The festival board is very pleased to welcome two new members this year.

Our new foods director is Julia Todd of Lebanon Mennonite Church. Julia assisted with the festival’s recycling/sustainability efforts last year. Reflecting on her cross-cultural experience in Honduras when she was in college she says, “I never ended up going into missions but being involved with the festival is one way that I can help support MCC and its global mission.”

Serving in an at-large position, Rich Martin is the director of admissions for Western Mennonite School and he looks forward to helping to connect the festival to the school. “I’m a great believer in what MCC does,” he says. He is a member of Salem Alliance Church.

A thousand thanks to Marion Fischer (treasurer), June Forsyth Kenagy (food tickets), Lynn Miller (auctions), and Kiara Yoder (foods), who have wrapped up their time on the board. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the festival board is very much a working board, and these four have given countless hours over many years to make the festival a success.

In keeping with our water theme for this year’s festival, a 17-foot Beechcraft boat and trailer will be on the auction block. Please check the website to see all the other auction donations that are starting to come in.

What might you donate this year? Each contribution helps to create a fun event and makes a real difference for people in need.  Event tickets and vacation packages are always popular – consider joining with friends or family to make a donation together! Giving early helps us attract more bidders. To let us know about your contribution.  ■

A hand-quilted, appliqued Hawaiian sampler is among the first quilts to come in for this year’s Festival for World Relief auction. Thank you, Zion Mennonite Church quilters!

Many quilters are hard at work on the 2014 quilting challenge, creating mini-wall hangings. Proceeds from these miniature works of art will benefit MCC water projects in Egypt.

Quilting bees are tentatively scheduled for June 10, 11, and 12 at Zion for “Stars in the Garden.” Many hands are needed! To learn more, contact Margery Barkman at 503-266-7854.  ■

Seating is limited – make your reservation today

Longtime festival friends Gwen and Les Gustafson-Zook and their daughter Sadie are returning to Oregon this summer for two fundraising dinner concerts benefiting Mennonite Central Committee clean water projects. Please join us for great food and wonderful music on July 19 in the North Valley (Sherwood, Ore.) at 6 p.m. and July 20 in the South Valley (Albany, Ore.) with appetizers beginning at 4 p.m.

Now Indiana residents, Les and Gwen were Service Adventure leaders in Albany and worked with MCC in Portland in the ’90s. An internationally recognized autoharp player, Les’ current responsibilities with MCC include connecting with relief sales like the Festival for World Relief throughout North America. Gwen is the Minister of Worship at Goshen College, where  Sadie is a student. Listeners of all ages will enjoy their blend of traditional and contemporary folk music. Don’t miss this rare opportunity!

Register online at oregonfestivalforworldrelief.com (see "Fundraisers") or call Barb Buxman at 503-522-5324 (North Valley) or Denise Diller at 541-704-0451 (South Valley). The South Valley meal is by donation (gratefully accepted at the event). Space is limited at North Valley, so save your seats by registering then sending $25 per person to Barb at 11424 NE Skidmore St., Portland, OR 97220 (checks payable to OMFWR). Contact her with any questions.■

This year’s Oregon Mennonite Festival for World Relief is focused on raising support for MCC water projects around the world. A Penny Power poster with this theme is now available and a story card for use during the children’s time in worship services is coming soon. Find them at  oregonfestivalforworldrelief.com  under "Kids.”

Gifts collected through Penny Power or at the summer concerts make difference worldwide through projects like this:

• $100 provides material to install systems for clean drinking water in Nepal
  
• $300 covers the cost of a well or a water filter system in Vietnam
  
• $3,000 buys the cement for a sand dam in Kenya