I’ve been wandering in the wilderness again. Wondering, as well.
There is so much insight to be gained from creation. And when you step out of your day-to-day routine and onto a trail, the world opens up in marvelous and aromatic ways.
I’ve written before about taking time to smell the roses in the garden. But how about taking time to notice Balloon Milk Vetch, Yellow Sneeze Weed, and Tiger Lily (all pictured) in the wilderness?
Truthfully, I do not know if they really have a sweet aroma or not because I tend to be that hiker that is destined for the lake or campsite with very few stops along the way; I am about moving forward and the outcome.
But for my trail buddies Looky-Lou and Razer, it’s an entirely different adventure. I’ll be clipping along at my 2-mph breakneck mountain speed and suddenly realize I am all by myself. So I stop and look back and there are my flower-children friends huddled in the meadow over the Monkshood, Indian Paint Brush, or Angelica a half-mile back.
If they happen to read this blog, they may be surprised that I can even name those meadow and trailside marvels. After hiking for over 10 years with Looky-Lou and close to 1,000 miles, you would think I’d remember a few flowers. I gave her that trail name many years ago because indeed, she stops at every single mushroom, flower, and tree and says, “oh look!”
I think she calls me Spark because I am always lighting a fire under her saying “let’s go!” Okay, okay - in full disclosure I did ask for the names of the flowers and give credit for a few of these glorious shots to my dear friends Jane and Linda.
We now call ourselves the Deadfall Divas collectively because we do get a little rummy after 3 nights out and 4 days of hiking at 7,000 feet and are known to take glam selfies. Maybe it is the elevation. Or layers of dirt. Regardless, no photos!
One meadow marvel, the Corn Lily, truly stands out – sometimes up to six feet tall! The Corn Lily boasts big football-size leaves and has clusters of many hundreds of smaller flowers adding to its collective and very collaborative beauty. It could easily steal the show.
More likely though, and I am definitely not a botanist, the Corn Lily creates some shade for a few of the smaller plants and flowers hanging out underneath and in the neighborhood. And all those beautiful tiny flower clusters – take a closer peek on the trail and you might find hundreds of insects finding their sustenance, adding even more life to the meadow.
It reminds me just a bit of SOREDI membership. We have some stellar standouts in the region who contribute proportionately more than others. All fifteen Southern Oregon jurisdictions for example, from Medford to Butte Falls, are members of SOREDI.
We believe that economic development and the regional vitality it creates long term, matters to every citizen. Thus, jurisdictional membership fees adjust every four years according to population formula.
But in the same membership meadow are about 175 private sector members and partners who also contribute significantly to SOREDI to ensure that this agency is sustained well into the future and continues to offer complimentary business services to companies seeking to launch, relocate, and prosper in Southern Oregon.
That’s right. SOREDI does not charge a fee for its services so that every business has quick access to resources as they seek to grow and expand in Southern Oregon.
We may be biased, but we think that is quite business friendly. We want to be in the business of reducing barriers for entrepreneurs, existing companies, and new business inquiries alike.
Annual membership invoices for our 2021-2022 fiscal year were just issued in the last several weeks and like the Corn Lily, there are many awesome standouts who have already renewed. Thank you for your confidence in this agency!
Other membership renewals will trickle in over the next month or so and we will be equally grateful for the support. Not a member yet? You are in luck and great company! There is a category for you to contribute and engage. And far be it from us, not to make it simple for you to join SOREDI membership today.
Here is a link-- you can sign up now! https://soredi.org/product/membership/
We need your ongoing support, no doubt, so that we can do all that we have been chartered to do since 1987. The bigger more glorious point to share is that when you do support SOREDI, you are conveying your business-friendly collaboration and adding to that fragrant meadow aroma that says Southern Oregon is open for business. It makes the arduous trek of growing a business so much more enjoyable when you have so many partners and friends rooting for your success, don’t you think?
Need more information first or prefer an invoice? We can do that too. Call or write our office – (541) 773-8946.
By the way, I am not completely head down and marching forward on every trek I take. I have stopped to put my nose into the bark crevices of the Ponderosa Pine. Smells like vanilla - you should try it.! And I stop frequently to catch my breath!
Cheers to every SOREDI member and partner and every prospective new fan from the top of Mt. Eddy at 9,200 feet. (Yes, that is champagne. Gratefully, I did not pack it!)
Colleen Padilla, Executive Director
