Message to Volunteers from President & CEO

Dear Volunteers, 

On January 23, 1923, the physics department at Oregon Agricultural College made its first radio broadcast under the station call sign KFDJ. We can only imagine what that professor and their students may have hoped would grow from their classroom experiment. Could they have envisioned that, in a hundred years, it would evolve into one of the country’s leading public media organizations, serving millions of people in the Pacific Northwest and beyond? OPB’s progression from a physics experiment to the trusted news organization we are today could only happen because of the incredible generosity of community members who contribute their time and resources to ensure that everyone in our region has access to vital information and storytelling that educates and uplifts. During this National Volunteer Week, we celebrate people like you who have made OPB what it is today.   

Over the years, thousands of volunteers have generously contributed their time and talents to serve OPB’s mission of connecting the community. Even during the last few years, marked by significant transition, this committed team of volunteers has helped OPB’s work to continue moving forward. Since we transitioned our volunteer program to remote opportunities, over 400 volunteers have donated their time in new and innovative ways. Your dedication, flexibility, and creativity have extended our capacity in ways we never thought possible, and your contributions to these projects will serve the community well into the future.  

The impact of the virtual volunteer program has been significant, and we are excited to continue engaging people for whom remote volunteering works best. Also, in the coming months, we are thrilled to welcome volunteers back to more in-person opportunities. It has been a long time coming, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be together again.  

On behalf of everyone at OPB, I wish to extend my gratitude for your continued support and dedication. Volunteering with OPB offers unique and impactful ways to serve the community, and we are grateful you choose to contribute your valuable time with us. As we celebrate our centennial year, we look ahead to what the next hundred years may bring. If the past is precedent, the possibilities of what we might build together are limitless. 

Sincerely, 

Steve Bass 

President & CEO