Notes from Colleen’s Desk: Lake Perspectives

Sometimes we just need to retreat. For the entire day. Outside.

Last week the SOREDI team enjoyed a relaxing staff retreat at Crater Lake. In times past, we have gathered for more strategic in-office round-table affairs, and then more recently we opted to raft the Rogue River and experience a bit of an adrenaline rush – we even lost “Yogi” for a few moments as he went overboard! This year, however, the stunning and serene beauty of this Southern Oregon asset beckoned us to simply rest and reflect.

So after sharing a bit about ourselves in the office – including our normal bit of playful wonkiness (a job description requirement!), evaluating our own and each other’s strengths, and selecting a a flavorful spice we might consider ourselves to be as we go about dishing up wildy serious business development services, we took a road trip.

The relaxation and reflection, of course, did not start until we actually hiked down the 1-mile trail to access the boats for our two-hour lake excursion. If you have been down the trail yourself, you know it’s hard not to think about the 1,000 foot climb back to the rim! But the whole point of a retreat is not to think too far ahead to what may be coming, but rather, withdraw for a bit to reflect on where you have been, lessons learned, and opportunities for growth – both professionally and personally.

It is not unlike SOREDI’s current work in updating our regional strategy. We are considering where we have been, reviewing our successes and failures, and seeking to find the best paths forward for balanced business and community growth in Southern Oregon.  As staff we needed some outside perspective. We hired an experienced consultancy to give us an impartial perspective on what we are doing right, what we could do better, and how we benchmark against similarly sized regions from all over the nation.

We’ve been working hard over the past year and we all have the propensity to operate with our head down, pedal to the metal, somewhat unaware of the view from above. So I’d like to offer a few perceptions gleaned from our time of truly pristine reflection on Crater Lake.

The view from the rim is stunning and expansive yet nothing like the experience of being on the surface of the lake itself. The blues are bluer and the greens are greener. The caldera walls are steeper and you suddenly are more appreciative of the warning signs at the rim that advise you to stay back. And being on the boat with visitors from all over the world you have time to hear how inspired they are by the beauty of this recreational asset that happens to reside in our back yard!

When you can touch – and even drink – the water, you are suddenly much more aware of the depth and scope of what you have right in front of you. Moreover, you see things you might not necessarily notice from the rim. You will likely notice Wizard Island from any point on the rim. But will you notice the much smaller step sister, the Phantom Ship (pictured)? We are all prone to have a few blind spots, right? We want to identify those blind spots in Southern Oregon and take measurable steps to overcome them.

There is also an elderly man on the lake – aptly named “Old Man” who casually floats in the lake. For over 100 years he has been tracked and reportly, moved over 3 miles in one day alone. The Old Man is a fallen tree that is literally floating upright in the lake (pictured). He keeps his head above the water but has depth in his integrity that keeps him upright. And he keeps moving along.

I’d like to think of the Old Man in Crater Lake as a word picture for SOREDI’s work on behalf of Southern Oregon. We welcome an outside perspective to learn more about ourselves, we are committed to keeping our strategy relevant, we remain upright by prioritizing tactics, and we are moving forward every day to help our region become the best it can be.

We often take for granted the beauty in our own backyard. With the region’s wonderful Mediterranean climate, there is still plenty of time to get out and visit Crater Lake, take a hike, raft the river, and simply enjoy the fellowship of good friends.

I encourage you to retreat outside for some fresh perspective. And if you are near Beckie’s in Union Creek, it is still the season for peach pie. Enjoy!

“Lemon Pepper”

Colleen Padilla, Executive Director