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--> --> June 7: Schneider: over the wall, and waiting Letters from all those pesky non-profits were piling up on my desk at home last month, and among them was one from the Schneider Museum of Art at Southern Oregon University. Turns out the museum is in the midst of a membership drive, hoping to involve more community members in supporting exhibitions and programs. The museum hosted numerous fundraising events for the recently completed Center of the Visual Arts (CVA), and endured the trials of construction of the new buildings for more than a year. So now it's clearly time to think about its own future. That future, according to the letter, means expanding its role as the premier art museum in Southern Oregon by continuing to present the work of artists of national and international merit, as well as regional artists. The museum also hopes to create educational programming for families and children and to present exhibitions and programs that will appeal to more people than ever before. Engaging the public is top priority right now for the Board of Directors at the museum, but the membership drive isn't going well. At present the premier art museum in Southern Oregon has 250 members. The Rogue Gallery in Medford has 800 members. The difference is programming, exhibits and community involvement. So show me those new exhibits by regional artists and that new programming and maybe I'll become a member. I'd love to see an exhibit of Judy Howard's work or William Phillips' aviation pieces (he's even an SOU alumnus). What a great way to draw in more people. And as Jack Hardesty, the president of the Schneider Museum Board of Directors, notes, if you get people through the door once, maybe they'll be more inclined to return. Programs for families and children are another great idea, but this requires money and staff and volunteers to develop programming and a marketing plan. But is this type of programming what the University wants for the museum? It's never been clear to me whether the museum is an academic space or if it is for the public. Does the university want to engage with the public? The new by-laws suggest that it does, stating that the museum exists to enrich the cultural life of the region through visual arts education and appreciation, to serve as a resource for visual arts, to maintain a permanent collection, and to present exhibits and programs for education and culture for both the general public and academic audiences. That seems like recognition that the museum is a public institution. But we'll see what happens. I would love to see the Schneider Museum become a vibrant center for the visual arts for the community. Curiously, we now have the Center for the Visual Arts, but I don't think it exists. I see two academic buildings and the Schneider Museum. There is no director of the CVA and no programming. If the Marion Ady and Art buildings are to be academic, then the Schneider is the key player in making the new space a true center for the arts for the community. Getting to the space can be problematic, what with the parking situation and that darn wall, but I've discovered that if I meander up the walkway behind the wall to the courtyard, I enter a wonderfully inviting area. So I'm saving my invitation to membership. I've conquered the wall, and "The Scenic Design of OSF's Principal Scenic and Theatre Designer, Richard L. Hay" will open on June 14th. How much more regional can an exhibit get? You can bet I'll be there. Amy Richard has lived in Ashland since 1990, was Revels editor at The Tidings for three years, and since June of 1998 has been media relations director for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. June 28: House D's go to the mattresses Cathy Shaw The gloves are now off in Salem. In an unprecedented move, the House Republicans tried to push their redistricting maps forward without the Executive Branch of state government. The idea was to place the Republican redistricting maps in a resolution, rather than in bill format. This action would allow the redistricting maps to bypass both the Governor's Office and, assuming a veto, the Secretary of State. Wow. Frankly, we all should have seen this one coming. After all, the Governor said early on he would veto any redistricting plan that did not have bipartisan support. When Republicans showed no interest in getting input from across the aisle, it should have been clear that they had a plan up their sleeve. Sure enough, during a Saturday session on June 23 it came out-implement redistricting by resolution. Forget even any appearance at bipartisan leadership in the state. Obviously, House Republicans believe it isn't necessary. By circumventing the Executive Branch, House Republicans appear to think redistricting can be done with no more than a straight party-line vote. This is not only illegal but it is also no way to run state government. Needless to say, the Democrats were outraged at the Republican ploy. In response, they walked out in mass, thus denying the House Republicans the quorum necessary for business. In a press conference, House D's said they would return to work after July 1st or when the Speaker of the House guaranteed (in writing) that the resolution would go away. This is the legislative equivalent of "going to the mattresses." By denying a quorum until July 1st, redistricting automatically goes to the Secretary of State. The House Democrats have walked out in protest before but always over philosophical differences. This time the walkout was more fundamental. This time it was about protecting our form of government. Our system of shared responsibility between coequal branches of government has served us well for over 100 years. The House Republicans' actions call into question their commitment to our system of government. Further, this walk out was intended to demonstrate belief that all branches of government must be actively engaged for representative government to truly work. This was not intended to be an idle gesture-walking out means declining salary and per diem for the week. However, in doing so, Democrats hoped to maintain the focus where it should be-on the blatant assault by the House Republicans to our democratic process and our constitution. It is sad commentary that with all of this political posturing the most important aspect of redistricting-keeping neighborhoods and communities with common interests together-is in danger of being lost. The House Republicans' maps separate neighborhoods, communities, cities, and counties. While some of this is inevitable, there appears to have been no effort made to keep populations of shared interests together. For example, Salem, the Legislatures' backyard, is broken into four districts, fanning out into the country. If I've learned anything from my time in politics, it's that those who live in urban areas have very different concerns and interests from those living in rural areas. Redistricting should be about providing for representation that understands the interests of a district so that those interests can be articulated in the statehouse. It should not be about safeguarding the power and control of political parties. The House Republicans are betting headlines declaring "House Democrats Stall State Government" will sell more papers. While that may be true, the events surrounding the House Republicans' attempt to redistrict by resolution speaks to a more grave issue-trust. On June 23 what little trust there was between the D's and the R's in the House was lost-perhaps, lost in such a way as to never be regained. What's next? Will Oregon now be governed by "resolution" and "initiative" in an effort to circumvent the Governor and his veto power? Is this how we want our state government to function? At the very least, the Republicans elected to serve us in Salem should remember they are there to represent all of us, not just big business and self interests. If not, we'll all need to fasten our seatbelts for a very bumpy ride. Cathy Shaw is chief of staff for Rep. Alan Bates, D-Eagle Point; an author; and the former three-term mayor of Ashland. Email your... 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