Give Peace a Dance 2010 Rocked

by Peter Bergel

Measured by the satisfaction expressed by attendees during the event and afterwards, Give Peace a Dance 2010 – which took place on April 17 — was a grand success. It also raised well over four thousand dollars to keep Oregon PeaceWorks’ projects moving forward.

x

The Evening’s Delights

Dr. Atomic's Medicine Show performs "Mainstreet 61"

The audience responded enthusiastically to the razor-sharp satire of Dr. Atomic’s Medicine Show, which spoofed everything from the tasteless exhibitionism of the super-rich to the causes and effects of global warming, touching on immoral corporate practices, our staggering healthcare system, and our lust for consumerism along the way.

The hilarity and good humor were supplemented by a generous outpouring of bids on nearly a hundred donated treasures and special experiences as staff and guests alike enjoyed both an oral and a silent auction.

Garnering special recognition for 21 years of volunteering her skills as an illustrator for The PeaceWorker, OPW’s news magazine – now online at www.peaceworker.org – was Natalie Shifrin Whitson, whose first illustration graced the December 1989 edition. A display exhibiting a small portion of Natalie’s hundreds of PeaceWorker drawings graced a corner of the room.  Natalie received a standing ovation for her efforts.

The evening concluded with two hours of dancing and grooving to the very special music of Kate Sullivan and Company, always a great favorite with Give Peace a Dance audiences. Kate and her compatriots were with us 26 years ago for the very first Give Peace a Dance in 1984 and have joined us frequently over the years for subsequent events.

As people browsed the silent auction items, they were serenaded quietly by singer/guitarist Richard Reuter of Eugene, whose mellow tunes created a delightful ambiance.

Acknowledgements

Overall coordination was provided by Event Coordinator Christina Safford of Event Muse, working closely with OPW staffer Jeanette Hardison, who solicited most of the auction items. Assisting them tirelessly were OPW part-timers Carrie Adams, Lorie Douglas, her daughter Cholina, and Office Manager Donna Gerry.

Excellent food, all of it donated, was prepared by Jerry Crane of Spice Islands Catering, who did a magnificent job.

Other OPW volunteers included: Petrina Eger, Jared Martinsen, Sherry Burge, Gregg Dart, Chris Buckley, Don and Linda Coons, Ruth Thatcher, David Papen, Nate Tribe, Dophia Desirey, Randy Jones, Rosemary Frost, Zona Sherrer, Emily Moore, Rick Reece, Eric Howald, Mark Babson, Mary Beth Hustoles and Nancy Murphy.

Carter Jones and Timmy Lee were our bartenders and Dancing Oaks Nursery provided the lovely woodland-themed baskets that decorated our tabletops.

Special thanks are due to this year’s auction donors – those special people and companies who donated items and gift certificates for experiences to the auction – and those who donated food for the celebration.

Auction donors included: Julie Close, Maggie Wickham, Rita Mallon, Haydn Reiss, Megan Hinkel, Little Gym of Corvallis, Olivia Watt, Claire McGee, Lynne Taylor, Joe Scott, Nancy Murphy, Jeanette Hardison, Artichoke Music, Breitenbush Hot Springs, Patagonia, Baklava Central, 13th St. Nursery, northwestgoods.com, Cedar Mountain Drums, Jennifer Moreland, Bethel Heights Vineyard, The Tea & Herb Shop, Scobel Wiggins Photography, Mark Babson, Richard Reuter, Third Eye, Ed and June Hemmingson, Tea Party Bookshop, Café Mam, The Book Bin, Crystal Power & Light, The Crystal Mirror, Addictions Body Piercing & Tattoo, Alan Glickenhaus, Jeanne & John Stratford, Great Harvest Bakery, John Savage, InsomniArt, Lampwork Designs (Petrina Eger), Paul LaRue, Kilt and Thistle, Christina Safford, Kettle Foods, Gail McDougle, Peter Bergel and Alice Phalan, Ken Holt Photography, Laurelwood Art, The Bike Peddler, Dr. Tom Dugan DDS, Barnwood Naturals, Carol and Rick Reece, John Van Dreal, Michele Darr-Babson, Indigo Wellness Center, Brad’s World Reptiles, Marc Nassar, Jim Craven, and Dreamscape Creative Studios.

Food and drink donors were: Cascade Baking Co., Coffee House Cafe, Cooper Mountain Vineyards, Croissant & Co., Full Sail Brewing Co., Grand Vines, Lifesource Natural Foods, Kettle Foods, Macedonia, Organic Fresh Fingers, Queen of Tarts, Spice Islands Catering and Willamette Valley Fruit Company.

Thank you to all who contributed to GPAD’s success. We could not have done it without you. You made it a true community event.  Φ

Peter Bergel is Executive Director of Oregon PeaceWorks and served as auctioneer at this event.