Starting in October, AOR will incorporate a new process for renewing memberships. It’s easy to forget when dues are up and it takes a lot of time reminding members of expired dues. In the fall we'll be rolling out a better way for membership renewal. All AOR members will have their membership due in October.

As AOR’s new fundraising chair, I’ve been working on a fundraising plan for 2015 and beyond. Our goal for this year is to raise $5,000 in additional funds. This spring we are holding a 50/50 raffle in which one lucky winner will take home half of the proceeds of the raffle. The more tickets that are sold, the bigger the pot grows. 

This year’s conference will once again feature a silent auction to raise funds to support scholarships for Sustainable Oregon 2016 and other AOR activities. Scholarships are awarded to individuals that are interested in beginning their career in the field of recycling and waste prevention but could not otherwise afford to attend the conference.

The 2015 AOR Conference in Bend is just around the corner and we are seeking nominations for our Recycler of the Year awards. Each year AOR selects individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to recycling and waste prevention efforts in Oregon. The winners will be presented with their awards at the Sustainable Oregon Conference in Bend.

What if everyone had free access to a repair manual for everything they owned? How much longer would our things last? Kyle Wiens started iFixit with the goal of providing people the knowledge and encouragement they need to make their things work as long as possible. He believes that making repair accessible to everyone is the best shot we’ve got at reducing e-waste and starting to make our high-tech lives sustainable. We can’t keep throwing away cell phones every 18 months!