a life jacket in pools.
� Do not use air-filled swimming aids
in place of life jackets or life preservers
with children. “Water wings” can give
parents and kids a false sense of security.
These air-filled aids are toys that are
not designed to be personal-flotation
devices.
� Adults should have or wear a personal-flotation
device when boating or
fishing in open water.
� Avoid alcohol and drugs.
� Have a charged cellphone nearby
in the event of an emergency.
� Learn CPR and basic water rescue
skills.
TVF&R also reminds you that swimming
in a natural body of water is different
than a pool. More skills and energy
are needed, along with an eye for potential
hazards. Those heading to swim
outdoors in open water need to be
aware of uneven surfaces, river currents,
ocean undertow, and changing
weather.