The VIP invitation!

Subject: Giving Thanks!

To:
Mayor Sam Adams, Commissioner Nick Fish, Commissioner Amanda Fritz, Commissioner Randy Leonard, Commissioner Dan Saltzman, City Auditor LaVonne Griffin-Valade, Chief of Police Mike Reese, Police Capt. Sara Westbrook, County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury, Rep. Mitch Greenlick, Sen. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Lew Frederick, Rep. Tina Kotek, Sen. Chip Shields

Nov. 23, 2011

Dear Public Officials:

As the founder and the coordinator of the #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains (http://chaplainsoccupypdx.blogspot.com), I would like to express all you have done to make #OccupyPortland a successful model for the world to see, and your willingness for dialogues and working together to seek a uniquely Portland solution to both the messages of the Occupy movement and various issues arising from this community.

As an independent and autonomous organization, closely working with the #OccupyPortland community, we are committed to promote mutual understanding, peaceful dialogue and reconciliation.  Though recent press coverage and social media exposures have brought much rift between the #OccupyPortland movement and the government officials, we hope that a new stage of the Occupy movement in Oregon is now taking off the ground with a renewed energy and spirit of cooperation.
Personally, I feel that my experiences with the #OccupyPortland has been one of the most meaningful learning opportunities in my life.  I gained a community, a voice, and skills for community organizing in a fertile and nurturing environment.  This, you may agree, is most likely one of the best things that have happened in recent history of Oregon that brought back the spirit of civic engagement and community-building.  I am thankful both for all Occupiers -- even those whom I did not agree with, and even those who were causing troubles -- and also for each and all of you.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have put together a small Thanksgiving get-together at the Wallace Park in Northwest Portland (NW 25th Avenue and Quimby Street).  This is not another "occupation" (as I had stated clearly several times already elsewhere) but rather an opportunity for some of the Occupiers who may be away from their loved ones to celebrate with what had become a kind of new family through the 39 days of our occupation of the downtown parks.  We will be there from noon to around 7 p.m., and we would love to see you stop by, although we understand this is kind of a short notice and I am quite sure that you all have family commitment.  Nevertheless, we thought it would be a great gesture to invite you as our sign of thanksgiving to your hard work for all Portlanders.

Sincerely yours,

Sarah Morrigan
Program Coordinator
The #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains